《Heartbreak Brings Mr. Right》 Chapter 1 ¡°Hey, be gentle- You might wake her up¡­¡± In a room in Harmony Hotel, Lindsey Stewart was lying in bed with a splitting headache, and her body felt as though she was on fire. The simple task of just opening her eyes felt Like such a challenge, and when she finally managed to crack her eyes open a fraction, the scene before her nearly broke her! Her boyfriend, Chayce Burton, was holding a woman against the bay window-and the woman was none other than her stepmother, Kendra Stewart! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s out cold. The drug I used was strong enough for a wild animal,¡± Chayce said to Kendra without so much as ncing at Lindsey on the bed. The next moment, Chayce hoisted Kendra up by her thin waist and prated her again and again rapidly, which caused thetter to let out loud, pleasured moans. Lindsey gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, trying hard to clear her mind.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. It was Kendra who had introduced Chayce to her, so never in her wildest dreams would she have expected that her stepmother would sleep with her boyfriend behind her back! Tonight, Chayce had invited her to dinner. She passed out after drinking a ss of wine he had given her. It turned out that this whole night was an borate trap orchestrated by this shameless couple! ¡°If Lindsey finds out she slept with a homeless guy tonight, how do you think she¡¯ll react?¡± Kendra queried in between moans. ¡°She¡¯ll never know. As long as she thinks that I¡¯m the one who slept with her tonight, she¡¯ll be dead set on marrying me! Sooner orter, not only will the Stewart family¡¯s properties belong to us, but also her mother¡¯s!¡± Chayce¡¯s cruel words sent shivers down Lindsey¡¯s spine. ¡°How do you n on dealing with her brother?¡± Kendra asked. ¡°Easy,¡± Chayce replied with a vicious grin. ¡°Once I take full control over the Stewart family, I¡¯ll find an opportunity to put him behind bars. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Kendra giggled and arched her back to cooperate with Chayce¡¯s movements, eyes gleaming as though she was already celebrating imminent victory. Suddenly, a thought urred to her, and her expression darkened slightly. ¡°I refuse to let this little bitch live afortable life! When you two get married, you¡¯d better not sleep with her-even if you two share a room!¡± Chayce nted his hands firmly on Kendra¡¯s waist and started thrusting in and out of her more violently. ¡°What do you think I should do?¡± he asked, panting. ¡°Hmm¡­ Ram into her car. Make it look like an ident. Whether she¡¯s killed or disabled for life, I¡¯ll leave it up to you!¡± In the middle of doing the deed, Kendra didn¡¯t forget to make ns for dealing with her stepdaughter. Her pretty face showed a look of ferocity at the thought of eliminating the woman she hated. Sweating profusely, Chayce smiled at her and said, ¡°Okay, whatever you say. ¡± Seeing that the two were about to reach their climax, Lindsey quickly closed her eyes, wishing she could disappear. Chayce and Kendra quickly got dressed and then nced at Lindsey, who was lying still on the bed. Feeling unprecedentedly satisfied, the two left the room with a snicker. Only when the door was shut behind them did Lindsey open her eyes again, tears streaming down her face, staining the bed sheets. ¡°I was so blind, Chayce Burton! I would¡¯ve trusted you with my Life, but it turns out you¡¯re just a heartless man who has been plotting against my family!¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but trembled from anger. Chapter 2 She tried to climb out of bed, eager to run away, but her feet felt like lead. The effects of the drugs were too strong for her to even stand up! Gritting her teeth, she struggled to reach for the fruit knife on the bedside table and then shed her arm. Blood gushed out at once but the pain sobered her up a little. As soon as she made it to her feet, she heard amotion outside the door. Without thinking, she stumbled to the window and climbed out. The next second, she heard Kendra¡¯s and Chayce¡¯s voicesing from the room she had just left. ¡°What the f@ck? Where did she go? Did she run away?¡± ¡°She must not have gone far! If she doesn¡¯t sleep with someone tonight, the drug will kill her!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery With determination, Lindsey forced herself not to nce downward, gritting her teeth as she cautiously navigated from one windowsill to the next. Just as she secured a solid foothold, a hand abruptly extended from the neighboring room¡¯s window, covering her mouth and swiftly pulling her inside. Losing her bnce, Lindsey grabbed the man¡¯s cor subconsciously and the two fell to the floor together.N?velDrama.Org owns this. The man ended up on top of her. His alluring pheromones filled Lindsey¡¯s nostrils, causing the fine hair on her arms to stand on end. Her rational side wanted to tell him to get off of her, but the sound that escaped her Lips was more of an erotic moan. ¡°Did Emilio send you?¡± In the darkness, the man spoke to her in a mellow, unhurried voice, which sounded extremely pleasant to her ears. Feeling incredibly restless, Lindsey nted her hands on his chest, where she felt his strong muscles through the thin fabric. Blood pumped through her veins rapidly, and the burning sensation grew even more unbearable. She had no idea who this Emilio was, nor did she care. What mattered right now was her survival. ¡°Are¡­ Are you handsome?¡± she asked in a feeble, raspy voice. Domenic Walsh frowned in displeasure. Still, he humored her question. ¡°I guess you could say I don¡¯t look that bad. ¡± ¡°Then at least, you¡¯re not ugly. ¡± It was better to sleep with a handsome stranger than to have s@x with some homeless man! Lindsey reached up and cupped his cheeks, whispering, ¡°Thank you. ¡± The next moment, she raised her head and pressed her warm Lips against his. Chapter 3 The aphrodisiac was so strong that the two of them made passionate love all night all over the suite, traversed from the floor to the sofa, from the bed to the balcony¡­ Pleasured moans and erotic gasps filled the room until the two finally fell asleep from exhaustion. Lindsey didn¡¯t know how long she had slept. Peeling her eyes open, she immediately winced as she tried to sit up in bed. Her body was so sore fromst night, covered in scandalous hickeys. Just then, she noticed the sound of running watering from the bathroom. Her eyes lit up. The man she had spent the night with was in the shower! Fearing that he¡¯d ask her to take responsibility forst night, she hurried to get dressed and then scrawled a note to thank him for helping her. Then, she ced the remaining spare change and jewelry on the bedside table as a token of gratitude, right next to the note. Without a moment to lose, she slipped out the door and ran away from the hotel as fast as she could. By the time Domenic emerged from the bathroom, she was long gone. He scanned the room, but it was the bloodstains on the bed sheet that caught his attention.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Seeing this, Domenic frowned slightly. Then he shifted his gaze to the things she had left on the bedside table, and let out a chuckle. He was the heir to the Walsh family, the CEO of the Vitality Group, and the hidden mastermind who held the economic reins of the city. How could that woman simply depart after using him for a night, leaving behind only a meager reward of less than five hundred dors and a note? Dealing with him was not that simple! Ten minutester, Domenic was standing straight with one hand in his pocket, the other holding a lit cigarette. He took a long drag and expelled the smoke slowly, eyeing the man bowing in front of him. The young man, who was tied up, fell to his knees and sobbed, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Domenic. I did this for your own good. You¡¯re already twenty-eight years old, yet you¡¯ve never had a girlfriend-you¡¯ve never even flirted with a woman! I was getting worried about you, so¡­ so I took it upon myself to help you out!¡± Out of the corner of his eye, Domenic nced at the bloodstains on the bed sheet and asked coldly, ¡°What¡¯s the name of that woman?¡± ¡°What?¡± The young man, Emilio Howard, showed a look of confusion. ¡°What woman?¡± Domenic had never so much as nced at a woman in the past twenty years, which was why Emilio concluded that he yed for the other team. Emilio did send someone herest night, but it wasn¡¯t a woman-he had sent a man! So, what woman was he talking about? Emilio¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Domenic, I¡­¡± Before he could get another word out, Domenic cut him off abruptly with a swift kick to his shoulder. ¡°Check all the surveince videos ofst night,¡± Domenic barked. Chapter 4 ¡°Find that woman, even if it means turning the whole city upside down. By the way, the person in charge of the project abroad just died of mria. If you can¡¯t find that woman, I¡¯ll have you take over the project instead. ¡± Emilio looked at the man who towered over him in shock and surprise, and it took him a long time toe to his senses. He couldn¡¯t help but feel worried about that woman. It was known to all that Domenic was like a cheetah. Whether his prey would live or die depended on his mood. Whoever had slept with Domenicst night dared to just leave him the morning after. Whoever she was, she had guts! * The woman in question, Lindsey, took a taxi straight home. Kendra and Chayce¡¯s vicious n kept reying in her mind. Furious, she clenched her fists so tightly that her nails pierced into her flesh. No, she couldn¡¯t let them get away with this.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. She had to do something. She had to expose their true colors! After sorting out her thoughts, Lindsey returned home with a calm expression, as though nothing had happened. As soon as she entered the house, her father, Benny Stewart, stood up from the sofa. ¡°Where were youst night? I called your teacher and was told that you never went back to your dormitory,¡± he questioned in a low growl. ¡®s BunnyBookery His angry eyes were bloodshot, and he was clearly a ticking time bomb. ¡°Benny, don¡¯t get mad. It¡¯s not healthy. Lindsey is still young, and she has a lot to learn. ¡± Kendra pretended to be considerate, urging Benny to calm down. Then, she looked at Lindsey with a feigned empathetic expression. ¡°Lindsey, please don¡¯t me your father for being angry with you. After all, you¡¯re a girl, and we care about your safety. Do you know how anxious your father and I were when we learned that you never returned to your dorm? We were so worried that something bad might¡¯ve happened to you. What should we have done if that were the case? It¡¯s not that we care about the reputation of our family; what we care about is you. ¡± Kendra¡¯s eyes were filled with worry as she spoke. If Lindsey hadn¡¯t overheard Kendra plotting against her with Chaycest night, Kendra¡¯s ¡°concerned parent¡± act would¡¯ve fooled her. But now, Lindsey was sober and knew exactly what Kendra was up to. As expected, Kendra¡¯s words sessfully added fuel to the me, making Benny even more angry. ¡°Nonsense! You¡¯re already over twenty, yet you still act like a child! It seems I¡¯ve spoiled you too much. Today, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± Benny picked up a hard stick and swung it at Lindsey! Chapter 5 Just as the stick was about tond on her, Lindsey suddenly knelt down in front of Benny. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry. I went out to y cards with my friendsst night and totally forgot about the time. I didn¡¯t know when my phone ran out of battery. I¡¯m really sorry that I made you worry about me. ¡± Stunned, Benny¡¯s hand, which was holding the stick, froze mid-air. In the past, Lindsey would never yield to him, no matter what happened. She¡¯d always argue with him over anything and everything under the sun, so his rtionship with her had always been strained. So, what was going on now? Lindsey knew what she was doing. Kendra was good at manipting Benny into trusting her, and moreover, Lindsey didn¡¯t have any evidence about Kendra¡¯s plot. Even if she told her dad everything that happenedst night, he would take Kendra¡¯s word over hers. Thus, she decided to pretend to be obedient and do nothing for the time being while waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. ¡°Dad, Kendra isn¡¯t my biological mom, so it¡¯s only natural that she doesn¡¯t know me that well. But you-you¡¯re my father. You should know me better, and I would never do anything that would damage our family¡¯s reputation!¡± Tears welled up in Lindsey¡¯s eyes as she spoke, which made her look oh-so pitiful. Although Benny and Lindsey¡¯s mother had been divorced for years, he had always been a dutiful father. So, when he heard Lindsey¡¯s sincere apology, his heart softened. He put the stick away and said in a gentler tone, ¡°Well, it¡¯s good that you¡¯ve realized your mistake. Just don¡¯t do it again, okay? Now, get up. ¡± Seeing Benny forgive Lindsey so easily made Kendra feel a tinge of displeasure. But now, she had to stick to the n and pretend everything was fine, so she swallowed the resentment in her heart and forced a fake smile. ¡°See? I knew it was all just a misunderstanding.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Lindsey is such a good girl; she wouldn¡¯t go about sleeping around like those slutty women. Right, Lindsey?¡± Lindsey knew that she was implying something, but she managed to maintain her smile, though her eyes remained cold. ¡°By the way, Lindsey, your father wanted to tell you something. ¡± Kendra nudged Benny with her elbow and winked at him meaningfully. Benny took a deep breath and sat back on the sofa. Then he cleared his throat and said earnestly, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve thought it through, and Kendra¡¯s right. I shouldn¡¯t force you to marry someone you don¡¯t like, nor should I keep you from marrying the man you do. Although Chaycees from an ordinary family, you like each other. That¡¯s what matters. ¡± Lindsey was stunned by her father¡¯s sudden change in attitude. Her dad had always thought that Chayce was a man who would rely on powerful. women to rise to the top, so he strongly opposed their union. Moreover, before she and Chayce even met, her dad had already selected a suitable husband material for her¡ªthe youngest son of the Ford family, Adrian Ford. But Adrian was a yboy and was involved in a Lot of gossip. Lindsey didn¡¯t want to marry someone like him and this had been a point of contention between her and her father. ¡°And just this morning, I heard that Adrian got into a fight with someone at a club-all for a prostitute. The scandal made headlines! I wouldn¡¯t be able to forgive myself if I forced you to marry such a man. ¡± After letting out a sigh, Benny continued sincerely, ¡°As Long as Chayce treats you well, I¡¯ll no Longer object to your rtionship. Chapter 6 When you have time, ask him toe over and we¡¯ll talk about the details of the engagement. ¡± ¡°What?! Engagement?¡± Lindsey was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t help but exim. Benny nodded solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s your birthday at the end of the month. Why don¡¯t you get engaged that day? We¡¯ll celebrate two things, and I¡¯m sure the family will be so happy for you. You¡¯re not getting any younger. Hurry up and settle your marriage so that I won¡¯t have to worry about you all the time. ¡± Then, it dawned on Lindsey. It seemed that Kendra had been nting seeds into Benny¡¯s mind whenever she was not at home. Kendra seemed to be in such a hurry to make her marry Chayce, which couldn¡¯t be a good thing. Lindsey mulled over the situation for a bit. She had been wondering how she¡¯d find evidence against Kendra and Chayce, so why not y along until they made a mistake? With a subtly smile tugging at the corners of her lips, Lindsey walked up to Benny, squatted in front of him, and held his hand. ¡°Thank you so much, Dad. I¡¯m sorry that I always fought with you before. Don¡¯t worry. I will listen to you from now on. ¡± Kendra breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Lindsey agree to get engaged. So far, it seemed that Lindsey had no idea that what happened yesterday was plotted by her and Chayce. But¡­ Where did Lindsey gost night? She managed toe home in one piece, which shouldn¡¯t have been possible after being drugged with such a high dosage. Kendra frowned, dubious as to whether she had spent the night with a man or not. Suddenly, while Kendra was eyeing Lindsey, her gazended on a clear red mark on the side of Lindsey¡¯s neck. As an experienced woman, she knew clearly what it was. Humph! Sure enough, her guess had been right. Now, Kendra was certain that Lindsey ended up in someone¡¯s bedst night.N?velDrama.Org owns this. She smiled as a n formed in her mind. As soon as Lindsey returned to her room, she rushed into the bathroom and tried washing off the marks on her body. She felt unreconciled, having lost her virginity like this. Damn it! This was all Kendra and Chayce¡¯s fault! After taking a long shower, Lindsey settled down and started thinking about how to deal with the engagement party that¡¯d be held at the end of the month. She called a private detective that her friend had referred to her, asking him to secretly track Kendra¡¯s and Chayce¡¯s movements, collect evidence of their infidelity, and find out what they nned to do at the engagement party. After arranging everything, she turned on herputer and posted a status message on her social media. At the same time, in the Walsh Group¡¯s headquarters, Emilio rushed into Domenic¡¯s office excitedly. ¡°Domenic, I found her!¡± Domenic suddenly paused what he was doing, waiting expectantly for Emilio¡¯s report. Emilio sat down opposite him with a grin and showed him a photo, in which was of a prettydy with a ponytail and bright eyes, looking both cute and smart. Chapter 7 Although Domenic had only taken a nce at that woman when he woke up that morning, he would never forget her face. Sure enough, the woman in the photo was the one he woke up next to! ¡°Dig into her background. I want to know everything-every detail¡ªabout her. ¡± Domenic stroked the photo with his slender fingers, revealing no hint of emotion. Emilio cleared his throat and gave a detailed ount of the information he had collected on Lindsey. ¡°Her name is Lindsey Stewart. And, ording to what I¡¯ve found so far, her father¡¯s been looking for investors because their family business hasn¡¯t been doing so welltely. ¡± Speaking of this, Emilio suddenly stopped to ask, ¡°Do you think she did it to help her father? But why would she run away afterward? Is she ying hard to get?¡± Narrowing his eyes, Domenic ignored Emilio¡¯s questions and said tly, ¡°Go on. ¡± ¡°She has a boyfriend named Chayce Burton.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. He works as a sales rep in an unknownpany. ¡± At this, Domenic frowned. She had a boyfriend? Then why did she throw herself at himst night? ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. ¡± Emilio¡¯s voice interrupted Domenic¡¯s thoughts. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Look!¡± Emilio held up his phone in front of Domenic and said, ¡°She just posted this. ¡± Frowning, Domenic took the phone. As soon as he read the headline of Lindsey¡¯s post, his expression darkened. ¡°Looking for: a boyfriend!¡± The post read, ¡°Looking for a boyfriend-for-hire, only needed for a day. With generouspensation. The specific job details will be discussed during the interview. Requirements: Needs to be over 6¡ä, handsome, with a good figure and a good temperament. If you¡¯re interested, please dial¡­¡± ¡°Well, what kind of game is she ying again?¡± Emilio looked at Domenic in confusion. When he saw Domenic¡¯s expression turn stormy, he suggested cautiously, ¡°How about I have someone bring her over?¡± Blue veins stood out on Domenic¡¯s hands, and his deep eyes were filled with fiery, unpredictable anger. The next second, his low voice, bone-chilling sounded. ¡°Block this post. Don¡¯t you dare let anyone see it!¡± * ¡°Achoo!¡± Lindsey suddenly sneezed. Rubbing her nose, she wondered who could be talking about her behind her back now. She nced at her phone, and when she saw that she had no notifications, she felt that something was wrong. Chapter 8 It had been an hour since she posted the ad, but she didn¡¯t receive any calls, nor were there anyments on the post. She had thousands of followers. How could there be no reaction to her new post? There had to be something wrong, right? Was it because she sound too demanding? While she was pondering, her phone suddenly rang, pulling her back to reality. It was a call from an unknown number. Lindsey sat upright and answered the phone without hesitation. ¡°Hello?¡± A pleasant, mellow voice sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± Lindsey asked politely. ¡°I saw your ad about a boyfriend-for-hire, and I think I meet your requirements. ¡± The man¡¯s voice had a slightly deep quality, akin to the melodic tones of a cello, which inadvertently stirred Lindsey¡¯s emotions. At the same time, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this voice sounded rather familiar to her¡­ ¡°Really? When are you free to meet?¡± ¡°You decide the time and ce. ¡± Seeing that the man was very straightforward, Lindsey didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll meet you at eight o¡¯clock tomorrow night at the Gxy Caf¨¦. Once I¡¯ve booked us a table, I¡¯ll send you the details. ¡± ¡°Sounds good. See you.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡± Lindsey was thrilled. She didn¡¯t expect that things would go so smoothly. On the other end of the call, Domenic sat alone in a spacious office, wearing a mysterious expression on his face. After ending the call, a faint smile curved his thin lips. He was interested in seeing what this woman was up to. The following day, Domenic arrived at the appointed cafe at eight o¡¯clock sharp. As soon as he entered the cafe, he found that Lindsey was already at their table. She seemed to be looking around uneasily. This scene was a bit different from what he had envisioned. The girl before him wore a white shirt and a khaki windbreaker, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, giving her a gentle and serene appearance. Domenic nced at his watch, thinking that she was very punctual. Then he started walking towards her, taking big strides. Lindsey seemed to sense his approach, because she suddenly turned around and met his gaze. Her eyes widened as she took in his well-built frame and strikingly handsome face. If the man hadn¡¯t stopped at her table, she would¡¯ve thought that he was some kind of movie star! ¡°Excuse me, are you Miss Lindsey Stewart?¡± Chapter 9 A familiar and pleasant voice suddenly jolted her. Lindsey was stunned for half a second before finally realizing that this person was the man she was supposed to meet! ¡°Oh, hi,¡± Lindsey stammered, still unable to wrap her head around the fact that she was meeting with a man that looked like a movie star thanks to her online ad. ¡°Please have a seat. ¡± When the man sat down, she checked him out secretly. His thin Lips were slightly pursed, giving him an air of aloofness. He possessed an angr face with refined features and a chiseled jawline. His hair, which was casually slicked-back, seemed toplement his cold demeanor. Lastly, despite donning only a well-worn brown leather jacket over a simple T-shirt and jeans, he exuded an aura of nobility that captivated the room¡¯s attention. People who knew Domenic would¡¯ve never thought that he¡¯d wear such cheap clothes and appear in a budget coffee shop, sitting face-to-face with a woman who seemed utterly disconnected from elegance. Such a notion was inconceivable! ¡°Pleasure to meet you. May I know your name?¡± Lindsey asked with a forced smile, feeling a little nervous. Seeing that she didn¡¯t recognize him, Domenic breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°My Last name¡¯s Walsh. ¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Since he only gave his surname, Lindsey guessed that he didn¡¯t want to tell her his real name, which wasn¡¯t unreasonable, so she didn¡¯t ask more. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what would you like to drink?¡± she offered. ¡°Americano, please. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Lindsey smiled brightly and called the waiter over. Domenic seized this opportunity to take in her features; she had a smooth forehead, a straight nose, rosy lips, and a slender neck. At the base of her neck was a small red mark, like a peach blossom blooming in spring. He couldn¡¯t help but think back to the night they slept together. He gulped at the memory, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down. He subconsciously tugged at his cor, feeling a little short of breath. After ordering the coffee, Lindsey shifted her attention back to him and went straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Walsh, to be frank, your physical appearance meets my requirements. Now, could you please name your price?¡± Name his price? Recalling the measly amount of money she had left on the bedside table, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Chapter 10 ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the job requirements first. ¡± ¡°Oh, sure. ¡± Lindsey sat up straight and exined the job. ¡°Well, you see, I need you to act as my boyfriend at my engagement party next weekend. ¡± Seeing that the handsome man¡¯s expression turned from one of intrigue to that of confusion, Lindsey suddenly realized that she had said something very contradictory, so she quickly added, ¡°You see, I recently found out that my fianc¨¦¡¯s having an affair. The thing is, I don¡¯t have any evidence. My father doesn¡¯t believe me, and he¡¯s forcing me to marry the guy, so I had no choice but to post that advertisement. To put it bluntly, your task is to ruin the engagement party. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Never would he have thought that the reason why this woman needed a boyfriend-for-hire was to screw up her own engagement party. Because the man wasn¡¯t saying anything, Lindsey thought he didn¡¯t want the job. She tried to persuade him in a gentle voice, saying, ¡°I know it¡¯s no easy task, and I¡¯m willing to pay you good money. How about this? I¡¯ll pay double whatever your rate is. ¡± Lindsey knew that stumbling across a man as fine as this one was a once-in-a-Lifetime kind of thing, and she figured that since he was applying for this job, he must¡¯ve been very short of money. So, she decided to convince him by dangling what she thought was a handsome prize in front of him. Domenic raised his head, and their eyes met, which made her feel a little restless. Finally, Lindsey couldn¡¯t take it. She lowered her head and pretended to drink water, averting her gaze. However, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man was still staring at her. Somehow, this feeling reminded her of the man in the hotel that night. Lindsey shook her head. No, the world was so big. How could the random stranger from that night have stumbled across her advertisement? This probability was even lower than winning a lottery, she mused. Just then, the waiter came with two cups of coffee. To ease the awkwardness, Lindsey picked up her cup and took a sip, and Domenic did the same. ¡°ALL right. I¡¯m in. ¡± As soon as Domenic put his cup down, he suddenly spoke, his deep, maic voice startling Lindsey. ¡°Mr. Walsh, did I hear you right?¡± Lindsey asked in surprise.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Domenic nodded almost imperceptibly. He had decided to hide his identity and y along with her idea until he figured out her real purpose. ¡°Well, then-that¡¯s great! Don¡¯t worry. As long as I can afford it, name your price!¡± Lindsey said generously, beaming at him with excitement. ¡°What exactly do I need to do?¡± Domenic asked. ¡°Well¡­ Lindsey looked him up and down carefully before slowly narrowing her eyes. Chapter 11 ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you nicer clothes tomorrow. ¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Domenic looked down at the casual clothes he was wearing, his expression darkening. Did she think that he looked too poor to be with her? Lindsey, however, failed to notice the change in Domenic¡¯s expression. She continued enthusiastically, ¡°You look great already, but I want my ¡®boyfriend¡¯ to look filthy rich and strikingly handsome. Only in this way can he be superior to everyone in the engagement party, including my jerk of a fianc¨¦. So, you¡¯ll have to wear clothes that align with this image. But don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll pay for the clothes, and you can keep them afterwards. ¡± Domenic stopped toying with the coffee cup in his hands. ¡®s BunnyBookery Not once in his life had he ever spent a woman¡¯s money. ¡°Since the clothes are for me, I¡¯ll pay for them myself,¡± he offered. ¡°No, no, I insist. You¡¯re the one doing me a huge favor. ¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°No ¡®buts¡¯! I¡¯m your boss now; you have to Listen to me. ¡± A trace of surprise flickered in Domenic¡¯s eyes, and the way he looked at Lindsey changed. The two chatted for a Little while longer before Lindsey nced at her watch and said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, it¡¯ste. I should get going. See you tomorrow at the mall, okay?¡± Domenic nodded to show that he understood. With that, Lindsey stood up and left. Domenic waited for a while before leaving the small cafe. ALL of a sudden, a limited edition machine gray Bugatti drove over and pulled to a stop in front of him. Domenic¡¯s assistant, Hendrix Coleman, briskly got out of the car and opened the door for him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I saw that thedy had left, so I drove over to pick you up. ¡± Without saying a word, Domenic shrugged off his jacket, tossed it at Hendrix, and got into the car. Hendrix returned to the driver¡¯s seat and then handed a paper bag to Domenic. Inside was a custom-tailored suit. ncing at the well-worn jacket that Domenic had just taken off, Hendrix sighed inwardly. The coat really didn¡¯t align with his boss¡¯s temperament. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I should throw this jacket away. ¡± Just as Hendrix was about to get out of the car with the jacket in tow, a cold voice stopped him. ¡°Keep it. ¡± Chapter 12 ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll need it tomorrow. ¡± Hendrix was too shocked to react. His boss had so many luxury clothes to choose from, so why would he choose to wear this cheap jacket? Hendrix shook his head at a loss. His boss must be crazy! That evening, Lindsey texted him to confirm the time of their appointment the following day. After she hit send, she tucked herself in bed and went to sleep. At three o¡¯clock sharp the next day, she arrived at the appointed malt. This was one of the city¡¯s five-star shopping malls, housing a collection of renowned international designer brands. ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Walsh. ¡± Lindsey waved at Domenic, who was waiting at the main entrance. His hands were in his pockets, and he was wearing the same jacket he wore yesterday. She trotted over with a smile, asking, ¡°Have you been waiting for a long time? Honestly, you don¡¯t have toe so early. I¡¯m always punctual, so you just need toe on time. ¡± Domenic gave Lindsey a quick once-over. She was wearing a casual T-shirt and light-colored jeans. Her hair was tied in a neat ponytail, which made her look so youthful and pretty. ¡°I¡¯m not used to having people wait for me. ¡± With that, he turned around and walked into the mall. Lindsey shrugged and followed him in. After visiting several men¡¯s clothes stores, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but sigh. This man was so handsome that he looked good no matter what he wore. Whenever he tried on the suits she chose for him, he¡¯d attract the attention of all the women in the store, who would gawk at him unscrupulously. Of course, they¡¯d also looked at Lindsey, their gazes burning with jealousy. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I think this is the one. What do you think?¡± Lindsey stood in front of Domenic and helped him with his tie. She looked at the suit she had chosen for him with satisfaction. When she raised her head, she met Domenic¡¯s intent gaze. Realizing that the two were standing very close to each other, Lindsey blushed furiously and took a few steps back in a hurry. Her reaction made Domenic smile faintly. Feeling particrly yful, he started to approach her. Lindsey wanted to retreat, but as soon as she backed away, she bumped into a wall behind her. Domenic then bent over, nting his palm on the wall beside her ear. Lindsey¡¯s heart banged against her chest. Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked at him warily and started to ask, ¡°What¡­ What are you doing?¡± Seeing the nervous look on her face, Domenic chuckled and gestured at the wall behind her. ¡°If you don¡¯t get out of the way, how will I know how I look?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Only then did Lindsey realize that she had blocked the mirror! Her face instantly turned as red as a tomato. She hurriedly stepped aside. It wasn¡¯t until she had put one meter between them that she rxed a little. ¡°Miss Stewart, do you usually help men with their ties?¡± Domenic posed this casual question with his head lowered, seemingly busy fixing his cuffs. Chapter 13 ¡°Why are you asking this question?¡± Lindsey asked in reply. Domenic took off the suit jacket and looked at Lindsey calmly. ¡°Since you want us to pretend to be a couple, shouldn¡¯t I learn more about you?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Good idea. Do you often go shopping with women? How about we talk about it while we shop?¡± Lindsey smiled at him slyly. Domenic didn¡¯t know how to respond. He was usually so busy that he didn¡¯t even have time to rest. He had never gone shopping, let alone shopping with women! Domenic didn¡¯t want to delve into this topic, so he handed the suit jacket he had just taken off to Lindsey and said, ¡°This is the one. ¡± After purchasing the suit, Lindsey and Domenic walked aimlessly along the corridor of the mall and ended up in the women¡¯s wear section. ¡°I need to go to the restroom. You can look around here first,¡± Domenic said, stopping at the door to one of the shops. Lindsey nodded. When she walked into the shop, a dress on disy by the window immediately captured her attention. It was a pure white evening dress adorned with numerous silver diamonds on the waist and hemline. Under the store¡¯s warm lighting, it sparkled as brilliantly as a starry gxy. Although Lindsey loved it at first sight, she figured it would cost her a fortune, so she decided to forgo purchasing it for the sake of her wallet. Just as she was about to leave, a harsh voice sounded from behind her. ¡°Hey, Lindsey!¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Lindsey turned around, only to see a woman in a s@xy, body-hugging strapless dress strutting towards her, her hips swaying from side to side. ¡®s BunnyBookery You know what they say-enemies are destined to meet. Sure enough, this woman was none other than Lindsey¡¯s high school rival, Mary Bentley! Back in high school, Lindsey was regarded as the most beautiful girl in the ss, which made Mary quite jealous. At that time, Mary had a crush on the school hunk, who then fell in love with Lindsey. Mary hated Lindsey even more and from then on, she was determined to make things difficult for Lindsey. Later, Lindsey got epted into a university that Mary didn¡¯t pass, so the two hadn¡¯t crossed paths since their high school graduation. ¡°Long time no see, Lindsey. ¡± Wearing heavy makeup and bright red lipstick, Mary sauntered over and stopped right in front of Lindsey. ncing at the dress Lindsey had been staring at just now, she sneered, ¡°Like that dress, huh? Why don¡¯t you buy it?¡± After saying that, she covered her mouth as if she had just realized something. Then, she said in a fake apologetic tone, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I forgot that the clothes in this shop are quite expensive. You probably can¡¯t afford any of them. ¡± Hearing this, Lindsey simply smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been years since west saw each other, Mary, yet you¡¯re still just as mean as before. ¡± ¡°You are-¡± Feeling insulted, Mary instantly flew into a fit of rage, but just as she was about to lose her temper, she saw a tall and handsome man walking toward her. Mary was immediately captivated by his handsome face and aloof aura. Chapter 14 She instantly swallowed her anger and smoothed her hair, hoping that he¡¯d notice her. But to her surprise, this god-like man didn¡¯t even nce at her. She could only watch as he went straight to Lindsey. ¡°Who¡¯s this, Lindsey?¡± she asked politely, pretending to be a meek, gentle girl. Lindsey leaned against Domenic and linked arms with him, saying affectionately, ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend. What do you think? He¡¯s quite charming, right?¡± Domenic spared her a nce and said nothing at all. Mary was shell-shocked. She didn¡¯t expect that Lindsey wouldnd such a good-looking boyfriend. Just thinking about her own fat and balding boyfriend, Mary was jealous to death. She looked Domenic up and down. Only then did she notice the old leather jacket he was. wearing, and suddenly, a thought urred to her. ¡°What¡¯s the use of a handsome face if he can¡¯t even afford nice things? Men are only as good as the money they make. Otherwise, his woman will only suffer. See? You can¡¯t even afford the clothes you fancy. How pathetic is that?¡± Mary sneered, a mocking smile appearing on her face. Then she took out a bank card from her bag and waved it at Lindsey¡¯s face. ¡°My boyfriend¡¯s different. I told him I had more than enough clothes, but he insisted I go shopping for more. Look! He gave me a credit card and told me to buy whatever I liked. I don¡¯t even know how I¡¯ll spend all this money!¡± When the shop assistant heard this, she immediately trotted over to Mary with a big smile and started talking to her about their store¡¯stest collection. Mary¡¯s vanity was satisfied, but she still nced at Domenic from the corner of her eye. What annoyed her was that this man didn¡¯t so much as nce at her, even when she talked big just now. On the contrary, his eyes never left Lindsey. What the hell was so good about this bitch? ¡°I can support myself. Why would I need to rely on a man?¡± Lindsey shot back, though her voice was calm and steady. Then, holding Domenic¡¯s arm, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡± ¡°Leaving already? Why¡¯d you evene into the shop if you don¡¯t have any money?¡± Mary¡¯s shrillughter filled the whole shop, and even the shop assistant couldn¡¯t help but cast a disdainful look at Lindsey in secret. Lindsey gritted her teeth, but she didn¡¯t want to argue with someone as unreasonable as Mary. She turned around to leave, however, Domenic unexpectedly pulled her back into the shop. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey looked at him in confusion with her big, doe-like eyes. ¡°It¡¯s true that I don¡¯t have that much money on me, but someone gifted me a card exclusive for this mall. Maybe it can be used here. ¡± As he spoke, he took out a shiny golden card from his pocket. What the hell?! How was that possible?! Mary¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. That card was the Supreme VIP Card for the mall. It was rumored that the holder of this card had to spend a minimum of five million dors here annually. This man, dressed in such shabby clothing, didn¡¯t appear to be wealthy. How could he possess such a card?! Lindsey also recognized the card in Domenic¡¯s hand. Stunned, she asked in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Walsh, is this card the real deal?¡± Domenic couldn¡¯t help but chuckle lightly. It was the first time that someone had questioned the veracity of his card. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, ¡°It¡¯s not real. I¡¯m just bluffing. ¡± Chapter 15 Hearing that, Lindsey heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Phew, you scared me. ¡± On second thought, it made sense that he didn¡¯t have an authentic Supreme VIP Card. After all, why would a rich man apply to be a boyfriend-for-hire? Still, she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off the golden card, which Looked identical to an authentic, pure gold card. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°I have to admit, that card looks legit. ¡± Mary didn¡¯t hear the hushed exchange between the two. She stood frozen in ce,pletely stunned. At the sight of the card in Domenic¡¯s hand, all the shop assistants came over excitedly. ¡°Ma¡¯am, sir, this way please!¡± The shop assistants, who had been surrounding Mary just now, swarmed towards Lindsey and Domenic and ushered them to sit down on a sofa. They served them coffee attentively,pletely ignoring Mary, who was still standing in the shop! Seeing this, Mary stomped her foot angrily. There was only a hundred thousand dors in the bank card in her hand, which was just a drop in the bucketpared to that of the Supreme VIP Card. Why was Lindsey always so damn lucky? Mary suddenly regretted offending Lindsey just now. Otherwise, maybe she could¡¯ve borrowed the Supreme VIP Card from her. Those luxury stores rarely gave out discounts, but with that card, one could get 30% off anything in this shopping mall. Annoyed and embarrassed, Mary snuck away while the others weren¡¯t looking. Seeing that Mary had finally left, Lindsey said to the shop assistants awkwardly, ¡°Sorry, we were just passing by. We don¡¯t n on buying anything. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. ¡± The shop assistants still entertained them enthusiastically. ¡°Feel free to look around. If you need anything, just call us. ¡± With a guilty conscience, Lindsey nodded and stood up with Domenic.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. At that moment, the only thing she wanted to do was to escape as soon as possible, lest anyone discover that the card was a fake. However, as soon as the two of them were about to leave, a man holding a lottery box blocked their way. Bowing to Domenic meekly, he greeted the two of them respectfully and introduced himself. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the manager of this shop. We just so happen to be holding a raffle today, and all the customers who enter our shop are wee to join. ¡± As he spoke, he held the box in front of Lindsey. A raffle in a luxury store? It was the first time that Lindsey had heard of such a thing. She raised her head and looked at Domenic, befuddled, and he hinted at her to humor the manager. In the end, Lindsey didn¡¯t refuse. She reached her hand into the lottery box, picked up a folded piece of paper, and then handed it to the shop manager. ¡°Oh, my! It¡¯s the grand prize! Congrattions! You¡¯ve won aplimentary voucher for our shop!¡± Lindsey¡¯s jaw went ck in disbelief. She had never won a raffle in her life. Today, she won the grand prize. Was she dreaming or had her luck changed? ¡°Miss, take your pick. You can have anything-anything at all¡ªfrom our store,¡± the shop manager said with a bright smile. It took Lindsey a while toe to her senses. Without thinking, her gaze shifted to the evening dress on disy that she so longed to have. ¡°It¡¯s perfect for an engagement party. ¡± Domenic walked to her side and looked at the pure white dress with satisfaction. Lindsey nodded and tentatively asked the shop manager, ¡°Can I take that one?¡± Chapter 16 The shop manager looked in the direction she was pointing, and then his smile grew wider. ¡°You have excellent taste. That piece is part of ourtest collection, and it costs $560, 000. ¡± ¡°What the-?! So expensive?!¡± Lindsey already knew that it¡¯d cost a lot, but she didn¡¯t expect it¡¯d cost that much! Catching herself, she felt a little embarrassed and offered feebly, ¡°How about I pick something else?¡± ¡°Why? Just take that one. I think it looks nice. What do you think, sir?¡± Suddenly, Domenic turned to look at the respectful shop manager. The manager instantly broke into cold sweat. He hurriedly reassured Lindsey, ¡°Of course you can take it! You won the grand prize!¡± In this way, Lindsey and Domenic walked out of the mall with several shopping bags in their hands. Lindsey and Domenic walked side by side. Thinking of the lucky thing that had befallen her previously, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but smile and looked up at Domenic with admiration. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I don¡¯t know why, but I feel that my luck changed for the better after meeting you. ¡± After a short pause, Domenic stopped in his tracks and looked down at the woman next to him. As soon as their eyes met, his heart inadvertently skipped a beat. His eyes appeared especially deep and gentle in the setting sun, and his typically stern countenance seemed to be softened. ¡°May I interpret this as a subtle hint that you want to be with me?¡± His dark eyes were as beautiful and mysterious as obsidian, and his words made Lindsey blush. She lowered her head and tucked a strand of hair behind one ear awkwardly, but this only made Domenic notice that even her ear had turned bright red. The simple gesture reminded him of the day Lindsey wrapped her arms around his neck in the dark hotel room.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. That night, as her faint floral fragrance filled his nose, she had asked him in a small voice if he was handsome. She was so active at that time and had taken the initiative to ki*s him, so why was she so shy now? Suddenly, Lindsey chuckled. ¡°Since you¡¯re so confident that I want to be with you, can I invite you to dinner tonight?¡± Before Domenic could answer, his phone rang and interrupted their banter. ¡°Sorry, I have to take this. ¡± Domenic walked out of ear shot and picked up the phone. ¡°Hello, Mr. Walsh, the video conference is about to begin. ¡± ¡°Got it. ¡± After hanging up, Domenic came back to Lindsey with an apologetic look. ¡°Sorry, something came up. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Take a rain check. Just do what you need to do. ¡± Domenic nodded. After saying their goodbyes, he walked into the crowd. Somehow, Lindsey felt a little disappointed, but she quickly adjusted her mood and walked in the opposite direction. It wasn¡¯t until shepletely disappeared from his sight that Domenic called Hendrix to pick him up. As soon as Domenic got into the car, Hendrix said to him proudly, ¡°Boss, you should be proud of me. When the owner of the mall found out that you were here, he insisted oning in person. Fortunately, I managed to stop him in time and asked him not to make a fuss. ¡± ¡°Good job. ¡± While operating hisptop, Domenic replied indifferently, ¡°The paper for the lottery was too rough. Pay attention to the details next time. ¡± Chapter 17 ¡°But I didn¡¯t have much time to prepare, so-¡± While Hendrix was talking, he saw the fierce look in Domenic¡¯s eyes through the rearview mirror. Recalling that Domenic always hated it when others made excuses, Hendrix quickly changed his tune. ¡°Well, I mean, I¡¯ll be more careful next time. But there¡¯s one thing I don¡¯t understand. Why¡¯d you want to send Miss Stewart a dress?¡± Domenic shut hisptop and looked out of the window, his eyes zing over. ¡°She got me something. It¡¯s only right that I repay her. ¡± * The following day, Lindsey went back to school. After ss, she went to the counselor¡¯s office and handed in the requested materials. Zrans University was renowned as one of the best universities in the city. Each year, before graduation, a representative from the outstanding graduates would be chosen to receive a prestigious medal. This medal served as a golden ticket into the city¡¯s toppanies, and thepetition was incredibly fierce, but Lindsey was confident that it was hers for the taking. After all, she had consistently ranked at the top of her ss for four consecutive years. Additionally, she had published numerous articles in both local and international school magazines and had actively participated in various social service activities. It could be said that she possessed the most well-rounded skills in the school. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Do you really believe you¡¯ll be this year¡¯s representative? Pah, dream on!¡± As soon as Lindsey walked out of the building, a harsh voice sounded from behind her.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. When she turned around, she spotted Nina Foster standing not far from her. Thetter crossed her arms over her chest and nced sideways at Lindsey, saying, ¡°Do you know why I consistently received the first prize for the national schrship every year while you only managed to get second? Because these awards not only consider achievements but also ce great emphasis on one¡¯s character. Lindsey Steward, your character just doesn¡¯t measure up. ¡± Nina was in the same department as Lindsey, but they weren¡¯t in the same ss. They both joined the Student Union and were selected as group leaders at the same time. Therefore, Nina had always regarded Lindsey as apetitor. In the final exam of each school year, Lindsey consistently secured the top position in the school, and her academic record surpassed that of Nina. However, despite Lindsey¡¯s outstanding performance, Nina always managed to win the first prize of the national schrship, leaving Lindsey with only the second prize. Therefore, rumors started to circte the school, iming that Lindsey was never selected as the first-prize winner because of her bad conduct. In her three years of college, Lindsey had tried to ask for an exnation from the counselor and the leaders of the school many times, but she could never get a straight answer from them. In the past, Lindsey had often backed down in response to Nina¡¯s ridicule and the school¡¯s rumors. But after Chayce¡¯s betrayal, she was now determined never to let others bully her. ¡°Nina Foster, you im that my character is wed. Name one time I disyed any sign of bad conduct. Where¡¯s your proof, huh? You don¡¯t have a single shred of evidence, yet you spread rumors Like there¡¯s no tomorrow. You¡¯ve dragged my name through the mud time and time again, and you know what? That¡¯s a crime, and I can sue you for nder. ¡± Lindsey spoke unhurriedly. There was a gentle smile on her face, but her eyes were bitingly cold. Still, what Lindsey said was true; Nina had zero evidence, which made her falter for a second, but she continued to put on a bold and arrogant front. ¡°If anyone¡¯s going to get that medal, it¡¯s going to be me. Just you wait and see!¡± With that, Nina left with her head held high. Lindsey watched her go, her expression darkening slightly. Chapter 18 Ever since she started at the university, she had dreamed of entering Vitality Entertainment, the biggest entertainmentpany in the city. However, its recruitment process was exceptionally tough. Lindsey had nned to use the honor of being the most outstanding graduate as a stepping stone to a job in Vitality Entertainment. If she didn¡¯t win that title, the chances of her entering thepany would be very slim. Therefore, she was determined to not lose to Nina this time. While deep in thought, Lindsey subconsciously wandered over to the school gate, where a ck Honda suddenly stopped in front of her and blocked her way. Chayce got out of the car and walked to Lindsey with a gentle smile. ¡°What¡¯re you doing here?¡± Lindsey frowned and looked at Chayce vigntly. She hadn¡¯t seen him since she escaped that night. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get in touch with you these past few days, so I came to look for you. ¡± Indeed, Chayce had tried calling her countless times, but she never answered. Resisting the urge to vomit at the sight of his hypocritical face, she said perfunctorily, ¡°Oh, I had a lot on my tetely, so I seldom check my phone. ¡± Just as she finished speaking, Chayce suddenly reached out to hold her. Still vignt, Lindsey dodged out of subconscious disgust. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± Chayce frowned and lowered his head, looking like a pitiful puppy. ¡°You drank so much that night, and I didn¡¯t know where you lived, so I took you to a nearby hotel. Later, I had some urgent matters to attend to, and when I returned, you had disappeared. I looked for you all night! Do you know how worried I was about you?¡± Worried? What worried him was that he couldn¡¯t ruin her life that night! A cold smile tugged at the corners of Lindsey¡¯s Lips. However, in order not to arouse Chayce¡¯s suspicion, she immediately put on the usual innocent and gullible look that was characteristic of the old, naive Lindsey. ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you,¡± she said softly. Seeing that Lindsey had forgiven him, Chayce was ecstatic. He beamed at her happily and asked, ¡°No more sses? Let me take you out to dinner. ¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. At this, Lindsey immediately shook her head. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m on a diet. I don¡¯t eat anything for dinner. ¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound healthy. Besides, you¡¯re already very slim. You don¡¯t need to go on a diet. ¡± As Chayce spoke, he reached out to grab Lindsey¡¯s arm. ¡°Come on, hop in the car. ¡± Just then, the president and other leaders of the university were surrounding a man in a casual suit, escorting thetter out of the school gate. The man happened to nce over in Lindsey¡¯s direction, only to see her being dragged into a car by a young man. Eyes wide with shock, Emilio wasted no time in taking out his phone and dialing a number. Chapter 19 ¡°What?¡± Domenic¡¯s deep, maic voice sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°Domenic, I¡¯m at Zrans University. Guess who I just saw?¡± ¡°Just spit it out already. ¡± Emilio swallowed and continued, ¡°Lindsey Stewart. I just saw a man dragging her into a car; she seemed to be reluctant to go with him. ¡± Silence ensued. The next moment, Domenic hung up on Emilio. Emilio was momentarily taken aback, considering that he might have been a bit too meddlesome. Judging from Domenic¡¯s reaction it seemed that he didn¡¯t have much interest in that woman. So, Emilio just shrugged it off and left in another direction with the leaders of the university. ¡®s BunnyBookery Emilio, however, had been right; Lindsey was very reluctant to be anywhere near Chayce. She wanted to refuse, but she was afraid that doing so would arouse his suspicions. Just as the despair was about to overwhelm her, her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Excuse me. I have to take this. ¡± Lindsey took out her phone in a hurry as though it could help her out of this dilemma. As soon as she saw the caller ID, her heart skipped a beat. ¡°Hello, Mr. Walsh. ¡± She greeted him in a low voice, covering the receiver with her palm so as to not let Chayce hear her. Domenic spoke unhurriedly, as always. ¡°Yesterday, you said that you wanted to invite me toCcontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. dinner. Well, I¡¯m free now. ¡± With a graceful lift of her gaze, she nced at Chayce, who was now sitting in the driver¡¯s seat. Then she loosened her grip on the phone receiver and deliberately adopted a troubled expression. ¡°Does it have to be today?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re busy, then I understand,¡± Domenic replied. ¡°Okay, okay. It¡¯s no problem at all. I¡¯ll be right there. ¡± Lindsey suddenly raised her voice, which shocked Chayce, who had secretly been listening attentively. After hanging up on Domenic, Lindsey looked at Chayce, batting her beautiful eyshes at him apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chayce. Something came up, and I have to go right now. ¡± Chayce immediately grew anxious. ¡°What urgent matter demands your immediate presence?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about my campaign to be this year¡¯s most outstanding graduate. You know how important this is to me, right?¡± With that, Lindsey shook off his hand and ran away. She felt nauseous just staying in close proximity to Chayce, worried that if she stayed one more second, she¡¯d vomit. After putting considerable distance between her and Chayce, Lindsey took out her phone and called Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh, thank you so much! You just did me a huge favor. My fianc¨¦ suddenly showed up at my school today, and when you called me just now, he was right beside me, so I said those things to throw him off my trail. If you hadn¡¯t called me, I really wouldn¡¯t have known what to do!¡± Chapter 20 ¡°d I could help. ¡± A faint smile tugged at Domenic¡¯s lips. Hearing Lindsey¡¯s exnation, he leaned back in his leather chair and felt pretty good about himself. ¡°So, what do you want to eat for dinner?¡± While walking, Lindsey said, ¡°Anything you want. It¡¯s my treat. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Don¡¯t worry about the cost. Just choose whatever restaurant you like. ¡± Half an hourter, Lindsey arrived at the restaurant Domenic chose, where thetter was already waiting for her at the door. Today, Domenic was wearing a ck shirt and a pair of ck trousers today, which added to his cold, mysterious aura. After exchanging greetings, Domenic opened the door to the restaurant and let Lindsey in first. As soon as Lindsey stepped foot inside, she was captivated by the restaurant¡¯s interior. A stunning crystal chandelier cast a dreamlike, colorful glow, and the sound of the saxophone filled the entire establishment with soft music. The tables and chairs exuded a vintage Italian style, and waiters in tuxedos moved gracefully throughout the space.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Whenever they spotted a guest, they would pause and offer a warm greeting. Stunned, Lindsey followed Domenic in silently. They ended up choosing a booth by the window and sat down. Judging from the restaurant¡¯s ambience, Lindsey knew that the food there must be expensive. But when she actually nced at the menu, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp inaudibly. ¡°Er, Mr. Walsh, do you really want to eat here?¡± Lindsey nced at Domenic uneasily. Each dish on the menu cost at least a thousand dors, which was far beyond her budget. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have asked such an embarrassing question. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Domenic asked, as though he didn¡¯t get the hint. ¡°Well¡­¡± Lindsey touched her nose awkwardly and said in a low, feeble voice, ¡°It¡¯s a little expensive. ¡± ncing at the menu she was holding, Domenic arched his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I could choose whatever restaurant I wanted?¡± Lindsey was helpless. She had indeed said that. But she didn¡¯t expect that he¡¯d choose such a high-end one. Was it because she had bought him a nice suit yesterday that he mistook her for a rich woman who had endless money to burn? Domenic observed her flustered expression with great interest. Her face was as red as a tomato. She gently bit her lower lip as her eyes wandered over the menu. From time to time, she¡¯d look up at him carefully, trying to judge his mood. Overall, Domenic found her quite adorable. Finally, he stopped teasing her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have a coupon here. We¡¯ll get 90% off the total bill. ¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± Lindsey was even more shocked. She stared at Domenic, mouth agape. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Domenic was confused. Lindsey leaned forward and whispered in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Walsh, tell me the truth. Are there many rich women who want to, uhm, keep you?¡± Otherwise, she couldn¡¯tprehend how he happened to possess such a high-end restaurant coupon! Not to mention the 90% discount! Frowning, Domenic massaged his temples helplessly. Lindsey sensed that she might¡¯ve offended him, so she hurriedly said, ¡°Oh, gosh, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to pry. Please don¡¯t be mad. I promise I won¡¯t ask again. ¡± Chapter 21 ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Domenic replied simply. ¡°There aren¡¯t any rich women who want to keep me. ¡± Seeing that he wasn¡¯t mad, Lindsey breathed a sigh of relief. She shifted her focus back to the menu, and since she could get a 90% discount, she boldly ordered several of the restaurant¡¯s specialties. As soon as she handed the menu to the waiter, she caught sight of a familiar figure entering the restaurant with a middle-aged man. It was Nina! Squinting at her middle-agedpanion, Lindsey felt that he Looked a little familiar. Then, it hit her-this man was Ismael Bard, the dean of their department! ¡®s BunnyBookeryBelongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lindsey¡¯s seat was facing the door, so if Nina and Ismael came over, they would definitely spot her. Lindsey quickly racked her brains and came up with an idea. She lowered her head, snuck around the table, and sat down on the seat next to Domenic, covering her face with her hands. Observing her strange behavior, Domenic took a quick look at the door and understood something. He tilted his broad body and covered Lindsey from view. Sure enough, when Nina passed by arm in arm with Ismael and sat at the next table, they failed to notice that Lindsey was there. At this time, the waiter served their food. Lindsey lowered her head and ate quietly, pricking up her ears in an attempt to eavesdrop. That was when she heard Nina¡¯s cloying voice say, ¡°Honey, you have to help me. You can¡¯t let Lindsey be valedictorian!¡± Ismael reassured her with a doting smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about her. I¡¯ll make sure you get this honor. ¡± ¡°Aw, you¡¯re the best!¡± Nina gave Ismael a big, wet ki*s. Ismael wrapped his arm around her waist and said meaningfully, ¡°Stay with me tonight. If you make me happy, I¡¯ll give you anything you want. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re so naughty!¡± Nina whined coquettishly, pounding his chest. Lindsey¡¯s hand paused. No wonder she could never get their schrship¡¯s first prize, nor could she get any reasonable exnation from the school administration. It turned out that Nina had a backer! Anger surged within Lindsey. She clenched the fork in her hand and said nothing, her expression turning stormy. Noticing her gloomy expression, Domenic asked in a low voice, ¡°They seem to be talking about you. Do you know them?¡± Head lowered, Lindsey stared unwaveringly at the te in front of her with rage-filled eyes. ¡°That woman is Nina Foster. She¡¯s in the same department as me. The man beside her is Ismael Bard, the dean of our department. Nina could never beat me when it came to academics, but she somehow always won the first prize of the school¡¯s schrship every year. Turns out the dean is her sugar daddy. This year, I was hoping to win the title of most outstanding graduate, a prestigious award that¡¯d help me get a good job after graduating. But now that I know they¡¯ve secretly been pulling strings, I might not get it!¡± Upon hearing this, Domenic¡¯s expression also darkened. As it turned out, he was Zrans University¡¯s biggest sponsor, and he had been funding the school schrship for years now. Emilio acted as his representative and was the one in charge of contacting the school. Since Domenic didn¡¯t run the operation himself, he didn¡¯t expect that such a thing would happen. Just then, they suddenly heard an indignant shout from the next table. ¡°This is your signature dish! What do you mean it¡¯s not avable? Why are you even in business if you can¡¯t serve your signature dish?¡± It turned out that a dish Nina ordered was sold out. The waiter hade to exin, but he didn¡¯t expect that Nina would throw a tantrum on the spot. Chapter 22 The waiter apologized, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, ma¡¯am, but this dish is out of stock. How about you choose another one?¡± ncing around, Nina spotted one of the dishes on Lindsey¡¯s table and shouted, ¡°They were able to order it. Why can¡¯t I?¡± However, as soon as her eyesnded on Lindsey, all the color drained from her face. ¡°L-Lindsey? What the-? Why are you here?¡± Since Nina had noticed her, Lindsey stopped hiding and stood up from her seat. Nina averted her gaze, looking a little flustered. ¡°Did you¡­ Did you hear what we said just now?¡± ¡°Every single word,¡± Lindsey said bluntly, her expression ice-cold. Panic-stricken, Nina stomped her foot anxiously and shouted at Ismael, ¡°See? I was right! Lindsey not only seduces men in school but also hooks up with rich men outside!¡± After all, only wealthy people could afford to eat in this restaurant, and sure enough, the man seated next to Lindsey looked like an elite, exuding a strong, cold aura. His simple ck attire only served to make him look even cooler. Nina was even more annoyed now that she knew that the man Lindsey had hooked up with was so damn good-looking. At this time, Ismael walked over and red at Lindsey angrily.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Seeing Nina twist the situation around and throw usations back, Lindsey was on the verge of bursting intoughter out of sheer frustration. ¡°Nina, you might have a pretty face, but your heart is so ugly. You know better than anyone here who¡¯s got bad conduct. ¡± Then, Lindsey shifted her gaze to Ismael and scolded ruthlessly, ¡°And you-you¡¯re the dean of our department, yet you¡¯re having an affair with your student. As though that wasn¡¯t disgusting enough, you oppressed other more deserving students in order to seek benefits from your lover. You don¡¯t deserve to be an educator. ¡± Hearing this, the onlookers all stared at Nina and Ismael, disdain and disgust written all over their faces. ¡°Gross! I can¡¯t believe the dean went for a student!¡± ¡°And how dare that girl use that other girl of bad conduct? It¡¯s clear that the young couple is in love. They¡¯re a perfect match! As for the slut and her fat, old man-just looking at them makes my eyes hurt!¡± The discussions of the people around made Nina¡¯s face turn bright red. She was so angry that she raised her hand to p Lindsey! Unexpectedly, before she couldnd her blow, somebody grabbed her tightly by the wrist. Domenic had stepped in front of Lindsey with lightning speed, catching Nina¡¯s wrist. Exerting little force, he threw her hand away, causing Nina to stagger backward a few steps. Lindsey Looked at him in surprise. She didn¡¯t expect that he¡¯d stand out to protect her. ¡°How dare you push her!¡± Ismael rushed up aggressively. Pointing at Domenic, he threatened, ¡°I¡¯ll have you kicked out of this restaurant, you bastard! And you!¡± He turned to look at Lindsey fiercely and said, ¡°Don¡¯t bother showing up to ss tomorrow. I¡¯m expelling you!¡± Chapter 23 ¡°Oh, yeah? On what grounds?¡± Lindsey crossed her arms over her chest and fearlessly met his ferocious gaze. At this, Ismael subconsciously took a step back, his face flushed. The fat on his face jiggled as he stuttered, ¡°I-I¡¯m the dean! I have every right to expel you!¡± Domenic turned his head casually and said to the waiter beside him without looking at the two, ¡°Call your boss over and tell him that someone¡¯s disturbing the peace here. I want him to be removed from the restaurant. ¡± His domineering aura seemed to tame the waiter, because thetter nodded repeatedly and left to look for the restaurateur. After a while, the restaurateur came. Seeing Domenic amidst the crowd, the initial impatience on his face turned into shock and panic. Who on earth would dare to provoke this big shot? As the restaurateur around here, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and approach them uneasily. However, just as he was about to greet Domenic, thetter shot him a warning nce. The restaurateur, smart as he was, took the hint. He turned to look at Nina and Ismael and said solemnly, ¡°Excuse me, but someone reported you two for stirring up trouble here. Please leave now. ¡± Both Nina and Ismael looked at him in shock. ¡°Who the hell are you to kick us out? We¡¯re paying customers! The customer is always right, don¡¯t you know that?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m the owner of this restaurant. I can decide whom not to serve,¡± the restaurateur replied coldly. With a wave of his hand, several security guards came over and surrounded Nina and Ismael. ¡°Do you want to leave by yourselves? Or should I ask them to make you leave?¡± Nina was a little scared. She tugged at Ismael¡¯s sleeve with a sense of urgency. Ismael didn¡¯t dare to fight these burly security guards, but it was the first time that he had been so humiliated, and he couldn¡¯t suppress his anger. He pointed at the restaurateur and hissed fiercely, ¡°Just you wait and see. I¡¯ll make sure this dump¡¯s closed by tomorrow!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait. ¡± The restaurateur still kept smiling at them politely, though his eyes were cold. Ismael huffed and turned around, looking a little embarrassed. Nina shot Lindsey onest murderous re before leaving to catch up to her sugar daddy. When the two troublemakers were gone, the restaurateur hurriedly bowed to Lindsey and Domenic and apologized profusely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that your meal was disturbed due to our poor management. In order to express my sincere apologies, your meal¡¯s on the house. What do you think?¡± He raised his head ever so briefly to steal a nce at Domenic, then he quickly bowed his head again. His life was on the Line here, and he was scared out of his wits that this big shot would actually close down his restaurant. ¡°Well, what do you think?¡± Domenic asked Lindsey for her opinion. Lindsey knew that the restaurateur wasn¡¯t to me, so she said considerately, ¡°This matter has nothing to do with the restaurant, and he handled it very well. ¡± At this, Domenic¡¯s expression softened. ¡°As long as you¡¯re satisfied, I have no objection. ¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The restaurateur, who had been secretly observing Domenic¡¯s reaction, was utterly shocked. He had seen Domenic several times before, and this big shot always wore a cold poker face. The restaurateur had never seen such a gentle look on his face before. He couldn¡¯t help but survey Lindsey out of the corner of his eye, wondering who this woman was. After the restaurateur and the security guards bowed and left, Lindsey looked at Domenic strangely and mused, ¡°Why do I get the feeling that the restaurateur¡¯s afraid of you?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Expressionless, Domenic sat back in his seat calmly. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I look scary. ¡± Chapter 24 Lindsey also sat down, but she couldn¡¯t stop staring at the man in front of her. Indeed, he bore a cruel and arrogant countenance, much like a cheetah lurking in the dark of night, ready to sink its teeth into its prey¡¯s neck at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Maybe you should smile more. Smiling can make people look more approachable, you know,¡± Lindsey suggested. Smile more? Huh. Domenic gave it a try, and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards unnaturally. ¡®s BunnyBookery Seeing this, Lindsey almost choked on her saliva. She didn¡¯t expect him to look even more frightening when he smiled! * Because the restaurant wasn¡¯t that far from Zrans University, Domenic walked Lindsey back to the school after dinner. The gentle breeze of early summer brought a delightful sense of tranquility, ruffling the hair of the two individuals as it danced around them. The soft glow of the yellow streetmps cast their elongated shadows on the ground. Gazing into the distance, Domenic observed numerous buildings that glittered with warm lights. He couldn¡¯t help but think about his childhood. Although his parents had always been very busy most of the time, they would take walks as a family after dinner. His parents would hold his hands and together, they¡¯d stroll through the bustling streets, brushing past crowds and staring at the stars in the sky. How long had it been since he enjoyed such a simple moment? Domenic didn¡¯t know. It was so long ago that he couldn¡¯t remember. Lindsey ran her fingers through her lustrous hair and looked at him. Just then, the gentle breeze caressed his exquisitely handsome face, and finally brushed aside the stray strands of hair on his forehead, giving him an overall appearance of warmth andposure. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Walsh,¡± Lindsey suddenly said. ¡°For what?¡± Puzzled, Domenic looked down at the woman beside him. She Lowered her head slightly, which made her look so meek and beautiful under the streetmps. ¡°You¡¯ve helped me twice today, and when Nina tried to hit me, you stopped her. ¡± Domenic didn¡¯t think much of it at the time, nor did he expect her to thank him ceremoniously for it. A faint smile on his lips, he asked, ¡°How do you n on repaying me?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Twiddling her thumbs uneasily, she asked, ¡°How do you want me to repay you?¡± Domenic fell silent and crossed his arms over his chest, as though he was thinking about it carefully.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lindsey waited anxiously, afraid that he¡¯d make some kind of excessive request. Unexpectedly, he said in a casual tone, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll tell you when I think of something. ¡± ¡°Oh, okay. ¡± Before long, the two of them arrived at the school gate. After saying goodbye to Domenic, Lindsey went straight to her dormitory. Chapter 25 Her roommate and bestie, Nancy Schultz, rushed over with pieces of cucumber on her face as soon as she entered the room. ¡°Lindsey, who¡¯s the hottie you were with just now?¡± she asked excitedly. The window of their room was facing the school gate, so she happened to see Domenic. ¡°A friend,¡± Lindsey answered cryptically while putting on her slippers. ¡°A ¡®friend¡¯?¡± Nancy rolled her eyes and snickered, ¡°Howe I never knew you had such a handsome friend? Can you introduce him to me sometime?¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°He and I¡­ we¡¯re not very close,¡± Lindsey said perfunctorily. She sat on the edge of her bed and turned on herptop, and as soon as she logged into her Facebook, she received a message notification. ¡°Linds, do you want to join tonight¡¯s friendly match?¡± The sender was Lindsey¡¯s partner in an online-game, and the two had be fast friend. His game ID was ¡°Noir¡±, but as far as Lindsey knew, his real name was Sumner Lawson. Sumner had a strong family background and was currently studying abroad, so they had never met in real life. ¡°Nope,¡± Lindsey replied briefly. ¡°Why? Are you upset today?¡± Lindsey was stunned. She didn¡¯t expect that he¡¯d sense her low mood so quickly. ALL of a sudden, Lindsey felt the urge to talk to someone about her woes. She started tapping away at the keyboard, recounting her quarrel with Nina and Ismael in the restaurant earlier tonight. Although she was able to vent to her anger in the restaurant, Ismael¡¯s threat of expelling her was a thorn in her side. In all of her college life, she strived to do her best and had followed all the rules. Not once did she break a rule, but unexpectedly, such an incident happened just as she was about to graduate. She had offended the dean; expulsion was indeed a possibility. Thinking of this, Lindsey sighed helplessly. After learning about what had happened to Lindsey, Sumner cursed Nina and Ismael for being so shameless. When he was done venting, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Karma will bite them in the butt sooner orter. ¡± Lindsey was in a better mood after letting it all out and chatting with Sumner. Feeling sleepy, she shut herptop, took a shower, and then went to bed. The following morning, as soon as Lindsey finished freshening up, she received a call from her counselor, asking her to go to the president¡¯s office. It must¡¯ve had something to do with what happenedst night. Lindsey didn¡¯t expect that it¡¯d escte to the president of the university. Would she really be expelled? While she was deep in thought, her phone suddenly rang. It was Domenic calling. Lindsey was a little surprised, but she was thankful for the distraction. ¡°What¡¯s up, Mr. Walsh? Why¡¯d you call so early in the morning?¡± Chapter 26 ¡°The man we met at the restaurantst night-he didn¡¯t make things difficult for you, did he?¡± Domenic asked in a low, deep voice. It turned out that he was calling to check on her. His concern made Lindsey feel warm in her heart. ¡°Actually, the president asked me to go to his office just now, presumably for this matter. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a fighter. I¡¯ll be alright!¡± ¡°You sound a little worried. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t expect that Domenic would see right through her in an instant. She smiled helplessly and admitted, ¡°Well, Ismael¡¯s the dean of our department after all, and I¡¯m just an insignificant student. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Domenic said, his voice having a sense of maism to it. ¡°I believe that they¡¯ll receive their deserved punishment. ¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Lindsey thought he was justforting her, so she sighed. ¡°I hope so. ¡± ncing at her watch, she said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve got to get going. Talk to youter, okay?¡± After hanging up, Lindsey gathered her bearings and walked out of the dorm. She headed to the top floor of the school administration building and soon found the president¡¯s office ording to the room number the counselor had given her on the phone. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open. As expected, in addition to the president, Ismael and Nina were also there. Pretending to be calm, Lindsey walked up to the president and greeted him with a respectful smile. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Prescott. ¡± The president nodded to her gravely. ¡°Lindsey, your ssmate has reported that you not only fooled around with several male ssmates at the same time but are also being kept by a rich man. Mr. Bard said that he had confirmed this matter and repeatedly admonished you, but not only have you disregarded his counsel but also fought and disrespected him. Your behavior has seriously vited the rules of our school, and after discussing this matter with Mr. Bard, I¡¯ve decided to have you expelled. ¡± Lindsey clenched the hem of her blouse. Looking at thecent smiles on of the faces of Ismael and Nina, the grievance and anger in her heart reached its peak. ¡°Mr. Prescott, I didn¡¯t do any of those things. They¡¯re falsely using me because I found out that Nina and Mr. Bard are having an affair, and now, they¡¯re trying to kick me out of the school. ¡± ¡°Lindsey Stewart!¡± Ismael leaped to his feet and pointed at her angrily. ¡°As a dean, I¡¯ve always been frank and fair to all its students. Don¡¯t spout nonsense here!¡± ¡°Mr. Prescott, Lindsey has always been mean to me, and she likes to spread rumors. See? In order to prove herself innocent, she even made up such a ridiculous lie to nder me and Mr. Bard!¡± Nina pursed her lips and her eyes turned slightly red, looking as though she had been greatly wronged. ¡°ALL right, that¡¯s enough. ¡± The university president waved at Ismael and Nina to make them calm down. Then he looked at Lindsey and said sternly, ¡°The school has investigated and I¡¯ve made my decision. Inform your parents about your punishment. Leave as soon as you finish the dropout formalities. ¡± It seemed that they had conspired against Lindsey before she even arrived. Thus, no matter what she said, it was useless. ALL the frustration and hurt she¡¯d bottled up over the past years suddenly bubbled to the surface. Lindsey clenched her fists, fighting back the tears with all her might. She couldn¡¯t let herself cry in front of these scumbags! Just then, the door to the office was suddenly opened from the outside, and several well-dressed men strode in. Chapter 27 ¡°Mr. Howard, Mr. Lyons! What brings you two gentlemen here?¡± The president immediately jumped up from his seat as soon as he saw the two unexpected visitors. One of them was Emilio, the general manager of Vitality Entertainment, which had been funding Zrans University¡¯s schrship, and the other was Daniel Lyons, the minister of the Department of Education. Why did these two big shots suddenly show up? As Emilio strode into the office, he couldn¡¯t help but steal a nce at Lindsey before sitting down on the sofa. When he received a call from Domenicst night, he was surprised that someone as upied as Domenic would suddenly concern himself with such matters. With the recent hectic workload at thepany, Emilio had nned to deal with this problem a few dayster. However, just now, Domenic called and demanded that he immediately resolve the issue or face being transferred overseas. Frightened, Emilio quickly set everything aside and rushed to the president¡¯s office together with Daniel. So, when he saw Lindsey sitting in the office, he was utterly shell-shocked. Did Domenic meddle in this matter for the sake of this woman? Daniel took a seat on the sofa next to Emilio. He nced around and asked in a interrogative tone, ¡°Mr. Prescott, the Department of Education has received a report that the dean of your school, Ismael Bard, is having an affair with a female student and that the student in question had been awarded the first prize of the national schrship years in a row. Is this true?¡± ¡°Well¡ª¡± Flustered, the president looked to Ismael for help. ¡°Mr. Bard, exin yourself. Is what he said true?¡± Ismael¡¯s face was as pale as a sheet. He didn¡¯t know how the minister of the Department of Education caught wind of his affair, let alone the general manager of the Vitality Entertainment! But he knew the gravity of his situation; if it was confirmed to be true, his career would be over in the blink of an eye. Now, he had to defend himself! ¡°Mr. Lyons, that¡¯s not true at all! I¡¯ve always been fair in awarding schrships. ¡± ¡°But I heard that Lindsey Stewart has consistently ranked first in terms of grades for the past three consecutive years, even far exceeding that of the student in second ce, Nina Foster,¡± Daniel said coldly. ¡°However, you mentioned many times in Lindsey¡¯s individual evaluation that she had bad conduct, which disqualified her from winning the first prize schrship. Today, I implore you to delve into precise details and shed light upon the true nature of her bad conduct. ¡± Ismael wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, stammering, ¡°I-I heard from other students that Lindsey had inappropriate rtionships with more than one male student at a time, and that she was being kept by a rich man. Such behavior and conduct seriously vites the school¡¯s code of ethics, so I-¡° ¡°Mr. Bard, you can¡¯t just base an evaluation on hearsay!¡± Daniel interrupted Ismael harshly . ¡°You have to provide evidence! Since that you said that you heard it from the other students, then I want you to summon those students here to confirm the story. We must figure out when, where, and how they found out about their allegations against Miss Stewart. If you can¡¯t provide solid evidence, then we¡¯ll get the police involved in the investigation. We cannot leave any stone unturned; after all, the fate of a student is at stake. ¡± Ismael was scared out of his wits. He didn¡¯t expect that Daniel would be so tough, demanding evidence left and right.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. If the police came, he was screwed! Ismael didn¡¯t dare to blurt any more lies. He stood still, deathly pale, looking around nervously. ¡°Besides, I heard that there seems to be some kind of intimate rtionship between Mr. Bard and the first-prize schrship winner, Nina Foster. ¡± Emilio, who had been quiet this whole time, suddenly spoke. The words ¡°intimate rtionship¡± were very subtle but effective, sending a hush over the whole office. Biting her lip anxiously, Nina looked to Ismael for help, only to find that thetter looked as though he had seen a ghost. He waspletely dumbfounded! ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?!¡± Ismael shouted, too panicked to keep his voice down. ¡°This is baseless nder-nothing more than a rumor!¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s nder or not, we¡¯ll find out soon. ¡± With a wave of Emilio¡¯s hand, the assistant standing behind him suddenly turned on theptop she brought with her, put it on the desk, and yed a surveince video. Ismael and Nina froze in ce. In the video, they were feeding food to each other in a restaurant. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that they had a special rtionship. Chapter 28 The two of them red at Lindsey with resentment, as though they thought that she was the one who found the damning surveince footage. When the clip ended, the assistant then proceeded to show everyone screenshots of Ismael and Nina¡¯s check-in records at a hotel, which were irrefutable evidence. ¡°He¡¯s the dean of a department, but he not only had an affair with a student but also abused his power to oppress another outstanding student. Mr. Prescott, do you think we should support a school that¡¯d let such a serious matter slide?¡± Emilio stared at the university president sharply as he spoke. Thetter was trembling in fear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Howard! I¡¯ll investigate it thoroughly and give you a satisfactory solution. ¡± With a cold snort, Emilio looked at Daniel and said, ¡°Mr. Lyons, I believe that the Department of Education would deal with it impartially. Whoever was involved in this matter-whether it be a student, a teacher, a dean, or even a president-we cannot let them off the hook easily. ¡± Hearing this, all the color drained from the president¡¯s face. He immediately regretted helping Ismael cover up his mistakes. Now that he was involved, he¡¯d likely be punished. Daniel nodded with a cold expression and stood up. ¡°From now on, Ismael Bard will be removed from office.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. As for the others rted to this matter, we¡¯ll investigate and get to the bottom of things before deciding on a punishment. ¡± Ismael¡¯s jaw dropped. He¡¯d spent two decades wing his way to the top. If he got fired for this, it¡¯d go on his permanent record, and his career would be toast! Suddenly, his gaze fell on Nina, who was trembling like a leaf. He stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and pulled her up from the seat. ¡°It¡¯s her! This is all her fault! She¡¯s the one who told me about Lindsey¡¯s supposed ¡®bad conduct¡¯. She lied to me! I was deceived by her and made a wrong judgment. Please, please give me another chance. I¡¯ll never make the same mistake again!¡± Shouting, Ismael threw Nina into the fire like a madman, his face contorted in anger and desperation. He wanted to pin all the me on her in ast-ditch effort to extricate himself from the matter. ¡®s BunnyBookery Nina struggled to free herself and shouted back, ¡°Bullshit! I never told you anything! Besides, what makes you think I¡¯d want to be with someone as fat and old and ugly as you? You forced me to be with you!¡± These words pissed Ismael off so much that he couldn¡¯t help but p her in the face. Nina stumbled and fell to the floor in a daze. ¡°You bitch! You¡¯re the one who shamelessly seduced me! I was blinded by you!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t- I never-!¡± Nina covered her swelling left cheek and burst into tears, unable to speak coherently. Ismael was about to hit Nina again, but the other people present managed to stop him in time. Then, several security guards rushed into the office to escort him out as though he were a criminal. Finally, the farce was over. Lindsey stood still in a daze. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around what just happened. Minutes earlier, she was about to be expelled from school. How did the tables turn so quickly? Was there someone helping her from the shadows? But who could it be? As Emilio walked past Lindsey, he gave her a sly wink and then sauntered out with a knowing grin. Now, Lindsey was even more confused. She had never seen this man before in her life, so why did he act as though he knew her? While deep in thought, Lindsey wandered out of the administration building. Among all the people she knew, she guessed that only Sumner would have connections to a big shot like Emilio. Besides, he was the only person she had told, and he had said very confidently that those bad people would experience karma. She concluded that he was the one who had secretly helped her, but she couldn¡¯t figure out why he didn¡¯t tell her in advance. Chapter 29 Whatever his reasons were, she had to thank him for helping her. So, Lindsey took out her phone and sent Sumner a quick message. ¡°Problem solved. Thank you!¡± Sumner, who was abroad, was confused when he saw the message, but he didn¡¯t think too much about it. He was, however, happy for Lindsey since she said that the matter had been resolved.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Great! Let¡¯s celebrate when I get back. ¡± In just under 48 hours, the school announced some major changes: The president was demoted, Ismael was fired, and Nina was expelled. What was more, they stripped Nina of her honorary titles as the three-time national schrship winner, and the honors were then re-awarded to Lindsey. This whole thing set the whole campus aze with questions. The school forum lit up with passionate debates. Some folks imed they¡¯d suspected Nina and Ismael had some shady thing going on for ages, while others called out the dirty secrets in the world of education. But there was one thing no one questioned-Lindsey winning the first prize schrship, because she deserved it. And the people who once believed in the rumors all lowered their heads in shame whenever they saw Lindsey. After packing up her things, Nina walked out of the school with everyone watching. However, when she turned to look back at the school, there was no regret in her eyes. On the contrary, they were full of resentment. She hated Lindsey to her core. She still believed it was all Lindsey¡¯s fault, or she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this shitty situation! While Nina was ring at the school angrily, a red car screeched to a halt right next to her. The car window was rolled down, revealing a woman with heavy makeup. The woman took off her sunsses and squinted at Nina, asking, ¡°Are you Nina Foster?¡± Nina frowned. ¡°Who are you?¡± ncing at the luggage Nina was holding, Kendra asked, ¡°Were you kicked out of the school because of Lindsey?¡± Nina was shocked. This woman didn¡¯t look like a student, so how could she know about the whole story? In reality, Kendra had strategically ced informants within Zrans University to keep a close watch on Lindsey. Moreover, this situation had bemon knowledge among the students, let alone her spies. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Nina immediately went on high alert. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am,¡± Kendra replied confidently, one hand on the steering wheel. ¡°What matters is that I have a way to discredit Lindsey. Work with me, and we¡¯ll take her down together. ¡± Seeing Nina¡¯s eyes light up eagerly, Kendra couldn¡¯t help but sneer. It seemed that Lindsey had made many enemies. After thinking for a moment, Nina pulled her luggage to the back of the car and knocked on the trunk. Seeing all this from the rearview mirror, Kendra smiled and opened the trunk. Nina threw all her luggage into it. Then she walked to the front passenger seat and got in. ¡°I Like straightforward people like you. I hope we have a pleasant cooperation. ¡± Kendra smiled and reached out her hand to Nina. Nina smiled back and shook her outstretched hand. Later that evening, while Lindsey was in the middle of a game, she suddenly received a call from Domenic. ¡°Has the matter been resolved yet?¡± a deep voice sounded from the other end of the line. Domenic was a very busy man; it wasn¡¯t easy for him to carve out time from his schedule to call Lindsey. Chapter 30 Lindsey, however, was in the middle of a game. She mped the phone between her neck and ear and said, ¡°Oh! I was about to tell you all about it. Ismael was fired and Nina was expelled. The school not only awarded me with the past three years¡¯ first prize schrship, but theypensated me with some money. I think that from now on, they¡¯ll handle the selection of the most outstanding graduate impartially. ¡± Upon hearing her joyful ount of what had happened, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. ¡± ¡°Thanks for checking in on me. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s sweet voice tugged at Domenic¡¯s heartstrings, a feeling he had never felt before.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Domenic leaned back in his leather chair, feeling as though the exhaustion that had umted over the past few days had dissipated, and there was a tenderness in his eyes that even he didn¡¯t notice. Just as he was about to say something more, he suddenly heard a man¡¯s anxious voice from the other end of the line. ¡°Linds, focus! We can¡¯t afford any distractions right now!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery The voice hade from Lindsey¡¯sptop speakers. In the game, she was in the middle of a fierce battle together with Sumner and some other teammates. It was inevitable that her performance would be affected if she stayed on the call. Everyone had been preparing for thispetition for a long time. Not wanting to drag the entire team down, Lindsey hurriedly said goodbye to Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m in the middle of something important. Let¡¯s chat another day!¡± With that, she hung up on him. Domenic¡¯s expression darkened as the dial tone droned into his ear. Who was the man she was with? Why did that man ask her to focus on what they were doing? And what on earth were they doing in the first ce? Many undesirable notions appeared in Domenic¡¯s mind. The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he felt. Had she been pretending to be simple and innocent all this time? Indeed, they had shared a passionate night together in the hotel, but when they met again, she acted like a totally different person. Mulling over the duality in Lindsey, Domenic¡¯s eyes turned cold. How many sides did this woman have? * Lindsey didn¡¯t have ss on Friday afternoon, so she made it back home before dinner. As soon as she entered the house, she found Chayce and Benny sitting on the sofa, chatting with each other pleasantly. What on earth was he doing here? Seeing her repulsive boyfriend, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but frown. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Chayce got up and trotted over to Lindsey, a gleam of joy shining in his rat-like eyes. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier that your father finally agreed to our marriage?¡± Lindsey bypassed him and strode towards the sofa, sitting down next to her father. She looked up at Chayce and pretended to be confused, asking, ¡°I haven¡¯t even told you yet. How¡¯d you find out?¡± Chapter 31 ¡°Well¡­ It was Mrs. Stewart who told me,¡± Chayce answered hesitantly, scratching the back of his head. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know you two were so close,¡± Lindseymented innocently, blinking her big, bright eyes at him like a child. Upon hearing this, Kendra¡¯s hand trembled, and she almost knocked down the ss on the table. Chayce stammered, ¡°Well, I-I mean- I happened to run into her yesterday, and she told me all about it. ¡± That was a tant lie. Truth be told, Kendra had told him about it on the phone. To avoid any unnecessary trouble, Kendra decided that they ought to avoid going out together, lest somebody catch them together. ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Lindsey nodded. Then she looked at her father meaningfully and eximed, ¡°What a small world, huh?¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± Chayce interjected hurriedly, worried that Benny would get suspicious. He picked up the coffee pot on the table and fawningly poured him another cup. ¡°It seems that Lindsey and I are meant to be together. ¡± Benny was very pleased with this kind of ttery, so he scolded Lindsey lightheartedly, ¡°You should¡¯ve told Chayce sooner! You made the poor boy wait anxiously. ¡± Lindsey pursed her lips, pretending to be aggrieved. ¡°Dad, I wanted to surprise him this weekend. I nned to invite him to dinner at home and break the news to him, but I didn¡¯t expect that Kendra would tell him before then!¡± Hearing her exnation, both Chayce and Kendra secretly heaved a sigh of relief. They were beginning to suspect that Lindsey knew something, but it turned out to be a false rm. After setting the table, Kendra walked to the living room while wiping her hands on her apron, looking like a textbook virtuous wife. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready! Let¡¯s eat first. ¡± Together, they sat at the table and dug in. ¡°Now that Chayce¡¯s here today, let¡¯s talk about your engagement,¡± Benny said while putting some food on his te. Kendra smiled and chimed in, ¡°Lindsey, just now, your father ironed out the details with Chayce. The engagement party will be held next weekend. We know how important this day is to you, so your father and I pulled all the stops. We¡¯ve already sent out the invitations. ALL the prominent figures and celebrities in the city will be there to bless you two!¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Lindsey lowered her head, pretending to be shy. Truth be told, however, she knew very well what was really on Kendra¡®s mind. Kendra obviously invited so many guests to the engagement party so that she could make a fool out of her stepdaughter in front of all those people; the more the guests, the more wonderful the farce would be. Lindsey raised her head and smiled brightly. ¡°Thank you. ¡± Seeing that Lindsey seemedpletely oblivious to their scheme, Chayce finally felt relieved. Recently, he had felt that Lindsey was deliberately avoiding him, which made him a little restless. After dinner, Lindsey linked arms with Chayce and smiled at him dotingly. ¡°Let¡¯s go out for a walk, Chayce!¡± ¡°Sounds great. ¡± Since Lindsey was taking the initiative to invite him for a walk Chayce couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, feeling jubnt inside. Kendra was secretly seething with jealousy, but there was nothing she could do to stop them without raising suspicion. She could only shoot Chayce a warning nce before the two left arm in arm. Chapter 32 When Lindsey and Chayce made it past the neighborhood gate, thetter couldn¡¯t hide his excitement anymore. He slipped his arm around Lindsey¡¯s slender waist and asked, ¡°Where are we going, darling?¡± Lindsey was so pretty. If it weren¡¯t for Kendra¡¯s jealousy, he would¡¯ve been more than happy to sleep with Lindsey that time he drugged her. After all, why should he bother finding a homeless man to do it? Now that Kendra was out of the way, he was determined to bed this beautiful woman!C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Unexpectedly, Lindsey nestled against his chest. Chayce, who wasn¡¯t used to her touch, felt the urge to hold her, but she suddenly pulled away and quickly walked forward. Being inadvertently blown off, Chayce rubbed his hands awkwardly and followed her. ¡°It¡¯s not convenient here¡­¡± With a shy smile, Lindsey raised her hand and hailed a taxi. Opening the car door, she gestured towards the interior with a nod of her chin, gesturing Chayce to get in. ¡®s BunnyBookery Chayce thought that she wanted to go get a room with him, so he hopped in without hesitation. ¡°Come on, Lindsey!¡± Chayce patted the seat beside him and urged Lindsey to get into the taxi. Lindsey smiled at him sweetly. ¡°To Greenview Apartments, please. My boyfriend¡¯s drunk. Please send him home safely. ¡± After saying that to the driver through the open window, Lindsey mmed the door shut. The next moment, the taxi took off. Panicked and angry, Chayce banged his fist on the door and shouted at the driver, ¡°Stop! Stop the car!¡± However, the driver just rolled his eyes at Chayce through the rearview mirror and paid him no heed, thinking that this man was just heavily intoxicated. After sending Chayce away, Lindsey took out a phone from her pocket. She had stolen it from him when she snuggled up to him just now. Without hesitation, she turned off the phone, pulled out the SIM card, and casually threw it into the bushes next to the sidewalk-all with a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Then, she wandered down the street aimlessly. As night fell, the city wrapped itself in an air of mystery under its dark, velvety curtain. This sensation reminded her of Domenic, and suddenly, she felt the urge to call him. But for what reason should she call him? He just promised to be her boyfriend on the day of her engagement party. He had no obligation to chat with her outside of ¡°work¡±. After hesitating for a long time, Lindsey sighed and slipped her phone back into her pocket. An hourter, she returned home. As soon as she stepped foot inside her house, Kendra sprang up from the sofa, ran over, and asked breathlessly, ¡°What took you so long? And what about Chayce? Did¡­ Did he bully you?¡± Lindsey tilted her head to the side and ced her hand on her slender neck, massaging it a little. ¡°No, of course not. I¡¯m feeling a little tired. I¡¯m going back to my room to have a rest. ¡± After saying that, she headed to her room. Kendra, however, was unconvinced. She retreated to the balcony and called Chayce impatiently, but to her surprise, a robotic voice informed her that his phone was powered off. What the hell? What happened between him and Lindsey? Why did Chayce turn off his phone? Chapter 33 Kendra paced back and forth, feeling increasingly uneasy. After thinking for a long while, she made up her mind to confront Chayce in person the next day. When Lindsey returned to her room, she sent a message to her private detective. ¡°Kendra will definitely meet up with Chayce tomorrow. Remember to take more photos, okay?¡± Then she put her phone away and climbed into bed. The private detective had informed her that he had been closely monitoring Kendra and Chayce for quite some time, but that he couldn¡¯t get any evidence of themmitting adultery. Since it seemed that the scheming couple were now being cautious, Lindsey decided to create an opportunity for them to meet. A cunning smile appeared on Lindsey¡¯s face at the thought of what might go down the following day. * In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the engagement party. Lindsey had already a solid n in mind, and the most important part of this n was Domenic. So, she called him right after her ss ended. Domenic was in the midst of an important meeting when his phone suddenly vibrated. As he was about to decline the call, he paused when he saw Lindsey¡¯s name flickering on the screen. ALL the people present held their breath and waited for Domenic¡¯s further instructions, but unexpectedly, he grabbed the phone and walked out of the meeting room under everyone¡¯s gaze. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± His voice was a little cold. Lindsey cleared her throat and asked nervously, ¡°Mr. Walsh, are you free today?¡± ¡°Tell me whatever it is you want over the phone. I have a lot on my te. ¡± Domenic wasn¡¯t lying.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Lately, he had been engrossed in intense business negotiations with the world¡¯s most influential corporation. His days were consumed by back-to-back meetings, and he also had various other responsibilities within the group. His work had be a substantial timemitment. However, there was another reason why he was so cold to her: he still felt unhappy, thinking about the male voice he had heard on the phone callst time. Lindsey was confused. She hadn¡¯t contacted him for only a few days, so why was he suddenly so cold to her? ¡°Oh, uh, I just wanted to talk to you about the engagement party. Is now a bad time?¡± Upon receiving the go-signal from Domenic, Lindsey briefly told him about her n. ¡°Got it,¡± he replied tly. ¡°Mr. Walsh, can you make it to the engagement party?¡± Domenic¡¯s attitude made Lindsey feel a little uneasy, so she offered, ¡°How about I deposit a down payment into your ount first?¡± Perhaps paying him in advance would prevent him from backing out halfway. Chapter 34 ¡°No need,¡± Domenic refused without hesitation. However, sensing her distress, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t go back on my promise. ¡± Hearing his reassuring words, Lindsey was relieved. Although she hadn¡¯t known him for a long time, she trusted him. ¡°Okay, see you this weekend,¡± Lindsey said briskly before hanging up the phone. Twenty minutes had passed, but Domenic still hadn¡¯t returned to the meeting room. Everyone was growing increasingly confused. Normally, Domenic would never answer the phone during a meeting, and even if he did, he¡¯d only say a few words before ending the call abruptly. They couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he would spend so much time on this one phone call and who he was talking to. There was a buzz of spection in the room. When Domenic finally pushed the door open, the whole room fell into dead silence. He had spent so much time on that one phone call. Something big must¡¯ve happened! Everyone sat upright and looked at him attentively, not daring to even breathe too loudly. ¡°Go on. ¡± Unexpectedly, Domenic looked through the documents on his desk calmly, as though nothing had happened. Everyone exchanged confused nces, but they didn¡¯t dare to disobey their boss, so they proceeded with the meeting. * On the day of the engagement party, Lindsey awoke to the sound of a brisk knock on her door. She got up, still bleary-eyed, and opened the door, only to find Kendra standing outside. Wearing delicate make-up and an expensive red silk dress, Kendra held out a pink chiffon dress in front of Lindsey. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Why¡¯d you sleep in today of all days?¡± she asked brightly. ¡°It¡¯s time to get up! I had a famous designer make this custom evening gown for you, and I think it¡¯s perfect for tonight¡¯s engagement party. I just know you¡¯ll amaze everyone tonight!¡± Despite the warm smile on her face, Kendra was secretly snickering in her heart. As soon as she received the dress, she had asked someone to tamper with it. When Lindsey showed up to the engagement party in the tampered dress, she¡¯d definitely make a fool of herself in front of all those people! Lindsey took the dress over and smiled at her gratefully. ¡°Wow! Thank you so much, Kendra. This is great! I was stressing over what I¡¯d wear tonight. ¡± Then, after closing the door, she didn¡¯t hesitate to toss the pink dress into the trash can. That night, in a grand hotel, the guests started to trickle in.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Kendra stood at the entrance to receive them, looking like the perfect hostess. It had taken her a great deal of effort to convince these celebrities and big shots to show up. However, unbeknownst to her, the people she thought were upper-ss were at actually just middle ss. With her Limited connections, she couldn¡¯t get in touch with the real upper ss at all. ¡°Mr. Navarro, you¡¯re here!¡± Kendra spotted a sleek Benz pulling up at the hotel¡¯s entrance. A man in his fifties, with a stocky build and a sizable gold chain around his neck, stepped out of the car. At the mere sight of this man, Kendra¡¯s eyes lit up in excitement, and she rushed over to greet him. The man already had a plus one, but he didn¡¯t bother to hide his greed for women. He looked Kendra up and down and finally fixed his eyes on her exposed cleavage. ¡°Mrs. Stewart, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, but I didn¡¯t expect you¡¯d be so young and beautiful. Mr. Stewart is so lucky to have you. ¡± Chapter 35 Kendra gave him an ingratiating smile and didn¡¯t miss an opportunity to butter up to him. ¡°You tter me, Mr. Navarro. Please,e in!¡± Samuel Navarro was a wealthy businessman. In his early years, he operated a series of underground casinos, amassing a considerable fortune. With his earnings, he established his ownpany, which currently possessed a portfolio of medium-sized hotels and karaoke establishments. It was safe to say he was the richest guest among everyone Kendra had invited. Kendra personally escorted Samuel into the banquet hall and arranged for him to sit in the front row. All the while, Samuel¡¯s eyes roved her body unscrupulously, and he kept pretending to ¡°identally¡± touch her always. Kendra felt sick to her stomach, but she could not afford to offend such a rich and powerful man. She could only swallow her disgust and continue to tter him. When she finally got rid of the dirty old pervert, she looked around and found that almost all the guests hade, but Lindsey, tonight¡¯s main character, was nowhere to be seen. Kendra found Chayce in the crowd and asked him to call Lindsey. But before Chayce could even dial the number, an uproar in the banquet hall interrupted his thoughts. Everyone craned their necks to look at the entrance, including Kendra. Lindsey strode into the banquet hall gracefully, like an angel descending from heaven. Her makeup was tasteful, and she had her long hair partly pinned up while the rest flowed freely down her back. Her choice was an incredibly stunning, pure white evening gown. With her sweet, charming smile, she lit up the room. ¡°Wow! Who¡¯s that? She¡¯s gorgeous!¡± The guests around couldn¡¯t help but gawk at Lindsey. ¡°That¡¯s Lindsey Stewart, the bride-to-be!¡± ¡°That dress-isn¡¯t that part of Chanel¡¯stest collection? It costs hundreds of thousands of dors!¡± Upon hearing this, Kendra¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. How could Lindsey afford such an expensive dress? It had to be a fake! But even she had to admit that the workmanship of Lindsey¡¯s dress was excellent. The diamonds that lined the hem of the dress sparkled in the light, making Lindsey look like a Disney princess. Kendra¡¯s own dress was worth tens of thousands of dors, which she had pestered Benny to buy for her. But next to Lindsey¡¯s dress, hers looked like worthless trash. She turned to look at Chayce, who was standing next to her, only to see that he was staring at Lindsey in a daze. This only served to piss Kendra off even more. She stomped on his foot hard and then walked toward Lindsey, stering a fake smile on her face. At the moment, Lindsey was busy texting Domenic. When she saw from the corner of her eyes that Kendra was approaching, she quickly put her phone away. The next second, Kendra held her arm intimately.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡°Lindsey, where¡¯d you get this dress? It looks exactly like the one from Chanel. It¡¯s not good if others find it out it¡¯s a fake,¡± Kendra whispered, feigning concern. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wear the pink dress I prepared for you?¡± Wearing an innocent, gentle smile, Lindsey looked at Kendra with her big clear eyes and exined, ¡°Kendra, that designer youmissioned must¡¯ve cheated you! The dress fell apart before I even put it on. I had no choice but to throw it away. So, be a bit cautious with your spending in the future. If you ever need some help distinguishing quality from shoddy, you can always count on me for advice. ¡± Kendra¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. Could Lindsey have found out what she had done to the dress? Still, being mocked, Kendra was very annoyed. She forced a wry smile and looked at Lindsey¡¯s dress, knowing full well that Lindsey couldn¡¯t afford the real deal no matter how discerning she was! While talking, the two strode to the stage at the end of the banquet hall. A bell chimed at seven o¡¯clock sharp. Chapter 36 Lindsey nced at her phone, only to find that there was still no reply from Domenic. She retreated to a quiet corner and tried to call him, but no one answered. At this, she became increasingly uneasy. Was he not going to show up? Pursing her lips, Lindsey left her phone in her bag and walked onstage. Domenic had set aside ample time for Lindsey that evening, but things took an unexpected turn when an essential business deal hit a snag. It demanded his immediate attention through a video conference, and the urgency of the matterpelled him to Leave his phone behind in his office. Upon his return, he discovered multiple messages and missed calls from Lindsey. He called her back while gathering his things, but no one answered. Domenic hung up and got in the car, feeling a little uneasy. Hendrix handed him a delicately packaged box that was the size of his palm and said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, the gift is ready.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡± Domenic took it over and slipped it into his pocket. Crossing his arms, he told Hendrix his destination coldly. Lindsey was already standing onstage. Even if Domenic didn¡¯t show up, the n had to go on. She had prepared for this moment for days, and today, she was determined to expose the true colors of Chayce and Kendra! After a passionate speech from the host, Benny stood up while waving at the audience. He smiled at Lindsey as he joined her onstage. He said into the microphone solemnly, ¡°I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for traveling from afar. On this joyous asion of my daughter Lindsey¡¯s engagement, I have another announcement to make. ¡± As if on cue, a man in a crisp suit climbed onstage, toting a file bag. ¡°Iam the attorney for Mrs. Juanita Stewart, Mr. Stewart¡¯s ex-wife. She had left a property, which she entrusted to me, stipting that it should only be transferred to her daughter Lindsey¡¯s name once she reaches adulthood and bes engaged. ¡± Thewyer walked up to Lindsey, shook her hand, and opened the file bag. Then he handed a commission letter and a substantial check to her. ¡°Your mother wants you to have these. Take it,¡± Benny said to Lindsey dotingly. In a daze, Lindsey absentmindedly epted those things from thewyer. Ever since her mother left, her father had never mentioned her again. She had no idea that her mother left her such arge amount of money. The guests apuded, while Kendra and Chayce kept their eyes glued on the check. This was the purpose of the engagement party. Only after Lindsey got the money could they take it all away from her! When the apuse died down, the host proceeded with the engagement ceremony. Unexpectedly, a harsh voice came from the center of the crowd. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a curly-haired woman in a ck dress. She made her way to the center aisle facing the stage, ring at Lindsey the whole time. The woman was none other than Nina! Lindsey squinted at Nina and then briefly nced at Kendra. Thetter was sitting in the front row with her arms crossed over her chest, acent smile stered on her face. Nina walked to the stage, her high heels clicking loudly against the floor. Now that she had everyone¡¯s attention, she grabbed the microphone from the host and announced with flourish, ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to expose Lindsey¡¯s chaotic private life. She has a fianc¨¦, but she hangs out with another man. She¡¯s a dirty slut!¡± Chapter 37 The next second, the chaos broke loose in the banquet hall. ¡°Lindsey looks pure and innocent! I never would¡¯ve thought she had such a tumultuous private life!¡± ¡°You know what they say-you can¡¯t judge a book by its cover!¡± Ignoring the crowd¡¯s sidements, Lindsey locked eyes with Nina coldly. ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°Of course! Otherwise, I would never openly use you in front of all these people!¡± The corners of Nina¡¯s mouth curved upward in a vicious grin. Snapping her fingers confidently, a man dressed in a waiter¡¯s uniform suddenly approached. ¡°This man works at Harmony Hotel. Tell us, sir, what you saw on the evening of June 2nd. ¡± The man lowered his head and said with hesitation, ¡°On the night of June 2nd, I¡­ I witnessed Miss Stewart entering a man¡¯s room and didn¡¯te out until the following morning. ¡± With a satisfied grin, Nina pointed a finger at Lindsey and shouted, ¡°See? Our witness says he saw you entering a man¡¯s room in the middle of the night. Don¡¯t tell me that you two stayed up all night just ¡®talking¡¯. Tell us-who is that man? He wasn¡¯t your fianc¨¦, was he?¡± As if on cue, Chayce immediately put on an overly exaggerated Look of distress, his face twisting in pain. ¡°Lindsey, did you cheat on me?¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Lindsey found this whole farce so ridiculous that she nearlyughed out loud. These people were so good at twisting situations to make themselves look good! She was the one who had been betrayed, yet they managed to make her look like the bad guy while her cheating boyfriend looked like the victim. How could she let them get away with this? Lindsey calmly stepped forward and looked down at Nina, who was standing right in front of the stage. ¡°It¡¯s his word against mine, and it¡¯s easy enough to bribe someone into talking nonsense, you know. ¡± Then she shifted her gaze to the waiter and said, ¡°Tell me how much they paid you, and I¡¯ll double it as long as you tell everyone here the truth. ¡± ¡°I- I am telling the truth!¡± The waiter raised his head and looked at Lindsey defiantly, showing no fear. As he did see Lindsey running out of Domenic¡¯s room that morning, he naturally assumed that she had willingly entered the room the previous evening. ¡°You want more proof? Fine. How about this?¡± As she spoke, Nina held up her phone and yed a video. On Nina¡¯s phone screen was a woman that looked a lot like Lindsey; she even wore the same outfit Lindsey had worn on the night in question. The video clearly captured the woman entering a hotel room, arm-in-arm with a man. But the CCTV only managed to capture the woman from behind, so she was obscured all throughout the short clip. Nina held the phone in front of the waiter and asked, ¡°Is the woman in this video the same one onstage?¡± The waiter nodded earnestly. ¡°It¡¯s her! I¡¯m sure of it. The woman also wore a floral dress on that day!¡± At this, the audience burst into an uproar. ¡°Countless women could¡¯ve worn the same dress. Do you really think you can convince everyone that the woman in the video is me? Well, think again, Nina. ¡± Lindsey still remainedpletely unfazed. Chapter 38 ¡°I can prove that Lindsey¡¯s a cheater!¡± All of a sudden, Samuel¡¯s plus one, Mary, stepped forward. Even Kendra and Nina were surprised at this sudden development. ¡°Last weekend, I ran into Lindsey in a mall. She was with a man, and she told me herself that the man was her boyfriend. Also, the man bought her the dress she¡¯s wearing right now! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check the shop¡¯s surveince footage. I swear I¡¯m telling the truth!¡± Now that they had not one but two witnesses against Lindsey, almost everyone in the hall believed she was guilty. After all, the second witness was Samuel¡¯s plus one; they doubted she¡¯d nder Lindsey for no reason. Now, almost everyone present believed that Lindsey was promiscuous in her private life. They couldn¡¯t fathom how a woman Like her could ever find a man willing to marry her. Benny¡¯s face turned livid with rage and shame. How he wished he could p Lindsey on the spot! Much to everyone¡¯s surprise, Chayce suddenly came over and affectionately took Lindsey¡¯s hand with a doting look on his face. ¡°Lindsey, as long as you¡¯re willing to turn over a new leaf and be with me wholeheartedly, then I don¡¯t give a damn about what you¡¯ve done. ¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. His forgiving words caused the guests to stir. ¡°Wow, what a broadminded man!¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s just blind. He¡¯s so infatuated with her that he¡¯s willing to overlook her red gs. She¡¯d better marry him ASAP, or else she¡¯ll never find a decent man who¡¯ll love her. ¡± ¡°My theory is that he¡¯s only forgiving Lindsey because she just inherited a hefty sum from her mother. I guess she will have to swallow her grievances in silence. In the end, she may lose every penny she has!¡± People discussed the matter heatedly; some were moved by Chayce¡¯s grand gesture while others were rational enough to see right through his insincere promise. Kendra and Chayce¡¯s scheme was to take advantage of Lindsey¡¯s vulnerable moment in front of everyone. Once she had hit rock bottom, Chayce would step in, offering forgiveness and ying the role of her knight in shining armor. They expected that Lindsey, moved by his forgiveness, would be his puppet from then on. So, it didn¡¯t matter what others thought! As long as they couldpletely manipte Lindsey, then her mother¡¯s and even the Stewart family¡¯s assets would eventually belong to them. It was only a matter of time! Giddy with excitement, Chayce got down on one knee and took out the engagement ring he had prepared in advance. ¡°Will you marry me, Lindsey?¡± The guests held their breath, eagerly awaiting Lindsey¡¯s response. To them, Lindsey was sure to be swept off her feet by Chayce¡¯s romantic proposal and would surely say ¡®yes¡¯ on the spot. Just then, the door to the banquet hall was suddenly violently kicked open. ¡°Sorry, but she¡¯s taken. ¡± Shocked, everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice. At the door, a handsome, dignified-looking man strode into the banquet hall. Wearing a well-cut navy blue suit, the man adjusted the cuffs on his sleeves with his slender fingers while scanning the crowd with his deep-set eyes. The way he walked seemed casual, but there was something about him that made him look like a nobleman. He had a magical, gravitational pull, and everyone around couldn¡¯t take their eyes off him. Kendra and the others in the front row also turned to look at the unexpected guest, shock written all over their faces. Who was this man? With all eyes on him, he walked directly to the stage. Lindsey was also surprised by his sudden arrival. Just minutes ago, she had resigned herself to the fact that he¡¯d never show up, thinking he regretted their deal. She had been so depressed at the thought, but she managed to convince herself to carry out her n with or without him. Chapter 39 However, just as everyone was ndering and cursing her, Domenic suddenly showed up like a knight in shining armor.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. As soon as he climbed onstage, he smiled at her, put his arm around her shoulders, and said gently, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte. ¡± Lindsey snapped out of her daze and shook her head lightly. ¡°No, you came just in time. ¡± It was then that Nina recognized Domenic, eximing, ¡°It¡¯s him! He¡¯s the man Lindsey¡¯s having an affair with! The banquet hall erupted into chaos once more. ¡°Oh, my God! That guy¡¯s gorgeous! If she has him as her sugar daddy, why bother getting married?¡± ¡°Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend is nowhere near as handsome as him!¡± ¡°Hmm, I beg to differ. Since she has a boyfriend, she should be loyal to him. But I guess I can see where she¡¯sing from. Now that she¡¯s found a better suitor, why settle for the inferior man? Besides, I heard that Chayce¡¯s family is very poor. Maybe he¡¯s only trying to marry into the Stewart family to get a leg up in life!¡± After casting a scornful nce at the cheap ring in Chayce¡¯s hand, Domenic fished out a delicate velvet box from his pocket and opened it in front of Lindsey. Insidey a delicate silver bracelet densely iid with several rows of diamonds that sparkled so brightly. ¡°Oh, my God! It¡¯s a limited edition Cartier bracelet!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°I know that piece, and it costs over a hundred thousand dors!¡± All the guests shifted their focus to Domenic and Lindsey, iming that the two of them looked like a perfect match. It was as though Chayce, who had just proposed to Lindsey, had faded into the background, forgotten by everyone. Nina, who had been so arrogant just a moment earlier, now clenched her fists, her eyes burning with jealousy. Under the envious gaze of the crowd, Domenic held up Lindsey¡¯s hand and carefully put the Cartier bracelet around her slender wrist. Only then did Lindsey notice that he was wearing an expensive Patek Philippe watch. Startled, she looked him up and down in surprise, only to find that he wasn¡¯t wearing the suit she had bought for him, but a high-end designer suit that would¡¯ve cost ten times as much. What? This man was supposed to be desperate for money, wasn¡¯t he? So, where did he get all these expensive Luxuries? Noticing the puzzled look in her eyes, Domenic leaned over and whispered in her ear, ¡°I rented these to keep up appearances. ¡± His warm breath tickled her ear, causing Lindsey to shiver subconsciously. Shyly adjusting her hair to cover up her bright red earlobes, she murmured, ¡°It must¡¯ve cost you a lot of money. ¡± There was a tinge of guilt in her voice. After all, he had spent so much money just to help her, which made her feel bad. ¡°You¡¯ll cover my expenses, won¡¯t you?¡± Domenic straightened up and asked in a low voice. Lindsey nodded in relief. At least she didn¡¯t have to feel guilty anymore. Besides, the money was well spent; it had the desired effect, judging from furious expressions of Kendra and Chayce. Now the most important part of the n was in ce, Lindsey began her counterattack. With a bright smile, she held Domenic¡¯s arm intimately and said to the guests, ¡°Everyone, today is indeed my engagement party. However, the hero who has won my heart is not Chayce, but this gentleman beside me. Chapter 40 He¡¯s the one I want to marry to!¡± Everyone was stunned when she dropped a bombshell. Both Nina and Mary¡¯s expressions darkened with resentment and jealousy. They were aware of Lindsey¡¯s affair with this man, but they never expected her to announce their rtionship in such a high-profile manner. In their eyes, they considered themselves far more charming than Lindsey, so they couldn¡¯t understand why she, out of all people, had managed to capture the heart of such an eligible bachelor. ¡°Lindsey, what is the meaning of this?!¡± Kendra suddenly leaped up from her seat in distress, hercent smile long gone. ¡°Chayce is the man your father and I picked for you! He loves you so much that he doesn¡¯t even mind that you cheated on him! How could you abandon him so heartlessly? Besides, who is this man? We¡¯ve never even seen him before! We can¡¯t let you marry a stranger!¡± Completely unfazed, Lindsey descended from the stage unhurriedly and took out a stack of photos from her backpack. Then she returned to the stage and smiled at Chayce unnervingly. ¡°You say you Love me? So tell me, who are these women?¡± With a flick of her hand, she sent those photos flying above Chayce¡¯s head. As they fluttered to the ground, Chayce caught one of the photos mid-air and took a closer look. The next second, his eyes went as wide as saucers and his face turned as pale as a ghost. In the photo, Chayce was making out with a woman in a bar. The scenes in the other photos were even more sickening than this one. Kendra picked up one of the photos that had drifted towards the front row. It was a picture of Chayce having s@x with another woman in a bathroom. ¡°This is the man you picked for me?¡± Lindsey sneered at the pale-faced Kendra. Kendra looked up at Chayce with unfiltered rage in her eyes. Chayce had repeatedly assured her that she alone was the one he loved, but the photo in her hand revealed the cruel truth. This jerk had cheated her! Benny was standing next to Kendra. Seeing the photo in her hand, he was furious. The man he was going to marry his daughter off to was indeed an ungrateful scumbag! Chayce squatted down and hurriedly picked up the photos, trying his best to prevent others from seeing them. He exined in a panic, ¡°These are all fakes! These aren¡¯t real! The guy in the photos isn¡¯t me!¡± ¡°¡¯Fakes¡¯, you say? Then what do you have to say about this?¡± As soon as Lindsey finished speaking, the big screen behind her suddenly came to life, ying a video of Chayce having s@x with a woman. This was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Chayce immediately lost hisposure and rushed at Lindsey like crazy, shrieking, ¡°Turn it off! f@cking turn it off!¡± Domenic stepped in front of Lindsey to protect her. Before Chayce could get close, he grabbed Chayce¡¯s arm and pinned it behind his back in one swift motion. Chayce stumbled and lost his bnce, almost falling to the ground. ¡°You Little-!¡± He awkwardly stood back up and red at Domenic fiercely, but he didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly again.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lindsey walked out from behind Domenic and stood in the middle of the stage. ¡°Guys, now you know that it was Chayce who betrayed me first. But that¡¯s not the worst part¡ª¡± Smiling, Lindsey pointed at Kendra and said in an exceptionally sharp tone, ¡°He even hooked up with my stepmother, Kendra Stewart. The two of them plotted against my family, using our engagement as an excuse to give Chayce power over me. They even nned to swindle the money my mother left for me!¡± The banquet hall erupted in chaos. As the man of the Stewart family, Benny was not happy about this news at all. ¡°Lindsey, don¡¯t you dare talk shit about me!¡± Kendra lost her mind and started shouting at Lindsey, regardless of her status. Chapter 41 Unfazed, Lindsey held up yet another photo. It was taken at the door of Chayce¡¯s apartment when Kendra went to see him that day. In the photo, Chayce was ki*sing her and leading her inside the apartment with his hand on her buttocks. A crisp sound echoed across the hall. Benny had pped Kendra on the face, causing her cheek to swell up instantly. With no remorse, Benny red at her with bloodshot eyes. ¡°How dare you cheat on me?¡± he asked in a dangerously growl. ¡°Benny, it¡¯s not like that! She¡¯s lying!¡± Kendra grabbed Benny¡¯s trouser legs and sobbed pitifully. ¡°I never cheated on you! The reason why I went to him that day was to discuss something for the engagement party. I didn¡¯t expect that he¡¯d suddenly drag me into his apartment and take advantage of me. I managed to escape, so nothing happened between us, I swear! Benny, you have to believe me!¡± Kendra was always skilled at acting and lying, and her tearful disy of emotion began to shake Benny¡¯s resolve. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t believe me, you have to-for the sake of the baby in my belly!¡± Both Benny and Chayce were stunned by Kendra¡¯s sudden confession. ¡°You- You¡¯re pregnant?¡± Benny¡¯s anger quickly turned into shock. Kendra nodded and said pitifully, ¡°This is our first child together. You have to believe me. How could I possibly have any involvement with another man during my pregnancy? We¡¯ve been together for so many years. Don¡¯t you know who I am? I¡¯d never cheat on you! I love you wholeheartedly. If you don¡¯t believe me, I- I¡¯ll kill myself!¡± As soon as Kendra finished her piece, she tried to run away, but Benny quickly pulled her back. While he had always simply treated Kendra as a beautiful caregiver, deep down, he also yearned to have another child. When he heard that Kendra was pregnant, most of the anger in his heart instantly dissipated. Moreover, Kendra was willing to die if it meant proving herself innocent, which moved him deeply. Now, he felt inclined to believe her. Chayce frowned and stared at Kendra. She once told him that she couldn¡¯t get pregnant because Bennyn had been impotent for a long time now.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. In other words, the father of the baby in her belly was very likely to be Chayce himself! At this point, he knew it¡¯d be impossible for him to marry Lindsey, but now, he had something on Kendra. She was a vain woman, and she would never admit that the baby was his. However, a simple paternity test would prove her wrong. If he yed his cards right, he could threaten Kendra with exposing the truth, and she would likely offer him some hush money. But if Kendra was kicked out of the Stewart family, she would be nothing, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to benefit from her. Chayce soon straightened out his thoughts. He took a deep breath and made up his mind. Chayce made up his mind to help Kendra win Benny¡¯s trust. ¡°Mr. Stewart, I¡­ I¡¯m so sorry. I drank too much that day and mistook Mrs. Stewart for Lindsey. It¡¯s all my fault. Nothing happened between us, I swear. She just pped me a few times and then left. When I sobered up, I regretted it so much!¡± As he carefully wove his tale, he made sure to drag Lindsey¡¯s name through the mud. ¡°Lindsey always told me that she hated Mrs. Stewart and that she¡¯d kick her out of the family sooner orter. I never imagined she would stoop to the level of spying!¡± Now, he loathed Lindsey. That woman not only snapped photos of him fooling around with other women but had the audacity to broadcast them to the world. It was utterly humiliating! However, since the truth hade to Light, he couldn¡¯t deny it anymore. He could only do what he could to drive a wedge between Benny and Lindsey. Kendra soon caught on to what Chayce was up to and quickly joined in. ¡°See, Benny? I would never betray you!¡± Chapter 42 Then she looked at Lindsey with grievance and sobbed, ¡°I know you don¡¯t like me and don¡¯t want me to be with your father, but you shouldn¡¯t have done this to me!¡± Their performance worked. Benny¡¯s expression gradually softened. He shot Lindsey a disappointed nce and then went over to help Kendra up. While softly stroking her belly, he cooed, ¡°Alright, alright, I trust you. Shh, no more tears. We don¡¯t want to startle the Little one. ¡± ¡°Dad, how could you just take her word for it? What if the baby isn¡¯t even yours? What if she and Chayce try to plot against you again?¡± Lindsey looked at Benny incredulously. How could her father be so gullible? ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Putting an arm on Kendra¡¯s shoulder, Benny scolded Lindsey, ¡°Kendra has already exined herself. What more do you want? When your mother and I got a divorce, it was Kendra who took care of me. She has done so much for me and our family. Even though you don¡¯t like her, you can¡¯t just nder her like this! Besides, this is all Chayce¡¯s fault, not hers. Speaking of which, I haven¡¯t gotten even with him yet!¡± When Benny turned around to confront Chayce, he realized that thetter had managed to slip away during his argument with Lindsey. Chayce¡¯s sudden disappearance only deepened Benny¡¯s conviction that Kendra was the true victim in this situation. Lindsey hadn¡¯t anticipated that her father would be so eager for a child that he¡¯d turn a blind eye to the truth, even when the evidence was disyed in front of him. She smiled bitterly and said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m your daughter. Howe you don¡¯t trust me?¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Look at the mess you¡¯ve made! You have no right to criticize Kendra. Besides, where were you the night you disappeared? Tell me the truth. Did you disgrace our family that night?¡± Benny questioned Lindsey aggressively. Lindsey was stunned at first, and then she lowered her head in defeat. Indeed, that night, she had slept with a man. She couldn¡¯t even look at Domenic, who was standing right next to her. If he were to find out that she had spent a night with a stranger, how would he perceive her? Would he look down upon her? Nina seemed to see right through Lindsey¡¯s inner thoughts and seized this opportunity to add fuel to the mes. ¡°Sir, don¡¯t let this woman fool you,¡± she said solemnly to Domenic. ¡°She¡¯s not as innocent as she seems. Look!¡± She showed him the surveince footage from that night at the hotel. Because the pale-faced Lindsey kept silent, Nina smiled even morecently. Domenic frowned. He had long since asked someone to deal with the surveince footage of the hotel, so how could Nina have gotten her hands on this? Finally, he couldn¡¯t help but scrunch up his nose in disgust and take a few steps back from Nina. He just couldn¡¯t bear the stench of her cheap perfume any longer. Then he addressed the crowd, his voice calm but firm. ¡°Lindsey isn¡¯t that kind of person. ¡± Lindsey raised her head in surprise. They had only crossed paths a few days ago, and he didn¡¯t know her well, but he still made the choice to stand by her when everyone else had their doubts. It felt as though a ray of light came piercing through the darkness of the night, melting away the coldness in her heart. Chapter 43 ¡°Besides, this video is fake,¡± Domenic added, casting a disdainful nce at Nina. ¡°Wh-what? How could it be fake?¡± Flustered, Nina averted her gaze and blurted, ¡°We have a witness! This man saw her entering a man¡¯s room. ¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Domenic smiled and turned around to face Lindsey. He reached out and gently brushed her hair aside, revealing her slender neck. There was a small pink birthmark on the back of Lindsey¡¯s neck, Like a blooming peach blossom. ¡°Lindsey has a birthmark right here, but the woman in the video doesn¡¯t have one. ¡± In the video, the woman had swept her long hair to one side, exposing the back of her neck, and there was no birthmark to be found. Nina nervously bit her lip. It was Kendra who had instructed her to impersonate Lindsey and go to the hotel, where she would be captured on camera. Then, they had someone tamper with the surveince footage to make it appear as if it had been recorded on the night in question. Nina believed the n was wless, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated one ring mistake ¨C Lindsey had a birthmark on her neck while she didn¡¯t! Kendra was stunned, because she didn¡¯t know about the birthmark either. This detail was so minor that even Lindsey¡¯s father, Benny, didn¡¯t know about it, but Domenic somehow did. Lindsey subconsciously touched the back of her neck and looked at Domenic in surprise. Only the person closest to her knew about her birthmark. Moreover, it was in such an inconspicuous spot. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how he could have noticed it.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Haven¡¯t you learned your lesson?¡± Narrowing his sharp eyes at Nina, Domenic continued, ¡°You already tried ndering Lindsey before, and where did that get you? In addition, you gave us a false testimony. I wonder how many years you¡¯ll spend in prison for your crimes. ¡± ¡°N-no! You¡¯ve got it all wrong! I¡¯m not the mastermind!¡± In a state of panic, Nina turned around and pointed a finger at Kendra. ¡°She¡¯s the one who nned this! I just did everything she said!¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about? I don¡¯t even know you!¡± Kendra buried her face in Benny¡¯s chest, sobbing uncontrobly. ¡°Benny, why do they all keeping after me? If anything happens to me, what will be of our baby?¡± At the mention of the baby, Benny instantly became a meek Lamb in front of Kendra. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you are not wee here,¡± Benny said to Nina coldly. ¡°Please leave!¡± Nina angrily stomped her foot, infuriated at herself for being so foolish to trust Kendrapletely. She never considered gathering evidence to expose Kendra as the mastermind, and now, she had no means to defend herself. ¡°You old bastard! You deserve to be cheated on!¡± Nina spat. Then she turned around to storm off, but Lindsey blocked her way. ¡°Delete the video, or I¡¯ll call the police. ¡± No matter how reluctant Nina was, with all eyes on her, she had no choice but to obey. After shooting Lindsey onest resentful nce, she then quickly left the banquet hall. ¡°Benny, I¡¯m exhausted. ¡± Kendra put her hand on her forehead, Looking tired and weary. Worried about the baby, Benny didn¡¯t hesitate to amodate her. To the guests, he announced, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone, but my wife isn¡¯t feeling well. I need to take her home so that she can rest. The engagement ceremony is now over. Thank you very much foring. ¡± Chapter 44 Now that the farce had ended, the guests had no interest in staying any longer. One by one, they said goodbye to Benny and left. Lindsey watched as her father walked away with Kendra, a sense of indescribable sadness and disappointment surging in her heart. All of a sudden, despite her small victory, she felt deted and didn¡¯t have the energy to stay. She was headed for the exit when she suddenly tripped on something and fell forward. Fortunately, Domenic was quick on his feet and managed to catch her in time. Lindsey looked up and spotted Mary, sitting in her chair with a smug expression, her leg extended. ¡°Lindsey, why don¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re going? Just look at the mess you¡¯ve made! You¡¯ve ruined my shoes. ¡± Lindsey was already in a foul mood. Provoked by Mary, she lost her temper and yelled, ¡°You tripped me on purpose. Apologize to me this instant!¡± Mary crossed her arms over her chest and spat defiantly, ¡°Me? Apologize? Dream on! You¡¯re the one who tripped over my shoe because you weren¡¯t paying attention. You owe me an apology!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°I saw you trip her. ¡± A deep voice interjected into their conversation. Domenic pulled Lindsey close and red at Mary sharply. ¡°Apologize to her right now. ¡± ¡°Why should I? She¡¯s the one who-¡° Before Mary could finish her sentence, Samuel suddenly stood up and pped her right in the face. Stunned and in pain, she burst into tears. Wiping the sweat on his forehead, he shouted, ¡°Apologize to Miss Stewart now!¡± Mary was shocked. Samuel had always doted on her.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. She didn¡¯t know why he was so angry all of a sudden, but she didn¡¯t dare to disobey him. Cupping her red, swollen cheek, she reluctantly muttered to Lindsey, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. ¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯m so sorry that my partner offended your fianc¨¦e. ¡± Samuel bowed his head to Domenic with respect. When Domenic first showed up, Samuel was a little uncertain about who this young man was. But when he saw Domenic¡¯s face up close, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Samuel had crossed paths with this influential figure at a prestigious auction in the past. Domenic¡¯s remarkable appearance and extraordinary demeanor had left an indelible mark on him, and he would never forget the man¡¯s face. But he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why a big shot like Domenic would show up here and be involved with a woman who was far below his social status. Samuel was perplexed. Locking eyes with him, Domenic said meaningfully, ¡°You just need to apologize to my fianc¨¦e, not me. I¡¯m just an ordinary person, and you don¡¯t have to bow to me. ¡± Samuel immediately got the hint and nodded profusely. As he watched Domenic and Lindsey leave, he figured it¡¯d be best if he kept his mouth shut about the whole thing. Mary, however, wasn¡¯t reconciled. She pouted and whined, ¡°Mr. Navarro, why¡¯d you ask me to apologize to that bitch?¡± ¡°Shut the f@ck up!¡± Samuel¡¯s tone was so fierce that Mary turned pale with fright. ¡°If you dare to provoke them again, I¡¯ll dump you!¡± By now, night had fallen, and the sky was dark with heavy clouds. Chapter 45 Leaves on the roadside trees rustled in the wind, and it appeared that it was about to rain. Lindsey and Domenic walked side by side as far away from the hotel as they could on foot. Suddenly, Lindsey stopped and reached into her backpack to take out something wrapped in paper. She was a little reluctant to say goodbye to Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh, it¡¯s over. Here¡¯s your pay. I was thinking of just transferring the money to you, but then I realized it¡¯d be more sincere if I gave you the cash personally. But I don¡¯t have that much cash on me. ¡± Lindsey smiled at him awkwardly. ¡°If this isn¡¯t enough, I¡¯ll transfer more to you in a few days. ¡± Recently, her bank card had been overdrawn. If she hadn¡¯t received the money from her mother, she wouldn¡¯t have had the confidence to make such a promise now. ¡°Is it really over?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes gleamed with a hint of yfulness. ¡°Didn¡¯t we just get engaged?¡± Lindsey chuckled, pretending everything was going to be okay. ¡°I can handle the rest myself. It was a pleasure working with you, Mr. Walsh. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. ¡° Domenic¡¯s expression was somewhatplicated, and Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but look away, fearing that she would misunderstand something. ¡°I guess I¡¯d better get going. ¡± She lowered her head, took off the Cartier bracelet, and pressed it into Domenic¡¯s palm. ¡°Thanks for everything. Bye!¡± Then she left as quickly as her legs could take her.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lindsey didn¡¯t know how long she had run. When she finally stopped to look back, he had already disappeared from her sight. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit disappointed. Slowing down her pace, she started to walk around aimlessly. What happened tonight kept reying in her mind. The distrust in her father¡¯s eyes when he looked at her in disappointment was such a thorn in her side. Another thing that kept bothering her was the fact that she had lost her virginity to aplete stranger. She had nned to give her first time to the one she loved, but she had fallen into Kendra¡¯s trap and ended up sleeping with someone she would never see again. She had nned this engagement party for so long, thinking that she could reveal Kendra¡¯s true colors, but in the end, it was all in vain. Lindsey had never felt so useless. The depression she felt was so overwhelming that it nearly suffocated her. She only felt at ease when she was with Domenic, but she knew that their time together wouldn¡¯tst. After all, she was nothing more than a stranger to him. It was over. Lindsey raised her head and looked up at the sky in a daze. The endless darkness enveloped her. Feelings of despair, sadness, and disappointment filled her heart. Subconsciously, she ended up wandering to a bar. All of a sudden, she felt a strong urge to have a drink. So, she entered it. Music red into her ears and colorful lights blinded her. People danced on the dance floor like there was no tomorrow. The whole scene looked like a dream. Lindsey sat at the bar counter and ordered a bottle of beer. Without hesitation, she poured herself a ss of beer and downed its contents in a few gulps. Truth be told, she had a low tolerance for alcohol. She felt a little dizzy after just one ss, but she reveled in the feeling, so she drank two more. At this time, several men at a nearby booth eyed her up and down. A blonde man with earrings came over and sat down next to her. He looked at her with undisguised lust and asked, ¡°Hey, gorgeous, are you waiting for someone?¡± Chapter 46 ncing at him from the corner of her eye, Lindsey decisively ignored him. ¡°Let me buy you a drink. ¡± With a frivolous smile, the blonde man boldly wrapped his arm around Lindsey¡¯s shoulders, but unexpectedly, Lindsey pped his hand away. ¡°Wow! She¡¯s feisty. I like that in a woman. ¡± The blonde man felt humiliated, but he didn¡¯t give up. He tried again and grabbed Lindsey, bringing his face close to hers.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. The sickly sweet smell of alcohol on his breath filled her nose. Lindsey shoved the man away in disgust. Maybe because she was a little drunk that she didn¡¯t pull her punches, or maybe it was because the man was caught off guard. Either way, he fell off his seat andnded on the ground with a loud thud, wailing in pain. Seeing this, hispanions all stood up from their seats and rushed over to help the blonde man up. Then, they turned to scold Lindsey. ¡°How dare you hit him!¡± ¡°Apologize right now, or else!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that we¡¯ll spare you just ¡®cause you¡¯re a woman!¡± It wasmon for squabbles to break out in a bar, so no one came out to mediate. Instead, people gathered to watch the scene unfold. Lindsey didn¡¯t bother to argue with the blonde man and hispanions. Instead, she grabbed a beer bottle from the bar counter and staggered to her feet. The faces of the people that had gathered around her were blurred, and she started to see the faces of Chayce, Kendra, and even her father. On the brink of insanity, she pointed at those men with the beer bottle and shouted, ¡°Come on and fight me if you dare! I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡± Those men had just nned to intimidate her, but they didn¡¯t expect her to be so tough. Now, they didn¡¯t know what to do. Since there were so many people watching, they didn¡¯t want to lose face, so they decided to take the violent route. After all, this was just a woman. There was nothing to be afraid of! After exchanging nces, they picked up their beer bottles and rushed at Lindsey. Before a single blownded, a tall figure suddenly stepped in front of Lindsey, protecting her from harm. Domenic seized the arm of the man in the lead, snatching the beer bottle and deftly twisting the man¡¯s arm behind his back in a single fluid motion. ¡°Ouch!¡± The man immediately cried out in pain. If Domenic applied any more force, the man¡¯s shoulder would¡¯ve popped right out of its socket. Domenic fixed his sharp eyes on the other men, who were ready to step forward, beer bottles in hand. A malevolence shone in his dark eyes. Bathed in the shing bar lights, he resembled a cheetah stalking its prey in the dark, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. The men closest to him couldn¡¯t help but shudder with fear. ¡°Take one more step and I¡¯ll break his arm off,¡± he growled. ¡°Who the f@ck do you think you are? This is none of your f@cking business!¡± The blonde man cursed at Domenic furiously, but he didn¡¯t dare to rush forward. He could only re at Domenic as fiercely as he could. Domenic sneered. ¡°I¡¯m her fianc¨¦. ¡± Chapter 47 The blonde man was shocked. He had thought that this woman was alone; that was the whole reason why he chose to hit on her. But it was out of his expectation that her fianc¨¦ would suddenly show up. The blonde man could tell this man was someone not to be trifled with, so he had no choice but to back down. ¡°Let go of my friend, and we¡¯ll drop the matter,¡± he said through gritted teeth. Domenic obliged and shoved his hostage forward. The man stumbled into the arms of his friends, groaning in pain. ¡°Now f@ck off!¡± Domenic barked menacingly. Scared out of their wits, the men scurried off like mice. Domenic turned around and helped the drunk Lindsey out of the bar. It was windy outside, causing the leaves to dance and flutter. Lindsey, who was leaning against Domenic for support, felt the wind rustling through her hair. Her face was flushed from the alcohol, which made her look somewhat charming. ¡®s BunnyBookery After a while, she seemed to realize that something wasn¡¯t right. She looked up in confusion, only to meet the man¡¯s deep-set eyes. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey asked in a daze, her vision blurred and her mind fuzzy. ¡°Am I dreaming?¡± He had left, hadn¡¯t he? So, what was he doing here? There was a hint of tenderness in Domenic¡¯s usually cold eyes. Finally, he let out a helpless sigh and exined, ¡°I was worried about you. ¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Just then, Hendrix pulled up in his car. He was a little shocked when he saw his boss holding a woman carefully; it was the first time that he had seen him care about someone so much. ¡°Is Miss Stewart okay?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°She¡¯s drunk. ¡± Domenic helped Lindsey into the backseat of the car and then got in next to her, closing the door behind them. ¡°Where to, boss?¡± Domenic reached out to hold Lindsey and asked her softly, ¡°Where do you live? I¡¯ll take you home. ¡± Drunk and unable to think straight, Lindsey mumbled, ¡°Home? I don¡¯t have a home¡­¡± Hearing this, Domenic felt helpless. ¡°Boss, then¡­¡± Hendrix nced at Domenic through the rearview mirror, not sure as to where they should go. ¡°Take us to my nearest house. ¡± In no time, the car started. Lindseyy nestled in Domenic¡¯s arms, her head resting naturally on his shoulder. She instinctively reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her chest against his. Chapter 48 ¡°Don¡¯t move. ¡± Domenic grabbed her delicate wrist to stop her. Her body was so close to his that he could feel her warmth, her hot breath washing over his skin. But Lindsey refused to listen to him. She was bad at holding her alcohol, and she behaved wildly when she was drunk. She greedily took in his masculine musk and felt a sense offort, unaware that she had practically pushed him down onto the backseat of the car. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you smell so familiar. Have we met before?¡± She raised her watery, zed-over eyes, her supple, red lips pouting slightly. She was so irresistible that Domenic could barely resist the urge to ki*s her right then and there. ¡°And how did you know about the birthmark on my neck?¡± she continued to question him in a slurred voice. At this, Domenic¡¯s expression darkened. Looking deep into her big, doe-like eyes, he leaned over to whisper something in her ear. ¡°Because I saw it myself. ¡± After all, he had seen every part of her body. ¡°It¡¯s so hot. ¡± Suddenly, Lindsey withdrew from him and started to pull down on her dress. Her dress already had a low neckline; if she continued to pull at it like this, she¡¯d end up exposing her b@@bs. Domenic stopped her in a hurry and then vigntly looked at Hendrix from the rearview mirror. Meeting Domenic¡¯s threatening gaze, Hendrix immediately looked away and coughed awkwardly. ¡°Look again and you¡¯ll lose your job,¡± Domenic growled. Hendrix shuddered. He initially didn¡¯t intend to pry, but curiosity had gotten the better of him. He had worked for Domenic for so many years, but he had never seen his boss like this. It had to be said that anyone who knew Domenic would never expect that he¡¯d let a drunk woman harass him. The car soon arrived at the Waterfront Apartments, a high-end apartmentplex located in the most prosperous area in the city center and one of Domenic¡¯s private properties. Lindsey was as drunk as a skunk. As soon as Hendrix pulled the car to a stop, Domenic scooped Lindsey carefully and then carried her toward the house. Domenic carried Lindsey all the way to the bedroom, carefullyying her down on the bed. He couldn¡¯t help but reach out to smooth her messy hair. ¡°It¡¯s so hot. I¡¯m so thirsty¡­¡± Lindsey, whose face was as red as a tomato, suddenly grabbed Domenic¡¯s outstretched arm, her dry Lips slightly parted as she panted. ¡°Wait a minute. I¡¯ll get you some water. ¡± Before Leaving, Domenic tucked her under the silk nket. Then he stood up and headed to the kitchen. The house had been left unused for some time now, though a housekeeper woulde once a week to clean. Still, despite being the owner of this property, he was very unfamiliar with the ce. It took Domenic a long time before he finally found a ss in one of the kitchen cabs. He washed it first and then went to the water dispenser, only to find that it was empty. Frowning, he had no choice but to look for a kettle to boil some tap water. By the time he returned to the bedroom, Lindsey had kicked away the nket and had pulled her dress down to her waist,pletely exposing her upper body. Domenic¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. Without a moment to lose, he rushed towards the bed and reached for the nket in an attempt to cover her up again.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Unexpectedly, a pair of soft hands wrapped themselves around him from behind and pulled him down all of a sudden. Being caughtpletely off guard, he lost his bnce and fell on top of Lindsey. Chapter 49 As soon as their skin came in contact, Domenic froze. An uncharacteristically nk Look appeared on his face. ¡°Your skin¡¯s so cold. It feels so good. ¡± With her eyes squeezed shut, Lindsey held him close and kept squirming underneath him, as though she was trying to get closer to the source of the coolness. Domenic carefully propped himself up and looked at the woman underneath him, his eyes burning with lust. ¡°Do you have any idea what you¡¯re doing?¡± he growled in a low, husky voice, loosening his cor restlessly. It took every ounce of his willpower to restrain himself. ¡°Water¡­ I want water¡ª¡± Lindsey¡¯s lips parted slightly, but before she could get another word out, Domenic silenced her with a ki*s. Feeling his cold lips pressed against hers, Lindsey ki*sed him back eagerly, as though doing so would satisfy a long-felt, insatiable need. However, Domenic¡¯s ki*s was so passionate and domineering that he nearly sucked the life out of her. Out of breath, she pushed his chest and tried to break free, but Domenic held her firmly in ce by sping the back of her neck, leaving her no chance to escape. ¡®s BunnyBookery It wasn¡¯t until she bit him on the lip that Domenic finally withdrew, only to start ki*sing her delicate neck, slowly moving down. Lindsey wrapped her arms around his neck obediently, her pleasant fragrance filling the man¡¯s nose. Her scent was Like an intoxicating drug that left Domenicpletely addicted. Just as Domenic was about to lose all control, he suddenly paused. He had been working in the business world for many years and had developed strong self-control, allowing him to snap out of it and get out of bed. Lindsey was too drunk to know what she was doing, and Domenic was aware of this. Even though both of them wanted each other so badly, he couldn¡¯t do anything to her in this situation. As Domenic climbed out of bed, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder again why she had suddenly appeared in his hotel room that night and why she had acted as though she didn¡¯t know him at all when they met again. He couldn¡¯t let his guard down until he found out the answers to these questions. It took a long time for Domenic to calm down. He sat down at the edge of the bed and observed Lindsey from a safe distance. Her long eyshes were like the wings of a butterfly, fluttering restlessly. Also, her face wasn¡¯t red anymore, but instead, pink as peach. She was indeed very beautiful, but not the kind of sultry beauty that¡¯d make any man weak. On the contrary, she was like a white lily blooming in the sun, pure and pleasant to look at. Seeing that she had finally fallen asleep, Domenic covered her once more with the silk nket and quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind him. When he went back to the living room, he caught a glimpse of the untouched kettle in the kitchen. Seeing this, he sighed helplessly. He felt parched after what just happened, and now that Lindsey was asleep, he figured he might as well drink the water. The next morning, the sun streamed in from the window and shone on Lindsey¡¯s face. As soon as she opened her eyes, she felt a dull headache. Frowning, she tried to recall the events of the night prior.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. She remembered going to a bar and having a few drinks, and thenter on, a few men tried to take advantage of her. Only then did she recall that it was Domenic who suddenly showed up and saved her. At this, Lindsey suddenly came to her senses. She Lifted the nket and sat up in bed, only to find that her dress had been pulled down to her waist, leaving only a bra covering her b@@bs. Chapter 50 Eyes wide as saucers, she vaguely remembered hugging him tightly, and thenter, the two of them seemed to have ki*sed. But she couldn¡¯t remember what happened next. What did they end up doing it? Lindsey closed her eyes and chastised herself for being so stupid. With a sigh, she straightened out her dress and nned to leave quietly. However, as soon as she opened the bedroom door, the smell of breakfast wafted into her nose. She couldn¡¯t help but follow her nose to the kitchen, where she found a tall man standing by the stove. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Domenic was frying an egg. When he heard Lindsey¡¯s soft voice behind him, he turned his head and saw her standing at the kitchen door, staring at him in disbelief. ¡°Good morning. ¡± With a spat in his hand and an apron tied around his waist, Domenic looked very domesticated and gentle, a stark difference from his usual cold and aloof self. Seeing the shocked look on her face, Domenic exined, ¡°I prefer to cook breakfast myself when I¡¯m not busy. ¡± Lindsey bit her lower lip, her eyes darting all over the ce awkwardly. ¡°Mr.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Walsh,st night¡­ What happened between us?¡± Domenic transferred the fried egg onto a te and, without skipping a beat, said in a calm voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing happened. You just held me and didn¡¯t let go. ¡± Hearing this, Lindsey¡¯s mind went nk. It turned out that she was the one who had initiated the intimacy! Lindsey was so embarrassed that she wanted to dig a hole in the ground and bury herself in it. She rambled, ¡°I drank too muchst night, and I wasn¡¯t thinking straight, so¡­¡± Domenic walked past her with two tes of breakfast in his hands. He set the tes down on the table, pulled out the chair, and then sat down. ¡°Breakfast is ready,¡± he announced, casting a nce at Lindsey. Lindsey shut her mouth and obediently sat opposite him. Domenic lowered his head to hide the emotions in his eyes. He unhurriedly sliced a piece of egg and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing it thoughtfully. He was so calm that it was as though nothing had happenedst night. Observing his unbothered expression, Lindsey cleared her throat and asked tentatively, ¡°Mr. Walsh, we didn¡¯t¡­ We didn¡¯t do anything we might regretst night, did we?¡± Domenic finally raised his head and looked at her with a subtle gleam in his deep-set eyes. All of a sudden, he chuckled. ¡°Even if we did, so what?¡± After all, they had done the deed that night, hadn¡¯t they? ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate. I mean, we just met. Chapter 51 Lindsey lowered her head and murmured in a voice so small, Domenic barely heard her. ¡°But didn¡¯t we get engaged yesterday? Now, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦. ¡± Lindsey looked up in shock, only to meet his soft gaze. Domenic just said something outrageous, but he continued to eat his breakfast as though he was simply talking about the weather. Lindsey looked at him in shock and confusion, at a loss for words. Was he joking? ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t joke like that. You know that our ¡®engagement¡¯ was just a show to humiliate my ex-boyfriend,¡± Lindsey said uneasily, forcing an awkward smile. At this, Domenic pulled a long face. ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m not good enough to be your fianc¨¦?¡± Lindsey had a headache. Indeed, the man in front of her was leagues ahead of Chayce in terms of both appearance and personality, but that wasn¡¯t the point. ¡°Or do you think I¡¯m too poor for you?¡± Domenic continued, putting his utensils down to stare at her. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re so keen on dumping me?¡± ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t say that!¡± Lindsey shook her head adamantly. The thought never even crossed her mind. In her mind, he was handsome and in good shape. Not to mention, he could cook. Apart from not having much money, she couldn¡¯t find any fault with him. Still, at the end of the day, they barely knew each other; she didn¡¯t even know his full name! Biting her lip, Lindsey said hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re a good man, but we¡¯re practically strangers. We¡¯re not even friends. How can we get engaged?¡± Domenic didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he busied himself with finishing his breakfast. After stuffing thest piece of egg into his mouth, he wiped his hands with a napkin. The action was casual, but there was something about the way he did it that made him seem so noble. ncing at the uneaten food on Lindsey¡¯s te, he asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating anything? Does it look bad?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery It wasn¡¯t that Lindsey didn¡¯t like the food, but that she had been so lost in thought that she forgot to eat. She snapped back to reality and put a piece of fried egg into her mouth. The savory taste of the fried egg, creamy milk, and cheese was so delicious that she couldn¡¯t help but open her eyes wide in pleasant surprise. ¡°Delicious! Lindsey beamed at Domenic. This man was practically perfect! Unbeknownst to her, all the ingredients Domenic had used were freshly imported and delivered on the same day, which was why they tasted so much better than that of ordinary restaurants. Upon hearing her praise, the expression on Domenic¡¯s face softened. He stood up and said with a smile, ¡°I was kidding just now, okay? I solemnly swear that nothing happened between us Last night. ¡± Lindsey stared at him nkly as he put his empty te into the kitchen sink. Then, he went back to the bedroom for a few minutes. By the time he came out, he had changed into his usual clothes, regaining his usual cold, aloof look. ¡°I have some work to do, so I need to get going. ¡± After saying that, Domenic opened the door and left.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. His calm demeanor made Lindsey start to doubt if they had even ki*sed the previous night. Perhaps it was all just a dream. For some reason, alone in this strange house, she felt a sense of loss. Lindsey bit her lip and tried tofort herself, telling herself that it was all just a show. Now that the show was over, the two of them were bound to go their separate ways. Even if she managed to find out his full name, so what? They still had nothing to do with each other. After breakfast, Lindsey washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen before leaving. Chapter 52 She couldn¡¯t wear the fancy evening dress to school, so she went home first to get changed. As soon as she entered the house, she found Kendra leisurely lying on the sofa while Benny peeled an apple. Her father¡¯s eyes were filled with affection as he fed her the apple. Previously, it was Kendra who usually took care of Benny. Lindsey had never seen her father dote on Kendra like this before. Rolling her eyes, Lindsey went straight to her room. After getting changed, she headed back to the living room. Kendra asked sarcastically, ¡°Lindsey, are you alone? Where¡¯s your rich fianc¨¦?¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Kendra, so she turned a deaf ear to her words and headed straight for the door. Seeing her so impolite, Benny was about to lose his temper, but considering their father-daughter rtionship, he held back and restrained himself. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but stop her from leaving so quickly. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Lindsey, if you don¡¯t like Chayce, you could¡¯ve just told me. I would never force you to marry someone you don¡¯t love. But you shouldn¡¯t have pulled that stunt at the engagement party. You humiliated not only Kendra, but me and our whole family. ¡± Lindsey took a deep breath and turned around to face her father. ¡°Dad, I used to think you were a smart man. How could you be so blind? Open your eyes! Kendra and Chayce conspired together and tried to steal our family¡¯s properties. And did you ever stop to wonder if the baby in her belly is really yours? If you continue to tolerate this woman, she¡¯ll screw you over sooner orter!¡± Kendra¡¯s eyes welled up with tears almost instantly. ¡°I¡¯m also a member of the Stewart family. Why would I want to hurt any of you? I know you¡¯re just scared that the baby will threaten your position in our family, so you¡¯re trying to have me kicked out. But the baby is innocent-¡° ¡°Drop the act, Kendra. Your fake tears might work on my father, but not on me. ¡± Lindsey sneered. Hearing this, Kendra changed tactics. She put on the most pitiful expression she could muster and threw herself into Benny¡¯s arms, crying bitterly. ¡°Benny, do I really have to kill myself to prove my innocence?! I don¡¯t care if I die, but what about the baby? Does our innocent baby have to die, too?!¡± Benny¡¯s expression darkened. He was convinced that Lindsey targeted Kendra because she didn¡¯t want to share the family assets with her future sibling. ¡°Lindsey, I used to believe that despite your stubbornness, you had a good heart. But never in my wildest dreams would I have expected you¡¯d make up such a ridiculous lie for your own selfish motives. You really disappoint me!¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Lindsey smiled bitterly. She was even more disappointed than Benny. ¡°Dad, if Mom were here, she would¡¯ve believed me. ¡± At the mention of his ex-wife Juanita, the bottled-up anger in Benny¡¯s heart suddenly exploded. He pointed at Lindsey and roared, ¡°Have you forgotten how your mother abandoned you? When we divorced, she simply took your brother with her. For so many years, I¡¯ve worked so hard to provide for you! How dare you mention her to me? If you think I¡¯m not good enough, then go to your mother. Let¡¯s see if she¡¯ll take you in!¡± In Benny¡¯s eyes, Lindsey¡¯s mother had abandoned her; it was he who raised her. Throughout the years, although Lindsey had always quarreled with him, he still loved her dearly. That was why he felt so hurt when she said those ungrateful words. She made it sound like he wasn¡¯t as good as her mother-the parent who had abandoned her! Chapter 53 But unbeknownst to Benny, before leaving, Juanita had asked Lindsey if she wanted to go with her. It was Lindsey who chose to stay with Benny because she didn¡¯t want her father to be too Lonely. Juanita came from a rich family and had a sessful career. Lindsey could¡¯ve lived a better life with her. But Lindsey had chosen to live with Benny, because in her innocent, childish mind, she naively thought that her mother wouldn¡¯t be Lonely because she had her brother. Her dad, however, would have no one if she chose to live with her mom, too. Back then, for her dad¡¯s sake, she had been so harsh with her mom. After the divorce, he didn¡¯t allow her to contact her mom, so she truly severed all ties with her. Later, her dad¡¯spany gradually developed, and he became busier as a result. Then, after Kendra and her daughter joined their family, he had even less time to apany Lindsey. Now, her dad didn¡¯t trust her. He even went so far as to kick her out of the house for the sake of Kendra! Lindsey¡¯s heart was broken. She looked at her father coldly, feeling that thetter was like a stranger. Lindsey took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. ¡°Do you really want me to leave?¡± ¡°If you want to stay, then apologize to Kendra!¡± Benny wanted to make Lindsey yield, but he should¡¯ve known better than to expect his stubborn daughter would give in. Lindsey raised her chin defiantly and sneered, ¡°Dream on!¡± The moment Lindsey turned away from Benny, tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t regret her decision. Seeing that she was actually going to leave, Benny was furious. ¡°You really are as stubborn as your mother! Don¡¯t even think abouting back here!¡± Watching Lindsey leave without looking back, Benny slumped onto the sofa like a deted balloon. However, his clenched fists still trembled with anger. ¡°Why would I have such an ungrateful daughter?¡± Kendra sat down next to him and patted him on the chest gently. ¡°Shh, calm down, honey. Forget about Lindsey; you still have your other daughter. Shelia is much more obedient than her. Speaking of Shelia, I heard that she just signed a contract with a reputable agency. Maybe she¡¯ll be a big star someday. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll make you proud. ¡± Benny sighed. Indeed, Shelia Stewart had always been obedient and sensible, but she wasn¡¯t his biological daughter. Benny reached out to touch Kendra¡¯s belly, silently cing all his hopes on this unborn child. Kendra seemed to read his mind. She pouted sadly and murmured, ¡°Benny, we all know that thepany hasn¡¯t been doing so welltely.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lindsey not only got a lot of money from her mother, but she also got engaged to a wealthy man. However, she¡¯s not doing anything to help us get through these financial difficulties. Do you think that¡¯s why she wanted to leave? Does she think we¡¯re a burden to her?¡±Her words sessfully pushed Benny¡¯s buttons. Chapter 54 Observing his expression, Kendra added, ¡°If thepany really goes bankrupt, the baby will suffer from the moment they are born. ¡± At this, tears welled up in Kendra¡¯s eyes again. Benny held her tightly in his arms and cooed reassuringly, though there was a sh of coldness in his eyes. No, he refused to let hispany go bankrupt. Lindsey was his daughter; she had to help now that the family business was in trouble. Besides, in his eyes, he also deserved a share of the property Lindsey had received! * After leaving home for good, Lindsey wiped away her tears, shoved all her grievances to the back of her head, and went back to school. On Monday, the school announced that Lindsey had been elected as this year¡¯s valedictorian. That night, she made a resume and sent an application letter to Vitality Entertainment. It didn¡¯t take long before she received a reply, asking her to go for an interview. Lindsey was so excited that the sadness from before was swept away. On the day of the interview, Lindsey went to Vitality Entertainment in high spirits. Their office was located in the most prosperous area of the city center. Lindsey raised her head and looked up at the tall building that seemed to pierce into the clouds. The translucent ss door reflected her slender figure. Countless people streamed in and out of the door like busy bees. Lindsey felt such a rush, especially since it was possible she¡¯d run into a celebrity here. After taking a deep breath, she strode in and exined her purpose to the receptionist. Thetter made a phone call and then asked her to wait at the door of the meeting room on the fifth floor. Emilio happened to walk out of the VIP elevator at this time.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He recognized Lindsey at a nce. He quickly backtracked into the VIP elevator and made a call. ¡°Domenic, Lindsey¡¯s in Vitality Entertainment!¡± Domenic frowned. ¡°What¡¯s she doing there?¡± ¡°Judging from her attire, I guess she¡¯s here for an interview. ¡± A smile tugged at the corners of Domenic¡¯s lips. It turned out that she wanted to get a job at Vitality Entertainment. Interesting. At around noon, Lindsey walked out of the meeting room with a bright smile. The interview went well, and she was confident she¡¯d be hired. She left the office building briskly. As soon as she walked past the ss doors, she ran into someone familiar. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey eximed in surprise. Domenic nced at the resume she was holding. Chapter 55 ¡°Are you here for an interview?¡± ¡°Yep!¡± Lindsey beamed at him proudly.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I just happened to be in the area,¡± Domenic answered cryptically, joining Lindsey as she walked down the street. ¡°How was the interview?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll let me know the results in a few days. If I don¡¯t get in, I¡¯d be heartbroken!¡± Lindsey pressed the back of her hand against her forehead and sighed dramatically. She didn¡¯t realize just how rxed and at ease she felt in front of Domenic. Domenic mused, ¡°If you can¡¯t get in, you can always work for anotherpany. ¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand! I¡¯ve always dreamed of working at Vitality Entertainment!¡± Lindsey¡¯s bright eyes lit up with hope. ¡°My mother used to be a top agent there. I want to be as capable as her. ¡± Hearing this, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but smile at her affectionately. ¡°With your exceptional abilities, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get in,¡± he said gently. Lindsey grinned. Her eyes shone as brightly as the stars, eclipsing everything around her. After chatting for a while, Domenic received a phone call and said goodbye to Lindsey. Lindsey hummed a happy tune all the way back to her dormitory. Seeing that she was in such a good mood, her roomie Nancy teased, ¡°Why are you so happy? Did you getid?¡± Lindsey rolled her eyes at her. ¡°What the heck are you talking about? I¡¯m just in a good mood, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°A good mood, huh? Is it because you met some handsome guy?¡± Nancy wriggled her eyebrows at her yfully. ¡°Get your mind out of the gutter, will you? Can¡¯t I be happy about things other than men?¡± Nancy was a sweet girl, but she was called a ¡°social butterfly¡± and was very fickle when it came to rtionships. She changed boyfriends almost every week. ¡°What could be more important than money and good-looking guys?¡± Looking at herself in the mirror, Nancy applied some lipstick and then smacked her lips. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m going to a party. See youter!¡± Lindsey shook her head helplessly and sat on the bed. As soon as she turned on herptop, she received an email. When she saw the sender¡¯s email address, her heart leaped to her throat. It was from the HR Department of Vitality Entertainment! Lindsey was under the impression she¡¯d have to wait a few days before she heard from Vitality Entertainment, so she was so nervous when she saw that they had reached out to her so soon. With bated breath, she clicked on the email, only to see one big word at the top of the page: ¡°Congrattions!¡± She was so excited that she jumped out of bed, eager to share the good news with somebody. However, her best friend, Nancy, might¡¯ve been busy flirting with a handsome guy, so she figured now wasn¡¯t a good time for her. After thinking for a while, Lindsey decided to call Domenic. Chapter 56 ¡°Good news, Mr. Walsh!¡± she blurted as soon as the call connected. ¡°I passed the interview!¡± On the other end of the Line, Domenic was sitting in Emilio¡¯s office, drumming his fingers on the table. Theputer in front of him showed the email he had sent just now. ¡°Congrattions!¡± Domenic responded with a genuine smile. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re my lucky charm. Since I met you, everything seems to be going my way!¡± ¡°In that case, we should see each other more often,¡± Domenic teased. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to admit that we¡¯re engaged, we¡¯re still friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face flushed a bright red. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied shyly. Emilio, who was sitting opposite Domenic, was dumbfounded. Domenic looked so¡­ What was the correct word-gentle? Tender? No, no, no. These words couldn¡¯t possibly describe the cold, formidable Domenic. ¡°Domenic, you just smiled three times in a row. That¡¯s more than the total number of times you¡¯ve smiled since I met you years ago!¡± As soon as the call ended, Emilio couldn¡¯t help but blurt his thoughts. However, Domenic simply shot him a cold nce, having returned to his usual aloof and distant self the moment he put the phone down. ¡°Once Lindsey starts working here, look after her and report to me if anything happens. ¡± ¡°Why do you care so much about her?¡± Emilio asked suspiciously. Leaning back in his chair, Domenic answered casually, ¡°Because I want to find out her real purpose. ¡± ¡°Then just tie her up and force her to confess. Why go through all this effort?¡± Emilio squinted at Domenic with a knowing smile. ¡°You seem to have all kinds of ideas in that small brain of yours, Domenicmented, his eyes piercing right through Emilio like a knife. Frightened, thetter immediately shut his mouth. Soon after the interview, Lindsey started working for Vitality Entertainment as an intern. Only after graduation could she go through the proper hiring formalities. On her first day of work, her supervisor sent her to pick someone up at the airport. The person she was going to pick up was a newly signed female artist, whose stage name was Jasmine.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. There was little information about this person. Lindsey made it to the airport very early in the morning. She came prepared, holding up a sign with Jasmine¡¯s name on it, even going so far as to bring a cup of iced coffee for the artist. After waiting for a long time, Lindsey saw a woman with long ck hair, ck sunsses, and a fashionable dress walking toward her. Somehow, even from afar, she felt that this figure looked so familiar. Chapter 57 The woman came to a stop right in front of Lindsey. As soon as she took off her sunsses, a pair of cunning eyes red at her. ¡°Lindsey, what are you doing here?¡± If it weren¡¯t for that familiar shrill voice, Lindsey wouldn¡¯t have recognized Shelia, Kendra¡¯s daughter. Shelia had joined the Stewart family when Kendra married Benny. She was around the same age as Lindsey. After graduating from high school, she went to study in another city. Now, she was about to graduate, same as Lindsey. Back when Shelia still lived in the Stewart family home, she would alwayspete with Lindsey. She¡¯d fight her for food, clothes, and even fatherly love. Now that Lindsey thought about it, she felt that Shelia was definitely her mother¡¯s daughter. Both Kendra and Shelia were smooth talkers with murderous intents behind their sweet smiles. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for someone,¡± Lindsey answered curtly. She didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on Shelia and simply held the sign up higher, in case Shelia blocked it from Jasmine¡¯s view. Only then did Shelia notice the name on the sign. All of a sudden, she burst intoughter. ¡°Seriously? Are you the one they sent to pick up Jasmine? There¡¯s no freaking way!¡± Hearing this, Lindsey had a bad feeling about this. She looked her step-sister up and down warily. Shelia seemed to have bloomed in college. At least, she was definitely much prettier than before. She used to have a t nose, but now, it was chiseled.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Her face was no longer round, rather, it Was oval-shaped. There was something different about her eyes, too. It didn¡¯t take long for Lindsey to figure out that she must¡¯ve had several procedures done to her face. ¡°Yes. Why?¡± Lindsey looked at Shelia uneasily. Having gotten confirmation, Sheliaughed even more arrogantly. ¡°I¡¯m Jasmine. ¡± Lindsey sighed. Her good luck had to run out sooner orter. She took a closer look at Shelia¡¯s new face. She looked just like all those other stars who had work done to their face. How could Shelia distinguish herself from the others? Lindsey just couldn¡¯t understand why theirpany would sign a contract with someone as generic as Shelia. However, since she had no say in which artists thepany would sign on, there was nothing she could do. She put away the sign and nced at the iced coffee she had prepared, instantly regretting buying it. ¡°Is that for me?¡± Shelia suddenly grabbed the iced coffee from Lindsey¡¯s hand, sshing its contents all over her pink dress. ¡°Lindsey! What did I do to offend you? Why the hell did you pour coffee all over my dress?!¡± Overhearing themotion, onlookers began to look at Lindsey with disdain, believing thetter was such an unreasonable person. Lindsey looked at Shelia with a sneer. Indeed, like mother like daughter; Kendra and Shelia must¡¯ve taken sses from the same acting teacher! Snorting indignantly, Shelia took out her phone and called her agent. ¡°Lynne, why the hell did you send such a useless person to pick me up? She¡¯s so clumsy that she spilled an entire cup of coffee on me. I¡¯m supposed to attend the opening ceremony for that brand deal this afternoon, but my dress is ruined! What am I going to do now?¡± Chapter 58 As sheined to her agent on the phone, Shelia looked at Lindseycently. Right after she put her phone down, Lindsey¡¯s phone rang. Despite feeling wary, Lindsey answered it without hesitation. Sure enough, as soon as the call connected, the agent, Lynne Shelby¡¯s voice exploded in her ear. ¡°Lindsey Stewart, what on earth is wrong with you? I only asked you to pick her up, but you can¡¯t even handle such a small task!¡± ¡°Lynne, I didn¡¯t spill the coffee on her,¡± Lindsey exined. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it. I¡¯ve sent someone else to take care of Jasmine. Come back to the office now!¡± With that, Lynne hung up on her. As soon as Lindsey pocketed her phone, Shelia crossed her arms over her chest and gloated, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re in trouble now! But you shouldn¡¯t take it to heart. In fact, you¡¯d better get used to it. After all, you¡¯re so ipetent, you can¡¯t even handle the simple task of picking up an artist from the airport. ¡± As she spoke, she smirked at Lindseycently. Lindsey rolled her eyes in exasperation. Without saying a word, she headed to the nearest vending machine and bought a can of Coke. After opening the lid, she went back to Shelia and poured its fizzy contents on top of her head. ¡°What the-?!¡± Shelia let out a piercing scream. The ice-cold, sticky liquid soaked her hair and streamed down her face, ruining her makeup. She now looked like a drowned rat. ¡°Happy?¡± Lindsey spat. After saying that, she left without giving Shelia the chance to fight back. Shelia was so angry that her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She stomped her foot and shouted in a shrill voice, ¡°Just you wait and see, Lindsey Stewart! I¡¯ll kick you out of Vitality Entertainment sooner orter!¡± Ignoring her, Lindsey hailed a taxi and headed back to thepany. Lynne was waiting for her in the office. ¡°Lindsey, today is your first day of work. Although you¡¯re just an intern for now, you¡¯ll be officially hired once you graduate. If you can¡¯t even handle such a small task, how can I entrust the more important things to you in the future?¡± Lynne¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t that harsh, but her disappointment was palpable.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t ssh coffee on her. Shel-I mean, Jasmine did it herself just to frame me. ¡± Lindsey nearly called Shelia by her real name, but fortunately, she caught herself in time. She didn¡¯t want anyone to know that Jasmine was actually her stepsister, lest she get herself into more unnecessary trouble. Lynne looked at the resolute girl standing in front of her. Indeed, Lindsey didn¡¯t look like the type who would spill coffee on someone for no reason. Besides, Lynne knew that Jasmine could be unreasonable and domineering at times. Still, Lynne hadn¡¯t witnessed what happened in the airport with her own two eyes, so she couldn¡¯t tell who was really at fault. ¡°Alright, but be careful next time,¡± Lynne sighed. She saw Lindsey as an apprentice, and she sincerely wanted to train her well. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s important to understand as early as now that the workce is different from school. You have to learn the art of diplomacy. And working in an entertainmentpany is more challenging than working in other fields. You¡¯ll encounter a lot of artists who are even more difficult to deal with than Jasmine. So if you don¡¯t watch your back, you might not be cut out for this job. ¡± Lindsey lowered her head and nodded in silence. She walked out of Lynne¡¯s office and returned to her desk with her head still down. She knew that Lynne had only said those things for her own good, and she really appreciated it. However, even though it was all Shelia¡¯s fault, she still felt terrible for having screwed up her first task. Just then, her phone rang. As soon as Lindsey saw the caller ID, her knitted brows rxed a little. Chapter 59 ¡°What¡¯s up, Mr. Walsh?¡± ¡°How¡¯s your first day at work going?¡± Domenic asked. ¡°Well¡­ not bad. ¡± Domenic saw right through her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You sounds upset. ¡± Lindsey felt that she couldn¡¯t hide anything from this discerning man, but she didn¡¯t want to be so vulnerable in front of him, so she forced a smile and joked, ¡°This morning, my first task was to deal with a mad dog and nearly got bitten. I¡¯m still shuddering at the memory!¡± A chuckle sounded from the other end of the Line. ¡°Mr. Walsh, how can youugh at my misery?¡± Lindsey pursed her Lips and pretended to be aggrieved, though in truth, she felt much better. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Domenic cleared his throat and apologized. ¡°Maybe I can make it up to you over lunch. My treat. ¡± Lindsey finally cracked a smile. ¡°Sounds good!¡± Soon, it was time for lunch. As soon as Lindsey walked out of the office building, she found Domenic waiting for her outside. He was leaning against the railing by the side of the road in a crisp, white polo shirt. Even in such casual attire, he looked like a supermodel. Domenic straightened up when he saw Lindsey trotting toward him. ¡°Craving anything?¡±Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. After thinking for a while, Lindsey grabbed his arm and said excitedly, ¡°Come with me!¡± Lindsey hailed a taxi and took Domenic to a ce a few kilometers away. After paying for the fare, they got out and walked to a food truck. ¡°Two orders of seafood risotto, please!¡± Lindsey said to the owner of the food truck. Then she turned around, eyes gleaming with excitement, and said to Domenic, ¡°Their seafood risotto is to die for!¡± The corners of Domenic¡¯s mouth twitched unnaturally. He had never eaten street food before. He grabbed a wad of napkins from the table and wiped his seat before sitting down. ¡°It¡¯s my treat,¡± Domenic said with a frown. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to a nicer restaurant?¡± Lindsey had just put two tes of seafood risotto on the table when she heard Domenic¡¯s question. ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover, Mr. Walsh. Although it doesn¡¯t look like much, sometimes, street food is better than that of a fancy restaurant. Besides, you¡¯ve already spent a lot of money on me. I don¡¯t want to take advantage of you. ¡± Domenic was slightly moved by her sincerity. Watching quietly as the girl devoured the food, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. Lindsey turned out to be right. Although the food truck didn¡¯t look very sanitary, even Domenic had to admit that their food was amazing. Chapter 60 In fact, if he closed his eyes, he would¡¯ve thought he was eating food from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Seeing that there was some sauce on the corner of Lindsey¡¯s mouth, Domenic subconsciously reached out to wipe it with a tissue. The moment he touched her, Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped a beat. And the way he handled her was so careful; she couldn¡¯t help but think that this man wasn¡¯t only handsome but also very gentle. Unbeknownst to her, Domenic was by no means a gentle person in the eyes of others. Anyone else who knew him had only ever seen a fierce, malicious side to him. Only when Domenic withdrew his hand did shee to her senses. Feeling a little embarrassed she hurriedly changed the subject and said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, do you know of any cheap apartment rentals near Vitality Entertainment?¡± After all, once she graduated, she could no longer stay in the school dormitory. And now that she had fallen out with her father, she couldn¡¯t go back home either. Therefore, her only option was to find a new ce to live as soon as possible. Recently, she had been checking out apartments near Vitality Entertainment, but they were all outrageously expensive. One small apartment without a private bathroom cost five thousand dors a month. And apartments with better amenities were priced even higher. Although Lindsey had received a sum of money from her mother, she still had to support herself in the future, so she had to be careful with her finances. Thinking that he might live in that area, she concluded that perhaps he knew where to find cheap apartment rentals. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Are you nning to rent an apartment?¡± Domenic asked in surprise. Her eyes showed a trace of sadness, but she managed to force a smile. ¡°Yeah. My home is too far, so it¡¯s a bit of a hassle tomute daily. It¡¯d be much better if I just moved to the area.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡± ¡°What kind of apartment are you looking for?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± After thinking for a while, Lindsey listed her requirements verbally. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be too nice; as long as it¡¯s close to the office, has ess to public transportation, and is safe, I¡¯ll be content. ¡± Domenic nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll look around. I¡¯ll tell you if I find anything¡ª¡± While the two were talking, a shrill voice suddenly interrupted their conversation. ¡°Lindsey?¡± Lindsey raised her head subconsciously and then froze once she saw who had called her. Shelia happened to be driving by when she saw Lindsey eating by a food truck. She deliberately stopped the car and came to mock her. ¡°I heard that Dad kicked you out of the house, but I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be broke so quickly! You¡¯re the noble daughter of the Stewart family, but you¡¯re eating at a disgusting food truck. How pathetic!¡± Shelia covered her mouth and giggled maliciously. Ignoring her, Lindsey asked Domenic loudly, ¡°Mr. Walsh, do you hear that mad dog barking? It¡¯s so annoying!¡± Knowing what she meant, Domenicughed. ¡°Excuse me?!¡± Enraged, Shelia pointed at Lindsey and spat, ¡°Who the f@ck do you think you are?¡± Chapter 61 Lindsey shrugged nonchntly and answered, ¡°Not a mad dog, that¡¯s for sure. ¡± ¡°You little-!¡± Shelia wanted to explode in anger, but when she saw the man sitting next to Lindsey, she managed to restrain herself. Although he was wearing cheap clothes, he was still the most handsome man she had ever seen. Not wanting to leave a bad impression on him, she simply sneered, ¡°Humph! It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re eloquent or whatever. I can¡¯t wait for the day youe running home to beg Dad for mercy!¡± ¡°I¡¯m full. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on Shelia anymore, so she put down her spoon and said to Domenic, ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡± But Shelia didn¡¯t n to let them go so easily. She blocked her way and said with disdain, ¡°It¡¯s too bad Dad doesn¡¯t give a damn about you. He didn¡¯t care when you left. When I came back home just now, he took me to a three-star Michelin restaurant for lunch.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Wait-where are you going? You don¡¯t look like you can afford a car. Do you need me to give you a ride? Dad said he¡¯d buy me a new car sometime soon, and now, he gave me his Benz. ¡± Shelia knew what buttons to push. Sure enough, her words stabbed into Lindsey¡¯s heart like a sharp knife. Lindsey, who had been trying so hard to keep herposure, felt absolutely broken. The feeling of not being trusted and Loved by her own father overwhelmed her. Clenching her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, Lindsey kept her head held high, trying so hard not to show just how vulnerable she felt in front of Shelia. Just then, a luxury supercar pulled over right next to them, its engine revving so loudly that people stopped to gawk. ¡°Damn! Who owns that supercar? It¡¯s gorgeous!¡± The onlookers eximed in admiration. Staring at the car, Shelia also wondered who its owner was. If it was a young man from a rich family, she would create an opportunity to hit on him. Sure enough, when a young man got out of the driver¡¯s seat and started walking toward her, she could barely contain her excitement. Shelia flipped her hair and walked forward, ready to meet the man halfway. But just as she was about to say hello to him, the man walked right past her and stopped in front of Lindsey and Domenic. ¡°Sir, your car has arrived. ¡± It turned out that the supercar belonged to the man Lindsey was with! Shelia was stunned. How could someone so wealthy dine at a lowly food truck? Domenic stood up and offered Lindsey a hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡± Lindsey nced at the luxury car in confusion before epting his outstretched hand. Seeing this, Shelia¡¯s eyes almost popped out of her head. Who on earth was the man Lindsey had hooked up with?! She clenched her fists, her eyes burning with jealousy. She refused to let Lindsey have nice things, let alone a handsome and rich man. She swore to herself that she would do whatever it takes to snatch this man away from Lindsey! Chapter 62 Domenic led Lindsey to the backseat of the car. Since this was her first time in such an expensive luxury car, she was so nervous that she didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey nced at the man beside her with uncertainty. ¡°Did you rent this car?¡± Before Domenic could answer, Hendrix, who was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, turned around and said to her with a smile, ¡°Miss, this gentleman ordered this car through an app on his phone.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Think of it like Uber, but for Luxury cars. Now, where would you like to go?¡± Lindsey pursed her lips. ¡°I bet it was expensive to order this car, huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Domenic said calmly. ¡°I rent it from time to time. ¡± ¡®From time to time¡¯?¡± Lindsey asked in surprise, eyeing him suspiciously. However, the man¡¯s calm demeanor betrayed nothing. ¡°Like what the driver said, this car is part of apany that specializes in renting out Luxury goods. I rented a lot of things from them for the engagement party, so they gave me a big discount on the car. ¡± Lindsey nodded quietly. She couldn¡¯t shake off that sense of guilt, so she said softly, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you don¡¯t have to do this for me. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Domenic wanted to make Lindsey happy, but instead, she became even more depressed. ¡°I know that you¡¯re not well off. You should budget your money more wisely. Moreover, using such a way to keep up appearances frequently would make people look vain. I hope that one day, I¡¯ll make so much money that I¡¯ll be able to buy a fancy car on my own. Only then can I enjoy a real sense of aplishment! And when that dayes, I¡¯ll take you for a ride!¡± Lindsey smiled brightly at the thought. At that moment, the sunlight hit her perfectly, making her look like a sweet angel. Her smile was so infectious that even Domenic couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Okay, I hope you¡¯ll keep your promise. ¡± Later that day, Lindsey went to the copy room with a form. Just as she passed by thepany¡¯s in-house studio, she heard Shelia¡¯s furious voice from inside. ¡°How dare you expect me to eat such disgusting food? Are you begging me to have you fired?¡± Curiosity got the better of Lindsey, who then stopped to take a peak. It turned out that Shelia was scolding her assistant, whose eyes were teary and clothes were covered in food. The floor was also a mess of spilled food. One of the staff came out of the studio just then, and Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but stop him and ask politely, ¡°What happened?¡± The staff shrugged helplessly and said, ¡°The new artist¡¯s acting Like such a diva. Before the shoot even started, sheined that her feet hurt and that she couldn¡¯t wear high heels, so she insisted on wearing Balenciaga¡¯s tform shoes. Later, she said she was hungry and asked her assistant to buy her food. When she found out that the assistant had bought her seafood risotto from a food truck, she threw the food at her assistant. Today¡¯s the deadline for this advertisement, and Jasmine¡¯s the brand ambassador. If we can¡¯t make her happy, no one will be able to get off work today. ¡± Afterining, the staff sighed wearily and hurried away. Chapter 63 At first, Lindsey didn¡¯t want to get involved. After all, it had nothing to do with her. But Shelia was her stepsister, and she felt bad for her colleagues who¡¯d have to work overtime because of Shelia. In the end, Lindsey felt the need to do something. Bracing herself, she walked into the studio, only to see that Shelia¡¯s assistant¡¯s eyes were red and puffy.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Shelia crossed her arms over her chest and held her head high, barking, ¡°Buy me seafood risotto from a Michelin restaurant right now. Only after I¡¯ve eaten will I start the shoot. ¡± ¡°But¡­ but he nearest Michelin restaurant is far from here, and it¡¯s very expensive¡­¡± The assistant lowered her head and protested hesitantly. Shelia sneered, ¡°Since you¡¯re so poor, why don¡¯t you just be a beggar instead? Why¡¯d youe to Vitality Entertainment? To waste our time? Humph!¡± ¡°Vitality Entertainment hires people based on their capabilities, not their family background,¡± Lindsey cut in, stepping in front of Shelia¡¯s assistant protectively. ¡°Your assistant chose to buy food from a ce nearby to save time for the shooting. What¡¯s so wrong about that?¡± ¡°Lindsey?¡± Shelia wrinkled her nose in disdain. ¡°What the hell are you doing here? This is none of your goddamned business!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right; this really is none of my business, but I came here just to give you a little reminder. ¡± Lindsey, wearing a calm smile, retrieved her phone andunched the calctor app. ¡°Today marks the deadline for this advertisement. If you don¡¯t wrap up the shoot on time, everyone will be clocking in extra hours with you. The standard overtime rate at Vitality Entertainment is five hundred dors per hour. Judging by your current speed, they¡¯ll be stuck here for hours, toiling away until midnight-that¡¯s a total of six hours of overtime. Considering everything from preparation to post-production, I estimate there will be at least thirty people dedicated to this advertisement. So¡­¡± Lindsey ceased tapping on her phone screen and disyed the oue of the calction to Shelia. ¡°Thepany will need to shell out nearly a hundred thousand dors in overtime pay, not to mention the additional costs for water, electricity, and other misceneous fees. Do you really think the higher-ups are willing to spend that much money on a nameless rookie like you? Who do you think they¡¯ll me?¡± Shelia became flustered at once. After all, she had never considered this before. Indeed, she was new to this industry, and she just wanted to send the message that she was not to be neglected. However, even she had to admit that her actions were a bit rash; if thepany got angry with her and even cklisted her from the entertainment industry, then all her hard work would¡¯ve gotten her nowhere. Shelia cleared her throat and said falteringly, ¡°Forget it. I lost my appetite now. Let¡¯s start the shoot. ¡± None of the staff present knew how to deal with Shelia. Unexpectedly, Lindsey was able to solve the problem in a few words. Everyone silently shot her grateful looks. It was true that thepany offered overtime pay, but it wasn¡¯t as much as Lindsey imed. Taking advantage of the fact that Shelia was new here and knew nothing aboutpany policy, she bluffed Shelia into cooperating with the crew. Having solved this matter, Lindsey was in a good mood. She left the studio and finished her work without another hitch. * A few dayster, Lindsey received a call from Domenic. He told her that he had found several nice apartments that fit her budget, and he asked her if she wanted to view them with him. Lindsey readily agreed. One afternoon, Domenic took her to one of the apartments. The location and amenities were good, and more importantly, the rent was affordable. Lindsey was very satisfied with it. The only drawback was that she¡¯d have to rent it with someone else. Chapter 64 After thinking for a while, Lindsey was ready to sign the lease. But before she could put the pen to the paper, she saw her future roommate running around with a knife, shouting excitedly, ¡°Let¡¯s have a knife fight! It¡¯ll be a duel to the death!¡± Lindsey was bewildered. She didn¡¯t know if this person had mental problems, but whatever the case was, she immediately dropped the pen and dragged Domenic away. As soon as the two hurried out of the apartment, the ¡°psycho¡± roommate with the knife stopped what she was doing and wiped the sweat off her forehead. Acting like a psycho really was no easy feat. Lindsey and Domenic visited several more apartments, but each one had weird problems. After a whole afternoon of futile apartment hunting, Lindsey felt so dejected. She lowered her head and muttered, ¡°My graduation¡¯s tomorrow. If I can¡¯t find a suitable apartment by then, I¡¯ll be homeless! ncing at her, Domenic said in a seemingly casual tone, ¡°Actually, the ce I¡¯m staying at belongs to my friend. Although he was willing to rent it out to me at a really low price, it¡¯s still a little expensive for me.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Why not move in with me? We can split the rent 50-50. ¡± Lindsey was stunned. The one time she had been to Domenic¡¯s apartment, she found that it was located in a beautiful neighborhood with luxurious amenities. More importantly, it was quite close to Vitality Entertainment. At that time, she was a little confused, since they were in an international metropolis; any apartment in that area would cost at least tens of millions of dors, let alone such a spacious apartment in a luxurious neighborhood. Domenic wasn¡¯t rich. So, how could he afford such a ce? It turned out to be his friend¡¯s property. Lindsey was tempted by this offer, but Domenic was still a male. It wasn¡¯t appropriate for them to Live together. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± she faltered. ¡°Why not? Are you scared of me?¡± Domenic looked into her eyes with a hint of tenderness. ¡°Of course not!¡± Lindsey twiddled her thumbs hesitantly. ¡°Thene and live with me. We can split the rent,¡± Domenic reiterated casually. Indeed, Lindsey doubted she¡¯d be able to find another ce to live on such short notice. After hesitating for a while, she finally nodded in agreement. ¡°Mr. Walsh, since we¡¯re about to move in together, can you please tell me your full name now?¡± Only then did it ur to Lindsey that she didn¡¯t even know his first name. ¡°It¡¯s Domenic Walsh,¡± Domenic replied lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t forget it. ¡± Lindsey smiled brightly, unaware of the meaning behind his words. ¡°Of course I won¡¯t forget. ¡± Chapter 65 In the evening, Lindsey went home to pack her things. Fortunately, no one was home; Benny must¡¯ve taken Kendra and Shelia out for dinner. Thinking of this, Lindsey smiled bitterly. It was good that she didn¡¯t have to face them, but her father¡¯s betrayal still stung. She didn¡¯t have much Luggage. Domenic offered to help her carry her things, but she had refused and insisted that he wait for her at the gate to her neighborhood. Before long, they were in a taxi heading to Domenic¡¯s residence. After paying the fare, Domenic got out, took the luggage out of the trunk in one hand, and held Lindsey¡¯s hand with the other. Together, they walked towards the gate to his neighborhood. Although the guard didn¡¯t know who Domenic was exactly, he did know that this young man asionally drove a luxury car worth millions of dors in and out of the neighborhood. The guard just figured that Domenic was a rich and powerful boss. ¡°Good evening, sir. ¡± The guard bowed respectfully to him. ¡°This is my fianc¨¦e. She¡¯s moving in with me. ¡± Lindsey first looked up at him in shock, but soon, she calmed down. Perhaps he was just saying this to save them from unnecessary trouble. The guard looked at Lindsey and nodded politely. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll inform the property manager to enter your fianc¨¦e¡¯s information into themunity¡¯s database as soon as possible. ¡± This was Lindsey¡¯s second time here, but she feltpletely different from the first. She took her luggage into a guest room, feeling a little excited. Domenic had already asked his cleaningdy to clean the ce in advance, and even all the bedding was new. After unpacking her luggage and changing intofortable clothes, Lindsey walked into the living room with a bright smile on her face. There, she found Domenic in a pair of gold-rimmed sses reading a book on the sofa. In his navy blue robe, white T-shirt, and blue pajama pants, he looked quite rxed. The yellow Light emanating from themp enveloped his chiseled face in a warm glow, which made him look much gentler than usual. When he saw Lindseye out of the room, he asked casually without looking away from the book, ¡°Did you get into a fight with your family?¡± Lindsey pursed her lips. She knew that there was no point in hiding it from him, so she came clean and said, ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°Is it because of what happened at the engagement party?¡± ¡°No. ¡± Lindsey shook her head immediately. She didn¡¯t want Domenic to think it was his fault. ¡°We fought over something else. ¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Frowning, Domenic put the book down and looked at her. ¡°So, the woman we ran into that day was your sister?¡± Knowing that he was referring to Shelia, Lindsey smiled bitterly. ¡°Stepsister, actually. We¡¯re not rted by blood. She just graduated recently, which is why she¡¯s back. ¡± ¡°Sounds like you have a difficult rtionship with her. ¡± ¡°Beyond that, we¡­¡± Speaking of this, Lindsey¡¯s voice trailed off. She had a lot ofints about her family, but she didn¡¯t want to air out her dirtyundry with Domenic, so she swallowed back her grievances and said simply, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, really. Just some family drama. ¡± Chapter 66 Sensing that she didn¡¯t want to talk about it, Domenic stopped prying. Lindsey looked around and found that the apartment looked a little bare. Aside from the usual essentials, there were no decorations, rendering the ce a little cold and lifeless. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I have an idea. ¡± She turned to look at the man on the sofa, eyes twinkling. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Domenic set the book aside and sat up straight. ¡°I¡­ Well, the apartment feels a Little empty, don¡¯t you think? How about we buy some essories and decorate it?¡± Lindsey asked tentatively, observing his reaction with bated breath. With one eyebrow raised, Domenic carefully observed theyout of the apartment and found that it was indeed a bit, forck of better terms, lifeless. ¡°Good idea. But you have to let me shoulder the bill, okay? After all, this is my friend¡¯s house. ¡± ¡°But it was my idea,¡± Lindsey insisted stubbornly. ¡°How about we split it fifty-fifty? What do you think?¡± Something stirred in Domenic¡¯s deep-set eyes as he gazed at the woman in front of him. She was very different from the other women he had met before. Unlike the rest, she seemed very afraid to take advantage of anyone. The fiery determination in her eyes made him believe that it was useless to argue, so he could only nod helplessly. ¡°Fine. ¡± ¡°Great!¡± Lindsey pped her hands enthusiastically. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no time Like the present! Tomorrow¡¯s a Saturday, so how about we go shopping tomorrow?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic nodded. He knew he didn¡¯t have anything important aside from a meeting in the evening. ¡°It¡¯s settled! We¡¯ll go to the wholesale market tomorrow morning!¡± ¡°Wait a second. ¡± Domenic suddenly frowned. ¡°The wholesale market?¡± Lindsey nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes! They always have good deals there. We¡¯ll be able to save a lot of money! Now that I¡¯ve moved out of my family home, I can¡¯t just splurge on luxuries anymore. I need to be more frugal!¡± Seeing how enthusiastic she was, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to you. ¡± ¡°You should go to bed soon so that we can get up early tomorrow. Good night, Mr. Walsh!¡± Lindsey beamed at him, her eyes as bright as the stars in the night sky. Without waiting for a response, she stood up and retired to her room.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Domenic watched her leave, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He whispered back to the closed door, ¡°Good night. ¡± Lindsey got up very early the following day. She bought milk and hot dogs and hurried back to set the table. Just as she was about to knock on Domenic¡¯s door, the door to themon bathroom suddenly swung open. Out walked a half-naked Domenic, his bare skin glistening with water droplets. Chapter 67 The two were both stunned when their eyes met. Lindsey was the first toe to her senses. She quickly whirled around, her ears bright red, stuttering, ¡°M-Mr. Walsh, w-why didn¡¯t you- Why didn¡¯t you get dressed before you came out of the bathroom?¡± It went without saying that she wasn¡¯t expecting to be greeted by such a scene. Did he forget that she also lived there? Indeed, it really was so inconvenient for a man and a woman to live under the same roof! Lindsey squeezed her eyes shut, wanting to die from embarrassment. Domenic also felt a little embarrassed. When he got up that morning, he saw that the door to Lindsey¡¯s room was closed. Thinking that she was still asleep, he didn¡¯t think to put on any clothes after taking a shower. But he didn¡¯t expect that she had gotten out of bed even earlier than him and that she¡¯d suddenly show up right when he came out of the bathroom. After taking a deep breath, he calmed down. After all, the two had slept together, so it wasn¡¯t a big deal if she saw him half-naked.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Sorry. I just came out of the shower. I¡¯ll be careful next time. ¡± Then he went back to his room. Lindsey breathed a sigh of relief and opened her eyes, but her heart was still pounding in her chest. Despite her initial embarrassment, even she had to admit that Domenic had a good figure, with his broad shoulders and well-defined abs and pecks. It would be great if she could touch them¡­ Lindsey¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. How could she have such naughty thoughts? She shook her head profusely, trying to banish the ridiculous idea from her mind. By the time Domenic came out of his room again, he was fully clothed. He nced at the food on the table and frowned slightly. He wasn¡¯t ustomed to such cheap food for breakfast, but he didn¡¯t have the heart to refuse it because Lindsey had bought it for him. After breakfast, the two went out to take the bus. Just as Lindsey said, they needed to be frugal. Looking around the bus, Domenic felt as though he was living the simple life of an ordinary person. ¡®s BunnyBookery Soon, they arrived at the wholesale market. Lindsey acted as though this was her turf; she did all the talking with the merchants, while Domenic carried the shopping bags. Domenic was surprised-and even a little impressed-when she managed to negotiate the prices down to even half. He never cared about the prices of things, so it went without saying that he never haggled before buying something. He took it for granted that one could get discounts if they fought hard enough. Seeing the regretful expressions on those vendors¡¯ faces whenever Lindsey would hand over the cash with a triumphant smile, Domenic was amused. ¡°Do you oftene here? You seem to know your way around,¡± he couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously. Lindsey leaned in, her voice barely audible, ¡°Truth be told, it¡¯s my first time navigating this market. But a friend advised me that if I pay more than half the price tag, I¡¯m getting a raw deal. I¡¯m not one for bad business, you know!¡± Domenic Looked at her in surprise, as though he had learned something shocking. Once they were satisfied with their shopping, the two left the wholesale market toting heavy shopping bags. It was really difficult for them to bring all these things home by bus, so they ended up taking a taxi. As soon as they got home, a high-spirited Lindsey set to work and began decorating the apartment. Domenic wanted to help, but he didn¡¯t know what to do. Chapter 68 ¡°Mr. Walsh, please pass me that painting. ¡± Lindsey was standing on top of a chair and was about to hang the painting they had just bought on one of the walls in the Living room. Domenic promptly handed her the painting she wanted. Lindsey took it and tried propping it against the wall. However, she wasn¡¯t tall enough, so she had to stand on tiptoe. Unexpectedly, she lost her bnce and fell backward with the painting! Fortunately, Domenic was standing right behind her. He reacted quickly and caught her, so instead of falling to the ground, she fell into a warm embrace. He helped her up and ordered, ¡°Get down from there. Let me do it. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face was pale. A little rattled, she obediently jumped down from the chair and let Domenic do the work. Domenic was tall, so he was able to hang the painting on the wall effortlessly. ¡°Indeed, a house needs a host. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but sigh wistfully. Smiling, Domenic pped his hands and joked, ¡°A house needs a hostess as well. Otherwise, how would I have bought so many beautiful things for so cheap?¡± ALL of a sudden, Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Why did this little interaction make her feel as though they were newlyweds? She shook her head and banished those ridiculous thoughts from her mind, focusing on the task at hand. Over the next few hours, the two worked together in decorating the apartment. By the time they finally finished, it was already five o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Exhausted, Lindsey looked around the apartment, feeling a sense of fulfillment. ¡°Now, this ce finally looks like a home!¡± Domenic also surveyed their new and improved surroundings, feeling quite satisfied. It suddenly urred to him that when he was a child, his home also had such a warm atmosphere, thanks to his mother. She also liked to decorate the house with beautiful ornaments, whereas his father never interfered with his mother¡¯s hobby. Back then, Domenic had gotten so angry at his mother because she had decorated his room without his permission. But now, he missed it so much. Only now did he realize that no one had decorated his room for him since then, and he hadn¡¯t felt this kind of warmth from someone in such a long time. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Seeing him standing there in a daze, Lindsey felt confused. Domenic came back to his senses and quickly put on a smile. ¡°Oh, nothing. Did we miss anything?¡± Lindsey looked around, her gazending on the bare balcony. ¡°If only we could put some fresh flowers on the balcony¡­ Looking at her beautiful side profile, Domenic asked in a soft voice, ¡°What kind of flowers do you like? I¡¯ll go out and buy some when I have the time.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡± ¡°As long as they¡¯re colorful, I¡¯ll be happy. ¡± Lindsey looked back at him and added with a kind smile, ¡°You must be very tired. Let¡¯s talk about it some other time. ¡± Domenic nodded in agreement. After all, he had a meeting to attend, so he got changed and left. But as soon as he got in the car, he called Franklin Selleck, the butler of Walsh Manor. ¡°Franklin, please gather a few flower pots from the greenhouse and send them my apartment in Waterfront Apartments. Come in the daytime tomorrow and set them up on the balcony. Be sure to pick the most colorful ones, okay?¡± Chapter 69 ¡°Understood, Mr. Walsh. ¡± Franklin was still a little surprised at Domenic¡¯s sudden request. After all, Domenic had never shown an interest in flowers before¡­ Was it possible that he had a girlfriend? * On Monday, since Lindsey had officially graduated, she went through the formalities and was officially hired by Vitality Entertainment as part of the agency department. Lynne set down a pile of documents in front of her and said, ¡°This is everything we have on thepany¡¯s new artists. Familiarize yourself with these documents over the next two days. Oh, and-¡± Lynne took out one of the documents and put it on the top of the stack. ¡°This is thepany¡¯stest golden egg. They want her to be the next big hit, so you¡¯d better pay more attention to her. ¡± As soon as she saw the artist¡¯s photo at the top of the document, Lindsey frowned in disbelief. How could it be Shelia? ¡°Lynne, what¡¯s so good about Jasmine? Why does thepany want to promote her?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but ask with a subtle grimace. Lynne stared at her with a strange look and said cryptically, ¡°The answer is obvious. If you can¡¯t figure it out, then what¡¯re you even doing here?¡± After saying that, she patted the stack of documents and left. But before leaving, she added, ¡°I know you¡¯re at odds with Jasmine since the spat at the airport, but work is work. There¡¯s nothing we can do to change thepany¡¯s decision. ¡± Lindsey felt as though a heavy weight had been dumped onto her shoulders. She couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Why did the universe insist on having her work in the samepany as Shelia? After getting off work, Lindsey rubbed her sore shoulders and walked out of the office building in low spirits. Darkness had already fallen, and the stars twinkled in the night sky. ALL of a sudden, her phone rang, which sounded particrly harsh amidst the quiet night. It was her best friend, Nancy, calling. As soon as the call connected, Nancy¡¯s aggrieved voice sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°Lindsey, where are you? Have you forgotten that today¡¯s my birthday?¡± Startled, Lindsey nced at her watch and found that it was already eight-forty in the evening. While frantically hailing a taxi, she apologized to Nancy and said, ¡°So sorry! I just got off work. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m on the way!¡± Today was Nancy¡¯s birthday, so she had chosen a particrly luxurious club for her party. Nancy and her family hadn¡¯t always been rich. When she was in high school, her mother sold stationery at the school gate while her father was a cook in a restaurant.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. asionally, he¡¯d buy lottery tickets on his way home. Who would¡¯ve thought that one day, he¡¯d win the jackpot of ten million dors? Since then, Nancy¡¯s family rose out of poverty. Her father wasn¡¯t the kind of shortsighted person who¡¯d squander his prize money. On the contrary, he invested a big chunk of it into the restaurant he worked for. Later, the business took off, and he opened several more branches. Now, he had be a wealthy man. Of course, nobody knew about this except Lindsey. After her father won the lottery back then, Nancy and her family moved to another city. It wasn¡¯t until college that the two met again-and coincidentally, they had been assigned to the same dormitory room. Chapter 70 From then on, the two girls became best friends. Soon, Lindsey arrived at the venue.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. It was said that this club belonged to Vitality Group, and many celebrities and business tycoons came here for fun, so it went without saying that Nancy had spent a lot of money today. As soon as Lindsey pushed the door open, she was shocked by the scene that greeted her. How she wished she could turn around and run away! In the private room, Nancy was sandwiched between two good-looking men-but while one was wearing a white shirt, the other was shirtless. Thetter even gyrated his body against Nancy¡¯s provocatively! There were several other men and women in the room. The women were Nancy¡¯s friends who were of course invited to her birthday party, but the men were probably the club¡¯s male escorts. ¡°Lindsey,e on in!¡± Nancy squeezed past the two men as soon as she saw Lindsey enter. She trotted over to her best friend, grabbed her hand, and pulled her into the private room. Lindsey wasn¡¯t used to these kinds of parties, so she retreated to a quiet corner and sat down. Nancy plopped down next to her and offered her a ss of juice. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like drinking, so I ordered some juice just for you. I¡¯m so considerate, right? Oh, by the way, this club¡¯s known for having gorgeous male escorts. How about I order one for you?¡± Nancy giggled with a mischievous look in her eye. ¡°No, thanks!¡± Lindsey shook her head at once. ¡°Oh, but I insist!¡± Nancy wagged a finger at Lindsey and continued, ¡°Today¡¯s my birthday, so you have to do as I say. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find you the hottest. What¡¯s your type, anyway?¡± Her type? Almost instantly, Domenic¡¯s face and perfectly chiseled abs popped into her head. Puff! She suddenly spurted out the juice in her mouth. Why on earth did she think of Domenic? She must¡¯ve been out of her mind! Was the drink in her hand really just juice?! ¡°Please don¡¯t,¡± Lindsey groaned, but Nancy turned a deaf ear to her protests. A few minutester, a young man with a pretty face opened the door and came in. He sat down next to Lindsey and drank with her. While Lindsey only helped herself to the juice, the man chugged ss after ss of wine. Eventually, he was so drunk that he leaned over, clearly about to vomit. ¡°No! Don¡¯t vomit here! I¡¯ll take you to the bathroom!¡± Unfortunately, the bathroom in the private room was upied. Lindsey had no choice but to help the man to the restroom at the end of the corridor. Domenic happened to have a social engagement in this club tonight. Just as he stepped out of the private room to take a call, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure walking toward the end of the corridor-and she was holding up a man. Chapter 71 Frowning, Domenic hung up without hesitation and followed Lindsey to the end of the corridor. ¡°Take your time in there. I¡¯m going back to the room, okay?¡± Lindsey shouted at the men¡¯s room. As soon as she turned around, she bumped into a rock-hard chest. The pleasant and familiar smell of cedar wood filled her nose, sending her into a trance. Ever so slowly, she raised her head and met Domenic¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°Mr. Wal-¡° Just as Lindsey opened her mouth in surprise, Domenic suddenly grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the storage room next to the bathrooms, mming the door behind them. The space was so cramped that the two people had to stand within inches of each other. Domenic¡¯s strong chest heaved in front of her, and she could feel his warm breath on the top of her head. She felt that she¡¯d bump into his chiseled jawline if she tried to raise her head. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Domenic asked in a tense voice, trying hard to suppress his anger. ¡°Who was that man?¡± Lindsey blushed and nted her palms against his chest in a weak attempt to push him away. ¡°Mr. Walsh, let¡¯s get out of here first. I can barely breathe in here. ¡± ¡°Are you in such a hurry to see that man?¡± Dominic sneered unhappily. She had already slept with him, but she had the audacity to date another man behind his back! Stunned, Lindsey slowly raised her head to look at Domenic in bewilderment. Why did she get the feeling that he was¡­ jealous? ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°He¡¯s just one of the club¡¯s male escorts. Don¡¯t get me wrong. Today¡¯s my best friend¡¯s birthday, and she insisted on ordering an escort for me. I couldn¡¯t refuse her no matter how hard I tried. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t feel the need to hide anything from him, so she exined the situation calmly while looking straight at him. Domenic looked at the woman standing mere inches away from him. She was neither humble nor pushy, which made him believe she was telling the truth.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. But it was her slightly pursed pink lips that distracted him from his momentary jealousy. Now, all he wanted to do was ki*s her. The two¡¯s breaths intertwined, and in the quiet storage room, they felt as though they could hear each other¡¯s heartbeats. ¡°Did you drink?¡± Domenic suddenly asked in a low voice. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how I look when I drink?¡± Lindsey retorted unhappily. ¡°As for you ¡°Lindsey leaned closer towards Domenic¡¯s neck and took a whiff. ¡°You reek of alcohol!¡± This simple gesture caused Domenic¡¯s throat to go dry, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing up and down. Yes, he indeed had drunk tonight. Otherwise, why else did he suddenly have the impulse to ki*s her at this time? But the woman in front of him couldn¡¯t read his mind. She just blinked and looked at him innocently, waiting for a response. When she didn¡¯t get one, she took the initiative to break the silence. ¡°Well, I exined myself already. Can we go out now? It¡¯s so stuffy in here. ¡± Chapter 72 Domenic barely heard her; he was too busy staring at Lindsey¡¯s moving lips. If they stayed here a second longer, he might lose control and ki*s her, so he finally loosened his grip on her and quickly exited the storage room. Lindsey followed him out, all the while staring at his broad back. His suit was obviously well made and seemed to have been tailored to fit his every angle. It was very different from what he usually wore in front of her, but very simr to what he wore on the night of her engagement party. Did he always dress like this? If so, then why did he dress so ordinarily when he was with her? ¡®s BunnyBookeryC0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. Noticing that Lindsey was eyeing him suspiciously, Domenic seemed to see right through her and exined calmly, ¡°I¡¯m meeting a big client with my boss. ¡± It suddenly dawned on Lindsey. It made sense to wear only the best clothes when meeting an important client. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what exactly do you do?¡± Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s curiosity was piqued. She lived under the same roof as Domenic, but she knew next to nothing about him. Come to think about it, she had never heard him talk about himself. ¡°Just handling some tasks for my boss,¡± Domenic answered cryptically. Turning his face away from her, he washed his hands. ¡°Are you also a male escort in this club?¡± Lindsey suddenly blurted. Domenic instantly stiffened. Ever so slowly, he turned around to Look at her in disbelief. ¡°You have quite the imagination, I must say. ¡± Lindseyughed in an awkward attempt to ease her embarrassment. Although she guessed wrong, she couldn¡¯t help but think that if Domenic was a male escort, he would¡¯ve be the most popr one! After washing his hands, Domenic escorted Lindsey back to her private room. Halfway there, they encountered a coupleing out of another private room. The woman looked wasted while the man wrapped his arm around her waist and kept caressing her. ¡°Stop-don¡¯t touch me-!¡± The woman tried to resist, but she was too weak and out of sorts. ¡°Come on, baby. I can make you very happy. ¡± The man smiled obscenely and even went so far as to pinch her butt. Lindsey stopped in her tracks and looked at the duo in disbelief. ¡°Do you know them?¡± Domenic asked in confusion. ¡°That woman is my supervisor!¡± Never in her wildest dreams would Lindsey have expected she¡¯d run into Lynne here. Her expression darkened as she grasped the gravity of the situation. ¡°I think she¡¯s in trouble. ¡± She couldn¡¯t just stand there and do nothing. Without thinking, she bolted toward the two people and stood in front of Lynne to protect her. ¡°Who the f@ck are you?¡± the man shouted angrily. He took a step towards the two women, filling Lindsey¡¯s nostrils with the sickly sweet smell of alcohol. Chapter 73 But Lindsey didn¡¯t back down. Showing no fear, she snapped, ¡°Let her go! It¡¯s obvious that she doesn¡¯t want to go with you. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your f@cking business!¡± The man spat, squinting at Lindsey unhappily. Realizing that this neer was even more beautiful than Lynne, his eyes shed with excitement and he reached out to grab her arm. ¡°Wanna fill in for her? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll treat you well!¡± As he spoke, he reached out in an attempt to squeeze Lindsey¡¯s butt. But before he could even touch her, someone grabbed his outstretched arm out of the blue and yanked him away with great force. The next second, a fist connected with his fat face. The man was caughtpletely off guard and crumpled to the ground in a heap. Touching his burning, swollen cheek in a daze, he then flew into a fit of rage. ¡°How dare you hit me?! Do you know who I am, you bastard?!¡± He looked up and saw a man towering over him, his expression cold and hostile. ¡°Mr. Walsh!¡± Lindsey hurried to grab Domenic¡¯s arm in an effort to calm him down. It was the first time that she had seen this side to him. Ignoring her, Domenic sneered at the fat man, his voice dripping with disdain. ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn who you are. ¡± The man roared angrily, ¡°I¡¯m Sammy Glyn! I f@cking own Joy Media, and I¡¯m a VIP guest of this club! Somebody, call the manager! This guy has the f@cking audacity to hit me!¡± When a waiter in the area heard that the boss of Joy Media was in trouble, he turned pale with fright. Sammy Glyn was a regr at the club and they couldn¡¯t afford to offend him, so he quickly ran off to fetch the manager. Sammy staggered to his feet and pointed an angry finger at Domenic, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare try to escape! This isn¡¯t over! Get on your knees and apologize to me like a f@cking dog, or else I¡¯ll make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars!¡± Soon, a man in a suit hurried over with Emilio. Emilio was previously in a private room with Domenic when thetter left and didn¡¯t return for quite some time. Concerned, Emilio decided to step out and search for him. To his surprise, he bumped into the club manager who informed him about a fight that had erupted. Intrigued, Emilio followed the manager to investigate the situation, never imagining that he woulde across Domenic and Lindsey together. ¡°Who dares to fight in my club?¡± The manager looked around aggressively. ¡°It¡¯s him! He hit me!¡± Sammy, the boss of Joy Media pointed at Domenic andined. Domenic had always been mysterious and low-key. He seldom showed up in public and consequently, not many people knew about him. Aside from hispany¡¯s senior executives, few people had known about his identity, including the manager of the club. The manager¡¯s expression looked grim. Just as he was about to step forward and berate Domenic, Emilio suddenly stopped him. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this,¡± thetter whispered in a low voice. Hearing this, the manager retreated obediently. However, it was unknown to him that Domenic was the president of the Vitality Group, and this club was just an insignificant part of his vast business empire. To put it bluntly, Domenic was the real boss of this club. Emilio observed Domenic from the corner of his eye.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Although Domenic had partaken of some alcohol today, Emilio knew that this wasn¡¯t enough to make himsh out randomly. So, what on earth could¡¯ve happened that made him lose control? Chapter 74 Confused as he was, Emilio knew that now wasn¡¯t the right time to question Domenic. Instead, he strode forward with a diplomatic smile and asked Sammy, ¡°Do you have any evidence to prove that this gentleman hit you? Are there any witnesses who can back up your im?¡± The smug look on Sammy¡¯s face disappeared all at once. ¡°What the f@ck is that supposed to mean? Are you implying that I¡¯m lying?! There are surveince cameras everywhere! Just check the footage!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid all the surveince cameras here are broken. ¡± With a smile, Emilio turned to the manager and the waiters behind him. ¡°Who saw the fight break out? Anybody?¡± The manager was stunned and slowly shook his head. Seeing this, the waiters followed suit. ¡°Since no one saw it, then this whole thing must be a misunderstanding. Just let it go. ¡± Emilio waved at the crowd to dismiss them. While the others dispersed, he subtly nced at Domenic. ¡°Who the hell are you? Why should I even listen to you?¡± Sammy refused to give up, ring at Emilio with disdain. Emilio chuckled softly. ¡°I am Emilio Howard, the general manager of Vitality Entertainment. Instantly, the arrogant expression on Sammy¡¯s face disappeared. This man was the general manager of Vitality Entertainment?! Vitality Entertainment was the biggest entertainmentpany in the country! Joy Media, on the other hand, was just a smallpany that had only filmed a few mini-series. Not long ago, one of Joy Media¡¯s productions became a hit, and Sammy earned some money from it, which was why he had be so arrogant. Recently, he had done everything he could to get connected with Vitality Entertainment, but the other party looked down on smallpanies like Joy Media and didn¡¯t respond for a long time. Sammy couldn¡¯t even see the marketing director of Vitality Entertainment, let alone its general manager! Now that he knew that the man in front of him was none other than the general manager, he waspletely dumbfounded. If he offended an institution like Vitality Entertainment, he would be done for! Sammy was so scared that his legs nearly caved. He immediately put on a ttering smile and apologized repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for inconveniencing you, Mr. Howard! If I had known who you were sooner, I wouldn¡¯t have said those things. I¡¯m at fault here. I am so sorry. ¡± As he spoke, he pped his own face in an attempt to show his sincerity, but he didn¡¯t use much force. ¡°As for the issue¡ª¡± Emilio started to say, narrowing his eyes at the pudgy man in front of him. Feigning ignorance, Sammy looked around and asked dumbly, ¡°What issue? Nothing happened today. ¡± Only then did he remember Domenic, who had been quiet this whole time. He suddenly realized that this man was probably Emilio¡¯s friend. Sammy approached Domenic with an ingratiating smile, ¡°Thank you for punching me in the face, sir. It was just what I needed to sober up. Thanks to you, I¡¯ll make it home safely tonight!¡± Then he turned to Emilio with a ttering smile. ¡°By the way, I¡¯m so honored to meet you, Mr. Howard. How about a drink? My treat.C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. ¡± Emilio rolled his eyes and refused immediately. ¡°I¡¯m busy. ¡± The corners of Sammy¡¯s mouth twitched in embarrassment. ¡°Anyway, I have other matters to attend to. ¡± Emilio winked at Domenic in secret and then left with the manager of the club. Chapter 75 Flustered, Sammy fled the scene in a hurry. When it was just the two of them, the manager asked Emilio, ¡°Mr. Howard, who was that other guy?¡± Emilio shot him a meaningful look and said, ¡°Don¡¯t mess with him, or else you won¡¯t be able to keep this club. ¡± At this, the manager trembled in fear. Who on earth was that big shot? Lindsey helped Lynne walk out of the club. As soon as they reached the door, Lynne rushed to a nearby tree and hurled. When she was done, Lindsey considerately handed her a tissue and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± By now, Lynne had sobered up a little. She looked at Lindsey with aplicated look in her eyes. But she still couldn¡¯t walk steadily. Lindsey helped her to a bench nearby and ordered, ¡°Rest here for now. I¡¯ll send you home when you feel better. ¡± ¡°You¡­ Don¡¯t you have anything to ask me?¡± Lynne lowered her head shamefacedly. ¡°It¡¯s your private life. ¡± Naturally, Lindsey¡¯s mind was buzzing with questions, but she knew that it was none of her business. Lynne smiled bitterly. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s work-rted. ¡± ¡°¡®Work-rted¡¯?¡± Lindsey was puzzled. ¡°You asked me why thepany was so hell-bent on promoting Jasmine, remember?¡± Lynne raised her head and looked at Lindsey, her eyes full of an emotion that Lindsey couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°It¡¯s because she has a big backer. ¡± ¡°What? Who?¡± Lindsey was even more perplexed. If Shelia really had such a powerful benefactor, then why did Kendra serve Benny like a humble ve for so many years and covet the property of the Stewart family? Lynne shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But I do know that thepany has signed too many artists Like Jasmine. In this industry, if an artist doesn¡¯t have a powerful backer, they wouldn¡¯t be able to stand out, no matter how excellent they are. Like you, I too graduated at the top of my ss from a top university. I even got a master¡¯s degree afterward. I thought that I¡¯d have a sessful career if I could just enter Vitality Entertainment. But I¡¯ve been working for this damnedpany for a decade now, and I have nothing to be proud of.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. I¡¯ve only been an agent to unknown artists. I can¡¯t even get promoted to a director. People younger and less capable than me have be the agents of A-listers because they have connections. But I¡­¡± Tears welled up in Lynne¡¯s eyes and her voice cracked. Maybe it was because she was still a bit drunk that she spilled the beans with no filter. ¡°So tonight, you¡­¡± Lindsey frowned. ¡°I fell for that guy¡¯s bullshit. He owns Joy Media, and he imed to have connections with Mr. Howard. He said he¡¯d help me if I met up with him tonight, so I didn¡¯t refuse. But it turned out that he just wanted to get me drunk and¡­ And¡­¡± At this, Lynne covered her face in despair. Lindsey put her hand on Lynne¡¯s shoulder in a feeble attempt tofort her, but even she felt terrible for Lynne. She had entered thepany with the same dream as Lynne, but reality turned out to be so cruel. Chapter 76 ¡°It¡¯s mot your fault, Lynne. ¡± Lindseyforted her gently. ¡°This world is just so unfair. ¡± Lynne couldn¡¯t swallow her grievances any longer. She burst into tears and sobbed bitterly until she ran out of breath. Just then, someone handed Lindsey a bottle of water from behind. Lindsey turned around in surprise, only to see Domenic standing behind her. He then passed her a pack of hangover relief pills. ¡°It¡¯ll help her sober up. ¡± She thought he had left, but it turned out he had simply slipped away briefly to buy water and hangover relief pills. Lindsey took it and asked Lynne to take the pills. ¡°Thank you. I feel much better now. ¡± Lynne gave Lindsey a weak smile. Then, she looked at the man behind Lindsey and asked, ¡°Is this your boyfriend?¡± Embarrassed, Lindsey hurriedly waved her hand and exined, ¡°No, no. We¡¯re just friends!¡±C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org. At this, Domenic¡¯s expression darkened. In a gruff, indifferent voice, he said, ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll go head. ¡± But after taking two steps, he suddenly turned around and added, ¡°Don¡¯te home toote, or you¡¯ll be locked out. ¡± Huh? Lindsey was confused. Locked out? Lynne chuckled knowingly. ¡°So, you two live together, but he¡¯s not your boyfriend?¡± ¡°He really isn¡¯t-¡° ¡°Alright, alright. You don¡¯t have to exin it to me. I¡¯m fine now, and I can go home by myself. ¡± Lynne stood up and looked back at the club. ¡°Did youe here with your ¡®friend¡¯?¡± Only then did Lindsey remember that she was here to celebrate Nancy¡¯s birthday. Her face fell, knowing full well that Nancy would give her an earful for leaving the party for so long! ¡°Well, if you¡¯re sure you¡¯re going to be alright, I¡¯ll go back inside. ¡± After Lynne left, Lindsey went back to the private room, wringing her hands nervously. To her surprise, as soon as she opened the door to the private room, she found Nancy knocked out drunk on the sofa. She had no choice but to send Nancy back home first. It was alreadyte at night by the time she made it back to the apartment. Thinking that Domenic must¡¯ve fallen asleep by now, Lindsey quietly opened the door and crept inside. To her surprise, he was wide awake, reading a magazine on the sofa in the living room. ¡°Mr. Walsh, it¡¯s sote. Why haven¡¯t you gone to bed yet?¡± Unexpectedly, Domenic didn¡¯t answer. He simply put down the magazine in his hand, turned off the lights, and went to his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Chapter 77 Lindsey was stunned. Had he been waiting for her all the time? While lying in bed, Lindsey kept thinking about what Lynne had said tonight, tossing and turning restlessly. The following day, Lindsey was in the middle of work when a news notification popped up on herputer. The headline immediately caught her attention. Joy Media¡¯s film had been banned from all the tforms because of suspected pornography and violence, and all the episodes had been removed from the Inte. Lindsey read the news article and felt much better. Companies like this deserved to be punished. That night, she spoke highly of Emilio in front of Domenic. ¡°Mr. Howard turned out to be so decisive and resolute. He¡¯s an amazing leader. It only took him a single night to destroy Joy Media. Isn¡¯t that awesome?¡± Seeing the admiration in her eyes, Domenic¡¯s mood turned foul. Emilio just carried out his instructions, but he got all the credit! ¡°How are you so sure he was the one responsible for this?¡± Domenic asked with a long face. ¡°It has to be him!¡± Lindsey said with certainty. ¡°Among everyone present yesterday, only Mr. Howard can do such a thing, and he was the one who helped us out, remember? It¡¯s so rare these days for such a big boss to have such a big heart!¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Domenic snorted. Feeling pissed off, he stood up, walked into his bedroom, and mmed the door shut. Lindsey frowned at his closed door. What an unpredictable man! She was just being honest. Why did he get so upset all of a sudden? * That Friday, just as Lindsey was about to get off work, someone marched into the office and went straight to Lindsey¡¯s desk. Lindsey raised her head and met Shelia¡¯s angry re. ¡°Lindsey, how dare you lie to me about thepany¡¯s overtime pay?! The jig was up; Shelia had finally realized that Lindsey had tricked her that day. Lindsey smiled.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you about anything. I also just joined thispany recently. I thought the overtime pay of thepany was the same as that of those internationalpanies. Is that so wrong?¡± ¡°You Little¡ª¡± Just then, Lynne walked out of her office. She looked at Shelia with a frown and demanded, ¡°Jasmine, why are you still here? Didn¡¯t I tell you to get ready for tonight¡¯s party? It¡¯s a very important event!¡± Shelia shot Lindsey onest re before turning to leave. Suddenly, she heard Lynne say, ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯reing with me tonight. ¡± ¡°What? How could she be qualified to attend such an important party?¡± Chapter 78 Shelia whirled around and protested. Though Lynne¡¯s expression was that of displeasure, she still exined, ¡°She¡¯s my assistant. What¡¯s wrong with her attending the party with me?¡± ¡°Humph! Just look at her! If she shows up at the party, she¡¯ll only bring shame to thepany!¡± After sneering at Lindsey, Shelia left arrogantly. Lindsey didn¡¯t take her words seriously. She looked at Lynne and asked calmly, ¡°What kind of party is it?¡± Lynne smiled and exined, ¡°It¡¯s a celebration, and ourpany is the host. There¡¯ll be tons of celebrities and big shots in attendance. If youe with me, there¡¯s a good chance you¡¯ll get to rub shoulders with them, which will be really good for your career. I¡¯ll forward the details to you in a bit. ¡± She started to head for the door when a thought suddenly urred to her and she stopped in her tracks. She turned around and said to Lindsey seriously, ¡°Dress up, got it? This party is very important. ¡± Lindsey nodded. As soon as she got home, she took out all her clothes andid them out on her bed, only to find that she didn¡¯t have many formal dresses. Just then, Lindsey¡¯s gazended on the evening gown she wore to the engagement party; it was the best dress she had so far. When Domenic got home from work, he found Lindsey wearing the white evening gown he had bought for her, looking at her reflection in the mirror in the hallway. Lindsey turned to him and struck a pose. ¡°Mr. Walsh, do I look okay?¡± Tonight, she had her hair up in a coiled braid, which made her look so regal. The white haute couture dressplemented her noble and pure temperament, while the delicate makeup entuated her charm.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Her presence was truly captivating-whether standing amidst other beauties, she effortlessly drew attention. ¡°What¡¯s the asion?¡± Domenic asked, wondering why she was dressed to the nines. ¡°Thepany¡¯s holding a fancy party tonight. They say a lot of celebrities and big shots will be there, so I have to look good. ¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Domenic replied casually, setting his briefcase down on the desk. ¡°Who else will be there tonight?¡± Lindsey folded her arms and thought for a moment. ¡°Well, some of thepany¡¯s newly signed artists will be there, and of course, so will my supervisor. I don¡¯t know who else ising. ¡± Truth be told, Domenic already knew about this party. One of the movies Vitality Entertainment invested in racked up over two billion dors in ticket sales, so thepany was holding a huge party to celebrate such a feat. ALL the people invited were important figures in the entertainment industry, and it was no secret that people in the entertainment circle always fought for the limelight. The worst that could happen to a female star was for someone else to be more beautiful and eye-catching than her. Lindsey had barely dipped her toes in the entertainment industry; if she showed up at the party looking as stunning as this, she¡¯d make tons of enemies. ¡°I don¡¯t think that dress is appropriate. ¡± Domenic shrugged off his suit jacket and reced it with a ck jacket. Then he took Lindsey¡¯s hand and led her out the door. ¡°Wait-where are we going?¡± Lindsey asked in surprise. ¡°We¡¯re going to find you another dress. ¡± ¡°But I¡¯m running out of time!¡± Lindsey protested. Chapter 79 However, Domenic didn¡¯t stop. He pulled her to the sidewalk and hailed a taxi. Before long, they arrived at a small boutique that looked unassuming on the outside, but its wares were quite fashionable. When Domenic walked in, a man with long, flowing hair was waiting inside with a smile. Domenic nudged Lindsey towards the man and said briefly, ¡°You have an hour to style her. Make her look low-key but pretty. ¡± Rubbing his temples, the man chuckled helplessly. ¡°Your requirements are always so exciting. ¡± After saying that, he took Lindsey to one of the racks so that she could pick out a dress. An hourter, he finished styling her and showed off his work to Domenic. Lindsey had chosen a little ck dress that had unique dark stripes running along the length of the skirt. Her hair was still tied into a braid, which made her look young and fresh. The long-haired man had also chosen a pair of simple Mary Jane shoes toplement her outfit. Overall, her beauty was understated and elegant; enough to subconsciously attract the attention of others, but by no means a showstopper. ¡°Mr. Walsh, how much does all of this cost?¡± Lindsey asked, looking uneasy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. The stuff from this shop aren¡¯t that expensive. ¡± Domenic answered as he shot the long-haired man, who was standing behind her, a meaningful nce. The man hurriedly put on a smile and cleared his throat. ¡°Yes, yes. Don¡¯t worry, miss.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Our shop prides itself on our inexpensive but high-quality clothing. Your entire outfit will cost roughly a thousand dors or so. ¡± ¡°Really? Thank goodness!¡± Lindsey breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I was so worried this would cost me a fortune. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Unbeknownst to her, the long-haired man was an internationally renowned stylist who had dressed celebrities all over the world. He might¡¯ve been the most sought-after stylist in the country, but he had toe up with a convincing lie on the spot, thanks to Domenic¡¯s orders. ¡°You look good. ¡± Domenic nodded with satisfaction and then left with Lindsey, taking a taxi straight to the party venue. He dropped Lindsey off at the hotel entrance. When she disappeared behind the grand doorway, Domenic got out of the taxi and slipped into the banquet through a side entrance. As soon as Lynne saw Lindseye in, she waved at her in a hurry. ¡°Lindsey! she called. ¡°Over here!¡± Lindsey smiled and briskly trotted over to her. Shelia, who was busy ttering a producer, noticed a figure in ck passing by her. She turned around and found that it was none other than Lindsey, and the producer she was buttering up to also had his eyes glued on Lindsey. Shelia gritted her teeth in jealousy. She had put on her best dress tonight and had finally managed to catch the attention of this producer. Lindsey, on the other hand, was just wearing a in ck dress, yet the producer couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. Why was life so unfair?! When Lindsey got close, Lynne looked her up and down and nodded in approval. ¡°Your look is perfect. It doesn¡¯t steal the limelight, but it¡¯s enough to impress people. Before you showed up, I was so worried that you¡¯d end up dressing a little too well. ¡± Only then did it dawn on Lindsey why Domenic had asked her to change dresses. She blushed, inwardly scolding herself for being too careless. The entertainment circle was different from other industries; one false move and her career could end. If it weren¡¯t for Domenic, she most certainly would¡¯ve offended someone tonight. Chapter 80 Lynne patted Lindsey on the shoulder and went straight to business. ¡°Everyone here tonight is a top figure in the entertainment circle. If you can get acquainted with them, your career will be nudged along nicely. Don¡¯t let this golden opportunity slip, okay?¡± After that, Lynne helped Lindsey mingle with the guests, introducing her to several directors and producers she was familiar with. Lindsey interacted with them with confidence andposure, showing just how professional she was. However, the big shots that held real power in the entertainment circle were already surrounded by people. Lynne and Lindsey couldn¡¯t find any opportunity to get close to them. It was no secret that these kinds of parties were just avenues for people towork. Whether or not one could win the favor of the big shots depended on their own abilities and thetter¡¯s moods. After socializing for a while, Lynne led Lindsey away from the crowd. Jerking her chin toward the crowd in front of them, she said, ¡°Well, those were all the people I know. The rest will be up to you. Do you see that woman over there-the one in the splendid gown? That¡¯s Paige Lopez, Director Lopez¡¯s wife. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. ¡°You mean Vincent Lopez? The legendary director who broke the country¡¯s box office record and hasn¡¯t been surpassed until now?¡± Lynne smiled. ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°Oh, my God!¡± Lindsey¡¯s jaw dropped in disbelief. ¡°Being cast in one of his projects is every actor¡¯s dream. But the thing is, he doesn¡¯t give a damn about the actor¡¯s fame and poprity. As long as he feels that a particr actor suits a character well, then that actor is set for life. Even the most prominent artists in ourpany are rarely cast in his projects. If we can rub shoulders with him, we¡¯ll not only double our artists¡¯ chances at fame, but we¡¯ll have ess to better resources. If every actor dreams of being in his films, every agent dreams of their actor being chosen for his films. ¡± Lynne¡¯s eyes were full of expectation and regret. She had tried countless times to forge a rtionship with the director Vincent Lopez, but it was futile.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Lindsey, in the entertainment industry, if you don¡¯t have a strong background, winning his favor is the easiest path to bing a powerhouse of an agent. However, it¡¯s way easier said than done. ¡± Lynne sighed helplessly. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s bright eyes brimming with determination, she said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to seed, but maybe you will. The question is: are you brave enough to try?¡± Lindsey pursed her lips, with unyielding confidence in her eyes. After giving Lynne a firm nod, she solemnly walked toward the director¡¯s wife Paige Lopez. Lindsey didn¡¯t strike up a conversation with Paige right away. Instead, she stood aside and observed Paige¡¯s behavior from afar. Thetter showed a very elegant and mature temperament when talking with others. However, Lindsey noticed that she would asionally scratch her nose with her right index finger, and that she seemed to sniffle from time to time. Her nose and cheeks were slightly red, and she deliberately refused whenever others would offer her a ss of wine. Lindsey also noticed that she would nce at the buffet table aside asionally, as though she was looking for something. Finally, Lindsey came up with a n of action. She stopped a waiter and asked, ¡°Excuse me, can I have a ss of honey water?¡± The waiter nodded. ¡°Okay, please wait a moment. ¡± Then Lindsey took out her phone from her bag and ordered something online. Ten minutester, her package was delivered and she walked toward Paige confidently, a ss of honey water in tow. Paige was just excusing herself from the other guests politely when Lindsey suddenly offered her the ss of honey water. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, would you Like some honey water? It¡¯ll help sober you up. ¡± Chapter 81 Paige was a little stunned. With her head lowered, she first saw an outstretched pair of fair, clean hands, holding out a ss of drink to her. When she looked up, she saw the sweet smile of a girl who was dressed in a simple yet elegant ck dress. ¡°Thank you. ¡± Paige took over the ss and touched her slightly warm, red face. Chuckling helplessly, she admitted, ¡°I¡¯m indeed a little drunk. ¡± With a knowing smile, Lindsey took out a small pill bottle from her bag and handed it to her. ¡°I think you may need this. ¡± Eyes wide, Paige took it over. She was even more surprised when she saw what the medicine was.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I also have allergic rhinitis. Just now, I noticed you scratching your nose, so I figured you must¡¯ve been allergic to something here. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Yes! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but ever since I came here, my nose has been itching non-stop!¡± Paige set aside her usual elegant demeanor and ranted to Lindsey as though thetter was a close friend. ¡°If my husband could¡¯vee here himself, I wouldn¡¯t have stayed for so long. ¡± As she spoke, she once again scratched her slightly red nose subconsciously. ¡°I usually carry antihistamines with me since I too get random allergy attacks. You can take one. It¡¯s the non-drowsy kind. ¡± Then, Lindsey asked a nearby waiter to bring Paige a ss of warm water. At this time, unbeknownst to her, Domenic was standing by the balcony of the second floor, watching this whole scene. He squinted at Lindsey, a gleam of surprise shing in his deep-set eyes. Standing next to him, Emilio was also looking at Lindsey with admiration and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that Lindsey would be so capable. Did you see that? She so easily sparked up a conversation with Director Lopez¡¯s wife!¡± ¡°If she heard her idol praise her Like this, she would be more than happy,¡± Domenic muttered. Emilio had no idea what he was talking about. He looked at his friend in confusion. ¡°Idol? Me?¡± However, the Latter only ruthlessly red at him. Emilio averted his gaze awkwardly, wondering how he had offended Domenic this time. In the banquet hall, Paige looked at Lindsey appreciatively after taking the antihistamine. ¡°Youngdy, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m ¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to know her name. She¡¯s just an agent¡¯s assistant!¡± Lindsey was abruptly cut off by a harsh, annoying voice from behind. Shelia then strode forward, making sure to push Lindsey behind her with her shoulder. Then she stood in front of Paige and introduced herself with a ttering smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lopez. I¡¯m Jasmine, Vitality Entertainment¡¯s newest artist. It¡¯s so mice to meet you!¡± Paige frowned unhappily and shifted her gaze to Lindsey, who was standing behind Shelia. However, before she could say anything, a pack of female stars that had overheard her name quickly surrounded her. High-pitched, ttering voices filled the banquet hall. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, you look like you¡¯re in your 20s. You have to tell us your beauty secret!¡± ¡°Your dress is Armani, isn¡¯t it? It looks so gorgeous on you!¡± ¡°Your diamond ring has to be at least ten carats, right?¡± Paige¡¯s patience was running thin, but she couldn¡¯t help but beam when she heard someonepliment her ring. She held out her hand, allowing the huge diamond to twinkle under the warm lights. ¡°This is what my husband gave me for our 20th anniversary. I actually scolded him for spending so much money, but he said I needed to live a little. ¡± Chapter 82 ¡°Such a big diamond ring must¡¯ve cost millions!¡± Seeing the way Paige reacted, everyone around her realized that the ring was the key to her heart.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. They began to praise the ring one after another, iming that they were jealous that Paige had such a loving and generous husband. Paige was so ted that she forgot all about Lindsey. Lindsey red at Shelia angrily. If Shelia hadn¡¯t interrupted her, she could¡¯ve gotten closer to Paige. Given the current situation, she¡¯d onlye across as desperate if she attempted to strike up a conversation with Paige again. She had to give up for now, so she retired to a corner and rested for a while. In the middle of the party, Shelia went to thedies¡¯ room. Just as she emerged from the cubicle, she happened to run into Paige, who was washing her hands. Her ten-carat diamond ring was lying on the side of the wash basin. Just then, Paige¡¯s phone rang. She walked out of the bathroom to answer the phonepletely forgetting about the ring! ¡®s BunnyBookery A malicious gleam shone in Shelia¡¯s narrow eyes. With a sly smile on her face, she hurried forward and grabbed the ring. Then she strolled out of thedies¡¯ room, pretending as though nothing had happened. Lindsey adjusted her mood and set out to look for Paige in the hopes she could still strike up a conversation with thetter. After all, time was of the essence, and she couldn¡¯t waste this opportunity. However, after taking just a few steps, someone rammed into her. ¡°Lindsey, why don¡¯t you look where you¡¯re going?¡± Shelia scolded, her voice sounding like nails on a chalkboard to Lindsey¡¯s ears. Lindsey pulled a long face. Shelia kept going out of her way to trouble her tonight. Did this stupid woman really take her as a pushover? Without saying a word, Lindsey took a step forward, digging her heel onto Shelia¡¯s foot. ¡°Ouch!¡± Shelia howled, her face turning pale from the pain. Lindsey smiled brightly at her and said, ¡°Shelia, why don¡¯t you look where you¡¯re going? Otherwise, your foot wouldn¡¯t have suddenly gotten in the way of my shoe!¡± Shelia was pissed, but knowing that her n had been set in motion, she just smiled deviously. Just then, Paige ran out of thedies¡¯ room, panic written all over her face. ¡°My ring¡¯s missing! Somebody took my ring!¡± Everyone looked at her in surprise. Before long, the person in charge of the party caught wind of the situation and rushed over. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, what exactly happened?¡± ¡°I took off my ring and put it next to the sink when I washed my hands in thedies¡¯ room just now. Then I had to go out to take a call. But when I returned, the ring was gone! It must¡¯ve been stolen!¡± Hearing this, the person in charge briskly asked the waiter behind him to lock the doors and not let anyone out. Then, he said to the people present, ¡°Whoever took Mrs. Lopez¡¯s ring, please return it to her. Now!¡± Everyone exchanged confused nces. Suddenly, Shelia grabbed Lindsey¡¯s wrist and held it up for everyone to see. ¡°It was her! I saw her sneaking out of thedies¡¯ room just now!¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened, instantly realizing that Shelia bumped into her on purpose just now to frame her. The ring must¡¯ve been slipped into her bag at that time. ¡°Really?¡± Recognizing Lindsey as the considerate young girl from earlier, Paige couldn¡¯t believe it. The onlookers, however, began to whisper. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Chapter 83 ¡°Don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never seen her before. ¡± ¡°Wait a second! I know her! Lynne introduced her to me earlier; she¡¯s a new agent¡¯s assistant at Vitality Entertainment. ¡± ¡°What? Who invited her here?¡± Lynne elbowed her way past the crowd and hurried to defend her. ¡°Lindsey¡¯s innocent! She would never do such a thing!¡± ¡°How are you so sure?¡± Shelia walked up to Lynne aggressively, snarling, ¡°She¡¯s just an assistant. When she saw Mrs. Lopez¡¯s million-dor ring, she probably couldn¡¯t help herself. After all, she¡¯d never be able to make that much money even if she worked every day for the rest of her life! Besides, the rest of us are all big shots in the entertainment circle. If she didn¡¯t take it, who else would?¡± Hearing what Shelia said, all the people present turned to look at Lindsey, their eyes filled with either suspicion or disdain. Emilio, who had seen this all unfold from the second floor, grew a little restless. He asked Domenic, ¡°Want me to deal with it?¡± ¡°No rush,¡± Domenic replied dismissively. Truth be told, he wanted to know how Lindsey would deal with the matter. Seeing that everyone was starting to doubt Lindsey, acent smile tugged at the corners of Shelia¡¯s lips. With her arms crossed over her chest, she looked at Lindsey and sneered, ¡°Everyone¡¯s watching you. Why don¡¯t you open your bag and let us see if the ring¡¯s ther e?¡± Lindsey, on the other hand, was as cool as a cucumber. Wearing a faint smile, she announced calmly, ¡°The ring is indeed in my bag. ¡± Her announcement caused quite the uproar. The guests had mixed reactions. ¡°She looks so pretty and innocent.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . How could she be a thief?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met a lot of people like her-people who will do anything for money. ¡± ¡°But to steal from Mrs. Lopez herself? She¡¯ll be banned from the entertainment circle!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t feel sorry for her! She deserves to be banned!¡± Paige¡¯s doubt quickly turned into disappointment. However, Lindsey was still very calm. Her gaze swept across the restless crowd as she continued, ¡°But I didn¡¯t steal the ring. Someone slipped the ring into my bag in an attempt to frame me. ¡± ¡°Why would anyone here want to frame a nameless assistant?¡± One of the guests scoffed at her exnation. Shelia smiled even morecently. ¡°The ring¡¯s in your bag, yet you still im to not have stolen it. People like you don¡¯t deserve to work for are Vitality Entertainment. Get out of here!¡± The others chimed in with righteous indignation, shouting, ¡°A thief like you doesn¡¯t belong here! Get out!¡± Chapter 84 Lindsey wanted to exin, but she knew it was meaningless. With pursed lips, she opened her bag and looked inside. Sure enough, the sparkling diamond ring shone from the bottom of her bag. She took a napkin from the table and used it to pick up the ring. Seeing the ring twinkle under the bright lights, everyone became even more disdainful and angry. However, Lindsey waspletely unfazed. She held up the diamond ring looked around, and said confidently, ¡°I can prove who really stole it. ¡± The crowd instantly fell silent and looked at Lindsey curiously. Eyes fiery with determination, Lindsey nced at the people present and said, ¡°Before the ring was stolen, no one else had touched it except Mrs. Lopez. If we find someone else¡¯s fingerprints on it, it¡¯ll prove who the real thief is. ¡± As she spoke, Lindsey slowly turned around and smiled at Shelia. ¡°That¡¯s why I used a tissue to pick up the ring. ¡± Hearing that, all the color suddenly drained from Shelia¡¯s face. She pounced on Lindsey and wanted to grab the ring, but Lindsey dodged her nimbly. ¡°What on earth are you doing? You¡¯re acting like a guilty person!¡± ¡°Wh-what¡¯re you talking about? Why should I feel guilty?¡± Shelia sputtered, eyes darting all over the ce in panic. ¡°Enough with this nonsense and just admit that you stole it!¡± However, the onlookers felt that what Lindsey said was reasonable. It made sense to hand over the ring to the police for prints so that they could find out who the real thief was, lest they wrongfully use someone. Besides, if Lindsey was the thief, she wouldn¡¯t have been so fearless. At least on the surface, it really seemed that the thief was someone else. Paige¡¯s expression softened when she looked at Lindsey. ¡°Then call the police and let them deal with it. ¡± Shelia¡¯s confidence instantly evaporated. Panic overwhelmed her so badly that she started to tremble. If the police found her fingerprints on the ring, she would be done for! The consequences of offending Paige were dire; she could be banned from the entertainment industry forever! Worse yet, she could be put behind bars! Horrified by the thought, Shelia threw caution to the wind and rushed at Lindsey without warning. She practicallyunched herself at thetter, knocking the ring out of her hand. The shiny ring fell to the ground, rolling several meters away. Without a moment to lose, Shelia leaped to her feet and rushed in the direction of the ring. She had to get the ring and wipe her fingerprints off it so that no one could use her of stealing! The rolling ring hade to a halt a few meters away. Just as Shelia was bending over to grab it, a shiny leather shoe stepped on it. Shelia raised her head in a hurry, only to see Emilio standing in front of her. His usual gentle eyes were now icy cold. ¡°M-Mr. Howard¡­¡± Shelia¡¯s voice trembled.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Her face hadpletely lost its color, and her hair was disheveled from tackling Lindsey just now. Emilio¡¯s icy gaze swept over Shelia. With a wave of his hand, the assistant behind him picked up the ring with iron tweezers and carefully ced it into a ck box. Chapter 85 Emilio didn¡¯t say anything to Shelia. He turned his attention to the crowd and said in a cold voice, ¡°Today is meant to be a celebration of Vitality Entertainment¡¯s sessful film. I¡¯m sorry that you had to watch this. Once we call the police, it¡¯ll definitely alert the media. I don¡¯t want to make a big deal of things, so if the real thief can step forward and admit to their crime, we can leave the police out of this. But if nobody steps forward, I¡¯ll have no choice but to let the police handle this. If the real thief ends up damaging the good name of ourpany, I will definitely hold them ountable!¡± Clenching her skirt so tightly that her knuckles turned white, Shelia lowered her head, not knowing what to do. ¡°I¡¯ll give the thief until a count of three. ¡± As he spoke, Emilio ominously rubbed the jade ring on his thumb, which added to his domineering aura. ¡°Then I will call the police. ¡± ¡°One¡­¡± ¡°Two¡­¡± ¡°Thre¡ª¡± ¡°It was me!¡± Just as Emilio was about to say ¡°three¡±, Shelia¡¯s psychological defenses finally broke down. She copsed on the ground, twitching like a dying bug. ¡°I took the ring¡­¡± Once again, the banquet hall burst into an uproar. ¡°She stole it?!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she the one who used the other girl of stealing?¡± ¡°How dare she y such a dirty trick here!¡± Lindsey walked up to Shelia and looked down at her. ¡°¡®You sow what you reap¡¯. Didn¡¯t Kendra ever teach you that? Oh, wait-she probably doesn¡¯t know about that saying either. ¡± Shelia red at Lindsey, her bloodshot eyes brimming with hatred. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re one of our newly signed artists. You¡¯re¡­¡± Jasmine, right?¡± Emilio asked, eyeing Shelia coldly. ¡°What you did today not only damaged thepany¡¯s reputation, but it¡¯s also a serious vition of your contract. While I won¡¯t have you sent to jail, I will terminate our contract with you. ¡± ¡°No, please! Mr. Howard, I¡¯m sorry! Please give me one more chance!¡± Shelia grabbed Emilio¡¯s trouser leg and begged for mercy, tears rolling down her cheeks. Nose wrinkled in disdain, Emilio shook off her hands fiercely and said to the assistant behind him, ¡°Get her out of here. ¡± Hearing this, Shelia hurriedly changed tactics. She turned to Lindsey and begged, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you, okay? It was just a prank!Owned by N?velDrama.Org. We¡¯re sisters after all! You have to help me, Lindsey!¡± ¡°Sisters?!¡± Everyone gasped in astonishment. Lindsey just looked down at She coldly without the slightest hint of sympathy in her bright eyes. Chapter 86 As Shelia grabbed the hem of Lindsey¡¯s dress to beg her for mercy, Lindsey just pushed her away indifferently. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that. I¡¯m not your sister. I refuse to have a thief for a sister!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, several security guards came over and grabbed Shelia by the arms, dragging her out of the venue forcefully. Unwilling to admit defeat, Shelia kicked and screamed, shouting, ¡°Lindsey Stewart, just you wait! I¡¯ll make you pay for this!¡± As soon as her screams faded away, the party gradually picked up again. Paige approached Lindsey with an apologetic expression. ¡°Miss, I¡¯m so sorry I suspected you. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t mind. She smiled sweetly and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. That ring was a gift from your husband, so I can only imagine how important it is to you. You must¡¯ve been scared out of your wits just now. ¡± Paige couldn¡¯t help but smile back. She felt that the girl in front of her wasn¡¯t only considerate but also well-spoken. Moreover, she was so calm in the face of adversity-a trait Paige believed to be very rare. ¡°By the way, you haven¡¯t told me your name yet,¡± Paige reminded kindly. ¡°Oh, right! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lindsey Stewart. ¡± With a bright smile, Lindsey stretched out a hand and added, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you. ¡± Paige shook her hand and said meaningfully, ¡°Lindsey, I won¡¯t forget about you. ¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Domenic had watched this entire scene unfold from the balcony of the second floor. He couldn¡¯t help but smile faintly when looking at the calm and wise young woman who had dealt with the farce so elegantly. After Paige excused herself, Lindsey heaved a sigh of relief. Only then did her exhaustion sink in, and she couldn¡¯t help but yawn. ¡°Tired?¡± A deep voice sounded from behind her. Lindsey turned around and saw that it was Emilio. She greeted him respectfully, saying, ¡°Thank you for what you said, Mr. Howard. ¡± Emilio couldn¡¯t help but secretly nce up at the man who was staring at them from the second floor. Then he said to Lindsey with a smile, ¡°I heard that you just joined us as an agent¡¯s assistant?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. ¡± ¡°The way you handled the situation just now was very impressive. ¡± Emilio smiled, ncing at the second floor from the corner of his eye from time to time. Lindsey was so ttered that she didn¡¯t know how to react. She wrung her hands awkwardly and stammered, ¡°I-I¡¯m ttered, Mr. Howard!¡± ¡°Come with me. I want to introduce you to some famous directors and producers. ¡± ¡°What? Really?¡± Lindsey looked at Emilio in surprise. An agent¡¯s assistant, she didn¡¯t expect that Emilio would want to personally introduce her to the big shots in the entertainment industry! It turned out that the general manager of Vitality Entertainment was so kind and easy-going, and Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but grow fond of him. Unbeknownst to her, Emilio was only acting on Domenic¡¯s instructions. Chapter 87 The real Emilio would¡¯ve preferred to clink sses of wine with hot girls than waste time and energy on an insignificant assistant. Emilio introduced Lindsey to many celebrities, making sure to put in a good word for her each time.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Seeing that Emilio treated Lindsey so differently, as well as witnessing how she handled the farce earlier with so much ss, the other guests all looked at her with newfound respect. Lynne watched Lindsey chat with those big shots from afar, feeling quite proud of her apprentice. However, at the same time, she felt a bit sad. Maybe Lindsey was really different from her¡­ Maybe this girl could take a different path-a path that¡¯d eventually lead her to sess. It was almost midnight by the time the party ended. Lindsey¡¯s tense nerves finally rxed. She exited the hall side by side with Lynne. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m going to quit,¡± Lynne suddenly said with a tired but resigned smile. ¡°What? Why?¡± Lindsey stopped and looked at her supervisor in surprise. Lynne sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking, and I¡¯vee to the conclusion that I¡¯m not fit for this industry at all. I gave it my best shot, but things didn¡¯t work out for me. It¡¯s time to leave. ¡± ¡°But-¡± Lindsey was extremely reluctant to part with Lynne. After all, Lynne was her supervisor and mentor, and she had learned a lot from her despite only knowing her for a few days. ¡°Please don¡¯t ask me to stay. Maybe leaving isn¡¯t such a bad thing, you know? At my age, work and dreams are no longer so important. I¡¯m tired, and it¡¯s time for me to enjoy my life. ¡± Lynne patted Lindsey on the shoulder and spoke earnestly, just like what she did when Lindsey screwed up her first task on her first day to work. ¡°The entertainment industry is a dog-eat-dog world, and it¡¯s not easy to seed. But you¡¯re excellent and capable. Maybe you¡¯ll make it¡­¡± After saying that, Lynne raised her head to look at the full moon hanging in the sky, her eyes welling up with tears. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ll leave my unfulfilled dream to you. Don¡¯t let me down, okay?¡± ¡°Lynne-¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t act like we¡¯re never going to see each other again. ¡± Lynne rubbed the top of Lindsey¡¯s head yfully. ¡°Even if we won¡¯t be working together anymore, we can still be friends. You can always call me if you need anything. ¡± Lindsey fought back her tears and nodded bravely. ALL of a sudden, Lynne pouted. ¡°Oh, look! Your ¡®friend¡¯ is here to pick you up. ¡± Stunned, Lindsey looked in the direction of Lynne¡¯s gaze, only to find Domenic leaning against a nearby tree trunk with his hands in his pockets. The dim moonlight mixed with the dancing shadows of the rustling leaves made him look more mysterious and aloof than usual. ¡°I should get going. ¡± Lynne patted Lindsey on the shoulder. ¡°By the way, I know this is none of my business, but it¡¯s good men Like him are rare. You should seize this opportunity!¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears instantly burned bright red. After Lynne left with a grin, she walked up to Domenic and looked at him with her bright eyes. ¡°Mr. Walsh, why are you here?¡± ¡°I figured it wouldn¡¯t be safe if you went back home alone at this hour. ¡± Domenic stood up straight and took her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡± Lindsey felt touched, and she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. His handsome face looked more charming in the moonlight. In a matter of mere seconds, Lindsey¡¯s mind was filled with naughty thoughts, and her body felt a little hot for some reason. Seeing that she hadn¡¯t budged, Domenic lowered his head to look at her questioningly. When their eyes met, Lindsey averted her gaze in a hurry, blushing furiously. Chapter 88 ¡°Mr. Walsh, when can I return this dress?¡± she asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject. ¡°I¡¯ll send it back tomorrow. ¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t want to inconvenience you. Give me the address and I¡¯ll send it back myself. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e, remember? No need to be so formal with me. ¡± ¡°What¡¯re you talking about?¡± Lindsey looked at him in surprise. Twiddling her thumbs nervously, she started to say, ¡°That engagement was just for show. Don¡¯t take it seriously-¡° Just then, Lindsey raised her head, and once again, their eyes met. There was something unfathomable in his eyes that seemed to tug at Lindsey¡¯s heartstrings. But it was the yful smile tugging at the corners of his lips that made Lindsey fall silent; it turned out that he was only joking. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed. She didn¡¯t know why though. Was it because she actually wanted him to treat her as though she was his fianc¨¦e? Lindsey shook her head in a hurry, trying to drive these weird thoughts away. They were just friends and roommates. How could he see her any other way? Moreover, what would he think if he found out that she had slept with aplete stranger? Would he see her differently?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Thinking of this, Lindsey¡¯s heart sank. If only that stupid one-night stand had never happened! But if it hadn¡¯t happened, she never would¡¯ve met Domenic. As the summer breeze whistled past them, Lindsey gave up overthinking and just let Domenic hold her hand as they headed home. That night, in the house of the Stewart family. Shelia buried her face in Kendra¡¯s thighs and cried bitterly while Benny paced back and forth in the living room. ¡°It¡¯s all Lindsey¡¯s fault! Dad kicked her out, so now she¡¯s venting her anger on me! She obviously doesn¡¯t want me to be happy!¡± Shelia had told Kendra and Benny a version of what had happened at the party, adding colorful details to it. Of course, she never admitted that she was the one who stole the ring in the first ce. Instead, she painted a picture in which it was Lindsey who had set a trap for her. ¡°Benny, Shelia might not be your biological daughter, but you can¡¯t just let Lindsey bully her like this!¡± Kendra wept, ¡°She has so much money now, yet she refuses to help our family get through financial difficulties. Shelia worked so hard to get into Vitality Entertainment, but in the blink of an eye, Lindsey ruined her career!¡± ¡°Enough!¡± The more Benny heard about it, the more annoyed he became. He snapped at Kendra and then stormed to the bedroom crossly. Lindsey was such an ungrateful child! He would get even with her sooner orter! After he left, Kendra instantly stopped crying, and a cold, vicious smile tugged at her Lips. ¡°Mom, what am I going to do?¡± Shelia sobbed pitifully. Chapter 89 ¡°Tell me the truth. Did you start a fight with Lindsey?¡± Kendra asked with a frown. Shelia bit her lip and faltered, ¡°I-I just wanted to avenge you!¡± Kendra poked her forehead and clicked her tongue in disappointment. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? You can¡¯t be so reckless! If you want to deal with Lindsey, you have to n things out carefully before luring her into your trap. Most importantly, you can¡¯t leave any clues that can be traced back to you!¡± ¡°But I couldn¡¯t wait that long! I hated working in the samepany as her! I just wanted to kick her out of thepany as soon as possible,¡± Shelia spat with resentment. Kendra sighed helplessly, ¡°How did I raise such a stupid daughter? We¡¯ve already underestimated Lindsey before. She¡¯s not going to be as easy to deal with as we initially thought. From now on, you¡¯d better think before you act. Better yet, discuss it with me before you do anything. ¡± Shelia pouted in frustration and sobbed, ¡°Mom, will I be kicked out of the entertainment industry?¡± Kendra¡¯s shrewd eyes glinted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery That night, after Benny fell asleep, Kendra retreated to the balcony of the Living room and dialed a number. ¡°It¡¯s me, Vitality Entertainment has terminated their contract with Shelia. Can you help her out? Don¡¯t forget what you promised me. I know you¡¯ll think of something. Okay, I¡¯ll wait for your news. ¡± When Lindsey went to work the following Monday, she found that Lynne¡¯s office was empty. Perhaps Lynne didn¡¯t want a messy departure, so she had applied for her resignation and taken her stuff away over the weekend. Lindsey felt depressed. The sole person in thepany who had been kind to her had left. Just then, the elevators slid open and a tall woman in corporate attire walked out. She walked right past the busy office workers and didn¡¯t stop until she was standing right in front of the door to Lynne¡¯s office. Then she turned around to face everyone. ¡°Guys! It¡¯s Jayleen Archer, the department director!¡± One of the senior staff members recognized the woman.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Almost instantly, hushed discussions broke out as to why their department director would suddenly show up. Jayleen¡¯s cold gaze swept across the crowd. ¡°Who¡¯s Lindsey Stewart?¡± At the mention of her name, Lindsey was momentarily stunned. She gulped and slowly raised her right hand, saying, ¡°I am. ¡± With her eyes slightly narrowed, Jayleen looked Lindsey up and down sharply before shifting her gaze back towards the crowd again. ¡°The higher-ups have decided to promote Lindsey Stewart to the position of executive agent. From now on, she¡¯ll take over Lynne¡¯s work. ¡± As though she had dropped a bombshell, the people of the Agent Department immediately burst into an uproar. Many of them looked at Lindsey with skepticism. Chapter 90 Jayleen pped her hands loudly twice to silence them. ¡°Get back to work. As for you, Lindsey, you¡¯reing with me. ¡± Jayleen opened the door to Lynne¡¯s office and briskly walked in. The sudden promotion had sent Lindsey into a shocked daze, but she quickly came back to her senses and hurriedly followed Jayleen inside. Jayleen stood in front of the French window wordlessly for a while.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . After what felt like an eternity, she abruptly pulled out the chair beside her, and sat down, crossing her long legs. She had an air of an arrogant superior about her. ¡°Your educational background is simr to that of Lynne. The higher-ups think highly of you, which is why we¡¯re giving you an unconventional promotion, but¡ª¡± After a deliberate pause, Jayleen locked eyes with Lindsey and said, ¡°You¡¯ll be under probation for three months. If you can do this job well, you¡¯ll be officially able to keep the position. If not, thepany will demote you and have someone else fill in for Lynne. Understand?¡± Lindsey nodded slowly. ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°Good. ¡± Jayleen stood up, walked to Lindsey, and patted her on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re the first employee to ever get promoted so soon. I look forward to your performance. ¡± Her tone was so ambiguous that Lindsey couldn¡¯t tell whether she was praising her or satirizing her. After Jayleen left, Lindsey stayed in the office in a daze, feeling as though an invisible weight had been dumped on her shoulders. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around the fact that a newbie like her was promoted out of the blue, not to mention the fact that she had only started working here. When she walked out of the office, she could clearly feel the hostile gazes of her colleagues. But she just ignored them. She spent the whole morning familiarizing herself with Lynne¡¯s work. In the afternoon, she nned to go about her usual schedule and was about to head to Ray Films for a meeting. On her way out, the elevator she caught happened to be quite crowded so she retreated to one corner so as to let the others in. Just as the elevator doors slid to a close, the voices of two employees in the front reached Lindsey¡¯s ears. ¡°Did you hear that? Some new assistant agent in the Agent Department got promoted to executive agent. ¡± ¡°Bah! She probably hooked up with Mr. Howard to get that promotion. I mean, how else could she have gotten promoted so quickly?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering why Lynne resigned from out of the blue. Turns out she was forced to give up her position!¡± ¡°Those who get in by the back door are so despicable!¡± Finally, the elevator doors slid open and the two gossips left. Lindsey clenched her fists angrily. That night at the party, Emilio had seemed quite keen to praise her, and he had even gone out of his way to introduce her to those big shots. Was her performance that night too eye-catching that he had suddenly taken an interest in her? Chapter 91 Oh, God! Was this a ¡°casting couch¡± situation? The mere thought made Lindsey shudder in disgust. No, she had to make things clear to Emilio as soon as possible! When she got out of the elevator, she happened to run into Jayleen, who had just finished a phone call. Without exchanging any pleasantries, Jayleen dumped a stack of documents into Lindsey¡¯s arms. ¡°Something urgent came up, so I have to leave right now. Deliver these documents to Mr. Howard¡¯s office for me. ¡± ¡°Got it. ¡± Lindsey readily agreed since this gave her an excuse to see Emilio. She made her way to the top floor of the building, where Emilio¡¯s office was situated. After exining her purpose to Emilio¡¯s secretary, she then knocked on the door to his office. Emilio was in the middle of signing documents when Lindsey poked her head inside. As soon as he recognized her, he stopped what he was doing and stood up from his desk. ¡°Lindsey? What¡¯s up?¡± Lindsey quickly walked forward and set the documents down on the desk. Then she took a step back, making sure to put distance between her and Emilio. Her face was full of tension and uneasiness, but her voice was still calm. ¡°Miss Archer asked me to take these documents to you,¡± she said, hesitating for a second. ¡°Er, Mr. Howard, there¡¯s something I wanted to ask. Did you arrange for me to be promoted to an executive agent?¡± Emilio nodded casually. Lindsey lowered her head, keeping her voice steady but firm. ¡°I just started working here. Isn¡¯t it a little inappropriate to promote me so quickly?¡± Hearing that, Emilio was stunned. Normally, anyone would be ted to hear that they got a promotion, yet here Lindsey was, questioning him. It was true that she was inexperienced and a newbie. If it weren¡¯t for Lynne¡¯s rmendation and the fact that he had seen Lindsey¡¯s ability at the party, never in a million years would he have considered promoting her so quickly. He even asked Domenic for his opinion before making a final decision. Domenic had said, ¡°The fact that you¡¯re considering promoting Lindsey just goes to show how capable she really is. You should give out posts based on the employee¡¯s abilities rather than seniority. Why not give her a chance? Or are you only promoting her because of her rtionship with me?¡± It made sense, so Emilio made up his mind. He looked at Lindsey and echoed Domenic¡¯s words, saying, ¡°Thepany promotes its employees based on their abilities, not seniority. I really appreciated your performance at the party, and after Lynne left, there happened to be a vacancy. I figured you could seize this as an opportunity to prove yourself further. ¡± Lindsey did want to give it a try, but-Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 92 She faltered, ¡°Mr. Howard, do you¡­ Do you really have no other intentions toward me?¡± ¡°¡¯Intentions¡¯? What intentions?¡± Frowning, Emilio squinted at Lindsey in confusion. The next second, he realized what she meant and nearly choked on his own saliva. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong! A friend¡¯s girl is-I mean¡­ Ahem! Anyway, what I¡¯m trying to say is that I absolutely have no other ¡®intentions¡¯ toward you. ¡± ¡°A ¡®friend¡¯s girl¡¯? What do you mean?¡± Now, it was Lindsey¡¯s turn to look at him in confusion. ¡°Huh? Nothing! You misheard me. ¡± Realizing that his tongue had slipped, Emilio quickly changed the subject. ¡°Before Lynne resigned, she rmended you as her recement to the HR department. You were her subordinate, so you know the ins and outs of her job and could take over her current work faster. Those are the two reasons why I decided to promote you so quickly. Besides, you¡¯ll be on probation for three months. If you can¡¯t prove yourself worthy of the position by then, you will be demoted, and I¡¯ll admit that I have overestimated you. ¡± His little mind game worked. Lindsey immediately felt determined to prove herself in the given time frame-not only to Emilio and the rest of thepany, but also to herself. ¡°Got it, Mr. Howard. I won¡¯t let you down. ¡± Then, with a resolute look on her face, Lindsey left. As soon as the door closed behind her, Emilio sank into his chair and breathed a sigh of relief. Realizing something, he quickly took his phone out and called Domenic. ¡°Lindsey came to my office just now. She actually suspected that I had a crush on her and confronted me about it! Oh, my God! What a huge misunderstanding! I had half a mind to just tell her the truth. Speaking of which, when are you going to tell her your true identity?¡± Unexpectedly, his rambling was met with silence. Emilio thought that it was due to poor signal, so he was about to hang up the phone when Domenic¡¯s low, threatening voice suddenly sounded in his ear. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare do anything that would make her misunderstand you.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. And have someone keep an eye on her at all times. I want all her movements reported to me. Got it?¡± Without waiting for a response, Domenic hung up on Emilio abruptly. Emilio was met with a harsh dial tone. He pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at it helplessly. Domenic had always been like this, and he had no choice but to do as he said. * Lindsey sorted out the documents containing their artists¡¯ data and then headed to the Information Department. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lindsey Stewart from the Agent Department. Could you help me check on the recent arrangements of Ray Films¡¯ crews?¡± The receptionist of the Information Department looked up and nced at Lindsey, frowning in disdain. ¡°The system broke down. It¡¯s not working right now. ¡± Chapter 93 ¡°When will it be fixed?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know. ¡± The girl looked away from Lindsey, leaned back in her chair, and proceeded to inspect her newly manicured nails. Realizing that this girl was deliberately making things difficult for her, Lindsey didn¡¯t waste time on her and turned away. At two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, she arrived at Ray Films as nned. It was said that several film projects were currently in the middle of casting, the biggest of which was a sci-fi movie that Ray Films had invested quite a huge sum of money in. If Lindsey could secure a few roles in this movie for her artists, she¡¯d definitely gain more respect in thepany. It had taken her a great deal of effort to get in touch with Darien Crawford, the producer of the sci-fi film, let alone get an appointment with him. Fortunately, he finally agreed to meet with her in the evening. But unbeknownst to her, when she called Darien, thetter was in the office of Jacob Perry, the vice president of Ray Films. In Jacob¡¯s arms was a woman that kept whispering sweet nothings in his ear-and that woman was none other than Shelia! Darien soon got off the phone with Lindsey and looked at Shelia with a ttering smile. ¡°Miss Stewart, I did what you told me. ¡± Hearing this, Shelia wrapped her arms around Jacob¡¯s neck and smiled at him sweetly. After being kicked out of Vitality Entertainment, she hooked up with Jacob and managed tond a role in the sci-fi movie. Just now, when Darien mentioned Lindsey¡¯s name on the phone, Shelia couldn¡¯t help but interfere. After all, she had Jacob on her side. ¡°Thank you for helping me, Mr. Crawford. You don¡¯t know how evil Lindsey is! You¡¯ll meet nothing but trouble if you cooperate with her!¡± Hearing Shelia¡¯s shrill, high-pitched voice, Darien couldn¡¯t help but wince.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He had heard of what happened at that party, so he knew what kind of person she was. But Ray Films was his movie¡¯s biggest investor, and Shelia¡¯s boyfriend was none other than the vice president of Ray Films. Darien knew he couldn¡¯t afford to offend her, so he said meekly, ¡°Whatever you say, Miss Stewart. ¡± As soon as Darien left the office, Jacob grabbed Shelia by the waist and pressed her on top of his desk impatiently. The two had just met a few days ago. Shelia had listened to Kendra¡¯s advice and learned the art of ying hard to get, which made Jacob go crazy for her. ¡°I did what you asked. Don¡¯t I deserve a reward?¡± Jacob was unmarried, but it was said that if all the women he had previously dated formed a line, it¡¯d span the distance from the gate of Ray Films to his office door. Naturally, he was anxious to bed the woman he couldn¡¯t seem to get. However, the moment he¡¯d won her over, he¡¯d immediately lose interest in her. ¡°Be patient. I¡¯ve never done it before¡­ I want my first time to be special,¡± Shelia protested in a sweet voice, her hands pressed firmly against his chest. Jacob, like many other men, had a thing for virgins. The entertainment circle was a ce full of dirty deals, so there were very few virgins in the industry. Shelia had told him that she just graduated from university and had never slept with anyone. Jacob had her secretly investigated, and the result showed that she was telling the truth. Otherwise, he never would¡¯ve wasted his precious time ying cat and mouse with a nameless artist like her. In a good mood, he asked eagerly, ¡°What more do you want from me?¡± Chapter 94 ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after we put that bitch in her ce. ¡± A hint of viciousness appeared in Shelia¡¯s eyes at the mention of Lindsey. ¡°Why do you hate that woman so much?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my sworn enemy! Mr. Perry, please-you have to help me get rid of her!¡± As she spoke, she batted her eyshes and brought her face close to Jacob¡¯s, pecking him on his dry Lips. Jacob was blinded by lust. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll give you all the stars in the sky if I have to. Dealing with some rookie agent will be a piece of cake. ¡± After saying that, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from bending over and ki*sing Shelia passionately on the lips. * At nine o¡¯clock that evening, Lindsey went to a karaoke bar to meet up with Darien. The karaoke bar was located in a remote area, by no means a fancy ce. ording to Darien, the crew of the sci-fi film was going to meet up here. He, the director, the assistant director, the art nner, and other key members of the crew were supposed toe. So, he had asked Lindsey to meet him there so that he could introduce her to the rest of the crew. This was a wonderful opportunity towork and to put in a good word for her artists, so Lindsey showed up at Room 502 in high spirits. However, as soon as she pushed the door open, she was met with deafening music. Inside the private room were several strong men sitting around a table, drinking andughing. Lindsey initially thought she entered the wrong room, so she was about to leave when one of the men asked, ¡°Are you Lindsey Stewart?¡± Stunned, Lindsey stopped in her tracks and nodded slowly. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after we put that bitch in her ce. ¡± A hint of viciousness appeared in Shelia¡¯s eyes at the mention of Lindsey. ¡°Why do you hate that woman so much?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my sworn enemy! Mr. Perry, please-you have to help me get rid of her!¡± As she spoke, she batted her eyshes and brought her face close to Jacob¡¯s, pecking him on his dry Lips. Jacob was blinded by lust. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll give you all the stars in the sky if I have to. Dealing with some rookie agent will be a piece of cake. ¡± After saying that, he couldn¡¯t stop himself from bending over and ki*sing Shelia passionately on the lips. BunnyBookery * At nine o¡¯clock that evening, Lindsey went to a karaoke bar to meet up with Darien. The karaoke bar was located in a remote area, by no means a fancy ce. ording to Darien, the crew of the sci-fi film was going to meet up here. He, the director, the assistant director, the art nner, and other key members of the crew were supposed toe. So, he had asked Lindsey to meet him there so that he could introduce her to the rest of the crew. This was a wonderful opportunity towork and to put in a good word for her artists, so Lindsey showed up at Room 502 in high spirits. However, as soon as she pushed the door open, she was met with deafening music. Inside the private room were several strong men sitting around a table, drinking andughing. Lindsey initially thought she entered the wrong room, so she was about to leave when one of the men asked, ¡°Are you Lindsey Stewart?¡± Stunned, Lindsey stopped in her tracks and nodded slowly. ¡°Come in. We¡¯ve been waiting for you for a while. ¡± Lindsey had a bad feeling about this. She hesitantly asked, ¡°What about Mr. Crawford? Is he here?¡± The man narrowed his eyes at her and smiled obscenely. ¡°Yes, yes, he¡¯s in the restroom. He asked us to tell you toe in and wait for him. ¡± She seemed to havee to the right room, but these men didn¡¯t Look like a film crew at all. On the contrary, they looked like thugs on the street. Before Lindsey could change her mind, the man stepped forward, dr@ped his arm around her shoulders, and led her inside the room. Lindsey was dragged a few steps forward before she suddenly stopped. She crouched down, escaping from the man¡¯s grip, and said vigntly, ¡°I¡¯d better wait for Mr. Crawford at the door. ¡± As she spoke, she turned around and walked briskly toward the door. But before she could take even two steps, the man suddenly grabbed her arm and violently yanked her backward! Lindsey stumbled backward and fell into his arms. He wrapped his thick arms around her slender waist, imprisoning her in a suffocating embrace. ¡°What are you doing?! Let go of me!¡± ¡°Come in. We¡¯ve been waiting for you for a while. ¡± Lindsey had a bad feeling about this. She hesitantly asked, ¡°What about Mr. Crawford? Is he here?¡± The man narrowed his eyes at her and smiled obscenely. ¡°Yes, yes, he¡¯s in the restroom. He asked us to tell you toe in and wait for him. ¡± She seemed to havee to the right room, but these men didn¡¯t Look like a film crew at all. On the contrary, they looked like thugs on the street. Before Lindsey could change her mind, the man stepped forward, dr@ped his arm around her shoulders, and led her inside the room. Lindsey was dragged a few steps forward before she suddenly stopped. She crouched down, escaping from the man¡¯s grip, and said vigntly, ¡°I¡¯d better wait for Mr. Crawford at the door. ¡± As she spoke, she turned around and walked briskly toward the door. But before she could take even two steps, the man suddenly grabbed her arm and violently yanked her backward! Lindsey stumbled backward and fell into his arms.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. He wrapped his thick arms around her slender waist, imprisoning her in a suffocating embrace. ¡°What are you doing?! Let go of me!¡± Chapter 95 Realizing the gravity of her situation, Lindsey struggled desperately. But her opponent was a strong, fully grown man. No matter how hard she resisted, it was futile. The man dragged her to the sofa in the private room. ¡°Quit wasting your energy and just enjoy yourself! Keep resisting and you might just get hurt!¡± Then he said to other men, ¡°Guys, get your phones out and record the whole thing, okay?¡± The thugs in the room didn¡¯t expect that their target would turn out to be a good-looking babe, so they all stared at Lindsey obscenely, itching to rip all her clothes off. ¡°Let go of me, you bastard!¡± Lindsey screamed in despair. In a moment of desperation, she grabbed the man who was tearing her clothes off and sank her teeth into his arm, kicking him in the crotch as hard as she could. The man screamed in pain, and Lindsey seized the opportunity to escape. without a moment to lose, she bolted for the door and rushed out of the room. ¡°What the f@ck are you all waiting for? Get her!¡± The other men immediately chased after her. Lindsey ran desperately. She could the men shouting behind her, but she didn¡¯t dare to look back. She simply kicked off her high heels and ran as fast as she could. Just as she made it out the door of the karaoke bar, she bumped into a person. She smelled a familiar,forting scent, but she was too scared to mull over it. She bypassed the man and was going to keep on running, but the man grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Lindsey raised her head in a panic, ready to scream. To her surprise, the man holding her was none other than Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh! Oh, thank goodness! You have to help me!¡± Her pretty face was pale with fright, her petite body trembling slightly from the adrenaline . Tears rolled down her cheeks the moment she recognized Domenic. Seeing her disheveled clothes, Domenic wasted no time. He took off his ck jacket, dr@ped it over her shoulders, and pulled her into a warm embrace. One hand reached out to wipe the tears on her face, and his touch was reassuring, but his eyes were deathly cold. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here. ¡± The thugs soon caught up to Lindsey. When they saw the man holding her, they stopped and geared up for the fight. At this time, a few more men came out of the alley behind Domenic, blocking the only exit. The karaoke bar was located in the suburbs, and there were many dark alleys in the area. Gang fights often broke out in these alleys, so if anyone happened to pass by, they¡¯d simply flee from the scene. In a word, no one would dare to interfere in these kinds of things. ¡°Oh, it seems that someone is looking for trouble. ¡± The man who seemed to be the ringleader sneered at Domenic. This was their territory, and anyone who dared to trespass would die a gruesome death. ¡°ALL right. Break this asshole¡¯s legs and then throw his remains into the sea for the sharks, but try not to hurt the girl. I n on having a lot of fun with her.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Horrified, Lindsey buried her face in Domenic¡¯s chest and sobbed. Domenic held her close and used one hand to cover her eyes. Chapter 96 ALL the while, he looked at those thugs calmly, his gaze cold as ice. ¡°Bam!¡± A sudden gunshot broke the silence. Lindsey¡¯s body shook violently at the sudden sound. Whimpering softly, she buried her face deeper. The next moment, several men in ck emerged from the darkness and surrounded the thugs. One of the men in ck was holding a silver pistol in his hand, its muzzle still smoking. The thugs were all too scared to make a sound. A single gunshot was enough to take all the fight out of them.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. They looked at each other with pale faces and raised both hands over their heads without hesitation to signify their surrender. ¡°Who- Who are you?¡± The ringleader asked in a trembling voice. The man with the gun didn¡¯t say a word. He only raised his gun forward and nodded, signaling at his men to rush forward. In the span of mere seconds, all the thugs were subdued and pressed to the ground. Then, in one coordinated strike, each man in ck neatly smacked the back of the neck of all the thugs, knocking them out instantly. They didn¡¯t even get the chance to cry out in pain. Afterward, all the men in ck looked at Domenic, who was standing in the middle of the carnage. It was as though they were soldiers looking at their general, waiting for his next order. With one hand still nted firmly over Lindsey¡¯s head, Domenic waved his free hand casually. The men nodded and briskly took the thugs away. Soon, they had disappeared into the night. Lindsey was still shaking in Domenic¡¯s arms. He stroked her smooth hair and said softly, ¡°There, there. You¡¯re safe now. ¡± His tone was soft, but his voice seemed to cast a spell over her, calming her nerves instantly. ¡®s BunnyBookery Only then did Lindsey raise her head. She timidly Looked around, only to find that they were alone. ¡°Mr. Walsh, w-what happened? I thought I heard a gunshot just now. ¡± Lindsey looked up at Domenic in disbelief. She was sure that she was going to die here today. Cupping her cheeks gently, Domenic stroked her face with his thumb. ¡°We got really lucky. There were several undercover cops in the area, and they swooped in and took the bad guys away. ¡± Hearing this, Lindsey nced around in surprise. Domenic was right; they were really lucky! The gunshot must¡¯vee from one of the undercover cops in an attempt to intimidate the thugs. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Domenic looked Lindsey up and down carefully. Lindsey shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. ¡± When he was certain that she wasn¡¯t injured, he fixed his eyes on her quiveringshes. The poor girl was so on edge that she looked like a stressed cat, which made him think that she was still scared. Chapter 97 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Those bastards will never bother you again. ¡± ¡°Thanks¡­ But Mr.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Walsh, what were you doing here in the first ce?¡± Lindsey swallowed her fear, pulled herself together, and willed herself to think rationally. ¡°I dined with my boss nearby. After parting ways with him, I happened to run into you as I passed by here. ¡± Lindsey nodded and didn¡¯t ask him any more questions. ¡°Who were those people?¡± Domenic frowned and asked. Fortunately, he had ordered that Lindsey be monitored at all times. When his man found that the ce she had gone to was rather remote, he became suspicious and informed Domenic at once. That was why Domenic made it to the karaoke bar in time. Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I was supposed to meet Darien Crawford, a producer of Ray Films, here. He imed that the film crew was going to hang out in this karaoke bar, but when I went to the private room, it turned out to be a trap. I have no idea who those thugs were. ¡± ¡°Ray Films¡­ Darien Crawford¡­¡± Domenic repeated those names coldly. Then he gently wrapped his arm around Lindsey¡¯s shoulders and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home and get some rest. I¡¯ll figure out how to deal with this tomorrow. ¡± Lindsey fell silent. Domenic was just a regr sry man who knew little about the entertainment industry while Darien was a seasoned producer. Moreover, Darien likely had a powerful backer. What could Domenic possibly do to ¡®deal¡¯ with this matter? He was probably just saying that tofort her. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go home. ¡± Domenic took her hand and was about to lead her away when Lindsey suddenly groaned. Worried he might¡¯ve hurt her, Domenic swiftly whirled around and looked at her with concern, only to find that she was bare foot. ¡°I ran for my life and lost my shoes¡ª¡± Feeling embarrassed, Lindsey subconsciously hid her feet, which were covered in small scratches. But before she could finish speaking, Domenic suddenly scooped her up in his arms. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey eximed in surprise. Domenic¡¯s cold expression softened in the moonlight. ¡°Your feet are injured. ¡± Lindsey pursed her lips and subconsciously shrank into his arms. The man¡¯s pleasant musk filled her nose, rendering her restless. Feeling as though she¡¯d die from embarrassment, she pleaded in a low voice, ¡°Put me down. It¡¯s no big deal, okay? I can walk by myself!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to report to work tomorrow, I¡¯ll be more than happy to put you down and let you walk by yourself. ¡± At this, Lindsey shut her mouth and stopped protesting. In this way, Domenic carried her to the roadside and hailed a taxi. Later, when the taxi dropped them off in their neighborhood, Domenic carried her all the way to their apartment. Chapter 98 Finally, heid her down on the sofa, careful not to let her feet touch the ground. But the scratches on the soles of her feet still ached, causing her to wince. Seeing this, Domenic felt sorry for her. She was still wearing his ck jacket, but he could still clearly see that the cor of her dress had been torn right off, exposing a big chunk of bare skin. Domenic wasted no time in grabbing the iodine from the first-aid kit in the cab. Then he sat down beside Lindsey, grabbed her ankles, and put her feet on top of his thighs. He took a closer look at the scratches on her feet. There was a mix of blood and dust caked on them. ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t worry about me. I can take care of it myself. ¡± Lindsey felt a little embarrassed by their intimate posture and wanted to withdraw her feet from hisp, but Domenic held her ankles firmly in ce. Her feet looked so petite in his big palms, and her little pink toenails looked so adorable. Domenic first cleaned her wounds with some wet tissue and then gently dabbed the wounds with a cotton swab dipped in iodine. He dealt with her wounds with great care. Just as he dabbed a particr scratch, he inadvertently tickled her, causing her to jerk her foot as a reflex.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. She blushed and mumbled, ¡°Oh, sorry. ¡± Only after he was done treating the wounds did he finally let her go. He locked eyes with her and said firmly, ¡°If you ever have to go to those kinds of ces again, just ask me to go with you. It¡¯s safer to have a man by your side. Averting her gaze, Lindsey didn¡¯t answer and pretended to busy herself by putting on her fuzzy house slippers. She and Domenic were just roommates. How could she keep on inconveniencing him like this? Domenic seemed to see right through her, because the next thing he said was, ¡°Even if we¡¯re just friends, we should look out for each other, don¡¯t you think?¡± For some reason, when Lindsey heard him utter the word ¡°friends¡±, her heart sank slightly. So, it turned out that he really was just kidding when he said they were an engaged couple. Lindsey shook her head in an effort to banish those thoughts, wondering why she became so sentimental all of a sudden. Yes, their so-called engagement was just for show. Now, they were just friends¡ªsh-roommates. Lindsey swallowed her sadness and forced a smile. ¡°Okay, I will. ¡± Maybe it was because her adrenaline was spent that she fell asleep early that night. The following morning, on the top floor of Vitoria Club. Domenic was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling French windows in arge presidential suite, a ss of red wine in his hand. His handsome face was reflected in the ss, perfectly capturing the fierce, icy look in his eye. ALL of a sudden, the door swung open and several people entered. A man was thrown at Domenic¡¯s feet-and the man was none other than the ringleader from the night before. Now, however, he no longer Looked as arrogant and fierce as yesterday, having been beaten ck and blue by Domenic¡¯s men. Chapter 99 Domenic Looked down and locked eyes with the man kneeling before him. ¡°Tell me, who ordered you to do that?¡± The man, eyes swollen from being beaten, looked up at Domenic. When he recognized thetter as the man who had protected Lindsey a few hours ago, he couldn¡¯t help but feel flustered. But despite being tortured and beaten to a pulp, he gritted his teeth and hissed, ¡°No one asked me to do it. I acted alone. ¡± Domenic sneered, and the temperature in the room seemed to have suddenly dropped several degrees. ¡°Beat him to death and then throw his remains into the sea for the sharks!¡± Domenic¡¯s men promptly sprang into action. In the blink of an eye, they all started kicking the stubborn man violently. The ringleader didn¡¯t expect that Domenic would be so ruthless. As blow after blownded on him, he grew increasingly scared for his life. ¡°WW-wait! Stop! But those bodyguards turned a deaf ear to his screams and kept on kicking him. The man knew that he¡¯d definitely be beaten to death if things went on like this, so he cried and desperately begged for mercy. ¡°Stop! Please! I¡¯ll tell you, okay? I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Domenic chuckled and raised his hand, and the bodyguards immediately stopped what they were doing. Looking up at the big shot who held his life in the palm of his hand, the man came clean without hesitation. ¡°The people who hired me¡­ It was Darien Crawford and the vice president of Ray Films, Jacob Perry. ¡± ¡°Jacob Perry?¡± Domenic echoed with a deep frown. Jacob was the third son of the Perry family, one of the four biggest ns in the city. He was also notoriously known to be a yboy, and it was said that he only entered the film and television industry to hook up with hot girls. After all, countless female stars in the entertainment circle had gotten romantically linked with him. But what did he have to do with Lindsey? Why on earth would he be out to get her? Domenic¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Break their arms and then hand them over to the police. ¡± ¡°No! Please! I¡¯m sorry, okay? I¡¯m so sorry! Please let me go. I won¡¯t do it ever again!¡± The man grabbed Domenic¡¯s trouser leg and sniveled, begging for mercy. A gang leader like him hadmitted countless crimes. If he was really caught by the police, he¡¯d be imprisoned for life-or worse, killed! But Domenic kicked him away without hesitation with a clear look of disgust on his face. The next moment, several of Domenic¡¯s bodyguards came forward and grabbed the man. They dragged him out, and his screams for mercy slowly faded into the distance.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 100 Domenic shifted his gaze back to the huge ss window, his face hidden from view. No one in the room could tell what he was thinking at that moment. The following morning, Shelia headed to Jacob¡¯s office while humming a cheerful tune. She hadn¡¯t heard any news aboutst night, but she just assumed that Jacob¡¯s hired thugs had seeded in teaching Lindsey a lesson. Surely, the promised scandalous photos had been forwarded to Jacob by now, right? She sneered inwardly. Her mother had warned her that Lindsey wouldn¡¯t be easy to deal with, but it turned out she was wrong. Shelia was confident that afterst night, Lindsey was ruined-and she barely had to lift a finger to do it!Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey really was no match for her. Shelia entered Jacob¡¯s office with a bright smile, but her expression quickly changed when she saw his long face. He sat at his desk, rubbing his aching temples gloomily. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you, Mr. Perry?¡± Pouting, Shelia walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck in an attempt to cheer him up. Jacob, however, clearly wasn¡¯t in the mood to flirt with her. Without saying anything, he shoved her away with a snort. ¡°What the-Mr. Perry, what¡¯s going on?¡± It was the first time that Jacob had treated her so rudely, which made Shelia feel very unhappy. Jacob briefly nced at her while pulling at his tie irritably. ¡°f@ck! Someone interfered while my men were teaching Lindsey a lesson. He called the police, and now, those bastards have ratted me out! I spent a fortune settling this matter!¡± ¡°What?! How could this happen?¡± Shelia¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. Was Jacob basically saying that his men failed to eveny a finger on Lindsey? How could this be? Shelia stood frozen in ce, trembling in anger. Jacob had hired so many thugs. How could they have failed?! Damn it! Was Lindsey really so Lucky?! ¡°You paid them to do the job, and they failed! Not only that, but they also ratted you out! How hateful!¡± As she spoke, she walked up to Jacob and tried to hug him again, making sure to rub her b@@bs against his arm as she did so. In a soft, seductive voice, she whispered in his ear, ¡°Well, don¡¯t be angry. Although it didn¡¯t work out, you still did this for me, and I think you deserve to know just how grateful I am¡­¡± Jacob raised an eyebrow. Without warning, his hand shot out and grabbed hers, which he then put on his bulging crotch. ¡°Then how will you thank me, Miss Stewart?¡± Chapter 101 Shelia averted her gaze shyly, looking so pure and adorable. ¡°Mr. Perry, I-I don¡¯t know how to¡ª¡± Consumed by desire, Jacob couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and blurted, ¡°I¡¯ll guide you. ¡± Then he unzipped his trousers, took out his member, and held the back of Shelia¡¯s head, forcing her to go down on him. The disgusting smell of his sweaty penis almost made her vomit, but in order to please Jacob, she had to pretend to enjoy it. While doing the deed, her eyes were filled with rage. This was all Lindsey¡¯s fault! She had to pay for this! * Meanwhile, in Vitality Entertainment. ¡°I heard that in order to curry favor with Darien, she asked him to meet her in a barst night. But in the end, Darien stood her up!¡± ¡°I told you she¡¯s a shameless slut. She¡¯s probably slept with countless men to get to where she is now. ¡± ¡°What a slut! I feel sick just working in the same office as her!¡± As Lindsey entered the break room for a cup of coffee, she overheard two colleagues from her apartment gossiping about her in the corner. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but frown.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. How did word about her appointment with Darien spread? She walked up to the two colleagues and mmed her coffee cup on the table with a crisp sound. The two women were so startled that they nearly jumped. When they looked back and saw Lindsey, their faces turned ghastly pale. Lindsey asked icily, ¡°Where did you hear those things exactly?¡± The two colleagues lowered their heads, not daring to say anything. ¡°If you have a problem with me, then tell it to my face. If you continue to gossip behind my back, I¡¯ll start to wonder if you¡¯re only doing it out of jealousy!¡± The two girls were embarrassed by her blunt criticism. After Lindsey left, one growled, ¡°She¡¯s so arrogant! What¡¯s so amazing about being an executive agent?¡± The other girl echoed, ¡°She might feel high and mighty now, but when she fails at her job and is demoted, we¡¯ll be the onesughing. ¡± After saying that, the two of them exchanged tacit nces and smiled meaningfully. * After wrapping up her work for the morning, Lindsey sat in her office and thought for a long time. Finally, she decided to call Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh, are you free this afternoon?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chapter 102 ¡°Well, I was wondering if you coulde with me to Ray Films? I want to figure out the truth behindst night. ¡± Lindsey wasn¡¯t going to take this injustice sitting down. And what Domenic said was right; it was better to have a man around her in situations like this. It also helped that he was good at fighting, which made Lindsey feel even safer. ¡°Of course I¡¯lle with you. ¡± Truth be told, Domenic also wanted to find out how Lindsey had offended Jacob. After hanging up, Domenic dialed andline number. Soon, his assistant, Hendrix, came in. ¡°Cancel all this afternoon¡¯s meetings. ¡± As he spoke, Domenic stood up and reached for a ck jacket from the wardrobe. ¡°Boss, where are you headed? Do you need a lift?¡± After taking off the watch worth millions of dors on his wrist, Domenic smiled and said to Hendrix jokingly, ¡°I¡¯m going to Ray Films with my fianc¨¦e to stir up some trouble. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Hendrix was dumbfounded. Would his boss really do such a thing?! At two o¡¯clock that afternoon, Lindsey arrived at Ray Films¡¯ where she found Domenic for her at the headquarters, waiting gate. Together, they walked into the office building. In the lobby, Lindsey mmed her badge on the receptionist¡¯s desk. ¡°I¡¯m an executive agent from Vitality Entertainment, and I have something very important to ask Mr. Darien Crawford. Please tell him I¡¯m here. Now. ¡± Darien had blocked herst night, so she had toe here to look for him personally. Seeing the grim look on the young woman¡¯s face and sensing the oppressive aura from the man next to her, the receptionist knew that these were not people to be trifled with. She hurriedly picked up the phone and called Darien. After hanging up, the receptionist said to Lindsey awkwardly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Mr. Crawford said he¡¯s busy and doesn¡¯t have the time to see you. ¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Lindsey smiled, but her eyes were devoid of warmth. The receptionist couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the sight of such a cruel smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t make things difficult for you. Where is Darien now? I¡¯ll go to him myself. ¡± ¡°S-sorry, but I can¡¯t tell you. ¡± Just as Lindsey opened her mouth to say something more, Domenic stepped aside, took out his phone, and made a quick call. Secondster, the telephone on the receptionist¡¯s desk rang, making the receptionist jolt in shock. But her demeanor shifted noticeably after taking the call. She then addressed the two with increased respect, stating, ¡°Darien is currently in the rehearsal hall on the third floor, observing actors¡¯ auditions. ¡± Lindsey looked at Domenic in surprise and asked, ¡°How did you do that?¡± Chapter 103 Domenic answered casually, ¡°A friend of mine works here. I just asked him for help. ¡± Lindsey nodded. She didn¡¯t doubt his words for a second. The two headed to the elevator at the end of the hall side by side. The receptionist watched the two imposing figures walk away in a daze. When she finally came to her senses, she couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous for Darien. In the rehearsal hall on the third floor, everyone was engrossed in the audition. Suddenly, the door was pushed open with a loud creak. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock? So rude!¡± Darien had only talked to Lindsey over the phone once and had never seen her before. Seeing that the young man and woman who had just entered both looked attractive and noble, he thought they were here for the audition. ¡°Lindsey? What the hell are you doing here?¡± Shelia stood up from the seat next to Darien. She was also present for the audition, even though her role had already been secured with Jacob¡¯s help. After all, she needed to maintain appearances and follow the standard process to avoid gossip. Lindsey was surprised to see Shelia here. Domenic, on the other hand, frowned slightly. His intuition told him that this hateful woman had something to do withst night¡¯s incident. ¡°That¡¯s Lindsey?¡± Darien whispered in Shelia¡¯s ear nervously. ¡°What is she doing here? I told the receptionist to turn her away!¡± ¡°The bitch always shows up uninvited,¡± Shelia sneered. As she spoke, she deliberately raised her voice so that everyone present could hear her. Seeing that Darien seemed quite close to Shelia, Lindsey suddenly realized that her devious stepsister was likely the mastermind behind what happenedst night. But Shelia was just a newbie in the entertainment circle, not to mention she had been kicked out of Vitality Entertainment. How could she have convinced a famous producer to help her? Lindsey strode up to Darien while ring at him sharply. ¡°Mr. Darien Crawford, I¡¯m here to ask-no, demand-an exnation. Yesterday, you told me to meet you at a bar to discuss business, but when I arrived at the appointed private room, a group of thugs were there waiting for me. They almost r@ped me! Fortunately, the police showed up in time. I have no enmity with you. We¡¯ve never even met before! So, why on earth did you set me up?¡± ¡°Set you up? I don¡¯t even know you. ¡± Unfazed, Darien turned his back on Lindsey and sat back down.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. In his eyes, a mere executive agent was nothing to fear. ¡°I have the call log on my phone that proves you told me to meet you there!¡± ¡°I was on calls with tons of different agents yesterday. I can¡¯t remember which one is you. ¡± Darien shrugged indifferently. Lindsey understood something at that moment. To Darien, she was probably just an insignificant agent. Her chastity-even her life meant nothing to him. That was why he had nothing to fear. Chapter 104 With her arms crossed over her chest, Shelia came over and sneered at Lindsey and Domenic in disdain. ¡°Bark all you want; it¡¯s useless. Mr. Crawford said that he doesn¡¯t even know you. Is it because he refused to let your artists act in his movie that you¡¯ve resorted to such a stupid trick? Humph! If you have so much time on your hands, why don¡¯t you spend it on training your own artists instead of making trouble here?¡± Hearing what Shelia said, the other people present nodded in agreement. It wasn¡¯t unheard of for an agent to resort to drastic means to get their artists a gig. Judging from this farce, it seemed that this nameless agent was trying to defame Darien. Lindsey stared at Shelia icily. ¡°Who do you think you are? Vitality Entertainment fired you because you stole a diamond ring from the wife of Director Vincent Lopez. Do you actually think you¡¯re better than us?¡± At this, the rehearsal hall suddenly burst into an uproar. ¡°What?! She¡¯s the girl who stole the diamond ring at the celebration party of Vitality Entertainment?¡± ¡°She offended the legendary Director Lopez. We¡¯d better stay away from her!¡± ¡°Wait a second. If Vitality Entertainment terminated their contract with her, she should¡¯ve been cklisted. So, what¡¯s she doing at this audition?¡± Eyes wide with anger, Shelia red at the crowd. Through gritted her teeth, she spat, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her bullshit! She¡¯s lying! This isn¡¯t the first time she has wrongfully used someone. Right now, Mr. Crawford is her target!¡± ¡°Miss She Stewart is an excellent actress. I trust her. ¡± So as to not arouse suspicion and divert the me to Lindsey, Darien could only stand on Shelia¡¯s side and defend her. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m a producer, and I¡¯ve been in the film industry for years. How on earth would I benefit from hurting you? Besides, thisdy is a rookie actress. What would she gain from stealing Mrs. Lopez¡¯s ring? Wouldn¡¯t she want to please her, not hurt her? Your usations are full of loopholes. Anyone with a discerning eye can tell that you¡¯re lying! There¡¯s obviously a serious problem with your character, ma¡¯am! From now on, I refuse to cooperate with you in any movie I¡¯m making, be it now or in the future!¡± The others all nodded in agreement. What Darien said made sense to them. After all, a prestigious producer like him really had no reason to hurt Lindsey, nor did a budding actress like Shelia have any reason to ruin her own career. It must be the agent who was lying! Lindsey, however, remained calm in the face of their criticism. Without saying a word, she took out her phone from her bag and yed a recorded conversation for everyone to hear. Fortunately, she had been extremely cautious ever since she had been promoted. One of the precautions she took was to set up the automatic call recording function on her phone. So, her entire conversation with Darien had been recorded. The recording was consistent with everything Lindsey had said.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Darien had indeed invited her to meet at a bar in the suburbs on the grounds of a crew hangout. Chapter 105 Being exposed like this, Darien¡¯s face turned livid. ¡°I told you that I¡¯m on countless calls every day. Of course, I won¡¯t be able to remember each of them! Maybe I thought I was making an appointment with another person. Besides, even if I asked you out, so what? I was busyst night and couldn¡¯t make it to the bar. Whatever happened there has nothing to do with me!¡± Putting away her phone, Lindsey asked coldly, ¡°What film crew in their right mind would host a hangout in a karaoke bar in an area that¡¯s known for gang violence? It wasn¡¯t intentional on your part? How can you still deny it when the evidence is right in front of you?!¡± The others in the rehearsal hall broke into discussion once more. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of that bar. People who aren¡¯t affiliated with the gang wouldn¡¯t even think to step foot in there. So, why would Darien ask her to meet him there?¡± ¡°I heard that he likes to make things hard for others. Maybe that agent isn¡¯t lying after all¡­¡± ¡°Just thinking about it gives me the heebie-jeebies! God, I don¡¯t think I want to push through with this audition anymore if it means having to deal with this producer!¡± ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ll have you cklisted from the entire entertainment industry!¡± Darien roared, his fiery eyes wild with anger. He finally stopped pretending and pointed a finger at Lindsey.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. In his eyes, Lindsey was just a lowly agent. She was nothingpared to him! Banning her from the industry should be a piece of cake for him. ¡®s BunnyBookery The next second, his outstretched finger was grabbed by someone. A tall, imposing figure had seized his finger in a firm hold. With a cold re, the man applied slight pressure, causing a sharp pain to shoot through Darien¡¯s finger. He grimaced in pain and was forced to kneel on the ground. ¡°f@ck you! Let go of me, you bastard!¡± ¡°It¡¯s rude to point at others. Didn¡¯t your mother ever teach you that?¡± Domenic taunted, his low voice sending shivers down Darien¡¯s spine. ¡°Help! Security! Get this man away from me!¡± ¡°Apologize to her. Now. Otherwise, by the time your precious security guards arrive, I¡¯ll have already broken your finger clean off. ¡± Sweat dripped from Darien¡¯s forehead. Her was in so much pain that he couldn¡¯t care less about his dignity. ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯m sorry, Lindsey! I¡¯m sorry! I admit I was wrong!¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh¡ª¡± Lindsey stepped forward and grabbed Domenic¡¯s arm. She didn¡¯t care whether Darien lost a finger or not, but she did care about Domenic. What if he was sent to jail for hurting someone? Domenic reluctantly let go of Darien¡¯s finger. Seeing the nervous look on Lindsey¡¯s face, he said with a gentle smile, ¡°I¡¯m your man. Chapter 106 I won¡¯t just stand here and let these people bully you. ¡± Calling himself ¡°her man¡± made Lindsey¡¯s face turn as red as a tomato. Just then, the door was kicked open and several security guards came filing in. Behind them was a powerful-looking middle-aged man. As soon as he saw the middle-aged man, Darien immediately pulled himself together and put on a dignified expression. ¡°Good afternoon, Mr. Perry.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡± The head of security stood next to the middle-aged man, his sharp eyes sweeping across the crowd. ¡°What on earth is going on here?¡± Darien subconsciously raised his hand to point at Domenic, but thinking about his injured finger, he let his arm hang limply at his side. Retreating to the side of the middle-aged man, he said to Lindsey and Domenic with a slight sneer, ¡°This is Mr. Spencer Perry, the chairman of Ray Films!¡± Then to Spencer, heined in an injured tone, ¡°Mr. Perry, these two people don¡¯t take ourpany seriously at all. They barged into the rehearsal hall in the middle of the audition just to stir up trouble. To add insult to injury, this man even tried to break my finger! Please help me, sir!¡± Shelia had heard all about Jacob¡¯s older brother, Spencer. Since she was Jacob¡¯s girlfriend, she was confident that Spencer would definitely take her side. She smirkedcently, convinced that she now held the upper hand. Striding up to Lindsey with her head held high, she sneered, ¡°Lindsey, it might have been forgivable if you had only provoked us, but you¡¯ve managed to offend Mr. Perry himself. I¡¯d be scared out of my wits if I were you!¡± Then she shifted her gaze to Domenic and continued, ¡°Lindsey, Mr. Crawford is Ray Films¡¯s official producer, and your man hurt him. A few years in prison would already be considered a Light sentence!¡± Hearing this, Lindsey felt flustered and her calm facade started to crumble. She anxiously tugged at Domenic¡¯s sleeve to signal him to back down. Then, after taking a deep breath, she looked at Spencer and said gravely, ¡°Mr. Perry, it was my idea toe here to ask Mr. Crawford for an exnation. This has nothing to do with my friend!¡± Seeing how Lindsey stood out to protect him without hesitation, something sparked within Domenic¡¯s deep-set eyes. He looked at the firm, determined look on her face and felt warm in his heart. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Smirking smugly, Shelia leaned over and whispered in Lindsey¡¯s ear, ¡°How about this? If you get on your knees right now, apologize, and admit that it was you who stole Mrs. Lopez¡¯s ring at the party, I¡¯ll talk to Mr. Perry on your behalf. I¡¯ll even ask him to let you two go. What do you think?¡± Lindsey cast her a sideways nce and asked dryly, ¡°Why? Are you close to the chairman?¡± Shelia giggledcently. ¡°For your information, my boyfriend is the Jacob Perry, vice president of Ray Films and Mr. Perry¡¯s younger brother. Of course, we¡¯re close! If I plead your case with him, he¡¯ll spare you for my sake. ¡± Truth be told, Shelia had never met Spencer before, mor did she intend to put in a good word for Lindsey. She only wanted to milk this moment to humiliate Lindsey. Domenic happened to overhear this exchange and was instantly enlightened. It turned out that Jacob had hired those thugs to hurt Lindsey for the sake of this hateful woman. Chapter 107 As soon as this dawned on him, his eyes shed with murderous intent but soon died down. Lindsey also clenched her fists angrily. It turned out that Shelia had found herself a backer, which exined why she was still so arrogant despite being kicked out of Vitality Entertainment. And, it turned out that Shelia really was the one who orchestratedst night¡¯s incident! Realizing this, Lindsey felt zero inclination to apologize to her. ¡°Why should I apologize? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. ¡± Lindsey Looked unfazed. ¡°Humph! Don¡¯t me me when you two are thrown into prison!¡± With a snort, Shelia strode over to Spencer, her high heels clicking against the floor. In a sweet voice, she said, ¡°Mr. Perry, this woman used Mr. Crawford of something he didn¡¯t do. The man beside her even went so far as to physically hurt him. This is a direct insult to Ray Films. You can¡¯t let them go!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Unexpectedly, Spencer snapped at her coldly. Shelia was caught so off-guard that she froze in ce, not knowing what to do. Spencer then shifted his attention to Darien. Without warning, he suddenly pped Darien-hard! Darien staggered backward two steps from the blow. He cupped his swollen cheek in shock, eyes wide. ¡°Mr. Perry?¡± he asked in bewilderment. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°You son of a bitch!¡± Spencer roared angrily, spittle flying in all directions, causing Darien to shudder. ¡°How dare you disgrace Ray Films like this?!¡± I didn¡¯t-¡° Darien stammered incoherently. How on earth did Spencer learn about the truth? Moreover, the mastermind was Jacob¡¯s girlfriend, not him! Darien was only responsible for luring Lindsey to that bar in the suburbs. He didn¡¯t have a hand in anything that followed! ¡°Mr. Perry, it wasn¡¯t me, I swear! It was her!¡± Darien wasted no time in pointing a finger at Shelia. ¡°She¡¯s the one who ordered me to lure Lindsey to the bar. I didn¡¯t know anything about the rest!¡± ALL the color instantly drained from Shelia¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t expect that Darien would rat her out Like this! She raised her hands and shouted in a panic, ¡°Darien Crawford, don¡¯t you dare try to pin the me on me! You¡¯re the one who did all this! Besides, where¡¯s your proof?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Jacob Perry¡¯s girlfriend! You ordered me to do those things!¡± Indeed, Darien didn¡¯t have any evidence, so when Shelia denied it, he namedropped Jacob in desperation. But the next moment, Spencer pped him again-even harder this time.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°The facts are clear. How dare you try to shift the me?!¡± Chapter 108 This p sobered Darien up instantly. Of course, Spencer would protect his own brother and Ray Films. Spencer¡¯s best option was to make him the scapegoat! Darien copsed to the ground, his eyes filled with despair. Ignoring him, Spencer went straight to Domenic and Lindsey. Half an hour ago, Spencer received a call from the special assistant of Vitality Group¡¯s CEO. He was told that a producer of Ray Films, Darien Crawford, and Spencer¡¯s own brother, Jacob Perry, had set up a trap in an attempt to hurt an agent from Vitality Entertainment. The special assistant then asked Spencer to deal with the scandal caused by his subordinates. Otherwise, Vitality Group would have no choice but to take matters into its own hands, effectively banning Ray Films from the entertainment industry and exposing Jacob¡¯s scandal to the world. Jacob had been spoiled since birth. As Jacob¡¯s elder brother, Spencer was aware of Jacob¡¯s erratic behaviors, but he always turned a blind eye to them. Moreover, his parents would¡¯ve med it on him if something ever happened to their precious youngest son. So, he had no choice but to protect Jacob. Of course, if his opponent was just Vitality Entertainment, Spencer wouldn¡¯t have had anything to fear. After all, although Vitality Entertainment was a majorpany in the entertainment industry, it alone wasn¡¯t strong enough to ban Ray Films. But if he had to face the whole Vitality Group, he was doomed. Although Spencer had never met Vitality Group¡¯s CEO before, he had heard a lot about him. He was a member of the Walsh family, the head of the four most powerful ns. This mysterious CEO had always kept a low profile and rarely showed his face in public. However, he was known to be decisive and ruthless, even going so far as to suppress his uncles in order to be his grandfather¡¯s favored heir. Under his leadership, Vitality Group ended up upying over half of Morcastle City¡¯s business world; the corporation was so powerful that no one dared to oppose it. But the strangest thing was this: how could the CEO of such a huge corporation stand up for a lowly, nameless agent? Thinking of this, Spencer looked Lindsey up and down and asked cautiously, ¡°Are you the agent from Vitality Entertainment?¡± Lindsey nodded politely. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m very sorry for what happened to you. It¡¯s Ray Films ¡® fault for not managing our people properly. Rest assured, I¡¯ll personally turn Darien over to the police and terminate all our projects with him.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . We will also release an official statement regarding this matter. To show you how sincere we are, we¡¯ll give priority to your artists in all our projects from now on, as long as your artists meet the roles¡¯ requirements. ¡± Spencer expressed his apologies, addressing Lindsey with respect. Lindsey was ttered. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Perry. As long as you¡¯re willing to give our artists a fair chance, I¡¯ll be more than grateful!¡± Spencer nodded. Then, he nced at the tall man beside Lindsey and asked, ¡°Excuse me, ma¡¯am. May I ask who this gentleman is?¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s a friend of mine. ¡± Although this man exuded an extraordinarily powerful aura, he didn¡¯t dress like a person with a prominent background. ¡°I see. ¡± Spencer didn¡¯t pay more attention to Domenic and turned around to leave. Chapter 109 Just as he was about to walk out, he couldn¡¯t help but nce at Shelia. This woman was nowhere near as beautiful and sensible as Lindsey. Spencer frowned and shook his head helplessly. How could his brother have such bad taste? As soon as he returned to his office, he called Hendrix to update him regarding the situation. ¡°Please tell Mr. Walsh that I¡¯ve taken care of things here. Darien confessed to his crime, and it turns out my brother had nothing to do with this. I hope Mr. Walsh won¡¯t me Jacob wrongly. I promise that something like this will never happen again. ¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell Mr. Walsh. ¡± Meanwhile, in the rehearsal hall in Ray Films, Lindsey was still in a daze. She didn¡¯t expect that this matter would be resolved so easily. ¡®s BunnyBookery Confused, she looked at Domenic and asked, ¡°How did Mr. Perry know about what happened?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the chairman of Ray Films, so I bet he has his sources,¡± Domenic mused casually. Lindsey thought that what he made sense, so she sighed in relief. ¡°Problem solved! I was so scared you¡¯d get thrown into jail just now!¡± ¡°So worried about me?¡± Domenic whispered in Lindsey¡¯s ear, a flirtatious smile tugging at his lips. Lindsey covered her reddened ear and said with a pout, ¡°After all, I was the one who dragged you into this. If you ended up in prison, it would¡¯ve been all my fault, and I never would¡¯ve been able to forgive myself!¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t have to worry about me. I can look out for the both of us. ¡± Lindsey tilted her head and looked at the man¡¯s chiseled side profile. Truth be told, even though Domenic was neither rich nor powerful, she always felt a sense of security when she was with him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, thanks so much for helping me today. Let me treat you to dinner tonight!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Sounds good. ¡± The two left the rehearsal hall in high spirits, talking andughing. Shelia watched them leave with clenched fists, secretly seething with rage. As she had suspected, it turned out that Lindsey had hooked up with a very powerful man. Shelia remembered that the first time she met him, this man had driven a luxury supercar worth millions of dors. Today, he apanied Lindsey when she went here to confront Darien. Spencer was a busy man, yet for some reason, he was willing to abandon his work to deal with this matter personally. It must¡¯ve had something to do with that man. Perhaps it was for his sake that Spencer disposed of Darien like trash. Thinking of this, Shelia couldn¡¯t help but shudder. She needed to find out the man¡¯s true identity before dealing with Lindsey, lest she get into trouble. In the office, Spencer pondered over this matter quietly. The more he thought about it, the more confused he felt. Finally, he couldn¡¯t help but order his men to investigate why the CEO of Vitality Group would back up a nobody. He needed to find out what rtionship Lindsey had with this big shot. Chapter 110 After having dinner with Lindsey, Domenic went back to the office under the guise of having to work overtime. Well, it technically wasn¡¯t a lie; he really had to attend a meeting that night. Before the meeting started, Hendrix had something to report to Domenic. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s just what you expected-Spencer sent his people to inquire about this matter and your rtionship with Miss Stewart. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve released the ¡®news¡¯ that you told me to spread. ¡± ¡°Good,¡± Domenic murmured, his gaze never leaving the documents in his hands.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. That night, Spencer received word from his subordinates. ording to their investigation, some of the problems that arose in Vitality Entertainment had caught the CEO¡¯s attention, so he started to monitor Ray Films¡¯ movements. That was how the CEO heard about the incident regarding the trap that was set up for Lindsey. Thinking that Ray Films was deliberately resorting to despicable tricks to deal with Vitality Entertainment, he decided to interfere and send Ray Films a warning. When he learned all of this, Spencer breathed a sigh of relief. Lately, hispany had been forging a rtionship with Gallop Entertainment, Vitality Entertainment¡¯s biggest rival. No wonder such a misunderstanding reached the CEO¡¯s ears. Now that all was said and done, Spencer figured he¡¯d better maintain a good rtionship with Vitality Entertainment, lest he get into big trouble. He initially suspected that the agent, Lindsey, might¡¯ve had some strong connections, but it turned out he had worried too much. * At ten o¡¯clock in the evening, Lindsey gotfy on the sofa and watched some TV. Domenic had said that he¡¯d need to work overtime and probably wouldn¡¯te back tonight. When she was enjoying a show on TV, the Lights suddenly went out. In the blink of an eye, Lindsey was enveloped in darkness. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Was there a power outage? She looked out the window, only to find that the power outage had plunged their entire neighborhood into darkness. It was practically pitch ck outside. Lindsey gulped anxiously. Her biggest fear was of the dark. The night her mother left, her father had gone to thepany on an urgent errand, leaving her alone at home. But shortly after he left, the power went out. Lindsey didn¡¯t know how she had gotten through that night. ALL she could remember from that time was the feelings of despair and helplessness that had consumed her. She even felt as though she had been abandoned by the whole world. Back then, she had curled up into a ball and cried so hard that she started to hallucinate. Chapter 111 It was as though countless ck shadows lurked in the dark, ready to consume her at any moment. Since then, she had been deathly afraid of the dark, so she always went to bed with a night light turned on. Once again, Lindsey found herself subconsciously curling up into a ball on the sofa, shuddering violently. She could just picture the countless ck, shadowy hands reaching out to grab her. ¡°No, don¡¯te near me!¡± In a panic, Lindsey hurriedly turned on the shlight on her phone. Its faint light gave her a small sense of relief. But only then did she realize that she forgot to charge her phone today, and now, its battery was running low! Just then, her phone rang, piercing the silence. It was Domenic calling! Overjoyed, Lindsey answered without hesitation. ¡°I just received a message from property management that the power went out due to a broken circuit, and that it¡¯d be repaired by tomorrow morning. How¡¯re you doing over there?¡± The familiar andforting brought Lindsey some relief, but at the same time, it made her sad. If only Domenic hadn¡¯t worked overtime¡­ If only he had been with her tonight¡­ ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine. ¡± Taking a shuddery breath, Lindsey forced a smile and pretended to be calm. She had half a mind to tell him how scared she was and that she wanted him toe home, but she knew that it wasn¡¯t appropriate, so she held herself back. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Lindsey tried her best to stifle the sob that wanted to escape her throat.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Okay, good. Go to bed and get some rest. You¡¯ve had a long day. ¡± Right after their call ended, her phone battery died and the Light was instantly extinguished. Once again, Lindsey was plunged into darkness. She squeezed her eyes shut, heart palpitating, but her hallucinations continued. Those ck, shadowy fingers hovered around her restlessly, eager to pounce. It was so horrible! If only someone coulde to her rescue! Lindsey whimpered softly. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead and trickled down her pale face. As the minutes ticked by, Lindsey found it increasingly hard to breathe. Suddenly, she heard the sound of the door being unlocked. Chapter 112 Then, a faint light came in through the crack of the door as it was slowly opened from the outside. Domenic strode into the apartment with an emergency shlight in his hand. When the light shone on the sofa, he found a terrified girl curled up into a ball, her face stained with tears. She looked so fragile under the piercing white Light. Sensing the light, Lindsey slowly peeled her eyes open, her eyshes fluttering delicately. Her big eyes were filled with grievance, which made her look particrly pitiful. Before Domenic could react, she suddenly leaped off the couch and threw herself into his arms, wrapping her own arms around his waist tightly. Domenic ced the emergency shlight on the coffee table, then carefully lifted Lindsey¡¯s tearful face. ¡°What¡¯s making you cry?¡± He felt sorry for her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that you wouldn¡¯t be returning tonight?¡± When Lindsey spotted him, she couldn¡¯t hold back the tears, and her trembling voice betrayed her emotions. ¡°I had ns to stay at work, but your voice sounded off on the phone. I got worried you might be frightened, so I came home. ¡± Domenic softly brushed the tangled hair from Lindsey¡¯s cheeks. His voice was so soothing; it brought more tears. ¡°Sorry for beingte. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face was wet with tears, yet she managed a smile. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re here. ¡± Domenic tenderly wiped her tears away, saying, ¡°Hey, stop crying. You lose a bit of your beauty when you cry. ¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey gave a little sniff and her crying ceased. Only then did she notice her hands were wrapped around Domenic. Her gentle touch could feel his lean waist through the thin cloth. Startled, Lindsey quickly pulled her hands away as if she¡¯d been shocked. She blushed and instinctively stepped back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Walsh, I-I was just really scared. I didn¡¯t mean to do that. ¡± She had been so bold when she jumped at him moments ago. Now, why did she suddenly turn shy? Domenic let out a light chuckle. He slowly approached her, step by step, while Lindsey kept moving back until she tumbled onto the soft sofa. Domenic bent down, his hands resting near her ears. His face was inches from hers. Her timid and lovely expression tempted him to yfully tease her. ¡°It¡¯s a long night ahead. I¡¯m feeling a little bit bored. Maybe we could find something fun to do together?¡± An unusual smirk crossed his face. Chapter 113 ¡°What ?¡± Lindsey¡¯s shyness spread to her neck, turning it red. Her fear had slipped entirely from her mind. She nestled between his hands, biting her soft pink lips, and gazed at him with a timid sparkle in her eyes. Her eyes shone with rity, still holding traces of tears. In that instant, Domenic¡¯s thoughts were consumed by her blend of innocence and subtle cleverness, and also the sheer delight she had bestowed upon him that night. Initially, he had just intended to yfully tease her, but now he found himself irresistibly drawn towards her rosy lips, as if under a spell. When his attractive face approached closer, his fresh, pleasant fragrance drew nearer.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Lindsey¡¯s heart raced like a wild stallion, threatening to leap out of her throat. Just as their lips were about to meet, Lindsey abruptly turned her head, avoiding the ki*s. ¡°No- We are just friends. ¡± Suddenly, Domenic snapped out of the enchantment, shocked that he couldn¡¯t resist his desire for her. It was the second time he¡¯d lost control like this. His Adam¡¯s apple moved noticeably. He stood up straight and unbuttoned his shirt cor, trying to calm himself down. His actions captivated Lindsey that she couldn¡¯t look away. ¡°I was only joking. ¡± After some time, Domenic reverted to his usual dispassionate expression. He chuckled at the woman on the sofa, ¡°Are you still scared?¡± Lindsey shook her head, dazed. She realized he was only teasing. She had thought he was really going to- The thought that she might have been anticipating more left Lindsey shocked. Was she looking forward to it? She must be losing her mind! ¡°It¡¯ste. You should take the shlight to your room and get some sleep. ¡± Domenic nced at the wall clock. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fear the dark. It¡¯s fine. ¡± Thinking that Domenic had set aside his work and returned to her, Lindsey felt she shouldn¡¯t be so self-centered. In the darkness of the night, the shlight could bring a sense offort. So, Lindsey entered her room, grabbed her bed sheet and nket, and put them on the living room floor. ¡°You can have the sofa, and I¡¯ll sleep on the floor. Let¡¯s both sleep here in the living room tonight. ¡± Domenic gave a resigned smile and questioned, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried I might do something while you¡¯re asleep?¡± At first, Lindsey instinctively hugged herself at his words, but then she thought better of it, convinced he wasn¡¯t that type of person. ¡°Of course not. I trust you. ¡± She then stretched out on the floor, cocooning herself in the nket. Chapter 114 Just as she was about to close her eyes off, Domenic lifted her. ¡°The floor¡¯s too cold. You take the sofa, and I¡¯ll sleep on the floor. ¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°No buts. ¡± Domenic gently pushed her onto the sofa and tucked her in with the nket. ¡°It¡¯s cold at night. Don¡¯t catch a cold. ¡± He then went to his room and returned with another nket. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed when she saw him lying on her bed sheet. It felt like they were sharing the same bed. Domenic smelled a good fragrance. He realized it was Lindsey¡¯s scent left on the bed sheet. He usually disliked women¡¯s fragrances. But Lindsey¡¯s smell wasforting to him. That night, they both slept soundly. The next day, as Lindsey headed to work, she noticed her colleagues had suddenly be much more courteous towards her. Yesterday, Ray Films took to the inte not only to use Darien of his wrongdoing but to issue a public apology to Lindsey. Once the announcement hit the inte, it set off a spirited online debate, and Lindsey¡¯s name began to gain recognition in the industry. She opened her email and discovered the message from Ray Films. She picked out a few promising scripts and organized auditions for her actors. This unfortunate event had unexpectedly solidified her position in the department. Meanwhile, Shelia was facing difficulties. After his return, Spencer harshly reprimanded Jacob and insisted he end his rtionship with Shelia. Jacob didn¡¯t have the guts to defy his brother¡¯s wishes. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t help but desire to sleep with Shelia, so instead of suggesting a breakup, he decided to steer clear of her for the time being. Shelia was restlessly pacing around her home. When Kendra emerged from her room and noticed her daughter¡¯s worried demeanor, she inquired with concern, ¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s troubling you?¡± When Shelia saw Kendra, she grew even more agitated and nced around nervously. Kendra had put in a considerable effort to build a connection with Jacob. She aimed to secure a marriage between Shelia and the Perry family. The Perry family ranked among the prestigious top four in the city, a truly prosperous and influential family. If Shelia could marry into it, she¡¯d be well-off. As her mother, Kendra would naturally bask in a joyful life also. Then, she wouldn¡¯t need to grovel before Benny ever again. Kendra knew Benny would cast them out if he discovered her unborn child wasn¡¯t his.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 115 She was also seeking a secure future for herself. Once Kendra had be acquainted with Jacob, she discussed it with Shelia, stressing that she needed to go all out to win his affection and make him fall head over heels for her. Only then could she hope to marry into the Perry family! This time, Shelia took matters into her own hands when dealing with Lindsey. However, she ended up making a decision that backfired. As a result, Shelia didn¡¯t dare to inform her mother that Jacob had been giving her the cold shoulder for several days. ¡°I¡¯m alright, Mom. ¡± Kendra was a clever woman. When she noticed Shelia¡¯s evasive gaze, she sensed that something must have urred. She guided Shelia to take a seat on the sofa and spoke with a tender tone, ¡°You¡¯re my child. How could I not notice that something¡¯s been troubling you?¡± Share with me what¡¯s been going on?¡± Shelia nestled into Kendra¡¯s embrace, tears flowing as she poured out the story. But she decided to not reveal she was the one who tried to harm Lindsey at the very beginning. Instead, she exined that Lindsey had been making things difficult for her, spreading false usations in front of Spencer, which caused his resentment towards her. She also shared with Kendra that there was something unusual about Lindsey¡¯spanion.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He might have been the reason behind Spencer¡¯s anger this time around. ¡®s BunnyBookery Kendra clenched her teeth in anger upon hearing Shelia¡¯s words. ¡°Our main focus now is to secure your ce in Jacob¡¯s heart. Remember, don¡¯t getid by him. It¡¯s your most valuable asset in winning Jacob. Until you tie the knot, don¡¯t let him easily win you over. ¡± Kendra pushed down the rising hatred within her and calmly instructed Shelia, ¡°When ites to Lindsey, there will be ample chances to handle her in the future!¡± Shelia nodded inpliance while nestled in Kendra¡¯s embrace, though a pang of guilt still worried her. When she was in college, she had a hidden romantic fling. The guy, older than her by a few years, had approached her at a bar, falsely iming to be well-off. They ended up being intimate on the very first night they met. Their brief rtionship revealed his true nature as a pauper. Shelia ended things quickly . Though he lost interest in her, he exploited her wealthy background to extort money, a humiliation Shelia never disclosed. It was such a shameful experience that Shelia had never confided in anyone. Until now, Kendra continued to believe that her beloved daughter was a pure and dutiful youngdy. Following Kendra¡¯s guidance, Shelia sent a message to Jacob. ¡°Mr. Perry, remember when you said you wanted me? Well, tonight at eight o¡¯clock, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in Room 3102 at the Morcastle Hotel. ¡± Jacob showed up that evening as anticipated. ¡°Mr. Perry, you have been distanttely. What is the reason? Have your feelings changed?¡± Seated on the hotel bed, Shelia felt so heartbroken that her vision blurred with tears. Jacob had kept away only due to his brother¡¯s insistence. Seeing her vulnerable state, he felt a twinge ofpassion. ¡°If only I hadn¡¯t been so determined to handle Lindsey, we wouldn¡¯t be in this mess with Vitality Group, and my brother wouldn¡¯t have given me such a harsh scolding. He¡¯s forbidden me from seeing you, and I¡¯m at a loss for what to do. ¡± Shelia, wiping away tears, said, ¡°Lindsey hurt me badly. I just wanted to teach her a lesson. Little did I know she had powerful support and even you have to be cautious around her. ¡± Chapter 116 Jacob scoffed, ¡°Who fed you the idea that she had someone backing her?¡± Taken aback by this, Shelia gazed at Jacob with astonishment and inquired, ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Jacob, with a touch of scorn, proceeded to share with Shelia all the details he had gathered from Spencer. It turned out the man with Lindsey wasn¡¯t influential at all. The Vitality Group CEO intervened for his subsidiary¡¯s sake, and assisting Lindsey was a mere side effect. Upon hearing this, Shelia felt relieved, believing Lindsey¡¯s escape was simply a stroke of luck. Now it seemed she didn¡¯t have to be cautious around Lindsey¡¯spanion. This thought put Shelia in high spirits. ¡°Can I have what I want now?¡± Jacob wrapped his arms around Shelia¡¯s waist with enthusiasm and anticipation. Shelia blushed and wore a sweet, innocent expression. ¡°Mr. Perry, my parents taught me to treasure my purity since I was a kid. I¡¯ll only share that special moment with a man who truly loves me and is ready to marry me. Will- Will you marry me?¡± Jacob stood there, utterly surprised. All he had in mind was having a good time with Shelia, and the idea of marriage had never crossed his thoughts. As a yboy, Jacob had never thought about settling down. As Jacob paused, Shelia¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°Mr. Perry, I¡¯ve been in love with you since the first time Iid eyes on you. But if you¡¯re not ready for marriage, I can¡¯t give myself away like that. Even though I¡¯m an actress, I won¡¯t trade my body like some women in the entertainment world! I¡¯m sorry. ¡± With that, Shelia grabbed her handbag and rushed out of the hotel room, tears streaming down her face. She followed Kendra¡¯s advice and wasn¡¯t sure if it would do the trick. Fear gnawed at her, worrying that Jacob might truly Leave her behind. Jacob, known for his yboy ways and a history of dating flirtatious women, found himself face-to-face with a girl who cherished her purity. He couldn¡¯t resist this inexplicable allure. Moreover, he had looked into Shelia¡¯s family background and discovered that she hailed from a respectable household. The moment Shelia exited the room, she began to slow down. Just as she hesitated, Jacob¡¯s voice unexpectedly called out from behind her.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. He caught up to her, took her hand in his, and spoke tenderly. ¡°I apologize, Shelia. It¡¯s entirely my fault. Please don¡¯t be mad at me. The idea of marriage never really crossed my mind, but- maybe we could give dating a shot. ¡± Jacob always respected women¡¯s choices. Although marriage wasn¡¯t on his mind, he was willing to take a chance with Shelia. Tears of happiness welled up in Shelia¡¯s eyes. She¡¯d often called herself Jacob¡¯s girlfriend, but he¡¯d never officially asked her out on a date. Now, with his sincere request, it signaled that he was taking her seriously this time. Her mother had taught her the art of ying hard to get. And this strategy was truly impressive! It seemed she might soon be a part of the Perry family through marriage. Chapter 117 In the evening, Lindsey kicked back into the living room, leaning against the coffee table, sipping through a straw, and browsing the inte on her tablet. Just then, a message appeared on theputer screen. It was from Sumner. ¡°Linds, I¡¯ming home!¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled, and she nearly dropped her straw in surprise. She and Sumner had connected online about a year ago when he was overseas. They had never met in person. Setting aside her soda, Lindsey quickly typed, ¡°When are you arriving?¡± ¡°Tomorrow morning. ¡± ¡°So soon!¡± Suddenly, it urred to Lindsey that Sumner had been there for her when handling the Ismael and Nina situation. Grateful for his support, she said, ¡°Well then, how about I swing by the airport tomorrow and treat you to lunch?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sumner responded with an excited emoji, ¡°Awesome! I wondered if you¡¯d be up for it, but I didn¡¯t have the guts to ask. ¡± Lindsey yfully sent him a head-knocking emoji and replied, ¡°No need to be all formal with me. ¡± After a full day at work, Domenic arrived homete in the evening, the clock already showing nine. As he walked into the living room, he found Lindsey, fingers typing on the tablet, with a mischievous giggle escaping her Lips. Lindsey noticed Domenic entering the room from the corner of her eye and greeted him. Domenic approached her and grabbed the soda she had set on the table. ¡°Well, I have drunk that! How-¡± Before Lindsey couldplete her sentence, Domenic lifted his head and swallowed it in one gulp.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Why didn¡¯t he seem to care about the drink she had consumed? Domenic downed the whole can in a single gulp, then crushed it and tossed it into the trash. Only then did he realize something and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was really thirsty and didn¡¯t even notice. ¡± Then he turned his gaze toward Lindsey, feigning nonchnce, and inquired, ¡°You look pretty cheerful. Whom are you talking to?¡± Lindsey found herself unintentionally distracted by him and replied truthfully, ¡°A friend of mine is returning from overseas. I told him I would pick him up at the airport tomorrow. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± After taking off his coat, Domenic settled on the couch, grabbed the remote, and switched on the TV. With an air of apparent casualness, he inquired, ¡°Is your friend married, by any chance?¡± Lindsey answered without thinking, ¡°I don¡¯t believe so. ¡± Upon hearing this, Domenic¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you tomorrow. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey found herself taken aback. Chapter 118 Domenic cast a nce her way. ¡°Remember what happened when you went to see Darien on your own? If Ie along, I can guarantee your safety. ¡± ¡°Well, thest time was just an unfortunate mishap. I¡¯m meeting a friend, so you don¡¯t need to trouble yourself. ¡± Lindsey offered a slightly uneasy smile. Domenic¡¯s eyes sparkled as he insisted, ¡°You can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. ¡± Lindseypsed into silence. Her connection with Sumner had been positive, and he had been quite helpful, but they had never met in person. It was always wise to be cautious about potential harm from others. Domenic¡¯s words sounded reasonable. ¡°ALL right. ¡± Lindsey agreed. The following morning, Lindsey rose early and freshened up. She dressed in casual sportswear, securing her hair in a high ponytail, giving her a youthful and lovely appearance. Domenic, in contrast, was dressed in his usual ck jacket, exuding an air of mystery and coolness. Together, they hailed a taxi to the airport. Lindsey was about to meet Sumner for the first time, which made her a tad anxious. She had no clue about his physical appearance. Domenic continued to watch Lindsey closely. As he noticed her nervously rubbing her hands and rising on her tiptoes with an eager look, an unexined sense of unease crept over him. Before long, a handsome man appeared before Lindsey. He sported a white, casual shirt with his sleeves casually rolled up, and his eyes took on a charming glint as he beamed with a bright smile. ¡°Are you Linds?¡± ¡°And you must be Noir?¡± Lindsey inquired with wide-open eyes, a touch of uncertainty in her voice. ¡°Just call me Sumner. ¡± Sumner gazed into her eyes with his brown eyes and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re just as lovely as I had pictured. ¡± ¡°Thank you. ¡± Lindsey offered a graceful smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. With his arms folded across his chest, Domenic lifted his gaze and fixed a sharp, unfriendly stare on the man standing before Lindsey.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. His eyes were filled with hostility. Sumner detected a chill in the air and couldn¡¯t help but notice the handsome andposed man who was regarding him with a frosty demeanor next to Lindsey. ¡°Who is this?¡± Only then did Lindsey realize that she hadn¡¯t introduced Domenic and Sumner to each other. She replied with a smile, ¡°This is Domenic Walsh. He¡¯s my¡­¡± Before she couldplete her sentence, Domenic dr@ped his arm over her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m her fianc¨¦. ¡± Sumner was taken aback, his surprise almost causing him to lose hisposure. He stared at the two affectionate individuals before him, disbelief evident in his voice as he asked, ¡°Linds, when did you get engaged? Howe I didn¡¯t find out?¡± Chapter 119 Lindsey was taken aback by Domenic¡¯s words, leaving her uncertain about how to react. She had an urge to refute it. After all, she wasn¡¯t actually engaged to Domenic. At that moment, Domenic drew near and whispered in her ear, ¡°There were plenty of people who witnessed our engagement party. Don¡¯t even think about denying it.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Lindsey was at a loss for words. She bit her lip, shot Domenic a sharp look, and then turned to Sumner with a forced smile. ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite a story. But first, let¡¯s head to lunch. We can talk at the restaurant!¡± Sumner responded with a resigned nod. Since it was her treat, Lindsey had picked a fancy restaurant for the asion. However, the atmosphere among the three of them was incredibly awkward. Sumner often stole nces at Lindsey, a mix of admiration and sadness in his eyes. He had learned about her through his connections abroad. Her intelligence, kindness, and asional slyness had charmed him. He had hoped to confess his feelings to her, but now she appeared engaged. Her fianc¨¦ was even a man who outshone him in charm and looks, leaving Sumner feeling utterly disheartened. Domenic sat calmly by the window, quietly observing every longing nce Sumner threw Lindsey¡¯s way. Lindsey pushed aside the odd awkwardness in her heart and engaged in sporadic conversation with Sumner. ¡°How long are you thinking of staying this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already finished my master¡¯s degree. I¡¯m staying here for good. ¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Lindsey was delighted to have another friend in the city but didn¡¯t realize Domenic misinterpreted her cheerful smile and wore a gloomy expression. During the meal, Sumner excused himself to the restroom. Lindsey seized the moment to draw closer to Domenic. She gazed at him with a hint of frustration and stated, ¡°Mr. Walsh, could you please refrain from iming to be my fianc¨¦ from now on?¡± ¡°yhy 2¡å ¡°Because it might lead others to misunderstand our rtionship. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t want him to y around with it anymore. If he continued this joke, she might start believing it and think they were genuinely engaged. Lindsey didn¡¯t want to be deluded by false romance. Chapter 120 However, Domenic misinterpreted her intentions. He scoffed and remarked with a chilly tone, ¡°What? Are you worried he might misinterpret things?¡± Lindsey could detect the sarcasm in his tone. She frowned and expressed a sense of helplessness, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I hired you as my boyfriend to ruin my engagement party. I had no other option but to request you to pretend to be my fianc¨¦ back then. You have rented an expensive watch and a fancy car to help me maintain appearances, and I¡¯m grateful. But it¡¯s all in the past now. We are just friends now, right?¡± Lindsey had no interest in having an ambiguous rtionship with him. She sought a clear and definite answer. ¡°Back then, you had no other option¡ª¡± Domenic traced his slender fingers along the coffee cup, mulling over Lindsey¡¯s words. She had no other option during the engagement party, but what about that night at the hotel? What had driven her back then? Since they had already slept together, how could they possibly be just friends? Right when the tension hung heavy, an unpleasant voice reached their ears. ¡°Tsk-tsk, I thought you were quite the expert, snagging a wealthy man like that. It turns out that he has nothing but a pretty face!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Shelia stood by the table, her hand concealing her mouth as she sneered. She hade to the restaurant for lunch with her friend, Olivia Bates. As fate would have it, they ended up at a table behind Lindsey, allowing her to overhear their conversation. When she discovered that the man beside Lindsey wasn¡¯t as powerful as she thought, she couldn¡¯t resist the urge to approach and mock Lindsey. Shelia then examined Domenic more closely. She had neverid eyes on such a striking man before. People often said that the finest attire for men was power and wealth, yet this man, who sported a simple ck jacket, radiated a restrained, noble, refined aura that left Shelia¡¯s heart flipping. If she weren¡¯t pursuing Jacob and this man had been from a wealthier background, she would have tried to win him over from Lindsey without a second thought. But he appeared to be just an average man, and Shelia, intent on marrying into the Perry family, needed to maintain her image of purity and loyalty. As much as she was drawn to Domenic, she couldn¡¯t show it. This only fueled Shelia¡¯s envy of Lindsey. Since she couldn¡¯t have this man, she was determined to ensure Lindsey couldn¡¯t either. ¡°Lindsey, are you that desperate? Why would you pay a guy to act as your boyfriend? Unfortunately, I happen to know quite a few wealthy young men. What do you say I set you up with someone? But considering your reputation as someone casual with men, I¡¯m afraid they might not regard you seriously.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Shelia had previously heard from her mother that Lindsey had lost her virginity a while back. Now, she couldn¡¯t wait to expose this scandal before Domenic. ¡°Sir, you might not be aware, but my sister has already¡­¡± ¡°Shelia Stewart! Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Lindsey mmed her hand on the table and rose abruptly. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Shelia would bring it up in front of Domenic. Chapter 121 This was her vulnerability, a secret she kept locked within her heart. She feared Domenic would judge her if he ever found out. Contemting this scenario, Lindsey¡¯s fragileplexion grew pale. Upon hearing Shelia¡¯s words, Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He remembered the night he and Lindsey had been intimate. It was clear that it was her first time. Following that incident, he had his associates watch over Lindsey but didn¡¯t observe her getting too close to other men. So, the night Shelia brought up was when he had been with Lindsey. ¡°What? Are you ashamed of your actions but can¡¯t stand others mentioning it? You have lost the right to y the innocent!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Shelia¡¯s confidence grew as she saw Domenic¡¯s interest. She Looked at Lindsey with scorn. ¡°It was because of your-¡° Lindsey couldn¡¯t control her trembling and came close to revealing what had urred that day. If it hadn¡¯t been for Kendra¡¯s scheme, how could she have contemted giving her first time to a stranger? They may have taken something precious from her but also sought to shame her on moral grounds. How could they? But Lindsey stopped herself. Admitting to what happened would also mean confessing she once spent a night with a man. No one would believe she hadn¡¯t consented. What would Domenic think of her then? Lindsey didn¡¯t want him to perceive her in that way. She straightened her posture and drew a deep breath to regain herposure. ¡°Shelia Stewart, no matter what, I¡¯m not like your mother. She cheated on her husband with a younger man and is now expecting his child.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, how dare you!¡± Shelia retorted with a scoff. ¡°As the saying goes, just like mother, like daughter. Are you really any different? You put on an act of purity, but behind closed doors, you¡¯re nothing but a shameless bitch!¡± Lindsey¡¯s words hit a nerve with Shelia, dredging up memories of her past in college. She even pondered whether Lindsey had been aware of her past. Shelia suddenly felt a pang of guilt, and her confidence faltered. Olivia, her lunchpanion, was also a fellow actress. If Olivia were to let these words slip and Jacob got wind of them, it could spell trouble! ¡°Lindsey, if you don¡¯t stop defaming my mother and me, I¡¯ll make you regret it!¡± Shelia reddened with rage. She yearned to charge forward and give Lindsey a stinging p across the face! Lindsey stood her ground, unafraid, with a defiant smile. ¡°Go ahead. Chapter 122 Let¡¯s see whoes out on top. ¡± ¡°Alright, Shelia. There¡¯s a crowd watching us. Let¡¯s move on from this. ¡± Observing that the situation was spiraling out of control, Olivia hurried over to intervene and calm Shelia. Shelia managed to cool down a bit, remembering where they were. They were in a high-end restaurant surrounded by high society. She was a known figure, Jacob¡¯s girlfriend. A public altercation with Lindsey would surely damage her image. Realizing this, Shelia reluctantly suppressed her anger, though she still seethed inside. Sumner returned at that very moment, breaking the tension in the air. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± It wasn¡¯t until that moment that Shelia noticed Lindsey having lunch with another man. While this man may not have been as striking as Domenic, he was also a looker. Darn it! Why did Lindsey always manage to attract such good-looking guys? Shelia¡¯s irritation grew, but upon further reflection, her jealousy disappeared. After all, if a man had no wealth, what good was his good-looking? They were easy on the eyes but had nothing much else to offer. Having Jacob was sufficient for her. While Jacob might not be the most handsome, he was wealthy and influential.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Once she married into the Perry family, Lindsey wouldn¡¯t hold a candle to her! After soothing herself with these thoughts, Shelia felt considerably improved. ¡°Nothing. ¡± With a warm smile, Lindsey offered to Sumner, ¡°How about we find another spot to dine? A madwoman is causing amotion in here, and it¡¯s quite bothersome. ¡± She then grabbed her handbag and strolled out of the restaurant. Sumner didn¡¯t know about the situation, but he had no alternative but to trail behind Lindsey. Domenic brought up the rear, and as he passed by Shelia, he cast a chilly sidelong nce at her. He grasped the crucial part of Lindsey¡¯s iplete sentence. Was what had transpired that night in any way connected to Shelia? Domenic¡¯s gaze turned intense, and a chilly, mischievous grin yed on his Lips. Sumner had lost his appetite the moment he learned about Lindsey¡¯s engagement. Dining together with the couple had been extremely ufortable. Now, he had managed to extricate himself from that awkward scenario and had no desire to continue it. ¡°Linds, something just came up for me tonight. I¡¯m already full from earlier. Let¡¯s take a rain check. ¡± Lindsey felt somewhat apologetic. She had intended to treat Sumner to a nice meal as a gesture of gratitude, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated Shelia¡¯s sudden appearance disrupting her ns. ¡°I apologize for not being able to provide you with better entertainment today. ¡± ¡°No big deal. It¡¯s a joy seeing you today. Next time you are avable, we can hang out alone. ¡± Once Sumner had spoken, he sensed an intense gaze fixed on him. Not wanting to push further, he quickly waved at Lindsey and bid, ¡°I will leave now. Bye!¡± Chapter 123 Watching Sumner hastily depart as if escaping, Lindsey had mixed feelings. She discreetly nced at Domenic, who stood to the side with a hand in his pocket, and a sense of unexinable mncholy washed over her. She wondered how seriously he took Shelia¡¯s words. ¡°Time to head home. ¡± Observing Summer¡¯s departure, Domenic reached out and gently took hold of Lindsey¡¯s wrist. Yet, Lindsey instinctively sidestepped his touch, maintaining a cautious distance. She bit her lip, then said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you should go ahead. I need some time alone. ¡± Upon hearing this, Domenic halted and narrowed his eyes in contemtion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Lindsey had tried to forget the memories of that night, but Shelia¡¯s words brought it all back. She couldn¡¯t shake off the memories of that night. The man¡¯s strong body had pinned her down, and his lips had explored every inch of her. His passionate ki*ses had left her with swollen lips by the morning light. The marks were a stark reminder of her actions under a man¡¯s influence that night. She couldn¡¯t take Domenic¡¯s kindness any longer, fearing it would only perpetuate her deception. Gripping her clothes nervously, Lindsey lowered her head and murmured, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just need some time alone. ¡± As she turned to leave, Domenic caught her wrist, pulling her into his embrace suddenly. His breath enveloped her head, a clean and crisp scent filling her senses. Gently lifting her cheek, he inquired in a deep tone, ¡°Are you upset? Is it because I interrupted your time with him?¡± With whom? Sumner? Lindsey was at a loss for words. She didn¡¯t understand why Domenic would think that way. He hade with her to meet Sumner to protect her. She appreciated that. Why would she be upset with him for it? ¡°No. ¡± Lindsey denied it and tried to get rid of Domenic¡¯s arms.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. But she remained trapped in his firm embrace. He didn¡¯t let her go. Lindsey¡¯s sudden distance and coolness left Domenic bewildered, a departure from his usual mastery of situations. ¡°If it¡¯s not because of him, what¡¯s bothering you?¡± Chapter 124 Lindsey hung her head low. She worried that if she kept sticking by Domenic¡¯s side, she¡¯d be overly reliant on him. Should she turn it into a regr thing, she¡¯d grow all soft and weak. After Chayce and Kendra¡¯s betrayal and even her once-reliable father doubting her, Lindsey was cautious about trusting in others too quickly. She dreaded the possibility of falling into that bottomless abyss once more. Furthermore, Domenic remained unaware of what had transpired that night. If he found out, would his tenderness towards her endure? He could think she was dirty and keep his distance. It would be wiser if she decided to take the lead to distance him. Lindsey ceased her struggle, yet her voice grew even chillier. ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t you believe you¡¯ve overstepped?¡± Domenic was taken aback. He asked in a hoarse and icy tone, ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Lindsey chuckled, deliberately giving herself an air of carelessness. ¡°We¡¯re sharing an apartment now. As for our rtionship, the best we can hope for is friendship . Our engagement is fake. Why do you keep mentioning it? Do you think I¡¯m loaded and want to get some benefits from me by repeatedly asserting our engagement?¡± Domenic wore a frosty frown. She genuinely believed he had intentions of exploiting her. How absurd that notion was! ¡°Huh! Domenic sneered with self-deprecation, and a hint of red crept into his eyes. She was downright keen to cut ties cleanly with him.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Did her decision to stop pretending to have something to do with that man¡¯s return? ¡°Can you let go of me now?¡± Lindsey¡¯s palms were slick with sweat, yet she continued to feignposure. ¡°I can let you go, but first, there¡¯s one thing I need to be sure of. ¡± Before Lindsey could respond, Domenic swiftly grasped her waist and gently gripped her delicate chin with his other hand,pelling her to lift her head. His eyes held twin mes of passion, and in the very next moment, he leaned in and ki*sed her tenderly on the Lips. Lindsey shivered, a wave of dizziness washing over her. The fresh, wood scent of cedar emanating from Domenic was intoxicating. She found herself drawn into the ki*s. There they were, ki*sing openly on the street! After some time, Lindsey managed to collect herself. She quickly pressed her hands against Domenic¡¯s sturdy chest, attempting to push him away, but he stood his ground. Hisrge hand firmly held her back as he continued to ki*s her passionately. Lindsey¡¯s strength began to disappear slowly. She felt her entire body growing yielding, and her cheeks zed red. Just as she was on the verge of surrendering to the resistance, Domenic released her lips. Chapter 125 The gentle sunshine softened the intensity of his eyes, lending them a tender and affectionate hue. Gazing into her eyes, he inquired with a husky voice, ¡°You feel something for me too, don¡¯t you? So why the urge to push me away?¡± Have you ever engaged in such a thing with the man we met today? Shock and anger sparked in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. She shoved Domenic with all her might. ¡°What are you implying?¡± She gazed at the man before her, utterly taken aback. ¡°Do you really see me as that kind of carefree woman?¡± Domenic was silent. He wasn¡¯t sure. If she wasn¡¯t a carefree woman, why did she slip into his room that night and share an intimate encounter with him? Domenic¡¯s silence hit Lindsey like a sudden ssh of icy water. She felt a stabbing pain in her heart, her fingers curling into fists. It became clear that he had always seen her in that light and she only felt it was silly of her toContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. conceal the truth of that night from him. Her heart plunged into an endless void. Without uttering another word, Lindsey spun around and hurried into the midst of the crowd. As he watched the path she vanished into, Domenic tightly pressed his thin lips together. He had never experienced such a sense of unease. Hisposure had always been a source of pride, but he was Losing control whenever he was around this woman. He couldn¡¯t continue down this path. He needed to understand why she hade to his room that night. He was determined to find out by any means necessary! After lunch, Shelia and Olivia spent the entire afternoon shopping, and it was already well into the night when they finally parted ways. The minute Shelia stepped back through the door, she shared with Kendra and Benny what she had heard earlier that day. ¡°Mom, Dad, Lindsey¡¯s got quite the cunning streak. She nearly had us all fooled! Hearing this, Kendra¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ¡°Benny, we splurged on that engagement party for Lindsey, but it turns out she was spending her money to entertain a young man. She even had him y the part of a wealthy man to ruin the party! If she persists with her stubborn ways, the money her mother left her will be wasted away in no time! Thepany¡¯s finances are already in a tight spot. And I worry that one day, you might have to dig into your pockets to sort out the mess she¡¯s creating. ¡± Kendra expressed her concern to Benny nonstop. Chapter 126 With a furious expression, Benny stormed back and forth. Finally, he stopped, dering, ¡°I¡¯ll see Lindsey tomorrow and get the money back. I can¡¯t let her squander it like this!¡± ¡°Benny, let¡¯s not act on impulse. I¡¯ll apany you tomorrow. We should have a conversation with Lindsey first. She¡¯s your daughter, after all. She¡¯ll surely listen to you. ¡± Kendra put on a facade of kindness and thoughtfulness. Benny sighed in relief, ¡°You¡¯re so understanding. ¡± Kendra nestled against his chest, ying the role of obedience, but a wicked gleam danced in her eyes. After bidding farewell to Shelia, Olivia walked towards her home, humming a tune. Out of nowhere, she was dragged by someone into a car. When she opened her eyes again, she discovered herself lying on the chilly floor, blindfolded. The air was tinged with the scent of tobo. In a luxurious presidential suite, Domenic sat on a sofa, his gaze fixed on the woman on the floor. Once his hint was understood, his subordinate nodded and walked toward Olivia.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. As Olivia heard the footsteps drawing nearer and nearer, a shiver of fear coursed through her, making it almost impossible to catch her breath. ¡°Who- Who are you?! Why have you brought me here?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t harm you as long as you follow my lead. ¡± The man replied with a raspy voice. ¡°What- What do you expect me to do?¡± Olivia asked, her voiceced with panic. ¡°I need information about Lindsey Stewart¡¯s meeting with a man at the Harmony Hotel on June 2nd and how Shelia Stewart is connected to it. ¡± Olivia quickly spoke up in her defense upon hearing Shelia¡¯s name. ¡°I just met Shelia days ago. I don¡¯t know much about her!¡± ¡°Fine. In that case, I¡¯ll offer you a million as a token of gratitude if you go uncover the truth!¡± Upon hearing this, Oliviapsed into silence. As a lesser-known actress, earning such an amount would take years. What¡¯s more, her grandmothery sick in bed, in urgent need of funds for surgery. If not for that, she wouldn¡¯t have been so eager to curry favor with Shelia in order to gain ess to resources. ¡°WiLL you keep your promise?¡± ¡°OF course. ¡± Chapter 127 ¡°Why should I trust you?¡± With a mocking grin, the man sneered. ¡°Do you think you¡¯ve got a say in this? Now that I¡¯ve brought you here without anyone noticing, I can just as easily make you vanish without a trace. ¡± Olivia¡¯s body shook with fear. ¡°¡°Okay- I, I promise you. ¡± As soon as she uttered those words, she sensed someone thrusting something into her arms. She extended her hand to touch it and was surprised to discover a bundle of cash! ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°These are the deposits. Keep this in mind. Don¡¯t let anyone else know about it. If you dare to tell anyone, I will make not just you vanish but your whole family, too. You have a grandmother, don¡¯t you?¡± Upon hearing this, Olivia crumpled to the floor, her hands quivering uncontrobly. ¡°I won¡¯t tell a soul, even at the cost of my life!¡± Right after she spoke, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she slipped back into unconsciousness. From start to finish, Domenic remained silent, his gaze icy as he observed the events in the room, a cigarette hanging from his lips. Soon after, his men escorted Olivia out. Upon waking the following day, Olivia realized she was resting in her bed. The events ofst night felt like a dream, but when she sat up, bundles of cash tumbled from her form. She couldn¡¯t help but freeze. It dawned on her that it wasn¡¯t a dream. At that moment, the true gravity of what had transpired the previous night became crystal clear to her. * Upon returning home, Lindsey discovered that Domenic was nowhere to be found. She had ns to pack her belongings and leave in a few days, but to her surprise, Domenic sent her a message, almost as if he had foreseen iting. He mentioned he was busy and wouldn¡¯t return soon. He also advised that it wasn¡¯t safe for her to stay alone and suggested she remain. Lindsey hesitated briefly, her teeth gently pressing against her lip, but in the end, she epted his kindness. But she didn¡¯t sleep well the whole night, which left her feeling unsteady at work the next day. Around noon, just as Lindsey was preparing to leave work, a call came in from the receptionist. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve got two visitors waiting to see you. They say they are your parents. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s brow creased in confusion. What could they possibly want now? Recalling the day her dad had shown her the door in favor of Kendra, Lindsey still harbored a deep-seated resentment.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 128 ¡°Let them know I only have my mother, and she¡¯s overseas right now. Kindly ask them to leave. ¡± Lindsey ended the call and resumed work, but a mere two minutester, her phone rang again. ¡°Lindsey, they insisted they won¡¯t leave until youe out to meet them. ¡± Lindsey tightened her grip into fists. She grabbed the ss of water from the table and gulped it down. After getting her emotions in check, she went to the first floor. As soon she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted Benny and Kendra scanning the area near the reception desk. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lindsey approached and inquired with a straight face. ¡°Lindsey, your father and I heard you¡¯re employed here, so we decided to pay you a visit. ¡± Kendra moved closer, gently taking hold of Lindsey¡¯s arm, and asked with feigned concern, ¡°Are you busy with work? Don¡¯t overexert yourself. Look after yourself. ¡± To others, she appeared as nothing more than a devoted mother who cherished her daughter deeply. It was only Lindsey who truly understood her real nature. She swiftly withdrew her arm from Kendra¡¯s grasp and impatiently quipped, ¡°You might as well cut to the chase. What do you want?¡± ¡°Lindsey, Kendra¡¯s caring about you, but what¡¯s with the attitude?! You¡¯recking even the most basic courtesy. What¡¯s got you acting so impolite?¡± Observing Lindsey¡¯s continued rudeness towards Kendra, Benny quickly grew agitated. ¡°No worries, Benny. Lindsey has some misconceptions about me. I can understand it. ¡± Kendra tugged on Benny¡¯s arm and pondered, ¡°What matters most right now is preventing her from making further mistakes. ¡± Kendra signaled to Benny to cut to the chase. Benny agreed with Kendra¡¯s point. He wasn¡¯t sure how Lindsey might misuse the money, so it might be best for him to assist in safeguarding it for now. He held back his frustration and fixed his gaze on Lindsey, inquiring, ¡°I heard the guy at your engagement party was paid by you. You¡¯re not seriously considering marrying him, are you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression turned somber. Since her father already knew, there was no point in concealing it anymore.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Moreover, she had made it clear to Domenic. It was time to set the record straight with her father. ¡°You are right. ¡± When Lindsey confessed, any lingering hope in Benny¡¯s heart vanished. Chapter 129 He felt profound disappointment in his daughter. ¡°Your mother wanted you to use that money to start a family. She told me to withhold it until you were engaged. I can¡¯t believe you tricked me just for the money. Considering this wasn¡¯t a genuine engagement, I¡¯ll hold onto the money for you for now. I¡¯ll hand it over when you¡¯re genuinely engaged in the future. ¡± It became evident that their visit was motivated by financial matters. As Lindsey spotted a sly grin on Kendra¡¯s face, she had a hunch that this woman had cooked up the scheme. From the start, Kendra and Chayce had coborated to set her up. Their desires extended beyond the Stewart family¡¯s wealth to the money given by her mother. Lindsey was now fully aware of their intentions. She couldn¡¯t fathom giving up her mother¡¯s property! ¡°The money was left to me by my mother. How can you even have the audacity to request it?¡± Lindsey sneered. ¡°Everything I did, I did it for your benefit!¡± Benny reprimanded, ¡°You have just begun working and haven¡¯t tied the knot yet. You don¡¯t need such a hefty sum of money. I¡¯m holding onto it for your sake, to prevent you from misspending it all. ¡± Lindsey had no intention of wasting any more time on them. ¡°I won¡¯t hand over the money. You can leave now. I¡¯ve got work to attend to, and I don¡¯t have the time for arguments. ¡± As she turned away and prepared to depart, Benny¡¯s anger surged within. He disregarded the onlookers and raised his voice, shouting, ¡°Lindsey Stewart! Don¡¯t think I¡¯m oblivious to your secrets. You¡¯re supporting a man with your mother¡¯s money! How can you act so boldly and brazenly? You have disgraced me!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. It was noon, time to clock out, and employees began leaving one by one. Upon hearing themotion, many couldn¡¯t resist stopping to witness the spectacle. Lindsey believed Benny was beyond persuasion. She pivoted and cast a chilly gaze in his direction. ¡°It¡¯s my money. How I choose to spend it is none of your concern!¡± Benny was seething with anger. ¡°Why would it have nothing to do with me? That money is part of the Stewart family¡¯s wealth!¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m your father, and I raised you!¡± Lindsey curled her lip in a sneer. ¡°Ever since you threw me out of the house, I¡¯ve had no father. ¡± Benny delivered a harsh p to Lindsey¡¯s face, causing her head to tilt to the side of the force. Everything briefly went dark for her. Lindsey couldn¡¯t pinpoint when the disappointment had started to build up. She pivoted and gazed at the man before her, the one she had once called her father. Her eyes held not a trace of anger, only deep despair. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she tightly clenched her fists. Chapter 130 Whenever she felt on the verge of breaking down, she would try to hold herself back in this manner. ¡°If you¡¯re after the money, have yourwyer contact me. Let¡¯s see if you have any legal right to it. ¡± ¡°You! You ungrateful brat!¡± Benny¡¯s anger was so intense that he nearly stumbled to the ground. Kendra rushed to his side to assist him. She nced at the onlookers gathered around and came up with an idea. She took a seat on the floor, pped her thighs with both hands and let out a heart-wrenching cry. ¡°Lindsey, even though I¡¯m not your real mother, I¡¯ve always loved you as if you were my own! Your biological mother is wealthy, yet she left you behind. It was your father who brought you up! Now that your family¡¯s facing financial bankruptcy, you¡¯re worried about being dragged down with us. So, you¡¯re cutting ties and nning to seek shelter with your mother. We get it, and we won¡¯t stand in your way. But you shouldn¡¯t have used that money to support a man! Don¡¯t you realize the family business is struggling with capital turnover? Without that money, thepany is headed for bankruptcy. Your father¡¯s health has always been fragile. How do you expect him to handle this kind of shock? Is this how you show gratitude for all the care he¡¯s given you?¡± Kendra¡¯s words painted Lindsey as a selfish and ungrateful daughter in everyone¡¯s eyes. In addition, whispers spread about her in thepany. Her colleagues were already biased against her. ¡°Is she the executive agent who got promoted right after joining the Agent Department?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t just secure that position through connections; she also dipped into her family¡¯s funds to support a man. Shame on her!¡± ¡°Her parents must be unfortunate to have a snobbish daughter like her!¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze bore the weight of her anger as it pierced through Kendra. Her circumstances at thepany were already challenging, and with Kendra publicly tarnishing her reputation in this manner, things were poised to be even moreplicated. She inhaled deeply, seeking to regain herposure.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Next, she approached Kendra and fixed her with a chilly stare. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Vitality Entertainment isn¡¯t where you can create a scene at your will. If you persist in this behavior, I¡¯ll request the security personnel to escort you out! Or would you prefer I summon the police?¡± Upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s involvement with the police, Kendra recognized that staying longer wouldn¡¯t be to her advantage. While she hadn¡¯t obtained the money this time, she had sessfully created further disappointment in Benny¡¯s eyes regarding Lindsey. Additionally, she had tarnished Lindsey¡¯s reputation within thepany. So, the visit hadn¡¯t been entirely in vain. Kendra felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She rose to her feet, dried her tears, and approached to assist Benny, who was catching his breath heavily. Feigning unease, she spoke with a semnce of solemnity. ¡°Lindsey, we were left with no alternative but to approach you. Our intention isn¡¯t to humiliate you. Please refrain from calling security or the police. We¡¯ll depart on our own ord. We¡¯re heading out now-¡° As they observed her walking out, arm in arm with that silver-haired man, the crowd¡¯s disdain and displeasure towards Lindsey intensified. It didn¡¯t take long for the two colleagues who had been criticized by Lindsey to catch wind of the visit of Lindsey¡¯s parents. They blew the situation out of proportion and shared the story with everyone at thepany. Later that day, Jayleen called Lindsey into her office. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s going on with you? Just a couple of days after your promotion, people in thepany startedining about you! I heard your parents showed up at thepany this morning and made quite a mess, causing quite a stir! Now everyone¡¯s talking, iming your behavior isn¡¯t up to standard. Chapter 131 They told me younded the job through connections and have a chaotic personal life. They¡¯re pushing thepany to demote you!¡± Lindsey fought to hold back her tears and swallowed her frustration. She hung her head and apologized to Jayleen, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry for causing you trouble. ¡± Jayleen cast a nce her way and let out a small sigh. ¡°I can lend a hand in keeping their anger at bay for now, but you¡¯ve got to prove your skills on the job. I¡¯ve got a suggestion for you. The director Vincent Lopez has been casting actors for his uing movie. Ourpany is keen on it. If you cannd our artists the starring roles in this film, I¡¯m sure everyone will be mighty impressed with you!¡± ¡°Do you want me to get my artists in the spotlight for his new movie?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Jayleen replied firmly. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Vincent was famous for being extremely selective with his casting. The actors who snagged the leading roles in his films all ended up as A-list stars and only a handful of Vitality Entertainment¡¯s artists got that chance. It was worth noting that most of them were already Best Actor or Best Actress winners before they stepped into Vincent¡¯s movie world.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. But there was one exception, Kristy Chase, a renowned actress who had won the Best Actress award thrice. When she kicked off her career, she was a rtively unknown actress. Vincent saw something special in her talent and thought she had a gift, so he asked her to join histest movie. Once the movie hit the screen s, she won three movie awards. In no time, she transformed from an unknown rookie into the hottest female star in the country. But, once Kristy ascended to A-list status, she switched from her initial agent to Jayleen. You might say that Jayleen had quite a grip on most of thepany¡¯s top-notch celebrities. Lindsey, a new agent, had inherited only the less desired artists from Lynne. Getting them a leading role in Vincent¡¯s movie seemed nearly impossible. Jayleen gave Lindsey¡¯s shoulder a reassuring pat. ¡°I get it, it¡¯s a challenging task, but you¡¯ve got to tackle something that others think is impossible. That¡¯s the only way to shake off the negative public perception and show thepany made the right call with you. The public is furious now, and I can¡¯t keep them in check forever. Thepany has never demoted someone during their probation. Let¡¯s hope you won¡¯t be the first. ¡± Lindsey felt she had no choice but to ept the challenge, so she nodded in agreement, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a shot. ¡± After Lindsey left, a sly smile crept onto Jayleen¡¯s face. Lindsey quickly earned Emilio¡¯s favor and snagged that promotion. It was clear she¡¯d be a formidable rival for Jayleen down the road. So, Jayleen rallied her loyal crew to start some gossip about Lindsey in thepany and dared her to take on this nearly impossible task. If Lindsey failed to secure any movie role, Jayleen would have the perfect excuse to fire her. As the evening drew close, Lindsey left the office with a weighty burden, pondering how to tackle this challenging mission. Upon returning home, Domenic was nowhere in sight. He hadn¡¯t been around for several days. Feeling a sense of loss and overwhelmed by the day¡¯s events, Lindsey¡¯s spirits hit rock bottom. Chapter 132 She sprawled out on the bed, casually flicking through her phone. Just then, her best friend Nancy rang her up. When she answered the call, Nancy¡¯s voice came through, yfully teasing, ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s been keeping you busytely? Why note out and have some fun with me? Have you forgotten me?¡± Feeling helpless, Lindsey responded, ¡°I¡¯ve just been swamped with work. I haven¡¯t had the time-¡° Nancy let out a chuckle and inquired, ¡°Is it genuinely all about work? Or is it because you¡¯ve secretly found yourself a boyfriend?¡± Domenic shed through Lindsey¡¯s mind. After a brief pause, she quickly refuted, ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a boyfriend!¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t have a boyfriend, why not join me for fun tonight? I¡¯ll hang out at Champs Le Bar, and if you don¡¯t sh ow up, I might get a tad upset!¡± With that, Nancy ended the call. It had been a while since Lindsey had seen Nancy, and she was missing her. Plus, she was feeling pretty down today and had wanted a drink. So Lindsey got changed and headed over to meet Nancy. Champs Le Bar was known as the most Luxurious bar in the town. It was a favorite haunt for the wealthy and influential people. Once in a while, one might get lucky and bump into some big-shot celebrities around here. The moment Lindsey stepped into the bar, she was taken aback by the opulent spectacle that greeted her. The dazzling decoration made it seem like she¡¯d stepped into a dreand, with crystal lights casting an extravagant glow. This was Lindsey¡¯s first time in such an extravagant ce. She was thankful for her wealthy friend Nancy, who often introduced her to these experiences. As usual, Nancy had reserved a private room upstairs. Lindsey pushed her way through the heavy, golden door of the private room, only to find Nancy nestled between two attractive men, sharing a drink. Lindsey was left utterly speechless.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. It seemed that Nancy was as predictable as ever, offering no surprises. ¡°Watch out, you might overdo it with this kind of fun every day. ¡± Lindsey teased as she approached Nancy. Without a hint of astonishment, Nancy gently nudged the attractive men aside and embraced her best friend. Before Nancy could utter a word, Lindsey beat her to it, ¡°If you try to set me up with someone to drink again, I¡¯ll make a hasty exit. ¡± ¡°Come on!¡± She then waved her hand to the two dashing men and urged them to leave the room. Chapter 133 She grabbed Lindsey¡¯s arm and pulled her onto the sofa. ¡°Look at you. You¡¯re overthinking it. I was so bored waiting for you that I invited these two to keep mepany. ¡± Lindsey looked at her in disbelief, ¡°Really? I don¡¯t believe it. ¡± Nancy rolled her eyes at Lindsey in response. Wearing a mysterious expression, she whispered, ¡°Guess who¡¯s here tonight?¡± Lindsey shook her head, clueless. ¡°Mercer Aston!¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. Mercer Aston reigned as the music world¡¯s superstar. His presence was hailed as the top of the entertainment industry, excelling in singing andposing. He was, without a doubt, a true all-around genius. Mercer had a track record of winning numerous awards, and his songs often topped the charts for months. He was the true shining star. ¡°Why would he be here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It¡¯s just something I heard through rumors. Well, in any case, I want to catch a glimpse of him today. ¡± Nancy was eagerly looking forwar d to it, practically bubbling with excitement. ¡°You¡¯re a fan of his? Why didn¡¯t you mention it before?¡± Lindsey was surprised. Nancy¡¯s eyes were half-closed, radiating both innocence and charm. She shed a sweet, captivating smile. ¡°Being a fan is too ordinary. I want to fall in love with him! I¡¯ve decided to keep my hands off men before I date Mercer!¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey was so taken aback that she almost sprang up from the sofa. She reached out and covered Nancy¡¯s forehead, quipping, ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever, so what¡¯s with the sudden nonsense? That¡¯s Mercer, the top star!¡± Nancy yfully swatted Lindsey¡¯s hand away and pouted. ¡°Aren¡¯t you part of the entertainment world, too? Regardless, you¡¯ve got to lend me a hand tonight. ¡± ¡°Me?¡± Lindsey delicately pointed at herself, noticing that Nancy was bing increasingly fanciful. ¡°I don¡¯t even know Mercer. Even with a work excuse, there¡¯s no guarantee we¡¯ll meet him. How can I assist you?¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Nancy gave a mischievous smirk that sent a shiver down Lindsey¡¯s spine. Meanwhile, in avish private room clouded with smoke, a group of men were ying cards. They all hailed from distinguished families, and among them was Mercer, the music world¡¯s reigning superstar. Chapter 134 Mercer gripped the cards in his hands, his good-looking face disying signs of concentration, and the sweat on his forehead trickled down his cheeks. As he revealed hisst card, his expression darkened and he flung the cards onto the table in frustration. ¡°No, I¡¯m done with this game! I¡¯ve never managed to beat you. Luck¡¯s not on my side!¡± Across from Mercer, the man in the prime seat lounged back on the sofa, a lit cigarette casually held between his fingers, casting a flickering red glow. He sported a white shirt and ck trousers. His cor was unbuttoned, and his sleeves were rolled up, showing off his muscr arms. ¡°Mercer, it¡¯s not about luck. It¡¯s just that Domenic is in a league of his own. I¡¯ve never seen anyone beat him in all my years. ¡± This was Arturo Yates, head of the Yates family from Blosa City. Arturo¡¯s gentle, handsome appearance was enhanced by a mole near his eye, adding to his allure. He had grown up alongside Domenic and Mercer. Even after his family relocated to Blosa, they remained in touch. The Yates family held significant influence, but they still couldn¡¯t match the might of the Walsh family. The Walsh family thrived in Morcastle City as its strategic location in the foreign trade hub made it easier to grow its international business. Their business reach extended across the entire continent, a scope that surpassed the wildest dreams of the other three families in Morcastle. In essence, the Walsh family was a true business magnate and prestigious family. Arturo was in Morcastle on a business trip. Seizing the opportunity when Domenic was free, he invited Mercer and a few other close friends to reunite with Domenic. ¡°Domenic, can¡¯t you cut me a break and let me win for once? ying cards with you is starting to lose its appeal. ¡± Mercer grabbed the red wine ss from the table and shot Domenic a yful, disgruntled nce. Arturoughed. ¡°Losing its appeal? How about we y something interesting?¡± ¡°The best escorts at this bar are said to rival the top female celebrities in beauty. How about we invite some of them here?¡± When Arturo finished speaking, he turned to Domenic and asked with caution, ¡°Domenic, what¡¯s your take on this?¡± Arturo would¡¯ve summoned escorts ages ago if he weren¡¯t with Domenic.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Everyone knew Domenic paid little attention to mostdies, especially those in this type of establishment. Domenic ced the cigarette between his lips and exhaled a leisurely puff of smoke. His features remained shrouded in the swirling haze. ¡°Sure, why not. ¡± Upon hearing this, everyone in the room grew enthusiastic. Arturo hurriedly summoned the bar manager and requested that he bring in all the top escorts. The manager left the room with respect. Meanwhile, Lindsey, holding a tray of wine sses, turned the corner in the hallway, looking utterly out of ce. It was Nancy¡¯s wild idea to dress up as a barmaid and check each private room for Mercer. If Mercer is not there, they¡¯d im a mistake. Whoever found Mercer was to let the other know immediately. Chapter 135 Lindsey had already awkwardly stumbled into the wrong rooms several times. There was just one more room left. She promised herself she¡¯d never do something like this again! With a deep breath, Lindsey mustered her courage and pushed open thevish golden door. Arturo stood by the door, puffing on his cigarette, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the top escorts. But then, the door swung open unexpectedly from the outside. A beautiful youngdy with a subtle touch of makeup walked in. She stood out from the other girls in the bar, sporting arched eyebrows and sparkling, captivating eyes, exuding an air of purity and allure.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Even more noteworthy, she boasted a shapely silhouette. Her Legs were long, slim, and perfectly straight. Just a nce at them stirred excitement in Arturo¡¯s heart. Arturo nced at the tray in Lindsey¡¯s hands and mistook her for one of the escorts he had summoned. In confusion, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her into the private room! She found herself pulled to the center of the room. The moment she looked up, she was met by the slightly narrowed gaze of Domenic. His demeanor today differed significantly from his usual self¡ªinstead of his typical casual air, he exuded an aura of arrogance and sensuality. Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. Why was he here? Domenic took another puff of his cigarette, his brow furrowing. ¡°Wow, she¡¯s here already. But why is there only one of them?¡± A smooth voice chimed in. Lindsey turned to see who it was and froze. It was Mercer! Why was Domenic in the same room as Mercer? Did they know each other? How could an average person, devoid of influence, recognize the most celebrated singer in the entertainment world? Lindsey was filled with wonder and disbelief. At that moment, the box door swung open again, and a group of attractivedies entered. Lindsey retreated into a corner and was just about to seize the chance to slip away when the bar manager intercepted her. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Hurry up and stand over there!¡± He then ushered Lindsey to the back of the queue. ¡°I am not¡­¡± Chapter 136 he manager cut Lindsey off before she had a chance to exin.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°Quiet! Don¡¯t cause trouble for our guests, or you¡¯ll regret itter!¡± The manager then turned to the men in the room with a grin and said, ¡°Gentlemen, feel free to keep the ones you like. As for the rest, I¡¯ll escort them out. ¡± Arturo nced at the group ofdies with his captivating eyes, and ultimately, his gaze settled on Lindsey. It was worth noting that amidst these heavily made-up women, the girl radiated an aura of innocence that held people¡¯s attention, making it impossible to divert their gaze. Just as he was about to request Lindsey, a thought crossed his mind. He leaned in and whispered to Domenic, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go ahead and make your choice first?¡± Although Arturo doubted Domenic¡¯s interest, he offered him the choice out of courtesy and respect. With his deep gaze fixed ahead, Domenic raised his chin, indicating Lindsey with a gesture, ¡°I want her. ¡± Both Arturo and Mercer were taken aback, their eyes widening in surprise. Domenic hadn¡¯t shown any interest in the women they had sent his way before. Why the sudden change of heart today? Arturo didn¡¯t dare to dwell too much on the woman that had captured Domenic¡¯s interest. He gestured to Lindsey and instructe , ¡°Come over here. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows raised in surprise, and she froze in her tracks. The bar manager nudged Lindsey forward when he noticed her standing still. ¡°The guest is waiting for you. Hurry up and pour him some wine!¡± Standing before everyone, Lindsey¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m in the wrong room. I¡¯m not one of the escorts. ¡± Arturo watched Lindsey with interest. Her innocent look didn¡¯t fit that of an escort, but he assumed she was a barmaid because of the tray she carried. It was unusual for Domenic to take a fancy on a woman, so Arturo didn¡¯t want to ruin the moment. Arturo took a step forward, caught Lindsey¡¯s wrist, and guided her to sit next to Domenic, exerting a bit of force. ¡°You work here as a barmaid, right? Well since you¡¯re working here, it¡¯d be a bit awkward not to raise a toast to this fine gentleman who clearly has a soft spot for you, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lindsey had quickly dressed in a blouse and short skirt before leaving the apartment. Her figure was slender and poised. She sat with her legs neatly together, gripping the edge of her skirt, exuding an air of youthful innocence. ¡°Can I leave after I make the toast?¡± Arturo nced at Domenic and gave Lindsey a sly grin. ¡°You know, he¡¯s not the type to flirt with women often. We were just having a little wager on what kind of woman would catch his eye. As long as you can get him to drink this ss of alcohol, the rest will be a piece of cake. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s lips tightened, and she gripped her skirt more firmly. She swiftly picked up a ss from the table, filled it with whiskey, and stood up to hand it to Domenic. Chapter 137 ¡°It¡¯s not exactly the best idea to feed him like that¡­¡± Arturo was yfully teasing Lindsey, but his sentence was cut short. To his surprise, Domenic swiftly took Lindsey¡¯s delicate wrist and drew her into his embrace, seating her on hisp. ¡°Wow!¡± Arturo and Mercer couldn¡¯t contain their astonishment. They were amazed to see Domenic willingly let a woman sit so close to him, especially since he was the one who initiated it. It was quite an unexpected turn of events! ¡°Let me go,¡± Lindsey said, her cheeks flushing as she attempted to get up. But Domenic kept her firmly seated on hisp. The muscles on his thighs pressed firmly against her buttocks through the soft silk fabric. Her earlobes turned a deep shade of red, and she felt almost weak. ¡°I¡¯m asking you to let go of me. Did you hear me?¡± Lindsey demanded, her lips pressed together tightly and her gaze fiery. Gently holding Lindsey¡¯s waist, Domenic whispered in her ear with a reassuring tone, ¡°I¡¯m here on a business errand for my boss. ALL these guys are important. They¡¯ve had a bit too much to drink and seem to enjoy making me the butt of th eir jokes.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. I was really concerned a moment ago. But now that you¡¯re here, could you lend me a hand?¡± Lindsey lifted her gaze, observing the room. Everyone wasughing and watching her and Domenic like it was some sort of entertainment. Lindsey understood Domenic¡¯s predicament. Even though she had been upset with him earlier, she found herself feeling more sympathetic. Domenic had been there for her on multiple asions in the past, so she decided it was her turn to assist him. Carefully, Lindsey handed the ss to Domenic. ¡°Feed him! Feed him!¡± Arturo and the others were visibly thrilled by the scene. This was a first ¨C seeing a woman getting so close to Domenic. Their cheers echoed around them. Lindsey nced down at Domenic, who offered a slight curl of his lips, his expressive eyes conveying a sense of helplessness. He looked almost innocent. Well, she¡¯d help him to the end. Lindsey softly bit on her own pink lower lip and offered the ss to his Lips. Grasping her wrist, Domenic pressed his lips to the ss she held. His Adam¡¯s apple moved gracefully as he tilted his head back, drinking the alcohol she offered. His gaze on her while drinking was mesmerizing, causing her cheeks to redden. Arturo broke into apuse, impressed by Domenic finishing his drink. ¡°can I go now?¡± As Lindsey tried to stand, Arturo quickly intervened, pushing her back down. Chapter 138 With a sly raise of his eyebrows, Arturo proposed, ¡°Well, give him a ki*s, and you¡¯re free to go. ¡± After making this suggestion, he nced at Domenic, noticing not anger but a faint smile. This only fueled Arturo¡¯s excitement. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t go too far! That wasn¡¯t part of the deal!¡± Lindsey¡¯s face flushed with anger. Arturo gave her a teasing look and said, ¡°You realize who¡¯s here, right? Here in Champs Le Bar, you¡¯re only free to go when we say so. Don¡¯t even think about leaving without our permission!¡± Just as Lindsey was about to respond sharply, Domenic gently tugged at her arm. Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s anger subsided. She realized the importance of the people around them. She wasn¡¯t one to shy away from confrontation, but she also didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble unnecessarily. Not to mention, with Mercer present, these individuals likely had connections in the entertainment world. Angering them could have repercussions for both her and Domenic. With these thoughts, she nced at Domenic¡¯s attractive profile. After all, ki*sing such a good-looking man wouldn¡¯t be too bad. Taking a deep breath, she leaned in¡­ She intended to ki*s him on the c heek. She didn¡¯t know whether it was an ident or not, but Domenic just turned his head.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. As a result, she ki*sed him right on the lips. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened, locking with Domenic¡¯s intense gaze. His Adam¡¯s apple moved subtly, his grip on her waist tightening just a bit. ¡°Great!¡± Arturo was overjoyed. He never imagined he¡¯d witness a woman ki*s Domenic, a moment that would surely create a buzz in their circle. ¡°Sorry, that was unintentional,¡± Lindsey said, visibly flustered. She tried topose herself, swiftly turning and sliding off Domenic¡¯sp. At that moment, Lindsey¡¯s phone unexpectedly rang. She pulled it out and saw that it was a call from Nancy. ¡°My friend is looking for me. I need to leave!¡± Arturo stole a nce at Domenic. This woman was Domenic¡¯s choice now. Arturo could only enjoy the moment but had no say in whether she stayed or left. Domenic closed his eyes, indicating his disinterest. Arturo understood and gestured to Lindsey, ¡°You¡¯re free to go. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet Domenic¡¯s gaze any longer. She clutched her phone and hastily departed from the room. Seeing her departure, Arturo and Mercer couldn¡¯t resist crowding around Domenic. ¡°Did you happen to know that girl, Domenic?¡± Arturo inquired with a sly grin. ¡°Are you still seeing her?¡± Chapter 139 Domenic gave him a frosty look. ¡°Mind your own business. Don¡¯t ask what you shouldn¡¯t, and keep quiet about what you shouldn¡¯t mention. ¡± Arturo chuckled and remarked, ¡°I get it. If Mr. Jordan Walsh were to find you have a woman outside¡­ the consequences would be unimaginable. But no worries, I¡¯ll make sure to keep your secret safe! What do you say, Mercer?¡± He gave Mercer¡¯s arm a light tap, and Mercer quickly agreed, ¡°Sure thing, I won¡¯t say a word once we step out that door!¡± Domenic took another drag of his cigarette, his expression enigmatic amidst the swirling smoke. Meanwhile, in a more modest room on the second floor¡­ Sumner was enjoying drinks and a game of dice with his friends. Having recently returned from abroad, a group of his local friends had decided to throw a wee party in his honor. Luck was not on his side. He cons istently lost at the dice game and nearly drained the wine bottle. He couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. They persuaded him to engage in another round of Truth or Dare. The stakes were high; the loser had to fulfill a request from the winner. As the cup was unveiled, Sumner slumped onto the sofa in disappointment. Once again, he had suffered defeat! ¡°Sumner, this is a Dare. There¡¯s no way out of it. ¡± A fellow pulled Sumner up from the couch. ¡°I won¡¯t back down. Tell me, what do you want me to do?¡± The man grinned mischievously. ¡°Strip off that shirt and go for a run outside!¡± Another guy observed the amusement and added, ¡°That¡¯s too easy. Let¡¯s up the challenge! Step out naked and find a girl and ki*s her!¡± ¡°Haha! That¡¯s hrious! It¡¯s so thrilling!¡± His words sparked a lively reaction from the people in the private room, instantly igniting the atmosphere. These young men were heirs to wealthy families, known for their wild antics and indifference to consequences, confident that their wealth could deal with any issues. ¡°You¡­¡± Sumner, pointing at his mischievous friends, was left speechless. ¡°This is outrageous! Streaking is one thing, but ki*sing a girl? That¡¯s a whole other level!¡± ¡°Sumner, admit defeat! Or perhaps youck confidence in your allure and fear that no girl would want to ki*s you?¡± His words kindled Sumner¡¯spetitive spirit. Sumner had always been the center of attention, whether at home or abroad. Girls would Line up to be his girlfriend.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. There were always people who instantly fell head over heels for him, and love letters poured in without end. Yet he remained steadfast in his principles, understanding his preferences. He wouldn¡¯t casually engage with individuals like yboys and rarely into rtionships. Eventually, he crossed paths with Lindsey online, and it was as if he had be infatuated with her; he lost interest in all other girls. Chapter 140 With his friends¡¯ encouragement, Sumner didn¡¯t want to spoil the fun. After all, they only mentioned that he had to ki*s a girl without specifying where. He would do it casually. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, no girl on this who can resist me!¡± Sumner, in his drunken state, spoke without much thought. After boasting, he confidently removed his shirt, disying his well-defined chest muscles to his friends behind him, dering, ¡°Watch and learn!¡± With his head held high, he confidently strolled out of the room. Laughter echoed behind him as his friends teased, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can fool us. We¡¯ll have someone secretly follow you!¡± Once outside the private room, Lindsey answered the call from Nancy. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve checked dozens of rooms, but Mercer was nowhere to be found. How are things going on your end?¡± Lindsey nced back at the golden door she¡¯d just exited and sighed. ¡°IT was just in his room. ¡± ¡°Really? Tell me the room number, and I¡¯ll head there in a minute. ¡± Nancy¡¯s voice spiked in excitement, nearly bursting Lindsey¡¯s eardrum. ¡°I suggest you stay away. The people in this room aren¡¯t the bestpany. ¡± Believing those people had pressured her into doing something she shouldn¡¯t have done with Domenic, Lindsey gritted her teeth in frustration. Then she realized, given the numerous escorts in the room, that Domenic probably had another woman in his embrace, fueling Lindsey¡¯s growing annoyance and irritability. ¡°Lindsey, are you alright? Did they harm you in any way?¡± Nancy was often busy with social events during such times. She could grasp the significance of Lindsey¡¯s words. Her initial concern was for her friend¡¯s well-being. ¡°I¡¯m fine. What are you going to do next? Mercer and you aren¡¯t on the same wavelength. Maybe it¡¯s time to¡­ call it quits. ¡± Lindsey was concerned about her best friend¡¯s feelings and gently attempted to dissuade her. After a brief silence, Nancy replied, ¡°Just tell me which room he¡¯s in, Lindsey. I know what I¡¯m doing. ¡± Hearing her determined voice, Lindsey reluctantly shared the room number with Nancy. After ending the call, Lindsey decided to leave. But as she approached the elevator, someone grabbed her wrist.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Startled, Lindsey spun around and instinctively delivered a punch to the shirtless man standing before her! ¡°Linds, it¡¯s me!¡± Sumner, clearly drunk, couldn¡¯t avoid her swing. His face took the hit, turning red and swollen instantly. Lindsey thought she was facing a pervert, but upon closer inspection, she recognized Sumner, his face flushed and carrying the scent of alcohol. Embarrassed, she pulled her hand back and looked away. ¡°What are you doing here? But why ar Chapter 141 ¡°I lost the game and had to run around shirtless. Did I startle you?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Sumner said, sounding a bit defeated. He had just stepped outside when he spotted someone familiar. To his surprise, it was Lindsey. Moments ago, Lindsey felt a mix of fear and astonishment. She was relieved it was just Sumner. ¡°You should head back and get dressed. ¡± Under the sway of alcohol, Sumner¡¯s heart was stirred by an inexplicable longing as he looked at the girl¡¯s blushing face and batting eyshes. His friends required him to ki*s a girl, and there he was with Lindsey. Was this destiny? Was this a sign from above? He couldn¡¯t resist moving closer, his muscr chest leading the way. Lindsey, in her high heels, stepped back quickly, losing her bnce and nearly falling. ¡°Linds, are you alright?¡± Sumner was quick to catch her, steadying her with his hand on her shoulder from behind. The ident really shook Sumner up. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s pained expression, he couldn¡¯t stop ming himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is all because of me. Did you hurt your ankle?¡± He knew he was to me. Drunk and bold, he had even thought about ki*sing her. But Lindsey was engaged. No matter how he felt, he knew it wasn¡¯t right to act on those feelings. ¡°I¡¯m okay¡­¡± Lindsey attempted to rise by herself, but the intense pain in her foot caused her to lose her bnce, and she fell sideways. She ended up in Sumner¡¯s arms, her hand clutching his chest without thinking. It looked like¡­ they were very close and intimate. Suddenly, arge hand grabbed Sumner¡¯s shoulder and tugged him back so hard that even Sumner, a big guy, fell backwards. Lindsey, losing her support, tumbled to the ground. Sumner stumbled a few steps before regaining his bnce. Looking up, he saw Domenic¡¯s tall figure standing protectively in front of Lindsey. Sumner instantly snapped back to reality! Domenic¡¯s presence was intimidating, his cold, angry gaze Like daggers, sending a chill down Sumner¡¯s spine. In a panic, he tried to exin, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get the wrong idea¡­ Chapter 142 Nothing¡¯s going on here. It¡¯s not what it looks like!¡± But his exnation only made things worse. Witnessing Domenic¡¯s chilling silence, Sumner nervously said, ¡°My friends are waiting for me. I¡¯ll make my way out if you¡¯re all set.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± With that, he hurried off like he was being chased by a storm. Lindsey stumbled to the wall, struggling to stand. She stared in shock at the tall man before her, memories of earlier events stirring feelings of upset within her. ¡°Why¡¯d you leave the private room, Mr. Walsh? Weren¡¯t you having fun? Whye out here?¡± Domenic turned, his eyes a shade of intense red. After Lindsey¡¯s brief ki*s and exit, he¡¯d downed several sses of liquor, yet his heart¡¯s longing remained unquenched. He¡¯d stepped out, seeking a breath of fresh air. But there he saw Lindsey, in the arms of a shirtless man. It clicked for him then. Her haste to leave was to meet up with this man! They were so bold as to undress in public! Mockingly, Domenic said, ¡°What? Did I interrupt something?¡± Lindsey, realizing his misunderstanding, protested, ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I just bumped into Sumner, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°Just bumped into him?¡± Domenic scoffed, stepping closer. He mmed his hand against the wall by her ear, startling her. Leaning in, his eyes intense and a mocking smile ying on his lips, he said, ¡°So, it¡¯s also merely bumping into each other coincidentally when you¡¯re in each other¡¯s arms?¡± And his being shirtless is a coincidence? Next, you¡¯ll say sharing a bed is idental?¡± ¡°Domenic Walsh, you despicable jerk!¡± Lindsey became furious, her face flushed with anger. She pushed him forcefully, but the effort shot pain through her, forcing her to squat and clutch her ankle, sweat beading her forehead. Domenic paused, then noticed her swollen, bruised ankle. ¡°What happened to your foot?¡± he asked, concern creasing his brow. ¡°I twisted my ankle earlier. Sumner was just supporting me because I lost my bnce. It was just an ident, really. He wasn¡¯t wearing a shirt because he lost a bet with his friend. And then, he just ran into me¡­ This is all so absurd. Why am I even exining all this to you?¡± Lindsey was visibly upset, with tears in her eyes and a sniffle in her voice. Despite the pain in her foot, it was nothingpared to the hurt Domenic had caused her. She fought hard to keep her emotions in check, determined not to cry in front of him. Chapter 143 Domenic seemed taken aback by her words. Had he misunderstood her? He bent down and grabbed her ankle nervously. ¡°Let me have a look. ¡± Lindsey shook off his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business! From now on, you live your life, I¡¯ll live mine. We will not interfere with each other!¡± ¡°We can discuss thister. Right now, your foot needs attention. ¡± As Domenic hit the elevator button, a bar staff member approached, noticing Domenic and Lindsey, who was cradling her ankle. The staff member stopped and bowed respectfully. ¡°Sir, how can I assist you?¡± Just then, the elevator doors slid open. Domenic scooped Lindsey up in his arms and instructed the staff member, ¡°My fianc¨¦e sprained her ankle. Please prepare a room on the third floor for us and bring some ice packs. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Yes, sir. ¡± Lindsey squirmed in Domenic¡¯s arms, confused as to why he still referred to her as his fianc¨¦e and held her so closely after she had asked for a clean break between them. ¡°Domenic, let me go! I want to go home!¡± Lindsey pinched Domenic¡¯s arm in frustration. Domenic slightly frowned, feeling as if his arm had been scratched by a disobedient cat. He gazed down at her with his charming eyes. ¡°Rx. Your ce is also mine. It¡¯s all the same. ¡± ¡°You!¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears turned a fiery red. ¡°How can you have no shame!¡± ¡°Your ankle¡¯s really swollen. Without ice, you might struggle with walking for quite a while. ¡± Domenic said in a serious tone. Lindsey bit her lip lightly, finding it hard to argue. Every time, he would use this reason to persuade her. But what he said indeed made sense. Lately, she needed to focus on Vincent¡¯s work arrangement, and she really didn¡¯t want any inconvenience at this crucial moment. The third floor of Champs Le Bar housed the guest rooms.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Even the simplest room there was a small fortune per night. Upon reaching the third floor, Lindsey and Domenic were greeted by someone who promptly opened a door for them. Domenic gently ced Lindsey on the immactely made bed in the bedroom. Looking around, she realized they were in a suite, with its golden decor exuding luxury. ¡°This room must be expensive, right? Maybe we should just leave?¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t want to be further indebted to him. Domenic, half-kneeling in front of her, removed her high heels. Her delicate, pink feet were revealed, unintentionally alluring. Her ankle was visibly swollen. Domenic, with his hands on either side of Lindsey, looked up at her, his eyes filled with a tender gaze. ¡°Going back now would take time, and your ankle needs immediate care. Chapter 144 Don¡¯t worry about the cost. My boss will cover tonight¡¯s expenses. I won¡¯t have to pay a dime. ¡± After hearing what he said, Lindsey felt a little relieved. But who on earth was Domenic¡¯s boss? He seemed to have deep pockets. At this time, the doorbell rang. It was the hotel staff delivering ice packs. ¡°Just hand them here. ¡± Domenic took the ice packs and shut the door. He squatted in front of Lindsey, ced an ice pack on her swollen ankle, and held it there. The icy sensation made Lindsey instinctively pull her foot away, but Domenic firmly held her ankle in ce. ¡°Stay still, just endure it for a moment. ¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks warmed as she watched him. Domenic didn¡¯t seem bothered by his awkward position, focused on applying the ice. His fingertips began to redden from the cold, yet he showed no difort. He was so gentle and considerate. The more considerate Domenic was, the more conflicted Lindsey felt. She wondered if he would continue to be this caring if he knew about her experience that night. How would she face him then? His allure, his natural ability, his tender care, it all felt Like quicksand in a forest, gradually pulling her in without her realizing it. Only now did Lindsey be aware of how deeply she was caught in this emotional snare. She clenched her fingers, continuously reminding herself that they were nothing more than friends. She knew she needed to shake off these growing feelings before she truly fell for him. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you are quite good at taking care of others. Is this how you usually are with other women?¡± Lindsey inquired, mirroring the casual tone Domenic had used earlier. Rather than getting upset, he just smiled and locked eyes with Lindsey. ¡°Would it make you jealous if I said yes?¡± Lindsey was taken aback by his response. Damn it! This man was too cunning and eloquent! ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. Jealous? Me? Not at all! Absolutely not!¡± She puffed out her cheeks, looking very cute. ¡°No, you¡¯re the first,¡± Domenic replied, his smile warm and affectionate. Looking at the smile on his handsome face, Lindsey felt her heart skip a beat. ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering about something. ¡± Domenic adjusted the ice pack and continued to apply it to Lindsey¡¯s ankle. Then he asked casually, ¡°Tell me, who has a better figure, Sumner or me?¡± Lindsey was momentarily speechless, then coughed. Chapter 145 She remembered seeing Domenic fresh out of the shower once. With his broad shoulders, tapered waist, and defined abs, it was clear his physique was superior to Sumner¡¯s. But she couldn¡¯t admit that out Loud! ¡°How would I know?¡± Her ears reddened as she averted her gaze. Domenic¡¯s smile grew even wider. He set aside the ice pack, stood up, and gently took hold of Lindsey¡¯s wrist. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lindsey looked at him, startled. With a mischievous smirk, Domenic said, ¡°I noticed you felt his chest earlier. Why notpare by feeling mine?¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. As he spoke, he guided her hand to his chest. Through his thin shirt, Lindsey could feel the solid muscles, exuding a mature charm. Just as she suspected, his muscles were indeed impressive to touch. Wait a minute! Why was she feeling his chest? This was going too far! ¡®s BunnyBookery Realizing what she was doing, Lindsey quickly tried to retract her hand, but Domenic caught her wrist again and ced it on his waist. ¡°You don¡¯t have to prove it anymore. You win. You have the better figure. Are you happy now?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face flushed as she dered the winner. Releasing her wrist with a content look, Domenic¡¯s voice was smooth and slightly raspy as he whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve got something even better. You¡¯ll find out eventually. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face turned as red as a ripe apple in an instant. Just then, the doorbell rang again. Domenic got up to answer it. A group of men in medical coats entered, carrying arge box. Seeing this, Lindsey instinctively pulled back her foot, bewildered. What was going on? Why were there so many doctors in a bar? The lead doctor approached, giving Domenic a respectful nod. He then unveiled a state-of-the-art portable X-ray machine from the box. ¡°Miss, could you lift your right foot, please? We need to take an X-ray to check for any bone injuries. ¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Lindseyplied, lifting her foot, still trying to process what was happening. The X-ray results came back quickly. The doctor reassured her, ¡°All good. No bone damage. ¡± He then retrieved an ointment from his kit and applied it to Lindsey¡¯s ankle. ¡°This is a special ointment. It should speed up your recovery. Good thing you reduced the swelling early, or it wouldn¡¯t work as well. ¡± Chapter 146 Once her ankle was bandaged, the doctor nodded to Domenic, and left with the other doctors. It was only after they left that Lindsey fully grasped the situation. She looked at Domenic, confused. ¡°Is this also a service of the bar?¡± ¡°I guess so,¡± Domenic replied calmly. ¡°This is the finest bar in the town, so medical services aren¡¯t too surprising. ¡± Lindsey was genuinely impressed by the bar¡¯s allprehensive services. She didn¡¯t realize that these individuals were experts in the medical field at Walsh Group.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. They not only possessed the world¡¯s most advanced testing equipment but also had ess to the most potent specialized medications. Such specialized medicines were usually distributed at premium prices through exclusive channels, far beyond the reach of the general public. ¡°Try not to move too much. Maybe we should stay put for the night,¡± Domenic advised. ¡°What? But there¡¯s only one bed,¡± Lindsey said, ncing up at him with a hint of shyness. Domenic gave a light chuckle and yfully tapped her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll make do with the couch. Of course, If you¡¯d rather havepany, I¡¯m open to the idea. ¡± Settling into the bed, Lindsey wrapped herself in the quilt, spreading out to fill the entire bed. ¡°I tend to toss around in my sleep. The couch will suit you better. ¡± Domenic gave a resigned nod and a chuckle, then turned to leave the bedroom. ¡°Good night,¡± he murmured gently, closing the door behind him. Lindsey enjoyed a restful sleep. As she awakened, sunlight streamed in through the window. She swiftly got out of bed and dressed, realizing her ankle was pain-free. What kind of medicine did that bar doctor provide? Its effectiveness was remarkable! Stepping out of the bedroom, she discovered that Domenic had already departed. He had left a note that said, ¡°I¡¯m off to work. Breakfast is waiting on the table. Don¡¯t skip it, my kitty. ¡± Kitty??? This man dared to use such a flirtatious word to talk to her! She mused, if she was a kitty, what did that make Domenic? A big bad wolf or leopard? Lindsey gazed at the table, where a delicious breakfast was neatlyid out. Even though she couldn¡¯t help but grumble inwardly, a warm feeling still washed over her. After breakfast, Lindsey hurried to her office. Lindsey organized the information of her artists and headed to Vincent¡¯s workce. Standing at the reception desk, Lindsey inquired, ¡°Hello, is Mr. Vincent Lopez in today?¡± Chapter 147 ¡°May I know your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Lindsey Stewart, an agent from Vitality Entertainment. ¡± Seeing that she was unfamiliar, the receptionist gestured towards a group in the corner without looking up and said, ¡°Agents can head over there to submit their documents. ¡± As she observed the bustling crowd, Lindsey realized just how intense thepetition for the roles in the movie was. If she ced the information about her artists there, it would Likely go unnoticed amidst themotion. ¡°I¡¯m curious about Mr. Lopez¡¯s avability. I want to schedule a meeting with him. ¡± The receptionist rolled her eyes and gave Lindsey a pointed look. ¡°He isn¡¯t someone you can just see whenever you please. If you¡¯re here to drop off materials, leave them over there. If not, you can show yourself out!¡± Lindsey¡¯s patience wore thin due to the receptionist¡¯s arrogance. Just then, the elevator behind her opened. When the receptionist spotted the person emerging from the elevator, she swiftly stood up from her chair. Lindsey spun around, her eyes growing wide in surprise. It was Kristy Chase! The tall bodyguards took the lead, followed by a group of assistants, creating amotion as they fanned and offered water to her. ¡°Miss Chase, this way, please!¡± The receptionist appeared to transform into a friendly and weing person. Kristy raised her head with pride, wearing a silky red camisole dress, her chestnut curls flowing gracefully. Her light makeup highlighted her petite face, enhancing her beauty and giving her an irresistible allure that could turn heads and stir up excitement. As she walked past Lindsey, she gave her an indifferent nce but quickly looked away and headed straight into thepany building. ¡°Why¡¯s Kristy showing up?¡± Lindsey inquired, looking puzzled. The receptionist folded her arms over her chest and snorted with disdain. ¡°Miss Chase¡¯s here for Mr. Vincent Lopez, no doubt about it. She¡¯s like his all-time favorite leadingdy. It is said that she has already been chosen for the role. Oh, by the way, she looks Like one of those Vitality Entertainment artists. Why weren¡¯t you aware of that?¡± Lindsey was momentarily shocked. Kristy belonged to Jayleen¡¯s talent management, yet Jayleen hadn¡¯t mentioned a word about hernding the female lead role in Vincent¡¯s uing movie. ¡°And what about the male lead? Did the director pick someone for that role?¡± Lindsey inquired, her determination unwavering. ¡°The male lead has been locked in for a while now; it¡¯s none other than Nics Aston, the three-time award-winning actor. They¡¯re going to announce that today. ¡± Why weren¡¯t you, as an agent, in the Loop about this?¡± After those words, the receptionist had no more interest in conversing with Lindsey. She reclined in her chair and returned to fiddling with her mobile phone.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. The top actor and actress teamed up, leaving no room for anyone else¡­ Lindsey turned around with a sense of disappointment, and just then, a voice called out from behind. ¡°Mrs. Lopez!¡± Lindsey spun around and met with Paige Lopez as she emerged. Chapter 148 ¡°Lindsey? Why are you here?¡± Paige¡¯s eyes brightened as she spotted Lindsey.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. She approached and reached for her hand. The receptionist was left in astonishment. How on earth did this woman know Paige?! They appeared to get along well, too! ¡°Mrs. Lopez, it¡¯s been a while. ¡± Lindsey smiled politely and said, ¡°I¡¯m here for Mr. Lopez. I didn¡¯t anticipate running into you. ¡± ¡°He¡¯s been caught up in the hustle of preparing for a new movie, neglecting his meals. I was concerned about his health, so I whipped up some dishes and had them sent over. ¡± ¡°You two make quite a loving pair. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes held a genuine admiration, and her tone was so heartfelt that it couldn¡¯t be mistaken for ttery. Ever since that party, Paige had taken a liking to Lindsey. She sensed something unique in her, unlike those women who only take advantage of her. Lindsey was straightforward and genuine, making her feel at ease. Paige shed a smile and dr@ped her arm over Lindsey¡¯s shoulder. ¡°My husband is in there. Let¡¯s go see him together. ¡± Seeing how close Lindsey and Paige were, the receptionist felt a pang of regret. She shouldn¡¯t have been so arrogant with Lindsey earlier. She prayed that Lindsey wouldn¡¯tin to Paige, or she might Lose her job! Lindsey trailed behind Paige into an office andid eyes on the famed director Vincent. The man was in his prime, his 50s, radiating a kind and friendly aura. Yet, there was a certain gravity to him when he meant business. ¡°Honey, this is Lindsey Stewart, the agent who¡¯s once been a huge help to me. I¡¯ve told you about her,¡± Paige said, settling down beside Vincent and warmly bringing Lindsey into the conversation. Lindsey offered a modest smile. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re giving me too much credit. I only did what was neededst time. Mr. Lopez, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. ¡± Vincent had gotten the scoop from Paige about Lindsey¡¯s ster act at the party. Impressed by her modesty and poise, he gave her an approving nod. ¡°So, what can I do for you?¡± Cutting straight to the chase, Lindsey said frankly, ¡°I¡¯m pushing for my artists to secure the leading roles in your uing film. But I¡¯ve been tipped off that you might¡¯ve already made your choice. ¡± Vincent set his pen down and leaned back. ¡°The lead man¡¯s spot is filled by Nics Aston. As for the leaddy¡­¡± Lindsey perked up, sensing opportunity. ¡°You¡¯ve gone with Kristy Chase for the lead actress, right?¡± At Kristy¡¯s name, Vincent let out a weary sigh. ¡°Kristy was a natural talent, eager to learn. But fame has dulled her acting hunger. Frankly, I¡¯d prefer someone else for the role. ¡± ¡°Who might that be?¡± Lindsey¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Sh Potter,¡± he revealed. Chapter 149 Lindsey hadn¡¯t thought of that name in ages. Sh was once a star that shone bright in the world of showbiz. Her films and TV shows were iconic, and she¡¯d swept through all the awards one could imagine, achieving a grand m by the tender age of twenty-five. Her fame had rocketed nationwide within years. Yet, five years prior, at the pinnacle of her stardom, she made a grand announcement of her marriage and vanished from the limelight as quickly as she had entered it, leaving fans stunned. ¡®s BunnyBookery With time, Sh¡¯s name faded frommon conversation. ¡°I had my heart set on casting Sh for my debut film, but she stepped away from the scene, leaving me with a pang of regret that I couldn¡¯t shake off,¡± Vincent confided, his eyes leaving the past to rest on Lindsey, ¡°The lead role in this film was crafted with Sh in mind. I¡¯ve reached out to her multiple times to no avail. If Sh decides to return, she¡¯ll be the star of the film. ¡± Vincent¡¯s words haunted Lindsey after she left his office. Aware of herck of a standout actress and the slim chances against Kristy for the lead role, Lindsey mused, if only she could sway Sh to make a return and join forces with Vitality Entertainment.Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. But if Vincent, with all his influence, couldn¡¯t persuade Sh, what chance did others have? The afternoon found Lindsey buried in her search for any current details on Sh, but it was as though she had evaporated. All Lindsey uncovered was that Sh had married into wealth and her husband preferred her out of the spotlight, leading to her gradual disappearance. Come evening, dressed in a silky nightgown that yed to her figure, Lindsey Lounged on the sofa, engrossed in an old interview of Sh¡¯s. The sudden clicks of the door lock startled her. Nervous eyes fixed on the door as Domenic entered, d in the same white shirt and ck trousers from the night before. Lindsey, expecting the apartment to herself and thus dressed in just her nightwear, was caught off guard. In a scramble, she wrapped herself in a nket from the couch. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a heads-up beforeing back?¡± she asked. Domenic¡¯s smile spread as he noticed Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turn pink with panic. ¡°Oops, it slipped my mind. ¡± He made his way over and slumped down on the couch beside her. It was then that Lindsey saw the signs of fatigue in him. His shirt was crumpled, and his hair was tousled. He massaged his temples, letting out a tired sigh. ¡°Sleep hasn¡¯te easytely. Guess there¡¯s no ce like home, huh?¡± Lindsey, curled up in the corner of the couch, felt a tug at her heartstrings at his words. She frowned slightly and questioned, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t youe home sooner?¡± ¡°Because I upset you, and I was afraid to go in. Did you miss me?¡± Domenic turned to face her, his gaze intense, making Lindsey¡¯s heart skip a beat and her face warm up. It was as if he was the husband returning home after a spat. Realizing she might have been teased again, Lindsey jabbed her foot at his leg in protest. ¡°Get over yourself. Miss you? As if But as she withdrew her foot, Domenic caught her ankle in his firm grasp. Chapter 150 ¡°Is your ankle still bothering you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears blushed as she quickly withdrew her foot from Domenic¡¯s grasp and tucked it under the nket. She shook her head, replying, ¡°The ointment fromst night worked wonders. It¡¯s been just one night, and I don¡¯t feel any pain at all. ¡± Domenic¡¯s face lit up with a knowing smile. His gaze then drifted to her phone on the coffee table and asked casually, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Lindsey let out a soft sigh. ¡°I¡¯m watching an interview with the former top actress Sh Potter Domenic squinted slightly. ¡°Why the sudden interest in this? Is it rted to your job?¡± ¡°Yes, for work. I¡¯m hoping to bring her back into the limelight and sign her with Vitality Entertainment again. It¡¯s just unfortunate she vanished from the public eye after her marriage. No one has heard from her since. ¡± Lindsey theny back on the sofa, her expression tinged with depression. Domenic casually rolled up his shirt sleeves and suggested, ¡°Perhaps my boss might have some information on her. ¡± Lindsey quickly sat upright, her hands sping Domenic¡¯s arm, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. ¡°Does your boss know Sh?¡± Domenic gave her a knowing smile and said, ¡°He is well-connected. He might have some insights. However¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s eyebrows arched. ¡°Why should I help you? Weren¡¯t you the one who said we should Live our own lives and never interfere with each other again?¡± Lindsey was rendered speechless. How could he be so petty? But she was adaptable. To secure information about Sh, she was prepared to give in, at least for now. ¡°Well¡­ I was just upset when I said that. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes narrowed yfully as she gently swayed Domenic¡¯s arm. ¡°We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we? Please, do me this favor. ¡± Whenever Lindsey turned on her charm, she was a picture of innocence and allure, her soft and sweet demeanor nearly impossible to resist. Domenic adjusted his cor and swallowed, finding it hard to look away from the endearing woman before him, yet he managed to restrain his desires. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try to help you out. But don¡¯t forget to show your gratitude when I make it. ¡± ¡°Okay, deal. When it¡¯s all sorted, you can decide how you want to be thanked,¡± Lindsey dered confidently, patting her chest. Domenic raised an eyebrow and chuckled, pulling out his phone. Lindsey watched as Domenic swiftly typed a message and soon received a response. After a quick read, he pocketed his phone. He looked at Lindsey and said, ¡°Sh has indeed gone off the radar. Her husband, Andrew Lee, owns an international trading firm. He¡¯s quite wealthy and a big fan of horse riding. He invested in an equestrian club and used to go there to watch horse races. The club was called Glory International Equestrian Club. That might be your lead to finding Sh. ¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Walsh. I¡¯ll check out that tomorrow. ¡± In her excitement, Lindsey leaped up from the sofa, inadvertently sending her nket tumbling to the floor, revealing her s@xy nightgown and elegant figure. Caught off guard, Lindsey blushed, hastily retreated to her room, an d shut the door with a m. Domenic raised his eyebrows, a soft chuckle escaping him. Chapter 151 He wondered why she was shy. He had seen her whole body before. But he had to admit, that nightgown¡­ was undeniably s@xy. * The next day, Lindsey visited the Glory International Equestrian Club. However, the club¡¯s staff informed her that Andrew Lee only used the VIP entrance and rarely interacted with outsiders, unless it pertained to his business. ¡®s BunnyBookery There was, however, one exception. Victory in the club¡¯s monthly equestrianpetition granted the winner an opportunity to meet Andrew as a special guest. Equestrian was traditionally an aristocratic sport. Lindsey, whose mother came from a prominent family of officials, had been riding horses since she was two. Her natural talent was evident early on, and she even clinched a prize in a children¡¯s horse ridingpetition. But after her parents¡¯ divorce, Lindsey had abandoned equestrian pursuits. ¡°Is there absolutely no other way to meet Mr. Lee?¡± ¡°Miss, that¡¯s all I can tell you. ¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey was determined not to give up easily. She gritted her teeth and invested a significant sum to enroll in the equestrian club¡¯s training program. She utilized her free time for rigorous practice. Each day when she returned home, exhaustion overwhelmed her, leaving her with aching muscles and numerous bruises. After a week of intense training and significant improvement, Lindsey was worn out. She caught a severe cold, leading to a high fever. She woke up with her head feeling like a heavy stone, she was too dizzy to even walk properly. She found herself with no other option but to request a day off from work and make ns to visit the hospital for medication. Domenic¡¯s schedule had been hectic recently, leaving the apartment early and returningte. Lindsey hadn¡¯t caught a glimpse of him for several days. After taking a fever reducer, Lindsey became more energetic. Then she stood up and went to the hospital. As soon as Lindsey left the doctor¡¯s office, she spotted a familiar figure swiftly moving through the hospital corridor. It was Kendra. Lindsey wondered, why would Kendra be at the hospital by herself? Sensing that something was amiss, Lindsey discreetly decided to trail behind Kendra. Lindsey tailed Kendra and noticed she slipped into the gynecology department. She stopped briefly to think. Chapter 152 Knowing Kendra, she¡¯d bring Benny along for prenatal visits, especially to the obstetrics department. Yet, here was Kendra, sneaking into gynecology by herself. Was she nning to end her pregnancy? It clicked for Lindsey. Kendra wouldn¡¯t want Benny to discover the child wasn¡¯t his after birth, so she sought an abortion. Lindsey quickly snapped a few pictures of Kendra leaving the department. Once Kendra was gone, Lindsey approached the doctor Kendra had seen. ¡°Excuse me, I lost track of a friend who came to see a doctor. Did shee by here?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your friend¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Kendra Stewart. ¡± The doctor checked and replied, ¡°She¡¯s done here. You¡¯ll find her at the pharmacy for her prescription. ¡± ¡°Thanks. As Lindsey turned to leave, a thought struck her, and she asked, ¡°How¡¯s my friend doing?¡± The doctor, without hesitation, shared, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant and seeking an abortion, so she¡¯s been given medication for an abortion. ¡± Lindsey smirked. It was just as she suspected. Kendra likely nned to feign a lost pregnancy to deceive Benny. Huh. Lindsey wouldn¡¯t allow it. She was determined to expose Kendra¡¯s affair when the baby was born, as living proof of her infidelity. Meanwhile, Benny was busy at work when his phone buzzed. An anonymous message popped up, alleging Kendra was at the hospital for abortion medications, with a photo of her at the gynecologist¡¯s as proof. Stunned, veins throbbing in his hand, he dropped everything and rushed home.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Kendra knew Benny would be at work all day, leaving her alone at home. It seemed like the perfect time to end her pregnancy. If anyone asked, she¡¯d say she fell down the stairs by ident. No one would know it. Without a baby, no one could prove her infidelity. She was about to take the doctor¡¯s prescribed medication when the sound of the door lock startled her. Was Benny back so soon? Panicking, she hid the medication under the sofa cushion and sat down, trying to look calm. Chapter 153 ¡°Kendra!¡± As soon as he walked in, Benny¡¯s voice rose in anger. ¡°Benny, what¡¯s wrong? Weren¡¯t you at work? Why are you home early?¡± Kendra¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Benny stormed in, fury in his eyes, and mmed his phone on the table. The screen showed Kendra outside the gynecology department. ¡°Why were you at the gynecologist? Are you nning to get rid of our baby?¡± Kendra¡¯s heart skipped a beat. How did this photo get taken? She was the only one who knew. ¡°Benny, I would never do that. This is our first baby. I¡¯ve just been feeling off and wanted to get checked,¡± she lied, masking her guilt. ¡°Where¡¯s the medication for abortion, Kendra? Where did you put them?¡± He started searching the room, ignoring her protests. Kendra¡¯s heart raced. She bit her lip, wondering how Benny could¡¯ve known about the medication. Was she being watched? ncing around, Benny¡¯s gaze settled on Kendra. She had been perched on the sofa ever since he walked in. Squinting, he approached her and demanded, ¡°Stand up!¡± Kendra hesitated, her fear mounting. Discovery of those pills would be her ruin. ¡°Benny, I feel unwell.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. I need to sit and rest¡­¡± She mustered a look of distress. Yet, Benny seized her arm, yanking her to her feet. ¡°Stand up!¡± ¡°Benny, stop! You¡¯re hurting me. ¡± Kendra resisted fiercely, refusing to rise. Benny¡¯s suspicions grew with her resistance. He hoisted her up, inadvertently sending her crashing into the table¡¯s edge. A cut opened on her back, blood trickling down. Kendra¡¯s scream pierced the air. Benny turned a deaf ear, intent on searching the sofa, until a wrenching sob caught his attention. ¡°Benny, my belly¡­ it¡¯s in so much pain. ¡± He turned around to find Kendra on the floor, clutching her belly, agony etched on her face. Fear gripped him at the thought of losing the baby, and he rushed to her side. ¡°Kendra, are you alright?¡± ¡°Benny, haven¡¯t you seen how I¡¯ve always cared for you? You use me of abortion over a mere message. You even shoved me. How could you be so cruel? If our baby is lost, I can¡¯t go on. ¡± Chapter 154 Kendra wept uncontrobly. The truth was, her stomach hadn¡¯t even been touched. Her theatrics were a ruse to distract Benny, to keep him from discovering the pills. ¡°Kendra, I¡¯m sorry. Let¡¯s get you to the hospital immediately. ¡± Scooping her up, Benny dashed for the hospital. Kendray on the hospital bed, tears streaming down her face, while outside in the hallway, the doctor scolded Benny. He told Benny off for fighting with Kendra, stressing that pregnant women need peace. He added that it was lucky Kendra had only hurt her back. A blow to her stomach could have been disastrous for the baby. Benny nodded, his head heavy with guilt. Returning to Kendra¡¯s room, he found her crying into her pillow, overwhelmed with distress. He felt terrible for having been so harsh with her. At the engagement party, Lindsey had nted a seed of doubt, suggesting the baby might not be his. That seed had festered and, upon seeing a particr message, it bloomed into suspicion, clouding his judgment. ¡®s BunnyBookery Sitting next to her, Benny took her hand gently and suggested, ¡°Kendra, being pregnant means there¡¯s a lot you can¡¯t do. Maybe we should get a maid to look after you. It¡¯d put my mind at ease. ¡± Kendra felt a pang of worry. Why did Benny suddenly want to hire a maid? Was it out of care or was it to keep an eye on her? She wondered if he really trusted her. She thought desperately that she had to do something to end her pregnancy. ¡°I¡¯m fine on my own. We should save money for the business instead of spending it on help I don¡¯t need,¡± she protested. But Benny was resolute, his hand resting on her belly. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the business. Your job is to stay healthy and make sure our babyes into the world safely. ¡± Kendra pretended to be moved and leaned into his embrace, yet her hands were balled into fists, hidden from view. After Benny left, Kendra checked her phone to find a taunting message from Lindsey. ¡°Did you Like the little stunt I pulled? Since you im the baby is my father¡¯s, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s born, no matter what. Nobody can interfere!¡± Kendra¡¯s anger red. She wanted to hurl her phone against the wall but restrained herself. It was clear now. Lindsey was orchestrating everything. And Lindsey had made her intentions crystal clear. Once the baby arrived, Kendra knew it would alle to an end.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. She tried to stayposed, refusing to let a simple message rattle her. Since Lindsey was against the idea of an abortion, Kendra wondered what she might do instead. A mocking sneer spread across her pale lips. Lindsey, having taken some medication, had copsed onto the bed. Chapter 155 She believed this would have thrown the Stewart family into chaos. Even though Kendra had sorted this mess out swiftly, Lindsey had yed her part. If she could nt a seed of doubt in Benny¡¯s mind about Kendra, he¡¯d keep a closer watch on her. Once the child was born and a paternity test done, Kendra¡¯s excuses would fall t. That was when Benny would see who was telling the truth. Lindsey¡¯s headache was overwhelming, and eventually, sleep overtook her. After a long time, a persistent knocking roused her. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Her head was pounding as she forced herself up. The fever made her body burn with heat. She stumbled to the door. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s me. Are you there?¡± It was Domenic¡¯s voice. She opened the door to find Domenic standing there, his frown deep, worry etched in his handsome features. ¡°Mr.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Walsh, you¡¯ve returned. Is something wrong?¡± Lindsey could barely force her eyes open. Noticing her red cheeks, Domenic felt her forehead and was startled. Without waiting for Lindsey to respond, he lifted her into bed and hurried to get a thermometer. She had a high fever! ¡°You¡¯re burning up. We need to get you to a hospital,¡± he said. As he leaned down to scoop her up, Lindsey caught his wrist. Forcing her eyes open, she murmured, ¡°I¡¯ve already seen a doctor. The doctor told me it¡¯s just for three days. If I keep up with my meds, I¡¯ll be okay. ¡± Domenic spotted a bottle of medicine on the nightstand. He quickly got water from the living room, came back, and helped Lindsey swallow her pills. Her weak form on the bed, lips tinged purple from fever, stirred a deep pity in Domenic. He fetched some cold water from the bathroom, soaked a towel, folded it neatly, andid it on her forehead. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Walsh,¡± she said, her voice soft. His kind, careful attention reminded her of her mother, who, despite being busy, would nurse her through fevers with gentle patience. Chapter 156 Since her mother¡¯s fallout with her father, memories of her mother haunted her. As a kid, she never appreciated her mother¡¯s care. Even on the day her mother left, she hid in her room and did note out to see her, regardless of how her mother called for her. That regret weighed heavily on her heart. At her bedside, Domenic brushed her hair back and asked softly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me when you got this sick? If I don¡¯te home, what if you get sicker?¡± Domenic¡¯s men informed him that Lindsey had taken the day off and hadn¡¯t shown up at work. Concerned, Domenic tried calling her, but she didn¡¯t pick up. Worried, he hurried home. Lindsey bit her lip, looking like a kid caught in mischief, and murmured, ¡°You¡¯ve got your own stuff to deal with. I didn¡¯t want to bother you¡­¡± Suddenly, Domenic moved closer, his hands framing Lindsey¡¯s sides, his masculine scent enveloping her. ¡°Nothing¡¯s more important than you,¡± he assured her. ¡°Come to me whenever you need to, alright?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart fluttered. Clutching the nket to her chest, she whispered, ¡°Why?¡± He raised an eyebrow. ¡°Because you¡¯re the kitty I took in. It¡¯s my job to look after you. ¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°That¡¯s not true. You didn¡¯t take me in. Lindsey protested, her cheeks ming as she turned away. Domenic just smiled, sitting down beside her to gently clean her neck, underarms, and arms with a damp towel. When he noticed a bruise on her arm, he paused. ¡°What happened here?¡± he asked, his voice softening. Lindsey nced down at the mark. ¡°I fell during my equestrian lesson¡­ I¡¯ve been practicing hard to win the equestrianpetition, but it seems I¡¯ve overdone it. ¡± She never thought she¡¯d wear herself down before reaching thepetition. He sighed, a mix of frustration and concern in his voice. ¡°At this rate, you¡¯ll be too battered to win anything. Let yourself heal, and I¡¯ll teach you how to ride properly. ¡± ¡°You know how to ride?¡± Lindsey asked, her eyes fluttered open wide. He couldn¡¯t hide his amusement, a grin tugging at his lips as he boasted, ¡°I¡¯ve won plenty of contests before. ¡± In the following days, thanks to Domenic¡¯s attentive care, Lindsey found her strength returning quickly. Indeed, Domenic had been secretly administering a potent medicine, cleverly blending it with ordinary treatments. It was this concoction that revitalized her so rapidly. No sooner had she felt better than she was eager to have Domenic show her the ropes of horseback riding. They arrived at the racetrack, and after suiting up, Lindsey watched as Domenic approached on a majestic white horse. Domenic, donning his riding attire, looked every bit the part with a ck helmet and a snug white shirt under a formal vest. The elegant curve from his broad shoulders to his waist was entuated by his form-fitting attire, and the white pants highlighted his long legs, ending in polished ck boots that danced lightly in the stirrups. Chapter 157 He carried the air of a noble, a unique blend of grace and an aloof charisma that was all his own. To her, he was the spitting image of the fairy-tale prince she had imagined. As he reached her, Domenic smoothly dismounted and offered the horse¡¯s reins to Lindsey. ¡°A horse is a smart creature. To master riding, you need to bond with it. Go on, touch it, whisper your secrets,¡± he encouraged. Taking the reins, Lindsey caressed the horse¡¯s mane, leaning in to murmur tender words into its ear, feeling her own anxious heart begin to settle. She then presented a carrot she¡¯d brought along, offering it to the horse as a gentle bribe. Domenic had taught everything well. The horse, now gentler, even nuzzled Lindsey¡¯s face. ¡°Ready to go?¡± Domenic offered his hand, helping Lindsey onto the horse before he swung up behind her. They sat close, his arms encircling her, providing a secure embrace. He took the reins and with a gentle nudge, the horse trotted off. ¡°First, the basics,¡± he said, his voice deep and resonant by her ear, his chest aforting presence at her back. The crisp scent of snow pines filled the air, distracting her. ¡°Focus,¡± he urged, noticing her wandering attention. He yfully pinched her cheek and chuckled. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks warmed. She gathered her wits, took the reins from him, and mimicked his earlier gesture. After thirty minutes, Domenic dismounted. ¡°You know the basics. Now practice it by yourself. ¡± Lindsey climbed down. ¡°I¡¯ll be back to practice after a quick break.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Once she left, Domenic fetched a brown horse, nning to join herter. Meanwhile, a woman, guided by several people and a coach holding her reins, entered the grounds. Domenic nced at them briefly, uninterested, and stroked the brown horse¡¯s mane. Suddenly, a scream pierced the air. The woman¡¯s horse panicked and charged towards Domenic. Fear gripped the woman, draining the color from her face as she teetered on the brink of falling off her horse. Domenic, acting on instinct, swung onto his steed and galloped her way. As he whisked by, he effortlessly lifted her from her precarious position and settled her before him, reining his horse to a stop. Lindsey, arriving back, caught the unexpected sight of Domenic on horseback, a woman sped in his embrace. The woman clung to Domenic, her face buried in his chest, eyes shut tight. Chapter 158 As Domenic steered the horse towards Lindsey, their gazes met, and in a flurry, he nudged the woman away and dismounted. The woman, jolted to alertness, clutched at the reins to steady herself. Lindsey¡¯s gaze locked onto the woman, recognizing her as Kristy. Confusion swirled in her mind. What was Kristy doing here, and why was she so intimate with Domenic? A twinge of jealousy pricked at her. Domenic approached Lindsey, his words ready, but Kristy¡¯s soft tone cut through. ¡°Sir, I owe you my thanks. May I know your name to express my gratitudeter?¡± Domenic, facing her, met her challenging stare with a cial look. ¡°No need,¡± he dismissed her curtly before looping an arm around Lindsey, his demeanor instantly warming. ¡°Let¡¯s continue our practice,¡± he suggested, leading Lindsey away with a smile so starkly different from the coldness he¡¯d shown moments before. Kristy was the top actress in the film world. Everywhere she went, men would turn their heads, yet the man before her not only rescued her but also possessed a striking appearance. He rivaled, if not surpassed, the best actor, Nics, in looks. For the first time, Kristy felt an attraction stirring within her. Yet his cool, detached demeanor left her feeling overlooked, a sensation that was both new and vexing to her. ¡°Please wait!¡± she called out, halting Lindsey and Domenic in their tracks. After dismounting from the horse, Kristy hurried over to them. As she neared Domenic, she found his features seemed even more alluring. His eyes were sharp and profound. His stature was on par with a top-tier model. She marveled at his perfection, her heart racing despite being ustomed to handsome co-stars. Turning her attention to Lindsey, she inquired with a gentle smile, ¡°You¡¯re Lindsey Stewart, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey appeared surprised, not anticipating Kristy¡¯s recognition. She nodded. ¡°You know me, Miss Chase?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Kristy responded, stealing a nce at Domenic and allowing her smile to grow. ¡°I work with Vitality Entertainment too, so your name hase up. Rumors at thepany suggest you climbed the ranks by favoritism with Mr. Howard. However, I don¡¯t believe that¡¯s your style, is it? Still, it¡¯s quite the talk of the town how quickly a neer like you became an executive agent. ¡± Kristy had a charm about her, and her voice was a pleasure to listen to.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Even her sarcastic remarks came with a gentle smile. Lindsey returned the smile, her gaze fixed on Kristy¡¯s eyes. ¡°You know, there¡¯s a saying about not sweating the small stuff when you¡¯re hiring. Mr. Howard saw something in me, so he gave me a chance. People at the office can¡¯t seem to understand Mr. Howard¡¯s vision. Theye up with all sorts of nasty theories about the boss¡¯s decisions. But as the shining star of ourpany, I¡¯d think you¡¯d see things more clearly than most, in terms of both vision and thought. Wouldn¡¯t you agree, Miss Chase?¡± Kristy paused, caught off guard by Lindsey¡¯s bold retort. With a soft smile, she replied, ¡°Sure, I¡¯m not like the rest. I do believe in your potential, but I¡¯ve yet to witness it. ¡± Lindsey was neither modest nor arrogant. ¡°Patience is a virtue. Chapter 159 You¡¯ll see in time. ¡± Kristyughed a little, sidled up to Lindsey, and leaned in close. Her whisper was smooth yet unsettling. ¡°Don¡¯t bother trying so hard. I¡¯m already set to be the leaddy of Vincent¡¯s next film. ¡± Kristy knew from Jayleen that Lindsey was eyeing the lead roles in Vincent¡¯s uing movie, but she wasn¡¯t concerned. The role required riding skills, which Kristy had been learning just for this. She was sure Lindsey was practicing for the same reason. Yet it seemed Lindsey wasn¡¯t backing down. She really was in over her head. Lindsey just smiled thinly and said with a steady confidence, ¡°We¡¯ll see about that. ¡± Kristy¡¯s expression turned sour. She released Lindsey¡¯s arm and shot a nce at Domenic. His gaze was gently fixed on Lindsey, ignoring Kristy entirely. Kristy¡¯s irritation grew. She was an acimed actress, superior in both looks and talentpared to this agent. Yet, the more harder a man was to get, the more she found him intriguing. Kristy envisioned the day this man would fall for her. With this thought, she masked her annoyance with Lindsey, offering a forced smile. ¡°Since we¡¯ve bumped into each other, why not practice together?¡± But Lindsey just tilted her head and massaged her neck. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m quite exhausted. That¡¯s enough practicing for me today. Please feel free to continue. I won¡¯t get in your way. ¡± Following that, Lindsey grasped Domenic¡¯s hand and they began to leave. Domenic smiled subtly, encircling her hand with his, fingers inteced. This was the real intimacy between a couple. Kristy watched them, envy evident as she almost bit through her lip in frustration. Kristy¡¯s assistant was in disbelief, having never witnessed Kristy being upstaged. This agent called Lindsey was just too good. She was not only eloquent but also had a strong aura. Lindsey and Domenic walked hand in hand, Domenic marveling at the softness of her hand. It made him want to keep holding it forever. Once they were out of Kristy¡¯s view, however, Lindsey let go of his hand abruptly. With a snort, Lindsey said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re quite lucky today, running into Kristy. She¡¯s a top actress and seems really into you. You¡¯re not upset I didn¡¯t let you two chat longer, are you?¡± Domenic responded with a smile, ¡°Are you feeling jealous?¡± Lindsey was caught off guard and red at him after a moment. ¡°I¡¯m considering your future. If Kristy takes a liking to you, it could open doors for you. You wouldn¡¯t need to work for others or pretend to be someone¡¯s boyfriend for the day. ¡± Domenic gently held her shoulders, her riding attire still on, and steered her against the wall. He positioned his hand beside her, effectively blocking her. ¡°Lindsey, are you saying that I can be sort of kept man?¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Chapter 160 His deep voice and his scent were challenging for Lindsey to resist, causing her neck to blush. She said softly, ¡°That¡¯s not what I intended. ¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then what do you mean? So, should I go back and seek out Kristy? Well, I guess I¡¯ll go then. ¡± After saying that, Domenic turned around and was about to leave. But Lindsey quickly tugged at the corner of his coat. A satisfied smile spread across his face. Turning back, he faced Lindsey, who was standing there with a hesitant look. ¡°Don¡¯t leave¡­¡± she murmured, her head down, speaking so softly it was barely audible. ¡°What did you say? You¡¯ll have to speak up; I didn¡¯t hear that. ¡± Lindsey bit her Lip and then eximed, ¡°Don¡¯t go, I don¡¯t want you to leave. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic turned back, his eyebrows arching elegantly. He stepped closer and said softly, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t leave. ¡± Lindsey felt a warm sensation in her heart. ¡°But¡­¡± A mischievous grin crossed his face. ¡°You know, as a man, what you said earlier dented my pride. You need to¡­ make it up to me. ¡± Lindsey looked up, puzzled. ¡°How do I do that?¡± As she finished speaking, Domenic suddenly grabbed her hands and pinned her against the wall behind her. Since theirst argument, his yearning for her had grown stronger. He yearned to keep her close, despite lingering doubts in his mind. His eyes were as deep as the sea, shing with aplicated Light. He was about to ki*s her, but at thest moment, he turned his head and instead wrapped her in a warm embrace. ¡°Just let me hug you like this, okay?¡± He asked, resting his head on her shoulder, his face against her slender neck. The tickling sensation on her neck and the flutter in her heart made it impossible for Lindsey not to agree. As she nodded, Domenic tightened his embrace, as though trying to melt her into his body. It was odd that she wanted to distance herself from him. She knew she couldn¡¯t engage in intimate behavior with him anymore, but her body was unwilling to push him away. She found herself indulging in the tenderness he offered. What was she to do? It felt as though she couldn¡¯t bear to be apart from him¡­ Chapter 161 Yet, she pondered, what exactly was their rtionship? Suddenly, Lindsey snapped back to reality. She gently pushed on Domenic¡¯s shoulders, breaking the embrace. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Domenic¡¯s reluctance to let go was evident. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡­ I¡¯m not feeling well. I need to change my clothes. I¡¯ll meet you at the door in a bit. ¡± With that, Lindsey quickly freed herself from his grasp and hurried away. Domenic, left leaning against the wall, watched her retreating figure with a thoughtful look and a deep frown. She kept pushing him away. What was she really trying to escape from? Recently, under Domenic¡¯s guidance, Lindsey was bing a skilled horse rider. The equestrianpetition was around the corner, and she was set on winning. Then, out of the blue, Lindsey got a call from Kendra. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s your dad¡¯s birthday,¡± Kendra said. ¡°He¡¯s put in a lot of hard work over the years. I¡¯m throwing a party for him by the sea to celebrate. I know you just fell out with him, but he¡¯s still your dad. You might skip the usual stuff, but you can¡¯t miss this party. He raised you, Lindsey. Don¡¯t let him down again. ¡± Kendra was on a mission to convince Lindsey over the phone, and she had a point. Lindsey narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. Kendra¡¯s sudden party invitation and her insistence on her attendance seemed fishy. ¡°sure, I¡¯ll be there tomorrow night,¡± Lindsey replied with a poised smile. Now that Kendra had reached out to her, she wasn¡¯t about to say no. The party was set up on the beach, the bright lights giving it a romantic, upscale vibe. Kendra was dressed to impress in a tailor-made purple fishtail gown, her hair elegantly tied up. She was the picture of grace and fashion. The local elite flocked around her, showering her with praise and Kendra basked in it. But the party, while meant to honor Benny, was really for Lindsey. Just then, Kendra spotted someone approaching from a distance. Her smile appeared instantly as she approached Lindsey and linked arms with her. ¡°So you made it, Lindsey. Your dad and I were starting to worry. Thought maybe you were still upset and wouldn¡¯t show.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡± The surrounding onlookers nodded in agreement with Kendra¡¯s words. Chapter 162 ¡°You are family. There was no room for grudges. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s your father¡¯s birthday today. You¡¯ve got to be here for that. ¡± ¡°Just say sorry to your dad, and let bygones be bygones. Kendra¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Enough about Lindsey, everyone. She¡¯s still learning. She doesn¡¯t quite understand the sacrifices we¡¯ve made. Sure, she¡¯s had a spat with us and might still be a bit angry. ¡± ¡°But that¡¯ll pass. By the end of the day, we¡¯re family. ¡± People around Kendra murmured their admiration for her graciousness and wisdom. To them, Kendra seemed to have a bond with Lindsey that was even stronger than with her own child. It was like the row at the engagement party had simply vanished into thin air. Lindsey had to suppress a smirk. Interestingly, even the upper ss liked to act as if everything was in perfect order. Yet, Lindsey suspected Kendra¡¯s warmth hid an ulterior motive for insisting she attend the party. She was curious about what Kendra might be plotting. In the midst of it all, Benny made his way over, dressed in a handcrafted suit that exuded brilliance. He gave Lindsey a look. A flicker of the anger from theirst fallout over money still simmered in his gaze.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. But with so many eyes on them, he kept his cool and positioned himself beside Lindsey, saying nonchntly, ¡°d you¡¯re here. ¡± Lindsey forced a smile, turned around, and was about to walk away, which made Benny seem foolish. Just as Benny¡¯s patience was wearing thin, Kendra¡¯s voice rang out, full of excitement. ¡°Shelia¡¯s here!¡± At that, Lindsey halted in her tracks and spotted Shelia not too far off. Adorned in a flowing whitece dress, Shelia¡¯s skin glowed in the light. She was clinging to Jacob¡¯s arm, her smile radiant. ¡°Lindsey, there you are. ¡± Shelia approached Lindsey, a triumphant arch to her brows. ¡°Meet my boyfriend, Jacob Perry, the vice president of Ray Films. ¡± A buzz swept through the crowd, and heads turned at the mention of Ray Films. ¡°Ray Films? That¡¯s the biggest filmpany in Morcastle, isn¡¯t it? Worth over ten billion, so they say. They¡¯re behind a bunch of hit movies and shows. ¡± These people hadn¡¯t really seen much. They were just small-time business owners. To them, Ray Films was like a castle in the sky. ¡°Isn¡¯t Ray Films part of the Perry Group?¡± ¡°Are you talking about the Perry family, one of the top four elite families?¡± That revtion drew a collective gasp. They looked at Jacob not just with surprise but with reverence. To them, the top four elite families held the reins to the city. They were untouchable. Now a Perry was Shelia¡¯s boyfriend. This significantly raised the Stewart family¡¯s prestige. Chapter 163 With Jacob¡¯s backing, the Stewart family weren¡¯t facing ruin anytime soon. Suddenly, Shelia and Jacob were the stars, showered withpliments and attention. ¡°Lindsey, didn¡¯t you bring your boyfriend?¡± Shelia asked, her smile a challenge. Shelia¡¯s words triggered a memory for those around her. ¡°Right, isn¡¯t Lindsey engaged? Why didn¡¯t she bring her fianc¨¦ here with her?¡± ¡°I recall the man who was engaged to Lindsey appeared wealthy. Probably from some well-off family, I think. ¡± ¡°The two daughters of the Stewart family are set to marry into some rich families. Quite a bright future ahead for them. ¡± Listening to these conversations, Shelia¡¯s joy grew. She was determined to humiliate Lindsey today. ¡°You¡¯re all mistaken. ¡± Shelia scanned the crowd and dered, ¡°The man who got engaged to Lindsey was paid to act as her fianc¨¦. Her ex -boyfriend¡¯s a notorious womanizer. You can¡¯t me her for trying to pull one over on everyone. Lindsey, you might want to rify things for everyone to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. What¡¯s your take on that?¡± The crowd looked at Lindsey with scorn. ¡°What? So, Lindsey hired a man to y the part of a wealthy man at the engagement party? What possessed her to do something like that? She¡¯s just overly obsessed with appearances. No wonder she fell out with her family. If she were my daughter, I¡¯d give her a couple of good ps. ¡± ¡°But Shelia managed to secure the Perry family¡¯s son, a_ true gentleman. ¡± Listening to these discussions, a gentle smile graced Lindsey¡¯s Lips. She didn¡¯t get mad. But her reaction triggered anger in Shelia, who felt like her efforts were in vain. ¡°Yes, given that you all know my ex-boyfriend¡¯s a jerk, why would you expect me to be engaged to him?¡± Lindsey scanned the room and spoke calmly but promptly turned the situation around. Kendra exined, ¡°Lindsey, we only learned of this at your engagement party. There was still a serene grin at the edges of Lindsey¡¯s lips. ¡°Is that so? I remember that Chayce went to see you before the engagement party and even wanted to molest you, didn¡¯t he? He imed he had too much to drink that night, but I have a question for everyone. Which husband would do something with his mother-inw just because he was drunk? Doesn¡¯t this say a lot about his character? Yet, Kendra, you never mentioned it to me and went ahead with the engagement party as nned. Are you daring to im that this wasn¡¯t intentional on your part?¡± Kendra¡¯s face paled. She had aimed to embarrass Lindsey, but now she was entangled in the mess. All eyes shifted to Kendra. Lindsey¡¯s words held some weight. In situations like this, Kendra should have questioned Chayce¡¯s moral character. If Kendra genuinely had Lindsey¡¯s best interests at heart, she should have looked into Chayce to some extent. Considering Lindsey uncovered Chayce¡¯s true nature, how could Kendra have missed it?Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. It seemed clear Kendra chose not to delve into Chayce¡¯s background. Chapter 164 Lindsey wasn¡¯t Kendra¡¯s biological daughter. Despite Kendra¡¯s pretense of being a devoted wife and mother, she didn¡¯t wish for Lindsey¡¯s happiness. Naturally, a stepmother couldn¡¯t quite measure up to a biological mother. Kendra was undoubtedly looking forward to having a good chuckle at Lindsey. What someone wore on their face didn¡¯t always match what lurked in their heart. Women like that could be incredibly terrifying. The ongoing conversations swiftly drained the color from Kendra¡¯s face. Lindsey had quite the way with words. She could swiftly shift the me onto her and object her to public scrutiny. Even Jacob, witnessing this, showed signs of disapproval at Kendra. Kendra didn¡¯t care what others thought of her, but she couldn¡¯t stop her dear daughter from tying the knot with someone from the Perry family. Kendra hurriedly moved closer, gripping Lindsey¡¯s hand. A hint of tearfulness crept into Kendra¡¯s voice. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s true that I made a mistake in this situation. I know how much you care for Chayce. I was worried you¡¯d be heartbroken, so I wanted to offer him a chance to change his ways. You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I didn¡¯t mean to keep it from you. I care a whole lot about what you think. ¡± Kendra¡¯s talent for acting did well in helping people see things from her perspective and garner sympathy. At that moment, Benny stepped in. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s about time. Everybody, grab a seat. ¡± Upon hearing this, the gathering politely scattered and took their seats at the beachside banquet tables. At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, the birthday party began. Suddenly, the surrounding lights gleamed brilliantly, ramping the atmosphere to its peak. Benny lifted his ss in gratitude to all who had gathered to celebrate his birthday. After a few complimentary words, he drank the wine in his ss. The sweet sounds of music filled the air at a leisurely pace. By the banquet tables, a group of musicians skillfully yed their violins, crafting a scene of harmony and beauty. Sitting across from Lindsey, Kendra suddenly spoke gently, ¡°Lindsey, I can¡¯t have a drink while I¡¯m pregnant. Could you please call a waiter and get me a ss of water?¡± The guests turned their attention to Lindsey. With a pleasant smile, Lindsey agreed, ¡°Of course. ¡±Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey rose from her seat and departed. A littleter, she returned with a ss of water and extended it to Kendra. ¡°Thank you. ¡± Having taken a few sips of water, Kendra set the ss aside and resumed conversing with the guests. Lindsey¡¯s gaze fell on the water ss, her expression turning solemn. ¡°How about we head over there and toast to Benny?¡± The guests rose with their sses in hand, vacated their chairs, and made their way toward Benny. Kendra locked eyes with Lindsey, and a mncholy smile yed on Kendra¡¯s lips. ¡°Lindsey, you can¡¯t defeat me. ¡± After uttering those words, Kendra abruptly clutched her stomach and tumbled from her chair. ¡°Help! Please help! My belly hurts so much. ¡± Chapter 165 Benny, still basking in the warmth of congrattory toasts and smiles, was jolted by Kendra¡¯s piercing cry. He quickly set his ss aside and made his way to Kendra. The other guests also turned their attention to themotion. Benny made his way through the onlookers and found Kendra, her face ghostly, clutching her stomach. He wrapped his arms around her, his expression etched with fear. ¡°Kendra, what¡¯s happening to you?¡± Kendra weakly pointed at Lindsey, who was seated at the other end of the table. ¡°I just felt so thirsty, and after I drank some water Lindsey gave me, this awful pain in my belly started. ¡± As she spoke, Kendra doubled over with another spasm, gripping Benny¡¯s sleeve, her tears flowing unrestrained, her distress unmistakable. Shelia, pushing her way through the crowd, pointed usingly at Lindsey and bellowed, ¡°She wants to stop my mom from having this baby. She must¡¯ve spiked the water, trying to end the pregnancy. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve overlooked your past insults, but this is a baby, an innocent life, potentially your sibling. How could you even think to harm it? You¡¯re so cruel. ¡± Kendra sobbed. Instantly, all eyesnded on Lindsey, filled with a mix of shock, scorn, disgust, and fear. ¡°How could she stoop so low? Isn¡¯t that the same as murder?¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably scared the baby will one day challenge her for the family property. She couldn¡¯t tarnish Kendra¡¯s reputation before, and now she¡¯s stooping to drugging her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to believe someone as pretty and sweet-Looking as Lindsey could harbor such malice. ¡± Benny¡¯s eyes reddened with fury as he fixed his gaze on Lindsey, raising his voice. ¡°Lindsey Stewart, have you lost your mind?¡± Lindsey returned a frosty look, her gaze sweeping over the two figures on the ground, choosing to remain silent. ¡°If it turns out the baby is gone, I¡¯m taking you to the police, and you¡¯re no longer a daughter to me. I refuse to acknowledge a cruel and ungrateful child,¡± Benny dered, his re intensifying.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Despite Lindsey¡¯s past anger towards him, Benny had always held her dear as his daughter. However, today, she had crossed a line with her scandalous act. If the much-longed-for child was indeed lost, Benny¡¯s affection for Lindsey would turn to utter disdain. Shelia, witnessing the scene, couldn¡¯t suppress a smirk. She turned to Jacob and clung to his arm, not missing the chance to defame Lindsey further. ¡°Mr. Perry, you see? I was right about her. Lindsey¡¯s not just wicked. She¡¯s malicious. She¡¯s caused trouble for me and my mother before. Now, she¡¯s even turned against an unborn child. Despicable, isn¡¯t she?¡± Jacob scoffed dismissively, ¡°I¡¯ve encountered my share of such women. Chapter 166 Lucky for her, she didn¡¯t seed before. ¡± In Jacob¡¯s eyes, Shelia seemed almost innocent and endearingpared to Lindsey. ¡°I need to get Kendra to the hospital. We¡¯ll settle thister,¡± Benny said, scooping Kendra up with a stern look at Lindsey. Just as he was about to leave, Lindsey¡¯s calm and clear voice stopped him. ¡°Kendra¡¯s baby is fine.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡± Benny halted, turning back in surprise. ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said her baby is fine. ¡± Then, Lindsey got up from her seat slowly. Her gaze swept through the crowd without much interest, Landing on Kendra, who was held by Benny. Lindsey said, ¡°The ss of water I was supposed to give her was spiked with something to terminate a pregnancy, but¡­ I switched it out. ¡± Her words left everyone exchanging puzzled looks. It was Lindsey who switched the substance? What was this twist about? And who actually spiked the water? Lindsey circled the table, moving towards Benny and Kendra. Under the bright lights, her eyes sparkled even more. Somehow, Lindsey now held a ss of water that looked just Like the one Kendra had sipped from. She lifted the ss, swirling it slowly. Lindsey announced, ¡°This is the drink I grabbed from the server. Not sure if it¡¯s been tampered with, but I¡¯ve called the cops. They¡¯ll figure it out when they get here. ¡± She nced at the ss Kendra had used. ¡°The drink Kendra had? I topped it off myself. It¡¯s just got a bit of axative in it. ¡± Lindsey had suspected Kendra was nning a double-cross at her own party to set Lindsey up. That¡¯s why Lindsey hade prepared with axative, just in case. Without such precautions, she wouldn¡¯t have riskeding to Kendra¡¯s party alone. Kendra¡¯s attempt was so predictable, it hardly fazed Lindsey. Right then, Kendra¡¯s look was livid. The pain in her belly had eased, reced by an urgent need to use the restroom. Desperate, she tightened up and leaped from Benny¡¯s hold. The moment Kendra hit the ground, an unpleasant odor emanated from her. Chapter 167 ¡°What¡¯s that awful smell?¡± A guest covered her nose and asked with a frown. Everyone¡¯s eyes fell on Kendra. Some guests couldn¡¯t suppress theirughter. Overwhelmed with humiliation, Kendra let out a hysterical scream, covered her face, and dashed towards a distant restroom. ¡°Mom!¡± Shelia called out, following her with concern. Lindsey turned to Benny and said, ¡°You might want to check on her. If anything happens in the restroom, I can¡¯t be held responsible.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Benny¡¯s forehead veins bulged in frustration. Such an embarrassing incident at his own birthday party was unthinkable! He red at Lindsey and snapped, ¡°What the hell is this mess? How could the waiter put the abortifacient in her water?! You better give me a clear exnation, or you¡¯re not leaving!¡± Lindsey calmly responded, ¡°Kendra organized this birthday party, and she arranged the waitstaff. I just came here as her guest. Why would I be involved in something like this? You might want to question your wife about her n to terminate her pregnancy and me me. If I hadn¡¯t spotted her scheme early and swapped the abortifacient with axative, you will never know if the baby she¡¯s carrying belongs to you. You might have even ended our rtionship. ¡± Benny¡¯s face suddenly turned gloomy and horrible. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re wise. Think about it. Don¡¯t let Kendra fool you again. ¡± Hearing Lindsey¡¯s words, Benny looked towards where Kendra had gone, his brow creased, and he headed towards the restroom. Eventually, the police showed up. They gathered information from the attendees and quickly requested the two sses of water for testing. The result came out quickly, confirming Lindsey¡¯s statement. However, the waiter who had served water to Lindsey had mysteriously disappeared. The party, being on a beach without surveince, left no avenues for further investigation. In the end, the police had no choice but to leave the case unresolved. Once the dramatic scene at the party concluded, Lindsey, having cleared her name, departed amidst the crowd¡¯s admiration. People couldn¡¯t help but marvel at howposed, intelligent, courageous, and impressive Lindsey was. In contrast, Kendra¡¯s image suffered greatly. Her n had backfired spectacrly, leaving everyone wondering how she would handle the aftermath. After leaving the party, Lindsey chose not to go home but instead strolled along the beach. Bathed in moonlight, the beach was serene, with the waves softly caressing her ankles. Lost in thought, Lindsey wandered aimlessly. Despite her victory today, she couldn¡¯t find any joy in it because she had suffered significant losses. Her heart was left with scars that could not be easily healed. Chapter 168 Feeling somewhat downcast, she pulled out her phone, contemting calling Domenic but hesitated, not wanting to bother him repeatedly. Eventually, she dialed her best friend, Nancy. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s going on? Do you miss me?¡± Nancy¡¯s voice had a cheerful and gentle tone. She had been Lindsey¡¯s solepanion for many years. Lindsey¡¯s nose twitched slightly, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel sentimental. ¡°Yes, I miss you too. ¡± ¡°Why so mushy all of a sudden? I¡¯m not used to this. Just to be clear, I don¡¯t want to be a lesbian!¡± Nancy yfully teased her, noticing Lindsey¡¯s somber tone. As expected, it drew augh from Lindsey. ¡°f@ck off. Did you run into Mercer recently?¡± She had been meaning to ask Nancy about it, but with her recent busy schedule, she hadn¡¯t found the time to give her a call. ¡®s BunnyBookeryContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Nancy sighed and said, ¡°Yes, I did, but he thought I was a crazy fan and ran away in a hurry. ¡± ¡°When did you start to have a crush on him?¡± Lindsey inquired, intrigued. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. He just¡­ gives me a special feeling in a unique way. I¡¯m not giving up on him. ¡± Respecting Nancy¡¯s reluctance to talk about it, Lindsey didn¡¯t ask for details. They continued their conversation for a bit before saying goodbye. Feeling a bit more cheerful, Lindsey decided to head back. Unaware, she walked past a unique beach car parked a short distance away. Inside, Domenic sat with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the door, watching her with a look of concern in his eyes. Arturo was in the passenger seat, his eyes following Domenic¡¯s. He broke into a teasing smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see enough of her at the birthday banquet just now? And now you¡¯re following her here. ¡± Tell me, Domenic, have you fallen for her or what?¡± He was leaving for Blosa the next day and had called Domenic out for a night together. But Domenic had been distracted all evening. He¡¯d heard Lindsey was at the party and, knowing the beef between her, Kendra, and Shelia, he worried something might go down. So he¡¯d dragged Arturo out under a flimsy pretext, both of them keeping a covert watch on the party to make sure Lindsey was okay. Arturo continued, grinning, ¡°She really is something. She flipped the situation all on her own and made thatdy wet herself with embarrassment. Man, that was hrious. ¡± Domenic turned his sharp gaze to Arturo. Arturo¡¯sughter died, and he leaned in, his voice dropping to a grave note. ¡°Be careful with a woman like her. They¡¯re tricky to handle. A little fun now and then is okay, but don¡¯t get tangled up. She could cling to you. ¡± Domenic shrugged off the warning. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about her clinging. ¡± Arturo looked surprised. ¡°Not worried? But what about your grandpa Jordan? I hear he¡¯s dead set on a certain type of woman for his granddaughter-inw. Someone from the right background. You think he¡¯d be cool with you dating Lindsey?¡± Domenic gave him an icy look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. ¡± Then something seemed to hit him, and he quirked an eyebrow. ¡°By the way, do you know whose news I¡¯ve got recently?¡± Chapter 169 ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Sh Potter. ¡± Arturo¡¯s good looks stiffened for a moment. Domenic pped him on the back, saying, ¡°The matter you want to know about should have results soon. ¡± Shelia escorted Kendra all the way home. The moment Kendra stepped inside, Benny struck her hard. She fell to the floor, her hair a tangled veil over her face. A trickle of red blood stained her pale Lips. ¡°Dad! Why did you hit Mom?¡± Shelia eximed, stunned. Benny¡¯s pent-up fury erupted. He red at Kendra on the floor and demanded, ¡°Out with it, Kendra! What really happened tonight? Did you conspire with the waiter to spike the drink, trying to lose the baby and pin it on Lindsey?¡± ¡°Dad, what are you saying? Mom¡¯s carrying your baby. She wouldn¡¯t do that!¡± Shelia argued, reaching to grab Benny¡¯s arm, only to be shrugged off. ¡°Perhaps Lindsey¡¯s right. Maybe that child isn¡¯t mine. Tell me, what¡¯s going on between you and Chayce? Are you cheating on me?¡± Kendra dashed to Benny and clutched at his trousers, tears streaming down her face as she yelled, ¡°Benny, Lindsey¡¯s using me of things I didn¡¯t do. How could you take her word over mine? I¡¯m at a loss about tonight¡¯s events. It seems like Lindsey orchestrated this mess just to drive a wedge between us. She¡¯s pulled off stunts like this before, you know!¡± Benny pushed her back, a frosty look in his eyes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the own who organized the party tonight? Didn¡¯t you hire the waiters?N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. You¡¯re pointing fingers at Lindsey for everything. Are you really that innocent?¡± Kendra was at a loss for how she¡¯d lost Benny¡¯s trust. But with Shelia marrying into the Perry family soon, giving her a way out, Kendra didn¡¯t have to cling to her title as Mrs. Stewart. But now, she wasn¡¯t ready to let go. Her gazended on the edge of the round table. With a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, she looked at Benny and cried out, ¡°If you doubt me this much, I might as well be dead!¡± With those words, she lunged toward the table corner, striking her forehead against it. Suddenly, a red wound was shed open, pouring out blood. Benny froze, shocked by her rash action. Shelia hurried to Kendra, helping her up, and turned to Benny, tears in her eyes, ¡°Dad, can¡¯t you see mom¡¯s at her breaking point, and you¡¯re still using her? If you let her die, Lindsey will have won. She wants to see the end of both mom and me!¡± Benny¡¯s thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, unable to discern the truth from the lies. Seeing Benny hesitate, Shelia¡¯s frustration and worry boiled over. She screamed at him, ¡°Dad, what are you doing? Call an ambnce, now!¡± Chapter 170 An hour had passed when Kendra¡¯s eyes fluttered open. Her forehead now sported stitches and was neatly bandaged. The blood she had lost left herplexion ghostly and gave her an air of vulnerability. Benny¡¯s earlier fury had faded. sping her hand, he inquired, his voiceced with worry, ¡°Kendra, how are you feeling?¡± Tears welled up in Kendra¡¯s eyes once more. She averted her gaze, refusing to look at him. ¡°Why do you bother with me if you don¡¯t trust me?¡± she murmured through her sobs, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡®s BunnyBookery Guilt washed over Benny, and he med himself. ¡°I overreacted earlier and said things I shouldn¡¯t have. Ever since I heard about your visit to the gynecologist and got that message about the abortion, I¡¯ve been on edge, so¡­¡± Kendra¡¯s tears didn¡¯t stop. Gently, Benny stroked her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve decided. We¡¯ll get a maid to help with the chores. You¡¯ll stay home and focus on the baby, no need to step out unless it¡¯s necessary. ¡± A pang of fear struck Kendra. Was he nning to confine her at home?N?velDrama.Org holds this content. She faced him, disbelief coloring her tone. ¡°Benny, do you really not trust me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about trust. It¡¯s just too risky out there. I can¡¯t bear the thought of something happening to you. You do want to have this baby safely, right? Then please, do as I say. ¡± Benny was unsure who to trust anymore. He decided that once the baby arrived, he¡¯d get a paternity test to settle things. Until then, he nned to keep a close watch on Kendra, just in case. Kendra, meanwhile, was hiding her agitation. She nodded in agreement to Benny¡¯s ns, trying to seem calm to put him at ease. After Benny had left, Kendra hurriedly brought Shelia aside and asked with urgency, ¡°Where is Jacob now? I hope he¡¯s not making a big deal out of tonight¡¯s events. ¡± Kendra¡¯s hopes were now pinned on Shelia. If Shelia married into the Perry family, Kendra could finally be free of Benny and live the life she wanted. Shelia reassured her with aforting grip, ¡°Jacob had to rush out for work after a call came in. But don¡¯t worry. He didn¡¯t get suspicious. In fact, he thinks Lindsey is the troublemaker. ¡± Hearing this, Kendra¡¯s tension eased. ¡°So, how are things between you two? Have you discussed marriage?¡± Shelia¡¯s mood dipped. ¡°It¡¯s not happening yet. Jacob¡¯s a yboy. He¡¯s always surrounded by women. But now, I¡¯m the one he¡¯s officially with. ¡± Kendra patted Shelia¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You¡¯re smart to see it that way. It¡¯s not unusual for wealthy men to y the field. But being his wife is what counts. That¡¯s what secures a woman¡¯s future. ¡± Shelia agreed, ¡°I understand, mom. Don¡¯t worry about me. You should rest. ¡± Shelia gave a nod, trying to seempliant, yet her gaze quickly turned cold and vicious. ¡°Lindsey¡¯s the reason for all your troubles! I won¡¯t let her off the hook!¡± Kendra quickly intervened, ¡°Right now, you need to focus on locking down your marriage to Jacob. That¡¯s what matters. Leave Lindsey to me. Don¡¯t stir up any more trouble. ¡± Chapter 171 She understood her daughter¡¯s limitations. Shelia¡¯s cunning couldn¡¯t match Lindsey¡¯s.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Any rash moves might jeopardize Shelia¡¯s chances with Jacob, which would be a costly mistake. Shelia couldn¡¯t grasp Kendra¡¯s caution. With Jacob supporting her, she felt more than capable of handling Lindsey. Yet, to ease her mother¡¯s concerns, she feigned agreement. ¡°Alright, I understand. ¡± Later that evening, Olivia beckoned Shelia for a night out. The day¡¯s events had soured Shelia¡¯s mood. With Kendra asleep, she eagerly epted Olivia¡¯s offer and hopped into a taxi to meet her at the bar. ¡®s BunnyBookery Oliver was feeling uneasy. Ever since theirst encounter, Shelia had poured her efforts into Jacob, declining Olivia¡¯s invitations repeatedly. Now, with the hospital pressing for payment for her grandmother¡¯s uing surgery, Olivia needed to meet Shelia desperately. She had to pry into the truth of that night from Shelia tonight. Olivia invited some attractive men to join their drinking session, continuously filling Shelia¡¯s ss. Before long, Shelia began to feel the effects of the alcohol. ¡°Shelia, is Lindsey, the girl you met at the restaurant, your sister?¡± Olivia asked, pouring another ss of wine for her. Shelia downed the drink in one swift motion. ¡°Don¡¯t bring up Lindsey. I can¡¯t stand her! She is a bitch!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you have a problem with her? She seems pretty pure and honest to me. ¡± ¡°Lindsey is far from pure! She¡¯s a f@cking whore who got nailed by some random dude!¡± Shelia¡¯s voice rose with anger as she spoke about Lindsey. ¡°Oh my! I really want to hear more. Tell me, please. ¡± Olivia disyed a keen curiosity when it came to gossip. ¡°This story always makes meugh. ¡± With a chuckle, Shelia dr@ped her arm over Olivia¡¯s shoulder and whispered something into her ear. Olivia cringed at the strong smell of alcohol on Shelia¡¯s breath, but Shelia seemed oblivious. She continued with pride, ¡°Lindsey once dated this guy, Chayce Burton. Turns out, he was only after her family¡¯s money. He wasn¡¯t interested in Lindsey and didn¡¯t want to be intimate with her. So, he drugged her, hoping to trick her into thinking they¡¯d been sleeping together by getting a homeless man to r@pe her! However, when Lindsey woke up, she realized it wasn¡¯t Chayce who had approached her, so she quickly escaped. The medicine was meant for animals, and it was a strong dose. She likely wouldn¡¯t have made it through the night without having s@x. In the end, she stumbled upon a random man for some intimacy. Her boyfriend didn¡¯t like her, and she was given drugs against her will. She wanted to get away, but she couldn¡¯t. In the end she was s@xually assaulted by a stranger. Isn¡¯t that awful? Hahaha¡­¡± Sheliaughed loudly, clearly agitated by Lindsey¡¯s actions earlier in the evening. She¡¯d been drinking more due to her sour mood, which made her speak more freely than usual. But she wasn¡¯t making this up; Kendra had told her these things. Still, Kendra kept secrets from Shelia. She didn¡¯t reveal that she and Chayce had plotted to hurt Lindsey or that she¡¯d been having an affair with Chayce all along, keeping him away from Lindsey. ¡°When did all this happen?¡± Olivia probed further. ¡°I guess it was around June, right before I graduated. ¡± ¡°At the Harmony Hotel?¡± Chapter 172 ¡°Yes, it was at the Harmony Hotel. How did you figure it out?¡± Shelia suddenly turned to Olivia with a look of suspicion. Olivia quickly changed the subject, ¡°It¡¯s just a wild guess. Oh, it¡¯s ridiculous. Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend didn¡¯t want to be intimate with her and went to the extent of plotting something to change that. I believe her unpleasant personality andck of charm might be keeping men away from her. ¡± ¡°You are right!¡± Shelia agreed, clearly inebriated. Olivia couldn¡¯t help but smile. She found Shelia naive and foolish, easily manipted into revealing everything. Recently, Olivia had been learning about hypnosis, thinking she might need to use it to get information from Shelia. But seeing how Sheliacked sharpness, Olivia realized those techniques were unnecessary. She thought if that mysterious man knew how easily this went, he might regret offering a million for the task! Olivia let out a littleugh and kept pouring more drinks for Shelia. ¡°Hey, let¡¯s keep the party going!¡± The next evening, Domenic was in the CEO¡¯s office at the building of Walsh Group, going through papers, he got an unexpected call from one of his subordinates. ¡°Boss, Olivia mentioned she looked into it, and I¡¯ve sent the recording to your email. ¡± Domenic¡¯s hand, gripping the pen, suddenly froze. He looked up, and there were two intense fiery gleams in his eyes, slowly turning a touch of scarlet. He quickly checked his private email and yed the recording from his subordinate¡­ Olivia shared everything she had learned from Shelia with him. Domenic¡¯s gaze started to shift, and he had been considering the chance that Lindsey might have been set up. With the facts right in front of him, the heavy load on his heart had finally lifted. As the truth came to light, his doubts about Lindsey disappeared. He felt a tad guilty for having misunderstood Lindsey before. th ki*ses on her cheeks and lips, and do whatever it took to keep her safe from harm. At this very moment, his longing for her knew no bounds. Tomorrow marked the equestrianpetition, and Lindsey returned homete after training. When she opened the door, she found Domenic sitting on the sofa, legs crossed, casually smoking a cigarette and seeming cheerful. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you seem very happy. What¡¯s up?¡± She approached him, her clear eyes locked onto his. With a smile, Domenic looked up at her and said, ¡°I¡¯m happy to have discovered something I¡¯ve always been curious about. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. I¡¯m happy for you!¡± Next, Lindsey headed towards the bathroom, saying, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the big day for the equestrianpetition. I need to go to bed early and get a good night¡¯s sleep Mr.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Walsh, if you are free tomorrow, you should watch thepetition!¡± As she sshed water on her face, Lindsey called out. Chapter 173 However, as she dried her face and nced at the mirror, she spotted Domenic standing behind her.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. He had one hand in his pocket and was leaning against the door. The tall, slender man stood silhouetted against the light. The brightness outlined his handsome profile in a golden hue. Domenic¡¯s attire was a white shirt, casually unbuttoned at the cor. From her viewpoint, Lindsey could see his Adam¡¯s apple, which appeared alluring. In some way, Lindsey sensed that he was gazing at her with even more affection than before. ¡°Mr. Walsh, why did you approach without making a sound? You gave me a bit of a shock. ¡± Lindsey gazed at him through the mirror and realized he had been silently watching her. She then asked in a soft voice, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. ¡± A faint smile crossed Domenic¡¯s lips. ¡°Since you¡¯re not saying anything, why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something dirty on my face?¡± Lindsey examined herself in the mirror and noticed her face was incredibly smooth. There was nothing amiss on her skin. Domenic pressed his thin Lips together, lowered his head, and released a captivating chuckle. Narrowing her eyes, she spun around and approached him. Tilting her head to the side, she gazed up at him and remarked, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re acting strange today. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Domenic cast his gaze downward. ¡°You¡¯ve been gazing at me with that silly grin. ¡± A frown creased Lindsey¡¯s brow. Hearing this, Domenicughed heartily. He touched his nose, then gently ced his hand on Lindsey¡¯s shoulder, gazing into her clear, beautiful eyes. ¡°I need to apologize for the other day. ¡± ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Regarding the question I posed after your Lunch with Sumner, I got it all wrong. ¡± Lindsey instantly understood what he was referring to. Her cheeks flushed. He had ki*sed her that day and questioned her about being intimate with other men. She hung her head and nibbled on her lip. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. What happened that day is in the past. ¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not upset? Then why did you keep pushing me away?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ we are only friends. ¡± Her head was lowered as far as it could go, and she didn¡¯t exude any confidence in her voice. Domenic leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her blushing ear as he whispered, ¡°What if I say I no longer want to be just friends with you?¡± Lindsey abruptly lifted her head, staring at the man before her in disbelief. What did he mean by that? If he didn¡¯t want to be friends, then what was his intention with her? Chapter 174 As the implication of his words dawned on her, her cheeks zed even redder. Her thoughts were jumbled, and she felt lost on how to reply to him, resorting to feigning ignorance. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m not sure what you¡¯re getting at. But I need to get some sleep. I can¡¯t afford any mistakes in tomorrow¡¯s equestrianpetition. ¡± After saying that, Lindsey rushed back to her room, her face flushed, and shut the door behind her. She pressed her body against it, and the fast thump of her heart was unmistakable. She couldn¡¯t let herself fall for him. Domenic was just caught up in the moment.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. He didn¡¯t know her past. If he did, he would surely turn away from her. When she fell in love with him wholeheartedly, it felt like she had exposed her vulnerability. Her heart would be as delicate as a ss, easily susceptible to pain with even the slightest touch. Having gone through it once, she couldn¡¯t muster the courage to go through it again. Lindsey shut her eyes and made an effort to soothe herself. With thepetition approaching tomorrow, shepelled herself not to dwell on anything else. As for Domenic¡¯s words, she decided to act as if she hadn¡¯t heard them. The next morning. Lindsey rose early and swung open the door. A delightful aroma weed her, and when she nced up, she spotted a lovely and mouthwatering breakfast spread on the marble table. As she approached the dining table, Domenic emerged from the kitchen and ced a finely decorated china te on the table. To her delight, the te contained her favorite caviar paired with exquisite foie gras. ¡°Well, did you prepare all these?¡± Lindsey blinked her bright eyes as she gazed at Domenic. He removed his beige apron and dr@ped it over the back of the chair. Afterward, he pulled out the chair and took a seat. He lifted his head and let out a chuckle. ¡°If I didn¡¯t prepare these, would they have magically appeared?¡± She stared at him in a mixture of astonishment and admiration. ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± A faint frown creased his brow. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ You¡¯re not secretly a professional chef at a restaurant, are you?¡± Domenic was at a loss for words. This woman¡¯s imagination consistently left him amazed. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Dig in. You¡¯ve got thepetition today, and you need all the energy you can get when you¡¯re full. ¡± Domenic picked up the fork and started eating gracefully. Lindsey quietly pulled out a chair across from him and sat down, stealing nces at him. She pondered whether he had risen early to prepare this lovely breakfast because of herpetition. Lindsey was touched, but simultaneously, a tinge of sadness crept in. Chapter 175 The kinder Domenic was to her, the more she couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of shame. This mixed feeling had been in her heart until they were done eating. They didn¡¯t mention the previous night¡¯s conversation, acting like it never happened. Domenic stood up, his gaze softening as he looked at Lindsey. ¡± won¡¯t go to work today. I¡¯lle with you to thepetitionter. Lindsey, somewhat absentmindedly, agreed and began tidying up the kitchen and tableware. As she was finishing the dishes, Domenic, now changed, stood in the living room. He was dressed casually in a ck T-shirt and white sports pants. He looked rxed, easygoing, and approachable. In the neatly organized kitchen, all the utensils were put away. Lindsey, drying her hands on her apron after washing the final dish, noticed her hands were a bit red from the cold water. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t bother with chores next time. ¡± Domenic approached her, took her hands, and warmed them with hisrge palms. His eyes were full of tenderness. Domenic believed that the cleaning staff could manage the household tasks, negating the need for them to do it. Lindsey, smiling softly, replied, ¡°We¡¯re living together now, so we should split the chores. Like, you cook and I¡¯ll do the dishes. I think that¡¯s fair. ¡± Domenic¡¯s smile widened. He yfully tapped her nose with his finger and said, ¡°You¡¯re so considerate. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face suddenly flushed because of his touch. She removed her apron, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. ¡°We should get going. We¡¯re runningte.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡± Domenicughed lightly and followed her out. The Glory International Equestrian Club was a top-tier facility in Morcastle, known for its prestigious equestrian events. Today marked the monthly equestrianpetition, and spectators were steadily making their way into the club. The club granted free ess only to its VIP members. Anyone else eager to watch thepetition had to pay steeply for admission. Each ticket cost upwards of ten thousand, a sum well beyond what average individuals could afford. The audience gathered to witness the horsemanshipprised of business leaders and nobility. Their attendance was more about socializing and entertainment during their leisure time than a pure love for equestrian sports. Lindsey had invested significantly in her training at the club, ultimately securing her ce in thepetition. Winning the event promised not only a handsome mary prize but also a year-long free VIP membership to the club, abination that drew a wide array of participants. Chapter 176 As Lindsey and Domenic approached the entrance to thepetition area, they noticed it was bustling with people. Lindsey came to a sudden halt. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Domenic paused as well. Lindsey admitted, ¡°I wasn¡¯t anxious during practice, but now that I¡¯m here at the event, I suddenly feel quite nervous. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s all in good fun. Just remember the techniques I showed you. You¡¯ll do great,¡± Domenic reassured her gently. Lindsey nodded, psyching herself up. Just as she was about to enter, an all-too-familiar, irksome voice reached her ears. ¡°Lindsey? What brings you here?¡± Lindsey nced back and spotted Shelia and Jacob standing together. Shelia was elegantly dressed in an elegant pink outfit. She held her head high and cast a contemptuous gaze toward Lindsey. Though not yet part of the Perry family, she already carried the air of an arrogant richdy. It was indeed true that Opponents always met. Lindsey sighed secretly. She didn¡¯t want to causeplications, so she only responded indifferently, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be here?¡± Shelia, smirking, moved in closer to Jacob, gripping his arm tightly. ¡°Lindsey, are you even eligible to enter the club? Are you a VIP here or do you have an admission ticket?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have either of the two things you mentioned,¡± Lindsey replied calmly. Hearing this, Shelia was even morecent. Her gazended on Domenic, dressed casually and standing beside Lindsey.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She gave him a quick once-over before snorting, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve been saying for a while now that you should be with someone capable. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be stuck at the entrance, without even the qualifications to enter. Look at Mr. Perry here. He¡¯s a young, up-anding VIP of this club. We got our entry for free!¡± Jacob was adorned in famous brands from head to toe. He made a show of checking his luxurious watch, his eyes gleaming with a sense of superiority. Lindsey remained unbothered. With a smile, she said, ¡°I find you quite pitiful, Shelia. You always need men to get what you want. What are you going to do if you can¡¯t hook up with any man one day? I doubt you could even get into the club, much less watch thepetition. ¡± ¡°You!¡± Shelia¡¯s face flushed with rage at Lindsey¡¯s words. She wished she could silence Lindsey forever. Lindsey gently took Domenic¡¯s arm and, with a charming smile, said, ¡°I¡¯m not like you. I have the skills to enter on my own, and I can bring my man along too. You, on the other hand, will never manage to do that. ¡± Looking at the woman who was leaning close to him intimately, Domenic raised his eyebrows slightly. Chapter 177 Had Lindsey just acknowledged him as her man? Shelia, convinced Lindsey was just boasting, pointed to herself and yelled, ¡°Stop exaggerating, Lindsey! If you get into the club without needing a VIP membership or tickets, I¡¯ll bow down and apologize to you!¡± Shelia yed right into Lindsey¡¯s hands by being so upfront, giving Lindsey the perfect chance to show off. ¡°You said it yourself. Stick to your word. ¡± With that, Lindsey led Domenic over to the staff at the entrance. ¡°Ma¡¯am, sir, could I see your VIP passes or tickets, please?¡± Shelia stood by, arms folded, eager to see Lindsey embarrass herself. From what Shelia understood, this equestrian club had strict rules about entry to the races. There wasn¡¯t another way to get in without a VIP membership or a ticket. She was curious how Lindsey would get around that. Casually, Lindsey fished out an ID badge from her bag and showed it to the staff. Once they confirmed her picture, they handed it back. ¡°Oh, you¡¯repeting. And this gentleman?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my assistant. He¡¯s here for thepetition with me. ¡± The staff understood;petitors could have assistants. They scanned the badge and opened the gate. ¡°Right this way, please. ¡± Shelia was floored. She had assumed Lindsey was just another spectator, not a contestant. How on earth was Lindsey qualified topete in such an event? Instead of rushing through the gate, Lindsey turned to Shelia, her eyes narrowing into a triumphant smirk. ¡°Time to pay up. ¡± Flustered, Shelia clenched her jaw and protested, ¡°Wait, that¡¯s not fair. I meant watching the race, notpeting in it. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows lifted in surprise. ¡°Everyone here heard you clearly. You promised that if I could enter this arena, that was enough. You never specified how. Shelia, are you really going to deny it in front of everyone?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Shelia found herself at a loss for words. Clinging to Jacob¡¯s arm, she said in a sweet voice, ¡°Mr.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Perry, won¡¯t you defend me? I can¡¯t stand being humiliated by her. ¡± Jacob gave Shelia a helpless look; she had dug her own grave. Yet, she was his girlfriend, and her embarrassment would reflect on him. He stepped up to shield Shelia, fixing Lindsey with a stern gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s forget this for my sake, Lindsey. ¡± Chapter 178 Jacob¡¯s undertone was obvious: Lindsey was only an agent in the entertainment industry, while he, the vice president of Ray Films, held some clout in the field. Lindsey was well aware of what needed to be done. She shed a smile and replied, ¡°If Mr.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Perry asks, I¡¯ll consider it a favor. But Mr. Perry, I¡¯d appreciate it if you could look out for your girlfriend and discourage her from causing any more problems for me. You know, if she continues to create issues on your behalf, it might end up reflecting poorly on your reputation. ¡± With that, Lindsey and Domenic headed into the arena, leaving Shelia and Jacob behind without a backward nce. Jacob¡¯s expression turned icy. He turned to Shelia, discontented. ¡°Try to stay out of trouble. ¡± Unconvinced, Shelia protested, ¡°Don¡¯t take her words seriously. She¡¯s sowing discord. ¡± But Jacob¡¯s stern look silenced her. She retreated, muttering, ¡°Fine, I get it. ¡± Still, she couldn¡¯t help but shoot a re in Lindsey¡¯s direction. ¡®s BunnyBookery Once inside the arena, Lindsey released Domenic¡¯s arm and offered him a regretful look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Walsh. This mess is my fault. ¡± Domenic paused and faced Lindsey. ¡°Why would you think that?¡± ¡°Just now, Shelia made thatment to get under my skin¡­¡± Lindsey was still fuming over Shelia¡¯s earlier jab, calling him a failure. Dominic offered a slight smile, his thin lips curving as he ran his fingers through Lindsey¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯m your man, after all. Your words are the ones I listen to. I don¡¯t bother with what others have to say. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes grew wide, struck by her own words. She had imed him as her man without a thought¡­ A blush crept up to her ears. ¡°I meant to say¡­¡± Before Lindsey could finish, Dominic gently grasped her hand. His smile was soft as he said, ¡°You¡¯ve already put Shelia in her ce swiftly. That¡¯s enough for me. Now, let¡¯s focus on what¡¯s next. If we don¡¯t hurry, you¡¯ll bete for thepetition. ¡± Lindsey nced at the clock. ¡°You¡¯re right. ¡± With that, she dashed off towards the area for post-game preparation. ncing back at Dominic, she called out, ¡°Mr. Walsh, when I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll be looking for you in the stands!¡± The main event of thepetition was an obstacle course challenge. Competitors had to guide their horses over a range of obstacles scattered throughout the course. These obstacles varied in height andplexity, all intricately decorated. Chapter 179 The real challengey in the rider¡¯s ability to work in harmony with their horse. Domenic made his way to the grandstand and picked an empty spot to sit. Around him, people were eagerly cing bets on thepetition. The arena was surrounded by severalrge screens disying the names and images of thepetitors, including Lindsey. They also showed their riding experience and thepetition rules. As the event kicked off, the riders tackled the course one by one. Before each rider entered the course, bets were made on whether they could clear all the obstacles. This betting was a favorite pastime for the nobles during horse races. When Shelia and Jacob arrived at the grandstand, walking closely, they spotted Domenic. His cool demeanor and striking looks made him stand out wherever he sat. Shelia approached him with a smile, Jacob in tow. ¡°Sir, Lindsey¡¯s about topete, and everyone¡¯s cing their bets. Aren¡¯t you going to join in?¡± she asked. Domenic didn¡¯t even nce at She and remained uninterested. Shelia huffed when he didn¡¯t reply. ¡°I guess you¡¯re not betting on Lindsey because you don¡¯t have faith in her. It¡¯s a shame, really. No one here seems to believe in her, not even her own partner. ¡± Jacob shot a nce at Domenic, noting his calm, detached demeanor. He pegged Domenic as nothing more than a pretty face in rough clothing, yet there was an unexined chill and aggression about him that felt oppressive. Domenic hadn¡¯t given them a direct look since he walked in, which irked Jacob. Jacob curled his lip, remarking with a sneer, ¡°He¡¯s not skipping the bet because he wants to, he¡¯s just broke. Why else would he be a kept man?¡± Shelia joined in with a mockingugh, ¡°Exactly. He and Lindsey, a bitch and a pauper, are a perfect match. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression remained icy as he gazed down at the arena, showing no interest in engaging with them. Next to him, Jacob and Shelia came off as nothing but petty bullies. This only fueled Jacob¡¯s irritation further. Meanwhile, murmurs spread among the spectators in the stands.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Are you betting she¡¯ll lose or win this round?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of this Lindsey. With barely any experience ofpetition, she¡¯s a newbie. I¡¯m betting on her loss, obviously. ¡± Chapter 180 ¡°Anyone who bets on her victory is bound to drop cash. It¡¯s a safer bet she¡¯ll lose. ¡± ¡°I just checked the odds for her to win, and they¡¯re tempting. ¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean it¡¯s because no one¡¯s betting on her victory, which is why the winning odds are sky-high?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Exactly. Since the race¡¯s inception, no novice has ever cleared all the hurdles to win. Betting on her is like throwing money away. ¡± Shelia tugged at Jacob¡¯s arm, whispering confidently, ¡°Mr. Perry, Lindsey¡¯s bound to lose this one. Trust my judgment and go big on her defeat. ¡± Jacob looked at her, querying, ¡°You certain?¡± Shelia assured him with a nod, ¡°Absolutely. Without a doubt, she¡¯s going to end up losing. ¡± Jacob shed a grin and beckoned to the attendant handling the bets. Pulling out a card from his jacket, he said, ¡°This card¡¯s got two million on it. It¡¯s all going on Lindsey losing. ¡± The staff epted the card with a nod. ¡°Certainly, sir. Your bet will be ced. ¡± The onlookers started murmuring when they heard about Jacob¡¯s hefty bet against Lindsey. The club¡¯s regrs, some recognizing Jacob, started chiming in. ¡°Mr. Perry, always the big spender. ¡± ¡°Betting that much against Lindsey, did you get a tip or something?¡± Jacob looked over the crowd and replied, ¡°Well, Lindsey¡¯s sister, my girlfriend, reckons she hasn¡¯t got a chance. Is that what you¡¯d call a tip?¡± It seemed clear as day. Not even her own sister had faith in Lindsey¡¯s chances. Perhaps she was there to throw the race on purpose, helping her family cash in. ¡°I¡¯ll put my money on Lindsey losing too. Stick with Mr. Perry and you can¡¯t go wrong. ¡± With that, bets flew in, skewing Lindsey¡¯s odds to a staggering 1:200. They acted as if the race¡¯s oue was a fixed oue. Jacob basked in the adoration, looking over at Domenic with a taunting smirk. ¡°Everyone¡¯s betting against Lindsey. How about you? Could be easy money. If you¡¯re short, I can spot you a hundred bucks. How¡¯s that? Hahaha. Domenic, brushing off Jacob¡¯s taunts, signaled to the betting attendant. ¡°You looking to bet, sir?¡± the attendant asked. Domenic nodded slightly and dered, ¡°I¡¯ll bet ten thousand dors on Lindsey winning Chapter 181 Upon hearing this, the spectators in the grandstand were taken aback. They gave Domenic an odd, sympathetic nce. Jacob had bet two million dors on Lindsey losing, yet Domenic was still willing to bet on her winning. What was the difference between that and throwing money away? Jacobughed harder and wrapped his arm around Shelia, eximing, ¡°Did you catch that? This guy probably has no more than ten thousand dors, and he¡¯s betting on Lindsey to win. Unbelievable. Can you imagine how he¡¯d react if he lost that ten thousand dors?¡± Shelia nestled against Jacob, grinning. ¡°Ten thousand might be nothing to us, but it¡¯s a big deal for this kept man. He might even¡­ cry over it. ¡± Upon hearing Shelia¡¯s words, everyone turned to Domenic with a disdainful gaze. ¡°Looks like he¡¯s just a kept man after all. ¡± ¡°How did a guy like him even get into the club?¡± ¡°If he loses, it¡¯ll be a lesson for him that this ce isn¡¯t for everyone to stroll in and have fun. Because he can¡¯t afford to lose at all. ¡± Domenic paid them no mind. He remainedposed and used his phone to transfer ten thousand dors for the bet, not bothering with his ck card. Lindsey stood backstage, waiting for her turn in the game, unaware of what had transpired in the grandstand. She had no clue that the crowd wasn¡¯t very hopeful about her, except for Domenic, who had bet on her victory. r. The horse, named Snowball, had formed a strong bond with her during their training sessions in recent days. However, right before thepetition, Snowball unexpectedly copsed to the ground, its front legs buckling, and began foaming at the mouth. ¡°Snowball! Snowball, are you okay?¡± Lindsey knelt beside Snowball, her heart pounding with worry, and urgently called one of the staff members. ¡°Get the vet here. There¡¯s something wrong with my horse. ¡± Currently, a staff member brought a ck horse to Lindsey¡¯s side.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Miss, your horse is unwell and won¡¯t recover quickly. It¡¯s time for yourpetition. I¡¯ve arranged another horse for you. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Lindsey had been putting in her training hours with Snowballtely. However, now she had to switch to a horse she wasn¡¯t acquainted with. The risk of making errors in thepetition due to their unfamiliarity was high. However, Lindsey had been gearing up for today¡¯s event for nearly a month. She wasn¡¯t about to back down easily. ¡°Miss, there¡¯s a rule in the game that if you don¡¯t enter the course on time, it will be counted as a forfeit. Are you sure about your decision? The staff¡¯s words came across as stern and decisive, leaving Lindsey with no room for hesitation. She certainly wasn¡¯t going to quit. Chapter 182 She had no option but to steel herself and muster her spirits. Determinedly, she epted the ck horse from the staff. It was time for thepetition. Lindsey mounted the horse, tightened her grip on the reins, and confidently entered the course, where all eyes were fixed on her. The brilliant sunlight bathed Lindsey¡¯s shoulders as she rode into the course, and her view cleared up. With her bowler hat perched on her head, her stylish tuxedo fluttering in the breeze, and her white breeches neatly tucked into tall riding boots, she had an air of royalty and bravery about her. Her makeup was subtle, enhancing her natural beauty. Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and her red lips stood out,plementing her graceful and refined posture. Seated in the grandstand, Domenic couldn¡¯t hide his frown. Lindsey had been practicing with a white horse all along. So, why was she now riding out on a ck one? Jacob couldn¡¯t resist being captivated by the courageous and fierce girl before him. Seeing Jacob¡¯s continuous gaze on Lindsey, Shelia felt her anger bubble up, causing her to bite her lower lip in frustration. She inhaled deeply and shot a fierce nce at Lindsey, who was bursting with energy. She knew there¡¯d be some entertaining amusement to witness soon. Lindsey steered the ck horse to the front of the first challenge and gently pulled the reins. Without hesitation, the ck horse effortlessly cleared the obstacle, and the crowd in the grandstand burst into apuse. Yet, as Lindsey sighed in relief, the ck horse surprised everyone by lifting its front hooves skyward and dashing ahead with wild abandon as though it hadpletely lost itsposure. The audience was left breathless with amazement. ¡°Hold on, doesn¡¯t that horse seem familiar? That horse appears to be¡­ Lightning!¡± A person in the crowd spotted the ck horse and jumped up from his seat. ¡°Lightning? They say it¡¯s the wildest horse in the club, and they call it that because of the lightning bolt-shaped mark on its forehead. Rumor has it that nobody has managed to tame it yet. ¡± ¡°Once, there was a coach who doubted the tales. He attempted to tame Lightning and got injured badly in a fall.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡± ¡°Goodness gracious! It¡¯s such a dangerous situation. Why on earth did the club permit Lightning topete?¡± ¡°Mr. Perry, am I right? Lindsey¡¯s surely going to lose today. ¡± Shelia stood with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a_ proud expression. Jacob was thrilled; it appeared that he was about to make a fortune today. Jacob wrapped his arm around Shelia¡¯s slender waist and ki*sed her heavily made-up cheek excitedly. ¡°You really are my lucky charm! If I win today, you¡¯ll definitely be rewarded handsomely. ¡± Wrapping her arms around Jacob¡¯s neck, Shelia gave him her most charming smile. ¡°Trust me, Mr. Perry!¡± Afterward, she shot Domenic a disdainful nce and sneered, ¡°What a waste. I can¡¯t believe he thinks actually Lindsey¡¯s going to win. I can¡¯t wait to see the look on his face when she loses miserably!¡± Chapter 183 Despite raising her voice deliberately so that Domenic could hear, he turned a deaf ear to her taunts and focused his attention solely on Lindsey. On the racecourse, Lindsey was pulling the reins as hard as she could, but the ck horsepletely ignored her. It turned around in circles and kept kicking its hind legs up like crazy, as though it was trying its best to throw Lindsey off its back! It was clear that Lindsey wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on for much longer. She was tossed around like a ragdoll, and there was nothing she could do but hold onto the reins and mp her legs around the horse¡¯s belly as tightly as she could. But the ck horse was too powerful. Seeing that it couldn¡¯t throw her down, it changed tactics and started galloping towards the highest iron hurdle on the field. In an attempt to get rid of Lindsey, the ck horse nned to head straight into the hurdle! ¡°Oh, my God! That¡¯s the highest hurdle on the whole course! Not even the experts are able to jump it! If the ck horse rams into it head-on, the contestant will be flung from its back and will be seriously injured!¡± ¡°But the rules state that thepetition can¡¯t stop until the contestant gives up!¡± ¡°Why hasn¡¯t she called off thepetition yet?! Does she really think she¡¯ll make it over that hurdle?!¡± Some eximed excitedly. ¡°She¡¯s crazy! Even the club¡¯s senior coach can¡¯t control Lightning, let alone a rookie equestrian!¡± Restraining the urge to run straight to the racecourse, Domenic gripped the seat handles so tightly that blue veins popped out on the backs of his hands. Domenic Walsh, a man known for keeping calm in even the most intense of situations, was now sweating buckets. Lindsey must¡¯ve had her own reasons for not calling off thepetition. He trusted her. He had to. Surely, her tough, unyielding spirit would put the crazy horse in its ce! Seeing that Domenic had broken into a sweat, Shelia smiled gloatingly. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Maybe Lindsey will fall, and maybe she¡¯ll break a few bones. I really don¡¯t know why she¡¯s even here. She¡¯s no equestrian; she¡¯s just an opportunist! She just wanted to attract the attention of the rich, and now, she¡¯s going to reap the consequences of her reckless actions. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s going to make a fool of herself!¡± Seeing that the ck horse was about to ram into the hurdle, Lindsey forced herself to calm down. Time around seemed to have slowed down all around her. Domenic¡¯s words echoed in her ears. ¡°If you want to tame a wild horse, you have to show it that you¡¯re not afraid. You have to let it know that you¡¯re even more difficult to deal with than it. Make it surrender to you in fear!¡± In a moment of sudden rity, Lindsey braced herself and stood up from the back of the horse! Instead of using brute force, she listened to Domenic¡¯s advice and pulled the reins skillfully. Just as the ck horse was about to hit the hurdle, she nted her feet firmly on the stirrups and pulled even harder, forcing the horse¡¯s head back!Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Everyone in the stands watched with bated breath. Just when everyone thought that Lindsey would fall off the horse and break her neck, a miracle happened. The ck horse neighed and raised its front hooves high. Then it leapt into the sky like a majestic beast, soaring over the tallest hurdle effortlessly! ALL of a sudden, a hush fell over the stands. Two seconds of stunned silenceter, thunderous apuse broke out. Chapter 184 Having crossed the obstacle without a hitch, the ck horse came to a stop and shook its head, its luscious mane waving with the wind. Lindsey stroked Lightning¡¯s head, who was now obedient to her touch. Lindsey held the reins and expertly overcame the rest of the hurdles, sessfullypleting thepetition. ¡°She did it! She conquered Lightning!!¡± ¡°Oh, my God! This is incredible! I thought she was going to die, so I couldn¡¯t even watch at first!¡± ¡°She¡¯s the reigning champion now! Wooh!¡± The audience cheered and eximed excitedly. Shocked, Shelia jumped up from her seat. How on earth did Lindsey manage to tame the untameable horse?! Those who had followed Jacob¡¯s lead and bet that Lindsey would lose were dumbfounded. This was Lindsey¡¯s firstpetition, yet she won! Then, their dumbfounded gazes turned into that of anger as they all looked to Jacob. ¡°Damn it! HIs info was fake! I think he was just guessing!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Jacob Perry just a dumb yboy? How could we have trusted him?¡± ¡°Well, we wouldn¡¯t even be talking to him if it weren¡¯t for his brother. What a waste of my damn money. Jacob¡¯s an idiot. Perhaps I should pull out of my contract with him¡­¡± Jacob¡¯s expression darkened. He wasn¡¯t in the mood to watch thepetition anymore, so he stood up to leave. Seeing that Jacob was upset, Shelia was so anxious that she grabbed his arm and said with a pout, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Mr. Perry. Lindsey just got lucky. We, on the other hand¡­ Well, we just got unlucky. ¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t im that Lindsey would lose, I wouldn¡¯t have lost two million dors and be mocked like this!¡± Jacob snapped. While two million dors was no big deal to Jacob, it still pissed him off to know that he lost money over nothing. Worse yet, he felt humiliated. These people weren¡¯t just regrs at the racecourse; they were business partners of his family. If word got out about this, his brother would definitely give him an earful. Domenic walked over to Jacob and Shelia with one hand in his pocket, looking quite leisurely. ¡°Mr. Perry,¡± he said almostzily, ¡°if you hadn¡¯t gotten everyone to follow through with your bet, the odds of her winning wouldn¡¯t have been hyped so much. I have to thank you for helping me win two million dors. ¡± ¡°You Little-!¡± Just thinking about how the two million he had lost would likely end up in the pocket of this man, Jacob nearly exploded on the spot.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. The sheer shame that overwhelmed him felt even worse than dying. ¡°If you evere up with another high-stakes bet, please don¡¯t forget to include me, Mr. Perry. ¡± Chapter 185 With that, Domenic turned around and walked away with a faint smile. Domenic¡¯s sarcastic remark was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back for Jacob. As the spoiled youngest son of the Perry family, Jacob had never been humiliated like this before in his life. Seeing that Jacob was about to explode, Shelia was afraid that he¡¯d vent his anger on her, so she squeezed out a few pitiful tears and sobbed, ¡°Mr. Perry, this is all my fault. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find a way to pay you back the two million dors¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you know that this is your fault. So, don¡¯t you ever talk big again, you hear me?¡± Although Jacob was pissed off, he couldn¡¯t lose his temper in front of so many important people. And seeing Shelia cry so pitifully made his expression soften a little. He didn¡¯t have the heart to take out his anger on her. After taking a deep breath to calm himself down, Jacob reached out to wipe the tears from the corners of Shelia¡¯s eyes. ¡°Well, don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s only two million dors. It¡¯s nothing to cry about. I¡¯m just angry with that stupid man. I have to teach him a lesson!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Burying her tear-stained face in Jacob¡¯s chest, Shelia whispered softly, ¡°You¡¯re so good to me, Mr. Perry.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Please don¡¯t be angry. No matter how lucky that man is, he¡¯s no match for you. Sooner orter, we¡¯ll find a way to deal with him!¡± After thepetition, a bunch of the racecourse staff came over to ask Lindsey if she was injured. Lindsey shook her head reassuringly. Just then, a man in a crisp suit and leather shoes walked towards her, weaving his way past the crowd. The staff all stepped aside to let him pass. The man was none other than Frank Hudson, the person in charge of the racecourse. He came to a stop in front of Lindsey, and with an approving smile, he praised, ¡°Miss Stewart, no one in our club has been able to tame Lightning, yet you managed to tame him in the middle of apetition. You deserve the title of champion. ¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hudson. May I meet Mr. Andrew Lee now?¡± Lindsey was overjoyed. Winning the equestrian championship was great, but her main goal was to meet Andrew. Frank nodded with a chuckle. ¡°Mr. Lee watched the whole thing from the VIP seat. He admired your performance and wants to meet you in private. This way, please. ¡± Lindsey was brimming with excitement. After handing Lightning¡¯s reins over to the staff, she followed Frank away from the racecourse. Just then, she raised her head and saw Domenic in the stands with one hand in his pocket. His tall figure stood out among the crowd. He seemed to be waiting for her. Smiling brightly, Lindsey trotted all the way to Domenic with a skip in her step. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I did it! I really did it! Thank you so much for your advice. Now, I can see Mr. Lee!¡± Domenic¡¯s thin lips were tightly pursed, and his eyes were red for some reason. The next moment, he suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. Chapter 186 Domenic nestled his head into the curve of Lindsey¡¯s neck, gripping the back of her head as if she would vanish the moment he let go. Lindsey, soft and flexible, found herself tightly embraced, struggling slightly for air. ¡°Mr. Walsh, are you alright? Your embrace is too tight. I¡¯m finding it hard to breathe. ¡± Only then did Domenic rx his hold. He gently pressed her shoulders, positioning her in front of him. ¡°Next time, don¡¯t do such a dangerous thing again. What if something happens to you? Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have taught you how to ride a horse. ¡± Domenic couldn¡¯t help but me himself. He had the power to bring Andrew to Lindsey¡¯s attention whenever he wanted. However, he chose not to reveal his identity, wanting to test Lindsey¡¯s capabilities and hoping to uncover the truth about Sh¡¯s disappearance through her efforts. So, Domenic remained a bystander. However, after today¡¯s events, he came to realize that nothing was more important than ensuring Lindsey¡¯s safety and well-being. Unaware of Domenic¡¯s turmoil, Lindsey looked at him with her bright eyes and reassured him, ¡°Mr. Walsh, just now, I remembered the technique you showed me, and that¡¯s how I managed to control the horse. I¡¯m safe and sound because of you. ¡± Domenic offered a helpless smile. Could she grasp the danger she was in moments ago? If she had fallen, the oue could have been disastrous. Domenic sped Lindsey¡¯s delicate fingers firmly, cherishing her as if she were a precious find he had once lost. At that moment, Shelia and Jacob approached from behind. Shelia looked at Lindsey with disdain. ¡°Don¡¯t get too carried away. You just got lucky. ¡± Jacob, noticing Frank, wrapped an arm around Frank¡¯s shoulders, greeting him, ¡°Mr. Hudson, it¡¯s been a while. ¡± Frank greeted Jacob with a forced smile, saying, ¡°Hello, Mr. Perry.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡± He then nced at Shelia next to Jacob. He shrugged off Jacob¡¯s arm and made his way towards Lindsey and Domenic. Frank greeted them with a polite smile and said, ¡°Just a moment, please. I have something urgent to attend to. ¡± Lindsey reassured him, ¡°There¡¯s no rush. Go ahead and take care of your business. ¡± Frank nodded and as he turned, his expression turned grave and stern. ¡°Mr. Perry, we went to the waiting area and just discovered that Lindsey¡¯s horse was intentionally swapped out right before herpetition. Upon investigation, we found that the woman next to you is the one who ordered the switch. ¡± Jacob¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he turned to Shelia. Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened. So, it was Shelia who had meddled with her horse, intentionallyplicating things for her. Shelia, her face white with shock, protested in a sharp voice, ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! Mr. Perry and I have been in the grandstand the entire time. I haven¡¯t been anywhere else. How could I switch her horse?¡± Chapter 187 Frank remained silent. He made a phone call, and soon, several burly bodyguards escorted the man responsible for handling the horses. ¡°Say it. Exin what happened. ¡± Frank asked that man coldly. The man nced at Shelia and confessed, ¡°Right before the race, she came to me asking about the club¡¯s most fiery horses. I informed her about a horse named Lightning, known as the most formidable one here, which no one could control. After she heard it, she instructed me to rece Lindsey¡¯s horse with Lightning. iming to be the vice president¡¯s girlfriend at Ray Films, she promised a reward of five hundred thousand dors after it¡¯s done. I¡­ I was swayed by the promise of money and agreed¡­ Mr. Hudson, I was misled by her. Please, forgive me this once,¡± the man said as he knelt on the floor, pleading for mercy. Frank looked at Jacob with a stern gaze and said, ¡°Mr. Perry, your girlfriend has seriously broken our club¡¯s rules and might have even broken thew. You¡¯re a VIP here, so I won¡¯t get the police involved. But we have to cklist your girlfriend and ban her from the club forever. ¡± Clutching Jacob¡¯s sleeve, Shelia erupted into tears. ¡°Mr. Perry, it¡¯s not me. How could I do such a thing? It was Lindsey who set up a trap to nder me!¡± Lindsey sighed, her eyes rolling in exasperation. She was weary of Shelia¡¯s repeated usations and maniptive words. Jacob¡¯s mind whirled in confusion. He turned to Frank, seeking rity. ¡°Mr. Hudson, is there a misunderstanding here?¡± ¡°Mr. Perry, are you doubting our club¡¯s capability? We¡¯ve thoroughly investigated this.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. As the saying goes, the will of others is not ours to see. You, too, as a business elite, must be cautious in choosing friends. Don¡¯t underestimate others,¡± Frank replied, his toneced with mockery. Jacob, raised in wealth and privilege, felt an unfamiliar sting of humiliation. Throughout his life, people had always fawned over him, but this experience was different. His expression darkened as he recalled Shelia¡¯s absence during a period at thepetition earlier. The anger of losing a substantial sum and facing public humiliation surged within him. He shook off Shelia¡¯s grasp, his eyes reddening with fury. ¡°No wonder you were so certain Lindsey would lose. You changed her horse in private, didn¡¯t you?¡± he used. ¡°No, I¡­¡± Shelia attempted to protest, but her words were cut short as Jacob pped her hard across the face. ¡°Bitch, how dare you do such a thing in my name! You¡¯ve not only caused me to lose two million but also humiliated me! You jinx! I don¡¯t want to see you again!¡± Jacob bellowed before storming off in anger. ¡°Mr. Perry!¡± Shelia hurriedly tried catching up with Jacob but stumbled, stepping on the hem of her dress and falling hard onto the gravel floor. A sharp hiss echoed as her dress tore, revealing her thighs, and her knees were scr@ped, blood trickling down. She cried out in pain, shielding herself awkwardly. Jacob, however, continued without a backward nce. As thepetition concluded, sympathetic onlookers passed by, casting pitying nces at Shelia. Amidst them, some took pleasure in the spectacle, whispering and chuckling. Chapter 188 Shelia teetered on the edge of an emotional breakdown. Regardless of anything, she struggled to her feet, clutching her torn dress, and hastily fled. Meanwhile, Frank approached Lindsey, expressing regret, ¡°Miss Stewart, it¡¯s our fault for failing to oversee thepetition properly. We sincerely apologize. We will strengthen our management in the future and prevent such kind of event from happening again. ¡± With a gracious smile, Lindsey responded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hudson. ¡± Nodding, Frank added, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see Mr. Lee now. ¡± In a previouspetition, Domenic had noticed something amiss when Lindsey rode out on a ck horse. He discreetly dispatched people to investigate. As anticipated, they discovered that Lindsey¡¯s horse had been tampered with, maliciously disced. Soon after, Frank received a call from the president of the Morcastle Horsemanship Association, warning of potential safety concerns. If they failed to identify the culprit responsible for the horse switch, their club risked closure. Fearing the consequences, Frank swiftlyunched a thorough investigation. The method by which the president learned of this matter left Frank equally bewildered. Apanied by Lindsey and Domenic, Frank approached the exclusive lounge of Andrew. After knocking twice, Frank stood at the door and said, ¡°Mr. Lee, herees Lindsey Stewart. ¡± ¡°Let her in,¡± A deep voice came through the wooden door. ncing at Domenic beside Lindsey, Frank conveyed, ¡°Mr. Lee requested to meet with you alone, so. Understanding his implication, Lindsey murmured quietly to Domenic, ¡°I¡¯ll go in alone. Wait outside for a while. ¡± Frowning, Domenic replied, ¡°I¡¯ll be right by the door. Call if you need anything. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Lindsey pushed open the door to Andrew¡¯s lounge and stepped inside. Andrew had been engrossed in a game of billiards at the lounge¡¯s central table. Upon noticing Lindsey¡¯s arrival, he carefully set aside his cue, turned, and casually leaned against the table¡¯s edge. Dressed in a navy blue, impably tailored suit, Andrew appeared to be in his thirties. While not strikingly handsome, his demeanor exuded a mature andposed aura, embodying the quintessential image of a sessful business elite. ¡°Lindsey Stewart, right? I just witnessed the process of you taming Lightning. It was truly marvelous,¡± Andrew remarked, his eyes brimming with admiration for Lindsey. He took a moment to appraise her before focusing on her slender hands. He narrowed his eyes yfully, and Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but feel a touch uneasy under his scrutinizing gaze. Leaning against the table, Andrew raised his chin at Lindsey proudly and said, ¡°I promised that I¡¯d do anything for whoever tamed Lightning. Tell me, what do you want? As long as it¡¯s within my power, I¡¯ll grant you one wish. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Lindsey smiled at the man politely and said, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lee. To be honest, the reason why I participated in thepetition was to see you. ¡± Chapter 189 ¡°Is that so?¡± Andrew raised his bushy eyebrows and looked at Lindsey slyly. ¡°Then why did you want to see me that badly?¡± ¡°For your wife, Sh. ¡± At the mention of this name, Andrew¡¯s smile froze. When Lindsey said she did all this just to see him, he thought that this woman went to such great lengths just for money or power. After all, he had encountered a lot of people like that. Unexpectedly, she had done all this for Sh¡¯s sake. ¡°Why are you looking for her?¡± Andrew asked grimly, sitting down on the leather sofa with legs crossed. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of the director Vincent Lopez, right? He¡¯s preparing for a new movie, and I believe Sh will be perfect for the heroine¡¯s role. He hopes that she can make aeback through his movie. ¡± Andrew snorted and looked up at Lindsey defiantly. ¡°I¡¯ve already refused him. Did he send you to persuade me? It was Andrew who refused Vincent¡¯s invitation? Then, what about Sh? How did she feel about this? Lindsey instantly felt that something was off, but she still maintained her polite smile. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. I just wanted to talk with Sh personally. Vitality Entertainment would be honored to sign a great actress like her. ¡± At this, Andrew¡¯s bushy eyebrows shot up in surprise. It turned out this woman did this for herself. He had to admit that she was very hardworking. She hade all the way here,peted in an equestrianpetition, tamed an untameable horse, and even won the championship-just to get a chance to meet Sh. Interesting¡­ A smile tugged at the corners of Andrew¡¯s mouth. He stood up from the leather sofa, walked up to Lindsey, and took her hand. Startled, Lindsey¡¯s first instinct was to withdraw her hand, but Andrew held her firmly. Stroking the back of her hand gently with his rough thumb, he murmured, ¡°Such beautiful hands managed to tame the fieriest horse. It¡¯s incredible. ¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Thank you for your praise, Mr. Lee,¡± Lindsey said through a forced smile, hurriedly withdrawing her hand. Just to be safe, she also took a step back vigntly, cing some distance between them. Andrew chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll let you meet Sh on one condition. ¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Come to my room after you meet with her. I¡¯ll tell you then. ¡± Andrew winked at her, not even bothering to hide the lust in his eyes. Of course, Lindsey understood what he meant. She bit her lip and stood frozen in ce, not knowing how to respond. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to do it, then you can forget about meeting Sh. You can make another request. As long as I can¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll can do that. ¡± Lindsey suddenly raised her head and locked eyes with Andrew. ¡°But I also have one condition. ¡± Intrigued, Andrew couldn¡¯t help but smile slyly. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I want to see Sh alone. ¡± Chapter 190 Andrew fell silent for a moment. Looking the delicate and beautiful woman up and down, his throat went dry. What a gorgeous body! If her soft hands could just¡­ He couldn¡¯t help but gulp at the thought. In the end, his own desire conquered him, and he nodded to her request eagerly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll arrange a private meeting between you and Sh at seven o¡¯clock tonight. Give me your number. I¡¯ll call you then. ¡± Lindsey averted her gaze and whispered, ¡°Okay. ¡± Leaning leisurely against the wall, while waiting for Lindsey, Domenic dealt withpany affairs on his phone.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. When Lindsey emerged from Andrew¡¯s lounge, he slipped his phone back into his trouser pocket, stood up straight, and walked over. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± he asked. Lindsey lowered her head and answered softly, ¡°He promised to let me see Sh at seven o¡¯clock tonight. ¡± Domenic frowned slightly. Her n was a sess, so why was her face so pale? ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did he make things difficult for you?¡± Domenic asked with concern. Lindsey pursed her lips and forced a smile, ¡°No, everything¡¯s fine. ¡± Domenic had already done so much for her; she didn¡¯t want to get him involved anymore. Domenic¡¯s expression darkened. He knew she was lying, but he still quietly followed her out of the club. At seven o¡¯clock sharp, Lindsey received a call from Andrew. He had arranged for the two women to meet in a French restaurant. After getting dressed, Lindsey took a taxi straight to the restaurant. As soon as she arrived, she found Andrew waiting for her at the door, still looking as rich and powerful as a business elite. Lindsey hesitated for a moment before steeling herself. Taking a deep breath, she strode forward with her head held high. ¡°Mr. Lee. ¡± Lindsey sported a gently textured white shirt featuring ace cor that was a favorite among many. She had it neatly tucked into a denim wrap skirt, and the graceful contours of her hips added a touch of intellectual beauty to her professional look. Andrew yfully arched his eyebrows, and his greedy gaze appeared locked onto Lindsey. He retrieved a card from his suit pocket and slipped it into Lindsey¡¯sce cor. Leaning close, he whispered in her ear, ¡°Remember what you promised me. I¡¯ll be waiting for you in the room. ¡± After that, Andrew smiled and departed. Lindsey retrieved the card and discovered it was the keycard for the Emperor Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in Morcastle, owned by the Vitality Group. Andrew had spared no expense for her. With a dismissive snort, Lindsey slipped the room card into her bag and entered the restaurant. Just then, a sleek silver-gray limited edition Bugatti pulled over at the roadside, turning the heads of passers-by. Chapter 191 Seated in the car¡¯s backseat, Domenic cast a frosty gaze at Lindsey, who was visible through the window¡­ Lindsey gently pushed the carved wooden door to the restaurant¡¯s private dining room. Seated in the farthest corner, Sh¡¯s slightly disrupted, pale blonde hair fell loosely on her shoulders. She wore a simple, muted yellow dress with long sleeves, and her oversized sunsses perched on her high nose bridge nearly concealed her petite face. She appeared entirely unlike the Sh Lindsey was familiar with. Lindsey pulled out the chair, cing it across from Sh before taking her seat. Sh kept her head lowered, and as soon as she spotted someone sitting opposite her, she briefly looked up before lowering her head again. Despite her doubts, Lindsey extended her hand and greeted, ¡°Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Sh Potter. I¡¯m Lindsey Stewart, the executive agent at Vitality Entertainment. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sh¡¯s slender, pale fingers grasped the ss on the table.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She hesitantly raised it to her lips, taking a timid sip of water. ¡°Hel¡­ Hello. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s bright eyes narrowed slightly. Sh appeared quite fearful before her, and now it was just the two of them. What could Sh be so afraid of? ¡°I¡¯m here today because the director Vincent Lopez has a proposition for you. He wants you to reappear as the female lead in his uing movie. How does that sound to you?¡± Her fingers trembled slightly as Sh gripped the ss. With oversized sunsses shielding her face, her expression remained hidden from view. ¡°My husband¡­ He has already said no, so. ¡°That¡¯s your husband¡¯s suggestion. I¡¯vee here alone today to get your perspective. ¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sh¡¯s voice quivered slightly as she took a sip of water and softly replied, ¡°My husband¡¯s response is exactly the same as mine. ¡± Lindsey gazed intently at Sh across from her, her eyes continuously studying her. Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s attention was drawn to the sturdy leather handbag beside Sh on the table. Changing the topic, Lindsey remarked, ¡°Your bag looks lovely and functional. Would you mind if I took a peek at it? I¡¯ve been thinking of getting something simr. ¡± Sh¡¯s face shifted slightly toward the bag, and after a brief pause, she nodded in consent. Lindsey extended her hand toward Sh¡¯s bag and ran her fingers over its surface, exploring it inside and out. Suddenly, her fingers detected a slight bump on the bag¡¯s lower back. She paused, her hand carefully investigating the firm object. Afterward, Lindsey extracted a notebook from her bag, scribbled a few words on a page, and ced it before Sh. All the while, Lindsey continued to talk casually with her, giving no hint of her true intentions. ¡°Where did you get this bag? Can you rmend the shop to me?¡± Sh nced at the notebook Lindsey had given her. The message inside read, ¡°A little bug has been ced in your bag. To ensure no one eavesdrops on our chat, should we switch to this method of talking?¡± Sh delicately lowered the oversized sunsses shielding her face with slender, pallid finger, revealing a pair of numbed, dim eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a gift from husband,¡± she uttered. Chapter 192 A former Best Actress, Sh mastered the art of concealing emotions. Despite her surprise, her tone remained asposed as ever. ¡°Mr. Lee¡¯s generosity ismendable. If my eyes serve me right, this bag is the customized version of a world-renowned brand, worth at least a million. ¡± Lindsey retrieved the notebook, jotting down, ¡°I¡¯ll dispose of this notebook after our meeting. Can you shed light on your current situation? Why was Andrew monitoring you?¡± Since encountering Andrew andter meeting Sh, Lindsey sensed an unsettling air.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Sh¡¯s demeanor¡ª-timid, watchful-contradicted the extravagance of a wealthy Lady. Sh¡¯s excessive caution and reticence, akin to someone held captive, strengthened Lindsey¡¯s suspicions. As each piece fell into ce, culminating in the discovery of the micro bug, Lindsey¡¯s belief in her conjecture solidified. Sh had been monitored by Andrew. She had been stripped of her life and liberty. Staring at the determined young woman before her, Sh marveled at her profound insight. Despite her apparent youth, Lindsey¡¯s acumen was razor-sharp. Sh¡¯s gaze toward Lindsey underwent a transformation. Removing her oversized sunsses and cing them on the table, she revealed her striking countenance. However, the radiant confidence she once exuded in front of cameras had dimmed, tarnished by the tumultuous journey Life had imposed upon her. Even her stunning beauty lost its luster amid the mncholic aura surrounding her, evoking a surge of empathy within Lindsey. Lindsey yearned toprehend the unfathomable experiences that burdened Sh¡¯s soul. Sh stopped flinching. She sat upright, pen in hand, and inscribed in the notebook, ¡°Lindsey, right? You¡¯re really awesome. You¡¯re the first person in years who has genuinely connected with me. ¡± Sliding the notebook to Lindsey, Sh smiled and remarked, ¡°Miss Stewart, your taste is impable. This bag was a bespoke gift from my husband on our anniversary. He insisted I carry it whenever I ventured out, a symbol of his unwavering love for me. ¡± ¡°Mr. Lee adores you immensely. I envy you,¡± Lindsey echoed as she perused the notebook¡¯s contents before jotting down another query. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± A touch of sorrow shadowed Sh¡¯s eyes as she swiftly wrote, ¡°Since marrying Andrew, he has incessantly surveilled me, exhibiting an almost aberrant craving for control and possession. He confiscated my phone, isting me from everyone. Eventually, I couldn¡¯t bear it. I sought to flee with my child, confiding in my best friend in secrecy. Yet, Andrew was privy to every private conversation we had. He was furious and¡ª¡± Sh rolled up her sleeves, revealing shocking bruises that drew an astonished gasp from Lindsey. The once-revered actress stood before her, marked by the signs of abuse. Lindsey mouthed the question, ¡°Did he abuse you?¡± Sh nodded subtly. Her pallidplexion reddened around the nose, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. ¡°It has been five years¡­ since he took control of me and abused me. ¡± Chapter 193 Sh wrote down. Anger surged within Lindsey as she clenched her fists, unable to contain her emotions. ¡°Then why did you marry him?¡± Sh lowered her sleeves to conceal the bruises, her lips trembling, seemingly burdened by unspeakable secrets. Observing Sh¡¯s distress, Lindsey retrieved the room card Andrew had provided and ced it on the table in front of her. ¡°This is his condition for letting me see you. ¡± In a daze, Shprehended the significance of the room card. Tears trickled down her face, yet her acting prowess enabled her to converse with Lindsey as if nothing had transpired. Meanwhile, after Andrew left, he essed the application Linked to the bug. Lindsey¡¯s request to meet Sh alone initially unsettled him. Yet, reassurance washed over him upon hearing their conversation-it was merely a casual exchange between two women, nothing out of the ordinary. It appeared that he had overestimated that woman. She was a rookie agent, likely seeking to curry favor with the former renowned actress. However, unbeknownst to her, Sh had long beenpletely under his control, obediently submissive, and too fearful to defy his demands. Andrew deactivated the application and messaged Lindsey. ¡°Have you finished talking? I can¡¯t wait to see you. ¡± Lindsey set her phone down in front of Sh, disying a text message for her to see. She then wrote in her notebook, ¡°I decided to meet you despite everything. When that jerk made his request, it was clear he wasn¡¯t a good man. I guessed that perhaps you had to disappear from the public view for a reason, so I needed to understand it personally. Sh, I genuinely want to help you. You have a bright future ahead. Remember, you were once adored by many as an actress¡­ Don¡¯t forget the numerous fans and audience eagerly awaiting your return. ¡± Lindsey gazed intently at Sh, whose eyes seemed to avoid hers.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Lindsey¡¯s words struck Sh deeply, causing her to burst into tears. Lindsey chose not to push Sh any further. Instead, she extended her hand and gently grasped Sh¡¯s cold, slender hand on the table, silently imparting her strength to Sh. Sh made a bold effort to hold back her sobs and eventually managed to cease her tears. She looked up, her previously lifeless eyes showing a spark of resolve. ¡°Before I married him, he was incredibly good to me. Back then, I didn¡¯t recognize the kind of person he was. Butter¡­¡± Sh¡¯s fingers tightened as if gathering her remaining courage. ¡°He r@ped me, tookpromising photos and used them to force me into marriage. I discovered I was pregnant and felt I had no choice but to marry him. He pressured me to exit the film industry using our child and those nude photos¡­ Since then, he has kept me locked up in the house like a prison. He¡¯s aware of everything I do within these four walls at home. Chapter 194 Whenever the thought of escaping crosses my mind, he returns and inflicts harm on me. The worst time, he broke three of my ribs. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She reached for her water ss and took several sips, trying to calm herself. What a cruel and monstrous man. Lindsey silently condemned Andrew in her thoughts. Lindsey held Sh¡¯s hand firmly, her expression resolute and earnest, and quickly wrote, ¡°Sh, since I have taken the risk to meet you, I promise I¡¯ll help you. Do you trust me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve shared the deepest secret with you. If I can¡¯t have faith in you, then who else can I rely on?¡± Sh offered Lindsey a pained smile. She was beyond fed up. If not for her child, she might have given up on life long ago. Lindsey¡¯s presence represented her sole opportunity to break free from Andrew¡¯s hold over the past five years. ¡°Alright, then, listen to my n. ¡± Lindsey wrote down her strategy in the notebook. Lindsey exited the restaurant and hailed a taxi to the Emperor Hotel.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Simultaneously, she messaged Andrew, saying, ¡°Mr. Lee, I appreciate your assistance today. I¡¯m on my way to see you now. ¡± Not far down the road, Andrew sat concealed inside his car, watching the proceedings with a cautious, unsettling intent. Only when he witnessed Lindsey emerging from the restaurant and receiving her message did he finally start his car with relief. Andrew¡¯s associates had been stationed outside the restaurant¡¯s private room. Once Lindsey exited the restaurant, they entered and retrieved Sh. In the luxurious suite of the hotel, Andrew arrived before Lindsey. He lounged on the bed, watching TV, bored. He selected the prestigious Emperor Hotel because he aimed to retain Lindsey. Young women entering the workforce like her were often susceptible to a man¡¯s financial prowess and persuasive words. Andrew had a passion for horse riding and a peculiar interest in women with attractive hands. He was initially drawn to Sh for her hands, which he found unmatched. Yet, as Andrew observed Lindsey today, he discovered that her hands were graceful but also skilled at handling reins and managing horses. This was what appealed to him. At that moment, the door was opened with a click. Lindsey entered, but she didn¡¯t shut the doorpletely. Instead, she left it slightly open. Andrew rose from the bed and approached Lindsey with a grin. ¡°Finally, you¡¯ve arrived, beautiful. ¡± Chapter 195 Lindsey had slipped into an elegant white backless dress tied at the neck, radiating charm and allure. Andrew reached for Lindsey¡¯s hand, but she skillfully evaded him. She walked further into the room, settled on the plush bed, and spoke softly, ¡°Mr. Lee, as a modest agent, I don¡¯t manage many high-profile talents. I met your wife, Sh, through you and hoped to convince her to work with me. Unfortunately, she wasn¡¯t interested. Could you possibly persuade her for me?¡± Upon hearing that Lindsey had approached him with a request, using the prospect of offering herself to gain his assistance, Andrew¡¯s final trace of caution evaporated. He then tempted, ¡°I can lend a hand, but you¡¯ll need to indulge me tonight first. ¡± ¡°Really? Then we have an agreement. You must assist me once it¡¯s aplished. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear. ¡± Lindsey wore a bashful expression, which tempted Andrew to make a move, but she cleverly sidestepped his advances. ¡°Mr. Lee, there¡¯s no need to rush. It¡¯s a long night ahead. How about we kick things off with a drink to make it more enjoyable?¡± ¡°Okay, it¡¯s up to you. ¡± Summoning the waiter, Andrew requested a bottle of red wine. He found himself drawn to women like her-seemingly innocent but having a promiscuous nature deep down. With a suggestive grin, Andrew poured the wine into a ss and offered it to Lindsey. She swirled the ss thoughtfully, turning to face Andrew before proposing, ¡°Mr. Lee, drinking like this is dull. Shall we make it more interesting by feeding each other?¡± ¡°Great idea,¡± Andrew replied eagerly. As Lindsey approached, offering the wine to Andrew with a coy smile, he drank from the ss she held out, his hand grazing her bare back. Inside, Lindsey felt repulsed, wishing to retaliate against his behavior. Suppressing her feelings, she yed along. ¡°Now it¡¯s my turn to feed you, darling. ¡± Andrew rose to fetch another bottle of wine, but Lindsey excused herself to the bathroom. ¡°Mr. Lee, I¡¯ll take a quick shower. Could you feed me in bed afterward?¡± ¡°Sweetie, you know well how to spice up!¡± Andrew chuckled, charmed by her actions. Once inside the bathroom, Lindsey locked the door. Suddenly, arge hand seized her wrist, pinning her against the wall. A familiar, seductive voice whispered, ¡°Miss Stewart, you¡¯re in quite a mood tonight. ¡±This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Domenic? ncing up, she confirmed it was indeed Domenic before bombarding him with questions. Chapter 196 ¡°Why are you here? How did you get in?¡± Shock reflected in Lindsey¡¯s widened eyes. This hotel belonged to Domenic, granting him ess at any moment. He arrived to observe Lindsey¡¯s actions, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated hearing her flirtation with Andrew in such a yful manner. With an icy gaze, Domenic restrained her wrist against the wall, closing the distance between them. He whispered sharply into her ear, ¡°You assured me everything was fine this morning, yet here you are, having an affair with Andrew in the hotel. He¡¯s Sh¡¯s husband. Do youprehend the gravity of your actions?¡± ¡°Of course I know,¡± Lindsey repliedposedly. ¡°You do?¡± Domenic frowned, taken aback. Leaning against his face, Lindsey exined softly, ¡°I¡¯m here for Sh. ¡± ¡°For Sh¡¯s sake, you arranged a rendezvous with her husband and shared such intimate moments?¡± Domenic¡¯s tone cut through the tension. ¡°Well¡­ Lindsey hesitated before replying, ¡°Mr. Walsh, this is my affair. It¡¯s not your concern, is it?¡± Narrowing his eyes, Domenic countered, ¡°It¡¯s not my concern? You ungrateful girl, have you forgotten who helped you get in touch with Andrew?¡± Lindsey acknowledged silently that without Domenic¡¯s assistance, she wouldn¡¯t have been in this situation to meet Sh. Uncertain how to respond, Lindsey¡¯sposure wavered, and she involuntarily retreated into his embrace. ¡°Fine, I appreciate your help. After today, I¡¯ll express my gratitude. ¡± As Domenic held her firmly, he gazed into her big eyes. Tonight, she emanated an innocence that stirred desire effortlessly. Domenic¡¯s voice lowered seductively. ¡°How will you thank me?¡± ¡°You can have whatever you desire,¡± Lindsey replied nonchntly, her attention briefly diverted to the room outside the bathroom. ¡®s BunnyBookery In an instant, Domenic ki*sed her passionately. Lindsey felt a sudden void in her mind. Domenic exuded the scent of cedar, his breath refreshing against her skin. Domenic maintained his unwavering gaze, locking eyes with Lindsey¡¯s striking and clear gaze. Her eyes widened suddenly, faintly sparkling, resembling a startled deer unsure of its next move. This reaction fueled Domenic¡¯s excitement.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Holding her tightly, he yearned for the taste of her, unable to contain his eagerness. As Lindsey leaned into his chest, she pushed him away abruptly. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what are you doing?¡± She nervously bit her pink lip, denying him another chance to ki*s her. Her flushed face was incredibly captivating. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I could have whatever I want?¡± Domenic grinned. She indeed said that, but¡­ She had never thought that it would be like this. Chapter 197 Lindsey¡¯s panic intensified as she looked around, pleading, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I didn¡¯t mean that¡­¡± ¡°You want to retract your words? You little liar. ¡± Domenic yfully pinched her soft cheek, releasing a low, huskyugh. Speechless, Lindsey lifted her head, defiantly staring at Domenic¡¯s handsome face. ¡°I won¡¯t retract my words. But¡­ Not now. ¡± Domenic raised an eyebrow, amused. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s continue after we¡¯ve gone home. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s brow furrowed, sensing that she might have walked into Domenic¡¯s trap. Just then, a knock echoed on the bathroom door. Andrew called out from the other side, ¡°Lindsey, are you done with your shower? I¡¯m feeling quite impatient here. Please hurry out!¡± ¡°Just a moment, Mr. Lee.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. I¡¯ll be right there. ¡± Lindsey called out. With a gradual narrowing of his eyes, Domenic released his grip on Lindsey and made his way toward the door. Lindsey quickly tugged him back and inquired, ¡°Mr. Walsh, what is your intention?¡± Domenic cracked a wry smile. ¡°He¡¯s getting restless, isn¡¯t he? I thought I¡¯d go out and make him more fortable¡¯. ¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Observing that he was on the verge of starting a fight, Lindsey reassured him softly, ¡°Don¡¯t get upset. Let me handle this scoundrel. I¡¯ve got a n to deal with him. ¡± Domenic looked at her and asked, ¡°What did you do to him?¡± With a mischievous grin, Lindsey answered, ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough. ¡± Suddenly, the sound of a door opening interrupted them. A shrill voice erupted. ¡°You bitch! How dare you try to steal my boyfriend! I¡¯ll rip you to pieces!¡± It was Shelia¡¯s voice. What was she doing here? As Domenic gazed down at Lindsey, a sudden realization dawned upon him. Lindsey had intentionally left the door slightly open for Shelia to enter. Today, Shelia had gotten on Jacob¡¯s nerves, and he wasn¡¯t responding to her calls. Later that evening, in her state of anxiety, she received an anonymous message hinting that Jacob was dating another woman in a hotel room. Furious, Shelia rushed to confront the suspected infidelity. To her surprise, entering the room, she found no sign of Jacob. Confused, she suddenly felt someone grab her from behind. Andrew, his face flushed, began ki*sing her neck fervently. ¡°Beautiful, you¡¯re finally here. I¡¯ve been waiting for ages. ¡± ¡°Hey! Who are you? Let go of me!¡± Shelia struggled hard, her face turning pale. But Andrew had lost control of his senses. He tossed Shelia onto the bed and hastily began tearing at her clothing. ¡°Help me! I¡¯m being assaulted!¡± Shelia screamed. Chapter 198 At that moment, Lindsey emerged from the bathroom with Domenic, and they quickly left the room. Shortly after their departure, a squad of uniformed police officers arrived. They forcefully entered the room and promptly restrained Andrew. ¡°We received a report of an attempted assault here. Kindly apany us to the police station for further questioning!¡± Terrified, Shelia hastily straightened her attire and curled up defensively. One of the officers addressed her. ¡°Miss, we need you toe to the station for an investigation. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s him, he tried to r@pe me. You can arrest him. I don¡¯t want to go to the police station!¡± Shelia cried out in terror. ¡°We need your cooperation. Take her as well!¡± As the police escorted Andrew through the hotel lobby, a wave of journalists suddenly poured in through the main entrance from outside. A thick crowd gathered around, making it impossible to budge. Cameras from various media outlets snapped pictures continuously, while a few broadcast live to deliver the breaking news promptly. Reporters eagerly extended their microphones, trying to get the scoop. ¡°Can you confirm if Andrew Lee, the president of Steadfast Global Trading, is under suspicion of r@pe?¡± ¡°Mr. Andrew Lee, as thepany¡¯s CEO, can you exin why you engaged in behavior that contradicts your public image? Aren¡¯t you concerned about your wife, Sh, the former top actress, discovering your actions?¡± ¡°Mr. Lee, is there a conflict between you and your wife? Is there any connection between your actions and Sh¡¯s sudden disappearance from the public view all these years?¡± The police struggled to control the crowd and move the suspect, but the press was relentless.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Then they noticed Shelia, her hair in disarray, following behind. ¡°It appears she¡¯s a new face in the acting scene. I¡¯ve seen her in a fewmercials!¡± ¡°Is it possible that she went to the police when things didn¡¯t go her way during those behind-the-scenes dealings?¡± ¡°In that case, it¡¯s difficult to determine if it¡¯s a r@pe or a shady transaction. ¡± Spectators nearby whipped out their mobile phones and went wild, taking photos of Shelia, who was shielding her face with her arms and shouting, ¡°Please, make it stop! Stop taking photos!¡± At that moment, a collective gasp of surprise echoed through the onlookers, ¡°Sh has posted a tweet!¡± Five long years had passed since Sh disappeared, her Twitter ount stagnant without any new content during this time. Suddenly, a post of hers surged in poprity, igniting a fervent online search. In a poignant, thousand-word article, Sh levied usations against Andrew, speaking with empathy about years of imprisonment and abuse that drove her to retreat from the outside world. Apanying the words was a haunting photo revealing her arms covered in painful bruises, a stark visual testament to her ordeal. Though she refrained from mentioning the unspeakable pain of being r@ped by Andrew, the discourse around imprisonment and abuse sparked a heated online debate. Discussions rted to Sh exploded across screens, injecting a long-lost vitality into the inte, withments flooding in at lightning speed. ¡°Damn Andrew! He imprisoned and abused my idol. ¡± Chapter 199 ¡°I always presumed Sh left showbiz for a peaceful life; I never imagined her suffering so much. ¡± ¡°That scumbag Andrew deserves imprisonment. ¡± ¡°The fact that Andrew, married to the finest actress Sh, still wasn¡¯t content! Did he inflict pain on her for his pleasure? Today¡¯s affluent people arewless. ¡± ¡°Andrew is a bastard and scum. Damn it! He¡¯s such a wanker. f@ck him!¡± ¡°Sh, divorce him quickly. If this domestic abuser isn¡¯t penalized, we¡¯ll rally at the police station for your justice. ¡± ¡°Sh,e on. We¡¯ll always be here for you. ¡± Seated on a soft wool carpet in her bedroom, Sh clutched the phone Lindsey had left before departing, trembling with anticipation. In that moment, Lindsey¡¯s call came through. ¡°Sh, have you seen the news? The police will soon arrive. You must expose all of Andrew¡¯s crimes. Call me once it¡¯s done. Don¡¯t return to that house again. ¡± ¡°Okay, I see. ¡± Sh softly murmured after ending the call. Still in a daze, she never imagined seeing the light of life again after all this time. Abruptly, the door swung open, and a petite figure entered. It was Sh¡¯s daughter, ine Lee. Approaching her mother, ine gently wiped away Sh¡¯s tears. ¡°Mommy, why are you crying? Did dad bully you again?¡± Sh embraced ine tightly, tears streaming down her face. ¡°ine, we are free. We¡­ We will never be hurt again. ¡± Finally, Andrew was escorted away in a police car, and the reporters dispersed gradually. Standing at the hotel door, Domenic nced at Lindsey by his side. Her hair danced in the night breeze, framing herposed and resolute face. ¡°Andrew¡¯s PR team must be scrambling. Worried they¡¯ll handle this?¡± Domenic quipped lightly. With a serene smile, Lindsey replied, ¡°You underestimate Sh¡¯s influence. She was a renowned international star with a vast fan base nationwide. Before that, I did some research; despite her absence from showbiz for five years, her fans never wavered. They¡¯ve been waiting for her return. As long as this matter is exposed, the rest will be left to them. No matter how formidable Andrew¡¯s PR team may be, it can¡¯t outweigh the colossal weight of public opinion. Andrew won¡¯t evade the public¡¯s judgment. ¡± Domenic nodded, lips pressed together, his affectionate smile evident. He knew she would never let him down. Lindsey¡¯s brilliance and allure surpassed any woman he had encountered. Initially cautious, he approached her with a watchful eye, yearning to unravel why she sought his closeness.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Chapter 200 He saw her as one of those women with dubious intentions, yet found himself inexplicably drawn to her, intrigued by her asional mischief and cunning. At times, she seemed wild and prickly, akin to a spirited kitty. However, in matters of love, she appeared flustered and uncertain. Even after that particr night, she remained as pure and beautiful as a pristine sheet of paper. Now, having Laid down his suspicions about that night and discovered the truth, the love he had suppressed surged forth like a volcanic eruption. Domenic¡¯s gaze fixated on Lindsey, aze with passion. Despite whatever she might think about the day¡¯s events or Andrew¡¯s capabilities, having him was paramount to anything else. With him standing by her side, she held the freedom to pursue anything she desired. But¡­ Domenic grasped Lindsey¡¯s shoulders, turning her to face him. ¡°Do you realize how perilous today¡¯s incident was? Why did you risk it alone? Why keep me in the dark?¡± Locking eyes with Domenic, Lindsey bit her lip, then said, ¡°He¡¯s a big deal, the head of a hugepany. I don¡¯t want you getting tangled up in that. ¡± Domenic gave a helpless chuckle and lightly tapped her nose with his finger. With a smirk, he whispered in a husky and captivating tone, ¡°Hey, remember your words? I¡¯m your man. Next time somethinges up, let me know. I¡¯ve got your back, alright? Avoid taking any risks alone. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned pink. She¡¯d only been thinking of freeing Sh from Andrew¡¯s grip. The fear of what could have gone wrong still haunted her. The thought of facing those risks alone was too much. Feeling Domenic¡¯s concern warmed her through and through. She looked up at him, her eyes shining, and nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll Listen to you. ¡± Seeing her agree so readily, Domenic affectionately ruffled her hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go home,¡± he said softly. Her smile lit up at that, bright and hopeful. ¡°sure. ¡± Once they got back, Lindsey had just shut the door when Domenic¡¯s hands were suddenly on her shoulders, pressing her gently against the door. He leaned in close, his presence surrounding her.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. His breath tickled her ear. ¡°Now that we¡¯re home, we can pick up where we left off. ¡± Her ears turned red. She hadn¡¯t expected him to bring up their interrupted moment in the hotel bathroom. Chapter 201 ¡°What¡­ what are you talking about?¡± Lindsey averted her gaze, feigning ignorance. Domenic squinted, lifted her chin gently, and murmured, ¡°What do you think?¡± I¡¯m not sure,¡± she stammered, her eyes wide and cheeks flushed. Domenic took his time, his gaze leisurely tracing from Lindsey¡¯sshes to the small of her nose, and finally, her blushing Lips. They were soft and inviting, tempting like ripe fruit. ¡°You little liar, do you need me to remind you what you said? You told me I could do anything I want¡­¡± he teased, his voice rich and alluring. Panicking, Lindsey reached out to silence him, her cheeks a deeper shade of red. With a slight grin, Domenic held her wrist gracefully and leaned in, whispering, ¡°You know exactly what I want. ¡± He was cunning, leaving her to make the next move. ¡°So¡­¡± Lindsey looked up at him, her eyes clear and hesitant. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal first. Just a moment. ¡± His smirk turned into a contented smile, and he closed his eyes in approval. Taking a breath, Lindsey stood on her toes, eyes closed and Lashes fluttering, and tenderly ki*sed his inviting Lips. As soon as Domenic felt her gentle touch, he was swept up by a wave of longing. With a firm grip, he encircled her neck with his hand and pulled her close, giving her no room to retreat. Lindsey grasped the fabric of his shirt, gasping for air under the weight of his presence. With a sweep of his arm, Domenic cleared the table by the door, sending trinkets tumbling to the carpet by Lindsey¡¯s feet. Then, lifting her with ease, he set her on the table. ¡®s BunnyBookery Enveloped in Domenic¡¯s fervent ki*ses and the scent of his perfume, Lindsey tilted her head back and tried to reciprocate, her hands weakly pressing against his chest. The intensity of their embrace left Lindsey struggling for breath. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ Please¡­ Stop!¡± Domenic paused, allowing her a moment to breathe. He softly brushed her nose with his, his breathing heavy. In a daze, he pressed his lips to hers once more. ¡°No,¡± he whispered before ki*sing her again passionately. Her slender body loosened in his grasp. Lindsey¡¯s resistance faded, her thoughts scattering as she leaned into him, her hand tracing the line of his back, ki*sing him back quietly and with surrender. Finally, Domenic released her, his satisfaction evident as he buried his face in the scent of her hair, his breathing deepening. The usually stoic man cast aside his reserve. In a raspy, pleading voice, he said, ¡°If you¡¯re not ready to be my fianc¨¦e, let¡¯s start simple. Be my girlfriend. Stop pushing me away, will you?¡± Lindsey, lips swollen from the ki*ses and mind clouded, nodded against his shoulder without a thought.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Domenic¡¯s heart soared. He lifted her effortlessly from the table and strode into the bedroom. Chapter 202 Heid her down on the wide, inviting bed. There, Lindseyy, a soft figure amidst the disarray, her hair tousled, her cheeks flushed a deep, vibrant red. Her disheveled appearance only added to her allure. Domenic, who had long contained his yearning for her, held back no longer. With a swift motion, he loosened the buttons at his cor and leaned over her, his hands reaching to untie the knot at the back of her dress. As the knot of Lindsey¡¯s dress untied, a sudden surge of sobriety washed over her mind. She swiftly seized Domenic¡¯s wrist, halting him in his tracks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked,ing to an abrupt stop. Lindsey nced away. ¡°No, I- I¡¯m not ready yet. ¡± Observing her flushed face and evasive eyes, Domenic sensed her sincerity.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. He wouldn¡¯t push her if she wasn¡¯t prepared. Exercising restraint over his desires, Domenic rolled over, reclining beside her. He enveloped her in his arms and whispered, his voice husky, ¡°Okay. Then let me hold you for a while. ¡± Lindsey offered no objection, finding sce in his warm embrace. Once back in her room, Lindsey shut the door and leaned against it, her heart still racing. What the hell was she doing? She¡¯d resolved to keep her distance from him, yet how had she be entangled and agreed to be his girlfriend? Every time Domenic flirted, she lost herposure, irresistibly drawn closer to him. She couldn¡¯t afford to let these emotions run unchecked. That one-night stand with a stranger remained a burden on her heart, an obstacle she couldn¡¯t ovee. She doubted whether Domenic could ept her past after being with him. Fear gripped her-fear of his disdain, his potential rejection because of that incident. Though the odds were slim, she couldn¡¯t take the risk. Even at the expense of losing him, she¡¯d rather not have him at all. Lindsey crawled beneath her nket. Her thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, preventing her from finding respite in sleep. Suddenly, her phone rang-a call from Sh. Startled, Lindsey sat up, answering, ¡°Good evening, Sh. How¡¯s everything going?¡± ¡°Hello, Lindsey. I used the phone you gave me to contact one of my friends. He has a good rtionship with the manager of the Emperor Hotel. He nned to rece the surveince video of you going to the hotel tonight, but the manager informed him that the footage has been deleted and substituted by others. ¡± ¡°Who did it?¡± Lindsey asked, her surprise evident. Chapter 203 ¡°I don¡¯t know. The manager didn¡¯t disclose anything else. Anyway, the surveince video is no longer a problem. If the police inquire, insist that you haven¡¯t been to the Emperor Hotel. Deny it, and Andrew can¡¯t do anything to you. ¡± ¡°Okay, I see. ¡± After ending the call, Lindsey found herself lost in contemtion. Only she and Sh knew about tonight¡¯s events. Who could have swiftly learned the truth and reced the incriminating surveince footage? That night, at the Stewart family¡¯s residence. Shelia had been released after giving her statement at the police station. As she stepped inside her home, the clock had already struck ten, enveloping the surroundings in a shroud of nighttime quietude. Her attempt at a discreet entrance was abruptly halted by Kendra¡¯s urgent voice. ¡°Stop!¡± Kendra, bound by Benny¡¯s watchful gaze, couldn¡¯t venture out alone. Her window to the outside world existed solely through the confines of the Inte. Unintentionally, she stumbled upon a news broadcast detailing the evening¡¯s debacle at the Emperor Hotel. The sight that jolted her was unexpected ¡ª amidst the live broadcast stood Shelia, entangled in the unfolding chaos. Anger and anxiety surged through Kendra. Unsessful in reaching Shelia over the phone, she resigned herself to waiting in the Living room. As Shelia timidly approached Kendra, her lips pursed, fear held her voice captive. ¡°Tell me, what is going on between you and Andrew? How could you involve the media? If Jacob catches wind of this, it could obliterate your aspirations to be a richdy. Do you understand?!¡± Kendra¡¯s reprimand was delivered in a hushed tone. Benny remained oblivious. Had he been privy to the situation, his fury would have known no bounds, deeming Shelia¡¯s actions as a stain on his reputation. In such an instance, Kendra¡¯s standing would have grown infinitely more precarious. Shelia copsed into Kendra¡¯s arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t know him at all. Tonight, an anonymous message warned me of Jacob¡¯s rendezvous with another woman at the Emperor Hotel. Driven by impulse, I rushed there, only to encounter Andrew in the hotel room. He assaulted me, attempting to. r@pe me. ¡± ¡°An anonymous text message?¡± Kendra narrowed her eyes, suspicion casting a shadow over her thoughts.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The first person toe to mind was Lindsey. Recalling Lindsey¡¯s previous anonymous message to Benny, which nearly exposed Kendra, a startling realization dawned ¡ª Shelia had received a simr anonymous text. Was she the sender this time? ¡°Why were you so reckless? Why didn¡¯t you confirm it before heading to the hotel?¡± Kendra¡¯s reproach cut through Shelia¡¯s heart. ¡°I- I-¡± Shelia faltered, unable to disclose her recent altercation with an irate Jacob. His silence on the call had driven her to impulsively rush to the hotel. Observing Shelia¡¯s hesitance, Kendra subconsciously attributed it to her daughter¡¯s thoughtlessness. Shelia had always been straightforward and impulsive, a trait she sighed helplessly about. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve fallen into someone¡¯s trap this time. You must exercise caution in the future! Your standing in the entertainment circle hinges on public opinion. Furthermore, your marriage to Jacob leaves no room for a tarnished reputation. Do you understand?¡± Kendra¡¯s words were both cautionary and parental. Chapter 204 Shelia nodded obediently, but beneath herpliance, resentment brewed. ¡°Who on earth dares to do this to me? I must uncover the truth and seek revenge!¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Kendra¡¯s expression turned grave. She chose not to share her suspicions with Shelia. Instead, she gently patted her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ll figure this out. Just focus on making Jacob happy and securing an engagement soon. I¡¯ll handle everything else. ¡± With a guilty conscience, Shelia coughed and leaned against Kendra, ¡°I know. Mom. Don¡¯t worry. ¡± After a brief moment of affection with Kendra, Shelia returned to her room to rest. When there was no one else at night, Kendra made a call. ¡°Hello, it¡¯s me. Did you see what happened to Shelia? She was set up, and the public opinion is strongly against her now. If this gets out, it will not only harm Shelia¡¯s prospects but also have repercussions for you¡­ I know what I need to do, but I need your help to contain this situation¡­¡± After hanging up the phone, Kendra stood up and was about to return to her room when her phone rang again. Upon seeing the caller ID, Kendra¡¯s expression soured. It was Chayce calling. She paused for a moment and eventually picked up. ¡°Kendra, seems like you¡¯re enjoying lifetely. Have you forgotten about me?¡± Chayce¡¯s voice, both sly and raspy, emanated from the phone. Moving to the balcony for privacy, Kendra whispered into the phone, ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, make it quick. ¡± Chayce got straight to the point and said, ¡°I¡¯m out of cash. I need you to send me some. ¡± Ever since Lindsey exposed Chayce¡¯s true colors at the engagement party, the news had been circting throughout thepany that he had been involved with many women. No one knew who was intentionally spreading it, but it led to his dismissal from thepany. Since then, he had struggled to find a job, relying on his dwindling savings. He was running low on funds, so he turned his thoughts to Kendra. Chayce knew that as long as he had leverage over Kendra, he had ess to a steady flow of money. He wasn¡¯t concerned about running out of money at all. Kendra swallowed. She was acutely aware of Chayce¡¯s intentions. Yet, with Benny watching her closely, she found it impossible to secretly send any funds. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to give you money, but Benny suspects the child I¡¯m carrying isn¡¯t his. He¡¯s keeping a close watch on me. I can¡¯t make any financial moves without him noticing. So¡­¡± ¡°Kendra Stewart! I don¡¯t care about your situation with Benny, but you need to figure out how to get me the money, or else¡­ you know the consequences. ¡± Kendra was shocked by Chayce¡¯s harshness. Once iming to love her, he now showed no regard for her wellbeing. Men were no good. Kendra bit her lower lip and uttered through clenched teeth, ¡°Thepany¡¯s recent cash flow has been problematic. We really don¡¯t have much money. However¡­¡± A malicious gleam appeared in Kendra¡¯s eyes. ¡°You can try to contact Lindsey. She has a significant sum of money left to her by her mother. It¡¯s not a small amount. ¡± Chapter 205 ¡°Lindsey? Would she really give me money?¡± Kendra¡¯s Lips curled into a sly smile and said, ¡°She¡¯s currently with the guy who was at the engagement party. They¡¯re quite close to each other. He probably doesn¡¯t know about her one-night stand. Use that information to stir up trouble, and she¡¯ll surely pay you to keep quiet. ¡± The other end of the line was silent, followed by a scornful chuckle. ¡°Kendra, you¡¯re quite ruthless. Alright, I¡¯ll ask her for money tomorrow. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Kendra ended her phone call. Her eyes, normally so lovely, now shimmered with a venomous glint. A wicked smile crept up the edges of her lips. Chayce¡¯s assistance in dealing with Lindsey was a blessing. It meant she didn¡¯t have to handle it herself. * The next morning, sunlight bathed Lindsey¡¯s face, highlighting her long eyshes. She woke up with dark circles evident under her eyes. Sleep had eluded her the night before. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, memories, and worries, intertwining in a dance she couldn¡¯t escape. It was only in the early hours of dawn that she finally found rest. Thankfully, it was the weekend. She could wake up at her own pace. As soon as Lindsey got up, she reached for her phone, eager to catch up on thetest news. The news about Sh and Andrew still dominated the headlines, but some new updates had emerged. ¡°Andrew Lee¡¯s tradingpany is now under investigation for suspected tax evasion. ¡± ¡°The Vitality Group announcedst night they¡¯re cutting all ties with Andrew Lee¡¯s tradingpany. ¡± ¡°Several otherpanies quickly followed suit, severing their connections with Andrew Lee¡¯spany. ¡± There was a flurry of online searches delving into Andrew and hispany¡¯s alleged crimes. Lindsey browsed through the array of news that had emerged since the night before. Everything was happening too fast. Andrew¡¯s downfall came sooner than she expected. Typically, entrepreneurs like Andrew would have a very strong public rtions team, but it seemed like his PR team had vanished overnight. Rather than quashing the scandal, they were letting more incriminating stories slip out. It all seemed to be going too smoothly. Lindsey couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that someone influential was assisting her from the shadows. She couldn¡¯t think of anyone with such influence. Perhaps they were linked to Sh somehow. Sh, after all, was an award-winning actress. It was likely she had some powerful people backing her up. Yet, amidst all this, something felt off to Lindsey. Chapter 206 Last night, all talk of Shelia had vanished as if it had been wiped clean. Any news that did show her face blurred it beyond recognition. Theizens were left guessing who the person involved was, without any concrete proof to confirm their suspicions. Lindsey had hoped to tarnish Shelia¡¯s reputation and ruin her chances with the Perry family by using public opinion against her. Yet, the incident seemed to have slipped everyone¡¯s mind. Had Jacob stepped in to help Shelia without anyone knowing? But then, at the equestrian club that day, Jacob had ended things with Shelia. It was all so confusing. Amid Lindsey¡¯s pondering, her phone rang with a call from the police asking for her cooperation in an investigation. She was ready for this. Lindsey freshened up, threw on some everyday clothes, and headed to the station. There, Andrew pointed fingers at Lindsey, but she firmly told the police that Andrew was the one who had harassed her. She admitted to messaging him about meeting at the hotel, but imed it was only to trick him, and she never went. The police couldn¡¯t find any evidence of her at the hotel and cleared her of suspicion. Walking out of the station, Lindsey got a call from Sh with exciting news. ¡°Lindsey, guess what? Mr. Barton, the famouswyer, reached out on Twitter. He¡¯s offering to represent me for free!¡± ¡°Mr. Barton?¡± Lindsey raced through her thoughts. Out of the blue, her eyes brightened, and she questioned, ¡°You mean thewyer who wins almost all his cases, Reece Barton?¡±This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°That¡¯s the one!¡± Lindsey was stunned. ¡°Isn¡¯t he the one who charges a fortune, the one people can¡¯t hire even if they have the money? And he¡¯s helping you for free? That¡¯s incredible!¡± ¡°I was just as shocked. I offered to pay, but he refused. ¡± ¡°Do you think he¡¯s a fan of yours?¡± Lindsey had considered this before. ¡°Maybe, I¡¯m not sure. You know, Andrew¡¯s been pulling my strings for so long, I¡¯ve hardly saved a penny,¡± she confided, her voice tinged with worry about the cost of a good Lawyer. Famouswyers charged a fortune, after all. Out of the blue, Reece got in touch with her! With a heartfelt sigh, Lindsey said, ¡°I was scared that Andrew would get some hotshotwyer to get him a lighter sentence. But now, with Reece on our side, we can definitely put him behind bars for years!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a weight off my shoulders. Without you, I¡¯d still be under his thumb. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,¡± Sh expressed her gratitude to Lindsey warmly and sincerely. Lindsey offered a smile, filled with relief. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, Sh. A jerk like him deserves what¡¯sing. I just did what anyone should. Plus, it¡¯s been easier because your fans are behind you, eager for youreback. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve decided, I¡¯m going back to showbiz. I won¡¯t let my fans down again,¡± Sh dered with newfound determination. Chapter 207 ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Lindsey was thrilled for Sh, yet she suddenly remembered something important she had to share, ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you¡­ The truth is¡­ I didn¡¯t just help you for your sake. ¡± Then, Lindsey opened up about her own troubles at work and the deal she had struck with Jayleen. On the other end of the phone, Sh¡¯s soft chuckle came through. It took Lindsey by surprise. It was her first time hearing Shugh.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°Lindsey, to be honest, even without you mentioning it, I had already made up my mind to have you as my agent. ¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Lindsey felt a rush of pride. ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯m just a nobody in the business?¡± ¡°Definitely not. Given your personality and talent, you¡¯re bound to make it big in this field. I see a lot of potential in you. Plus, you¡¯re the only one I trust. I¡¯m counting on your guidance from now on, my agent!¡± Sh¡¯s faith in her, both kind and unwavering, overwhelmed Lindsey with emotion, and she was almost in tears. ¡°Oh, and when you have a chance, could you introduce me to Mr. Lopez?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped with excitement at Sh¡¯s willingness to meet Vincent. ¡°I¡¯m free! Anytime at all!¡± On the top floor of the Vitality Group. By the pool table, Domenic was leaning over, cue in hand, lining up the white ball. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re getting pretty good at this. ¡± Standing across from Domenic was a man in a sharp, pristine white suit, looking both dashing and refined. ¡°To think you¡¯d hand me such a big case the moment I get back to Morcastle. I¡¯ve never worked pro bono since I started practicing. If it weren¡¯t for the old favor I owe you, I¡¯d never take on such a job. ¡± Domenic looked up, his gaze icy, and countered, ¡°As the heir to the Barton Group, do you really need the money?¡± Not many were aware that Reece stood as the primary heir of the Barton family, one of the four leading families in this city. He was groomed from a young age for this role, receiving a traditional education befitting an heir. Yet, Reece found himself disinterested in the business world¡¯s overt and hidden battles. Defying his family¡¯s expectations, he chose to studyw at university and pursued a career as awyer after graduation. His father struck a deal with him; if Reece¡¯s legal career failed, he would return to manage the family¡¯s wealth. Reece, however, never relied on his family¡¯s fortune. He carved out a name for himself as a globally recognizedwyer and even founded his ownw firm, leaving his father without any grounds for criticism. ¡°lith the Barton family¡¯s help? Never needed it,¡± Reece would say, his eyebrows arching in pride. He cherished his independence, eager to make his mark without the shadow of his family¡¯s influence. ¡°But what¡¯s your connection to Sh? Why do you assist her?¡± Reece questioned Domenic with a curious gaze. At that moment, Emilio entered the CEO¡¯s lounge. Hearing Reece¡¯s question, hemented, ¡°It¡¯s not really about Sh. He¡¯s helping someone else. ¡± Domenic furrowed his brows slightly, giving Emilio a sideways look. Emilio shut up sulkily. ¡°Someone else?¡± Reece¡¯s clear and bright eyes showed a hint of surprise. ¡°Domenic, do you really have a girlfriend?¡± Chapter 208 Domenic set aside the pool cue and strolled to the coffee counter, picking up a handcrafted coffee. He leaned casually against the counter, a distant look in his eyes. Remembering a passionate ki*s with Lindsey, a smile crept onto his face. Observing Domenic¡¯s self-contained chuckle and the unmistakable hint of affection, Reece approached Emilio, visibly astonished, and nudged him. ¡°Who¡¯s thedy? Who has captured his heart?¡± Emilio¡¯s lips twisted into a wry smile. Having received a stern warning from Domenic, he remained tight-Lipped. Meanwhile, Domenic gazed at them with an inquiring look. ¡°What do you think women generally like?¡± Reece¡¯s eyes widened in sheer amazement. This was the first time he had ever heard Domenic show interest in what a woman might Like. Usually indifferent to such chatter, Reece found his curiosity piqued. ¡°Domenic, are you thinking of getting a gift for her? Do I know thisdy?¡± ¡°Does it have anything to do with you?¡± Domenic¡¯s tone turned cold as he retorted, ¡°If you ask another question, I¡¯ll withdraw my investment in your newly establishedw firm right away!¡± Reece felt a chill run down his spine. He had ambitions to expand hisw firm nationwide, and without Domenic¡¯s financial backing, that dream seemed distant. Reece nodded, wisely choosing not to probe further. ¡°Women usually love luxury items. The more expensive, the more they tend to appreciate them. ¡± ¡°Luxury items¡­¡± Domenic pondered, aware that in Lindsey¡¯s eyes, such opulence was likely beyond his means. He had decided not to disclose his family ties or wealth to Lindsey before fully assuming control of his family¡¯s empire.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. His intention was to keep her distance from family conflicts for the time being. ¡°Is there something expensive but not seeming expensive?¡± Reece and Emilio exchanged puzzled nces, finding Domenic¡¯s words contradictory and baffling. ¡°The only thing thates to mind is antiques,¡± Emilio suggested. Reece added, ¡°It¡¯s actually not tooplicated. Generally, a woman gauges her significance in your Life by how much effort and resources you¡¯re willing to invest in her. In simpler terms, she needs to feel genuinely valued and cared for. ¡± Hearing this, Domenic¡¯s expression grew more serious. * In the afternoon, Lindsey visited Vincent¡¯spany. This time around, the receptionist¡¯s demeanor hadpletely changed from theirst meeting. She stood up, greeted Lindsey with a broad smile, and asked, ¡°Miss Stewart, are you here to see Mr. Lopez?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°Hold on for just a moment, please. ¡± After making a quick call on the internal phone, the receptionist informed Lindsey, ¡°He is tied up in a meeting right now. You can wait in his lounge. We¡¯ll let you know when you can go in to see him. ¡± ¡°Thank you. ¡± Chapter 209 Given Sh¡¯s current prominence and the media¡¯s keen interest in her, Lindsey¡¯s unexpected visit to Vincent¡¯spany was bound to attract attention. Anticipating this, Lindsey had alerted Vincent in advance. Lindsey rode the elevator up to Vincent¡¯s Lounge. Upon entering, she recognized two familiar figures. They were Jayleen, the agent director of Vitality Entertainment, and Kristy, the current leading actress. Kristy looked particrly graceful today, adorned in a floral dress and a pink knitted sweater, her makeup subtle and enhancing her elegant appearance. Her attire brought back memories of Sh, who was once celebrated as the Queen of Elegance after her rise to fame five years ago. But unlike Sh¡¯s gentle and pure vibe, Kristy emanated an air of arrogance. Upon noticing Lindsey, Kristy eyed her with a look of disdain. ¡°Lindsey, are you sure you¡¯re in the right ce? This is Vincent¡¯s private lounge, off-limits without his approval. I recall you were stopped by the receptionistst time and couldn¡¯t even get in. How did you manage to get in today?¡± ¡°Hey, Kristy, we¡¯re all coworkers from the samepany. Please don¡¯t say that; it¡¯ll just make her feel awkward. ¡± Jayleen rose from her seat, walked over to Lindsey, and greeted her with a smile. ¡°Lindsey, did youe for the role of leaddy in Mr. Lopez¡¯s movie?¡± Lindsey gazed at her and inquired, ¡°Miss Archer, why didn¡¯t you mention that you were trying to get this part for Miss Chase?¡± Jayleen grinned. ¡°This project is a big deal for thepany. I can¡¯t bet everything on a new agent who got a promotion through an exception. Let¡¯s have a fairpetition. It¡¯s only natural for anyone with the capability to get the role, don¡¯t you think?¡± Lindsey maintained aposed expression as she spoke, ¡°Miss Archer, are you saying¡­ Someone who ultimately doesn¡¯t secure the role mustck the necessary skills, right?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°That¡¯s one way to put it. ¡± Jayleenughed. Considering Lindsey¡¯s current assets, grabbing the lead role in Mr. Lopez¡¯s movie seemed nearly unattainable. Her sole intention was to use this chance to show that Lindsey wasn¡¯t capable, with the ultimate goal of kicking her out of thepany ! Kristy let out a snort and struck a pose of arrogance. ¡°Lindsey, Mr. Lopez can¡¯t stand agents without big-name stars bothering him. I suggest you don¡¯t waste your time. Otherwise, your prospects might take a hit if Mr. Lopez shows up and gets annoyed with you. ¡± Lindsey lounged on the sofa and responded indifferently, ¡°I appreciate the advice, Miss Chase. ¡± Kristy¡¯s irritation grew at Lindsey¡¯sposure. She believed Lindseynded her job through connections and led a disordered personal life, yet she was quite arrogant. Recalling the close encounter between Lindsey and the man she met at the racetrack, Kristy¡¯s resentment towards Lindsey deepened. ¡°Miss Archer, I tried to be kind and remind her, but she didn¡¯t take it well. Mr. Lopez isingter. Maybe you can talk to her? It could get pretty awkward otherwise. Well, you know, Miss Stewart is part of ourpany too. We can¡¯t allow her to bring embarrassment to it in front of Mr. Lopez, can we?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take your advice. ¡± Jayleen put on a pretense of concern and gazed at Lindsey with worry. ¡°Lindsey, if Mr. Lopez inquirester, you can mention you came with me. If he finds out you snuck in, he might get angry. It could affect future coborations. ¡± The lounge door creaked open, and Vincent¡¯s assistant stepped inside from the outdoors. ¡°Excuse me, is Miss Lindsey Stewart present?¡± Lindsey rose gracefully. ¡°I¡¯m here. ¡± Chapter 210 The assistant greeted her with a professional smile. ¡°Miss Stewart, Mr. Lopez has just wrapped up a meeting and would like to see you in his office now. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Kristy sprang to her feet, her once-arrogant expression now filled with disbelief. ¡°Mr. Lopez wants to see her?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Chase. ¡± ¡°But. But we got here before her!¡± Kristy clenched her jaw, attempting to hold back her anger, as she needed to keep up appearances. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I am just following Mr. Lopez¡¯s instructions. ¡± After those words, the assistant turned to Lindsey. ¡°This way, please. ¡± As Lindsey reached the door, she paused and cast a meaningful smile from her gleaming eyes at Jayleen and Kristy. ¡°I apologize. I snuck in but now I should be the one to meet Mr. Lopez first. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery With that, she walked in. ¡°Mr. Lopez prefers to meet Lindsey before us? Does he know her well?¡± Kristy¡¯s confusion wasced with anger as she looked at Jayleen. Jayleen¡¯s expression turned sour. Then she snorted and said, ¡°I guess it¡¯s because she crossed paths with Mrs. Lopez at thest banquet. But even if she¡¯s acquainted with Mr. Lopez, he doesn¡¯t consider connections when selecting actors. She only has a handful of unknown artists who can¡¯t catch his eye. Furthermore, word has gotten around both within thepany and in the film industry that Lindsey vowed to secure the lead role in Mr. Lopez¡¯s movie to showcase her skills. So, it¡¯s even less likely that he would assist her. Now, everyone¡¯s waiting to see her make a spectacle of herself!¡± To humiliate Lindsey and turn her into aughingstock in the industry, Jayleen intentionally circted the information. That way, Lindsey wouldn¡¯t pose any threat to her. Jayleen grinned and strolled over to Kristy, giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t fret. You¡¯re sure to be the leadingdy in the end. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°But¡­¡± Kristy¡¯s expression clouded over. ¡°Last night, Sh just threw out a tweet and it shot up to the top trend. I hear whispers she might be nning a return. ¡± Vincent had been drawn to Kristy three years back, seeing in her a reflection of Sh. Had Sh not stepped back from the limelight, Kristy wouldn¡¯t havended the leading role. The thought of Sh¡¯s return sent a shiver of fear through Kristy. Jayleen chuckled and said, ¡°Sh¡¯s been off the screen for five years. Marriage and motherhood change a woman, often leaving her a shadow of her former self. Besides, it¡¯s the survival of the fittest in showbiz. Sure, she was once adored by the masses, but she¡¯s been out of sight for ages. She¡¯s yesterday¡¯s news, barely a memory. Her attempting aeback? I doubt she¡¯ll stir much interest. It¡¯s no big deal. ¡± Kristy exhaled a sigh of relief. Exactly! Her youth and beauty were undeniable. How could a has-been outshine her? Meanwhile, Vincent¡¯s mood Lifted when Lindsey walked into the office. Jayleen and Kristy had been grating on his nerves. Eager for a change, he had his assistant invite Lindsey instead. Chapter 211 Lindsey brought news of Sh, hinting that Sh sought a personal meeting with him. Vincent¡¯sposed demeanor gave way to excitement as his eyes brightened. He got up, leaning on the desk before him, and eximed, ¡°Really?! That¡¯s amazing! When¡¯s she free?¡± Lindsey offered a soft smile. ¡°Anytime,¡± she said. She had set a meeting between Vincent and Sh, and now, she hopped into a taxi to head home. Stepping out of the taxi and shutting the door, she spun around, only toe face-to-face with a figure that was both familiar and strange. ¡®s BunnyBookery Her eyes shot open.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Chayce?!¡± she blurted out in shock. What was he doing here? Chayce was dressed in a faded white T-shirt and ck jeans, a sneer ying on his lips. ¡°Long time no see, Lindsey. You¡¯re looking smarter and more stunning,¡± he remarked, his voice dripping with insincerity. Lindsey had no desire to engage with him and tried to move on. But Chayce stepped in her way again. With a sh of irritation in her eyes, Lindsey warned, ¡°Move, or I¡¯m calling the cops for harassment!¡± With that, she brushed past him, not giving him a second nce. ¡°Lindsey Stewart!¡± Chayce called out from behind her, his voice rough. ¡°Your fianc¨¦ doesn¡¯t know about that night, does he?¡± At that, Lindsey froze, then slowly turned to face Chayce with a frosty gaze. ¡°What are you getting at?¡± she asked coldly. Chayce just smirked. ¡°Nothing. ¡± He approached Lindsey with a careless swagger. ¡°I¡¯m a bit short on cashtely. I need your help. You know, if it wasn¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t be getting engaged so quickly or have imed your mother¡¯s estate, right? I¡¯ve yed my part. It¡¯s only fair I get something out of it. ¡± Lindsey let out a mockingugh. ¡°I¡¯ve met some pretty shameless people, you top them all! Let¡¯s get one thing straight. I want nothing to do with you anymore. Don¡¯t expect to get anything from me With that, Lindsey turned around to leave. Chayce, seething with anger, called out to her back, ¡°What do you think your fianc¨¦ would say if he knew about your wild night with a stranger?¡± Lindsey paused in her tracks, which only made Chayce more forceful. ¡°You have two days to think it over. Pay me, and I¡¯ll bury the secret forever. But if you don¡¯t, don¡¯t me me for whates next. ¡± Chayce was sure Lindsey would cave, but she didn¡¯t even turn around, dismissing him, ¡°Whatever. ¡± Reaching the door, Lindsey switched to slippers and caught sight of the table from the previous night. It was a reminder of her passionate moment with Domenic. She sighed and dropped her handbag on the table. Chapter 212 The sound of the lock turning announced her return, and Domenic approached, his white shirt crisp and his wide chest suddenly in her path as she turned. Without a word, he drew her into his embrace. The man¡¯s presence wrapped around Lindsey. ¡°There you are,¡± Domenic said, his voice soft with warmth. Lindsey longed to stay wrapped in his embrace a bit longer, but she held back her yearning and stepped away. ¡°Is something the matter? Did someone bother you?¡± Domenic¡¯s brow creased as he gazed at the pale-faced Lindsey before him. With a weak smile, Lindsey shook her head. ¡°No, just feeling a bit worn out. I. , I¡¯ll wash my face first,¡± she said and hurried to the bathroom. She turned the faucet and sshed cold water onto her face, letting the droplets trailing down her cheeks. Patting her face dry, she looked up just in time to see a ne tumble into view. A delicate chain of white gold held a vivid red diamond, encircled by a halo of sparkling stones. It glinted a fierce red, captivating. Reflected in the mirror, Lindsey caught sight of Domenic¡¯s tall silhouette behind her, holding out the ne with the fiery gem. ¡°This is she murmured, half in wonder. Domenic smiled gently, his thin lips curving as he dr@ped the ne around Lindsey¡¯s neck. The red gem caught the Light, twinkling brightly.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡°It Looks good on you. I knew it would suit you perfectly. ¡± From behind her, Domenic wrapped hisrge hands around her waist and leaned his head on her shoulder, admiring the reflection of the ne on Lindsey in the mirror. Lindsey stood motionless, her tone slightly cool. ¡°Mr. Walsh, what do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s yours now. Wearing it means you¡¯re taken. ¡± Lindsey nced down, falling silent. The red diamond was a rarity, undoubtedly costly. Domenic wasn¡¯t wealthy, so this could be a significant expense for him. Today, Chayce¡¯s unexpected visit had jolted Lindsey back to reality. Soon Domenic would learn about her troubled past and likely turn away from her. She believed that what was meant to disappear would do so eventually, so it was better to end things now, despite the pain. She couldn¡¯t keep up the facade and continue their rtionship. Gently, Lindsey removed the ne and ced it back in Domenic¡¯s hand. Chapter 213 ¡°Mr. Walsh, this is far too precious for me to ept. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s a present for my girlfriend, and hopefully soon-to-be fianc¨¦e. Please, keep it. ¡± Domenic opened her clenched hand andid the ne in her palm, his seriousness only deepening her sadness. Clutching the ne tightly, Lindsey looked up into Domenic¡¯s caring eyes with tears forming in her own. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t be your girlfriend or your fianc¨¦e, so I shouldn¡¯t take this. ¡± ¡°Why? Didn¡¯t we agreest night that¡­¡± Dominic¡¯s brow creased with confusion. She had ki*sed him with such fervor, so why was she rejecting him now? Lindsey, usually fearless, found herself unable to confess her history to Dominic.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She hung her head, scrambling for an exnation. ¡°Aboutst night¡­ I just wanted to show my gratitude for your support earlier. ¡± Dominic¡¯s gaze turned stormy and detached. ¡°Are you saying you ki*sed me just to say thanks, not because you have feelings for me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. ¡± ¡°And if some other guy had helped you out, would you have thanked him the same way?¡± He scrutinized her eyes, trying to decipher her thoughts. Lindsey was at a loss for words. Tired of this discussion, she simply presented the diamond ne to him. Her eyes earnestly sought his. ¡°Mr. Walsh, please don¡¯t linger on me. You deserve someone better. This¡­ This deserves to belong to someone else. ¡± The glow of the red diamond, once a token of affection, now seemed mockingly out of ce. Dominic¡¯s expression darkened. He seized Lindsey¡¯s wrists and pinned her against the sink. His breath was icy, his normallyposed eyes flickered with unrest, yet he maintained a rigid control. His gaze drifted to Lindsey¡¯s now pale lips, and he leaned in to ki*s her. But she turned away abruptly. Stray wet hairs clung to her face, her lips firmly shut. Her refusal to ki*s him was unmistakable, not hidden in the slightest. A roughugh escaped him as he released her wrists and straightened up. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve got a business trip abroad. I won¡¯t be back for a while,¡± Dominic announced, his voice devoid of warmth. Lindsey froze for a second when she heard Domenic was going abroad for work. She blurted out, ¡°When?¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. ¡± Domenic emerged from the bathroom, grabbed a ck coat from the closet, and slipped into it. That was when Lindsey noticed he was all dressed up, as if he¡¯d waited for her to get back just to hand her the ne before he left. ¡°And this ne. . She nced down at the red diamond ne in her grasp. Chapter 214 Domenic swapped his shoes, stood in the hallway with an icy gaze, and said, ¡°While I¡¯m gone, think things over. If you truly have no feelings for me, I¡¯ll take the ne back when I return. ¡± With that, he stepped out and shut the door behind him, giving Lindsey no room to protest. Left alone, Lindsey retreated to her bedroom. She carefully set the ne in her jewelry box and stared at it, chin in hand. It resembled a fiery blood drop, deeply red and pulsing. She knew she couldn¡¯t mishandle such a treasure. She had to safeguard it and give it back to Domenic upon his return. As Lindseyy on her soft bed, she dr@ped her arm over her eyes. But every time she closed them,st night¡¯s closeness haunted her, his assertive ki*s, hisforting chest¡­ He was gone on business, and it¡¯d be a while before he returned. Yet, the moment he left, she found herself missing him. Annoyed, she pulled the covers over her head, trying to force sleep. If she could just drift off, she wouldn¡¯t have to think of him at all. * On her second morning, Lindsey awoke with shadows under her eyes, vigorously scratching her head. She¡¯d been dreaming of Domenic all night, a presence that seemed to follow her relentlessly. In frustration, she flung the covers aside and rose to shake off his image from her mind. Yet, despite her efforts, curiosity drew her to the jewelry box to glimpse the ne once more. She remembered her promise to take Sh to meet Vincent at his ce today. At ten, Lindsey took a taxi to Vincent¡¯s quiet seaside vi. The atmosphere in this ce was serene and peaceful. Soon after, a taxi pulled up, and Sh stepped out. Dressed in a simple ck dress with tassels and oversized sunsses hiding most of her face, her hair dr@ped casually around her shoulders. To any onlooker, she was a far cry from the celebrated actress she once was. ¡°Sorry for the wait, Lindsey. Traffic was a nightmare,¡± Sh apologized, though she was barely a minutete.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. The years under Andrew¡¯s thumb had stripped away Sh¡¯s boldness, leaving her overly cautious and humble. Lindsey offered aforting smile and took Sh¡¯s arm. ¡°You¡¯re right on time. I¡¯m the one who came early,¡± she reassured. Like good friends, they approached Vincent¡¯s residence and rang the bell. A servant promptly greeted and ushered them inside. Chapter 215 Sh and Vincent wished they had crossed paths sooner and enjoyed a hearty conversation about it. Vincent, taken by Sh¡¯s charm, picked her as the lead for his uing film. Yet, with the movie still in its infancy and Sh recently stirring up the media, he opted to keep this choice under wraps until the moment felt right. Moreover, Sh didn¡¯t hold back herpliments for Lindsey when chatting with Vincent. Learning that Lindsey was the one who helped Sh shake off Andrew and step back into showbiz, Vincent¡¯s admiration for Lindsey only deepened. ¡°I knew it. I¡¯ve always had an eye for talent. Lindsey is genuinely one of a kind. ¡± Paige, done tending to the balcony garden, walked in and caught the tail end of their exchange. She looked at Lindsey with a newfound softness in her eyes, then took a seat beside Vincent, Looping her arm through his. ¡°I¡¯ve got to say. Lindsey is much better than Jayleen. Ever since Jayleen took over at Vitality Entertainment, it¡¯s been one letdown after another. And Kristy? She¡¯s been nothing but trouble, riding on Jayleen¡¯s coattails. ¡± Vincent could only sigh in agreement. ¡°Oh, by the way,¡± Paige interjected, a sudden recollection lighting up her face. She turned to Lindsey and Sh with a warm smile. ¡°Next weekend is our twentieth anniversary. We¡¯re throwing a dinner party at our ce. You shoulde. ¡± Vincent chimed in, grateful for Paige¡¯s reminder, ¡°It¡¯s the perfect asion to wee Sh back to our world. ¡± In showbiz, an invite from Vincent and Paige was no small affair, and Lindsey knew better than to decline. Sh, with a modest smile, expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. Lindsey, and I wouldn¡¯t miss it. ¡± Paige warmly invited Lindsey and Sh to have lunch at her home. After the meal, Lindsey and Sh bid farewell to Paige and Vincent before departing. Vincent returned to his sofa, engrossed in a magazine. Nearby, Paige sat, selecting an apple from a fruit tray. She began peeling it with care. ¡°I really like Lindsey. At our dinner party next weekend, we should introduce her to our godson. He¡¯s not getting any younger. It¡¯s high time he thought about marriage. ¡± Vincent nced at Paige through his reading sses and said, ¡°You¡¯re considering Lindsey as a match for Sumner? Would his father agree?¡± Paige scoffed dismissively. ¡°In all these years, his father has never dictated his life. Without being reminded, I¡¯d forget he even has a real dad. ¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Sumner had it rough. He lost his mother when he was young, and even his father turned his back on him. If we hadn¡¯t taken Sumner in, I dread to think where he¡¯d be now. ¡± Thinking of the past, Vincent sighed. Paige ced a slice of the peeled apple into Vincent¡¯s mouth, her tone bitter. ¡°There¡¯s not one decent person in the Lawson family. Sumner¡¯s right to stay away. We¡¯re all he needs. ¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Vincent looked at Paige, her anger palpable, and chose to remain silent. Paige was usually so warm-hearted, but the mere mention of the Lawson family always set her off. She made her disdain for them clear whenever they crossed paths. Her animosity stemmed from the past. Paige¡¯s best friend had suffered at the hands of the Lawson family, and they had disowned Sumner. Over the years, Paige¡¯s grudge against them had only deepened. If not for her friend¡¯s ill-fated love for that heartless man, leading to Sumner bearing his father¡¯sst name, Paige would have changed it herself. Chapter 216 But Vincent thought Paige¡¯s words made sense. They could provide Sumner with everything the Lawson family could and more. For Sumner, they were all he needed. After leaving Vincent¡¯s ce, Lindsey returned to thepany. After organizing information about Sh, she went to meet with Jayleen.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Jayleen was engrossed in a phone call, seated in a leather chair. ¡®s BunnyBookery Her attire was a blend of professionalism and allure; a white shirt with a plunging silk neckline, a high-waisted skirt bodycon skirt hugging her slender waist, paired with ck stockings and pointed heels. She crossed her legs, twirling a pen, her cheeks flushed with excitement. Engrossed in a cheerful phone conversation, Jayleen was interrupted by a knock at her office door. ¡°Looks like I have someone here. Let¡¯s continue thister,¡± After hanging up the phone, Raising her voice towards the door, Jayleen called out, ¡°Please,e in. ¡± The door swung open, and Lindsey stepped in, making her way towards Jayleen. ¡°Lindsey, is something the matter?¡± Jayleen¡¯s expression turned somber as she caught sight of Lindsey. With a swift motion, she tossed her pen onto the desk. Lindsey extended the papers she was holding towards Jayleen, inquiring, ¡°Miss Archer, you¡¯re surely familiar with Sh Potter, the acimed actress who left showbiz five years ago, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jayleen¡¯s brow furrowed as she nced at the documents Lindsey handed her. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware of her. What about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve recently made contact with her. She¡¯s considering aeback. I¡¯m hoping to bring her into Vitality Entertainment. As you know, Sh is a well-known actress. Her signing with ourpany would be immensely beneficial. It¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime we can¡¯t miss. I¡¯d like to be the one to secure her contract on behalf of Vitality Entertainment. ¡± Jayleen was a little surprised. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Lindsey¡¯s sess in reaching Sh. From what Jayleen knew, numerous entertainment firms had scrambled to contact Sh following her announcement, eager to sign her. They offered attractive conditions. Among these was Gallop Entertainment, a major rival of Vitality Entertainment. Jayleen herself had a top-tier star like Kristy, but who wouldn¡¯t wee more high-profile talent? So, Jayleen had exerted her influence, and tried various tactics to talk with Sh, but failed. How had Lindsey managed to connect with Sh so effortlessly? This made Jayleen more afraid of Lindsey. Jayleen narrowed her eyes, a hint of slyness twinkling in them. She smiled, her red lips curving up as she regarded Lindsey. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic news. But, signing a star of Sh¡¯s magnitude requires more than just my approval. I need to inform Mr. Harvey. Why don¡¯t you give me Sh¡¯s number? I¡¯ll reach out to her in my free time to express ourpany¡¯s interest. ¡± Lindsey, without much hesitation, gave Sh¡¯s contact details to Jayleen. Once Lindsey had left, Jayleen eagerly dialed the number. Soon, she heard Sh¡¯s gentle voice on the Line. Chapter 217 Sitting up attentively, Jayleen said courteously, ¡°Hello, is this Miss Sh Potter?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. May I ask who you are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Jayleen Archer, the agent director at Vitality Entertainment. I¡¯ve heard about your interest in joining us. We¡¯re also looking forward to coborating with you. When would you be free? Let¡¯s arrange a meeting to discuss signing the contract. ¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Sh hesitated for a second before saying, ¡°You know, it might be better if Lindsey discussed this with me. I don¡¯t want to trouble you, Miss Archer. ¡± The corners of Jayleen¡¯s mouth turned down slightly, but she forced a pleasant tone. ¡°Well, the thing is, ourpany policy requires artists of your standing to deal directly with the director agent, so¡­¡± ¡°Fine, but I have one condition to sign with yourpany. If you agree, then we can set up a meeting. ¡± ¡°Of course, tell me what it is. We¡¯ll do our best to amodate,¡± Jayleen replied, her spirits lifting¡­ ¡°I want Lindsey as my agent. That¡¯s my term for signing the contract. ¡± Jayleen felt a knot form in her stomach, her forced smile freezing in ce. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Sh demanding Lindsey as her agent! She had her own ns for Sh once the contract was signed, with no intention of letting Lindsey be involved. Furthermore, she was determined to remove Lindsey from thepany. How could she let Lindsey to bring in someone as significant as Sh? ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do that, Miss Potter. Ourpany assigns agents after an artist signs on,¡± Jayleen exined, trying to maintainposure. Sh, unfazed, pressed on, ¡°Miss Archer, I¡¯ve never heard of such a strict policy. My request isn¡¯t unreasonable. If yourpany can¡¯t grant this small concession, then perhaps we have nothing further to discuss. ¡± Having been out of the limelight for five years, Sh was still sharp, easily seeing through Jayleen¡¯s schemes. She knew well how agents bent over backwards for the chance to represent a star. Jayleen frowned, a clear sign she wasn¡¯t pleased. Facing Sh directly, though, meant trouble she didn¡¯t want, so she forced a smile and said, ¡°Miss Potter, I¡¯m not in the position to decide on this right now. I¡¯ll run it by the vice general manager and get back to you once we have an answer.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯s fine. ¡± The moment she hung up, Jayleen slumped back in her chair, her face clouded over with gloom. Later in the day, Jayleen summoned Lindsey to her office. ¡°Miss Archer, have you touched base with Sh? Is the contract done?¡± Lindsey entered, bubbling with enthusiasm. Chapter 218 Jayleen nced up and dampened Lindsey¡¯s spirits. ¡°We¡¯re not going to sign with Sh. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey halted, bewildered. ¡°Why not?¡± Jayleen, her gaze icy, reclined in her chair and exined, ¡°Sh¡¯s been out of the game for five years. A female star shines brightest in the three to five years after she hits it big. To be honest, she¡¯s past her prime! Lindsey, do you want to bet on a faded actress and risk thepany¡¯s reputation?¡± Lindsey struggled to grasp Jayleen¡¯s sudden shift. ¡°But Sh¡¯s past fame, even if she doesn¡¯t hit those heights again, guarantees more pull than most in our roster. She¡¯s bound to hit the top ranks again. Taking her on is a win-win for us!¡± To anyone paying attention, it was obvious. So why, when it came to Jayleen, was signing Sh suddenly a liability? ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re just starting out and still a newbie. You tend to see things from only one angle. But I¡¯m not pointing fingers at you,¡± Jayleen said, tilting her head with a sense of knowing better. ¡°I¡¯ve seen plenty of so-called stars who demanded big bucks upfront just because they used to be somewhat famous. In the end, spending all that cash to sign them hardly paid off. Thepany can¡¯t shoulder that kind of risk, so we passed on signing her. ¡± That dismissive air and snide tone made Lindsey think of something. She suddenly realized Jayleen was also vying for the lead in Vincent¡¯stest film. Was it possible that Jayleen didn¡¯t want her to bring Sh in? Lindsey took a breath and asked, ¡°Is this thepany¡¯s call, or just yours?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Jayleen crossed her arms and grinned. ¡°It¡¯s thepany¡¯s, of course. If you doubt it, go check with Mr. Harvey. ¡± ¡°What about Mr. Howard? Does he know?¡± Lindsey knew that signing a star like Sh would require approval from Mr. Howard, the top boss. She was sure someone like Mr. Howard wouldn¡¯t make such a rash decision without good reason! Jayleen¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly, ¡°Mr. Howard¡¯s out of town on business. He¡¯ll be gone for a while. He¡¯s left Mr. Harvey in charge of things while he¡¯s away. ¡± Lindsey was taken aback. Both Domenic and Mr. Howard were away? Despite their different stations, it seemed too much of a coincidence. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go see Mr. Harvey,¡± Lindsey said, and made her way out of Jayleen¡¯s office. Lindsey hurried to the vice general manager Josh Harvey¡¯s office and knocked on the door. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Josh, lounging in his chair, peeked over his phone at Lindsey. She stepped in front of him, saying softly, ¡°Mr. Harvey, I¡¯vee to discuss Sh¡¯s contract signing. Sh was a best actress with a huge fan base. My research shows her fans are eager for her return. Chapter 219 Signing her would be beneficial, and not doing so could be¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish before Josh mmed his phone down, cutting her off with an impatient Look. ¡°Since when do you, an executive agent, question thepany¡¯s decisions?¡± Lindsey, with a firm resolve, replied quickly, ¡°As an executive agent, it¡¯s my job to recruit talent that will profit thepany. Missing out on Sh could be a great loss. Please reconsider. ¡± Lindsey held back the news of Sh¡¯s lead role in Vincent¡¯s new film due to a pact with Vincent. Josh red at Lindsey with scorn. ¡°You think you have better insight than the top management of apany? Enough. I have work. Please leave. ¡± ¡°But Mr. Harvey¡­¡± ¡°Get out!¡± Lindsey was ready to continue her persuasion but Josh held her back. Despite her frustration and feeling of powerlessness, she couldn¡¯t challenge thepany¡¯s vice general manager. With a clenched jaw, she had no choice but to leave. Shortly after Lindsey¡¯s departure, Jayleen strutted in, swinging her hips seductively towards Josh, who swept her into his embrace. Josh was the force behind Jayleen¡¯s rise to director agent. Since taking charge, Jayleen had been epting kickbacks for signing new talent, with Josh pocketing most of the proceeds. The duo had been in cahoots for a long time, amassing wealth thanks to Vitality Entertainment¡¯s clout in the business. Emilio usually stayed out of hiring decisions, but his direct promotion of Lindsey unnerved them. If Jayleen¡¯s position was at risk, so were Josh¡¯s profits. That was why Josh was willing to sacrifice Sh, the industry¡¯s golden goose, to help Jayleen oust Lindsey and remove any threat. ¡°When Sh returns, she¡¯ll go up against Kristy for the lead in Vincent¡¯stest film. Please help Kristynd the role. ¡± Jayleen, normally so assertive, turned soft and alluring with Josh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already spoken to Andrew¡¯swyer. He¡¯s got enough scandals on Sh to tarnish her reputation. Once that¡¯s out, it¡¯ll cause an uproar and her value will plummet. She won¡¯t stand a chance against Kristy,¡± Josh assured her.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Josh had another motive. He couldn¡¯t face Emilio if he returned to find Sh¡¯s reputation intact. So, he paid off the paparazzi and gossipmongers to tarnish her name. Public opinion swayed, leaving Vincent hesitant to partner with Sh due to the bacsh. Meanwhile, with Emilio away, it was the perfect time for Josh to fire Lindsey from thepany. After a long day, Lindsey came home to an empty apartment, feeling a wave of sadness. She slumped into the couch, lost in thought. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Josh refused to seal the deal with Sh. Chapter 220 Other firms were eyeing Sh, and the deal needed closing fast. But with Emilio on a trip and no return date in sight, Lindsey felt stuck. Overwhelmed, she considered texting Sh to ask for a dy but hesitated, finding the words hard toe by. Distractedly flipping through her phone, she stumbled upon Domenic¡¯s profile. He was likely overseas by now. She wondered if his journey had been safe. Lindsey typed out a text, ¡°Mr. Walsh, have you arrived safely? How¡¯s the weather? Is everything alright?¡± But just as Lindsey was about to hit send on her message, she stopped. Remembering Chayce¡¯s threat from that day, Lindsey felt a sharp pain in her heart. She had resolved to sever ties with Domenic. Contacting him now was out of the question. His whereabouts and safety were no longer her concern. She nned to return his ne and then move out of this apartment. Deciding against sending the message, Lindsey set her phone aside andy back on the sofa, her eyes closed. Suddenly, her phone chimed with an iing message. Was it sent by Mr. Walsh? Lindsey picked up the phone quickly. The moment she saw the message, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little disappointed. It was a message from Sh. ¡°Lindsey, I n to get a custom-made dress for Mr. and Mrs. Lopez¡¯s anniversary banquet next weekend. Let me know your measurements and I¡¯ll make one for you. ¡± Lindsey politely declined, ¡°That¡¯s alright, Sh. I can sort out my dress. ¡± Sh was persistent. ¡°You¡¯ve helped me a lot. Consider it a thank-you gift.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Please don¡¯t say no. ¡± Lindsey had no choice but to ept her kindness. ¡°Well, thank you, Sh. I¡¯ll send it to you after measurement. ¡± Sh responded enthusiastically, ¡°Great, I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± Lindsey grabbed a tape measure and quickly took her measurements. Then she turned on her mobile phone and edited a message to send it out. Then she ced the phone on the coffee table and went to freshen up. However, when she returned, she saw a message from Sh. ¡°Lindsey, did you send the measurements?¡± Chapter 221 Lindsey paused, puzzled. Hadn¡¯t Sh received her message? Then who did she send that message to? She frantically checked her sent messages. A wave of shock hit her as she realized her blunder. She had identally sent her measurements to Domenic! At the same time, in therge conference room of the headquarters building of the Walsh Group in Mubluosia. A group of senior executives were seated around a long walnut desk. They had just wrapped up an intense discussion about thepany¡¯s future ns in Mubluosia. ALL eyes were now on the man at the head of the table, awaiting his final decision. Domenic was the picture of elegance in a bespoke ck suit,plemented by a dark brown silk tie and a silver tie clip studded with blue diamonds, holding the tie neatly against his cor.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Her hair was neatlybed back, revealing his handsome and cold facial features. He rested his hands gently on the desk, fingers intertwined, his gaze exuding a regal and icy demeanor. He embodied the very essence of a business tycoon. The room was so silent, that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone was holding their breath, awaiting Domenic¡¯s next words. Just then, his phone buzzed with a message. ncing down, Domenic saw Lindsey¡¯s name on the screen, followed by a simple message, ¡°Bust 34. 5, waist 24, hips 36. ¡± Domenic¡¯s brow creased, his eyes narrowing in confusion. Why would Lindsey send him her measurements? What was she implying? These numbers quickly reminded Domenic of Lindsey¡¯s curvaceous figure. Even though she usually wore casual clothes, he was acutely aware of her stunning figure. Feeling a dryness in his throat, Domenic coughed softly and carried on with the meeting, acting as if nothing unusual had urred. Meanwhile, Lindsey was in a state of panic. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The message had been sent, and there was no taking it back. What would Domenic think upon reading it? She hoped he would not misunderstand! After a moment of thought, she hastily sent another message to Domenic. ¡°Sorry, I sent it to the wrong person. ¡± While Domenic talking, everyone straightened up and craned their necks to listen carefully to the CEO¡¯s speech. Then, his phone rang again. Peeking at it, Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed. Lindsey imed it was sent to the wrong person. But who was she going to send it to? This thought made Domenic furrow his brow. He abruptly stopped speaking, grabbed his phone, and walked out of the office. Everyone looked at each other in dismay. They were stunned that the president would interrupt a meeting over a message. What was going on? Chapter 222 Shortly after Lindsey sent the correction, Domenic called her. Lindsey¡¯s heart raced. After hesitating for a while, she picked up the phone and said, ¡°Hello, Mr. Walsh. ¡± ¡°Who else wants to know your measurements?¡± Domenic asked in a raspy voice, ¡°Tell me, and I¡¯ll teach that man a lesson when I return. ¡± Lindsey hadn¡¯t anticipated Domenic to be so straightforward, but it seemed that he had misunderstood something. ¡°No, Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re reading too much into it! It¡¯s Sh. We¡¯re attending Vincent and his wife¡¯s anniversary party this weekend. Since I helped her before, she wanted to make me a dress and asked for my measurements. I just don¡¯t know how I ended up sending them to you¡­¡± As Lindsey exined in a rushed and flustered manner, Domenic responded with a low, amused chuckle. ¡°Are you so worried I¡¯ll think you¡¯re involved with another man?¡± Domenic was deliberately teasing her, wasn¡¯t he? Lindsey blushed immediately. Why did she have to exin herself to him? It wasn¡¯t her business who she was texting! ¡°No, I¡¯m just rifying the situation! And, by the way, did you have a smooth journey?¡± Lindsey quickly changed the topic. Domenic¡¯s voice, deep and resonant, almost seemed to caress her ear. ¡°Are you concerned about me? Then¡­ Are you thinking of me?¡± His tone carried a seductive, yful undertone that made Lindsey¡¯s face blush. Lindsey¡¯s heart was beating wildly, but she tried her best to calm down. ¡°Yes, I do think of you. ¡± It never crossed Domenic¡¯s mind that Lindsey would say that. He chuckled in surprise and said, ¡°Really? What exactly do you think about me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking about when you¡¯ll return so I can give back your ne. ¡± The flirtatious mood vanished in an instant. There was a brief silence on the other end. If not for the faint sound of breathing, Lindsey might have thought he had hung up. As Lindsey pondered what to say next, Domenic¡¯s voice came through again, this time much colder. ¡°Got it. I¡¯vended safely, so don¡¯t worry.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± After a short pause, he added, ¡°Next time, be sure you really mean what you say before speaking. ¡± As soon as Domenic finished his deep and cold words, the line went dead with a disconnected tone. Lindsey gazed nkly at her phone. Realizing the call had ended, she slumped back onto the sofa, feeling utterly drained. Chapter 223 Did she really make up her mind? Should she return the ne and cut ties with him for good? Lindsey¡¯s heart felt as if it were being pricked by an icy needle, a sharp pain engulfing her. The mere thought of leaving him was agonizing. Yet, she knew the pain would be even greater if he discovered the truth and cast her aside mercilessly. Determined, Lindsey balled her fists. She was adamant not to let anyone hurt her again. It was better to cut her losses now while the pain was still manageable. Thousands of kilometers away¡­ Domenic¡¯s colleagues noticed a chilling darkness cloud his expression as he returned and passed through the ss doors. His entire demeanor radiated an intimidating coldness and cruelty.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. After working for Domenic for a while, they understood that their CEO was alwaysposed, unemotional, and exhibited remarkable self-discipline. He wielded significant influence in the business world. It was rare for Domenic to exhibit such emotional turmoil. They wondered what or who could cause such a reaction with just a few messages. ¡®s BunnyBookery Was there a major change in thepany? The executives sat nervously, holding their breath, beads of sweat forming on their brows. The next morning, Lindsey woke up, her eyes heavy with sleep. She had a restless night, and her head throbbed. Reaching for her phone to check the time, she was jolted awake by the news notification. She sat up instantly, fully sober. It read, ¡°ording to insiders, the child born to Sh is not biologically rted to Andrew. Rumors suggest that she had an affair with someone else and turned to Andrew to assume the role of the child¡¯s father after bing pregnant. This issue has been a source of profound bitterness for Andrew, leading him to resort to imprisoning and abusing Sh following their marriage. ¡± Shortly afterward, numerous anonymous ounts revealed that Sh had been involved with several tycoons in the past. Despite presenting herself as a pure and innocent woman openly, in reality, she engaged in promiscuous behavior. It was alleged that she obtained her top-tier resources through the exchange of her body. Blurry photos surfaced, depicting a scantily d woman being groped by several men at the entrance of a high-end club. Though the images showed only a partial side face, the woman bore a_ striking resemnce to Sh. For a moment, the trend of public opinion changed. Many of Sh¡¯s fans adamantly supported her, denouncing Andrew and discrediting the allegations, convinced he was attempting to tarnish her name. However, manyizens were misled. They thought that although Sh was innocent on the surface, she actually was promiscuous. The debate raged fiercely on Twitter, catapulting the topic to the top of the trending list. ¡°The woman in those pictures isn¡¯t Sh. She¡¯s definitely not such a person! Stop spreading false rumors. Those who do will regret it!¡± ¡°Sh came from an ordinary family. How did she get such high-level opportunities right from the start of her career? She must have had multiple benefactors! It¡¯s even possible she doesn¡¯t know who the father of her child is! Poor Andrew, he¡¯s being used as a cover-up. No wonder he was so angry and reacted so harshly!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Sh¡¯s talent and hard work that earned her those opportunities, not anyone else!¡± Chapter 224 ¡°Sh, just leave the entertainment industry. You¡¯re only after the money!¡± The second trending topic was about Kristy and Sh. Rumors circted that Kristy, a celebrated movie star, was set to lead in Vincent¡¯s uing film. However, with Sh¡¯s return, whispers suggested she secretly met with Vincent, aiming to snatch the role. The final casting decision was still up in the air. Thements were numerous, but most of them were in favor of Kristy. ¡°Sh hasn¡¯t been acting for five years. How could she possiblynd a lead role in Vincent¡¯s film right after her return? It¡¯s clear she must have someone backing her. ¡± ¡°Kristy is the ideal choice for Vincent¡¯s uing film. Sh, the has-been star, should just stay away. ¡± ¡°Stay out of the Limelight if you¡¯ve left the industry! The moment you return, you¡¯re trying to steal the spotlight from the best actress. Take a good look in the mirror and see what you¡¯ve be after having a baby. You¡¯re just inviting humiliation!¡± Several well-known bloggers initiated a poll, inviting followers to choose their preferred lead for Vincent¡¯s new movie. Kristy was leading by a significant margin. The sudden shift in public sentiment indicated that someone was actively trying to tarnish Sh¡¯s reputation to hinder her return. Clearly, the poll results were influenced by the rumors. It seemed like a strategic move to pit the actresses against each other and stir up public interest. Lindsey had a good idea of who might be behind these efforts to block Sh¡¯seback. Without dy, she called Sh. ¡°Hello, Sh. Have you checked out what¡¯s trending on Twitter?¡± ¡°Yes, I have. ¡± Sh¡¯s voice was trembling slightly, ¡°The woman in those pictures isn¡¯t me. I¡¯ve never slept with any man other than Andrew. He¡¯s definitely the father of my child! Lindsey, do you believe me?¡± ¡°Absolutely, I believe you. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s conviction seemed to encourage Sh. ¡°It¡¯s clear someone¡¯s trying to tarnish your name to prevent your role in Vincent¡¯s uing film. ¡± ¡°That crossed my mind too, but¡­ who would do such a thing?¡± ¡°Sh, I¡¯m afraid I have to trouble you with one thing. ¡± After getting ready, Lindsey headed to the office. The moment she stepped into her department, she sensed the disdainful nces of her colleagues. They didn¡¯t even try to hide their gossiping, even in her presence.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°You know what? Lindsey¡¯s been trying to get Sh to sign with her privately, but thepany turned her down. ¡± ¡°She has no choice. She agreed that she¡¯d be demoted if she couldn¡¯tnd Vincent¡¯s new movie¡¯s lead role for one of her artists. How could any of her lesser-known artists ever be Vincent¡¯s first choice? She¡¯s relying on Sh as herst hope. ¡± Chapter 225 Lindsey¡¯s expression turned into a frown. She had only mentioned to Jayleen that she¡¯d give it a shot. When did she agree to be demoted if she failed? ¡°What a shame! She made the wrong bet! Can¡¯t believe Sh, like Lindsey, leads such a scandalous life. They both seem to have climbed thedder relying on men!¡± ¡°They¡¯re cut from the same cloth!¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. There was a burst ofughter in the office. Lindsey didn¡¯t bother to argue with them and walked towards her office. At this time, a voice came from behind. ¡°Miss Archer, there you are!¡± Lindsey stopped and turned around to see Jayleen approaching confidently. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve surely heard about Sh¡¯s situation. It seems ourpany made the right call. Mr. Lopez will soon announce the Leadingdy of his film. Looks like your efforts will be in vain. ¡± Around the department, others chimed in, ¡°With the way public opinion is swaying now, Sh¡¯s reputation is in ruins. It¡¯s almost certain that Kristy will be the lead in Mr. Lopez¡¯s new movie! If certain individuals are wise enough, they should proactively resign from their positions. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Better to leave now than be dismissedter. Then she won¡¯t be able to show her face ever again!¡± Lindsey realized that Jayleen had orchestrated this entire situation to push her out of thepany from the start. So, Jayleen was the one responsible for tarnishing Sh¡¯s reputation and elevating Kristy¡¯s status in the public eye this time. As a director at Vitality Entertainment, Jayleen was quite cunning, but her methods weren¡¯t utilized in the right way. Lindsey nodded with a gentle smile and looked at Jayleen calmly, ¡°Miss Archer, do you want to make a bet with me?¡± ¡°What bet?¡± Jayleen crossed her arms over her chest and cast a disdainful nce at Lindsey. ¡°If Kristynds the lead in Mr. Lopez¡¯s uing movie, I¡¯ll leave thepany of my own ord. But if Sh gets the part, it¡¯ll show yourck of judgment. Then, you should step down and make way for someone morepetent. Are you up for the bet?¡± Lindsey¡¯s proposal immediately sparked a buzz. ¡°Oh my God! Wow, can you believe Lindsey¡¯s challenging Miss Archer right here?¡± ¡°How can she propose such a bet? Does Sh even stand a chance at getting the role?¡± ¡°No way! Sh has only just returned, and she¡¯s currently embroiled in scandals that have tarnished her reputation. Mr. Lopez¡¯s uing movie is a major investment targeting international awards. It¡¯s highly unlikely he¡¯d choose a has-been star with a controversial past as the lead. That would be self-sabotage, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Exactly, Kristy is the ideal choice for both Mr. Lopez and the audience. Lindsey¡¯s bound to lose!¡± Jayleen¡¯s eyebrows lifted in surprise. Just as she was searching for a reason to oust Lindsey from Vitality Entertainment, Lindsey approached her with an offer. ¡°I¡¯m confident in Kristy¡¯s abilities. I¡¯ll take that bet. But remember, if you lose, you¡¯ll have to leave. I do feel a bit sorry for you. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m prepared for that. Don¡¯t worry about me. ¡± With a smile, Lindsey scanned the room and said, ¡°Everyone here is a witness. If you lose, Miss Archer remember you promised to step down as a director! Lindsey then gracefully turned and made her way to her office, not looking back. Chapter 226 The moment Lindsey¡¯s back was turned, Jayleen¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a fiery re, as if she wanted to tear Lindsey apart. Her colleagues around her chimed in with variousments, ¡°Miss Archer, Lindsey¡¯s being too arrogant. How dare she challenge you Like that!¡± ¡°She¡¯s just bluffing. You¡¯re definitely going to win this! We have faith in you!¡± Jayleen scoffed. ¡°Where does she get the nerve to bet with me? If I lose, it would mean I¡¯m notpetent enough. But I¡¯ll make sure she regrets it and leaves thepany in disgrace!¡± Right after Lindsey settled into her office and shut the door, a call from Vincent came through. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s the deal with the trending topic today?¡± Gripping her phone tightly, Lindsey answered, ¡°Mr. Lopez, someone is intentionally spreading false stories about Sh to block her from starring in your uing film. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll find a way to handle these rumors before we announce the lead actress. ¡± Vincent, trusting Sh¡¯s character, suspected foul y behind the rumors. He was concerned about the bacsh from public opinion influencing his decision to cast Sh. Hearing Lindsey¡¯s reassurance, he felt somewhat relieved. ¡°Thanks, Lindsey. I¡¯m looking forward to hearing some positive updates. ¡± Meanwhile, Jayleen reclined in her office chair, legs elegantly crossed. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number from her contacts list, a gossip journalist. ¡°There¡¯s something I believe will pique your interest. If it¡¯s shared online, it¡¯s bound to garner a lot of attention¡­¡± After ending the call, Jayleen¡¯s lips curled into a cunning smile, and murmured to herself, ¡°Lindsey, since you¡¯ve walked right into my trap, I¡¯m not just going to push you out of thepany. I¡¯ll make sure your reputation is tarnished throughout the industry!¡± Shortly after, a renowned blogger disclosed Lindsey¡¯s daring bet with Jayleen, creating amotion and intensifying the rivalry for the lead role between Kristy and Sh. If either of them failed, it meant their agents had to quit too! Everyone was thrilled by this. Fans quickly picked sides. Team Jayleen and Kristy on one end, Lindsey and Sh on the other. The discussion heated up, and Lindsey and Jayleen became well-known to the public. Netizens were excited to witness the unfolding drama. Even celebrities started making secret bets, guessing who¡¯de out on top. Most bets were on Jayleen. She was the agent director of Vitality Entertainment and Kristy¡¯s agent, who¡¯s a superstar. But Lindsey? Just a newbie agent. And Sh? She¡¯s got a shady background.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Everyone was waiting for them to slip up. The entertainment world hadn¡¯t been this lively in ages. As the evening settled in, Lindsey satfortably on her home¡¯s sofa, indulging in watermelon and browsing Twitter, amused by those fieryments. ¡°If Kristy doesn¡¯t win, I¡¯ll go live and run in the street naked!¡± Chapter 227 ¡°The newbie agent and that old-time actress must¡¯ve cooked this up for some buzz, using Miss Archer and Kristy as bait. If they lose, they¡¯ll be the joke of the town!¡± ¡°Lindsey looks like a fresh graduate. Rumor has it she charmed her way up to an executive agent at Vitality Entertainment. ¡± ¡°So, she climbed thedder with connections, huh? That exins her high and mighty attitude. ¡± ¡°Time for her to leave the showbiz world behind!¡± People even found Lindsey¡¯s personal Twitter ount. And just Like that, her followers shot up by half a million! But the majority were anti-fans, following her to throw insults and attacks. They were just waiting to see her embarrass herself. There were indeed a few individuals who stood on Lindsey¡¯s side and most had been pushed around by Jayleen in the industry and were fed up with her behavior. One particr ount caught Lindsey¡¯s attention¡ªShelbyLyn¡­ Just as she thought of Lynne, her phone chimed with a call from her. ¡°Hey, Lynne. It¡¯s been ages! How are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m off traveling, having a st. But I¡¯ve seen your name buzzing around. How¡¯s everything? Are you holding up alright?¡± Lynne¡¯s voice carried genuine concern. ¡°I¡¯m holding up, doing alright,¡± she replied, trying to sound upbeat. ¡°Actually, Lynne, I wanted to ask you something. You once worked at Vitality Entertainment for quite a while. What¡¯s your take on Jayleen?¡± Lynne eximed, ¡°Jayleen and I started at Vitality Entertainment together. She wasn¡¯t particrly well-educated or skilled, consistently trailing behind in performance. But somehow, shended a few key roles, boosted her artists¡¯ fame, and climbed the ranks rapidly. In two years, she made it to director. Once there, she recruited Kristy and several talented artists from me. ¡± ¡°Kristy was once your client?¡± Lindsey straightened up on the sofa. ¡°Yeah, back when Vincent¡¯s film hit the screens, Kristy was all the sensation. I could¡¯ve skyrocketed to top agent status with her help, but then Jayleen takes the spotlight from me,¡± Lynne said, her teeth almost grinding with frustration. She went on, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about everything, but I always thought someone¡¯s backing Jayleen. She couldn¡¯t have climbed so high on her own. ¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Lindsey nodded, murmuring softly. ¡°Ever since she became the director, she¡¯s taken up most of the A-listers, leaving little room for others!¡± Lynne¡¯s voice was thick with bitterness. She wouldn¡¯t have left Vitality Entertainment without Jayleen¡¯s suppression. ¡°Thanks for the heads-up, Lynne,¡± Lindsey said. Lynne gave a half-smile. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯m rooting for you, quietly. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. In distant Mubluosia, daylight persisted due to the jetg. Emilio burst into Domenic¡¯s office and waved his phone excitedly. ¡°Look at this! Lindsey and mypany¡¯s director are blowing up online over the bet for Vincent¡¯s leadingdy. It¡¯s all over the inte!¡± Chapter 228 After briefly looking at the trending topics on Emilio¡¯s phone, Domenic nonchntly pushed the phone away and resumed reading his documents, seemingly indifferent to the news. Emilio was puzzled. He had hurried over specifically because Lindsey¡¯s name hit the trending topic. Yet, Domenic appeared unbothered. Why was he so calm? It appeared that he was utterly indifferent to the situation. Had there been a disagreement with Lindsey? Or worse, had their rtionship ended? Emilio was confused. ¡°Domenic, do you want me to handle this issue? But both involved are from thepany. It seems unfair to take sides. ¡± Domenic nced at him coldly and said, ¡°Do you have nothing to do?N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Why are you concerned with such minor matters? Tell you what, I¡¯ll have Hendrix bring over the stack of documents from the reference room to your office. You seem to have plenty of time on your hands to go through them. ¡± ¡°¡°Well-¡± Embarrassed, Emilio scratched his head. ¡°Oh, I just recalled an urgent task I need to attend to. I must go now!¡± With that, he hurriedly exited Domenic¡¯s office. Once alone, Domenic stopped what he was doing. He took out his phone, meticulously scrolled through the trending news about Lindsey, and then pocketed his phone again. He knew Lindsey well enough to believe that her making this bet meant she was sure of victory. He was curious to see how she would turn the tide in her favor. * A few dayster, on the weekend, Vincent and his wife celebrated their wedding anniversary. They hosted a dinner party at their vi, inviting a gathering of celebrities and high-ranking representatives from premium business brands. The event was undoubtedly a gathering of stars. The highlight of the evening was the anticipated arrival of Kristy Chase, apanied by her agent Jayleen Archer. Their recent headline-making exploits had significantly boosted their poprity. Even before their arrival, they were the main topic of conversation. ¡°Kristy and Jayleen will be here. Do you think Sh and Lindsey will make an appearance?¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s attendance seems unlikely. It doesn¡¯t seem like Vincent invited her. And Lindsey? She¡¯s rtively new in the industry. It¡¯s hard to imagine her catching Vincent¡¯s eye. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure. Without Sh, Kristy is bound to steal the show as the movie¡¯s leading Lady!¡± Suddenly, a red Ferrari stopped on the vi¡¯s driveway, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. Chapter 229 Eyes turned towards the striking vehicle as Kristy emerged, elegantly stepping out from behind the wheel. She wore a striking red dress, with red high-heeled shoes to match. Her curly brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, and oversized ck sunsses concealed her glowing face. She instantly became the center of attention. And the person who got out of the Ferrari¡¯s passenger seat was no other than Jayleen. Dressed in a stunning purple, low-cut fishtail gown, she showcased her elegant silhouette. Her bold makeup added to her dazzling appearance. Jayleen joined Kristy, linking arms with her. Together, they formed the most captivating duo at the event. Kristy and Jayleen were here! Their arrival instantly brightened the atmosphere. Guests flocked to Kristy, curious and excited.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Chase, you¡¯re at Vincent¡¯s dinner party. Does this mean you¡¯re the lead in his uing film?¡± In fact, Kristy learned about this dinner party from a business tycoon. She felt frustrated as she hadn¡¯t received an invitation from Vincent. So she boldly arrived at the party without an invitation and even announced beforehand that she would be attending with Jayleen. Given her soaring poprity, Kristy was confident that Vincent wouldn¡¯t dare to cause a scene by turning her away in front of the gathered elite. Her presence alone led many to specte she was Vincent¡¯s top pick for his movie¡¯s leading role. With a subtle lift of her lips, Kristy cautioned, ¡°Let¡¯s not jump to conclusions. The official announcement will clear things up. ¡± Her demeanor hinted at her confidence innding the role. Guests soon gathered around Jayleen, intrigued by her wager with Lindsey, which had be a hot topic. ¡°Miss Archer, your bet with Lindsey is all over the news. Everyone¡¯s betting on your victory. How do you feel about it? Are you sure you¡¯ll win against Lindsey?¡± Jayleen, with an elegant smile, replied, ¡°The dinner is about to start, yet neither Lindsey nor Sh has arrived. I think that says it all. ¡± The guests then showered Kristy with praises and support. ¡°I knew it. With Miss Chase¡¯s fame, how could she be outdone by a has-been?¡± ¡°Kristy is the perfect fit for Mr. Lopez¡¯s new movie. It¡¯s probably going to be announced tonight. ¡± ¡°Lindsey is just beginning in this industry. She¡¯s aiming too high too soon. ¡± As this lively discussion unfolded, a taxi pulled, standing out among the many luxury cars. Everyone at Vincent¡¯s party was a notable figure. Who would arrive in a taxi? Chapter 230 Was it a mistake, or had someone actuallye to the party in a cab? Curiosity grew as everyone turned their attention to the taxi. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, the taxi driver stepped out and opened the back door. A delicate foot d in a pure white high-heeled shoe adorned with pearls emerged first. The sight of the ankle instantly drew everyone¡¯s attention.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Then, slender and smooth shanks appeared in front of them. The woman stepped out of the car, gracing the scene with her presence. She was dressed in an elegant white long-sleeve evening gown, her hair neatly arranged into a bun, adorned with a pearl hairpin. Diamond earrings dangled from her adorable earlobes. As she made her way out, the crowd inhaled sharply. Her elegance, purity, and unmatched beauty left them in awe. She was none other than Sh Potter, renowned as a paragon of purity and revered across the country. From the taxi¡¯s other side, Lindsey came out. She wore a light pink off-the-shoulder evening dress, thece detailing adding a touch of yfulness. Peach flower ents highlighted her slender waist, while the dark fringes at the hem resembled peach blossoms. She wore delicate makeup that made her look as charming as a fairy among the blooming shrubs. Sh and Lindsey were here! Walking side by side, they exuded a captivating charm that outshone all the other female stars present! ¡°Sh¡¯s still so stunning, even after having a child and a five-year hiatus from the industry!¡± someone in the crowd remarked. ¡°And look at Lindsey, the agent. She¡¯s absolutely stunning. She rivals any top actress in the industry!¡± However, the other female stars at the party couldn¡¯t hide their envy and made snide remarks. ¡°Really, arriving in a taxi? How unmorous for a star. ¡± ¡°Were they even invited by Mr. Lopez? Or perhaps they just show up on their own?¡± Just as these words were spoken, a deep voice resonated from behind, ¡°Sh, Lindsey, wee. ¡± Turning around, the crowd was taken aback. Vincent and his wife personally stepped forward to greet Sh and Lindsey! As Vincent and his wife bypassed the crowd to engage with Sh and Lindsey, Kristy and Jayleen¡¯s expressions turned sour. Kristy walked up to Sh and held her arms over her chest. Feigned a smile, she said with sarcasm, ¡°Sh, I¡¯ve always admired you. You truly were the reigning movie queen. Despite leaving the entertainment spotlight for five years, getting married, and having a child, you¡¯ve maintained your grace and beauty. It¡¯s really admirable!¡± Her insinuation led people to cast doubtful nces at Sh. Sh had posted a tweet that she had been abused and imprisoned by her husband for years, but today she was radiant. Could her story have been fabricated? Lindsey held Sh¡¯s arm and gazed at Kristy with a smile. ¡°Despite Sh¡¯s hardships, she was once crowned the most beautiful woman in the country, and her timeless charm and beauty are unshakable by time or external influences. Those who aspire to emte her will never truly grasp this. ¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Chapter 231 Kristy¡¯s re intensified at Lindsey¡¯s words. It was clear to her that Lindsey was subtly mocking her attempts to emte Sh¡¯s style to win Vincent¡¯s favor for the lead role. After Lindsey spoke, the crowd nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, Sh may not be as she once was, but she¡¯s still miles ahead of many stars today, especially those who rely on cosmetic procedures. ¡± ¡°Withoutparison, you don¡¯t see the difference! We believe Sh is in excellent shape because we haven¡¯t witnessed such an exceptional star in the entertainment industry for quite some time!¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. Many of today¡¯s famous actors have subpar acting skills. Some aren¡¯t even particrly attractive, yet they¡¯re cast as the most stunning characters. It¡¯s quite embarrassing! Sh ying such roles is far more believable. ¡± ¡°Kristy might be the only one with striking looks, but her acting skills have visibly declined in her recent performances¡­¡± Kristy overheard thesements, and her face turned a shade of red in anger. Noticing that Kristy was about to lose her temper, Jayleen gently grabbed her hand to calm her. Then, addressing Sh with a smile, Jayleen said, ¡°Miss Potter, you are a rare talent, the youngest winner of Best Actress in our country. Your acting skills and beauty are iparable. Even though you avoided the spotlight years ago, you still have countless fans eagerly awaiting your return. I was thrilled to hear you were about to make youreback and wanted to bring you into ourpany. However, there¡¯s been quite a buzz about you online with various scandals, which has swayed public opinion. I¡¯m curious about how you n to handle this¡­¡± Once Jayleen had finished, all eyes in the room shifted to Sh. Even Vincent and Paige paused their own conversations to observe. It was true. Since those rumors had surfaced, Sh had not made any public rifications. Therefore, it was inevitable for some to start believing that she might not have been deliberately defamed by others. Otherwise, how could she exin her silence in recent days? ¡°I¡­¡± Sh was at a loss. She opened her mouth and was about to exin. But Lindsey quickly stepped in to assist her. ¡°The stories circting online are not true. Sh will choose an appropriate time and venue to address these issues after today¡¯s party. We¡¯re here to celebrate Mr. and Mrs. Lopez¡¯s anniversary, so discussing these rumors now doesn¡¯t seem appropriate. ¡± Hearing this, Jayleen frowned and then said, ¡°Lindsey, you make a good point. We all respect Miss Potter¡¯s integrity. But given the information I¡¯ve got, I would. . Suddenly, Jayleen stopped. Her voice trailed off, leaving everyone around her intrigued and eager to know more. ¡°Miss Archer, what news have you received? Why don¡¯t you continue?¡±N?velDrama.Org holds this content. Someone urged. Jayleen¡¯s gaze faltered, feigned embarrassment flushing her cheeks. Chapter 232 ¡°Today marks the wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. What I received are nothing but figments of imagination, to discourage me from signing a contract with Miss Potter. I can¡¯t confirm their validity, so it¡¯s best not to stir any distress by voicing unverified ims. ¡± Her words set everyone abuzz with anxious curiosity. Some of the female stars, previously overshadowed by Sh, seized the chance to exacerbate the situation. ¡°Miss Archer, do enlighten us. Is there any truth to these rumors? We¡¯re in the dark here,¡± they prodded urgently. ¡°Have you received any concerning news about Miss Potter?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all friends here. If you withhold, it¡¯s as if you disdain us!¡± eximed someone from the crowd, the pressure mounting on Jayleen to divulge. While inwardly amused, Jayleen wore a facade of feigned confusion, as if grappling with how to articte her response. Vincent, his robust demeanor overshadowed by a furrowed brow, stepped forward. ¡°Miss Archer, speak your mind. I too wish to understand,¡± he urged with earnest concern. With a resigned sigh, Jayleen relented. ¡°Mr. Lopez, if you insist¡­This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Okay. ¡± She paused before addressing the gathering. ¡°As many of you know, there¡¯s an ongoing rivalry between Lindsey and me. It¡¯s possible that someone, aware of ourpetitive dynamics, sought to stoke the mes by feeding me information about Miss Potter. To be frank, I was utterly taken aback by what I saw. It seemed unbelievable. ¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°There¡¯s a recorded statement from Andrew. In it, he explicitly denies any intimacy with Sh, making it impossible for the child to be his. He¡¯s even willing to undergo a paternity test to substantiate his im. ¡± The revtion left everyone in stunned silence. Wasn¡¯t this the dirt of Sh that had circted online recently? However, previously, the source had merely hinted at the news without providing concrete evidence. It led many to dismiss it as baseless gossip, perhaps a deliberate attempt to tarnish Sh¡¯s reputation. ¡®s BunnyBookery With Andrew¡¯s statement, did it mean the online rumors were true? Did it confirm that the child Sh bore wasn¡¯t his? Did that prove the news online was true? A nosy individual interjected, ¡°A record? Really? Jayleen, do you say that on purpose because you can¡¯t sign Sh and are afraid that you will lose to Lindsey? Do you have any evidence?¡± This woman had been arranged by Jayleen, and after her statement, Jayleen looked at the speaker with a nod before awkwardly responding, ¡°What do you imply? Am I the sort of person who will deliberately ruin others if I fail to secure a contract? After your insinuations, who¡¯d dare to work with me in the future? Even if the evidence I received isn¡¯t true, for the sake of proving my innocence, Miss Potter, I apologize¡­¡± In the midst of the public¡¯s scrutiny, Jayleen yed the recording. As Andrew¡¯s voice echoed through the room, the onlookers gazed at Sh with a mix ofplexity in their expressions. Sh¡¯s shock was palpable. Andrew imed they¡¯d never been intimate? How could it be possible? Five years ago, she had drunk a lot in the Champs Le Bar, then she couldn¡¯t remember anything. Upon regaining consciousness, she found herself in disarray, with Andrew seated beside her. He said he had s@x with her. Later, Andrew attempted to coerce her again, but she fought back vehemently. Her screams drew the attention of the staff, thwarting Andrew¡¯s advances. Shortly after, she discovered she was pregnant, and Andrew, leveraging nude photographs,pelled her into marriage. After getting married, every time Andrew sought s@x, she resorted to threatening him w Chapter 233 She had always believed he had vited her when she was drunk, yet his denial threw her certainty into disarray. Jayleen maintained her gaze on Sh, reassuring her softly, ¡°Miss Potter, regardless of what others may assert, we won¡¯t entertain those ims. But it¡¯s Andrew. He¡¯s your husband. No man would lie about being cheated. It¡¯s crucial for you to rify matters to prevent misunderstandings like these. What about a paternity test?¡± Observing Sh¡¯s flustered and hesitant demeanor, murmurs rippled through the crowd. ¡°Sh is fearful. Shecks the courage for the paternity test!¡± ¡°It appears Andrew¡¯s ims hold truth. He must have beenpelled to take those actions against Sh!¡± Criticism cascaded upon Sh, causing her fists to clench involuntarily. It was then that Lindsey stepped forward, shielding Sh from the reproachful crowd. Lindsey discerned the trapid by Jayleen and, fortunately, hade prepared to counter it.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Lindsey remainedposed, her face adorned with a gentle smile. She said, ¡°We¡¯ve already conducted a paternity test. ¡± As she spoke, Lindsey produced a document from her bag and disyed it for everyone to see. ¡°Here¡¯s the result that came out, certified by the most reputable testing center. The findings are pretty clear, so I don¡¯t think there¡¯s much else I need to add. ¡± Curious, the crowd gathered to inspect the paper, confirming that Andrew was indeed the biological father of Sh¡¯s child. Sh, visibly relieved, clutched Lindsey¡¯s arm, whispering, ¡°When did the resulte out? Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Lindsey had encouraged Sh to get a paternity test done as soon as the usations were made public. But the result had note out yet. Luckily¡­ ¡°I received a call from the testing center right before the dinner party, so I picked up the results on my way here. It was all so rushed that I didn¡¯t have a chance to tell you. ¡± Hearing Lindsey¡¯s exnation, Sh nodded. Earlier today, she and Lindsey had agreed to meet up. Lindsey had arrived just in time, and they had hastily taken a taxi to the Vincent¡¯s vi. The taxi driver, recognizing Sh, had engaged her in conversation throughout the journey, leaving no opportunity for Lindsey to share the news. Lindsey turned to Jayleen with an unwavering smile and said, ¡°Miss Archer, since you had this recording, shouldn¡¯t you have verified its authenticity before spreading it? Isn¡¯t it somewhat irresponsible to let such information circte without confirmation, leading to misunderstandings?¡± Everyone looked at Jayleen. Jayleen¡¯s face turned slightly pale. She bit her lip but managed to maintain aposed smile and said, ¡°I never believed it myself and didn¡¯t n to bring it up. I only spoke because everyone insisted on knowing the truth. Even if it turned out to be baseless, it was Andrew who spread the rumors. After all, who would expect a man of his stature to publicly defame his wife and confess to being betrayed? Moreover, I couldn¡¯t just independently confirm the paternity test without the involved party¡¯s permission. ¡± The crowd found Jayleen¡¯s exnation logical and nodded in agreement. Jayleen¡¯s lips curved slightly as she continued, ¡°And¡­ Not only did I receive a recording, but also nude photos of Sh. I was told they would be posted online. That was why I decided not to sign the contract with Miss Potter. ¡± Someone would post nude photos of Sh on Twitter? This set the room abuzz with whispers and murmurs. Chapter 234 The women eagerly anticipated the unfolding drama, while the men were discreetly excited, curious to see the scandalous images. Sh had always been the fantasy of many men, who had often imagined her allure. The prospect of seeing these private images was tantalizing to them. They didn¡¯t expect that they would actually get to see them. Sh¡¯s face turned pale immediately. Was Jayleen referring to the nude photos taken by Andrew? If those photos were indeed exposed, Sh would feel too embarrassed to face anyone in the future. Seeing that Sh was trembling slightly, Kristy smirked and said to the crowd hypocritically, ¡°That can¡¯t be true, can it? Sh is someone I¡¯ve always looked up to. She¡¯s so graceful and dignified. It¡¯s hard to believe she¡¯d be involved in anything indecent. ¡± But before Kristy could finish, a scream cut through the room. ¡°Everyone, check Twitter!¡± People hastily grabbed their phones, flocking to Twitter. A nude photo of Sh had been posted and was quickly climbing to the top of the trending list.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. In just minutes, the post had attracted thousands ofments. In the photo, a womany on a sofa in a bar, her disheveled hair obscuring her eyes, leaving only her prominent nose and seductive lips visible. Her face was flushed, and she wrapped herself in a vulnerable pose, entirely unclothed. Her long legs and slender waist were on full disy, eliciting gasps from the men around. The photo only exposed a nose and mouth, but it was unmistakably Sh. The crowd turned to Sh, scrutinizing her andparing her features to those in the photo. ¡°It¡¯s definitely Sh!¡± ¡°Her nose and mouth are a perfect match. ¡± ¡°The mole on her cheek is in the exact same spot. ¡± ¡°Look at the background, it¡¯s Champs Le Bar. Sure enough, rich people know how to have fun. ¡± Overhearing these remarks, Sh instinctively covered her right cheek with her hand. She indeed had a mole there, and Champs Le Bar was the spot where Andrew had once taken those revealing photos of her. Sh¡¯s nude photo was leaked, leaving her visibly shaken and pale. Overwhelmed, Sh couldn¡¯t bring herself to look at the image spreading on Twitter, teetering on the edge of a breakdown. Thankfully, Lindsey was there to catch Sh, preventing her from copsing to the floor. Thements under that post quickly turned vulgar and offensive. ¡°I never would¡¯ve guessed that Sh, despite her innocent appearance, is very open. She¡¯s simply more adventurous and dissolute. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a picture. Who¡¯s to say how many men have truly had her attention behind closed doors? Chapter 235 ¡°Indeed, celebrities are all about their public image. I never imagined my idol Sh¡¯s public image would be tarnished. I¡¯m no longer her fan. ¡± Vincent, the director, looked troubled too. He had nned to cast Sh as his lead actress, but the scandal forced him to reconsider. Kristy, feigning shock, covered her mouth with her hand. ¡°Is that Sh in the photo? How could this happen?¡± Kristy was quietly giggling, covering her mouth with her hand. Following the scandal, even Sh¡¯s fans started to turn against her, not to mention those fence-sitters. It looked like Kristy would end up being the lead actress in the end. Another topic started trending on Twitter: ¡°Lindsey Loses. ¡± A nude photo of Sh was revealed, and the rumors about her were proven true. She was now dealing with a potential ban. Kristy would be the leadingdy in Vincent¡¯stest film. Theizens who had been following Lindsey¡¯s Twitter ount and were eager for some drama didn¡¯t hold back, leaving directments full of curses on her tweets, ¡°You¡¯ve suffered a defeat. It¡¯s time to leave Vitality Entertainment as swiftly as you can. You are biting off more than you can chew. Just leave!¡± With a nearly copsing Sh in her embrace, Lindsey dodged the curious nces of onlookers as she pondered a solution in her head. ¡®s BunnyBookery The pressure on her was intense. Just as she decided to leave with Sh before sorting things out, her phone chimed with an iing call. Lindsey came across an unidentified text message containing a picture and the words, ¡°Five years ago, at Champs Le Bar. ¡± As Lindseyid eyes on the picture, a spark lit up in her gaze. Swiftly, she scanned through the people around her. Who could¡¯ve been the sender of this photo? And how did they figure out she needed it? At the tallest tower in Mubluosia, Domenic leaned against his chair, shutting his eyes for a well-deserved break. The radiant sunlight pouring through the French window a warm, golden glow. Hendrix entered and reported, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve anonymously sent the picture to Miss Stewart as per your instructions. ¡± ¡°I understood. ¡± Hendrix had been Domenic¡¯s right hand for over a decade, he knew him inside out. Still, there were times when Hendrix couldn¡¯t quite fathom what was going on inside his boss¡¯s mind. Domenic had often stayed at that apartment with Lindsey rather than returning to his vi. Why did he choose to be anonymous while sending a photo? Did something go wrong between them?Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Hendrix was itching for the answers, but he held his tongue when he saw a frosty and somber expression on Domenic¡¯s face. Lindsey gently ced the weakened Sh on the couch. As Lindsey turned to leave, Sh grasped her clothes. Lindsey turned and noticed Sh¡¯s pale face, eyes closed, shivering like a young bird stripped of its mother¡¯s protective embrace. Lindsey spoke soothingly, ¡°Sh, I¡¯vee up with a solution. Would you be open to cing your trust in me?¡± Chapter 236 Upon hearing these words, Sh¡¯s eyes fluttered open. She gazed into Lindsey¡¯s resolute eyes, astonished, and then nodded. Gradually, Sh¡¯s hold on Lindsey¡¯s sleeve rxed as she watched Lindsey stride confidently into the crowd. Raising her voice for all to hear, Lindsey dered, ¡°The person in this photo isn¡¯t Sh at alll¡± As soon as these words were spoken, everyone¡¯s eyes snapped to Lindsey simultaneously. ¡°Look at theparison pictures online; they¡¯re all over the ce, showing her mouth, nose, and even the mole on her cheek. How can it not be her?¡± ¡°Miss Stewart, I understand you¡¯re keen to win and stay with Vitality Entertainment, but that doesn¡¯t mean you should make up stories. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes, bright and clear, scanned the crowd. She lifted her phone and swiped her fingers across the screen, zooming in on the nude photo multiple times. Disyed at the center of the screen was the distinctive gold-colored embroidery on the sofa of Champs Le Bar. ¡°People who often go to Champs Le Bar would recognize these patterns on the sofas in its private rooms. ¡± Murmurs spread through the crowd. ¡°That pattern does seem familiar. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookeryThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Yes, I recall this design. This pattern is unique to Champs Le Bar. ¡± ¡°But what does that prove about whether or not it¡¯s Sh in the picture?¡± Lindsey faced the crowd, a confident smile on her face. ¡°Yes, it matters. ¡± After saying that, Lindsey brought up the photo she had received anonymously. She erged it significantly and held it up for the crowd to see. The crowd surged towards Lindsey, eager for a closer look. A person leaned in towards her phone, squinting intently. ¡°This is¡­¡± Lindsey announced, ¡°This is what the pattern on Champs Le Bar¡¯s sofa looked like five years ago. ¡± Instantly, that woman¡¯s eyes grew wide, and she blurted out, ¡°But this pattern doesn¡¯t have any gold trim!¡± ¡°What does this mean?¡± Jayleen peered closely at Lindsey and said, ¡°Not every sofa in Champs Le Bar sports the pattern with the gold trim. ¡± ¡°On the contrary!¡± Right after Jayleen spoke, a deep male voice echoed from the crowd. Everyone turned their heads, and Lindsey¡¯s gaze followed. A man in a ck windbreaker emerged from the crowd. His features were both soft and striking, his presencemanding yet somewhat daunting. Lindsey¡¯s eyes flickered in recognition. Where had she seen this man before? Her mind raced, piecing together memories. She realized he was the same man who had been with Domenic in Champs Le Bar¡¯s private room. He was Arturo Yates! Chapter 237 Lindsey remembered that day, her idental ki*s with Domenic, all because of Arturo¡­ Domenic had mentioned Arturo as a major figure. A wave of recognition swept through some guests, and a chill ran down their spines. ¡°Arturo Yates, head of the Yates family in Blosa. ¡± ¡°Why is he here?¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The Yates family stood at the top of Blosa¡¯s financial hierarchy, leading the five most influential groups. They had a long-standing alliance with the Walsh family, the foremost n among Morcastle¡¯s four dominant families. Together, the Yates and Walsh families were the twin pirs of the regional businessmunity, overseeing themercial dynamics of both the north and south. In contrast, the Walsh family was known for their discretion. Rarely making public appearances or featuring in the media, they remained visible only to elite political and business circles. The Walsh family, however, were renowned for their Legendary business aplishments. Most notably, the Vitality Group, established by the youngest and most formidable Walsh grandson, had risen to be a formidable force in Morcastle¡¯s corporate Landscape. The Yates family, unlike the Walsh family, were much more visible to the public. Regrly featured in news and magazines, they were familiar faces at upscale business gatherings and major auctions. Arturo¡¯s presence, therefore, sparked a sense of apprehension among the businesspeople there. They worried that any misstep or misced word could potentially displease the head of the Yates family, putting their professional futures at risk. As Arturo walked past Sh, his amber eyes glowed with a depth and intensity that was both captivating and unfathomable. Arturo nced at Sh, but she averted her gaze, her beautiful face drained of color. Arturo averted his gaze and headed toward the crowd, his tone was cold as he said, ¡°Five years ago, the sofas at Champs Le Bar didn¡¯t feature gold trim. But after its renovationst year, every sofa was redone with this gold-trimmed pattern. ¡± This revtion sparked intense discussion among those present. ¡®s BunnyBookery The sofa patterns at Champs Le Bar hadrgely gone unnoticed. If Lindsey hadn¡¯t mentioned it, the subtle change in design would have likely remained unseen. Now reminded by Arturo, people began to recall the detail they had previously overlooked. But was it true that all the sofas at Champs Le Bar now had the gold-trimmed pattern? Were there really no exceptions? In response to the murmurs of doubt, Arturo¡¯s lips curved slightly, and said, ¡°Fortunately, the general manager of that bar is here with me today. ¡± At this, a man in a suit stepped forward from the crowd. Previously, all eyes had been on Sh, so no one had noticed the bar¡¯s manager was also in attendance. The bar manager approached Arturo, gave him a respectful nod, and then addressed the crowd. ¡°After we redecorated Champs Le Bar a year ago, we reced the patterns on all our sofas with this new gold-trimmed design, without exception. We pride ourselves on our thorough and meticulous approach. Even in the smallest details, we won¡¯t tolerate any oversight. So I¡¯m sure this nude photo was taken within a year. ¡± Hearing this, the crowd erupted into discussion. Chapter 238 Their memories confirmed that Sh had been married for five years. The pattern on the sofa in the photo was only a year old, not matching the one from Sh¡¯s pre-wedding nude photo that had been causing a stir. This led to an intriguing conclusion¡­ Lindsey, with a knowing smile, spoke up to rify for everyone. ¡°The manager of Champs Le Bar just made it clear that this photo is no older than a year. Moreover, Andrew has kept a close watch on Sh over the past year. Every single one of her movements is captured by surveince equipment. Now, the police have these recordings, making it easier to prove the truth. So the woman in this photo isn¡¯t Sh, but someone who bears a striking resemnce to her, particrly in the lower half of her face. Regarding the mole, a closer look at Sh¡¯s earlier videos and photos will reveal that such a mole can be replicated with makeup. Having exined this, Lindsey turned her attention to Jayleen. With a gentle yet probing smile, she inquired, ¡°Miss Archer, you¡¯ve attacked Sh with a recording and now a nude photo. Why are you so intent on smearing her reputation? What¡¯s your real motive?¡± The guests at the party were shrewd members of the celebrity circle. They quickly pieced things together after hearing what Lindsey had said. From the beginning, Jayleen said less than they wanted to know, which only fueled their curiosity. The revtion of the nude photo of Sh on Twitter seemed too coincidental, almost as if it was orchestrated. Reflecting on the bet between Jayleen and Lindsey, some began to specte that Jayleen might be the mastermind behind it all. Jayleen¡¯s guilt was evident. She had indeed fabricated the photo. When Andrew was in detention, he mentioned to hiswyer about having nude photos of Sh, which were now in police custody, making the real photos inessible. This sparked an idea in Jayleen¡¯s mind. If she knew the specifics of the photos, she could create a convincing fake. Given that the photos were supposedly five years old, even Sh might struggle to spot the difference. Despite her careful nning, her scheme unraveled unexpectedly. She had meticulously instructed her lawyer to gather all details about the photos, but overlooked a critical detail ¨C the pattern on the sofas at Champs Le Bar had changed. Sweat formed on Jayleen¡¯s forehead, her purple evening gown now soaked and clinging ufortably to her skin. Feeling the weight of everyone¡¯s skeptical gazes, Jayleen quicklyposed herself. The leaked nude photo and recording were shared by others, and she had no direct involvement in it. Even if people suspected her involvement in these malicious actions, as long as she didn¡¯t confess, they couldn¡¯t provide concrete evidence. Determined, Jayleen said with forced calmness, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve been misled too. Considering the striking resemnce between the person in the photo and Sh, it¡¯s no wonder that everyone got confused.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m not the only one who made this mistake. It now appears that someone is deliberately trying to defame Sh and prevent her from joining Vitality Entertainment. They must have sent me these falsified materials about Sh. I suspect this is the handiwork of our rivals. ¡± Having said this, Jayleen approached Sh and said with an apologetic tone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sh. I misjudged the situation. ¡± At that moment, Vincent joined them, cing a reassuring hand on Sh¡¯s shoulder. He then turned to Jayleen with a stern look. ¡°Jayleen, you im to have been misled, yet Lindsey, a neer in the industry, identified the issue with the photo. As the director at Vitality Entertainment, can¡¯t you distinguish right from wrong? Not only did you fail to recognize the error, but you also led others to misconceptions. That hardly seems befitting of a great agent, does it?¡± When Jayleen heard this, her face turned red, feeling extremely embarrassed. Vincent¡¯s words clearly mocked herck of professional acumen. Chapter 239 Yet, at that moment, Jayleen knew better than to argue. She acknowledged her mistake of being overly ambitious for quick sess, which led to her downfall. Kristy, seeing Jayleen unable to outmaneuver Sh, was visibly frustrated. She shot Lindsey a sharp look but quickly masked her annoyance, feigning benevolence. Kristy softly remarked, ¡°I always maintained Sh wasn¡¯t capable of such actions. We really can¡¯t believe everything we see online. We should be more discerning moving forward. Miss Archer, this incident must be a learning experience for you. Be careful of jumping to conclusions based on hearsay. ¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Kristy deftly shifted the me onto the one who released the photo. Given the photo¡¯s deceptive nature, some attendees nodded in agreement,menting, ¡°It¡¯s true, the scum who forge that photo is rmingly skilled. It¡¯s difficult to differentiate between fake and real. ¡± Jayleen nced at them, a mix of gratitude and relief on her face, before admitting, ¡°I ept my fault. I¡¯ll be more careful in the future and avoid repeating this mistake. ¡± Lindsey had little interest in observing the act put on by the two women, ncing sideways, she spotted a phone camera discreetly aimed in their direction. Someone had been covertly broadcasting the entire scene online. Following the recent turn of events, the online public opinion had shifted dramatically. ¡°That Lindsey is not only pretty, she¡¯s also impressively insightful. It¡¯s remarkable how she noticed such fine details. ¡± ¡°Looks like Sh was unjustly maligned. Someone must have intentionally tried to smear her reputation. ¡± ¡°I feel guilty for doubting Sh¡­ From here on out, I¡¯m her devoted fan. ¡± Meanwhile, in an online poll for the lead actress in Vincent¡¯s uing film, Sh¡¯s poprity had soared, swiftly eclipsing Kristy¡¯s. Lindsey decided to take advantage of this opportunity to deal with Jayleen. In the midst of effusive praises showered on Lindsey¡¯s keen insight, she drew nearer to the phone camera. Her demeanor was humble as she said, ¡°Fortune smiled upon me to uncover a w in the photo. Truth be told, Miss Archer surpasses me in capabilities. She apparently graduated from an unknown mediocre college, not prestigious. Her entry into Vitality Entertainment saw an unremarkable start, yet she persisted. Eventually, a slew of golden opportunities found her, propelling her through the ranks to the zenith as a director. I pale inparison to her. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s sincerity brimmed with admiration, yet it spurred furrowed brows and hushed murmurs among the guests. ¡°Isn¡¯t Vitality Entertainment obsessed with educational attainment? How did they embrace a graduate from the shadows?¡± ¡°But it rings true. Jayleen was an enigma, climbing from obscurity to helm the Agent Department,¡± remarked another. ¡°Perhaps her meteoric ascent stemmed from hertent prowess. ¡± ¡°Her initialckluster performance and sudden rise raise suspicion Something must be amiss with those ¡®golden opportunities¡¯ spected another guest. Chapter 240 Jayleen felt a pang of embarrassment and shock; her guarded secret about her educationy exposed. How did Lindseye about it? Though perturbed, Jayleen maintained a serene smile. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve outshone me this time. The new eclipsing the old. I foresee a brighter path for you!¡± With a serene smile, Lindsey opted for silence. Amidst the impasse, Vincent stepped in, breaking the tension. ¡°Truth unfurled now. Sh¡¯s integrity stands. Time¡¯s precious. Let¡¯s not waste time on such. Let the partymence!¡± When it was established that Sh was innocent, Vincent felt atst at ease. He had a happy face now and appeared healthy and robust. Amidst the guests¡¯ cheers, Vincent and Paige delivered sinct gratitude speeches, ushering in the dinner amidst a romantic, candlelit ambiance. Adjusting herposure, Jayleen engaged with the tycoons. Mid-conversation, a waiter approached, nodding at Jayleen. ¡°Are you Miss Jayleen Archer?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. ¡± ¡°Mr. Lopez didn¡¯t extend an invite and, due to the recentmotion, requests your departure. ¡± The nearby tycoons nced at Jayleen, stunned. Her face paled as she stuttered, ¡°Inform Mr. Lopez I¡¯m here with Miss Chase. ¡± ¡°Apologies, but Mr. Lopez insists on invited guests only. So you and Miss Kristy Chase must leave. ¡± Hearing about Jayleen and Kristy¡¯s uninvited status and their subsequent expulsion, the tycoons left without a word. With a fleeting nce at Vincent, Jayleen gritted her teeth, leading Kristy out of the party. Meanwhile, Arturo approached Vincent with a nod. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Lopez. I¡¯vee uninvited. Please forgive my intrusion. ¡± Vincent beamed. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Yates. Delighted to have you! Had I known of your presence in Morcastle, an invitation would¡¯ve been dispatched. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery After a brief exchange, Arturo walked aside and dialed a number. Domenic had just changed into a custom suit and tie in the office. His good looks and lofty stature reflected in the mirror. With grace and nobility, he fastened the blue diamond cor clip onto his cor. Just as he was ready to head out, his phone rang. He answered it, arching his eyebrows a Little. ¡°The issue¡¯s resolved. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Arturo reassured, casting a nce around. ¡°Appreciate it. ¡± Domenic¡¯s curt gratitude halted Arturo¡¯s words midstream. ¡°You owe no gratitude. I have my own purpose, assisting you incidentally. Despite your miles away, your concern for Lindsey remains, Domenic¡­¡± ¡°I have something to deal with. Bye!¡± Still, Lindsey had Domenic fuming.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Before Arturo could say anything more, he hung up the phone. Arturo shrugged, bemused. Suddenly, his countenance froze. Finally, heid eyes on the person he sought. Chapter 241 With the rumors about Sh debunked, she suddenly became the center of attention at the dinner party. People flocked to her, offering greetings,pliments, and apologies for their earlier misconceptions. It had been a while since Sh found herself surrounded by so many people, and she felt overwhelmed. She quickly looked to Lindsey, who was busy piling food onto her te, for assistance. Seeing this, Lindsey promptly intervened, efficiently dispersing the crowd with a few words. She escorted Sh away and gathered a variety of delicious dishes for them. They found a quiet corner to enjoy themselves. ¡°The food at this upscale event is fantastic,¡± Lindsey remarked, her focus on the meal. She had been quite hungry and now had food crumbs around her mouth, unconcerned about her appearance. Sh, eating a piece of cake delicately, watched Lindsey. ¡°Sometimes you seem so smart and capable, other times you¡¯re as adorable and carefree as a child. I¡¯m growing to like you more each day. Without you, I would¡¯ve been at my wit¡¯s end tonight. Thank you, Lindsey. ¡± After tonight¡¯s events, Sh not only leaned on Lindsey but also began to appreciate and admire her. Lindsey said through mouthfuls of food, ¡°Sh, what¡¯s true remains true, and lies can¡¯t stand as truth. You looked really scared earlier. What are you afraid of?¡± Sh lowered her gaze and said, ¡°Andrew did take somepromising photos of me in the past. I¡¯m terrified he might release them¡­¡± Lindsey grasped Sh¡¯s hand and said reassuringly, ¡°You¡¯re the victim here. If Andrew tries anything, it¡¯s our chance to expose all his crimes. You¡¯ve got me, and the country¡¯s bestwyer on your side. The police already have evidence against Andrew. You¡¯re going toe out on top. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of, Sh. You¡¯re innocent and have nothing to hide. It¡¯s those with ulterior motives who should be afraid. ¡± Sh¡¯s fears stemmed from Andrew¡¯s hold over her, a result of years of maniption and abuse. usations from others often left her panicked and unsure. Growing up in the Yates family, Sh had battled feelings of inferiority. Her confidence grew with her sess in the entertainment industry. But now, Sh felt like she had regressed to the timid girl she once was, seeking refuge behind others. Listening to Lindsey¡¯s assurances, Sh pressed her lips together and gave a small nod. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she quicklyposed herself. Looking up at Lindsey with a smile, Shmented, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you had that photo from five years ago. Without it, proving the truth would have taken much Longer. ¡± Sh¡¯s remark jogged Lindsey¡¯s memory. She set her food aside and retrieved the photo for another look.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. That was when Arturo appeared, and he was acquainted with Domenic¡­ Domenic¡¯s image shed through Lindsey¡¯s mind, but she dismissed the thought almost immediately. Domenic was overseas, and after theirst unpleasant interaction, they hadn¡¯t been in touch for a while. It seemed unlikely he would be involved. Moreover, the person who provided the photo must have intimate knowledge of Champs Le Bar, likely a regr visitor or a staff member. Lindsey remembered meeting Domenic there, engaged in business discussions for his boss, making it imusible for him to be an employee. As for the regrs at that bar, they were wealthy and influential individuals. As an ordinary person, Domenic shouldn¡¯t have had the means to frequent such an upscale establishment. So, if not Domenic, who could it be? Lindsey¡¯s thoughts turned to Arturo. Chapter 242 The Yates Group, rumored to have invested in Champs Le Bar, meant Arturo would be well-acquainted with it. And he had arrived with the bar¡¯s general manager¡­ But why would he assist her? Lindsey¡¯s gaze drifted back to Sh, recalling how Arturo had looked at her earlier. Was there some connection between them? ¡°Sh. ¡± With a knowing grin, Lindsey inquired yfully, ¡°Do you know Arturo well?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sh¡¯s reaction was immediate; her eyelids fluttered, and she shot Lindsey a brief look. Pressing her lips together, she responded, ¡°Why bring him up all of a sudden?¡± ¡°That photo was sent to me by someone unknown, and coincidentally, Arturo brought along the general manager of Champs Le Bar to confirm its authenticity. After giving it some thought, I can¡¯t think of anyone other than Arturo who¡¯d do this. But he doesn¡¯t have any obvious reason to help me, so¡­ I¡¯m starting to think he might have done it for you. ¡± Sh¡¯s face lost its color for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile. ¡°How is that even possible? I don¡¯t know him at all¡­ It might just be a coincidence. And as you mentioned, the photo was sent to you anonymously. It might not be him. He wouldn¡¯t typically interfere in such matters. ¡± ¡°Really? But he actively stepped forward with the general manager to dispute the photo¡¯s timeframe.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. It doesn¡¯t seem like something he¡¯d do on his own ord, considering his status. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s because his club was involved. He didn¡¯t want to get dragged into it,¡± Sh replied, her lips tensing. Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows arched. Sh had previously imed ignorance about Arturo, but now she seemed quite informed about him. Lindsey sensed that Sh was keeping something back. The situation between Sh and Arturo was likely moreplex than it seemed. When Lindsey was lost in thought, someone patted her on the shoulder from behind. Startled, she turned around, her eyes lighting up with surprise. Sumner? What brought him to this ce? Lindsey was surprised to see him here. Sumner greeted Lindsey with a crisp, genuine smile. Dressed in a white shirt and ck suit pants, hecked the mature elegance of someone like Domenic. Instead, Sumner had the fresh, youthful charm. Just as Lindsey was about to greet Sumner, Paige joined them. ¡°Lindsey, let me introduce you. This is Sumner Lawson, my godson. He finished his master¡¯s degree at twenty-three and is currently single. ¡± Paige looked delighted as she informally tried to set them up. Hold on¡­ Sumner was Vincent and Paige¡¯s godson? This revtion was so shocking that Lindsey¡¯s mind wentpletely nk. ¡°I¡¯ve known Lindsey for quite some time already,¡± Sumner chimed in. Hearing Sumner¡¯s response, Paige¡¯s excitement grew. ¡°Really? What a coincidence! How did you two meet? How far have you guys gotten?¡± Sumner, a bit embarrassed, touched his nose and rified, ¡°Actually, Lindsey has a fianc¨¦. We¡­ are just friends. ¡± Chapter 243 He nced subtly at Lindsey while speaking. ¡°What?¡± Paige¡¯s surprise was evident as she turned to Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re already engaged at such a young age? Tell me about your fianc¨¦. Is he handsome? What¡¯s his job? How does hepare to Sumner?¡± Paige was genuinely curious about the man who had captured Lindsey¡¯s heart and whether he was a better match than Sumner. She was concerned that Lindsey, being kind-hearted, might be vulnerable to deceit in a rtionship. Paige¡¯s concern was for Lindsey¡¯s lifelong happiness. Lindsey¡¯s gaze dropped as she reflected on her situation with Domenic. She felt a pain in her heart. She hadn¡¯tmunicated with him since their phone call that day. The engagement was nothing more than a charade, and it seemed inevitable that their paths were diverging. This reality had to be confronted eventually. Inhaling deeply to gather her thoughts, Lindsey raised her eyes to meet Paige¡¯s and rified, ¡°There seems to be a bit of misunderstanding. The truth is, I¡­ I¡¯m not actually engaged. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sumner¡¯s face brightened instantly. Paige, with her worldly wisdom, instantly sensed something in Sumner¡¯s reaction. She affectionately took Lindsey¡¯s hand, clearly fond of the bright and attractive young woman before her. She asked, ¡°Do you currently have a boyfriend?¡± Lindsey simply shook her head without speaking. ¡°Fantastic! Sumner is not only charming and sociable, but he¡¯s also exceptionally caring towards women. Whoever bes his girlfriend will surely be pampered. ¡± Lindsey, grasping the implication in Paige¡¯s words, responded politely, ¡°Mrs. Lopez, I¡¯m grateful for your thoughtfulness, but¡­ at the moment, I¡¯m primarily focused on my career and not looking to start a rtionship¡­¡± ¡°Okay. You¡¯re quite busy, I know. But there¡¯s no harm in spending some time with Sumner. Whenever you¡¯re free, you¡¯re wee to visit us.N?velDrama.Org holds this content. ¡± After that, Paige raised her eyebrows and gave Sumner a knowing look, encouraging him to take the chance. Then she turned and walked away. Once Paige left, Sumner turned to Lindsey and apologized, ¡°Sorry. She¡¯s getting old and enjoys ying matchmaker. Please don¡¯t take it to heart. ¡± ¡°I get it. ¡± Lindsey smiled understandingly. It was typical of women of Paige¡¯s age to engage in such matchmaking. At this time, the tall and strong body of Sumner leaned forward slightly. He extended his right hand towards Lindsey in an inviting gesture, offering her a warm smile. ¡°Would you like to join me for a dance?¡± Lindsey gazed out at thewn where many guests were already dancing to the enchanting music. Dancing wasn¡¯t really her thing. As she prepared to decline, an unexpected push from behind sent her stumbling into Sumner, who promptly caught her by the hands. Chapter 244 Looking up, she found herself gazing into Sumner¡¯s kind and expressive eyes. ¡°Lindsey, enjoy the evening. It¡¯s not all about the food,¡± Sh encouraged with a smile, clearly understanding Paige¡¯s intentions. Sh saw potential in the pairing of Lindsey with the charming Sumner and hoped Lindsey would consider the opportunity. With a resigned expression, Lindsey nced back at Sh. Given the situation, declining Sumner¡¯s invitation seemed out of the question. epting a dance at a party was amon courtesy among friends. So Lindsey found herself being escorted by Sumner onto the dance floor. Meanwhile, Sh reclined in her chair, leisurely enjoying a slice of watermelon. She watched Lindsey dance, a look of contentment on her face. Suddenly, Sh¡¯s eyes were covered with ayer of shadow. A tall figure had appeared, obstructing her view. Sh¡¯s expression changed to one of surprise as she looked up. Her eyes widened in recognition. ¡°Sh, it¡¯s been a while,¡± Arturo greeted, his gaze softening as he beheld the elegant woman in white. Sh lifted her eyes to Arturo and responded, ¡°Mr. Yates, indeed, it has been quite some time. ¡± ¡°Since everyone is dancing, why not join me for a dance as well?¡± Arturo extended his hand towards Sh, who was seated, his face adorned with a slight smile.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Yet, Sh recognized the danger behind that smile. She casually shrugged, declining, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t feel like dancing. Mr. Yates, perhaps you should ask someone else. ¡± Arturo¡¯s eyes narrowed a bit. ¡°I remember you used to be quite the dancer. ¡± Sh blinked back at him, her eyshes fluttering. ¡°People change, you know. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s been five years since we Last met. Isn¡¯t there anything you want to say?¡± Arturo observed, reflecting on the time when Sh used to be drawn to him. Now, she seemed distant and unfamiliar. With a faint smile, Sh replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t we say everything we needed to five years ago?¡± After speaking, Sh stood up from her chair. As she turned to leave, Arturo swiftly reached out, grasping her wrist. ¡°Sh, whatever it is that¡¯s happened with Andrew, if only I knew¡­¡± Chapter 245 ¡°What difference would it make if you knew?¡± Sh responded, her voice cold and distant, without turning to face him. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget, if it weren¡¯t for you, my life wouldn¡¯t be this way. You¡¯re the one who ruined it. ¡± As Sh withdrew her wrist, she turned her head away. ¡°Arturo Yates, please don¡¯t provoke me. I don¡¯t want to end up hating you. ¡± Arturo was left standing, struck by her words, watching her walk away. He remembered the time when he was a child, and his mother brought home a four-year-old Sh. Sh, then a shy girl, peeked out from behind his mother. Sh, bing a maid in the Yates family household, had Looked after Arturo since she was young. Her smile had been a warm and radiant beacon in his otherwise gloomy life. But everything changed when Arturo was eighteen. On his birthday that year, he got drunk with his friends. When he returned home, he couldn¡¯t resist embracing Sh. She was gentle andpliant, always yielding to him. She allowed his caresses and ki*ses on her full, inviting lips as they ended up on the plush cashmere carpet¡­ But before they could do anything more, they were bumped into by his mother, who had juste back. That incident led to Sh being expelled from the Yates residence, and Arturo subsequently learned a secret about her¡­ Sh¡¯s life took a turn when she was scouted and soon rose to stardom in the entertainment industry. Arturo, from the shadows, silently orchestrated everything for Sh. He ensured she had a top-tier team and ess to the best resources, meticulously overseeing every aspect of her career. Until that fateful day¡­ In the banquet hall, Arturo found himself at the dining table, drinking several c@@ktails in quick session. His gaze wandered, searching for Sh amidst the crowd, until his attention was drawn to a couple dancing on the floor. ¡®s BunnyBookery It was Lindsey and Sumner. Lindsey, dressed in a vibrant pink dress, radiated energy and charm. She had her arms around Sumner¡¯s shoulders, while he held her waist. They moved together gracefully in the waltz, their dance drawing admiring nces. Unconsciously, the two attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Paige, deep in conversation with her friends, nodded in approval and keptplimenting Lindsey. ¡°I¡¯m absolutely correct. Lindsey and Sumner are perfectly suited for each other. She will definitely be his wife. Just you wait, the wedding will be something to see.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Mrs. Lopez. Miss Stewart is both beautiful and wise; she¡¯s truly exceptional tonight. ¡± As thediesvished praise, Paige¡¯s delight grew. Her eyes shone with affection when she looked at Lindsey. Arturo observed Lindsey with a critical eye. He thought of her as aplex character. With Domenic overseas, Lindsey seemed to quickly grow close to Paige¡¯s godson. Arturo spected that if Domenic didn¡¯t return soon, Lindsey might end up marrying another man. Chapter 246 Once the dance ended, the crowd on the floor dispersed. Arturo then pulled out his phone to call Domenic.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Meanwhile, in Mubluosia. Domenic was engaged in important negotiations with a leading technology firm. This project was crucial for Vitality Group¡¯s ns for thetter half of the year, and there was no room for error. The chairman of the techpany, a renowned business mogul in Mubluosia, ranked among the top ten billionaires ording to Forbes. He was repeatedly acknowledged in financial circles as one of the most influential entrepreneurs globally. He stood next to Domenic, leaning forward slightly as he earnestly detailed hispany¡¯s recent progress. Domenic¡¯s secretary, with a tablet in hand, meticulously documented their entire conversation. Following close behind them were several staff members, all d in formal attire, maintaining a professional demeanor throughout. When they walked around the corner of the ss walkway, Domenic¡¯s phone rang. He took it out, noticing it was a call from Arturo. ¡°Shall we pause for a moment, Mr. Walsh?¡± the techpany¡¯s chairman cautiously inquired when he noticed Domenic¡¯s phone ringing. Without hesitation, Domenic ended the call and said to the chairman with a neutral tone, ¡°No, let¡¯s proceed with our discussion. ¡± Arturo, met with a busy signal, was left wondering why Domenic hadn¡¯t taken his call. Resolving to stay out of the situation, Arturo pondered his concerns. Lindsey wasn¡¯t his concern, so why should he bother about her actions? Arturo pondered whether Domenic was merely enjoying Lindsey¡¯spany without serious intentions. Surely, he didn¡¯t genuinely want her as his future wife, did he? And even if he did harbor such thoughts, his grandpa Jordan¡¯s approval seemed unlikely. Arturo thought it best for them to part ways sooner rather thanter. With a thoughtful raise of his eyebrows, he pocketed his phone and walked away. At that moment, Sh and Vincent, arm in arm, made their way to the center of the dance floor, capturing the attention of all present. ¡°Thank you for joining us at the party today. It¡¯s my pleasure to announce Sh¡¯s return to the entertainment industry!¡± Apuse filled the room as people congratted Sh. Vincent waved his hands to calm everyone down and continued, ¡°Sh¡¯seback journey hasn¡¯t been easy. She¡¯s faced attempts to undermine and discredit her. Thankfully, Lindsey identified a crucial w in a deceptive photo, effectively countering those with hidden agendas. ¡± While speaking, Vincent shared a warm smile with Lindsey, who stood near the crowd. Chapter 247 Lindsey acknowledged his gesture with a subtle smile of her own. Vincent then addressed the crowd, ¡°I hold Sh in high esteem, and I¡¯m thrilled about her return. Despite stepping away from showbiz for five years, I¡¯m confident she¡¯ll outshine her previous achievements and attain even greater sess!¡± The room fell silent for a brief moment before bursting into rousing apuse. Vincent¡¯s publicmendation for Sh set a firm groundwork for her promising future. As the party came to an end, many guests raised their sses in Sh¡¯s honor, and several heads of entertainmentpanies made lucrative offers to sign her. However, Sh graciously turned them all down. Her choice was clear; Lindsey was the only agent she wanted After a few sses of wine, Sh started feeling lightheaded. She gently pulled Lindsey aside and said, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m not feeling great. I think it¡¯s time to head out. ¡± Lindsey nced at her watch and agreed, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll apany you. ¡± They bid farewell to Vincent and his wife. As they were about to depart, Sumner hurried over, blocking their path. ¡°Let me give you a ride home. ¡± Sh, noting Sumner¡¯s offer and Lindsey¡¯s moment of hesitation, smiled and said, ¡°That would be nice, thank you, Mr. Lawson. ¡± ¡°Please, just call me Sumner. Hang on here for a moment; I¡¯ll bring my car around. ¡± With that, Sumner headed to the parking lot. Sh had a favorable opinion of this cheerful andid-back young man. Most notably, he always gazed at Lindsey with unreserved affection. Leaning towards Lindsey, Sh whispered, ¡°Sumner seems Like a great catch. He¡¯s attractive, has a pleasant personality, and as Paige¡¯s godson, he could be a great asset to you in the future. Maybe you should consider a rtionship with him?¡± Lindsey met Sh¡¯s gaze with her own kind, clear eyes and replied, ¡°You¡¯re teasing me, Sh. Sumner is indeed wonderful man, but I¡¯m not the right one for him. So-¡° ¡°Who says you¡¯re not right for him?¡± Sh cut in, ¡°You¡¯re worthy of the very best! And if he¡¯s not your type, I¡¯ll help you let him down gently. ¡± As soon as she finished her words, a blue sedan stopped in front of them. The window was rolled down, and Sumner smiled brightly at them. ¡°Ready to leave,dies?¡± Exchanging a nce, Lindsey and Sh fell silent and climbed into the car. epting Sumner¡¯s offer for a ride home was not so bad. The car pulled up at Sh¡¯s residence. After bidding farewell to Lindsey and Sumner, Sh stepped out of the car and made her way toward her rented apartment. Suddenly, the effects of the alcohol kicked in, causing her to lose bnce and sway to the side. But arge hand promptly sped her shoulders, preventing her from falling. Her body collided with the broad chest of a man, and the Luxurious fabric on him felt cool against her heated skin.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Looking up, Sh met the captivating gaze of Arturo, his handsome face never failed to stir her emotions. Chapter 248 Unfortunately, despite the allure of his handsome visage, his true nature revealed a refined yet contemptible character. Mocking herself with augh, Sh straightened up and gently pushed Arturo away. ¡°Are you following me?¡± she inquired, her eyes a mix of drunken confusion and a hint of red. With hands casually tucked into his pockets, Arturo looked at Sh¡¯s delicate frame as she struggled to stand firm. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, you¡¯d be on the ground with a broken, bleeding head. Shouldn¡¯t you express some gratitude?¡± ¡°Fine, thank you. Satisfied?¡± Sh retorted, grinning as she adjusted the bag in her hand and took a step forward. Arturo seized Sh¡¯s slender wrist, pinning her against an iron fence. His body pressed against hers as his warm breath enveloped her petite face. ¡°Shall I teach you how a woman should properly thank a man?¡± Arturo inquired, lowering his head to capture her red lips in a sudden ki*s. rity rushed over Sh, instantly dispelling the effects of alcohol. Warning bells rang in her head as she tried to push Arturo away, but he stood firm like a wall, making it impossible for her to resist. His ki*ses grew more intense, and the familiar, alluring scent caused his rationality to crumble once more. Abruptly, Arturo experienced a sharp pain in his lip. Releasing Sh, he quickly wiped away the blood with his palm. Sh had bitten him hard. Sh wrapped her arms around herself, retreating to the corner. Her lips, now moist and stained with blood, carried a strangely provocative allure. ¡°I¡­¡± Arturo began, realizing he had lost control, feeling remorse, and had the urge to embrace her. But Sh, clinging to the iron fence, whispered hoarsely, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer. I beg you. ¡± Her disheveled hair framed her face like a desperate fawn cornered by a hunter, emitting a feeble plea.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The overwhelming, stirring emotion made Arturo yearn for more and more of her. However, he suppressed his desire and took two steps backward. ¡°Leave before I change my mind. ¡± Noticing his struggle to contain his desire, Sh fled in a panic. Arturo took several deep breaths, attempting to regainposure. When he turned around, Sh had vanished. He retrieved a small folded paper from his pocket and unfolded it. It was a paternity test report, identical to the one Lindsey had taken earlier. Chapter 249 However, the only distinction was that the test report¡¯s conclusion stated ine was not Andrew¡¯s biological daughter. Raising his gaze in the direction Sh had fled, Arturo silently re-folded the test report. Five years ago in Champs Le Bar, Arturo had failed Sh. If Andrew had never touched Sh, then the child was probably¡­ Arturo¡¯s contemtions were abruptly interrupted by a ringtone. Retrieving his phone, he noticed it was a call from Domenic. Answering the call, Arturo lit a cigarette and stood by the roadside, smoking. ¡°Busy bee, you finally remembered to call me back?¡± ¡°I was upied earlier. What¡¯s up?¡± Domenic¡¯s deep voice echoed from the other end. Puffing out a cloud of smoke, Arturo chuckled. ¡°Nothing important. Just saw Lindsey dancing with Vincent and Paige¡¯s godson at the dinner party. They seemed close and looked great together. Furthermore, I overheard Paige expressing her desire for Lindsey to be her godson¡¯s wife.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Hearing this, Domenic¡¯s posture stiffened, and his eyes darkened. Arturo added, ¡°On another note, that young man personally drove Lindsey home. It¡¯ste at night, and considering they¡¯re both single, do you think they might do something to spend the long night?¡± Silence lingered on the other end of the line. ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ve encountered many women like Lindsey. Just enjoy herpany, as I suggested before. Don¡¯t take her too seriously. ¡± Arturo couldn¡¯t understand why Domenic was drawn to that woman. While she was attractive, Domenic had met numerous beautiful women. What was it about Lindsey that captivated him? Following a prolonged silence, Domenic¡¯s deep voice came through again, ¡°When you attended Vincent¡¯s dinner party today, did you inform Sh about what happened between you two in Champs Le Bar five years ago?¡± Arturo¡¯s handsome face darkened. Realizing Arturo wasn¡¯t responding, Domenic sensed Arturo might have encountered difficulties with Sh that day. Arturo chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re still dealing with your own issues, yet you¡¯re asking about mine?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have informed you. Bye. ¡± Arturo abruptly hung up the call, as if Domenic¡¯s words had hit a nerve. Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed. He opened his contacts, fixating on a name marked as a special contact-Lindsey. Chapter 250 He started to call her but quickly backed out. The man, usually firm and unwavering, unexpectedly wavered and hesitated in this moment. What was he doing? Trying to catch her in the act? With what right or reason? Lindsey had made it clear she wouldn¡¯t be his girlfriend. She was eager for him to return so she could give back his ne¡­ Did her refusal stem from her new connection with Vincent¡¯s godson, while he was nothing but a man with no wealth to his name? Domenic tossed his phone on the desk, covered his eyes, now reddened with emotion, and let out a bitterugh. It seemed he needed to return sooner than nned. The blue sedan came to a halt at the entrance of Lindsey¡¯s neighborhood. Just as Lindsey was about to step out and walk away, Sumner rolled down his window to call her. ¡°Linds!¡± Lindsey paused to look back and asked, ¡°Yes? Is something up?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sumner hesitated for a moment before breaking into a smile, ¡°Oh, nothing. Just¡­ take care. ¡± With a nod, Lindsey resumed her exit, soon vanishing from Sumner¡¯s view. Sumner rolled the window back up and sank into his seat, deep in thought. He pulled out his phone to make a call. ¡°I¡¯ve made a decision. I¡¯m going to join the entertainment industry.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were not interested? What changed your mind? Is it because of Lindsey?¡± Paige¡¯s amused voice came through the phone. I¡¯m losing signal here. I¡¯ve got to go. ¡± Sumner quickly ended the call. Sumner¡¯s gaze lingered in the direction where Lindsey had just departed. He was dyed for the dinner party due to some unforeseen circumstances. By the time he arrived, the scandal involving Sh¡¯s nude photo had already erupted online, causing widespreadmotion. His concern naturally turned towards Lindsey. He had been aware of Lindsey¡¯s bet with Jayleen about Sh for quite some time, having seen it trending on Twitter. He had been following the situation closely. Chapter 251 At one point, he even considered calling Lindsey to offer his help. But knowing she was engaged, he hesitated each time he reached for his phone. He didn¡¯t want to cause her any furtherplications. But today, he found himself deeply impressed by Lindsey once more. She was smart, perceptive, dazzling¡­ He found himself captivated by her, unable to divert his attention to anyone else. He also understood the treacherous nature of the entertainment industry, where intrigue and nder lurked at every corner. Lindsey could be in jeopardy at any moment. He could no longer stand by. He wanted to get to her side and protect her. Upon learning that Lindsey was neither engaged nor in a rtionship, he felt a surge of excitement and joy. Maybe God didn¡¯t want to sever their bond. So this time, he wouldn¡¯t give up again. The following day, Lindsey arrived at her office to hear whispers and murmurs from within.From N?velDrama.Org. Pushing open the ss door, she entered to find all eyes turning towards her, the conversations halting. Gradually, all eyes turned towards Lindsey, and the murmuring quieted down. ¡°Hi, Lindsey,¡± one of her colleagues greeted her with warmth. As Lindsey looked around, she noticed the friendly smiles of her coworkers. They each greeted her in a warm manner. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Lindsey inquired with a hint of curiosity. ¡°Nothing. I just want to say hello to you. ¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, let¡¯s get back to work. ¡± Then Lindsey proceeded to her office, closing the door behind her. Settling at her desk, she took out her phone and opened Twitter, where the trending topics were lively. Lindsey raised her eyebrows and clicked on the top trending search. It read, ¡°Vincent Lopez publicly praised Sh Potter at his family gathering. Sh confirmed her return to acting. ¡± Next, enthusiasticments appeared. One said, ¡°Sh must be the lead in Vincent¡¯s uing film. Jayleen¡¯s chances seem slim now. ¡± ¡°I used to support Jayleen, but now I¡¯m a fan of Lindsey. She had a greateback against Jayleenst night. ¡± Chapter 252 ¡°Thanks to Lindsey for defending Sh¡¯s reputation. ¡± ¡°Some said Lindsey rose to fame through connections. But doesn¡¯t she seem more talented than that director?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been saying Jayleen wouldn¡¯t make it. She didn¡¯t live up to expectations. Check the second trending topic for proof. ¡± Following this, Lindsey clicked on the second most searched topic. As Lindsey predicted, mentioning Jayleen¡¯s educational background at that asion caused curious online users to uncover more about her. Her brief revtion created quite a stir. Additional information came to light. During Jayleen¡¯s college days, she failed quite a few courses. Her grades were so bad that she came close to not graduating, and she had to sit for a remedial exam to get her diploma. A schoolmate of Jayleen revealed secrets about her on Twitter. She imed that when Jayleen was in college, she often skipped sses and had some sketchy connection with a male teacher. She even mentioned that the teacher wrote Jayleen¡¯s graduation thesis for her.From N?velDrama.Org. How did someone like that end up at Vitality Entertainment after college? It was in to see that she got in through connections. ALL the people working at Vitality Entertainment were top students, and there were plenty with superior education and skillspared to her. So, what made her the director of the Agent Department instead of someone else? Rumors spread that she secured her role through personal favors with some senior executive! These posts threw Jayleen right into the center of public attention. At this point, everyone was rallying behind Lindsey. They urged Jayleen to own up to her loss and step down from her role as a director. It appeared like everyone in the office had caught wind of this situation, and their stance towards Lindsey had shifted dramatically. These people¡¯s ability to change their stance at the drop of a hat was truly remarkable, Leaving Lindsey in awe. Setting her phone aside, Lindsey threw herself into her tasks. At two in the afternoon, Lindsey finished updating the information about her artists and sent those documents to the Human Resources Department. When she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted a group of people huddled outside the meeting room, deep in hushed conversations. She wandered over in bewilderment, and then her ears were treated to the sweet, soothing tunes of a guitar apanied by a crystal-clear, melodious voiceing out from the meeting room. She positioned herself in the crowd and gently tapped the shoulder of a female colleague, craning her neck to peer inside. ¡°What¡¯s happening in there? Why is everyone gathered here?¡± The female colleague¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration. ¡°There¡¯s a good-looking guy in there. He is here to interview for a job as a singer. ¡± A good-looking guy? People in the entertainment business must¡¯ve crossed paths with their fair share of handsome guys. She¡¯d think they¡¯d be unfazed by good-looking men. So, what got them all excited this time? ¡°He¡¯s not just good-looking; he¡¯s also got an incredible singing voice. You could almost call him the next Mercer!¡± Another female coworker also had good things to say about him. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but wonder who could rival Mercer, but her busy schedule left no room for exploration. With the documents dispatched to the Human Resources Department, she pivoted and headed toward the elevator. Chapter 253 Just then, the gathering outside the meeting room parted to make way for a young man. He emerged, wearing a warm smile on his attractive face, captivating thedies in the vicinity. ¡°His smile brings out his good looks! My heart is racing!¡± ¡°Look, he¡¯s staring right at me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get too carried away. He is checking me out!¡± Lindsey was waiting for the elevator when she suddenly heard a voice she recognized. ¡°Hey, Linds. ¡± Lindsey turned and saw Sumner a short distance away. Dressed casually and carrying a guitar, he looked effortlessly handsome and youthful. Was he the man who came to interview for a job as a singer? Lindsey stared at Sumner, surprised, and the bystanders were even more astonished. Did this good-looking guy know Lindsey? What was their connection? Well, they were not an item. A good-looking guy couldn¡¯t be smitten by someone as chaotic as Lindsey in her personal Life! Rumors about Lindsey were rampant throughout thepany. The HR department staff were outwardly courteous but inwardly dismissive. ¡°Sumner, why do you want to be a singer?¡± Lindsey asked, intrigued. Sumner hoisted his guitar, shing a bright smile. ¡°I have a knack for singing, and I¡¯ve always wanted to experience life as a star.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. How about it? Would you consider being my agent?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be honored. ¡± Just then, the elevator arrived. Sumner stepped in with Lindsey, both of them chatting andughing. Even after the elevator doors closed, the crowd looked at it in astonishment. Their faces were marked all over with jealousy. Once Lindsey wrapped up her tasks, she noticed that nearly everyone else in the department had already left. It struck her that Jayleen had been absent the entire day. She picked up her phone and wanted to see if there was any interesting news on Twitter, but she found that the posts about Jayleen¡¯s educational background had disappeared without a trace. Despite her efforts to search, she found no trace of the information. She frowned, contemting. It appeared Lynne¡¯s theory was correct. Jayleen must have had someone influential behind her who had helped her deal with the trending topics. Chapter 254 If Lindsey couldn¡¯t uncover who was backing Jayleen, it would be challenging to deal with her. Lindsey breathed a heavy sigh, realizing that the oue of this gamble remained uncertain. As she exited the office building, feeling downhearted, a friendly male voice caught her attention. ¡°Hi there, Linds. ¡± Lindsey nced towards the gate and spotted Sumner standing in the open area. His pure white shirt swayed in the breeze. He approached her with a gentle smile and remarked, ¡°You¡¯ve been workingte, even after everyone else has gone. You must be swamped with work. ¡± ¡°I thought you would¡¯ve left after your interview,¡± Lindsey said, a bit surprised. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°I¡¯ve been here, waiting for you. ¡± Sumner smiled at her. ¡°Are you feeling hungry? What do you want to eat? It¡¯s my treat. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s stomach didn¡¯t waste any time responding with a loud growl as soon as he finished speaking. Lindsey and Sumner exchanged warm smiles, and then they entered a restaurant. During dinner, curiosity sparkled in Lindsey¡¯s eyes as she asked, ¡°What inspired you to be an artist of Vitality Entertainment?¡± ¡°Because of you,¡± Sumner met her gaze and replied earnestly. ¡°Because of me?¡± Perplexed, Lindsey furrowed her brow, seeking rification. Sumner exined, ¡°During that party, I witnessed your adept handling of Jayleen. Your intelligence and kindness stood out. Your unwaveringmitment to protecting your artist resonated with me. So¡ª¡± Lindsey thought she had a grasp on the situation. Sumner had recently returned from overseas. Since he aspired to join the entertainment industry and she worked as an agent, it made sense for him to choose her, his friend, as his agent. Pursing her lips, Lindsey looked into his bright eyes. ¡°But, if I lose the bet, I¡¯ll have to leave Vitality Entertainment. ¡± Sumner nodded, aware of the bet, but never doubted Lindsey¡¯s victory. He was confident in her abilities, especially considering that his godfather had always admired Sh. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I can wait for you. Whether you win or lose. I¡¯ll be by your side wherever you go. ¡± Touched, Lindsey expressed her gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your trust, Sumner.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡± After dinner, Sumner escorted Lindsey to her neighborhood. Before parting ways, Lindsey, embarrassed, apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for troubling you again today, Sumner. ¡± Sumner gently poked her forehead, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be angry if I hear you say that again. You are my friend. I¡¯m happy to offer any help. ¡± Chapter 255 Lindsey smiled faintly. Just then, a leaf gracefullynded on her hair. Without hesitation, Sumner stepped forward, gently reaching out to pluck the leaf. As he neared, a fresh scent wafted into Lindsey¡¯s nose. Realizing they were getting a bit close, Lindsey promptly stepped back, maintaining a proper distance. ncing at the leaf in Sumner¡¯s hand, she touched her hair and smiled, saying, ¡°Thank you. See you next time. ¡± Sumner gazed tenderly into Lindsey¡¯s bright eyes under the street lights and nodded, saying, ¡°Give me a call when you have time. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Afterward, Lindsey briskly entered the residential area. Unnoticed by either of them, a Limited edition Bugatti was parked on the street. Seated in the car, Domenic observed every move of the two individuals across the road. He hired someone to investigate Sumner and discovered that he was Vincent¡¯s godson. Could this be the reason Lindsey had been so friendly to Sumner from the start? ¡°Mr. Walsh, should I drive you home?¡± Observing the somber expression on Domenic¡¯s face through the rearview mirror, Hendrix inquired cautiously. He couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with him. Last night, Domenic stayed upte sorting out important matters in Mubluosia. Once he wrapped things up and left Emilio to handle the rest, he hurried back home. Hendrix understood Domenic¡¯s urgency was driven by concern for Lindsey, but he didn¡¯t anticipate the scene he encountered at the gate to their neighborhood. ¡°Head to the office,¡± Domenic instructed in his usual calm demeanor, but his clenched fists were so tight that his knuckles turned white. His gaze was chillingly cold, causing Hendrix to tremble involuntarily. It was clear that Domenic was upset with Lindsey. He didn¡¯t even want to return to their home.From N?velDrama.Org. Starting the car, Hendrix drove towards Vitality Group. Unaware of Domenic¡¯s return, Lindsey opened the door and entered the apartment. The furnishings remained unchanged. However, today, she sensed an unusual chill and empty. In the bedroom, her eyes fell on the jewelry box. Opening it, she found the red diamond ne inside. In the light, it glowed brightly. Lindsey retrieved the ne and delicately ced it around her neck while standing before the dresser. Examining the ne in the light, she noticed its unique droplet-shaped diamond. Intrigued, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Domenic had chosen this particr ne. Her fingers delicately caressed the bright red diamond. Domenic had been gone for a week, and she didn¡¯t know when he would return. How was he faring there? She spected he must be busy. Otherwise, he could have sent her a text message or called. Chapter 256 Wait, what was she anticipating? She had uttered some harsh words to him. How could she expect him toe back to her again? Lindseyughed at herself, sensing an increasing contradiction within her emotions. In Domenic¡¯s absence, she actually found herself taking out the ne and longing for him. But she had to admit that today, she missed him intensely. Lindseyy on the bed, the red diamond ne adorning her neck, and closed her eyes as she drifted to sleep. Before returning the ne to Domenic, she decided to enjoy its beauty for thest time. As the morning sunlight streamed in through the curtains, touching her thick eyshes, Lindsey suddenly opened her eyes. ncing at the clock, she eximed, ¡°Oh my! I¡¯m going to bete!¡± She hurriedly got up and put on her work clothes. After a quick wash, she dashed out with her shoes on, oblivious to the red diamond ne around her neck. Around noon, as Lindsey headed out for some business, she came across Jayleen in the hallway. Having been absent for a day, Jayleen finally returned to thepany. Jayleen was in a conversation with someone, seemingly unbothered by anything else. When she spotted Lindsey, Jayleen ended her chat and approached Lindsey cheerfully. ¡°Hey, Lindsey! I was just thinking about catching up with you. It¡¯s such a surprise to bump into you here. ¡± Lindsey, with a smile, inquired, ¡°What do you want with me?¡± Jayleen, who should have been scrambling for a solution to win their wager, appeared surprisingly rxed, as if unaffected by the situation. ¡°Well, today¡¯s Kristy¡¯s birthday. Thepany is hosting a celebration for her at the Flourish Club tonight. It¡¯s an event for her close associates in the industry, and all department heads are expected to attend. As the executive agent, your attendance is expected. That¡¯s what Mr.From N?velDrama.Org. Josh Harvey wants. ¡± After a moment of consideration, Lindsey replied, ¡°Alright, I understand. ¡± ¡°See you this evening,¡± Jayleen said calmly, smiling at Lindsey before departing. Lindsey sensed something off about Jayleen¡¯s behavior but couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was. At eight in the evening, Lindsey arrived at Flourish Club. Opening the private room door, she saw Kristy, radiant in a red strapless fishtail dress and a crown, seated prominently on the sofa. Kristy cast a nce at Lindsey, maintaining her arrogant demeanor. Jayleen,fortably seated beside Kristy, noticed Lindsey¡¯s arrival and gestured for her to join them. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re here! Please, take a seat. ¡± Around them were several celebrities, known to be close to Kristy, along with key department heads from thepany, including the most important one, Josh. Chapter 257 Lindsey acknowledged Josh with a nod before taking a seat. Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open. A dashing man dressed in white entered. It was Sumner. Why did hee here? ¡°Ah, Sumner, d you¡¯ve arrived. We were just about to begin without you. ¡± The personnel director stood up and gave Sumner a warm greeting. Sumner¡¯s gaze quickly found Lindsey. She looked stunning in her ck dress, her dark hair cascading gracefully down. She sat there, radiating a serene beauty. Lindsey was curious about Sumner¡¯s presence. Then, she overheard the personnel director speaking to Josh. ¡°Mr. Harvey, this is the Sumner Lawson I¡¯ve been telling you about. He¡¯s an up-anding singer with a lot of potential. He might join our team at Vitality Entertainment. I invited him here today to meet everyone. ¡± Josh observed Sumner and gave a nod of approval. ¡°In ourpany, we treasure talent above all. Choosing Vitality Entertainment will be your best decision. ¡± Sumner responded with a polite smile, ¡°Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Harvey. ¡± Sumner¡¯s reason for attending the party was simple. He had heard Lindsey would be there, and that was his sole motivation. His decision to join Vitality Entertainment hinged on whether Lindsey remained an agent there. He wasn¡¯t swayed by the opinions orpliments of others. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all gathered, let¡¯s join in wishing Kristy a joyous twenty-fourth birthday. ¡± The waiter brought in a cake lit with candles and uncorked a champagne. Everyone cheered ¡°Happy Birthday¡±, creating a festive peak in the atmosphere. Lindsey, standing in a corner with a ss of champagne, sipped it cautiously during the toast. She was mindful of her low tolerance for alcohol. And she might have some undesirable conduct after drinking alcohol. She blushed slightly, recalling a past incident where, after getting drunk, she was taken home by Domenic and clung to him. Determined to avoid a repeat of such an incident, Lindsey carefully moderated her alcohol consumption.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The personnel director kept encouraging Sumner to drink. Meanwhile, Sumner and Lindsey only exchanged brief nces throughout the evening. Jayleen approached Lindsey, holding two champagne sses. She then called out loudly to everyone in the room, ¡°May I have your attention, please. I need to say something to Lindsey. ¡± The room fell silent, all eyes on Lindsey and Jayleen. ¡°I¡¯ve been doing some thinking thesest couple of days. I realize now that I made some mistakes that might have hurt you. I want to apologize. ¡± Jayleen extended a ss of champagne towards Lindsey. Lindsey raised her eyebrows. She believed Jayleen was up to no good. ¡°y want to make amitment right here. If Lindseyes out on top in our bet, I¡¯ll step down from my role as the director, and I mean¡­¡± She paused, looking at Lindsey again. ¡°I do hope, though, that can work together harmoniously going forward. This drink is my way saying sorry. ¡± With that, Jayleen finished her ss and held out the one she had offered to Lindsey. Chapter 258 As Lindsey hesitated, others in the room started to chime in. ¡°Lindsey, Miss Archer has offered such a heartfelt apology. It would be a bit unkind not to acknowledge it. ¡± ¡°Exactly, we¡¯re all part of the samepany. Let¡¯s keep things open for discussion. ¡± Josh, looking slightly displeased,mented, ¡°Lindsey, remember Jayleen is your superior. Show her some respect. ¡± Feeling the pressure, Lindsey reluctantly epted the ss from Jayleen, given the presence of Josh and other department heads. She didn¡¯t want to create a scene, so she drank the champagne. The crowd pped in approval. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. Vitality Entertainment values unity and sincerity above all. ¡± Lindsey ced the empty ss upside down on the table, her gaze steady on Jayleen. ¡°Miss Archer, I¡¯ve epted your drink. Remember your promise. ¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Jayleen replied with a slight raise of her eyebrows, then turned to toast with others. Lindsey sat back in the corner. Soon, she began to feel dizzy and warm. Was she getting drunk from just one ss of champagne? Sumner seemed to be struggling with simr difort. Seeing Lindsey and Sumner unconscious on the couch, Jayleen¡¯s expression twisted into a cruel smirk, revealing her true nature. Jayleen turned to the crowd and said, ¡°Thepany has invested a hefty million dors in fireworks for Kristy¡¯s birthday tonight. It¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s go watch. ¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. After hearing this, everyone became excited and followed Jayleen out of the private room. Lindsey and Sumner were reclining on the sofa. Others assumed that the two were drunk, so they left to take a break in the private room. When Jayleen left the private room, she looked back at Lindsey and Sumner, who were lying on the sofa. Jayleen got a wicked look in her eyes. She was confident that after this evening, Lindsey wouldn¡¯t be a match for her. Waking up disoriented, Lindsey looked around the room, which was now empty. She wondered what had happened. Had everyone left after the event? But why hadn¡¯t she realized it? Feeling unusually hot and ufortable, Lindsey recognized these symptoms from a past experience and suspected something was off with the champagne she drank. She suspected Jayleen was behind it. What the hell did Jayleen want to do? Lindsey pondered where everyone had disappeared to. Why had they left her by herself in the private room? She swiftly took out a small bottle of medicine from her bag. Chapter 259 Knowing that drinking was a part of these social events and that she wasn¡¯t great at handling her liquor, she had brought along a strong hangover cure. Lindsey was curious if this medicine would be effective in her current state. She took the medicine, focusing on regting her breath and trying to rx. Slowly, her dizziness started to diminish, and the intense heat she was feeling began to subside. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. This medicine really does the trick. ¡± Just as Lindsey was about to leave, she heard sounds of retching and a man¡¯s pained moaning from the private room¡¯s bathroom. That voice sounded like Sumner¡¯s. Rushing over, Lindsey knocked on the bathroom door. ¡°Sumner, is that you in there?¡± ¡°Linds¡­ Please, just go. Leave me be. ¡± ¡°Sumner, are you feeling drunk? Come on out.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. I have something for hangovers in my bag. Let me help you. ¡± Lindsey reached for the hangover remedy on the sofa, but as she turned back, she was suddenly grabbed byrge hands. Sumner¡¯s tall figure pressed her down onto the sofa. His face was flushed a deep red, his eyes betraying a strong desire. He ced his hand beside Lindsey on the sofa. The blue veins on his hand were prominent, and the heavy scent of alcohol enveloped her. ¡°I told you to go away. Why didn¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey understood that Sumner was affected just like her. ¡°Sumner, try to stay calm. Here, take this medicine. You¡¯ll feel better once you¡¯ve had it. ¡± Lindsey put her hand against his chest and handed him the medicine. He knocked the medicine away in frustration, sending it rolling to the floor. ¡°It¡¯s no use. I¡¯ve tried every means, but nothing works. ¡± Sumner had drunk much more than Lindsey, both of them victims of a potent aphrodisiac unique to the club. The more they drank, the harder it was to dissolve. This particr drink was a well-kept secret in exclusive clubs, known only to a handful of regrs and used in special transactions. It resembled champagne in taste, making it hard to tell apart. To avoid causing any harm to Lindsey, Sumner confined himself in the bathroom, sshing cold water on his face repeatedly. Yet, his internal struggle remained as intense as ever. He leaned over the toilet, forcing himself to vomit in an effort to quell his overwhelming desire. The physical difort helped subdue his feelings momentarily, but hearing Lindsey¡¯s voice from outside broke his fragile resolve. A single thought echoed in his mind. Chapter 260 She was the only cure he needed. ¡°Sumner. Sumner, don¡¯t lose your head,¡± Lindsey urged, continuously trying to push him away. But her efforts seemed futile. His gaze was locked on her bright eyes and her lips, filled with longing. ¡°Linds, I¡¯m truly sorry¡­ I will be responsible. ¡± The fireworks illuminated the night sky with their breathtaking disy, casting a brilliant glow that persisted for twenty minutes before fading away. Jayleen, checking her watch, knew it was time for the main event. She smirked, anticipating a spectacle. After Josh left following Kristy¡¯s birthday party, Jayleen gracefully ushered the remaining guests to adjourn to the club¡¯s exclusive private room. Among the birthday guests were not only Kristy¡¯s colleagues but also renowned stars from the entertainment industry who shared a close friendship with Kristy. The potential scandal involving Lindsey and Sumner, especially considering Sumner¡¯s connection to Vincent, could erupt into explosive news. In this scenario, Lindsey, not Jayleen, would likely dominate the headlines, having risen to the top throughpromising means. Jayleen believed that her fortunes were about to take a positive turn. Kristy, the center of attention as the birthday girl, headed towards the club amid a crowd of well-wishers. As soon as she neared the entrance, a familiar, tall figure captured her attention. Her heart quickened. It was the man who had helped her once at the racecourse. Dressed in a light blue shirt, a ck tie, and a ck windbreaker, he exuded an air of maturity and strength. He was exceptionally tall and handsome, making it nearly impossible not to be captivated by his presence. However, a nagging thought crossed Kristy¡¯s mind ¨C was he here for Lindsey?Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Believing Lindsey was still in the private room with Sumner, Kristy shed a flirtatious smile as she gestured for the other guests to excuse her. She then moved over to block Domenic¡¯s path. ¡°Sir, what a surprise to meet you again. Such a coincidence. ¡± Domenic, halting, looked down at Kristy. ¡°Who are you?¡± Kristy¡¯s gentle smile faltered. How could Domenic not remember her? How was that even possible? She was a celebrated actress, having won the Best Actress award, and a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. How could anyone not recognize her? Kristy smiled awkwardly, saying, ¡°I¡¯m Kristy Chase. You once helped me on the racecourse. ¡± She thought that perhaps he found it hard to believe he¡¯d encounter a prominent star in such a setting. Considering she was even more stunning in person than on screen, she entertained the notion that he might not have recognized her. Chapter 261 But Domenic replied coldly, ¡°Oh, it seems I have a faint recollection. What¡¯s up?¡± The corners of Kristy¡¯s mouth twitched. Despite her introduction, Domenic only imed to have a faint recollection. Was he ying hard to get? Suppressing her displeasure, Kristy hid it behind clenched fists and offered a tender smile to Domenic. ¡°Are you here to see Lindsey?¡± At the mention of Lindsey¡¯s name, Domenic scrutinized Kristy. He recalled that Kristy worked for the samepany as Lindsey. ¡°I know where she is. Allow me to escort you there,¡± Kristy proposed, unable to hide the joy bubbling within her. She knew that if Domenic saw Lindsey and another man engaged intimately in the private room, he would hate Lindsey and sever all ties with her. Squinting slightly, Domenic trailed behind Kristy as she led the way to the exclusive private room. Noticing this, Jayleen hastily joined them, along with others. As they walked, Jayleen caught up with Kristy and leaned in to whisper in her ear, ¡°Kristy, who is he?¡± ¡°He¡­ He¡¯s the man I have feelings for,¡± Kristy confessed, ncing at Domenic¡¯s impably chiseled jawline. Her admiration for him was evident. Jayleen was taken aback. Kristy had never been linked to romantic entanglements throughout her career, maintaining high standards. Despite encountering numerous male stars, none had captured her heart. Jayleen hadn¡¯t anticipated Kristy falling for an ordinary individual. Casting a contemtive gaze at Domenic, Jayleen acknowledged his handsomeness and towering stature but remained in the dark about his background. If indeed he was romantically involved with Kristy, Jayleen knew she needed to strategize how to handle the looming paparazzi storm. The mere thought of it brought a mild headache to Jayleen. Soon, they reached the door of the private room where Lindsey was. ¡°Lindsey is inside,¡± Kristy informed, crossing her arms and positioning herself behind Domenic. As Domenic extended his hand to push open the weighty door, Kristy abruptly grasped his strong arm, her expression filled with concern. ¡°Sir, you must stayposed. Lindsey¡­ She¡¯s in there with a man. ¡± Domenic¡¯s intense gaze darkened, and with a decisive push, he swung the door open.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Hey, I just said Lindsey is with a guy. They¡¯re. . ¡± Kristy¡¯s eyebrows shot up as she peeked inside. But her smug look quickly vanished, reced by shock, when she saw the scene in the private room. Chapter 262 Jayleen, taking a closer look, was equally stunned. What¡­ What was actually happening? In the private room, Lindsey and Sumner were sitting on the sofa, looking well-dressed. They were ying dice, a scene that differed from what they had imagined. ¡°Six fives, show the dice!¡± As Lindsey lifted the cup, she burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯ve lost again, Sumner!¡± She then grabbed a slip of paper from the table and yfully stuck it onto Sumner¡¯s face, already littered with paper. Sumner, with a helpless smile on his face, touched his warm cheek. At that moment, Lindsey pped him. Despite her slender frame, her p was forceful enough to sober him instantly. Following that, she urged him to take the strong hangover cure to help him sober up. The aphrodisiac they had ingested was a unique kind of alcohol, and fortunately, the hangover medication was effective against it. Lindsey caught a glimpse of the door opening from the corner of her eye and smiled, expecting Jayleen to be there. She looked up, asking, ¡°Miss Archer, where have you guys been? Sumner and I have been here waiting for quite a while¡­¡± However, when Lindsey caught sight of the tall man standing at the door, casting a shadow that blocked the light, her voice abruptly trailed off. Domenic¡­ He was back? She ced her cup down and stood up from the couch.From N?velDrama.Org. She looked at Domenic, who was also looking at her. He looked as imposing and handsome as always, quickening her heartbeat. Yet, there was a visible weariness about him, his eyes bearing a cold edge. He must have been exhausted from his extensive business travels. But when had he returned? And what brought him here? ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­¡± Lindsey called him. Then her gaze shifted to Kristy, who was standing slightly behind Domenic. A frown creased her forehead as she contemted whether Domenic¡¯s visit was linked to Kristy. Had they maintained contact since their encounter at the racecourse? Domenic, dressed in a business suit that exuded a cold aura, strode toward Lindsey. He reached out and firmly grasped her wrist, his voice low and domineering as he said, ¡°You¡¯reing with me. ¡± Then he tried to drag Lindsey¡¯s petite body out. ¡°Hold on, Mr. Walsh!¡± Confused about the situation, Lindsey instinctively resisted, not yet understanding what was happening. Noticing this, Sumner quickly got up and grabbed Lindsey¡¯s other wrist. ¡°Why should she go with you? Let her go!¡± Caught between the two men, Lindsey didn¡¯t know what to do. Onlookers outside the room watched the drama unfold, murmuring among themselves. Chapter 263 Seeing her chance, Jayleen discreetly pulled out her phone and captured several photos of the unfolding scene. Sumner had always been somewhat intimidated by Domenic¡¯s strong presence and his identity as Lindsey¡¯s fianc¨¦, worried that his actions might be misinterpreted and cause issues for Lindsey. But now, he was determined not to let Domenic whisk her away. Domenic stopped and looked at Sumner coldly, ¡°You ask me why?¡± Sumner held tightly to Lindsey¡¯s wrist, responding defiantly, ¡°Lindsey told me there¡¯s no engagement between you two, and you¡¯re not her fianc¨¦! So I won¡¯t let you take her. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression suddenly became cold. He turned to Lindsey with cold eyes and asked, ¡°Is that what you told him?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lindsey hadn¡¯t anticipated this turn of events. She cast her gaze downward, uncertain of how to respond. She had spoken truthfully, yet in Domenic¡¯s presence, her confidence wavered. Domenic¡¯s lips tightened, and he gave a dismissive snort. He Lifted his chin, gazing down at Lindsey, his eyes slightly narrowed. ¡°So you also told him that you don¡¯t have a boyfriend at all, didn¡¯t you? And there¡¯s no romantic involvement between us?¡± Lindsey¡¯s silence spoke volumes, and Domenic interpreted herck of response as confirmation. He then fixed a stern gaze on Sumner. ¡°Sumner Lawson is the godson of Vincent Lopez. Lindsey, is that the reason you¡¯re with him?¡± ¡°What?¡± Suddenly, Lindsey looked up, startled by the anger on Domenic¡¯s face. She realized there was a misunderstanding. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re misinterpreting things. I was just trying to¡­¡± ¡°Lindsey Stewart. ¡± Before she could finish, Domenic cut her off, his gaze piercing into her bright eyes. ¡°I need to know one thing. Is this really your final decision?¡± This sentence snapped Lindsey back to reality, instantly sobering her up. Yes, hadn¡¯t she initially intended to establish a clear boundary with him? This was her moment to be clear. Why was she hesitating? Lindsey¡¯s hands tightened into fists, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She fought to keep her emotions in check. She looked at Domenic, forcing a smile, trying to appear calm.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Yes, Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve made up my mind. ¡± Domenic gazed into Lindsey¡¯s eyes, whichcked their usual openness, and questioned her, ¡°If you¡¯ve made up your mind, then why do you still have on that ne I gave you?¡± Lindsey stood there, utterly surprised. She wriggled out of the grip of the two men and reached for her neck. It was only at that moment that she realized the red diamond ne was still hanging there. With a resolved heart, she removed the ne. She grasped Domenic¡¯s hand and ced it in his palm. ¡°I promised to return this to you once you came back. From now on, we¡­ We don¡¯t owe each other anything. ¡± Hearing her words, Domenic nearly Laughed out of anger. She couldn¡¯t possibly make up for all he had done for her without her knowing. How could she think they were even? Domenic grabbed her wrist again and said, ¡°Lindsey, I have something to tell you in private. Leave with me first. ¡± Lindsey cast a nce at the crowd outside the door, feeling uncertain. Chapter 264 ¡°Don¡¯t force her. She made it clear she¡¯s got no connection to you. She¡¯s noting along. ¡± Sumner clutched Lindsey¡¯s arm and fixed a chilly gaze on Domenic. ¡°If you don¡¯t let her go, I¡¯ll call the security. ¡± With a disdainful snort, Domenic yanked forcefully, and Lindsey ended up right in his embrace. Domenic gripped her shoulders firmly and shot Sumner a chilly nce. ¡°You have no right to meddle between me and her. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting involved today. What are you going to do about it? This is thest time I¡¯m going to say it. Let go of her. ¡± Sumner stood firm, his resolve unshaken. The air between them crackled with tension. Lindsey noticed a shift in Domenic¡¯s face, growing stormy as if itching for a fight with Sumner. She knew of Domenic¡¯s strength and doubted whether Sumner could withstand a punch from him. With Domenic having something to say, it was a golden opportunity to bring closure. Lindsey slipped from Domenic¡¯s grasp and turned to Sumner. ¡°Sumner, I need to speak with Mr. Walsh. It¡¯s time for me to leave. ¡± Sumner¡¯s gaze held surprise as he questioned Lindsey. ¡°Linds, are you seriously going with him? If he tries to do anything¡­¡± Lindsey grinned. ¡°Sumner, he¡¯s not that type of guy. No need to fret. I¡¯ll be okay. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Sumner had more to say, but Domenic whisked Lindsey away without a second thought. Among the bewildered crowd, Sumner remained motionless, his fists gradually tightening. ¡°What a spectacr show. ¡± Leaning against the door, Jayleen grinned and remarked, ¡°Even though today turned out different than I thought, I¡¯ve reached my goal. ¡± Peering in the direction where Lindsey and Domenic had vanished, Kristy gritted her teeth. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what it was about Lindsey that had these two good-looking guys fighting over her. Kristy couldn¡¯t wrap her head around that even with her stunning looks, she couldn¡¯t seem to grab this man¡¯s attention at all. However, she had just learned from Lindsey that the man¡¯sst name was Walsh. Being the most sought-after actress, Kristy frequently attended high-end business gatherings. She also had some knowledge about the prominent families in Morcastle. There was something exceptional about that Walsh guy. Could he be connected to the Walsh Group, the leader of the mysterious four families? But then Kristy dismissed the idea as impossible. The people in the Walsh Group were all high and mighty, and she seldom crossed paths with them. How could they possibly be connected to someone as ordinary as Lindsey? Kristy¡¯s frustration grew, her nails digging into her skin.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Determined, she resolved to obtain what she desired, even if it meant taking it from others. Domenic had pulled Lindsey a fair distance away from the club. Chapter 265 Realizing Domenic had no intention of stopping, Lindsey shook off his grip, came to a standstill, and rubbed her wrist, which had turned red from being pulled. ¡°Mr. Walsh, where are you whisking me away to? Now it¡¯s just us two. If you¡¯ve got something to say, then say it. ¡± Domenic spun around, and they found themselves on the street. At this point, it was nearly deserted, with only a few people. The dim streemp cast their shadows long and thin. Domenic intensely gazed into her dark eyes. ¡°Lindsey, I need to understand why. Why do you insist on keeping me at a distance? What did I mess up?¡± Lindsey pressed her lower lip firmly between her teeth. There was nothing amiss with Domenic. He was just too darn good. His excellence felt like a trap to her, as if she was already caught in a swamp. Trying to escape would only bring her more pain and hurt. After facing betrayal once, Lindsey became like a snail, hiding within a tough shell. But inside, she was so delicate that even the slightest touch could shatter her. ¡®s BunnyBookery The thought of him despising her was unbearable¡­ She kept her feelings from Domenic, wishing to preserve a piece of dignity for both of them. She didn¡¯t want to expose her wounds in the heart, nor did she want to give him the power to hurt her. So, she chose to distance herself before anything worse happened. sping her fingers tightly, she looked up. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve said it before. I¡­ I don¡¯t deserve you. You¡¯ll find someone better. Miss Chase, for instance. She¡¯s wealthy, beautiful, and fond of you. She was the one who brought you to see me today, wasn¡¯t she? Have you two already¡­ Hmm.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Before she could continue, Domenic silenced her ramblings with a ki*s. Domenic held Lindsey tight and ki*sed her fiercely, leaving her gasping for air. All the feelings Domenic had bottled up burst forth right then and there. His usual cool-headedness and sharp wit crumbledpletely before her. His very being seemed to cry out. He wasn¡¯t ready to release her just yet. Lindsey felt dazed by the ki*s, but she gathered her wits and shoved against his chest, forcing him back before she lost her grip on reality. ¡°Domenic Walsh, stop!¡± Lindsey eximed. Domenic gave a wryugh and replied, ¡°Before someone¡¯s punished, they get to know what they did wrong. Today, you¡¯re sentencing me. Don¡¯t I at least deserve a reason? You could tell me you¡¯ve fallen for someone else, or you want a richer man, or maybe that I¡¯m just too poor. But you can¡¯t turn me away with no exnation. I need an answer today, or I¡¯m not letting you go. ¡± Lindsey clenched her hands. She hadn¡¯t expected Domenic to be this stubborn. She didn¡¯t want to respond, but his relentless questioning pushed her to her breaking point. Fine, if he wanted a reason, she¡¯d give him one! Chapter 266 Lindsey gritted her teeth and looked up.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you the reason¡­¡± ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Just as Lindsey was about to reveal the reason, a grating voice interrupted. She turned her gaze to the right and encountered an irritating face beneath the soft streetlight glow. It was Chayce! ¡°Lindsey, it seems fate keeps throwing us together. ¡± Chayce approached with a wicked grin. He¡¯d been lying in wait for Lindsey each day on her route to work. This time, he managed to catch her off guard. And also, her so-called fianc¨¦ was with her! ¡°Made your decision yet, Lindsey? Pay up what you owe, or else¡­¡± His eyes shifted to the tall man beside her, his smile turning icy. ¡°Chayce Burton, haven¡¯t we been through this? You¡¯re not getting a dime from me!¡± Lindsey shot back defiantly. With a scoff, Chayce turned to Domenic. ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t mean much to her either. ¡± Narrowing his eyes, Domenic demanded, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re clueless? She¡­¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Lindsey cut him off, her voice ringing out. Chayce¡¯s sneer deepened. ¡°Scared, are we? Then pay up. ¡± Lindsey nced down, a smallugh escaping her. When she looked up again, her eyes zed with an undaunted spirit that took Chayce aback. ¡°This is my issue to handle. If there¡¯s talking to be done, I¡¯ll be the one to do it. What gives you the right to speak? You¡¯re just a lowlife agitator with no say in this matter!¡± she dered. ¡°ihat?¡± Chayce hadn¡¯t foreseen the intensity of Lindsey¡¯s reaction. It was aplete surprise to him. Lindsey inhaled sharply, then turned to confront Domenic directly. ¡°You are curious about my reason, right? Here it is. Kendra and Chayce set me up, and I ended up having s@x with a man I didn¡¯t know! So¡­ I¡¯m not worthy of you. ¡± Her long-held pain spilled out with her words. A wave of relief washed over her, leaving her so weak she could barely stand. Chayce stared at Lindsey, taken aback. Why would she admit to such a thing? He saw Domenic¡¯s shocked face and a flicker of fear struck him. He rushed to defend himself. ¡°Lindsey, you are ndering me. You were the one having a one-night stand with a stranger. How is that my fault? Listen to her, sir. This bitch admits it. She¡¯s the one who¡¯s been reckless. How could she? You¡¯ve been duped!¡± Lindsey clenched her jaw, her frustration mounting. It didn¡¯t matter what Chayce thought. There was no proof, and arguing would only make her look worse. Too frightened to even nce at Domenic, she knew she should just leave. Chapter 267 She couldn¡¯t take his Likely scorn afterying her wounds bare to him, begging silently for a final act of kindness. How she hoped he could just leave and say nothing more. ¡°Lindsey,¡± Domenic said, his voice reaching down to her. Her heart squeezed tight, pain surging through her as she tensed her fingers, leaving deep indents. Chayce watched, arms crossed, expecting Domenic to throw Lindsey away in anger. Instead, Domenic caught Lindsey¡¯s wrist gently and asked softly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe to me sooner?¡± Lindsey offered a self-mocking smile. Was Domenic upset with her for keeping it a secret for so long? She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to Domenic. Fighting back her deep sadness, she said stubbornly, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I apologize for not telling you for so long. I¡¯ve been dishonest with you. Now that you know everything, you can Leave. Don¡¯t-¡° But before she could finish, Domenic enveloped her in a hug, his face nestled in her long, fragrant hair, his fresh fragrance surrounding her. Chayce¡¯s eyes went wide in shock.N?velDrama.Org owns this. What was happening?! He was expecting a heated argument, not a sudden public disy of affection. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you-¡± Lindsey was bewildered. Why was Domenic holding her so closely instead of pushing her away? ¡°Foolish girl, you should¡¯ve told me before. I¡¯ve had the wrong idea about you for too long. ¡± Why was his voice still so gentle and pampering? Lindsey was stunned. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you- Aren¡¯t you upset about it?¡± Domenic nestled his face in her neck, letting out a happy chuckle. ¡°You were worried I¡¯d be upset, right? Is that why you kept it from me?¡± Lindsey, slightly dazed, nodded. ¡°I was scared you¡¯d despise me, look down on me, and just leave me behind-¡° ¡°Why are you so afraid? Is it because you¡¯re in love with me?¡± ¡°I-¡± Pressed close to his firm chest, hearing his s@xy voice, Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed, her body rxing. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in love with you. That¡¯s why I¡¯m more afraid of getting hurt by you. I didn¡¯t want to risk you hurting me. ¡± Domenic lifted his gaze to meet her clear eyes and couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Silly girl, I¡¯d be more than happy to protect you. How could I ever harm you?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lindsey looked at him in confusion. Domenic whispered softly into her ear, ¡°Because you¡¯re mine. Since that night, you¡¯ve belonged to me. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment and asked, ¡°You mean that night? At the Harmony Hotel?¡± Recalling that night, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. Chapter 268 ¡°I kept wondering who that daring woman was. She sneaked into my room and asked if I was handsome. Well, let me tell you, I¡¯m the man you met that night. ¡± Lindsey waspletely dumbfounded. She stood frozen, staring at the man before her in disbelief. ¡°Are you serious? How- How is that even possible?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Domenic gently pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. ¡°Remember when you asked how I knew about the birthmark on your neck? Only a few people, not even your dad, knew about it. ¡± This revtion reminded them of her engagement party. Domenic had used that birthmark to prove her innocence. Lindsey had always wondered how he knew of its existence. ¡°I told you then that I had seen it myself. ¡± His words made Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turn red. She couldn¡¯t remember him saying that. But thinking back, she always felt an uncanny familiarity with him. His voice and scent had always seemed familiar to her. However, if he knew everything, why hadn¡¯t he told her earlier? ¡°Are you done with it?¡± Chayce, who had been observing from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. He struggled to make out their whispered conversation. Looking at Domenic disdainfully, he remarked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you bothered that she¡¯s been with another man? Why are you so obsessed with such an immoral woman?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes darkened. He gently released Lindsey and said softly, ¡°I know you have many questions. I¡¯ll exin everything once we¡¯re home. ¡± Then he turned around and walked toward Chayce. Chayce, sensing Domenic¡¯s intimidating presence, instinctively backed away. ¡°ihat- What are you doing? I was just giving you a friendly reminder. This woman is a bitch. She¡¯s no good. Don¡¯t let her innocent look fool you. ¡± Domenic closed in and swiftly grabbed Chayce¡¯s shirt cor, then raised his knee sharply, striking Chayce in the Lower abdomen. ¡°Ouch!¡± Chayce yelped, copsing to the ground, clutching his stomach and writhing in pain. Domenic, crouching before him, gripped his cor once more, his voice cold and filled with threat. ¡°Listen, I was the man with Lindsey at the Harmony Hotel that night. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Chayce was shocked! Domenic¡¯s voice grew deeper and more menacing. ¡°If you ever cause problems for her again, I¡¯Il kill you!¡± The moment Domenic released his hold, Chayce copsed, his back mming against the unforgiving ground. ¡°By the way, I owe you one for sending Lindsey my way. ¡± Domenic stood, peering down at Chayce with a slight curl of his lips. Chayce¡¯s eyes grew wide with shock. Chapter 269 Was this man the one Lindsey ran to that night after being drugged? They had been in cahoots all this time? But why he had the nerve to show up at the engagement party? The truth hit Chayce like a brick. Lindsey had yed him for a fool, and he was thest to know. He¡¯d been made to look like aplete idiot. Brushing off his hand, now dirty from the scuffle with Chayce, Domenic returned to Lindsey¡¯s side and offered his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. ¡± Lindsey, still reeling, nced at Domenic and ced her hand in his. They vanished from view as Chayce slowly picked himself up, tasting blood in his mouth. That was when he heard apuse and saw Shelia approaching from a distance. Lifting his gaze, he saw her. Shelia had driven by, spotted them, stopped her car, and watched in secret.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. She hadn¡¯t anticipated such a dramatic revtion. She couldn¡¯t contain herughter. ¡°What a show I¡¯ve stumbled upon. ¡± Chayce got to his feet, bloodied mouth and all, and fixed his gaze on Shelia. ¡°What are you doing here? Where¡¯s Kendra?¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s under tight watch by Dad at home. You won¡¯t be seeing her. ¡± Shelia stared at Chayce with a hint of disdain. ¡°Chayce, forget about my family. Don¡¯t you see who you should really be worrying about? I thought you weren¡¯t interested in Lindsey, but it turns out you¡¯ve been made a fool by her. That¡¯s just sad. ¡± Shelia burst into a loud, mockingugh. ¡°Shut up!¡± Chayce, feeling offended, yelled, ¡°She¡¯s such a bitch. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯d cheat on me. ¡± With her arms folded, Shelia let out a scornful snort. ¡°They¡¯re in love, and they¡¯re sessful. Look at yourself. You¡¯re out of work. But then again¡­ You got cheated on and beaten up. Deep down, you don¡¯t really hate her, do you?¡± Chayce balled his hands into fists. Of course, he hated her. He despised Lindsey with every fiber of his being. It was all Lindsey¡¯s fault that his life was ruined. Now, he had nothing to hold over Lindsey anymore. He couldn¡¯t get any more money out of her. ¡°If I were in your shoes, I¡¯d make whoever hurt me suffer double. If I¡¯m going through tough times, I¡¯m not going through them alone. But then again¡­ I doubt a coward Like you could ever do that. ¡± Shelia¡¯s biting words felt like a knife in Chayce¡¯s heart. Through gritted teeth, he said, ¡°I¡¯m not going to let Lindsey get away with this. But she has that new guy with her¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s just a pretty face, nothing to worry about,¡± Shelia remarked with contempt. Chapter 270 ¡°Just a pretty face?¡± Chayce scowled. That man¡¯smanding presence suggested he was anything but insignificant. Shelia scoffed dismissively, ¡°You don¡¯t know that yet. Remember the engagement party? It was all for show. And that guy? He¡¯s just Lindsey¡¯s arm candy. Just a pretty face, nothing more. ¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Chayce replied, a hint of doubt in his voice. He had assumed the man had some clout, but Shelia¡¯s words suggested there was nothing to worry about. ¡°Why would I make this up? Lindsey admitted it to me herself. Chayce, aren¡¯t you short on cash? Let¡¯s make a deal. ¡± ¡°What kind of deal?¡± Shelia let out a derisiveugh. ¡°Take Lindsey down for me. There¡¯s a decent sum of cash in it for you. ¡± Chayce¡¯s brow creased with concern. ¡°And how do you propose to take her down?¡± A cold glint sparked in Shelia¡®¡¯s eyes. ¡°Scar her pretty face, cut out her tongue, tarnish her name. Make sure everyone knows she¡¯s no good.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. There are plenty of ways to ruin someone. The point is to shatter her reputation. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me to break thew?¡± Chayce gazed into Shelia¡¯s ruthless eyes. She chuckled lightly and said, ¡°The clever ones don¡¯t leave behind proof, even when they break thew, right? Pull this off, and I¡¯ll hand you a million dors. How about it? Are you in?? A million dors¡­ Chayce was torn. ¡°Howe you¡¯re so well-off?¡± Shelia boasted proudly, ¡°My boyfriend is Jacob, the vice president at Ray Films. A few gigs there and I make a mil easy. Plus, I¡¯ll be Mrs. Perry soon enough. They¡¯re one of the top families around. You know them, don¡¯t you?¡± Over an extended period, Jacob had been distant with Shelia, still upset from theirst argument. Eventually, his anger subsided, and he became open to seeing her again. Shelia had made several attempts to mend things, finally managing to soothe Jacob¡¯s feelings. In recent days, Shelia had been contemtive. To be Mrs. Perry, she realized she needed to be less impulsive with her decisions. Her mother had always said that a clever woman should keep her hands clean when dealing with others. Meeting Chayce today presented Shelia with just the right opportunity. Chayce was visibly impressed when he learned of Shelia¡¯s connection to the prominent Perry family. He remarked, ¡°I hadn¡¯t expected you to have ties with the Perry family. You truly are Kendra¡¯s daughter. ¡± Both Kendra and Shelia were cunning and ruthlessness. Well, Chayce found himself in quite a bind. After losing his job, he fell into gambling and racked up a hefty debt. One million dors could wipe away his gambling debts but also leave him with a tidy sum of money with the rest. And¡­ Chayce nced at Shelia. He saw her as a potential financial lifeline. Chapter 271 Once Shelia became Mrs. Perry, she¡¯d be stepping into high society for real. That was when the wealth woulde pouring in. As long as he remained in Shelia¡¯s employ and held something over her, he could keep requesting money from her without end¡­ Chayce appeared to have caught a glimpse of the splendid life ahead. He sneered. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cut you a deal. ¡± Domenic didn¡¯t let go of Lindsey¡¯s hand all the way home. Lindsey turned to Domenic, her expression yful yet expectant. Entering the living room, ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time you exined yourself?¡± At this moment, Domenic had shed his ck coat, leaving only a light blue shirt and a ck tie underneath. ¡°Where do I begin?¡± Domenic mused, feigning thoughtfulness. Lindsey perched on the couch, arms folded across her chest, legs elegantly crossed. She sat up straight and fixed her gaze on him, resembling more of an interrogator.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. However, in her ck dress and hair slightly disheveled, she Looked adorable and alluring. ¡°Let¡¯s start with my post about ¡®a boyfriend-for-hire¡¯. ¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Domenic, touching his nose, approached Lindsey and crouched before her, taking her hand gently. ¡°What if I told you it was just a coincidence? Would you believe me?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Lindsey purposely hushed her tone and gave a slight frown. The man she had a casual encounter with had been picked from a crowd, a chance slimmer than winning the lottery. How could she possibly believe it was a mere coincidence? ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit it. ¡± Domenic let out a sigh. ¡°I had my boss look into your background. I was just curious about who I¡¯d been intimate with and left me a fortune before Leaving. ¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed. She hadn¡¯t thought it through and didn¡¯t know who he was. Fearful of the implications, she had left money and fled. ¡°My boss found out your post online, and well¡­ you know the rest of the story. ¡± ¡°Ever since then, you knew the connection between us¡­ Then why did you keep it from me? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Lindsey pouted and felt a tad annoyed. If he had spilled the beans earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have been torn between her thoughts for so long. ¡°I apologize. I had my selfish reasons. I wanted to understand why you entered a stranger¡¯s room and what kind of person you are. You appeared rather expert at leavingpensation after our encounter. ¡± Lindsey extended her leg and kicked him, leaving a tiny footprint on those finely tailored trousers. ¡°That was my first time. ¡± After uttering those words, Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed instantly. How could she have said that out loud? She nibbled her Lip and continued, ¡°But you, Mr. Walsh, you didn¡¯t appear to be a first-timer that night. So, spill the beans, how many wealthy women have you been with?¡± When Lindsey¡¯s words left her lips, Domenic pushed her against the sofa¡¯s backrest. His towering figure closed in on her, enclosing her within his powerful arms. ¡°Miss Stewart, if you utter another word to tarnish my reputation, I¡¯ll silence your chatter for good. ¡± Lindsey quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Domenic¡¯s smile returned. ¡°But think about it, do you believe you could buy my first time for less than five hundred dors? You are being quite frugal, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 272 Buy his first time? Was Domenic saying that night was his first time as well?Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. She had assumed that with his good looks and impable physique, he must have had many women chasing after him. Had he never¡­ She looked suspiciously at Domenic¡¯s visage and questioned, ¡°Don¡¯t try to fool me. Have you never had a girlfriend?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Domenic replied without any hesitation, his eyes filled with warmth. ¡°You¡¯re the only one for me. I have never had any other woman except you. ¡± Lindsey was surprised and her heart raced uncontrobly. That was why he wanted to know her so much. He was eager to know why she had s@x with him that night. It was a first for him too. He shared her fears of misced trust and the risk of heartache. After Lindsey understood why he did that, her anger faded away. ¡°Mr. Walsh! So you¡¯ve been fooling me all along!¡± Lindsey yfully pouted and gave him another yful kick, her heart fluttering with warmth. Domenic grabbed her ankle and chuckled. ¡°You are so naughty. Are you flirting with me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face flushed deeply. ¡°I- I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± ¡°Linds. ¡± Domenic embraced her once more, his face nestled in her hair, speaking her name with newfound tenderness. ¡°Could you say that one more time?¡± ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°Tell me you like me. ¡± Feeling a rush of warmth, Lindsey¡¯s entire body heated up. She had confessed her love spontaneously earlier, but the thought of repeating it made her incredibly bashful. ¡°No way,¡± Lindsey said, firmly pressing her lips together. Domenic looked up into her eyes, a hint of yfulness in his gaze. ¡°Are you sure you won¡¯t say it?¡± ¡°Not happening. ¡± After her words trailed off, Domenic leaned in and nted a passionate ki*s on her lips, stealing her breath away as he gently parted her lips, leaving her in a daze. Lindsey held onto his sleeve tightly, wrinkling the perfectly ironed fabric. She found herself instinctively responding to his ki*s, her thoughts fading away. She was always overwhelmed by his ki*s. In the midst of their passionate ki*s, Domenic suddenly paused. He gazed at her intently, his voice low and teasing. ¡°You always manage to provoke me, yet you rarely say anything to make me smile. Seems like I need to tame you a bit. ¡± Chapter 273 His tone wasden with flirtation. Lindsey snuggled into his embrace, gazing up at him with misty eyes. Her face and neck had turned a rosy shade of pink. Domenic, swallowing, wore a yful grin. ¡°If you don¡¯t say it out loud, I¡¯ll just have to keep ki*sing you. ¡± Pausing briefly, he chuckled and added, ¡°Or is that really what you¡¯re after?¡± Oh God! How could he flirt so effortlessly? If things continued this way, Lindsey would start feeling like a stranger to herself.N?velDrama.Org owns this. She ced her hands on his chest, insisting, ¡°No. You need to sit up first. Then I- I¡¯ll tell you. ¡± Domenic sat up, his eyes shining with anticipation. Lindsey also sat up, quickly adjusting her skirt to hide her shyness. She faced Domenic, hesitated for a moment, and then softly confessed, ¡°I- I like you. ¡± ¡°Who do you like?¡± he teased, raising his eyebrows in question. Fully aware that he was doing it on purpose, Lindsey stood up confidently and said with conviction, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I mean it. I Like you, I like Domenic Walsh!¡± Domenic, momentarily surprised, then embraced her gently around her waist and lifted her up. Lindsey ced her hands on his shoulders, looking down at him bewilderedly. ¡°What are you doing? Please put me down. ¡± Domenic looked up at her bright eyes, and she looked down at his. They could only see and feel each other at the moment. Domenic carried Lindsey to the bedroom and gently ced her on therge, plush bed. He then took out a red diamond ne from his pocket, knelt halfway before her, and adorned her neck with it. ¡°From now on, you are my woman. Don¡¯t hang out with other men alone anymore. ¡± ¡°When have I ever spent time with other men?¡± Lindsey, her lips forming a pout, retorted in disbelief. Domenic, with a yful raise of his eyebrows, questioned her, ¡°How dare you deny it? Then what¡¯s the story with you and Sumner?¡± Lindsey quickly rified, ¡°Oh, we¡¯re just friends. It was Jayleen¡¯s doing that we met today. ¡± ¡°But I heard that Paige wanted to make a match between you and him. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m clueless as to why she¡¯d suggest that, but I¡¯ve already turned her down. ¡± Lindsey pursed her lips and felt wronged. ¡°Mr. Walsh, you do trust me, right?¡± Domenic softly pinched her cheek. Chapter 274 He blinked reassuringly and affirmed, ¡°I trust you. I take your word for everything. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile returned. She wrapped her arms around his neck and curiously asked, ¡°So, what about you and Kristy? Are you two in touch privately? How else did you manage to find me today?¡± ¡°Me and her?¡± Domenic¡¯s face showed confusion. ¡°I just bumped into her. She imed to know where you were and offered to bring me to you. ¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Was it just coincidence?¡± ¡°Absolutely. ¡± Lindsey smiled slightly and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take your word for it this time. ¡± ¡°Linds,¡± Suddenly, Domenic called her name gently. He Looked up at her deeply. ¡°I have feelings for you. You¡¯re the only one I can imagine being with. I might not be rich, but I can earn enough to support a family. If you¡¯re with me, I¡¯ll make sure you live a happy life. ¡± For now, Domenic couldn¡¯t reveal his true identity to Lindsey. He wanted to keep her away from the power struggles of the wealthy. As soon as he gained power and control in his family and dealt with the people plotting behind the scenes, he nned to reveal everything to her. His dream was for her to be his wife, joining hands with him to stand at the pinnacle of sess. To keep her safe, he was prepared to hide the truth or even deceive if necessary. He only hoped she wouldn¡¯t be upset when he eventually told her everything. Lindsey stared at the honest and loving man before her, her eyes twinkling mischievously. ¡°That¡¯s quite a straightforward confession, but¡­ I Like it. ¡± After a brief pause, Domenic leaned forward and ki*sed her, gentlyying her back on the soft bed. His lips tenderly touched her cheek, earlobe, then traced down to her slender neck and the unique red diamond ne she wore. This unique teardrop-shaped red diamond, the only one of its kind, which Domenic had acquired for two hundred million at an international auction, symbolized that she was his most treasured. She truly was his treasured one. Their ki*s deepened with passion. Domenic¡¯s heart raced with desire. He daringly moved his hand to lift her skirt, but Lindsey suddenly felt uneasy and pushed him away. Biting her lip, she said with a hint of difort, ¡°Not today¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I think¡­ I might be on my period. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression briefly showed concern, but he quickly withdrew. Lindsey sat up and went to look for a sanitary pad, only to realize she had used thest one and forgotten to purchase more Chapter 275 Seeing her difort, Domenic offered with a chuckle, ¡°I¡¯ll go get some for you. Just wait here. ¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°What?¡± Lindsey hesitated, unsure if she should ask for Domenic¡¯s help. But when he offered, she felt a flush of warmth and shyly said, ¡°Okay, thanks¡­¡± Domenic stepped closer and yfully tapped her nose. ¡°No need for thanks. I¡¯m your man now, remember? If there¡¯s anything you need, just tell me. ¡± Lindsey knew he was right, but she was still getting used to their new rtionship dynamic. She gave a slight nod in agreement. Domenic then left the room with purposeful strides. It waste, and most shops were closed. He headed to a 24-hour convenience store and stood in front of the sanitary pad aisle, bewildered by the array of choices. He had never bought such items before. Which pack to choose¡­ Maybe he should get one of each brand? The store assistant approached Domenic, noticing his apparent dilemma She smiled and asked, ¡°Is this your first time buying sanitary pads for your girlfriend?¡± Domenic just nodded in response. ¡°Most mene here to buy condoms at this hour, but you¡¯re the first I¡¯ve seen buying sanitary pads. You are really one in a million!¡± The assistant remarked before picking up various sanitary pads from the shelf. ¡°Let me show you these. ¡± She then exined the advantages and disadvantages of each brand, along with the purpose of different sizes. Domenic Listened attentively and, following her advice, chose the mostfortable brand. Concerned it might not be enough for Lindsey, he bought quite a few packs. ¡°Thank you. ¡± After paying the bill, Domenic thanked her and left. The saledy watched him go, impressed by his thoughtfulness. She mused that his girlfriend was fortunate to have him. She even wished she could introduce her own daughter to such a man, but she knew he was already taken. s, good men always belonged to others. With a shake of her head and a tinge of envy, she continued her work. Meanwhile, Domenic, with a bag of sanitary pads in hand, made his way back. Out of the blue, a ck sports car pulled up next to him, engine roaring. Arturo, in the driver¡¯s seat, rolled down the window, looking at Domenic in disbelief. ¡°Domenic? What are you doing out here sote?¡± Domenic, hand casually in his pocket, narrowed his eyes at Arturo and inquired, ¡°Arturo, shouldn¡¯t you be busy with Yates Group¡¯s matters? Why are you still in Morcastle?¡± Chapter 276 Arturo chuckled, opened the door and walked to Domenic. He lit a cigarette and leaned against his car. ¡°I won¡¯t go back to Blosa for the time being. ¡± Domenic frowned. ¡°Is this because of Sh?¡± Arturo¡¯s gaze hardened at the mention of the mame. Holding a cigarette, he took a deep drag, exhaling smoke rings. Turning to Domenic, Arturo curled his lips in a cold smirk. ¡°Of course not. The Yates Group¡¯s progress in Blosa has hit a snag. My mother sent me to Morcastle to learn from you about expanding overseas business. Would you consider guiding me?¡± Domenic observed the smirk that failed to reach Arturo¡¯s eyes.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Arturo was clearly hiding something. Arturo¡¯s dad passed away when he was still a child, so his mom was the head of the Yates n. She was quite a legend, managing the family business by herself. The Yates n has numerous branches, and she¡¯s been in control using her strong-arm tactics. It wasn¡¯t until Arturo reached adulthood that his mother granted him control of the family business. ¡°Is your mother still keeping tabs on your authority?¡± Domenic asked casually. Arturo lowered his head, exhaling smoke. ¡°She just can¡¯t sit still. Sometimes, she still wants to check in on thepany¡¯s development. ¡± Domenic opted not to reveal Arturo¡¯s hidden motives. Arching his eyebrows, he stated, ¡°I¡¯m a businessman, and I don¡¯t operate at a loss. If you want to learn from me, you¡¯ll need to pay the tuition fee. ¡± ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t afford it?¡± Arturo took another puff of his cigarette and shot a nce at Domenic. ¡°By the way, why aren¡¯t you resting in your mansion tonight? What brings you out here?¡± ¡°I came to buy something. ¡± ¡°What?¡± The cigarette in Arturo¡¯s hand nearly slipped. His eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re the CEO of the Vitality Group. If you need something, ce an order, and someone will bring it to you. Why bother going out to buy it yourself?¡± After Arturo made that remark, his gaze fell upon the ck bag in Domenic¡¯s hand. The ck bag in Domenic¡¯s hand contained quite a few packs of sanitary pads on the verge of spilling out. Upon spotting the pink edge sticking out, Arturo swiftly reacted, leading to an abrupt fit of coughing as he choked on the cigarette smoke. Could he be mistaken? Arturo found it hard to believe that Domenic was personally purchasing women¡¯s sanitary pads. It seemed more unbelievable to him than someone proiming that the world would end tomorrow. ¡°Ahem¡­ Domenic, you¡­ Why are you buying this stuff?¡± Domenic frowned, ncing at the bag in his hand, then at Arturo¡¯s exaggerated expression. ¡°Why are you making such a fuss?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s it for?¡± Arturo, now intrigued, approached Domenic, squinting his amber eyes. ¡°Do you have a lover at your ce? Lindsey, perhaps?¡± ¡°Mind your words. Don¡¯t pry into what you shouldn¡¯t. ¡± Domenic shot a cold look at Arturo, ready to leave. Chapter 277 He couldn¡¯t dy any longer. Lindsey was waiting for him at home. ¡°So, have you found out what transpired that night?¡± Arturo caught up with Domenic. ¡°Is something going on between Lindsey and Sumner?¡± A shadow crossed Domenic¡¯s face. He refrained from probing into the events of that night. Trusting Lindsey¡¯s assertion that she and Sumner were merely friends, Domenic believed her. Observing Domenic¡¯s expression, Arturo asked, ¡°Domenic, you haven¡¯t asked her about it, have you?¡± Domenic ignored Arturo and continued walking ahead. Caught in a daze, Arturo found Domenic¡¯s behavior surprisingly uncharacteristic. Having grown up with Domenic, Arturo knew him well someone who delved deep into any matter that piqued his curiosity. He couldn¡¯t imagine a man who would be okay with his woman being alone with another man at night. Especially not someone like Domenic. Lindsey¡¯s ability to convince Domenic, who was usually confident and proud, to go out in the middle of the night and buy her sanitary pads without being concerned about her interactions with another man perplexed Arturo. Arturo was growing more convinced that Lindsey was not as simple as he had initially thought. Shaking his head, Arturo gazed at Domenic¡¯s retreating figure and remarked, ¡°By the way, you haven¡¯t mentioned the tuition fees. ¡± Domenic, still walking away, extended two fingers. ¡°That much? We¡¯ve been friends for years. Could you retract one finger?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Domenic waved his hand without turning back, disappearing down another road. Entering the apartment, Domenic headed to the door to a steam-filled bathroom where Lindsey was showering. Domenic extended his hand and gently knocked on the bathroom door. The water stopped running, and Lindsey¡¯s silhouette appeared on the frosted ss door. Her voice, somewhat muffled by the bathroom door, reached Domenic, ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Yes, I got it. ¡± The bathroom door cracked open, dispersing the vapor. Lindsey¡¯s arm, adorned with water droplets, extended from behind the door. Shyly, she said, ¡°Give it to me. Thank you¡­¡± Domenic retrieved a packet from that bag and passed it to Lindsey. Lindsey epted it and was about to pull back her hand when arge, cool palm gently sped hers. Domenic grasped her wrist from the outside. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey called out, her voice gentle, yet met with no response. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Do you have something to tell me?¡± Her confusionced her words. Chapter 278 Domenic stood outside the door, eyes lowered. He had unraveled the reason behind Lindsey¡¯s one-night stand with him, ensuring no one kept an eye on her at any time. Consequently, he remained unaware of what had transpired between her and Sumner. Avoiding thoughts about that night, Arturo¡¯s words lingered, tormenting Domenic¡¯s mind. Since his parents¡¯ passing, he had be increasingly paranoid, cautious, and indifferent, for fear of the abyss awaiting him should he falter. After their crazy night together, he tirelessly sought her, concealing his identity as he approached her. He dispatched individuals to ndestinely monitor her every move and report back. He was resolute in uncovering her motives for approaching him. He was ustomed to employing every means necessary to learn about anyone he desired to understand, a behavior he acknowledged as abnormal yet couldn¡¯t rein in. Lindsey insisted that she and Sumner were merely friends. He knew he should believe her, yet an unsettling sensation akin to a thorn in his heart left him suspicious- a sensation he hadn¡¯t experienced in a long time. ¡°You¡¯re holding me too tight. I¡¯m not feeling well¡­ What¡¯s wrong with you? What happened?¡± Lindsey¡¯s soft voice snapped Domenic back to reality. Realizing his error, he quickly released her hand and murmured, ¡°Nothing. ¡± In a subdued tone, Domenic replied before turning and striding into the living room. Lindsey withdrew her slightly reddened wrist from his grasp, feeling a pang of unease, yet she brushed it aside and proceeded with her shower. On the balcony, Domenic leaned against the railing, phone in hand, and dialed a number,manding in a hushed tone, ¡°Keep watch on Lindsey. Report everything to me promptly. ¡± After her shower, Lindsey emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel, drying her wet hair. Stepping into the living room, she found Domenic behind her, his arms encircling her slender waist. He nestled his head into the fragrant hollow of her neck, unfazed by the water droplets adorning her skin. ¡°Mr. Walsh, let me go. I¡­ I haven¡¯t changed my clothes yet,¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey protested, her cheeks flushing. Domenic¡¯s warm breath teased her chilled skin. Instead of releasing her, he gently caressed her neck, tenderly. ¡°Can I sleep with you in my arms tonight?¡± A prickling sensation tickled Lindsey¡¯s neck, causing her to tilt her head slightly, her face flushing red. They had recently affirmed their rtionship. Was this pace too swift for them to share a bed? ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t do anything. I just miss you terribly since it¡¯s been so long,¡± Domenic murmured beside her ear in a soothing, low voice. Softening, Lindsey nodded, saying, ¡°Okay. After I change my clothes, I¡¯lle to your room. ¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± Domenic replied, ki*sing her shoulder before releasing her. Chapter 279 With a crimson face, Lindsey hurried into her bedroom and closed the door, her heart still racing. In the past, her feelings for Chayce had left herposed, believing he was a decent man worth being with. But now, facing Domenic, she felt like a girl entering the throes of her first crush. Merely gazing upon his handsome face quickened her heartbeat, unlike anything she had experienced before. His nonchnt words had a disorienting effect on her, causing dizziness. Shaking her head to regainposure, Lindsey adjusted her mood and retrieved a cartoon-patterned pajama from the wardrobe. Was this too childish? After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Lindsey opted for ace nightdress. Well¡­ Was it too s@xy? Geez! Why did she fuss so much over choosing nightwear? Rummaging through the wardrobe, Lindsey finally discovered a homewear outfit with light-colored patterns. After changing, she approached the door of Domenic¡¯s bedroom and raised her hand to knock twice. When Domenic opened the door, he was dressed in a dark blue silk pajama, exuding a noble and genteel air. His gaze fell upon Lindsey¡¯s damp hair. ¡°Why is your hair still wet?¡± It was then that Lindsey noticed it, awkwardly touching her wet locks. ¡°I forgot to dry it¡­¡± ¡°Did you forget it because you were in a hurry toe to my room?¡± Domenic teased, leaning against the door with a gentle smile gracing his face, the warm yellow light casting a soft halo around him. ¡°Sleeping with wet hair might make you catch a cold. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears reddened, avoiding Domenic¡¯s gaze, fearing she might appear as infatuated as a young girl. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to dry it now. ¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Without hesitation, Domenic seized her wrist and pulled her into his room.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Domenic¡¯s room was filled with a light, pleasant fragrance, the same one Lindsey had noticed on him. It was a soothing scent. ¡°I¡¯ve got a hair dryer in my room. Let me dry your hair. ¡± Grasping her wrist, Domenic led her to the bed, gently pressed on her shoulders, and had her sit down. Lindsey blinked her clear eyes, gazing at Domenic. He retrieved a small hair dryer from the nightstand¡¯s bottom drawer, plugged it in, and positioned himself in front of her. His shadow enveloped her, and he gently ran his fingers through her wet hair. Chapter 280 ¡°I should probably do it myself,¡± Lindsey said, holding his arm and looking up at him shyly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be very gentle. ¡± Domenic turned on the hair dryer, carefully drying her hair. His touch was soft, and he adjusted the dryer¡¯s speed and temperature perfectly. Lindsey peeked at his focused face, feeling a warmth spread through her heart. As a child, her mother used to dry her hair after showers, a memory from long ago. No one had cared for her like this since her mother¡¯s departure. Domenic was the first person in years to dry her hair for her. In that moment, Lindsey felt fortunate that the man she encountered that night was him. She was grateful he had found her and remained by her side. Early in the morning, the gentle sunlight bathed the two of them asleep in bed. Lindsey¡¯s eyshes fluttered as she gently opened her eyes. Domenic¡¯s handsome face appeared in her sight. He breathed evenly and slowly with his eyes closed. Typically, by the time Lindsey woke up, Domenic was either busy making breakfast or had already left. This was her first time seeing him sleep so soundly. The business trip must have left him quite tired. Not wanting to disturb his slumber, Lindsey cautiously slid out from under the covers and out of the bed. She quietly opened the door and stepped outside. Domenic was the usual cook. Today, having risen early, she decided it was her turn to prepare breakfast.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Entering the kitchen, Lindsey opened the fridge and grabbed two eggs. Actually, cooking was not her forte. Ever since her mother¡¯s departure, she had been left to fend for herself food-wise. Her father, absorbed in his work, would simply give her money each month, leaving her to eat outside. As a child, she often settled for snacks, and as she grew older, she frequented restaurants or relied on takeout. At first, Lindsey liked the freedom to eat whatever she wished, without anyonementing on her diet. Yet, over time, she found herself longing for her mother¡¯s home-cooked meals and thefort of her mother¡¯s gentle nagging. It was only then that she realized the joy of having someone care about her. Lindsey nced at the fried egg recipe on her phone and found it to be quite simple. With confidence, she began to cook the eggs. Meanwhile, Domenic woke up after Lindsey had left the bed. He ran a hand through his hair, looking around the empty room. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand to check the time. Chapter 281 A look of disbelief appeared in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe that he would oversleep one day. It had been ages since he had slept so soundly. Busy with endless tasks, he was used to getting by on minimal sleep, often waking up around four or five in the morning. But today, he actually slept till seven o¡¯clock. He hadn¡¯t had such a restful sleep in a long time. Was it because he shared the bed with Lindsey? With a slight smile, Domenic got out of bed and walked to the living room, only to see Lindsey in the kitchen wearing an apron, seemingly preparing breakfast.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. But there was a smell of something burning. Domenic hurried over, concerned, calling out, ¡°Linds. ¡± Lindsey anxiously watched as the eggs in the pan were close to burning. Suddenly, a voice from behind startled her. In her surprise, she identally touched the hot pan¡¯s edge and let out a painful groan as her finger got scalded. Domenic rushed to her, quickly taking her burned finger into his mouth for relief. ¡°You-¡± Lindsey stammered, blushing as she saw her finger in his mouth. Domenic promptly shut off the stove. The kitchen, now filled with smoke, caused Lindsey to cough uncontrobly. He guided her to the Living room sofa, urging her to sit. Then, he retrieved the first-aid kit, selecting an ointment for burns. Sitting beside her, he gently blew on the burn as he carefully applied the ointment. ¡°Why weren¡¯t you more careful?¡± Domenic asked, his concern evident as he examined the blisters on her finger. Lindsey, feeling guilty, looked down and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯ve always made breakfast for me, so I wanted to do the same for you. But- I¡¯ve never really cooked before. I thought it would be simple, but I ended up causing chaos in your kitchen-¡° Looking up, Domenic noticed Lindsey lowering her head, her pink Lips pursed as though she felt she had done something wrong. He gently stroked her hair, saying, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll handle the cooking. You don¡¯t need to do anything you¡¯re notfortable with for me. I¡¯ll always protect you when I¡¯m here. Just make sure to take care of yourself and avoid getting hurt when I¡¯m not around. ¡± His tone was soft and affectionate, which lifted Lindsey¡¯s spirits and added a touch of sweetness to her otherwise gloomy mood. ¡°Alright, I understand. ¡± She nodded in agreement, then instinctively nced at the clock on the Living room wall and abruptly stood up from the sofa. ¡°I¡¯m runningte for work, and the kitchen¡­¡± She looked back at the mess she had created. ¡°Go ahead. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll sort out the kitchen,¡± Domenic reassured her gently after bandaging her finger. Lindsey felt a bit guilty, but there really was no time to lose. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to trouble you. ¡± Rushing back to her room, she quickly changed into her work clothes, grabbed her bag, and hurried out. Once she left, Domenic called Hendrix, instructing him to have someone clean the kitchen. Chapter 282 Lindsey, pressed for time, took a taxi to her workce. On the way, she received a call from Sh. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s this about you and Sumner trending on Twitter?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey was a bit confused. She quickly opened Twitter and found her name topping the trending list. A blogger imed Lindsey¡¯s boldness in her bet with Jayleen was due to a romantic link with Vincent¡¯s godson. Allegedly, Vincent wanted Lindsey as his godson¡¯s girlfriend, leading him to secretly favor her and choose Sh for the lead role in histest movie.From N?velDrama.Org. In addition, several photos of Lindsey and Sumner were also attached. These included pictures of them dancing at a party and dining together. The most sensational was a photo of Lindsey caught between Sumner and Domenic in a club¡¯s private room the previous night. But in this photo, only Domenic¡¯s back and part of his face were visible. This rumor was strategically released early in the morning, giving Lindsey no chance to respond in time. Upon hearing the news, Kristy¡¯s fansunched a counterattack online. Thements on the trending topic were quite Lively. ¡°Looks like Lindsey was involved with Vincent¡¯s godson. That exins her overconfidence. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that Kristy, despite her talent, was overshadowed by Lindsey, who had connections. ¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Vincent always im he doesn¡¯t use connections for casting?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just for show. He¡¯s got a double standard when ites to his family. ¡± ¡°Reject the underhanded deals. Reject the rise of those with connections. We insist on fairpetition. If not, we¡¯ll boycott all of Vincent¡¯s movies. ¡± On the other hand, the rest of the poprments were unrted to the main topic and seemed to be from a different discussion altogether. Lindsey found herself bewildered¡­ ¡°The godson of Vincent is quite attractive, but the other guy seems even more charming. ¡± ¡°Even though the other man revealed just a bit of his face, his appearance from behind alone suggests he¡¯s more attractive than many actors. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fallen for him. If anyone knows him, please message me. ¡± ¡°Lindsey is setting an example for women everywhere. She¡¯s got two good-looking guys under her charm. After she presented evidence against Jayleen at the dinner, my respect for her has only grown. ¡± Following Vincent¡¯s dinner party, Lindsey¡¯s poprity soared, and her social media ount saw a surge of 2 million new followers. Numerous inte users were captivated by her intelligence,posure, and perceptiveness during the event. Now, Sh seemed influenced by these positive remarks. She cheerfully questioned Lindsey, ¡°What¡¯s happening with you and Sumner? Chapter 283 And who¡¯s that other guy in the photo?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Sh, shouldn¡¯t we focus on clearing up these rumors?¡± Lindsey replied. But Sh responded, ¡°You once said that what¡¯s true can¡¯t be false, and what¡¯s false can¡¯t be true. I¡¯m more curious about your happiness now. ¡± After a brief pause, Lindsey said, ¡°I need to head to work now. I¡¯m going to hang up. I¡¯ll sort out this situation with Sumner. ¡± Once she ended the call, Lindsey realized Jayleen¡¯s intentions from the night before. Jayleen was trying to smear her image using her association with Sumner, aiming to sway public opinion against Vincent. Vincent¡¯s reputation in the industry stemmed from his unwaveringmitment to fairness and thoroughness in his actions. He harbored a strong aversion to casting decisions influenced by connections or wealth. Vincent, known for his principles, wouldn¡¯t sit by and do nothing about it¡­ Upon reaching her workce, Lindsey immediately sensed the cold res from some of her colleagues as she walked into the department. Those who had issues with her previously seized the chance to make sarcastic remarks. Additionally, there were a few who, under Jayleen¡¯s discreet encouragement, aimed to deliberately stir up negative sentiments. ¡°I overheard from HR that Sumner applied to be a singer here and requested Lindsey as his agent. Seems they¡¯ve been connected for a while. ¡± ¡°Some just use their romantic ties to advance their careers. It¡¯s clear that some habits never change. ¡± ¡°And then there are those who fawn over andpliment people like her. It¡¯s a sad reflection of how public values are declining more and more each day. ¡± After the dinner, Jayleen¡¯s educational background was inadvertently revealed, leading some employees in the department to express support for Lindsey. ¡°It appears Lindsey and Mr. Lopez¡¯s godson did nothing untoward. Perhaps that man is indulging in wishful thinking. In the photo, Lindsey seems closer to another man.From N?velDrama.Org. Could he be her boyfriend?¡± Lindsey paid no heed to the gossip and proceeded straight to her office. Upon opening the door, her colleagues eximed in surprise, ¡°Look, Mercer¡¯s biggest fan is publicly siding with Lindsey!¡± Frowning, Lindsey entered her office and closed the door, swiftly opening her Twitter ount. In the trending topic about her, an ount named MercerFanati was defending Lindsey against theizens. Oneizen remarked, ¡°Lindsey has a seductive face, clearly meant for captivating men. ¡± MercerFanatic retorted, ¡°If youck a mirror at home, at least find something that can reflect your face! Take a good look at yourself. If a seductress can captivate a man, why can¡¯t you? Are you really that unattractive?¡± Anotherizenmented, ¡°Maybe Lindsey is just good in bed and relies on men¡¯s connections. ¡± MercerFanatic countered, ¡°Perhaps you should reflect on why the powerful ones aren¡¯t sleeping with you. Is it because you¡¯re unattractive andzy?¡± Chapter 284 The third person inquired, ¡°Is the other man Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend? If she has a boyfriend and is still involved with another man, then she is truly a bitch!¡± MercerFanatic shot back, ¡°Shut your mouth. Do you have nothing better to do in your own life?¡± After reading thesements, Lindsey was mused. The ount¡¯s name reminded her of someone¡ª Nancy. She quickly dialed Nancy¡¯s number. ¡°Hello, inte celebrity. Do you still have time to call me?¡± Nancy¡¯s yful tone resonated through the phone. ¡°Nancy, isn¡¯t it inappropriate for you toe to my defense against the haters using the biggest fan ount of Mercer?¡± ¡°What? How did you figure it out so soon?¡± Nancy asked, surprised. Lindsey sighed; it was so easy to uncover Nancy¡¯s secret. ¡°But when did you be Mercer¡¯s biggest fan?¡± ¡°Undoubtedly, it¡¯s the privilege of wealth. Money, as they say, makes the mare go!¡± Nancy proimed proudly. ¡°Have you spoken to Mercer?¡± ¡°Even better, I¡¯ve got his number!¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Really?¡± While she knew celebrities in the entertainment world often interacted closely with their most influential fans, witnessing it firsthand was still astonishing. ¡°Why would I deceive you? In fact, I sought Mercer¡¯s approval for what transpired today. If you don¡¯t believe me, take a look¡­¡± Nancy then shared a screenshot of their conversation. ¡°Mr. Aston, my dearest friend Lindsey has recently faced unwarranted criticism on the inte. I want to support her. Are you okay with it?¡± ¡°Feel free to proceed as you wish. ¡± Staring at the screenshot, Lindsey was momentarily at a loss for words. Mercer likely knew that if his influential fans shed with others, it would drag him into the fray. But what made him agree? ¡°Mercer¡¯s approval means he¡¯s aware of recent events and supports you. Lindsey, don¡¯t worry. Move forward boldly. With his fans¡¯ assistance, we won¡¯t let public opinion sway against you!¡± Lindsey felt a warmth in her heart, realizing her best friend had been silently caring for and supporting her. This lifted her spirits and doubled her confidence. Chapter 285 ¡°Thank you so much, Nancy. ¡± ¡°Lindsey! Don¡¯t forget I¡¯m your BBF! I didn¡¯t do it for your gratitude, but out of my genuine love and concern for you. ¡± Nancy shouted dramatically over the phone. Hearing this, Lindsey burst intoughter. ¡°But, Lindsey¡­¡± Nancy grinned. ¡°Who¡¯s the other man in the photo? What¡¯s your rtionship with him? Is he your boyfriend?¡± Lindsey felt there was no need to hide her rtionship with Domenic from her best friend. As she was about to admit it, she heard a joyful exmation from Nancy. ¡°Lindsey, look! Mr. Lopez just tweeted!¡± Vincent rarely graced Twitter with his presence, reserving his tweets for moments aligned with his movie promotions. If he was tweeting now, it was probably about today¡¯s events. Lindsey felt a flutter in her heart. Hastily, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll check things out. Bye. ¡± After concluding the phone call, Lindsey swiftly turned to her Twitter ount, where she found a lengthy post from Vincent, a rarity in itself. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Vincent Lopez. I want to express my gratitude for the attention my new movie has receivedtely.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. I strongly believe in the freedom of young people to love and find suitable partners. However, a wave of negative rumors has flooded the inte, with some people wrongly linking them to the casting of the female lead in my uing movie. I¡¯m here to rify things. The casting of my film is not directly tied to anyone or anything. To dispel any misunderstandings, I¡¯ve decided to hold an open audition and webcast it in a week. This time, I¡¯m putting the choice in the hands of the audience to select the leading actress they prefer. Thank you for your attention. Once again, I¡¯m grateful for supporting my new movie. ¡± The moment this post hit the inte, it triggered a massive uproar, dominating the hot searches. This ignited fervent discussions. ¡°Did Vincent just indirectly confirm Lindsey¡¯s rtionship with his godson?¡± ¡°Furthermore, to dispel any lingering doubts about the connection between the movie casting and the rumored rtionship, he has taken the extraordinary step of having the two Best Actress winners perform together in a public setting. This marks a remarkable urrence in the entire history of film development. ¡± ¡°This is ssic Vincent. He¡¯s always been principled. If it were someone else, they would have promptly refuted the rumor. Vincent¡¯s unexpected stance, gracefully acknowledging the rtionship between the two, is a testament to his surprising steadfastness. ¡± Chapter 286 ¡°But what did Lindsey do to deserve this? Vincent not only acknowledges her, but he¡¯s willing to ept her as his godson¡¯s girlfriend. ¡± ¡°Lindsey is beautiful, intelligent, and capable. I¡¯m already a fan, regardless. ¡± Reading thements under Vincent¡¯s tweet left Lindsey momentarily speechless. She was surprised that Vincent didn¡¯t just deny her rtionship with Sumner but actually admitted it indirectly. What was more, he decided to clear the air by holding auditions for two publicly. She had contemted rifying her rtionship with Sumner, but doing so now would feel like a rebuke to Vincent. Overwhelmed, Lindsey rubbed her temples and switched off her phone, resolving to set the matter aside for the time being. Now, her priority was heading to Sh to strategize on how Sh could secure sess in the audition within the next week. Sh hadn¡¯t been in the acting scene for the past five years. Lindsey was concerned about how Sh would get back into top form within the next week. Putting her work on hold, Lindsey left the office. On the street, she hailed a taxi. Unexpectedly, a blue sedan pulled up beside her, and Sumner looked at her with a smile as he rolled down the window. Seeing Sumner, Lindsey was momentarily taken aback. Summer¡¯s radiant smile greeted her. ¡°Lindsey, are you going out?¡± Lindsey affirmed with a nod. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s something I need to attend to. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m free today. Hop in, and I¡¯ll drop you off. ¡± Sumner waved, gesturing for Lindsey to join him in the car. Aware that the recent rumors about her and Sumner still dominated the headlines, Lindsey politely declined, ¡°Thank you, Sumner, but I¡¯m good. I can easily catch a taxi. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s rush hour; getting a taxi won¡¯t be a walk in the park. ¡± The moment Sumner concluded his sentence, he caught sight, from the corner of his eye, of a group of people crowding around the entrance of Vitality Entertainment. ¡°Reporters. They are probably here for you. Hurry, get in the car. ¡± Seeing the reporters, Sumner urged Lindsey to enter the car swiftly. Lindsey nced back at the building behind her. True to her expectations, a swarm of reporters surrounded the gate. She could faintly hear her name being mentioned, but the unexpected arrival of reporters at thepany for gossip caught her off guard. The prospect of being seen by the reporters filled Lindsey with dread, realizing it could unravel her carefully nned day. Without second thoughts, Lindsey opened the car door and hopped in. With swift determination, Sumner ignited the car¡¯s engine and steered away. Once clear of the reporters, Lindsey let out a sigh of relief.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. She nced at Sumner,fortably settled in the driver¡¯s seat, d in a creamy white casual shirt and a stylish coffee-colored overcoat. Chapter 287 Once Lindsey conveyed her destination to Sumner, a quiet lull settled between them, punctuated only by the subtle hum of the car¡¯s engine. In the aftermath of the events from the previous night and the ongoing online gossip, Lindsey was momentarily at a loss for words in Sumner¡¯spany. Seated in the passenger seat, she nervously pinched her fingers, casting an air of awkwardness over the atmosphere. Just then, the car stopped in front of a red traffic light. ¡°By the way. ¡± Unexpectedly, Sumner retrieved a bunch of flowers from his side and extended it towards Lindsey, a soft smile gracing his lips. ¡°I spotted these on the way and thought they¡¯d suit you, so I bought them. ¡± ¡°Sunflowers?¡± Lindsey gazed at the vibrant bouquet, their golden petals radiating with a glow of sunshine and vitality. Sumner gazed at Lindsey with tenderness. ¡°Despite the challenges, the sunflower remains tenacious and resilient, always facing the sun, patiently awaiting its moment to bloom. Just Like you¡­¡± Unspoken words hung in the air. Interpreting Sumner¡¯s gesture as encouragement, Lindsey epted the bouquet with gratitude, aposed expression in her eyes. ¡°Jayleen resorted to all those underhanded tricks to ensure my defeat and eviction from Vitality Entertainment. Sumner, I apologize for getting you involved in this mess. I¡¯ll address the rumors as soon as possible. Thank you for your encouragement. I won¡¯t disappoint you. ¡± Observing the sincerity in Lindsey¡¯s bright eyes, Sumner paused and swallowed before continuing, ¡°Actually, I¡­¡± As the traffic light switched from red to green, Sumner turned his attention back to the road and continued driving. He shifted the conversation. ¡°By the way, did that guy cause you any troublest night?¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks warmed with a blush as she thought about her encounter with Domenic the previous evening. She brushed her long hair behind her ear and replied softly, ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Sumner said, stealing a nce at Lindsey. He noticed a sweet smile flicker across her face at the mention of the man, and he felt a twinge of something unspoken, something he had held back for too long. In the end, he could only offer a rueful smile, reflecting a silent adoration, much like the symbolism tied to the sunflowers. In the office building of Walsh Group, Domenic was immersed in his work. Having returned from a lengthy business trip, there was a pile of decisions waiting for his attention. Hendrix entered the office, a file tucked under his arm.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Heid the file on Domenic¡¯s desk, his gaze inadvertently drawn to his boss¡¯s striking features, thoughts of the morning¡¯s trending topic swirling in his head. The photo from Flourish Club¡¯s private room had featured another man alongside Sumner, and Hendrix was certain it was Domenic. It was out of character for Domenic, known for his cool and unyielding demeanor, to step into a club for a woman¡¯s sake. Noticing Hendrix¡¯s stare, Domenic inquired without looking up, his pen steadily correcting a document, ¡°Is there something on my face?¡± Snapped from his reverie, Hendrix averted his gaze immediately. ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing. I mean, I Hendrix hesitated, wanting to speak, then paused. Sensing his reluctance, Domenic shot him a look. ¡°Spit it out if you¡¯ve got something on your mind. ¡± ¡°Do you want me to handle the online buzz about that photo? I mean, after all¡­¡± ¡°You believe I¡¯m the one in that photo, don¡¯t you?¡± Domenic set his pen aside and faced Hendrix directly. Chapter 288 ¡°I might be mistaken. Hendrix quickly backpedaled, regretting he¡¯d brought it up. ¡°You¡¯re not mistaken,¡± Domenic said with a slight smile. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m in that photo. Tell me, Hendrix, how long have you been with me?¡± Caught off guard by the question, Hendrix blurted out, ¡°Over 10 years. ¡± ¡°Over a decade by my side, you¡¯d recognize me instantly,¡± Domenic acknowledged with a nod. Hendrix sensed a softness in Domenic today. The usual icy stare was gone, his expression milder. Was his boss in such a good mood for a reason? ¡°Thanks for all these years,¡± Domenic suddenly expressed, catching Hendrix¡¯s gaze. Hendrix¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Rarely had he heard Domenic speak kindly. Surely this spelled trouble. He probably overstepped, and now his job was on the Line! ¡°Boss, I¡­ I apologize! Please, don¡¯t let me go! I won¡¯t tell anyone about the photo! Just give me another chance!¡± he pleaded. Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°What are you rambling about? I¡¯m not firing you. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°What? Re¡­ Really?¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Hendrix was still shaken, but when he snuck a look at Domenic, his boss didn¡¯t look mad. ¡°I¡¯m serious. ¡± Something clicked in Domenic¡¯s head, and a slight grin touched his lips. His gaze, lit by the gentle sunlight streaming through the window behind Hendrix, seemed to soften. ¡°You know, twelve years back, I was just sixteen. ¡± ¡°Right. ¡± Domenic¡¯s reminiscing pulled Hendrix back to those old days. ¡°The first time we met, I was the kid who got tossed into the sea and you were there, pulling me out. You didn¡¯t just save me, you gave me a home. I¡¯ve been by your side ever since. ¡± To Hendrix, Domenic was more than a boss. He was a hero. Back then, a sixteen-year-old Domenic had single-handedly fought off a bunch of older guys to rescue Hendrix. Domenic was a force to be reckoned with, his presence alone was intimidating, and when he dealt with those thugs, his eyes were void of pity. Hendrix saw him as a gangster, only to find outter that Domenic was the heir to a financial empire, the Walsh family, rulers of one of Morcastle¡¯s most influential families. Hendrix could never forget their second encounter, when Domenic had told him, ¡°I saved you, and now you owe me. You¡¯re gonna stick by me and pay me back with undying loyalty, got it?¡± Without hesitation, Hendrix had agreed, ¡°Absolutely, sir. I¡¯d rather meet a terrible end than ever cross you. ¡± Remembering those times seemed to bring a smile to both their faces. ¡°Hendrix. Domenic¡¯smanding tone snapped Hendrix back to the present. ¡°My uncles are getting antsy. Put together some peace offerings for them. And make sure they don¡¯t step out of line. ¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll take care of it now. ¡± A shadow fell over Hendrix¡¯s face. ¡°And leave the Twitter drama to me. I¡¯ve got a n. ¡± With that, Domenic returned to his paperwork. Chapter 289 ¡°Alright,¡± Hendrix responded and took his leave. Not long after, Domenic¡¯s phone buzzed. He answered the call. ¡°sir, Lindsey¡¯s with Sumner. They just headed to Sh¡¯s ce. ¡± Domenic stumbled upon Vincent¡¯s recent post. He clicked on the photos of Lindsey and Sumner from a trending topic earlier. In one photo, Lindsey wore a pink evening gown with peach blossoms encircling her waist, looking elegant. The peach blossoms, with their vibrant buds, added to her gentle appearance. Lindsey, her waist encircled by Sumner¡¯s arm, was turned slightly to the side. Sumner¡¯s gaze was intensely fixed on her side face. Their bodies were closely pressed against each other, creating an intimate appearance. Another photo captured Lindsey and Sumner enjoying dinner together. Lindsey¡¯s expression towards Sumner was filled with gentleness¡­ Holding his phone firmly, Domenic couldn¡¯t shake off a growing difort as he continued to gaze at the photos. He massaged his forehead and leaned back in his chair, trying to process his feelings. * After saying goodbye to Sumner, Lindsey walked into the apartment rented by Sh. The apartment¡¯s secluded location was chosen both to evade the paparazzi and as a precaution against Andrew¡¯s subordinates locating Sh. Sh was restless until the verdict in Andrew¡¯s case was announced. The case between the two was still in the midst of the legal process, and it wouldn¡¯t end anytime soon. Only Lindsey knew where Sh was staying. Lindsey pressed the doorbell, and soon, Sh opened the door from inside. She was dressed in a light blue silk nightdress, smiling warmly and beautifully. ¡°Come in, Linds,¡± Sh invited, noticing the sunflowers in Lindsey¡¯s hands. ¡°Oh, these flowers¡­¡± Lindsey hesitated, thinking if she revealed that Sumner had sent the flowers, Sh might start gossiping. To avoid any confusion, Lindsey decided to gift the flowers to Sh. ¡°Here, Sh, these sunflowers are for you. May they bring endless positivity to your life. ¡± ¡°Thanks, Linds. I really love them. ¡± Sh epted the flowers, cing them in a vase in the living room. Lindsey stepped into the living room, her eyes gleaming with admiration. The apartment was impably clean and tidy.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The tiled floor sparkled, and the table was spotless. Everything was arranged perfectly. Chapter 290 Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Your apartment is so well-kept, Sh. Your housekeeper must be very skilled. ¡± ¡°I usually handle the housecleaning myself. The housekeeper mainly looks after the child when I¡¯m not around,¡± Sh exined as she prepared juice for Lindsey. Lindsey was genuinely surprised. Sh, once a famous star who married Andrew, seemed like someone who wouldn¡¯t need to do household chores herself. ¡°The housekeeper didn¡¯t do the cleaning?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sh, handing Lindsey a ss of juice, said, ¡°I prefer doing it myself. I¡¯m notfortable with others cleaning my house. In the past, the housekeeper woulde in to clean only when I was extremely busy. ¡± ¡°Sh, you really impress me. . Lindsey had always thought that celebrities like Sh were high-maintenance and left all the household chores to their servants. She never expected Sh to be so down-to-earth and hands-on with her housework. With a smile, Sh invited Lindsey to sit on the sofa. ¡°Linds, I saw Vincent¡¯s post. ¡± ¡°Do you feel confident about it?¡± Lindsey asked, looking directly into Sh¡¯s eyes. Sh looked down, intertwining her fingers thoughtfully. ¡°To be honest¡­ I don¡¯t feel confident at all. ¡± Lindsey ced her hand over Sh¡¯s cool fingers, reassuring her, ¡°Sh, I understand. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll help you get ready and ace that audition. You need to believe in both of us. ¡± Lindsey sensed the hidden doubts andck of self-confidence in Sh. The movie¡¯s production was still some time away, giving Sh a chance to gradually get ready. However, she now faced the challenge of an online open audition in just a week. Facing a national audience in such a short time was daunting.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Anyone would feel nervous and hesitant in this situation, especially Sh, who hadn¡¯t acted for five years and had been through much turmoil. But Lindsey had faith in Sh. She had seen all of Sh¡¯s movies and interviews. Sh wasn¡¯t just talented and charismatic; she was incredibly hardworking, more so than many others. Five years back, Sh would stay upte, poring over scripts. She always did her own stunts, never using a body double. During her peak poprity, she rarely appeared on variety shows to maintain her focus on acting. In every fashion show and advertisement for global brands, Sh¡¯s coboration and professionalism were outstanding. Her skills were beyond question. Beneath the surface of all that mour and fame, she possessed a genuine, humble nature that was unrivaled. Sh looked up at Lindsey, who was sitting beside her. Lindsey had once rescued her from a dire situation. Like a beacon in the dark, Lindsey guided Sh towards hope in her darkest hours. Even when Sh doubted herself, Lindsey¡¯s faith in her never wavered. And so¡­ Tears shimmered in Sh¡¯s eyes as she gave a firm nod. ¡°Okay. ¡± Watching Sh resolve herself, Lindsey¡¯s face lit up with a smile of relief. They continued their conversation, only to be interrupted by the sound of a door opening behind them. Chapter 291 Lindsey and Sh simultaneously nced over their shoulders. A round head peeked out from a slightly open bedroom door. ¡°Mommy¡­ ¡° Sh gestured invitingly and called, ¡°Come here, ine. ¡± ine stepped out, dr@ped in a whitece nightdress. Herrge, round eyes blinked charmingly. Rising from the sofa, Lindsey observed the charming girl before her, instantly taking a liking to her. ¡°Sh, this is your daughter, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s adorable. ¡± ine halted a meter from Lindsey, a hint of wariness in her expression. ¡°Mommy, who is she?¡± Sh approached and crouched beside ine, speaking gently, ¡°This is a dear friend of mine.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. You can call her Aunt Lindsey. ¡± Then, turning to Lindsey, Sh introduced, ¡°Linds, meet my daughter, ine. ¡± Lindsey hastened over, crouching before the girl. She extended her hand with a smile, saying, ¡°Hello, ine. ¡± ine gazed at Lindsey, her big eyes curious. Suddenly, ine lunged at Lindsey, gripping and biting her arm fiercely. Lindsey winced in pain. Sh sprang up, swiftly pulling ine away, and eximed, ¡°What are you doing, ine?¡± Tears streamed down ine¡¯s cheeks. ¡°She¡¯s a bad person! I don¡¯t want bad people in our home. ¡± ¡°What do you mean, ine? Lindsey is a friend, she¡¯s not bad at all. ¡± Sh, anxious, struggled to calm the situation. ine¡¯s wails grew louder. ¡°She¡¯ll make Mommy leave me. She¡¯s mean. I want her to leave; I don¡¯t want her here. ¡± Lindsey gazed at the weeping ine, feeling a pang of sympathy. In the past five years, with Sh imprisoned by Andrew, ine must have endured a lot of pain. Maybe witnessing too much cruelty and violence made her so cautious around strangers and deeply dependent on her mother. Letting out a soft sigh, Lindsey rose to her feet, saying, ¡°Sh, take care of ine. My presence here seems to upset her more. I should go now. ¡± Cradling ine, Sh nced at the teeth marks on Lindsey¡¯s arm and expressed concern, ¡°Linds, your arm¡­¡± Lindsey brushed it off with an easy smile, ¡°Oh, it was just a little nip. It doesn¡¯t hurt. ¡± Chapter 292 Sh, clearly embarrassed, apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, ine is¡­ I might have spoiled her too much. ¡± Lindsey shook her head reassuringly, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sh. Don¡¯t worry about it. ¡± Lindsey then waved at ine with a kind smile. ¡°ine, I¡¯m not here to harm. Please don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯ll be off now. Next time, I¡¯ll bring you some tasty treats and toys, okay?¡± Tucked in Sh¡¯s embrace, ine sniffled and sneaked a peek at Lindsey with her big eyes. Lindsey offered a smile and made her exit, gently closing the door behind her. Once outside Sh¡¯s apartment, Lindsey nned to discuss her situation with Sumner with Vincent. Arriving at Vincent¡¯spany, Lindsey was halted by the receptionist. ¡°Apologies, Miss Stewart. Vincent has decided not to meet you and Miss Potter before the public audition to avoid any suspicion. ¡± ¡°And Jayleen and Kristy?¡± inquired Lindsey. The receptionist replied, ¡°He¡¯s not meeting them either. ¡± Lindsey got the point. Vincent¡¯s decision to avoid contact was to ensure a transparent and fair audition process, preventing any hot topic for public gossip or controversy. Understandable as it was, Lindsey still pondered her situation with Sumner¡­ After a moment¡¯s thought, Lindsey dialed Vincent¡¯s number. Soon, Vincent answered. ¡°Hi, Lindsey. What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Mr. Lopez, I saw your post. No worries, Sh will surely ace the audition in a week. ¡± ¡°I have faith in her, that¡¯s why I made this choice. As long as you understand,¡± Vincent responded warmly yet earnestly. ¡°Well¡­ Lindsey inhaled deeply, then spoke up, ¡°Actually, Sumner and I¡­ Vincent interjected, ¡°Oh, that was just my take on Twitter. You¡¯re adults; make your own choices. I don¡¯t interfere. But Lindsey, you¡¯re young and new to the workforce. Be cautious; don¡¯t be swayed easily by sweet talk. Choosing a partner is a life-altering decision. Be sensible. I can¡¯t speak for others, but I¡¯ve seen Sumner grow. He¡¯s intelligent, kind-hearted, passionate, and genuine. Much like you, he¡¯s one of the good ones. ¡± ¡°Got it. Thanks for the advice. ¡± With that, Lindsey ended the call. She exhaled, feeling relieved yet pressured. It seemed even Vincent, like many elders, was keen on ying matchmaker. Meanwhile, Vincent pocketed his phone. Paige approached, inquiring, ¡°How did it go? What did Lindsey say?¡± Vincent sighed as he observed Paige¡¯s anxious expression. ¡°Sumner has fallen into an unrequited love with Lindsey.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡± Paige, unreconciled, retorted, ¡°I don¡¯t believe Lindsey could find a better match than Sumner. I¡¯m certain she¡¯ll be his girlfriend. I won¡¯t easily give her to anyone else. ¡± Chapter 293 Having been in the entertainment circle with Vincent for a considerable time, Paige had encountered various types of women. Yet, Lindsey stood out-smart, direct, resolute, and modest-a uniquebination that struck a chord with Paige. Paige¡¯s trust in her judgment of people was unwavering. Sumner was the only one deserving of such a wonderfuldy. Paige wouldn¡¯t allow any other men to snatch Lindsey away. Witnessing Paige¡¯s determination, Vincent shook his head in helplessness. He also held Lindsey in high regard but understood that love couldn¡¯t bepelled. Nevertheless, his wife was resolute; once she set her mind on something, no persuasion could divert her course. ¡®s BunnyBookery * As the afternoon signaled the end of Lindsey¡¯s workday, her phone buzzed persistently. Amidst her office tasks, she stole a nce at the vibrant screen, breaking into a smile as she recognized the caller. ¡°Hello,¡± Lindsey greeted as she picked up the phone, her voice carrying its familiar sweetness to Domenic¡¯s ears. ¡°You¡¯re almost off duty, right? I¡¯ll pick you upter. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears flushed red upon hearing his voice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you busy today? You actually had time toe and pick me up?¡± Having shared the same roof with Domenic for an extensive period, she assumed his perpetual busyness, with his early departures andte returns being the norm. ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± Domenic responded in anguid tone, a smile creeping onto his face. ¡°But my schedule can¡¯t outweigh something as significant as fetching my girlfriend from work. ¡± Lindsey erupted intoughter. ¡°It¡¯s just a trifle. ¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a big deal,¡± Domenic asserted, his initiallyzy tone taking a more serious turn. ¡°If I don¡¯t fetch you, what if someone else gets there first?¡± Momentarily stunned, Lindsey soon realized that today, Domenic might have stumbled upon the trending news about her and Sumner, and the post posted by Vincent¡­ Softly, she replied, ¡°Even if such a situation arises, I wouldn¡¯t go with anyone else. I¡¯ll only wait for you. ¡± Domenic leaned back against his leather office chair, massaging between his eyebrows. A day of relentless work had left his mind in disarray. However, upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s voice through the receiver, he felt an instant surge of rejuvenation. Springing up swiftly, one hand gripping the phone and the other snatching his coat from the chair, he hastened out. ¡°Wait for me.From N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯ll be right there. ¡± As Lindseypleted her tasks, she stole a nce at her watch-it was past closing time. Anticipating Domenic¡¯s arrival, she swiftly gathered her belongings and dashed out of thepany building. In the embrace of the setting sun, Domenic leaned against the railing outside the building, his gaze fixated on the glowing screen of his phone. The gentle radiance added a softness to his handsome features. Chapter 294 Quietly approaching, Lindsey covered his eyes from behind and spoke in a muffled tone, ¡°Guess who I am. ¡± Pocketing his phone, Domenic straightened up, his eyes crinkling with affectionate amusement. ¡°Uh¡­ I suppose you¡¯re a clever, beautiful Vitality Entertainment agent who sounds remarkably like my girlfriend. ¡± With a burst ofughter, Lindsey released her hold, turning to face him with a bright smile. ¡°You¡¯re quite skilled at ttery. You must have waited for quite a while. Sorry, I had to work a bit overtime. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s sweet, gentle voice reached Domenic¡¯s ears.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. He tenderly sped her hand and smiled affectionately. ¡°It¡¯s only natural for a man to wait for his woman. There¡¯s no need for apologies. Let¡¯s head home. ¡± Taking her hand, he led her to the roadside. As he moved to hail a cab, Lindsey halted him. Blinking her clear eyes, she suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s catch a bus. It¡¯s just two stops away. Taking a taxi isn¡¯t cost-effective. ¡± Domenic frowned slightly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired after a full day¡¯s work?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired,¡± Lindsey replied with a smile, gesturing toward the bus stop. ¡°And isn¡¯t it romantic to ride the bus with someone you like, cozy up, and watch the vibrant night scene?¡± Gazing at her lovely face with tender eyes, Domenic softened his smile. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s take a bus. ¡± Hand in hand, the two strolled to the bus stop, and soon enough, the bus arrived. With one hand securing her waist, Domenic guided Lindsey onto the bus. At that moment, a blue sedan pulled up by the station. Sumner¡¯s eyes turned icy as he watched the bus depart. Lindsey was with that man? Last night, she imed to have no ties with him. Why did they appear so intimate today? What had transpired between themst night? Sumner clenched the steering wheel in frustration. The bus wasn¡¯t crowded since it wasn¡¯t rush hour. Lindsey and Domenic took seats next to each other. As dusk settled in, streetlights flickered on one by one, bathing the city in a neon glow. Lindsey watched the bright night scene outside, leaning her head on Domenic¡¯s wide shoulder. He grasped her hand, his chin resting Lightly on her hair. Domenic stared out at the passing view, a wave of calm washing over him. He remembered how, years ago, his parents would cuddle close, holding hands, while he scampered around them, always met with their warm smiles. Butter, why would they¡­ Chapter 295 A sudden headache hit Domenic, and he massaged his temples. ¡°Are you alright? Have you been working too hard?¡± Lindsey sat straight, her face etched with concern.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Domenic had been run down from overwork. Other thanst night, when he¡¯d slept soundly with Lindsey in his arms, he¡¯d been swamped, barely managing three to four hours of sleep each night. He pulled Lindsey close, a yful smirk on his face, and murmured, ¡°Worried about me? Maybe I should hold you a little longer tonight. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned pink as she gently pushed him back, her bright eyes squinting with mischief. ¡°Do you realize¡­ how you look right now?¡± Domenic lifted an eyebrow in question. Closing in, Lindsey spelled it out, ¡°Like a needy puppy!¡± Before she knew it, Domenic¡¯s hand was on the back of her head. He leaned in close, his gaze intense. ¡°Should I seal your lips now?¡± Lindsey immediately frowned and shook her head, understanding his implication. ¡°We¡¯re on the bus, not at our ce. Please, behave!¡± With a pout, Lindsey voiced herint. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll wait until we¡¯re home then. Domenic let out a softugh and tenderly squeezed Lindsey¡¯s cheek. Resting in his embrace, Lindsey gazed up at the charming man before her. She couldn¡¯t help but notice that Domenic was getting more yful by the day. Yet, she also saw that his smile was broadertely, which she took as a positive change. Once the bus reached the station, Domenic didn¡¯t let go of Lindsey¡¯s hand until they were home. No sooner had they shut the door than Domenic Lifted Lindsey, setting her on the shoe cab in the entryway, and moved in to ki*s her. Feeling his warmth, Lindsey blinked up at him, her eyes sparkling. ¡°Do you actually have a thing for this? Why do you always stop here at the entryway?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t Like it?¡± Domenic peered into her captivating eyes. ¡°Then where would you prefer? I¡¯m good with anywhere. ¡± Caught off guard, Lindsey¡¯s cheeks blushed noticeably. His words hinted at something she wasn¡¯t expecting¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s just¡­ head to the living room,¡± she managed to say, her words tumbling out awkwardly. Domenic¡¯s lips curled slightly as he lifted her from the cab, carrying her straight to the living room. He set her down on the plush sofa, his tall figure leaning over her, stealing her breath with the weight of his presence. His ki*s was fierce and urgent today, as if he was consumed by a hunger only she could satisfy. Lindsey, caught in the storm of his passion, had no choice but to yield. With one hand, she clutched at his cor, and with the other, she pushed against his firm chest. Chapter 296 ¡°Mr. Walsh!¡± she eximed, finding a moment to push him back and catch her breath. ¡°Please¡­ not so rough. I might not be able to handle it.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡± Domenic¡¯s chest rose and fell with rapid breaths from the intensity of their ki*s. He gazed down at Lindsey, taking in her cuteness and intelligence, a sight that always seemed to draw others to her. A desire to keep her hidden away, just for himself, surged within him. ¡°You can¡¯t handle it?¡± Domenic asked with a smile, his deep eyes fixed on her flushed face. He adored the way she would quickly turn rosy, her shyness and tenderness revealing the girlish charm that he found so irresistible. Lindsey bit her lip, hesitating. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ my period hasn¡¯t finished yet. ¡± Domenic¡¯s brow arched in a mix of confusion and curiosity. ¡°And that means?¡± ¡°Um¡­ Well¡­¡± She fidgeted, her cheeks warming even more, yet she kept her gaze locked with his. ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ it might be a bit ufortable if things get too intense. ¡± Domenic sat up, his hands gently pressing on her shoulders as he looked her over with concern. ¡°Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?¡± Her embarrassment grew under his worried gaze. She dropped her head, ying with her fingers. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I was trying to say. ¡± Domenic furrowed his brow, but soon he grasped the situation. He enveloped Lindsey in his arms and murmured in her ear, ¡°Are you thinking what I¡¯m thinking right now?¡± He yfully inquired, ¡°Hmm?¡± This caused Lindsey to feel as though her heart had melted. Shecked the strength to resist him. In frustration, Lindsey ced her hands on Domenic¡¯s chest and pushed him away. She pouted andined, ¡°I used to think you were decent. Why are you turning so mischievous now?¡± Squinting his eyes, Domenic gazed at the irked girl before him and chuckled. ¡°Do you prefer me to be serious like in the past or mischievous like now?¡± Lindsey realized she had set a trap for herself! Before she could answer, Domenic leaned in closer, his face inches from hers, locking onto her crystal-clear eyes. His breath wafted over her, hisughter carrying a touch of audacity. ¡°Or maybe you¡­ You love both sides of me?¡± ¡°Domenic!¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t argue with him on this matter. She kicked him and shot him a re, her face blushing. Gently grasping her wrist, Domenic decisively cradled her in his embrace. He buried his head in her sweet-smelling locks and tenderlyforted her in a soothing tone, saying, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stop teasing you. Let me hold you like this for a little while. ¡± Then he rested his head against her neck and rubbed a little. Chapter 297 Lindsey¡¯s racing heart found sce in this tender embrace. She extended her arms and hugged him. ¡°Are you¡­ Are you okay today?¡± Lindsey sensed that something was amiss today. Not only had he ki*sed her passionately, but he was also unusually clingy.From N?velDrama.Org. Domenic held her even closer as if he intended to merge her into his own body. ¡°Lindsey. ¡± His deep, soothing voice echoed softly in her ears. ¡°You belong to me¡­ From now on, stay away from those wicked men. ¡± Hearing his words, Lindsey understood that he must have seen today¡¯s trending topics. He was jealous! Lindsey sped him tightly with her dainty hands and exined, ¡°Someone intentionally smeared Sumner and me online, using our rtionship to create a scandal and make me lose the bet. Mr. Lopez¡¯s tweet was merely his thoughts. I was just as surprised when I saw it. And the dance I shared with Sumner at the dinner party waspletely innocent. Everyone was dancing, so there was nothing out of the ordinary. And the reason we dined that evening was¡­¡± ¡°Well, no need for more exnations. I understand. I¡¯m well aware. ¡± How could he not be aware of what she¡¯d said? It was precisely because he knew it all that he couldn¡¯t help but harbor doubts in his heart, a self-loathing feeling creeping in for Domenic. If he couldn¡¯t trust her, how could he envision spending the rest of his life alongside her? He¡¯d been holding back all day, containing both his yearning for her and the doubts clouding their rtionship. Ultimately, he found release through this dominant gesture. He wanted her to ki*s him more passionately and yearn for him more intensely. It appeared that only through this could he feel that she truly belonged to him and was exclusively his. Lindsey tenderly stroked his back and whispered, ¡°I adore you, and you¡¯re the only man I have feelings for. You are the best. So, please trust me more, alright?¡± Listening to her gentle reassurance and confession of love, along with her earnest plea, Domenic held her closer. He ki*sed the hair around her neck, trailing ki*ses up her neck and soft cheek. Finally, he pressed a gentle ki*s to her lips and then gazed into her eyes. He closed his eyes and dered, ¡°Of course. ¡± A delighted smile graced her face. Suddenly, she smirked and remarked, ¡°When you are jealous¡­ you are so adorable. ¡± He seemed taken aback by her words. He widened his eyes in surprise and then let out a chuckle. ¡°If you say such things, I can¡¯t resist doing something about it. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears turned crimson instantly and she pushed him away. ¡°Stop saying that. ¡± Amused by her reaction, Domenic stood up and regarded her. ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll cook today. What would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± After contemting for a moment, Lindsey replied, ¡°Anything is fine. I enjoy whatever you prepare. ¡± Chapter 298 Domenic leaned down and gently touched her nose. ¡°Miss Stewart, when did you be so sweet? But remember, you can only be sweet to me, not to others. ¡± ¡°You are so bossy!¡± Lindsey pressed her Lips together, yet her eyes continued to radiate a smile. With a smile, Domenic turned and headed into the kitchen. The following day, once Lindsey arrived at work, she immediately became engrossed in her tasks. At noon, just as she was about to submit a document, she overheard her colleagues chatting the moment she stepped out. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Kristy got her former instructor from Skiyton Film Academy to help with her acting. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Without you mentioning it, I would¡¯ve totally forgotten that Kristy is an alumna of Skiyton Film Academy. It¡¯s one of the top film schools globally! So many Hollywood stars are from there!¡± ¡°It makes sense why Vincent immediately cast her as the lead in his movie right after she finished school. She¡¯s definitely got what it takes for the role!¡± ¡°Sh doesn¡¯t have formal acting training and never attended an acting school. How could she stand a chance against Kristy? She just got lucky before and became famous. But in the uing audition, Kristy is sure to outshine her. It looks like Lindsey is heading for a major setback. ¡± The Skiyton Film Academy was renowned in the film industry. It was considered a premier film academy. Many of the international superstars, Oscar awardees, top-tier directors, and renowned scriptwriters were Skiyton alumni. It was like a fantasy world for everyone in the film industry. Lindsey was concerned. The faculty at Skiyton Film Academy were world-renowned and known for their high standards, typically not offering private coaching, regardless of payment. She was unaware that Kristy was a Skiyton alumna, let alone that Kristy could secure a session with a professor. This was a significant advantage for Kristy.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Lindsey had also considered getting a professional coach for Sh but had never thought about approaching someone from Skiyton Film Academy . Lost in these thoughts, Lindsey left her office just as the elevator doors opened. Kristy and Jayleen emerged from the elevator, apanied by a middle-aged woman. Dressed in a sapphire blue dress that reached her knees, the woman¡¯s deep blue eyes and red lips wereplemented by neatly swept-back blonde hair and a poised, amiable smile. Kristy was engaged in a lively conversation with her in French. Upon noticing Lindsey, Kristy¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Ah, Lindsey, great to see you here. Allow me to introduce you two. This is Camille Dupont, a professor at Skiyton Film Academy. She was my instructor during my time in college. ¡± Kristy positioned herself confidently in front of Lindsey, while Jayleen stood a little behind, eagerly anticipating the interaction. Chapter 299 Lindsey smiled subtly and greeted the professor with a courteous nod, ¡°Pleased to meet you, Professor Pearson. ¡± Camille gave Kristy a forced smile and inquired in French, ¡°Is this the executive agent you mentioned?¡± Kristy responded in French as well, ¡°Yes, this is Lindsey Stewart. ¡± Camille scoffed, eyeing Lindsey with a look of disdain. ¡°I heard you became an executive agent right after graduation. Which university did you attend? Who is your instructor?¡± Kristy, with a faint smile, turned to Camille and said softly, ¡°Ms. Dupont, I¡¯m not sure Lindsey is fluent in foreign Languages. Allow me to trante for her. ¡± Camille¡¯s look of disdain towards Lindsey intensified upon hearing this. Lindsey couldn¡¯t even speak anothernguage? She probably wasn¡¯t from a prestigious university then. It appeared Kristy¡¯s assessment was correct. Lindsey seemed to be someone who relied on connections rather than merit to advance. ¡°Lindsey-¡° As Kristy, with her arms crossed, was about to speak, Lindsey cut her off. ¡°Don¡¯t bother, Miss Chase. I can speak French. ¡± Then she turned to Camille and replied in fluent French, ¡°Ms. Dupont, I¡¯m a graduate of Zrans University, and I didn¡¯t have a personal instructor. ¡± Camille¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. For one, she hadn¡¯t anticipated Lindsey¡¯s impressive fluency in French. Secondly, she wasn¡¯t pleased that Lindsey didn¡¯t have an instructor. Typically, while not all college students didn¡¯t have personal instructors, it was often the most outstanding students who were selected by professors for specialized guidance. Given that Lindsey came from the well-regarded Zrans University yet had no instructor, Camille assumed that Lindsey¡¯s academic achievements were average at best. Camille shot Lindsey a disdainful look. ¡°To be a decent agent, you should focus on your own integrity instead of resorting to underhanded tactics to get ahead. Kristy happens to be my top student. During her time at college, she consistently held a top position in her ss, and I had high hopes for her. If all the agents in your country are as opportunistic as you appear to be, how can I be confident in allowing my favorite student to build her career here?¡± She then turned to Kristy and said, ¡°In my opinion, you shouldn¡¯t have returned home to start your career. ¡± Camille¡¯s remarks were not just against Lindsey but an insult to her entire country, leaving Lindsey feeling uneasy. Lindsey stood up straight and faced Camille confidently. ¡°Thank you for your advice, Ms. Dupont. But, if I may speak in my defense. While Zrans University might not be as prestigious as Skiyton Film Academy, it¡¯s still among the world¡¯s leadingprehensive universities. During my time there, I consistently topped my ss and was chosen as the valedictorian. This achievement was what paved my way into Vitality Entertainment. Moreover, ourpany ces great importance on individual talent, not just academic qualifications. My promotion is a testament to thepany¡¯s belief in my skills. ¡± Upon hearing that Lindsey excelled academically at a renowned institution like Zrans University and was chosen as the valedictorian, Camille¡¯s view of Lindsey changed. With aposed smile, Lindsey continued, ¡°In terms of educational achievements and skills, I might notpare to Miss Chase¡¯s agent, Miss Archer.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Perhaps, you could inquire about the elite university Miss Archer attended?¡± Jayleen¡¯s expression instantly turned dark. She was merely an observer on the sidelines. Yet, she couldn¡¯t fathom why she was suddenly on the receiving end of trouble. Intrigued by Lindsey¡¯sments, Camille¡¯s attention shifted to Jayleen. Considering Kristy was Jayleen¡¯s artist, not Lindsey¡¯s, Jayleen should have been her focus. Chapter 300 Before the professor could utter a word, Kristy stepped in. ¡°Ms. Dupont, it¡¯ste. Let¡¯s head to the artist training center. ¡± Camille agreed with a nod, following Kristy without furtherment. Jayleen cast a disapproving look on Lindsey¡¯s way before shifting her attention to the rest of her department. ¡°Thanks to Kristy, Professor Camille Dupont is stepping into the public this afternoon to train ourpany¡¯s artists. It¡¯s a golden chance. Spread the word, people. We¡¯re gathering at the training center. That means every artist, no exceptions, must be present. ¡± ¡°The professor from Skiyton Film Academy is taking the reins! This is a golden chance! This is a real once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!¡± ¡°Kristy has done more than just advocate for herself. She¡¯s opened doors for others in thepany. She¡¯s true incredible!¡± Everyone in the office buzzed with excitement. Only Lindsey remained unfazed. Jayleen shot a look Lindsey¡¯s way and let out a littleugh. ¡°Lindsey, your artist lineup isn¡¯t exactly overflowing with talent. With rare chances like this, make sure they alle to the ss. It¡¯s a shame Sh isn¡¯t one of ourpany¡¯s artists and won¡¯t get Ms.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Dupont¡¯s expert advice. But don¡¯t lose heart! I¡¯m pretty sure Sh¡¯s acting skills can shine without guidance, right?¡± Having spoken those words, she smirked and wandered off with an air of arrogance. Meanwhile, at the artist training center, Kristy leaned in close to Jayleen, a mischievous smile on her lips. ¡°I can just imagine Lindsey trying to figure out who to call for Sh¡¯s acting tips right now. ¡± Jayleen let out a disapproving sound. ¡°No need to fret. Mr. Harvey has already spoken up with the teachers at the Morcastle Film Academy. She won¡¯t be able to find a helper. ¡± Kristy curled her lip in disdain. ¡°Even if she somehow brings in a teacher, they won¡¯t be able topare to the professor from Skiyton Film Academy. ¡± Jayleen¡¯s eyes gleamed with determination. ¡°I won¡¯t let her have any advantages. I¡¯m set on seeing her fail this time!¡± After informing her artists about the uing ss, Lindsey got back to work. In the afternoon, Lindsey took a little break for herself and made her way to Morcastle Film Academy. Morcastle Film Academy stood as one of the nation¡¯s finest and Morcastle¡¯s most authoritative art institutions. Although she couldn¡¯t get industry giants like Ms. Dupont from Skiyton Film Academy, Lindsey knew Sh¡¯s talent and diligence would thrive with professional instruction. This would certainly enhance her growth and confidence. It might also give her a confidence boost. However, after scouting the film academy, Lindsey discovered that the teachers weren¡¯t keen on lending a hand, citing jam-packed schedules. Chapter 301 Even offering generouspensation didn¡¯t make a difference. It was rather peculiar. Lindsey had a hunch that Jayleen might¡¯ve pulled some strings behind the scenes. Still, it seemed far-fetched for her to have that much sway to make all the teachers from such a renowned institution turn down the offer. Lindsey mulled over her next move, wandering through the institution¡¯s buildings, her brow furrowed in thought. ALL at once, the screech of brakes caught her attention. She nced up to spot an elderlydy lying in the middle of the road, her bag of oranges scattered on the ground. A guy stuck his head out of the car and cursed the elderlydy, grumbling, ¡°You silly old fool! Can¡¯t you pay attention to where you¡¯re headed?¡± Following his angry outburst, he drove away in his car. Lindsey rushed forward, extending a hand to assist the elderlydy to her feet, and gathered up the scattered oranges, only to discover arge hole in the bag. ¡°Thank you, Miss. ¡± The elderlydy, disying kindness and gentleness, expressed her gratitude to Lindsey. ¡°Of course. Are you okay?¡± Lindsey asked with concern. The elderlydy sighed, saying, ¡°I¡¯m alright. Those oranges were meant for my husband. He adores eating them. I never thought the bag would suddenly break and the oranges tumble onto the road. I hurried to pick them up and didn¡¯t notice a car approaching¡­¡± Lindsey looked at the oranges she held and remarked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, it must be tough for you to manage all these oranges on your own. Where do you stay? Allow me to lend a hand and deliver them for you. ¡± The elderdy, seemingly in her eighties, had eyes that shone with wisdom and serenity. She gazed up at Lindsey thoughtfully. ¡°Thank you so much for helping me, Miss. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯m happy to help. ¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Lindsey, carrying the oranges, followed the elderlydy to an old residence in a residential area. Itcked an elevator. The Morcastle Film Academy had since constructed upscale housing for its esteemed staff, leaving ces like this almost forgotten. These old residential neighborhoods, like the one here, were torn down so much that this was all that remains. Lindsey made her way up to the second floor, and the elderlydy unlocked the door with a rusty key, inviting Lindsey inside the apartment with a warm greeting. The interior of the apartment caught Lindsey¡¯s attention. While the exterior appeared aged, the inside was neat and well-kept. A grand cab stood impably clean, showcasing various items from the past century. Adorning the walls were posters of celebrities from that bygone era, exuding a distinct retro charm. ¡°Miss, just ce those oranges right on the table. ¡± The elderlydy said, then headed to the kitchen to fetch a clean cloth. In the living room¡¯s corner, she diligently started wiping something down. Lindsey ced the oranges down and nced towards the elderlydy. Lindsey couldn¡¯t contain her surprise, her eyes growing wide. The elderlydy was tenderly cleaning a portrait of a loved one who had passed away. In the photo, was an old man with a warm, gentle grin. Chapter 302 Just a nce at the portrait told Lindsey that he must have been a dashing man in his younger days. ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­¡± Lindsey softly called out. The elderlydy turned, meeting Lindsey¡¯s sorrowful gaze. She approached a nearby table, retrieved two oranges, and ced them in front of the portrait.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°My husband¡¯s favorite food was oranges. ¡± While speaking, she ran her dry hand over the old man¡¯s face in the portrait. ¡°Darling, I felt quite fortunate today to have met a youngdy. She fetched these oranges for me, or else you might have missed them. ¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am¡­ Do you live here by yourself now?¡± Lindsey asked gently. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s just me since my husband passed away. ¡± ¡°Where are your children?¡± The elderlydy gave Lindsey a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t have any children. ¡± Lindsey was initially taken aback but quickly regained herposure. She expressed her concern, ¡°Is there anything else I can help you with?¡± The woman peered at Lindsey and asked, ¡°Nowadays, young people fear being tricked by the elderly if they offer help. Don¡¯t you worry about that?¡± Lindsey shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t think it through. When I saw you fall to the ground, my instincts kicked in, and I rushed over. Yet, it¡¯s partly because of those news stories about some older man pretending to fall for shady reasons that some people have be indifferent. I get where they¡¯reing from. ¡± Thedy¡¯s face lit up with a relieved smile. ¡°It¡¯s so rare to meet someone as kind and understanding as you. What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Lindsey Stewart. ¡± ¡°Lindsey Stewart¡­¡± The elderlydy stood there, her eyes wide with surprise. She spun around, muttering to herself for a bit. Afterward, she pivoted back, examining Lindsey again, her grin growing broader by the second. ¡°Ma¡¯am, is there something on me?¡± Lindsey asked, puzzled by the woman¡¯s gaze. ¡°Not at all. Lindsey is a lovely name. ¡± With a warm and friendly smile, the elderly woman spoke, ¡°It¡¯s already noon. How about sticking around for lunch? Consider it my way of saying thank you. ¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lindsey felt awkward about sharing a meal with a stranger, but when she noticed the olddy¡¯s solitude, she nodded and said, ¡°Sure, thank you. ¡± ¡°Please, make yourselffortable. I¡¯ll start cooking. ¡± She joyfully headed to the kitchen to start cooking. Lindsey felt restless on the sofa, so she rose to her feet and nced around the room. She hadn¡¯t expected to find anything, but to her surprise, her gaze fell upon a shocking scene inside the ss cab tucked away in the corner. Inside the cab, numerous photo frames adorned the shelves. They contained group pictures featuring a woman alongside legendary Hollywood superstars, renowned directors, and even the president of Blosa Film University, a familiar face often seen in newspapers and magazines. One photo that caught Lindsey¡¯s attention featured ady standing alongside Everleigh Pearson, a former popr songstress from over two decades ago. Back in the day, Everleigh was an unmatched triple-threat superstar in film, television, and music, oozing charisma. In particr, her voice was as enchanting as the melodies of nature, surpassing even Mercer, the current top musician. She had won every music award, both nationally and internationally, bing the first singer to captivate the world across borders. Chapter 303 Tragically, after her global fame, one day she suddenly jumped from a high-rise building.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. This marked the fall of a legendary songstress. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Lost in her thoughts and astonishment, Lindsey was jolted by the elderdy¡¯s voice from behind. She turned around in a hurry and said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, these photos. ¡°These are just some old pictures from my youth. I couldn¡¯t part with them, so I put them in frames,¡± she answered casually, ignoring the surprised look on Lindsey¡¯s face. ¡°Ma¡¯am, may I know your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ruby Garcia, the elderly woman said casually while collecting some things. Lindsey¡¯s eyes grew wide with surprise. She was Ruby Garcia! ! ¡°Are you the famous Ruby Garcia, the one we read about in textbooks? The person who started Blosa Film University, the only visiting professor at Skiyton Film Academy, the instructor of the country¡¯s first globally recognized stars, and the only academician in the performing arts today?¡± ¡°You young people have given me quite a few grand titles. I¡¯m honored, but I¡¯m really just a simple old woman,¡± Ruby responded, her smile warm. Lindsey was in disbelief. Everything seemed too magical to believe. Rumors were that Ruby had been Living overseas. What was she doing here? Why was she here in this shabby building? Lindsey refrained from prying into others¡¯ private matters, but a thought quickly surfaced in her mind; Maybe Ruby could instruct Sh¡­ ¡°Ms. Garcia,¡± Lindsey said with determination, ¡°I¡¯d like to ask for something. ¡± Ruby smiled kindly at her and said, ¡°Of course, you were of great help today. Just let me know what you need. ¡± Taking a deep breath, Lindsey exined her situation with Sh, hoping Ruby might consider guiding her. ¡°Ms. Garcia, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯repensated fairly for this. ¡± Ruby listened attentively, then walked to the kitchen with her hands sped behind her and said, ¡°I¡¯m quite old now, so money doesn¡¯t mean much to me. Just visiting me more often will be enough. ¡± ¡°So you agree?¡± Lindsey asked eagerly. Ruby gave a slow nod and continued into the kitchen. Chapter 304 Lindsey stood frozen in amazement. She had just met Ruby Garcia, the legendary figure in the film industry, and she had agreed to teach Sh. Was this even real? Feeling like she was in a dream, Lindsey left after sharing Lunch with Ruby. Once Lindsey was gone, Ruby took out her phone and made a call. A calm female voice sounded and eagerly asked, ¡°Ms. Garcia, I was just about to call you. How are you feeling after returning to Morcastle? Is there anything you¡¯re finding difficult?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s fine here, Ruby replied with a smile, ¡°Juanita, guess who I ran into today?¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Who was it?¡± ¡°Lindsey. ¡± ¡°Do you mean¡­ Lindsey Stewart?¡± The woman on the other end of the phone said excitedly. Ruby¡¯s voice warmed with affection. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s a lot like you were at her age. The moment I saw her, I felt a connection. She looks so much like you. Remember, Juanita, your international career is valuable, but don¡¯t forget about your daughter. She¡¯s had a tough time recently. It might be good for you to visit her¡­¡± ¡°I get it, Ms. Garcia. In fact, Leonel and I are nning to return next month. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news. It¡¯s been over a decade since you visited. Will you stay longer this time?¡± ¡°I n to. I owe Lindsey a lot, and it¡¯s about time I make it right. This visit might also be a good opportunity to arrange her marriage. ¡± ¡°Marriage?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Yes,¡± the woman replied, ¡°Everleigh and I were expecting our children at the same time. We made a promise that if our children were the same gender, they¡¯d be like siblings, and if they were different genders, they could be a couple. Even though Everleigh is no longer with us, our agreement still stands. I¡¯ve heard her son is quite remarkable. He earned two master¡¯s degrees in Mubluosia at a young age and has alreadye back to Morcastle. ¡± Ruby¡¯s expression turned somber at the mention of Everleigh. Everleigh had been Ruby¡¯s most talented and cherished student. She shone brightly but tragically chose to end her life for love. It really hit Ruby hard. Even after all these years, she found it tough to move on. Ruby let out a sigh and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll meet the young one. ¡± ¡°sure, I¡¯ll arrange it. ¡± Once Lindsey left, she quickly called Sh to share the exciting news. Lindsey also informed Sh about a meeting with Ruby at the Morcastle Film Academy¡¯s art ssroom on Saturday. That evening, when Domenic returned, he found Lindsey Lounging on the couch, a big smile on her face, humming happily to herself. Curious, he sat next to her, wrapped his arms around her, and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s making you so happy?¡± ¡°I met someone quite famous today! Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but share this feeling with Domenic. ¡°Who might that be?¡± Chapter 305 ¡°Ruby Garcia, a renowned figure in film and television industry. You must have heard of her, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ruby Garcia¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s expression changed slightly, then he smiled. ¡°I thought she was overseas. Are you sure it wasn¡¯t a trick?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t think so¡­¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t believe ady over eighty would deceive her. Domenic lightly tapped Lindsey¡¯s forehead with his finger and said, ¡°But you said she¡¯s a big name in movies. Do you really think someone like her would just bump into you? Don¡¯t be too gullible. ¡± Gently touching her forehead where Domenic had, Lindsey replied, somewhat reluctantly, ¡°I¡¯ve scheduled a meeting with her. She¡¯s going to mentor Sh in acting this Saturday in the Morcastle Film Academy¡¯s art ssroom. That¡¯s a special ce, not just open to anybody, right?¡± Hearing Lindsey¡¯s words, Domenic¡¯s face turned serious once more. Could it be that Ruby was actually back? He wondered why he hadn¡¯t heard anything about it. He looked at Lindsey and offered a soft smile. ¡°I really hope that¡¯s the case. And remember, if there¡¯s any trouble, I¡¯ll be there for you right away. ¡± Lindsey feltforted and snuggled against his chest. She gazed up at his well-defined jaw and remarked, ¡°It seems like it¡¯s true. Mr. Walsh, do you have a tracker on me? You always show up just when I need help. ¡± Domenic replied with his usual calmness, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s fate. ¡± Lindsey softly agreed. She had never believed in destiny before, but since meeting Domenic, her perspective had changed. And she believed in it wholeheartedly. On Saturday afternoon at two, Lindsey arrived on time at the Morcastle Film Academy¡¯s art ssroom. Because it was the weekend, there were few people in the building. Ruby had arrived before Lindsey and greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Ms. Garcia. ¡± Lindsey approached Ruby and greeted her respectfully, ¡°Sh will be arriving shortly. ¡± Just then, Lindsey¡¯s phone rang. It was Sh calling. The moment Lindsey picked up the phone, she could hear the worry in Sh¡¯s voice. ¡°Lindsey, the nanny who¡¯s been looking after ine can¡¯t make it today due to something urgent. You know ine¡­ I¡¯d be a bit concerned about ine if I had to find a nanny on such short notice. ¡± ine was quite shy around new people. She had been very cautious when she first met Lindsey. If Sh had to find ast-minute caretaker for ine, it was natural that any mother would be concerned about her child in such a situation.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey had made a special effort to arrange Ruby¡¯s help with Sh¡¯s acting. If Sh didn¡¯t show up, it might be hard to arrange another opportunity. Quickly, Lindsey offered a solution. ¡°Sh, how about this? I¡¯ll take care of ine for you. ¡± ¡°You? But remember what happened before. . Chapter 306 Sh was recalling the incident when ine had bitten Lindsey. ¡°I¡¯ve met her already. We¡¯re not strangers to each other. I think she¡¯ll be less cautious around me this time. Sh, this chance is too good to miss. ¡± After theirst meeting, Sh had spent time telling ine about Lindsey¡¯s help. She noticed ine¡¯s attitude softening and that she didn¡¯t seem to dislike Lindsey anymore. With this in mind, Sh agreed, ¡°Alright. Linds, thank you. ¡± After ending the call, Lindsey wore an apologetic look as she quickly filled Ruby in on Sh¡¯s situation and her need to rush off and help. Ruby, with her ever-understanding demeanor, replied, ¡°No worries, I¡¯m not too busy today. Take your time, it¡¯s okay to dy our ns a bit. ¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey appreciated Ruby¡¯s kindness and flexibility. She thanked her and swiftly left the ssroom. As she vanished down the hallway of the teaching building, Domenic emerged from around the corner. He had been secretly following Lindsey today, wanting to make sure that her meeting was truly with Ruby Garcia. It turned out, it really was her. Ruby was well-acquainted with his uncles, particrly his second uncle. Domenic didn¡¯t want Lindsey getting involved with his uncles, known for their cunning and deceitful ways, nor did he want her to learn about his troubled past. He also feared that if his uncles discovered Lindsey, they would drag her into their dangerous, shadowy conflicts. Domenic¡¯s eyes turned cold and sharp, and he left the building in a different direction. Just as Lindsey hopped into a taxi, her phone rang with a call from Domenic. ¡°Hello,¡± Lindsey greeted him softly and warmly. Domenic¡¯s tone turned gentle. ¡°How¡¯s everything going today? Is there anything I can help you with? I¡¯m not busy, so I¡¯m here if you need anything. ¡± Lindsey mulled over her situation. It was her first time taking care of a child, and her previous interaction with ine hadn¡¯t gone well. ¡°Well, have you¡­ ever taken care of a child before?¡± Lindsey inquired cautiously. Caught off guard, Domenic queried, ¡°Looking after a child? Whom are you going to take care of?¡± Lindsey exined, ¡°It¡¯s about ine, Sh¡¯s daughter. Their regr nanny is unavable today due to some personal matters, and hiring a recement might upset Sh. So, I thought I¡¯d step in. But to be honest, I¡¯m worried I might not be able to properly handle the little girl. Do you have any experience or advice in taking care of children that you could share with me?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Kids often love amusement parks. There¡¯s a good one I know; we could take her there,¡± Domenic responded. ¡°That¡¯s a fantastic idea! An amusement park sounds perfect for a child her age!¡± Lindsey Liked his suggestion but then paused and said, ¡°Hold on. Did you just say ¡®we¡¯? Do you mean you want to join us?¡± Chapter 307 ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t you want me toe?¡± he teased. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I¡¯d actually feel much better with you around. ¡± The thought of Domenic looking after a child seemed almost too strange to picture. ¡°I¡¯ll text you the amusement park¡¯s location. Just let me know when you¡¯re leaving. I¡¯ll wait for you there. ¡± After that, Domenic ended the call. Lindsey arrived at Sh¡¯s apartment. ¡°ine found out I¡¯m leaving and she¡¯s locked herself in her room, she¡¯s quite upset. Are you sure you can make it, Linds?¡± Sh inquired, worry evident in her voice. Lindsey confidently reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about ine. I¡¯ve got this. You can count on me.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Ms. Garcia is waiting for you, so you better get going. ¡± Sh nodded gently. Her trust in Lindsey was unwavering, as always. Once Sh left, however, Lindsey felt her self-assurance wane, and she slumped slightly. She inhaled deeply, steeling herself for the task ahead. She had lived for over twenty years, so looking after a little girl wouldn¡¯t pose any difficulty for her. With newfound determination, Lindsey approached ine¡¯s bedroom door and knocked gently. ¡°ine, it¡¯s your Aunt Lindsey. Are you there? Remember, I promised you some delicious treats and exciting surprises? I¡¯ve kept my word. Would you like to check them out?¡± There was no response from ine. Lindsey waspletely ignored. Handling ine seemed more difficult than Lindsey anticipated. Pausing briefly to muster her courage, Lindsey added, ¡°Also, I was thinking about a really fun amusement park. How about we go there for some fun? If you want to¡­¡± Suddenly, the door swung open from the inside. ine stood behind the door, her little face cold, and her round, shining eyes filled with a hint of caution as she Looked at Lindsey. ¡°Did you just say something about¡­ an amusement park?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lindsey responded with an enthusiastic nod. ¡°Will you be taking me there?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lindsey replied, doing her best to keep her smile warm and weing. Chapter 308 ine looked at her suspiciously, scanning her up and down. ¡°You don¡¯t n to leave me there by myself, do you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be right there with you. Never will I leave you alone,¡± Lindsey confidently assured with a pat on her chest. ine seemed to wrestle with her thoughts before lifting head. ¡°Alright. ¡± Lindsey had been concerned that ine might be too shy to venture out, especially since she was usually wary of new people.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. But today, ine seemed different to Lindsey. With ine¡¯s agreement, Lindsey excitedly took her to the amusement park that Domenic had mentioned¡ª Dream Amusement Park. This was the grandest amusement park in the city, a creation of the Vitality Group. Spanning 116 hectares, it boasted six themed areas and hundreds of attractions. It was known as the ultimate joyous haven for children. ¡°Here!¡± Lindsey shouted. Lindsey spotted Domenic right away, standing by the gate. He sported a cozy yellow shirt, his tall and striking presence turning heads. With one hand casually in his pocket, he effortlessly drew the gaze of a group of admiring girls. Domenic approached as he saw Lindsey and ine. ine quickly hides behind Lindsey, peeking out with wide eyes and curiously observing the man before her. ¡°This is Sh¡¯s daughter, ine. ¡± ¡°ine¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze lingered on ine¡¯s face. Lindsey looked back at ine and introduced, ¡°ine, this is Mr. Walsh. He¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s your boyfriend?¡± ine blinked herrge eyes and delivered her words with utmost seriousness, leaving Lindsey utterly surprised. Lindsey pondered whether children were growing up unusually fast in this day and age. Domenic knelt, resting his sturdy arms on his knees. His face softened with kindness. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her boyfriend. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, ine. ¡± While talking, he extended his hand toward ine. On a previous asion, when Lindsey greeted ine in this manner, she received an unexpected bite. Just as Lindsey was about to caution Domenic to be mindful of ine¡¯s fear of strangers and not too enthusiastic, she was surprised when ine emerged from behind her and ced her tiny hand into Domenic¡¯srge palm. ¡°You are really good-looking. ¡± ine¡¯s face lit up with a childlike and bashful smile. Chapter 309 A hush fell over the scene for a brief moment. Lindsey was surprised. It was hard to believe that a child as young as ine could be so captivated by a handsome man. She was surprised that ine had weed Domenic so readily. It was quite a contrast to the time when ine had bitten her hard during their first meeting. Frustration welled up in Lindsey as she crossed her arms and reluctantly remarked, ¡°ine, you trust strangers too easily. You need to be careful and stay safe from any troublemakers. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ine looked at Lindsey innocently and remarked, ¡°But Aunt Lindsey, he seems much more dependable than you. He feels like a big brother to me. ¡± A pause settled between them. Out of the blue, a realization struck Lindsey, and she cast an irritated nce at ine. ¡°Hold on a second. You called me as ¡®Aunt Lindsey¡¯ but he felt like a big brother to you?¡± ine responded, ¡°Yes, my mom said you are Aunt Lindsey. ¡± ¡°Then why does he feel like an elder brother to you?¡± Lindsey directed her finger towards Domenic. ine blinked and replied, ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s just the bond, you know. ¡± Then, ine hurried over to Domenic and affectionately hugged his legs. Lindsey found herself at a loss for words. It was unusual for Domenic to witness Lindsey in such a defeated state. She typically projected a stubborn and resilient image to others. As he observed her pursed her lips and let out a soft sigh, her bright eyes filled with helplessness, he couldn¡¯t help but find her endearing. Today was an unprecedented moment when Lindsey found herself utterly speechless. Suddenly, she realized she shouldn¡¯t take a little girl¡¯s words too seriously. In any event, Domenic was no one who lost out, not Lindsey. With this in mind, Lindsey narrowed her eyes and shed a mischievous smile at Domenic. ¡°Since you are like a big brother to ine, maybe you should address me as¡­¡± Before Lindsey could utter the words ¡°Aunt Lindsey,¡± Domenic grinned and leaned in, whispering, ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate you are a fan of role-y. What would you like me to call you?¡± I¡¯ll y the role once we¡¯re back home.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡± A rosy hue instantly painted Lindsey¡¯s face as she red at Domenic. With a grin, Domenic held ine¡¯s hand with one of his and Lindsey¡¯s with the other, leading them toward the amusement park. Lindsey nced at Domenic, finding his unusually soft behavior today made her heart flutter more than usual. They reached the ¡°Spinning Barrels¡± amusement ride. Lindsey stopped, thinking it was more appropriate for kids. She turned to ine with enthusiasm and said, ¡°ine, this one looks like fun! Let¡¯s try it out!¡± ¡°Boring. ¡± ine dismissed her suggestion bluntly, pointing towards the sky, and said, ¡°I want to go on that one. ¡± Chapter 310 Lindsey turned her gaze toward the spot ine was indicating. There, she saw the towering track soaring high into the sky, and it happened to be one of the most heart-pounding and exhrating attractions at this amusement park-the roller coaster. ¡°Well¡­¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit fearful. She forced a smile and said, ¡°ine, you¡¯re still young. It¡¯s not safe for you to go on such a risky ride. ¡± But ine quickly saw through her hesitance, challenging her, ¡°Are you scared, Aunt Lindsey? If you¡¯re afraid, he can go with me instead. ¡± Lindsey felt slightly embarrassed, especially being called out by a little girl. Determined not to back down, she responded with resolve, ¡°Of course I¡¯m not scared! Let¡¯s go for it!¡± The three of them got on the roller coaster. Domenic and Lindsey sat on the ends with ine in the middle, looking around with excitement. Lindsey bit her lip hard, her face pale. This was her first time on such a thrilling ride, and she clearly looked uneasy. Domenic saw Lindsey¡¯s difort and gently grasped her freezing hand in his. As the roller coaster began, everyone screamed, and Lindsey grabbed Domenic¡¯s hand tightly. His hand¡¯s warmth gave herfort. She felt like she was facing a great danger, but with him by her side, she was brave. ¡®s BunnyBookery Back on the ground, Lindsey¡¯s legs wobbled, but the exhrating experience helped her let go of recent stress and worries as she screamed along the ride. Then, they all joined ine in exploring several exciting attractions, having a great time together without a care in the world. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they decided to take ine to a mall for dinner. Right when they entered the mall, they saw a grand ribbon-cutting event. Lindsey spotted a familiar woman at the center of attention. It was¡­ Shelia! Shelia had recently be popr due to some advertisements. She seemed to be the guest of honor at this event. Lindsey hadn¡¯t seen her since Shelia¡¯s embarrassing moment at the horse-riding club. Lately, Shelia hadn¡¯t been causing any problems for her. She had previously thought that without Jacob¡¯s protection, Shelia would face difficulties. However, observing Shelia now, full of confidence and unbothered, it appeared she was not impacted in the slightest. With ine around, Lindsey preferred to avoid any direct confrontation with Shelia. So, she quickly walked briskly inside. ¡°Lindsey?¡± Yet, a sharp and piercing female voice called out from behind, causing Lindsey to stop against her will. She silently closed her eyes, then turned, only to be confronted with Shelia¡¯s annoying face. Shelia¡¯s eyes quickly shifted to Domenic, standing behind Lindsey, and the little girl he was cradling, with a flicker of something sinister in her eyes. She then twisted her red lips into a smirk, and suddenly, in a Loud and shrill voice, she used, ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re supposedly married and have a child, yet here you are, tantly flirting with Vincent¡¯s godson? Don¡¯t you have any sense of shame?¡± The surrounding crowd, who had gathered for the event, instantly directed their attention towards Lindsey.N?velDrama.Org owns this. The recent buzz about her and Sumner had made her a recognizable figure. Observing the man and child next to her, the crowd began to discuss with excitement, as if they had just uncovered a scandalous piece of gossip. Chapter 311 ¡°Isn¡¯t that Lindsey, the woman who¡¯s been on the trending list?¡± ¡°Married with a child and still mixed up with other men? Doesn¡¯t that guy look like the one from the story that¡¯s been going around, even though we only saw his side?¡± ¡°So was she caught cheating that night?¡± ¡°But this man is so good-looking. Why would she be unfaithful?¡± ¡°What if he has nothing but a pretty face?¡± Shelia sneered at Lindsey and Domenic, adding, ¡°Lindsey¡¯s after a man who can help her reach a high position, not some pretty face with no other value. ¡± She shot a nce at Domenic as she spoke. Domenic stood unflustered, his handsome featuresposed, not even ncing at Shelia. Shelia felt her efforts were frustrating and ineffective, which made her seething with anger. ¡°Exactly. ¡± Someone was suddenly enlightened.From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I saw on trending searches that Lindsey¡¯s sess is all thanks to her connections. Who knows how many men she has seduced in secret?¡± ¡°She is such a fickle and snobbish woman. ¡± Shelia stood there, her arms crossed confidently. With Shelia¡¯s words, someone was bound to take photos and share them online. Even if Lindsey didn¡¯t settle down and start a family, exining things would be challenging. Shelia had beenying low for a while, especially after patching things up with Jacob. She wanted to keep Jacob by her side, so she refrained from causing trouble. Besides, her previous attempts to hassle Lindsey had backfired. But now, Shelia felt smarter. She had been waiting for others like Jayleen and Kristy to give Lindsey a hard time. And she knew Chayce wouldn¡¯t spare Lindsey either. ¡®s BunnyBookery But today, she saw a chance to tarnish Lindsey¡¯s image, hoping it would soothe her bitterness. When Shelia was basking in her scheming n, ine emerged from behind Lindsey. ine, gazing at the wildly grinning Shelia, blurted out, ¡°Madam, you are so ugly. ¡± A hush fell over the crowd. Shelia paused briefly and extended a finger, pointing it at herself. ¡°You¡¯re talking about me?¡± ine nodded firmly and said, ¡°My mom says people with stic surgery have ugly smiles. Your smile is really ugly. ¡± ¡°Wihat?¡± Shelia¡¯s exaggerated and unrestrained smile abruptly turned into a frozen expression. Shelia instinctively reached out to touch her face. She regrly admired her appearance in the mirror with a satisfied grin, appreciating the results of her cosmetic procedures. Her smiles had always highlighted her beauty. How could she possibly see herself as anything less than lovely? Yet, the honesty in a child¡¯s words often carries weight. As ine¡¯s words sank in, the onlookers began scrutinizing Shelia. ¡°Her nose seems like it¡¯s had some work done. ¡± ¡°I noticed her smile seemed somewhat rigid during the ribbon cutting. Chapter 312 Turns out she¡¯s had some work done. ¡± ¡°I have no idea how she looked before. ¡± ¡°Lindsey¡¯s features seem so natural inparison¡­ She is much more beautiful than Shelia. ¡± Shelia nearly lost her temper, pointed a finger at ine, and scolded, ¡°You little troublemaker, what on earth are you saying? I haven¡¯t had any stic surgery. ¡± Lindsey quickly shielded ine behind her and fixed Shelia with a stern gaze. ¡°Shelia, remember you¡¯re in the public eye. Do you want to start a fight with a child?¡± Shelia, hearing this, had no choice but to rein in her fury. ¡®s BunnyBookery Shelia held the role of the guest of honor at the ribbon-cutting event. Going too far and upsetting the financial backer wouldn¡¯t be worth it. Besides, Shelia had already seeded in tarnishing Lindsey¡¯s image. She had noticed someone taking photos of Lindsey, Domenic, and the child. She was sure those images were already circting online. With this in mind, Sheliaposed herself and offered Lindsey a forced smile. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t stoop to arguing with an ill-bred child. ¡± With that, Shelia turned to leave. But suddenly, ine darted from behind Lindsey, grabbed Shelia¡¯s arm, and bit down hard. Shelia screamed and managed to shake ine off. Teeth marks materialized on Shelia¡¯s arm instantly. ¡°How dare you bite me? I¡¯ll call the police and arrest all of you. ¡± Shelia let out a frustrated cry, then promptly grabbed her phone to dial the police. Witnessing ine being shoved to the ground, Lindsey hurried over and cradled her in her arms. Tears streamed down ine¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not an ill-bred child. You can¡¯t say that about me. ¡± Lindsey then handed ine to Domenic and confronted Shelia, snatching her phone away. ¡°What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone back!¡± Shelia demanded, ring at Lindsey. Lindsey faced Shelia and proposed, ¡°How about we resolve this without involving others?¡± Shelia let out a derisive snort. ¡°You¡¯re suggesting we handle this privately? Unless¡­ you beg me. ¡± Lindsey turned her gaze back to ine, who was still crying. It appeared that she was scared, and she had buried her head in Domenic¡¯s chest forfort. Lindsey couldn¡¯t let ine get hurt any further. Noticing Lindsey¡¯s hesitation, Shelia spoke sharply.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Your kid bit me. Chapter 313 You don¡¯t even apologize, and now you want to settle this privately? I¡¯m being lenient by just asking you to beg. If the police get involved, you are also the one to me!¡± While ine¡¯s biting was wrong, it wouldn¡¯t have urred if Shelia hadn¡¯t provoked her in the first ce. However, if She indeed called the police, it could drag Sh into the situation. Lately, Sh had be the focal point of public attention, with numerous eyes fixed on her. If this started to impact Vincent¡¯s open audition, it could pose a problem. Lindsey tightened her fists. She had never imagined herself apologizing to Shelia, but for the sake of ine and Sh, she was willing to consider it. ¡°You don¡¯t need to say sorry to her,¡± Domenic interjected, setting ine down and stepping protectively in front of Lindsey. He faced Shelia with a cold tone. ¡°She¡¯s not worth your apology. ¡± ¡°What did you say, you loser?¡± Shelia was teetering on the edge of losing her cool. She pointed a finger at Domenic¡¯s nose and raised her voice. Domenic¡¯s lips curved slightly, and his eyes turned chilly as he retorted, ¡°Would you be brave enough tobel me a loser once more?¡± ¡°iihat¡­ What? Are you suggesting you want to harm a woman?¡± Seeing the coldness and cruelty on Domenic¡¯s face, Shelia was scared. This man was just a poor guy, but a potent presence exuding from his body, sending shivers down her spine.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°You? You¡¯re not qualified. ¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Shelia was about to lose herposure when a man in a suit emerged from the crowd. He briefly locked eyes with Domenic but swiftly looked away, positioning himself beside Shelia. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m the general manager of this mall. ¡± Upon learning that the mall¡¯s general manager had arrived, Shelia promptly disyed her injured arm, saying, ¡°Sir, I was invited as a special guest for the ribbon-cutting event at your mall, but a naughty child suddenly appeared and bit me. I requested her guardians to offer an apology, but they declined. I was about to call the police, but this woman confiscated my phone. This incident urred right here in your mall. If you don¡¯t solve this matter, I won¡¯t let this slide!¡± The manager nced at her and replied indifferently, ¡°Miss, as the honored guest for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, you left without authorization and tried to make things difficult for thisdy before the event concluded. This eventually led to the ensuing incident. Now, you wish to involve the police. If the authorities intervene, it will undoubtedly disrupt today¡¯s ribbon-cutting event. In such a scenario, you would vite our cooperation agreement. We reserve the right to terminate our coboration and seekpensation. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Shelia couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Instead of going after Lindsey and her boyfriend, the mall manager might end their coboration because of this incident! This sprawling shopping mall was next to the renowned Dream Amusement Park, making it one of Morcastle¡¯s top shopping destinations. Shelia¡¯s participation in this ribbon-cutting event was only made possible by Jacob¡¯s connections, and she had hoped to leverage it to enhance her poprity. If it was canceled, Jacob would undoubtedly be displeased when he learned about it. ¡°Sir, it was just before the ribbon cutting, so I¡­ I admit it was my mistake. ¡± At this moment, Shelia didn¡¯t dare to act aggressively, so she reluctantly Lowered her head and offered an apology. Shelia cast an unwilling nce at Lindsey. In order not to affect the ribbon-cutting ceremony today, she clenched her teeth and uttered, ¡°Let it go. She¡¯s just a child. I won¡¯t hold her ountable. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is about tomence. I¡¯ll proceed ahead. ¡± The manager nodded in agreement, and with one hand shielding her injured arm, Shelia walked away. Chapter 314 Once she had departed, the mall manager gave a slight nod to Lindsey and stole a nce at Domenic. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, and he hastily left. Lindsey sensed that the manager might have intervened on her behalf, but she wondered why he would do so. Fortunately, the matter found its resolution. Otherwise, Shelia clutching onto the incident of ine biting her would¡¯ve been quite a problem. ¡°ine, it¡¯s all right. ¡± Lindsey crouched before ine, lightly tapping her nose, and said, ¡°But always remember, you can¡¯t just go around biting people. That¡¯s not the way to do things. ¡± ine sniffled, her grievance clear. ¡°She said I¡¯m ill-bred. I won¡¯t let anyone say that about Mommy¡¯s nurturing!¡± After a brief pause, Lindsey grasped the situation. ¡°ine, did you think she was speaking ill of your mommy?¡± ine nodded firmly. ¡°Yes, my mommy¡¯s been hurt a lot. I won¡¯t let anyone speak ill of her. I have to protect her!¡± It turned out that ine¡¯s actions weren¡¯t driven by fear or defiance but by her unique way of protecting her mother. A twinge of sadness tugged at Lindsey¡¯s heart. ine had disyed more strength than she had anticipated, yet at just so young, she was the one who should be receiving care and protection. She cradled ine in her arms, stroking her soft hair. ¡°You know, ine? Your mommy used to be quite awesome. She was a very influential star, and many people admired her. That¡¯s why they supported her, and the people who hurt her would be held ountable by the police. Those past events wouldn¡¯t recur. ¡± ¡°My mommy used to be quite awesome?¡± ine blinked in disbelief and said, ¡°Is it true? Is she more awesome than that ugly woman?¡± Lindseyughed. ¡°Of course! Furthermore, what your mommy seeks right now isn¡¯t safeguarding but assistance because she aims to regain her former strength. ¡± ¡°If she bes awesome again, she won¡¯t get hurt anymore?¡± ine tilted her head, seeking assurance. ¡°Certainly. ¡± Lindsey patiently replied, ¡°However, if your mommy wants to change, she can¡¯t be with you all the time. Do you get it?¡± ine nodded, seeming to grasp the concept. ¡°I want her to be just as awesome as she used to be and not be pushed around anymore.N?velDrama.Org owns this. So, it¡¯s alright if she can¡¯t always be with me. I¡¯ll be there to support her!¡± Lindsey embraced ine tightly, a satisfied smile on her face. Domenic observed Lindsey consoling ine with tenderness. There seemed to be stars in his clear eyes, shining brightly and warmly. And his heart melted. After dinner, Lindsey called Sh and learned that her meeting wasn¡¯t finished yet. Sh requested Lindsey to look after ine for a bit longer. Lindsey agreed wholeheartedly. She remembered how ine, like Sh, used to be confined to her home, rarely having the chance to go out and y. She was eager to explore the world. Lindsey¡¯s heart softened. She crouched down and asked, ¡°ine, if there¡¯s anything else you¡¯d Like to do or something you enjoy, just tell me. I¡¯ll do my best to make it happen for you. ¡± ¡°Okay¡­ ine tilted her head, deep in thought. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. ¡°I love stars and fireworks! Can you two take me to see them?¡± Lindsey hadn¡¯t anticipated her saying that, and she felt self-conscious. ¡°Even though I also enjoy stars and fireworks, I¡­¡± Chapter 315 As they talk, Shelia coincidentally walks past them after the ribbon-cutting.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Upon catching ine¡¯s words, she paused and scoffed, ¡°Children should be in bed at this hour. Stop daydreaming all the time! God doesn¡¯t favor naughty children. Tonight, you won¡¯t see any fireworks or a single star in the sky. ¡± After her remark, Shelia cast a disdainful nce at Lindsey. Seeing ine¡¯s eyes welling up with tears, Lindsey gently stroked her hair and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. You are a good girl. ¡± ¡°Aunt Lindsey, are there no stars tonight? Have the stars hidden from me because I did something wrong?¡± A tear rolled down ine¡¯s cheek. ¡°Nah. ¡± Lindsey wiped away the tears andforted her, ¡°It¡¯s just cloudy today, so the stars are hidden. Fireworks are usually reserved for special asions, and there are no festivals right now¡­¡± Domenic looked at Lindsey and ine and added, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Dream Amusement Park sometimes has nighttime fireworks. Maybe tonight is one of those nights. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Really? Let¡¯s give it a shot!¡± Sheliaughed as though she had heard a humorous jest and sarcastically remarked, ¡°That¡¯s amusing. Dream Amusement Park hasn¡¯t had fireworks in ages. Do you have some illusion that you own the park and can get whatever you desire? I suggest you stop daydreaming!¡± Lindsey gazed at her and retorted, ¡°Shelia, if you can¡¯t say anything nice, it¡¯s best to say nothing. No one is talking to you. ¡± ¡°Humph! I wouldn¡¯t want to talk to you anyway!¡± Shelia huffed and walked away. Since Dream Amusement Park hadn¡¯t showcased fireworks in a while, chances were slim that they¡¯d see any tonight! Upon hearing the possibility of fireworks, ine jumped up excitedly, tugging Lindsey toward the amusement park. In truth, Lindsey didn¡¯t hold much hope in her heart. From what she knew, these big amusement parks only set off fireworks during significant celebrations. On a regr day like today, it was almost impossible. Nevertheless, Lindsey brought ine back to the park. They settled on the bench and patiently waited. An hour passed, and it was already nine o¡¯clock in the evening. No fireworks graced the sky, and darkness prevailed. Lindsey approached the park staff, who confirmed that fireworks weren¡¯t on the agenda for the night. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ine. It looks like we won¡¯t see fireworks today¡­¡± Lindsey observed ine¡¯s hopeful expression gradually fading into disappointment. She nced at the nearby carousel and proposed, ¡°How about we go ride on the carousel?¡± ine lowered her head without saying a word. Lindsey held her hand and guided her toward the carousel. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t it lovely? It¡¯s just like entering a fairnd, right? ine sat on it, resembling a princess from a fairy tale perched on a prince¡¯s white horse. ¡± ine gazed up briefly. Still, she drooped her head with ack of enthusiasm. Amidst the brilliant illumination before her, Lindsey could discern glistening tears in ine¡¯s eyes. Perhaps she shouldn¡¯t have brought her here. Disappointment wouldn¡¯t have found ine if hope hadn¡¯t been kindled. She knew this well, so why didn¡¯t she firmly extinguish that hope¡­ Just then, Domenic¡¯s phone chimed with a text message. ¡°Everything is ready. ¡± Chapter 316 Domenic replied, ¡°Commence. ¡± Lindsey felt disheartened when suddenly, cries of astonishment echoed around them. ¡°Look! What¡¯s that?!¡± Lindsey lifted her gaze and directed it toward the sky. Her eyes widened in astonishment¡­ How could this be happening? The stars in the heavens seemed to awaken, illuminating the night. ¡°Why are there so many bright stars on a night like this?!¡± Out of nowhere, there was a loud bang, and the fireworks erupted into the previously tranquil starry sky, one after another. ¡°There are stars and fireworks! I can see them!¡± ine leaped with joy, arms outstretched to embrace the stunning spectacle. Every person in the amusement park came to a halt and gazed skyward. The fireworks blending with the starry sky created a picturesque and dreamy scene. The ethereal fireworks reflected in Lindsey¡¯s eyes, gleaming like crystals within them. Only Domenic didn¡¯t raise his head to watch the sky. Instead, he fixated on the radiant light in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. ¡® Lindsey had never witnessed ¡°Mr.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Walsh, there are actual firework: such a magnificent starry sky and fireworks disy before. Tears welled in her eyes as she tried to pull Domenic¡¯s arm, but his deep gaze met hers. ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t look at me. Look at the fireworks!¡± However, Domenic held the back of her neck and nted a soft ki*s on her lips, catching her by surprise. With wide eyes, Lindsey gazed into Domenic¡¯s captivating eyes, which sparkled beneath the fireworks. Following a tender ki*s, he leaned in close to her ear. His deep, maic voice radiated boundless tenderness and romance. The fireworks were breathtaking, and the starry sky shimmered. Yet he dered, ¡°The stars don¡¯t shine as brightly as you. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart raced with excitement. She sped Domenic¡¯s hand and entwined their fingers together. At that moment, beneath the starry sky and amid the fireworks, she silently made a wish. She wished to be with Domenic for eternity. And they would never be apart. Meanwhile, Shelia had returned home. As shey on her bed, she turned on her phone, eager to witness the online bacsh against Lindsey after the day¡¯s events were posted. She quickly scrolled through the tweets but discovered no news rted to today. How could this be? Chapter 317 Shelia conducted a thorough search but came up empty-handed as if today had been entirely uneventful. At that moment, a trending topic suddenly lit up her screen. ¡°Starry night and fireworks of Dream Amusement Park tonight. ¡± With trembling hands, Shelia clicked into the top trending topic, her disbelief mounting. The abundance of photos and videos left her eyes feeling strained. The beautiful fireworks, captured in the images and videos, burst brilliantly against the starry backdrop, more magnificent than any fireworks Shelia had ever witnessed. Fireworks had be a rarity at Dream Amusement Park, reserved for significant celebrations. How could Lindsey have been so fortunate? Shelia couldn¡¯t fathom how Lindsey could stumble upon a more splendid disy of fireworks and starry skies on a seemingly ordinary day. And how could there be a starry sky on a night with such weather? Shelia scrolled through thements. ¡°They used drones to create that starry sky. ¡± ¡°OMG! Look at the sheer number of drones filling the sky. How much did this cost? Dream Amusement Park must be incredibly wealthy. ¡± ¡°Is today some sort of special asion?¡± ¡°It is just an ordinary Saturday. ¡± ¡°Could this be a romantic gesture orchestrated by the owner of Dream Amusement Park for someone special?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible. We can¡¯t fathom the world of the wealthy. ¡± The starry night, the fireworks, and the suppressed news today fueled Shelia¡¯s suspicions that an influential figure stood behind Lindsey. Could it be her malepanion? Or perhaps Vincent, Sumner, or¡­ How many influential men were supporting Lindsey? Shelia¡¯s fists clenched, her nails biting into her skin. She was so jealous that she was about to go crazy. Why did Lindsey effortlessly attain everything she desired? Shelia, on the other hand, had never known the love of a father from the day she was born. She and her mother had struggled at the bottom of society, enduring mistreatment and oppression.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Later on, Shelia and Kendra moved into the Stewart residence. The moment Sheliaid eyes on Lindsey for the first time, she was taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s innocent appearance. The moment Lindsey was born, she had been living the unattainable life that Shelia could only dream of. Chapter 318 Shelia and her mother worked tirelessly in the Stewart family day in and day out. Eventually, Shelia¡¯s mother married Benny. Shelia yed the role of the obedient and dutiful daughter, sparing no effort to please Benny. She yearned for his love, hoping he would notice her more. Yet, he always looked at Lindsey with adoring eyes. No matter how hard Shelia tried, she could never measure up to Lindsey. Lindsey was Benny¡¯s cherished daughter, while Shelia felt Like a mere servant, only permitted to follow in Lindsey¡¯s shadow and amplify her glory. Jealousy, bitterness, and a sense of injustice festered within Shelia. Why did Lindsey deserve everything that had forever eluded her? Shelia refused to ept her fate. She was determined to seize everything Lindsey had. She had believed that by getting involved with Jacob, she could easily overpower Lindsey. However, every time she shed with Lindsey, it seemed that Lindsey had a knack for escaping unharmed. Strangely, Shelia often found herself in troublesome situations without any apparent reason. Previously, Shelia had dismissed these incidents as mere coincidences, but today¡¯s events left no room for doubt. ¡®s BunnyBookery Feeling deeply uneasy, Shelia swiftly dialed Chayce¡¯s number. ¡°What¡¯s taking you so long? It¡¯s been ages, and Lindsey remains unharmed. Do you still desire that million dors or not?¡± Chayce grumbled, ¡°There¡¯s a man by her side these days. I haven¡¯t found an opportunity yet. But there¡¯s no need to fret. That man won¡¯t stay by her side forever. I¡¯m determined to seize an opportunity to confront her. ¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll trust you once more. Just don¡¯t disappoint me again. ¡± After ending the call, Shelia gazed out the window at the darkened sky and vowed, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ll dismantle you, take everything from you, and strip away your pride. ¡± After the fireworks, ine fell into a deep sleep from exhaustion.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Domenic held the little girl with one hand and walked along the park with Lindsey. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I never knew you had such a knack for looking after kids. ¡± Lindsey looked sideways nce at the tall, robust man beside her. At this moment, he emanated a gentle and dependable presence akin to a protective father figure. Domenic looked back at Lindsey, reflecting on his feelings. He never liked children, yet something changed in Lindsey¡¯spany. The thought of starting a family with her began to grow on him. The idea of spending his lifetime with Lindsey filled his heart. Domenic sped her hand and asked, ¡°Did you have a good time today?¡± ¡°Absolutely. ¡± Lindsey beamed and replied, ¡°I¡¯m over the moon. Today has been the happiest day of my life. ¡± ¡°Linds. ¡± Domenic halted and gazed at Lindsey with affection. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll keep you this happy forever. Stay with me forever, okay?¡± His heartfelt derations always seemed toe unexpectedly, yet they were earnest and full of love. Chapter 319 Lindsey felt a surge of emotion. Looking at him with bright eyes, she responded, ¡°As long as you¡¯re by my side, I¡¯ll never leave. ¡± Domenic¡¯s joy was evident. He wrapped his arm around her, leaning in for a ki*s, but then he remembered he was still holding ine. He straightened up, his lips puckered in disappointment. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help butugh at his childish pout. She yfully chided, ¡°Let¡¯s not get too carried away out here. ¡± With her in his embrace, Domenic looked into her eyes and inquired, ¡°Are you suggesting we can continue this at home? Since you have dropped the hint, I won¡¯t disappoint you tonight. ¡± ¡°Domenic!¡± Lindsey blushed and feeling embarrassed, she quickly stepped away from his embrace and walked ahead with determined strides. Domenic¡¯sughter echoed behind her as he followed. ¡®s BunnyBookery They hailed a cab to Sh¡¯s apartment. Domenic decided it wasn¡¯t right for him to go up. He handed ine to Lindsey, choosing to wait downstairs. Sh had been back at her ce for about thirty minutes. She was greeted by the sound of the doorbell and opened it to find Lindsey holding a sleeping ine in her arms. Sh immediately reached out to gently take ine from her. ¡°Did ine give you a hard time today?¡± Sh asked worriedly. ¡°No, not at all. ine¡¯s a sweetheart. We enjoyed our day together. She even mentioned she wants to go out with me again!¡± Hearing this, Sh was taken aback. In the past, ine had been quite distant from everyone except her. She hadn¡¯t expected that ine would grow fond of Lindsey. But then again, Lindsey was intelligent and kind-hearted, so it made sense that ine would be fond of her. Sh carefully tucked ine into bed and settled down on the living room sofa with Lindsey. ¡°Sh, how was your day? Did things go well with Ms. Garcia?¡± Lindsey asked, full of curiosity. Sh¡¯s warm smile was mixed with excitement. ¡°She is indeed a globally recognized professor. As you know, I¡¯ve been out of acting for several years and gotten a bit rusty. There were several issues with my performance, and she patiently pointed them out individually.From N?velDrama.Org. She even created a personalized training program just for me. Now, I feel much more confident. Give me more time, and I¡¯ll surpass my previous abilities! She also said I could go to her to learn acting any time before the audition. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled with relief and happiness for her friend. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! You have to grab this chance to fine-tune your skills. You will do great!¡± With Ruby¡¯s guidance, Sh was sure to ace the audition! After leaving Sh¡¯s ce, Lindsey couldn¡¯t wait to call Ruby and express her gratitude. Domenic was waiting for her downstairs. Lindsey approached him, still talking with Ruby on the phone. Domenic could tell from her conversation that she was speaking to Ruby. Chapter 320 Lindsey seemed to have a close connection with Ruby.From N?velDrama.Org. Domenic¡¯s expression shifted subtly, a frown forming. Once they arrived home, Domenic took a shower, and Lindsey settled on the sofa with a book to read. Her phone suddenly rang. Seeing Paige¡¯s name on the screen, Lindsey quickly sat up and answered. Paige¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s Sunday tomorrow! I¡¯m nning a trip to a nearby city with a few friends to enjoy a hot spring. Would you like toe along?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Lindsey was taken aback by Paige¡¯s sudden invitation. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that¡¯s a good idea. Before the audition, Mr. Lopez advised against¡­ ¡°My husband might not want to see you, but he didn¡¯t mention anything about me seeing you. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s just our close friends this time. No outsiders. They won¡¯t cause any trouble. Plus, there are senior agents present. It will expand your connections and benefit your future endeavors. ¡± Paige¡¯s gracious invitation left Lindsey torn, the prospect of interacting with seasoned senior agents whom she believed she could learn a great deal from made refusing the invitation a difficult choice. With that consideration, Lindsey epted Paige¡¯s offer. Moments after she concluded the call, Domenic emerged from the bathroom, stepping out through the door. He stood drying his wet hair with a towel, his taut waist adorned with a bath towel that revealed the well-defined eight-pack of his upper body. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard at the sight. Every time she caught a glimpse of his physique, she couldn¡¯t help but marvel at his fitness, her face flushing and heart racing. Their eyes met as Domenic lifted his head. Flustered, Lindsey grabbed a book to shield her burning face. Arge hand gently took the book from her grasp. Domenic, noticing her embarrassment, charmingly remarked, ¡°Enjoy reading upside down?¡± ¡°What?¡± Confused, Lindsey realized she had held the book the wrong way earlier when she was distracted. ¡°Well, I¡­ Sometimes I practice reading upside down¡­¡± The scene unfolds with Lindsey feeling so flustered that her words slipped out without her awareness. It was so embarrassing. She wished she could vanish into thin air. Seating himself beside Lindsey, Domenic¡¯s still-damp body emitted a subtle water vapor, a pleasant scent enveloping her space. Resting his arm on the sofa behind her, Domenic remarked, ¡°I believe you might prefer gazing at me. . rather than reading¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t anticipate such narcissism. Men¡¯s upper bodies are all the same, nothing extraordinary,¡± Lindsey replied, averting her eyes, hesitant to confront Domenic¡¯s strong chest muscles. ¡°Look at me,¡± Domenic whispered into her ear. Chapter 321 ¡°No. ¡± ¡°Turn around,¡± Domenicmanded. He pinched Lindsey¡¯s delicate chin, forcibly guiding her face to meet his.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. His handsome visage appeared before her,plemented by his perfect physique of broad shoulders and a taut waist, radiating unparalleled masculinity. Lindsey felt her face flush once more. Observing the evident shift in her expression, Domenic released a deep chuckle. Anticipating another tease, Lindsey was surprised when Domenic¡¯s tone turned serious. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ll be incredibly busy in the next couple of days. I won¡¯t be able to apany you like this starting tomorrow. I might not even return at night. ¡± Lindseyposed herself, meeting Domenic¡¯s gaze. ¡°Okay, take care of yourself. Don¡¯t overexert. ¡± ¡°I thought you¡¯d protest against parting with me,¡± Domenic remarked, gently brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. Lindsey wasn¡¯t one to act coyly or cling to others casually. Even if she hesitated to part from him, she concealed her emotions to ensure Domenic remained focused on his work. Lindsey¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°Don¡¯t tter yourself. I¡¯d be better off if you didn¡¯t return. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± Holding her shoulders, Domenic pressed her against the sofa. ¡°Not something I want to hear. Your mouth is in dire need of a lesson. ¡± Then he ki*sed Lindsey on her Lips. Later that night, while Lindsey slept, he ventured alone onto the living room balcony and dialed Arturo¡¯s number. ¡°Domenic, it¡¯s a bit unsettling for you to call me in the middle of the night. ¡± Arturo¡¯s voice promptly greeted him through the receiver. ¡°I met Sh¡¯s daughter today,¡± Domenic stated inly. ¡°Her daughter¡¯s name is ine. Her eyes remind me of you. ¡± ¡°ine¡­¡± Arturo repeated in a low voice. With no further words, Domenic ended the call. The next morning, when Lindsey awoke, she discovered that Domenic had departed. The memory of their previous night¡¯s closeness brought a flush to Lindsey¡¯s cheeks. The thought of not seeing him in the days ahead sparked an indescribable sense of loss and loneliness within her. Shaking off her thoughts, she rose to freshen up. Today, she had nned to visit a hot spring with Paige. Swiftly gathering her belongings, Lindsey left the apartment. She boarded a bus bound for the neighboring city. Sharp at one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, she arrived at the hot spring resort Paige had mentioned, right on schedule. It was an opulent hot spring resort. Chapter 322 The steam from the hot spring enveloped the entire resort, creating a heavenly atmosphere. Lindsey called Paige, who promptly dispatched someone to escort her to the rxation area-a unique little courtyard adorned with Lush flowers and nts. ¡°Lindsey, why don¡¯t you rx for a bit? We can head out to enjoy the hot springter. ¡± Paige conveyed over the phone. As dusk descended, Lindsey¡¯s phone chimed. ¡°Lindsey, we¡¯re awaiting your arrival at the central hot spring. Remember to change into your bathing suit. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Paige seemed unusually enigmatic today, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it. After hanging up, she slipped into the swimsuit she had brought along and headed out. She preferred not to expose too much skin. Beneath her bikini, she wore a light veil that dr@ped over her graceful figure. Guided by a server, Lindsey reached the central hot spring-a circr pool nestled amid a forest, its perimeter lined with cobblestones. Yet, as Lindsey surveyed the surroundings, she found no sign of anyone. Assuming Paige and the others might be on their way, she settled alone by the hot spring, dipping her feet into the warm water. Aforting sensation spread through her as the warmth enveloped her from below. ¡°Lindsey. ¡± Out of the blue, a man¡¯s voice emanated from behind her. Startled, Lindsey leaped from the hot spring¡¯s edge and tumbled into the water. Her wrist was seized, leading to both of them tumbling into the hot spring simultaneously. Lindsey fought to raise her head above the water, sputtering and coughing as she struggled to breathe. Across from her, the man also stood up. He wiped his face and inquired with concern, ¡°Lindsey, are you alright?¡± Lindsey opened her eyes to find Sumner¡¯s handsome face approaching before her. ¡°Sumner? You- What are you doing here?¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey eximed in surprise, realizing they were alone in a hot spring. She quickly retreated a few steps. Sumner¡¯s hair was soaked, and water droplets adorned his sturdy physique. He looked at Lindsey. Her long hair was drenched, clinging to her cheeks. Water droplets traced a path down her rosy cheeks while the veil grasped her form, revealing hints of her smooth skin. Sumner blushed and hastily averted his gaze, scratching his forehead with embarrassment. ¡°Paige invited me toe here. I didn¡¯t expect to find you. ¡± ¡°Mrs. Lopez?¡± Lindsey furrowed her brow in puzzlement but soon grasped the reason behind Paige¡¯s invitation. Chapter 323 She sighed helplessly, turned on her heels, and went to the shore. A bath towel hanging on the wall was quickly dr@ped over her. Sumner was wrapped in a bath towel, joined Lindsey on the shore, and settled into a wooden chair beside the hot spring. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Mrs. Lopez arrived yet?¡± Lindsey broached the subject, breaking the tension between them. ¡°Oh, she said she¡¯d be here shortly. ¡± Sumner¡¯s gaze kept drifting toward Lindsey, then averting. In truth, he was also in the dark about the situation. He hade here solely at Paige¡¯s request. Sumner hadn¡¯t anticipated that Paige would also extend the invitation to Lindsey. At that moment, a sneeze emanated from beside him. Sumner swiftly removed his bath towel and dr@ped it over Lindsey¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Are you feeling cold? Don¡¯t catch a cold. ¡± Paige and the others, entering from the hot spring¡¯s entrance, witnessed the scene. Paige grinned, convinced that her choice was a clever move to strengthen the bond between Lindsey and Sumner. ¡°Lindsey, my apologies for the dy. ¡± Upon hearing Paige¡¯s voice, Lindsey promptly rose to her feet, greeting them with a smile. Thedies apanying Paige all regarded Lindsey and Sumner with delighted expressions. ¡°Lindsey and Sumner make such a lovely pair. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, let me share a secret. I¡¯ve watched Sumner grow up; he¡¯s remarkably gentle and sensible. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re truly fortunate. It¡¯s the first time Paige has invited a youngdy Like you. She must hold you in high regard. ¡± ¡°Thank you. ¡± Faced with thesepliments, Lindsey could only nod with a gracious smile and offer her thanks repeatedly. Honestly, she felt uneasy and wished to escape as soon as possible. Sumner could tell Lindsey was feeling out of ce. He approached and greeted thedies with a warm smile. ¡°Standing in this cold must be ufortable for youdies. Wouldn¡¯t it be nicer to chat in the warmth of the hot spring?¡± Thedies looked at Sumner gratefully and one of them said, ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re always so thoughtful. Let¡¯s head to the hot spring. ¡± Then, thedies led Lindsey along with them into the hot spring. Sumner nced at Lindsey¡¯s charming, damp face, feeling hesitant to leave. Yet, he also felt awkward about joining thedies in the hot spring, so he offered, ¡°You enjoy the hot spring.N?velDrama.Org owns this. I¡¯ll go order dinner for everyone. ¡± With that, he left. Chapter 324 Paige then introduced Lindsey to the affluent women present. Among them were former top agents in the entertainment industry who had retired after marrying wealthy men. Lindsey eagerly took this chance to learn from their experiences. Meanwhile, at the Walsh Group building. While Domenic was in a meeting inside the conference room, his phone started to ring. He picked up the phone and asked coldly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Boss, Lindsey¡¯s at a hot spring resort in the neighboring city, and Sumner is¡­ there as well¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s once expressionless face turned somber in an instant, and he instinctively clutched the phone tighter in his hand. Had Lindsey really taken off to the hot spring with Sumner, and even chosen a ce in a neighboring city? Did she do this to avoid crossing paths with him here? Just the night before, he had informed her of his busy schedule, preventing his return. And now, had she quickly nned a meeting with Sumner? Was she lying to him all along? Could it be that something had actually happened between her and Sumner? Domenic massaged his forehead, attempting to suppress any mistrust towards Lindsey. Yet, the current scenario fueled his doubts. The mere thought of Lindsey and Sumner sharing the same hot spring was enough to push Domenic to the edge. Noticing his somber expression, everyone in the meeting room remained silent, too intimidated to even breathe freely. Then, unexpectedly, Domenic stood up from his seat, causing a stir among the attendees. He quickly assigned the rest of the meeting to the vice president and exited the room briskly, leaving a trail of astonished gazes behind.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The attendees in the meeting room murmured to each other. ¡°What just happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But he seemed really angry, so it¡¯s got to be something important. ¡± ¡°Anyone who upsets him is in for trouble. We should all be extra cautioustely. Stay out of any mess. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± By six in the evening, after her time in the hot spring, Lindsey returned to her room to slip into more rxed attire and then headed to the restaurant for dinner with Paige and her friends. Sumner had already arranged a spread of delicious cuisines in the dining room. He was dressed in a white, casual suit, his sleeves casually rolled up. When Lindsey arrived, Sumner courteously pulled out a chair for her. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you like to eat, so I ordered a variety of the house specialties. Please try them. ¡± Then he pulled out the chair next to Lindsey and sat down. Chapter 325 Lindsey responded with a polite smile. ¡°Thank you, Sumner. ¡± She then exchanged greetings with Paige seated across from them. Paige couldn¡¯t contain her smile as she watched Sumner¡¯s thoughtful and gentle ways while he attended to Lindsey. Thinking about her godson, who was both kind and good-looking, not to mention aplished, she mused that any girl would be lucky to have him.From N?velDrama.Org. She was certain Lindsey would eventually develop feelings for him. After a while, thedies came one after another and began to have dinner. Throughout the meal, Sumner attentively served Lindsey, ensuring she wasn¡¯t ufortable or struggling to eat. He also shared various intriguing experiences from his time studying overseas. Noticing Lindsey¡¯s initial unease gradually transforming into a rxed smile, Sumner felt a sense of satisfaction. Once dinner was over, Paige nced at Lindsey and Sumner and suggested warmly, ¡°I need to spend some time chatting with thesedies. You young ones should enjoy yourselves a bit. Don¡¯t feel obliged to stick with us the whole time. The night scenery here is quite stunning. Sumner, why don¡¯t you take Lindsey for a stroll?¡± ¡°Alright. Shall we go, Lindsey?¡± Sumner stood up and looked at her. Lindsey agreed with a nod and bid farewell to Paige and the otherdies. She then left alongside Sumner. Lindsey let out a breath of relief. She was finally at ease. Although she had crossed paths with Paige multiple times, this was her first time joining her for fun and leisure. The experience had been a bit nerve-wracking. ¡°Lindsey, she is quiteid-back, you know. You don¡¯t have to be overly formal around her. ¡± Sumner gazed at Lindsey¡¯s calm expression. ¡°I never imagined you¡¯re Vincent and Paige¡¯s godson. What¡¯s your family involved in? Are you also in the movie industry?¡± Lindsey and Sumner strolled out, deep in conversation. A sad smile crossed Sumner¡¯s face, and his eyes seemed to cloud over. ¡°I never met my parents. My Mom died giving birth to me, and my Dad left, remarried, and never looked back. The Lopez couple adopted me and raised me. They mean the world to me. ¡± Hearing this, Lindsey paused. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Sumner had such a miserable life story. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sumner. I had no idea you had experienced all of that¡­ At that moment, they had wandered to a scenic spot in the resort, surrounded by strips of soft lighting. The purple hues painted a stunning and surreal picture. Sumner stopped, pivoted, and cast a soft gaze upon her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. There¡¯s no secrecy in it. I¡¯ve grown ustomed to it. Moreover, if you¡¯re curious about my family, I¡¯m actually¡­ very d. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t quite grasp his meaning. She raised her bright eyes and gazed at him. Sumner¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he met her gaze. His tender countenance overflowed with affection, and he couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°Lindsey, if you wish to know, I¡¯ll share everything with you. I won¡¯t keep anything hidden because¡­¡± ¡°Sumner. ¡± Lindsey quickly cut him off, her lower lip caught between her teeth. After a brief moment, she met Sumner¡¯s gaze with determination and confessed, ¡°Actually, I already have a boyfriend. ¡± Sumner¡¯s smile froze suddenly. Even though he suspected it, hearing Lindsey¡¯s words felt like a heavy blow to his heart, leaving him momentarily breathless. Chapter 326 He quickly masked his feelings, offering a bright, somewhat forced smile. ¡°Why bring this up out of the blue? Do you think I was about to confess my feelings for you?¡± Lindsey gazed at him and inquired, ¡°You¡¯re¡­ not?¡± Sumner¡¯s heart sank, but he feigned indifference. ¡°No, not at all. I just wanted you to know that I shared my family story because I consider you a dear friend. Friends should always be straightforward with each other, don¡¯t you think?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Lindsey let out a relieved sigh upon hearing this. She had been worried that Sumner might confess his feelings to her, so she had hastily mentioned having a boyfriend to avoid any awkwardness. Now she realized she had misunderstood him and scratched her head awkwardly. ¡°Well, you probably noticed Mrs. Lopez¡¯s intentions in bringing us here today. I appreciate her kindness, but I¡¯m already in a rtionship, so when you mentioned that earlier, I thought¡­¡± Despite her embarrassment, Lindsey appeared more at ease. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sumner. I misunderstood you. Thankfully, you see me as just a friend. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t know how to face you in the future. ¡± Sumner¡¯s fingers tightened, and the smile on his lips seemed forced. He hesitated before gently asking, ¡°Is your boyfriend the guy who pulled you away that day?¡± Lindsey understood he was referring to Kristy¡¯s birthday party night and slightly nodded. Sumner gazed at her and remarked, ¡°But didn¡¯t you mention at the party that you weren¡¯t engaged and didn¡¯t have a boyfriend?¡± Lindsey hurriedly rified, ¡°The situation between me and him isplicated. What I mentioned at the party was true, but it¡¯s also true that I¡¯m with him now. I never deceived you. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner grasped that something must have urred between them after the guy took Lindsey away that night. Sumner suddenly regretted his decision. If he had held onto Lindsey that night instead of letting her go, maybe everything would be different now. Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Sumner looked at Lindsey and gently asked, ¡°Lindsey, how well do you know Domenic? What do his parents do? Howrge is his family, and what¡¯s their dynamic? Where does he work, and what¡¯s his ie? Any insight into his savings? Has he ever introduced you to his family or friends? Is he in this rtionship to build a future with you, or is he merely ying a game?¡± Lindsey, taken aback, squinted her eyes. Sumner¡¯s words left her bewildered; she didn¡¯t know the details he mentioned. She had never dwelled on such thoughts during her time with Domenic. When she discovered Domenic was the man she had shared an intimate night with at the Harmony Hotel, her focus had been on being happy. They shared a mutual liking and a sense of need for each other, and Lindsey believed this was sufficient. However, faced with Summer¡¯s questions, she suddenly realized she didn¡¯t know much concerning Domenic, apart from knowing his name and that he worked for a certain boss. Furthermore, she had never heard Domenic talk about his family or friends. Chapter 327 Yet, she replied, ¡°We have just started dating. I¡¯ll learn about these things gradually. ¡± Inwardly, Lindsey sought sce and reassurance. Sumner responded with a gentle smile. ¡°True friends are open with each other; the same goes for lifelong partners. If I like someone, I¡¯d share every detail about myself without hesitation. Do you grasp what I mean?¡± Pinching her fingers, Lindsey replied, ¡°I appreciate your concern. Thank you for being so thoughtful. ¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Staring at Lindsey¡¯s pale countenance, Sumner sighed, ¡°It¡¯s good that you understand. As your friend, I sincerely wish for your happiness. Maybe I¡¯m overthinking. By the way, it¡¯ste, and you have work tomorrow. Go and say goodbye to thedies. I¡¯ll drive you home since cabs are scarce at this hour. ¡± Lindsey stood frozen, her thoughts in disarray as she nodded nkly. After bidding Paige and the otherdies farewell, Lindsey returned to her room, packed her things, and left the resort. On the way, Lindsey appeared distracted, her mind still grappling with Sumner¡¯s recent revtion, leaving her feeling somewhat lightheaded. Approaching the steps outside the resort, Lindsey seemed lost in thought. She tripped and nearly fell, but Sumner quickly caught her in time. Noticing her paleplexion, Sumner expressed concern, asking, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lindsey replied, forcing a smile. ¡°Let me help you down,¡± Sumner offered, fearing Lindsey would fall again. He gently held her arm, guiding her down the steps. Meanwhile, upon reaching the resort¡¯s gate, Domenic abruptly halted. His attention was captured by the sight of Sumner and Lindsey descending the steps together. Sumner supported Lindsey, guarding her with care. asionally, she nced up at him, her bright eyes reflecting a softness. They strolled side by side, a picturesque scene unfolding. Domenic, witnessing this, felt a twinge in his eyes. When Lindsey, on the verge of expressing her gratitude to Sumner after descending the stairs, noticed Domenic¡¯s piercing gaze upon them. She lifted her head and saw Domenic standing before her. His deep, narrow eyes exuded a chill. He sported a ck shirt today, the thin fabric of his coat entuating the alignment of his broad chest and shoulders. Two buttons beneath his neck were undone, and his sleeves were casually rolled up, exposing his arms. This added to his mature, cold demeanor. Lindsey withdrew her arm from Sumner¡¯s grasp, her eyebrows twisting. ¡°Mr. Walsh. ¡± She trotted over to Domenic, stopping before him. Surprise and amazement shimmered in her eyes. Chapter 328 ¡°What brings you here?¡± One hand casually tucked in his trouser pocket, Domenic extended his arm to envelop Lindsey¡¯s waist. ¡°I was here with my boss for a client meeting, but I didn¡¯t anticipate to meet you here. Are you here for the hot springs? With him?¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze, cold and calcting, shifted towards Sumner as he spoke. Lindsey quickly tried to clear up the misunderstanding with Domenic. ¡°Mrs. Lopez invited me here today. I didn¡¯t know Sumner would be here until I arrived. ¡± Domenic grinned, and in his eyes, Lindsey noticed¡­ doubt. Lindsey understood that Domenic had never been friendly with Sumner. On top of that, their scandal was still making headlines. She got where he wasing from, but hisck of trust still left a tinge of sadness in her. Then Sumner joined them, offering a smile to Domenic. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, sir. Lindsey and I are just friends. Today¡¯s meeting was purely idental. I was surprised to see her here, too. ¡± Sumner gave Lindsey a yful nce and continued, ¡°But what¡¯s surprising is how often you appear when I¡¯m with Lindsey. It¡¯s Like she has a tracker on her. Is it fate, or is it something else¡­¡± Sumner¡¯s casualment sparked an instant feud between them. Domenic shot Sumner a chilly look and narrowed his eyes. Lindsey felt uneasy at Sumner¡¯s words. Why did she keep running into Domenic no matter where she went? A chance meeting or two could be luck, but as their encounters piled up, it started to look mighty fishy. It was hard to believe there were so many twists of fate in this world. Lindsey nced at Domenic and saw him giving Sumner a frosty stare, tension hanging in the air. Domenic scoffed, ¡°Well, they were all just lucky idents. You two might as well ¡®coincidentally¡¯ meet at a hot spring resort. It¡¯s not surprising for me to be present here, is it?¡± Lindsey picked up on the hidden meaning in his words and the barely concealed hostility in his demeanor. To defuse the situation, she tugged Domenic¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Are you heading back tonight? I have work tomorrow, and there¡¯s no bus back at thiste hour. Sumner offered me a lift, but now that you¡¯re here if you¡¯re also returning¡­¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Before Lindsey could finish speaking, Domenic pulled her into a warm embrace. Lindsey gently nestled into his arms. Her light, alluring scent seemed to draw men in effortlessly. Domenic held Lindsey¡¯s delicate shoulder, enclosing her in his strong embrace. He looked at her somewhat startled face and said, ¡°You¡¯ve got a man. Why would you need anyone else?¡± Resting against his chest, Lindsey looked up and blinked innocently. Chapter 329 ¡°But if you drive me back, won¡¯t your boss mind?¡± Domenic responded, ¡°I¡¯ve wrapped up my tasks. I¡¯ve got some free time on my hands now. ¡± Lindsey gave a subtle nod, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that it was just too much of a lucky coincidence to run into Domenic here, with his work all done and ready to give her a ride back. Lindsey had many questions but chose not to voice them in front of Sumner. With Domenic present, she no longer needed Sumner¡¯s help.N?velDrama.Org owns this. She turned to Sumner, ¡°Since my boyfriend is here, I won¡¯t need your ride home. You should get back to Mrs. Lopez. Thanks for the offer, still. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± As Sumner gazed at Domenic¡¯s frosty expression, he couldn¡¯t shake the idea that Domenic showing up here was far from a random twist of fate. Sumner felt a touch of concern for Lindsey. He took a step forward, positioning himself in front of Domenic. He didn¡¯t want any misconceptions because of him, so he stressed, ¡°There¡¯s absolutely nothing going on between me and her. I hope you can trust her and not give her a hard time when you both head back. ¡± Listening to Sumner¡¯s exnation, which sounded like an excuse to him, Domenic tightened his lips and cast a sidelong nce. ¡°Stay out of our business and keep your distance from her. ¡± His tone carried disdain and caution from someone in authority. Sumner¡¯s expression tightened. He couldn¡¯t shake off a certain feeling. He stared at Domenic, defending his stance, ¡°Lindsey is my friend. I won¡¯t stand by if she¡¯s treated wrong!¡± With a cold snort, Domenic looked at Sumner impassively, his eyes deep and unfathomable in the moonlight. ¡°She is my girlfriend, and I am her man. What happens between us is none of your concern. ¡± Domenic¡¯s deration held a strong meaning. Sumner was rooted to the spot, words failing himpletely. All he could do was stare as Domenic walked away with Lindsey in his embrace, his hands balling into fists of frustration. After they were out of view, Sumner¡¯s fists struck the wall in anguish, leaving behind a bloodstained imprint. Learning that Sumner and Lindsey had gone to a hot spring resort together, Domenic stormed out of his meeting and drove there as fast as he could. Imagining Lindsey with Sumner, shedding her coat for the springs, ignited a fierce jealousy in Domenic, obliterating his usualposed demeanor. He was fraught with fear and anxiety. He dreaded being toote, the thought of Lindsey being with someone else unbearable. He floored the elerator, the biting cold wind cutting through his clothes, unable to cool his heated emotions. He nearly collided with an oing car due to his speed, but managed to avert a crash at thest second. His palms were drenched in sweat, and in that moment, he grasped the horror of losing control, a stark reminder of the day eighteen years prior when he lost his parents. A mix of sadness, anger, helplessness, and confusion welled up within him, trapped in his chest, threatening to unleash his inner demons. Chapter 330 He finally pulled over, stepped out, and lit a cigarette. As he inhaled amidst the city lights, his turmoil began to subside. Years had taught him to manage his emotions quickly. His exterior remained calm, but a deep-seated loneliness within him had been growing. It was Lindsey who had prated his closely guarded heart, and now, the fear of losing her grew significant. Having spent a considerable amount of time alone on the road, Domenic reached the entrance of the hot spring resort. As he approached, his usual calm demeanor returned. ¡°Your car¡­¡± Lindsey, trailing behind Domenic, halted in front of a silver-gray Bugatti. The car¡¯s license te caught her attention, and she found herself momentarily transfixed. ¡°It belongs to my boss,¡± Domenic said, his tone nonchnt. He then opened the driver¡¯s side door and settled into the seat. With a careful touch, Lindsey opened the passenger door and seated herself, mindful not to damage the Luxury car. She had always suspected that Domenic¡¯s employer was no ordinary man, but the sight of the car confirmed he must be quite influential. Driven by curiosity and recalling Sumner¡¯s advice from earlier that day, Lindsey decided to probe a little. ¡°What kind of business does your boss run?¡± ¡°He owns apany,¡± Domenic answered, his voice carrying a dismissive edge that made Lindsey¡¯s spirits falter. He had been sparing with words, much like when they first met. She sensed the same aloofness, an invisible barrier that seemed to keep others at a distance. Did he prefer not to engage in conversation with her? Was he deliberately keeping her from learning too much about his life and the people in it? Lindsey nced at the man. His face was handsome but stormy with a coldness that seemed to chill the air around him. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± she asked in a gentle voice. ¡°No,¡± Domenic replied curtly, not even giving her a nce as he started the car with a swift turn of the key. Lindsey clenched her hands and pressed her Lips together, looking out the window in a huff and deciding not to speak to him anymore. Domenic drove with one hand on the steering wheel, guiding the car with smooth turns. The rare Bugatti flew down the road, surrounded by an oppressive silence. Back at the resort¡¯s lounge, Sumner ran into Paige. ¡°Sumner, weren¡¯t you supposed to see Lindsey off? Why are you back so soon?¡± Paige asked, surprised. ¡°Her boyfriend came to pick her up. No need for me to stay,¡± Sumner replied casually. ¡°What?¡± Paige¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°Lindsey has a boyfriend? I thought she was single!¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She hadn¡¯t been in a rtionship before, but now she has a boyfriend,¡± Sumner confessed with a hint of mncholy, heading toward his room. As he passed Paige, he paused, fixing his gaze on her. ¡°Please, don¡¯t concern yourself with my affairs. I can manage them on my own. I hope you won¡¯t inadvertently create misunderstandings next time. ¡± Chapter 331 Following that, Sumner was about to return to his room. Paige detected a note of reproach in his voice. Was he holding her responsible for orchestrating Lindsey¡¯s invitation and trying to match-make them? Paige grabbed Sumner¡¯s arm, seeking answers. ¡°Sumner, be honest with me. Do you have feelings for Lindsey?¡± Knowing Sumner inside out, Paige recognized his charm and kindness. Despite having numerous admirers over the years, she had never witnessed him looking at any girl the same way he looked at Lindsey. It was akin to the way Everleigh used to look at Brady Lawson. Sumner, his eyes covered by his curled bangs, stood in silence. Yet, his quietude spoke volumes to Paige. Understanding his feelings for Lindsey, Paige patted Sumner on the back. ¡°If you like her, go after her. Even if she¡¯s married, there¡¯s a possibility of a divorce. At the moment, she¡¯s just dating someone. It¡¯s uncertain whether she¡¯ll end up marrying that man. Are you familiar with her boyfriend? What is his family background and personality like? Is he a suitable match for Lindsey, capable of making her happy? Lindsey is incredibly pure and innocent. She might be vulnerable to the charm of deceitful words from men. Can you bear to witness her with someone unsuitable, potentially leading her down a regrettable path and wasting her life?¡± Sumner, lowering his head, reyed the scene where Lindsey took a bus with Domenic in his mind. It appeared that man could only provide her with a modest life. Despite this, he respected her choices. Softly, he replied to Paige, ¡°I can¡¯t bring myself to interfere in Lindsey¡¯s love life. ¡± With that, Sumner drew his arm and walked away. Disappointed, Paige yelled behind him, ¡°If you don¡¯t fight for your happiness, no one else can help you! You¡¯re as reticent as your mother!¡± Upon hearing this, Sumner abruptly halted and turned back to gaze at Paige. Despite Sumner¡¯s outwardly sunny and cheerful demeanor, he harbored a sensitive and reservThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ed nature. Consequently, Paige seldom broached the topic of his mother in his presence. Her tongue slipped, and she instantly regretted it. ¡°Did my mother really die in an ident? What was her life like when she was alive?¡± Sumner asked tentatively, gazing at Paige. ¡®s BunnyBookery Paige averted her gaze, refraining from making eye contact with him. She had never disclosed the truth about Sumner¡¯s parentage-that his mother was Everleigh Pearson, a renowned diva, and his father was Brady Lawson, the head of the Lawson family, the second-ranking n among the top four. Everleigh¡¯s demise was not idental; it was a tragic suicide. In the prime of her youth, she took a fatal leap from a thirty-floor building. The Walsh family, leaders of the top four ns, was powerful. To join this powerful family through marriage, Brady pushed Everleigh to her tragic end. The harsh truth weighed heavily on Paige, who couldn¡¯t disclose the cruel details to Sumner. She believed he deserved to live his own life without being burdened by the grudges of the past generation. She wished for him to break free from his mother¡¯s tragic destiny and embrace a life of freedom and joy. Paige wanted Sumner to courageously pursue his own happiness. Everleigh had a brief and troubled life marked by depression. Paige was determined to spare Sumner from sharing his mother¡¯s fate. Paige rubbed her temples and averted his gaze, saying, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss. Let¡¯s leave the past behind. I¡¯m feeling a bit weary. I¡¯ll head back to bed now. Good night. ¡± With that, she turned around and returned to her room. Each time Sumner mentioned his mother, Paige skillfully sidestepped the topic. She was clearly hiding something from him. Chapter 332 As Sumner watched Paige¡¯s figure gradually disappear, he stood in the wind for an extended period, lost in thought. During their journey home, Lindsey and Domenic maintained a silent atmosphere, exchanging no words. The moment Domenic stepped into the apartment, he slipped on his slippers, headed straight for the bathroom, and securely locked the door behind him. Domenic turned on the tap, repeatedly sshing cold water on his face. With his hands on either side of the sink, he let the water trickle down his face, attempting to ease the tension. He undid the button on his cor, making a conscious effort to quell the anger fueled by feelings of jealousy and suspicion. He took several deep breaths and dried his face with a towel before opening the bathroom door. Upon opening the door, he found Lindsey waiting for him at the door. Lindsey and Domenic exchanged looks, each gauging the other. After a brief silence, Lindsey was the first to speak.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do you really think my meeting with Sumner today was no coincidence? Do you believe I intentionally met him without your knowledge?¡± Domenic observed Lindsey, who defiantly held her head high, her face showing clear grievance and her eyes slightly red. Domenic felt a sharp twinge of pain. What was he to say? Denying it would mean deceiving her, and acknowledging it would indicate doubts. He didn¡¯t want to doubt her, nor did he want to lie to her. Domenic pressed his Lips together, choosing not to respond. He moved past Lindsey, heading for the Living room. ¡°Domenic Walsh!¡± Lindsey chased after him, blocking his path. ¡°If you¡¯re upset, speak up. Don¡¯t just walk away without saying anything. I really don¡¯t Like that about you!¡± Domenic halted abruptly, his pain turning into a bitter smile. He turned around, facing Lindsey with a forced smile, and said, ¡°You don¡¯t Like that about me? What do you like then? A man like Sumner?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You are being unreasonable!¡± He was being unreasonable? He had been holding back his anger, trying to consider her feelings, nning to internalize it alone. Did she understand the kind of person he was? That only Lindsey could drive him to such extremes! How could she use him of being unreasonable? Chapter 333 Hisughter was tinged with anger as he approached her, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. ¡°Let me ask you. You knew Sumner is Paige¡¯s godson and she¡¯s keen on you being Sumner¡¯s girlfriend. She invited you to the hot spring resort. Given the Likelihood of Sumner being there, why did you still go? Why didn¡¯t you ask in advance?¡± Lindsey found herself a bit stunned by his question. Previously, Paige had mentioned she would be joining a group of prominent female agents in the industry. She was so focused on getting acquainted with the industry seniors that the thought of Sumner being there hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind. She hadn¡¯t considered asking Paige about his presence. Lindsey never intended to get connected with Vincent through Sumner. And she always perceived Paige¡¯s remarks about pairing her up with Sumner as nothing more than light-hearted banter, not to be taken seriously. ¡®s BunnyBookery It wasn¡¯t until today, when Paige orchestrated a scenario to bring her and Sumner together, that she fully grasped just how much Paige liked her. Yet, even if she tried to rify, it felt like she was telling a lie. Lindsey¡¯s mouth moved, but she was at a loss for how to respond. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s hesitation to speak, Domenic understood that he had hit the nail on the head. With a hint of irony, he asked, ¡°Lindsey, were you eager to see Sumner there? Is that why you¡¯re in a hurry just to meet him?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened as she gazed at Sumner, her eyshes fluttering. Raising her voice, she protested, ¡°I never thought about that! I told you before that I had no idea Sumner would be there. I never even considered it. He and I are just friends. There¡¯s nothing more to it. Why can¡¯t you have faith in me? Domenic¡¯s eyes showed a hint of redness. He pulled out his phone, disying the photos from the trending news, and scoffed, ¡°You were dancing with him and having dinners. He drove you homete, even tenderly removed a leaf from your hair. Now you sneak off to the hot spring resort with him while I¡¯m away. You im you¡¯re just friends and nothing happened? How am I supposed to believe that?¡± Lindsey was shocked. How did Domenic know so much about their whereabouts? He even knew that time when Sumner had helped her brush off a fallen leaf from her hair in the neighborhood. It was such a small and specific detail. She stared at him, bewildered. ¡°How do you know all this? Have you been following me all this time?¡± Lindsey realized it wasn¡¯t a mere coincidence that she bumped into Domenic so often. She suspected these encounters were his doing. Domenic¡¯s chest rose and fell with intense anger. In a moment of anger, he had revealed the fact that he had someone following her. Lindsey saw his earlier fierce attitude suddenly vanish, confirming her suspicions.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. It was clear to her now; that Domenic had been following her movements, never really trusting her. Lindsey lost her bnce and took two steps back. She suddenly felt that the man in front of her was a bit frightening to her. With a shaky voice, Lindsey confronted him, ¡°Was everything you said about believing me just a trick to soothe me? You¡¯ve never truly trusted me. You¡¯ve been doubting me all this time. How could you track me like that? It makes me sick!¡± Domenic suddenly froze in ce. Tears of disappointment and fear filled Lindsey¡¯s eyes. The reality hit Domenic like a ssh of cold water, calming his anger and recing it with a sense of helpless panic and a sharp ache in his heart. Chapter 334 He realized he had made her feel disgusted. In her eyes, he must seem like a creepy, hateful stalker. Domenic wanted to exin himself, but he found himself at a loss for words. He had to admit she was right. He had doubted her intentions from the start, and even after they got together, he suspected she was cheating on him. He despised himself for doubting her so much. Domenic took a step forward and tried to hold her hand, but Lindsey stepped back with fear, as if he was a beast that could bite her at any time. The mix of fear and disappointment in her eyes pierced his heart. He realized with a sinking feeling that he might be losing her. Lindsey gave Domenic a sad, ironic smile and said, I¡¯ve always trusted and liked you, never questioning your private matters. But now, I¡¯m starting to doubt if I really know what kind of person you are. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed with intensity. He moved swiftly, seizing her wrist and gently pinning Lindsey against the wine cab in the living room. A few wine bottles in the cab rattled before one tumbled to the floor with a series of cracking noises. The wine spilled out, forming a pool beneath their feet. Yet, Domenic remained still.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. He leaned in and enveloped Lindsey in a tight embrace. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Lindsey protested, trying to free herself. Despite her efforts to break free, Domenic didn¡¯t let go. He was terrified that she might run away if he let go of her. He was afraid that he would lose her forever. Domenic gazed at the woman before him, his eyes swirling withplex feelings. He nned to reveal everything to her, just not yet. He kept his true identity hidden, staying by her side solely for her protection. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to talk about it; he simply couldn¡¯t make things clear to her at this moment. ¡°Domenic, if you don¡¯t release me, I¡¯m going to get really upset!¡± Tears started forming in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. ¡°If I let you go, you won¡¯t be upset?¡± Domenic asked softly. The man, usually so confident, was at a loss now. He couldn¡¯t figure out how to lift her spirits and make her stop hating him. Lindsey stood there, shocked, biting her lip. She was clearly upset. She was mad that he hadn¡¯t trusted her and had followed her in secret. Noticing Lindsey¡¯s frown and silent stance, her nose red with emotion, Domenic realized she was angry whether he released his grip or not. Wanting to ease her anger, Domenic bowed his head and gently yet firmly ki*sed her lips, trying to express his remorse through the ki*s. Chapter 335 Lindsey¡¯s eyes shot wide open. He didn¡¯t offer exnations or apologies for his actions. He just ki*sed her forcefully. How could he? Did he really think a charming ki*s and some sweet words would make her forgive him? What did he think she was? She could understand with the source of his misunderstanding or jealousy. However, theck of trust and his intrusive behavior had crossed a line for her. Unless there was a valid exnation and a heartfelt apology, she wasn¡¯t willing to let it slide! Lindsey tried to kick him, but her legs were quickly trapped against Domenic¡¯s knees and she could no longer move. Trapped against the cab, Lindsey found herself being ki*sed by him.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Any attempt to resist seemed futile against Domenic. Tears streamed down from the corners of her eyes. When Domenic finally opened his eyes, he saw the tears on her face. Shocked, he let her go and stepped back. He watched in a daze as Lindsey cried, her head down. Her pale Lips trembled with fear. She looked utterly heartbroken. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Lindsey, I ¡°Domenic wanted to embrace andfort her, but her fear and wariness rooted him to the spot, his legs feeling Like concrete. Lindsey looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. Without a word, she grabbed her handbag and hurried out the door, not looking back. After Lindsey¡¯s departure, Domenic stood in a daze for a long time. By the time he snapped out of it, Lindsey had vanished. He had hurt her and caused her pain, and now, he assumed, she despised him and would never return to him. Domenic felt an urgent desire to pursue Lindsey, yet the haunting image of fear in her eyes lingered persistently in his thoughts. Her departure stemmed from a genuine fear of him, a desire to escape his presence. Although his heart yearned to retain her, a quiet acknowledgment crept in; perhaps letting her go was thepassionate decision to make. His frustration erupted as he delivered a forceful blow to the wine cab before him. The shattered ss immediatelycerated the back of his hand, leaving behind bloodstains. Meanwhile, Lindsey, running aimlessly through the streets after leaving the apartment, couldn¡¯t contain her tears. Tears flowed uncontrobly down her face, and no amount of wiping could halt their descent. Not knowing how long she had been running, she eventually found a step by the roadside and settled onto it. The night wind embraced her, and her tumultuous emotions began to subside. She had fled without a n. What about Mr. Walsh? Yet, why did thoughts of him still upy her mind at a time like this? The me rested squarely on his shoulders! Amidst her turmoil, a call from her best friend, Nancy, interrupted Lindsey¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Hello, Lindsey. How have you beentely? I haven¡¯t heard from you following Vincent¡¯sst tweet. Rumor has it that Kristy has enlisted a professor from the Skiyton Film Academy to refine her acting skills, creating quite a stir on the inte. She is beaming with pride. Luckily, I managed to guide Mercer¡¯s fans to control the trend, or public opinion might have turned against you by now! Chapter 336 ¡°Thank you, Nancy. Lindsey sniffled, still enveloped in a cloud of sadness. Nancy sensed Lindsey¡¯s distress and probed gently, ¡°Are you crying?This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Who hurt you? Are you upset that Sh can¡¯t outshine Kristy? If Sh doesn¡¯t get the role, you can leave Vitality Entertainment. I¡¯ll help you find a better job. It¡¯s not a big deal! We¡¯ve been friends for so long; I¡¯ve never seen you cry. ¡± Touched by Nancy¡¯s genuine care, Lindsey¡¯s suppressed grievances erupted like a flood, and she again sumbed to tears. Nancy, determined to help, said, ¡°Hey! Why are you crying even harder? Where are you? I¡¯ming to you. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. ¡± Lindsey surveyed her surroundings. Having run without a clear direction, she was now confused about her current location. On the other end of the phone, Nancy sighed and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re like a child. Send me your location, stay put, and I¡¯ll be there in no time. ¡± The call ended, leaving Lindsey with aforting warmth in her heart. Ceasing her sobs, Lindseyposed herself and forwarded her Location to Nancy. Before long, Nancy pulled up in her sleek Porsche. Rolling down the window, she called, ¡°Lindsey, get in!¡± Lindsey got up, reached for the car door, and slipped inside. ¡®s BunnyBookery Upon catching sight of Nancy, a gradual smile adorned Lindsey¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s quitete. Don¡¯t your parents scold you about being out thiste?¡± ¡°When have my parents ever concerned themselves with my whereabouts? They¡¯ve always treated me like a free spirit. ¡± Nancy nced at Lindsey, noting the reddened nose and swollen, teary eyes. Lindsey, known for her unwavering resilience, rarely showed vulnerability. This time, however, it seemed Like she had suffered a significant emotional blow. Nancy pressed her foot firmly on the pedal, and the car roared away. ¡°Nancy, please slow down!¡± Lindsey grasped the handle above her head as the eleration momentarily stole her breath. ¡°It¡¯s the perfect time for a ride when you¡¯re feeling down!¡± Nancy maintained her speed, refusing to slow down. With the elerator pressed to the bottom, she deftly turned the steering wheel, navigating through the traffic with a swift grace. The city¡¯s neon lights appeared like flowing water in reverse through Lindsey¡¯s eyes, and Nancy¡¯s infectiousughter reverberated in her ears. Initially gripped by fear, Lindsey gradually limated to the exhrating pace and found herself thrilled. The sensation mirrored that of riding a roller coaster, capable of banishing her worries from her mind. Throwing her arms wide open, Lindsey shouted loudly. Suddenly, her mood improved, and a sense of joy enveloped her. Chapter 337 At this point, Nancy, in a serious tone, said, ¡°Lindsey, there¡¯s a car tailing us. ¡± ncing in the rearview mirror, Lindsey noticed a ck sedan trailing them at a steady distance. ¡°Nancy, we need to shake off that car!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Nancy slowed down at a red traffic light, and the ck sedan caught up, pulling up alongside them at the intersection. Nancy rolled down her window for a better look at the sedan. She couldn¡¯t make out the upant through the tinted ss, but she vaguely sensed someone was watching them. When the light turned green, Nancy defiantly gestured with her middle finger at the ck sedan. Then, Nancy stepped on the gas pedal, turned the steering wheel sharply, and swiftly merged into the traffic flow of the right-turnne. The driver of the ck sedan came to a dejected halt by the roadside as the traffic light switc hed to green. He hesitantly called his boss and said, ¡°Sir, Miss Stewart got into a woman¡¯s car. She was too quick and I lost her¡­¡± And she wasn¡¯t too pleased about being followed and gave him the middle finger. The man hesitated toin, choosing instead to remain silent. ¡°I know. There is no need to follow her anymore,¡± said Domenic in an indifferent voice. ¡°Yes, sir. ¡± The Porsche glided smoothly along the road. Nancy, gripping the steering wheel, looked forward and questioned, ¡°Lindsey, the one who was tailing us seemed to be after you. Who¡¯s that? Why were you being followed?¡± Thinking of Domenic, Lindsey bit her lip and confessed, ¡°It might be my boyfriend. ¡± ¡°What?¡± In shock, Nancy hit the brakes hard. The sudden stop nearly sent Lindsey flying, but her seatbelt held her in ce. ¡°Lindsey, why didn¡¯t you tell me about your boyfriend? Don¡¯t you see me as a friend?¡± Nancy pulled the car to the side of the road and looked at her with astonishment. ¡°I meant to tell youst time, but I¡¯ve been swampedtely and it slipped my mind.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± ¡°Last time?¡± Nancy¡¯s brow furrowed in thought, and then she burst intoughter, realizing something. ¡°I knew it! Your boyfriend is the guy in that photo, isn¡¯t he?¡± Lindsey nodded in confirmation. ¡°But why did he keep tracking you?¡± Lindsey pressed her lips together, hesitating, before saying, ¡°It¡¯s a long story. ¡± Chapter 338 Noticing Lindsey¡¯s reluctance, Nancy chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got time. You can tell me bit by bit. ¡± ¡°hat?¡± Before Lindsey could react, Nancy stepped on the gas and started the car. Nancy drove Lindsey to her home, a quiet suburban row house. Upon arrival, Nancy threw the keys onto the shoe cab, took Lindsey by the hand, and they both walked into the living room. After removing their shoes, they settled onto the sofa. ¡°My parents are visiting rtives out of town, so I¡¯m alone. You should stay over tonight. It¡¯s been ages since we¡¯ve had a proper chat!¡± Lindsey, hearing this, felt a wave of relief and sat down beside Nancy. Curious about Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend Nancy listened intently as Lindsey opened up about everything involving her and Domenic. Finishing her story, Lindsey felt a burden lift off her shoulders.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. It had been a long time since she had shared her personal issues with someone else. ¡°Lindsey, I had no idea you were going through all this. You should¡¯ve told me sooner; maybe I could¡¯ve offered some help or advice. ¡± Looking at Lindsey, Nancy felt sorry and helpless. ¡°Talking about your boyfriend, despite going a bit overboard with the stalking, I can empathize with his emotions. It¡¯s a sign of his deep concern for you. Perhaps he¡¯s just gone about it the wrong way. ¡± Lindsey knew this, yet she couldn¡¯t shake off the sting of mistrust. First her father, and now Domenic, doubting her. It left her feeling lost and alone, as if the whole world had turned its back on her. ¡°You can¡¯t just let him off the hook, though. He needs to understand what he did wrong and assure you it won¡¯t happen again,¡± Nancy insisted. ¡®s BunnyBookery Just then, Lindsey¡¯s phone began to ring. Domenic¡¯s name appeared on the screen. Noticing Lindsey¡¯s hesitation, Nancy quickly caught on to who was calling. She gently touched Lindsey¡¯s arm and urged, ¡°Go on, answer¡­¡± Lindsey, feeling helpless, picked up the phone but remained silent. ¡°Lindsey, where are you?¡± The sound of that familiar, pleasant voice filled the air. Lindsey felt her heart soften, but she quickly steeled herself. ¡°Did you call me sote because you¡¯re worried I might be with another man behind your back again?¡± After a brief silence, Domenic said softly, ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about your safety being out sote. When are you nning to return?¡± Looking up, Lindsey saw Nancy shaking her head and her mouth forming the word ¡°no¡±. Making up her mind, Lindsey dered, ¡°I¡¯m staying at my best friend¡¯s ce tonight. I¡¯m noting back. ¡± Nancy responded with an encouraging thumbs up. Feeling distressed, Domenic responded quietly, ¡°Okay, stay there tonight. I¡¯lle to get you tomorrow. ¡± Chapter 339 ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡± Just as Lindsey was about to reply, Nancy quickly grabbed her phone. With a raised eyebrow, she said to the caller, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Walsh, right? I¡¯m Nancy, Lindsey¡¯s closest friend. Here¡¯s what¡¯s going on. Lindsey¡¯s not feeling great and wants to stay with me for a bit. How long she stays will depend on her mood. She¡¯s spent a lot of time with youtely. We haven¡¯t had a chance to catch up in ages. We¡¯ve got a lot to talk about. I hope you get it. ¡± Domenic massaged his forehead and stayed quiet for quite a while. Then, in a heavy voice, he said, ¡°I understand. ¡± After ending the call, Nancy sat down in front of Lindsey with a determined expression. ¡°Listen here, Lindsey. Don¡¯t forgive him until he apologizes and swears he won¡¯t repeat the same blunder. Give him the cold shoulder for a while and put an end to his mistakes once and for all. Otherwise, you¡¯ll end up suffering in the long run!¡± Lindsey nodded, feeling slightly lost. She wasn¡¯t used to dealing with rtionship issues, but Nancy knew what she was talking about. Lindsey trusted her judgment. That night, before going to sleep, Lindsey clutched her pillow, imagining it as Domenic¡¯s face, which she both adored and resented. Then she pounded the pillow hard and said, ¡°You¡¯d better apologize to me as soon as possible, or I will never talk to you again!¡± With that, she wrapped her arms around the pillow andy down. From the time they started being together, Lindsey and Domenic always cuddled up and slept. Without him now, she felt an emptiness. At eight o¡¯clock on the second morning, Domenic still hadn¡¯t left his neighborhood. Hendrix, unable to wait any longer for his boss, decided to give him a call. Domenic answered the phone with a tired voice, ¡°Come on up. ¡± As Hendrix entered the apartment after knocking, he was stunned by the scene that greeted him. The living room was aplete mess. The wine cab¡¯s ss was shattered, with wine bottles broken and strewn across the floor, leaving sticky, dried wine everywhere. Domenic was sprawled on the sofa, surrounded by numerous beer bottles on the coffee table. Hendrix, taken aback, asked, ¡°Boss, did things get really wild Last night? It looks like a storm hit here. ¡± Domenic, rubbing his eyes and sitting up, nced at Hendrix and gave a self-deprecating chuckle. ¡°Wild? Yeah, you could say it got out of hand. ¡± He stood up and staggered toward the bedroom. The alcohol still had a hold on him, making his steps unsteady. ¡°Get someone to tidy up this mess.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. And reschedule the morning meeting. ¡± Hendrix stood there, scratching his head in silence. Seeing Domenic¡¯s somber demeanor and his self-mocking tone, Hendrix began to wonder. Could his boss have had a heated argument with Miss Stewartst night? And they even had a fight? He couldn¡¯t believe it. His boss wasn¡¯t known to get into conflicts with woman. Feeling both puzzled and surprised, Hendrix made the necessary calls to handle the situation. Chapter 340 Lindsey had been up nearly all night without sleep. When morning came, she showed up at work with dark circles under her eyes. She appeared quite gloomy. At the office, there was an urgent document that needed Jayleen¡¯s signature. Despite her reluctance, Lindsey knew she had to confront the issue and proceeded. Stepping out of her office, Lindsey noticed the department was strangely deserted. She wondered where everyone could be during working hours. Jayleen¡¯s office was empty as well. After making some inquiries, Lindsey found out that Jayleen had gone to the artist training center. Arriving there, Lindsey was surprised to find not just her own colleagues but also staff from other departments all gathered there.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. What happened? Lindsey moved forward to find out what was going on. ¡®s BunnyBookery On the stage, Kristy was delivering a heart-wrenching performance from Shakespeare¡¯s Romeo and Juliet. She knelt next to Romeo, clutching a sharp knife. Her eyes conveyed deep sorrow and pain, yet also a sense of relief and joy. As she plunged the knife into herself, she copsed slowly, a faint smile of relief on her Lips¡­ The audience erupted in loud apuse. ¡°I was nearly in tears. Your performance was incredible. It¡¯s no surprise you were trained by a professor from Skiyton Film Academy!¡± ¡°Kristy is truly gifted. Her acting has improved so much in just a few days! I think it¡¯s way better than her previous roles!¡± ¡°I saw Sh¡¯s movie, and honestly, it doesn¡¯t hold a candle to Kristy¡¯s performance today. Her audition¡¯s going to be a sess!¡± Lindsey, standing at the back of the crowd, observed Kristy, who was receiving discussing her performance with Camille Dupont. Camille¡¯s coaching had clearly boosted Kristy¡¯s acting skills, making her a strong contender. Yet, Lindsey felt there was somethingcking in Kristy¡¯s performance, though she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it. Just then, Jayleen spotted Lindsey and approached her. Observing Lindsey¡¯s distant look and the noticeable dark circles under her eyes, Jayleen crossed her arms with a smirk of satisfaction. ¡°Lindsey, you look like you haven¡¯t been sleeping well. What¡¯s up with those dark circles under your eyes?¡± She deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of everyone around to Lindsey. One of Jayleen¡¯s associates joined in, teasing, ¡°Lindsey, are you losing sleep over not being able to find a decent coach to help Sh with her acting?¡± ¡°Did you see how impressive Kristy¡¯s performance was? For someone who hasn¡¯t acted in five years, without an instructor, how can Sh hope to match up with Kristy? It¡¯s probably best you and Sh back out now before she makes a fool of herself during the live audition. ¡± Chapter 341 ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Jayleen interjected, gesturing for silence. She turned to Lindsey with a fake smile and said, ¡°She¡¯s been really trying to secure a professional instructor for Sh, but sadly¡­ the teachers are too busy to spare time. ¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s not that they can¡¯t find the time; it¡¯s more about not wanting to squander it! Time is precious for sessful people. Why would they spend it on someone whose glory days are behind them?¡± ¡°Or maybe it¡¯s because of Lindsey¡¯s poorworking. Seems like no one¡¯s interested in helping her. ¡± Listening to the chatter around her, Kristy confidently approached and tilted her chin upward. ¡°Let me tell you, Ms. Dupont is far from your ordinary acting instructors. Even the world-famous actor Jerry Robert is a student of her. ¡± Hearing this, the crowd¡¯s admiration for Kristy grew even further. Oh my God, Jerry Robert! He made a box office of 5 billion dors. His movies were known worldwide! The crowd reacted with a mix of shock and admiration, while Lindsey¡¯s face showed no sign of the embarrassment or annoyance you¡¯d expect from being mocked. In fact, she was struggling to suppress herughter. Kristy was fuming. What was Lindsey implying? She wasn¡¯t even fazed by the mention of Jerry Robert. How could she still beughing? Was she pretending to be calm? ¡°Humph!¡± Kristy snorted disdainfully and squinted at Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s okay to cry if you¡¯re upset. No need to force a weird smile. It just makes you look more pitiful. ¡± Lindsey reached out and touched her face. ¡°Really? Is it that obvious?¡± Clearly, she was putting on an act. Kristy couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°I apologize. I tried to hold back myughter, but couldn¡¯t. ¡± Kristy¡¯s expression suddenly shifted and said, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Lindsey replied softly, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing really. I was just thinking about how Ms. Dupont has mentored so many famous actors. She¡¯s truly remarkable. But you were also her pupil, right? Did she¡­ ever see those romantic dramas you starred in?¡± This immediately brought back memories of Kristy¡¯s role in a romance drama that was widely criticized online for its unconvincing acting and poor production quality. Her fame had taken a hit, and it had been a struggle for her PR team to handle the bacsh. ¡°Lindsey, what are you trying to say?¡± Kristy¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel that Ms. Dupont would be quite upset if she found out that her students¡¯ acting hasn¡¯t progressed over the years and is now a hot topic of criticism among the audience. Although temporary cramming has indeed yed a role, who can guarantee it in the future?¡± With a knowing smile, Lindsey added, ¡°Anyway, I need to get back to work. Excuse me. ¡± With that, she walked away. Kristy, feeling mocked, clenched her teeth as she faced the curious gazes of those around her. ¡°Don¡¯t stoop to Lindsey¡¯s level, Kristy.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Everyone goes through tough times¡­ Besides, with Ms. Dupont¡¯s personal guidance, your acting skills can already beat most stars in showbiz!¡± ¡°Kristy, you¡¯re sure to outperform Sh. You¡¯ve got Ms. Dupont¡¯s expertise behind you. What does Lindsey have inparison?¡± Chapter 342 ¡°I bet Lindsey¡¯sments were just out of envy!¡± Kristy was in a better mood. She stared coldly at the direction of Lindsey¡¯s departure. She swore to herself that she would definitely make Lindsey and Sh suffer a miserable defeat. At two in the afternoon, Vincent made a sudden announcement on Twitter about the specific timing of the audition. It was scheduled for the next morning! The audition would be live-streamed at ten in the morning. Instantly, this news skyrocketed to the top of the trending topics! Bloggers started polls; between Kristy and Sh, who would win the audition and secure the female lead role! Adding to the excitement, Vincent revealed that Nics Aston, a celebrated actor, would perform alongside them during the audition. The intemunity went wild withments. ¡°Wow, this is huge! Not only do we get to see performances from two potential lead actresses, but we also get to witness them acting with the Best Actor winner. This isn¡¯t just an audition; it¡¯s like a sh of titans!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have to watch the movie, but we¡¯ll regret it if we miss the audition this time!¡± ¡°Oh no, I have work tomorrow morning! But I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to watch this, even if it means taking a day off!¡± ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m definitely watching it, work or no work. ¡± Everyone anticipated that the next day¡¯s livestream would be an unprecedented asion. Lindsey inhaled deeply, steeling herself for what was toe. After her day was done, she rushed to Morcastle Film Academy. Ruby, having heard the news, nned a final lesson for Sh that evening. But when Lindsey arrived at the art ssroom, she saw Sh dressed in sunsses, a hat covering most of her face, and a_ tightly wrapped windbreaker. Sh looked just as she did when Lindsey first met her. ¡°Sh, what¡¯s going on?¡± Ruby emerged from behind Sh with a warm smile, giving Lindsey a look full of affection. ¡°Today, we¡¯re taking our final ss outside. ¡± ¡°Outside?¡± Lindsey asked, puzzled. ¡°Yes, outside.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡± Ruby headed for the door as soon as she finished speaking, with Lindsey trailing behind, filled with curiosity. They reached a bustlingrge park near Morcastle Film Academy in the evening. The park was alive with people enjoying a leisurely walk after their meals. Chapter 343 Lindsey¡¯s eyes were fixed on Ruby, filled with curiosity, unsure of her next move. Ruby came to a halt in the middle of the park¡¯srgest open space. She turned to Lindsey and Sh with a smile. ¡°Here we are. Sh, aside from your acting skills, I recall you¡¯re also a remarkable dancer, famous for your grace. How about showcasing your dance talent right here for everyone?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she hurried to Ruby¡¯s side, whispering, ¡°Sh¡¯s a famous actress. If she dances here it might create amotion. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve talked with the park¡¯s security. They¡¯ll keep things under control,¡± Ruby replied calmly. As expected, Lindsey observed several uniformed security guards patrolling the open space, realizing Ms. Garcia had made arrangements in advance. Feeling reassured about Sh¡¯s safety, Lindsey¡¯s main concern remained for Sh herself. She turned around and looked at Sh. ¡°Can you do it, Sh?¡± Sh seemed tense, her hands clenched, disying signs of nervousness and timidity. Still cannot? Lindsey moved to offer support, but Ruby stopped her. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s audition will be streamed online, a far more daunting situation than this. If Sh can¡¯t ovee her fear now, no amount of help will sufficeter. ¡± Over thest five years, Sh struggled with self-confidence, especially when it came to facing the public. Dancing used to be her source of pride. If she didn¡¯t find the courage to dance in front of the audience today, she¡¯d be even more timid, making it harder to face hundreds of millions of viewers across the country tomorrow. If she couldn¡¯t face the public, her acting talent would be of no use. After more than ten minutes, the park grew increasingly crowded, yet Sh stood still. Her face was tightly covered by sunsses and a hat. Lindsey watched her with concern, biting her Lip in worry. A sudden thought struck Lindsey. She turned around and asked Ruby, ¡°Ms. Garcia, could I step away for a few minutes? I¡¯ll be right back. ¡± Ruby responded with an understanding smile, ¡°Sure. ¡± Seeing Lindsey leave, Sh became more nervous. She approached Ruby, her voice tinged with worry. ¡°Ms. Garcia, where did Lindsey go? I¡¯m feeling even more nervous without her here. ¡± ¡°You need to ovee this, even without her here. Show yourmitment to being a great actress. Convince me you¡¯re fully prepared for this. Prove it to me that I didn¡¯t teach the wrong student. ¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Encouraged by Ruby¡¯s heartfelt words and the hope in her gaze, Sh found her courage. Inhaling deeply, she removed her hat and sunsses, revealing her face. The face that once captivated the nation finally appeared again. Passersby in the park started recognizing Sh. They paused and murmured among themselves, ¡°That woman looks like an actress. ¡± Chapter 344 She¡­ She¡¯s Sh Potter!¡± Amotion erupted, halting passers-by who directed their gazes toward Sh¡¯s location when one person eximed, ¡°Good heavens! It¡¯s Sh! A dazzling star sighted in the park!¡± The crowd swiftly brandished their phones, capturing snapshots of Sh.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Enthusiastic fans even attempted to approach for autographs and group photos, thwarted only by vignt security guards, relegating them to mere spectators a few yards away. ¡°Sh, all eyes are on you. Let¡¯s start,¡± urged Ruby. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Sh clenched her fists so tightly that her nails sank into her flesh. Herplexion paled, and her teeth chattered with anxiety. ¡°Have faith in yourself, Sh. You¡¯ve got this!¡± Ruby stood resolute, an insurmountable presence for Sh at that moment. Ultimately, Sh sumbed, squatting down on the ground in despair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Garcia. I¡­ I can¡¯t do it!¡± For five long years, she endured confinement and mistreatment by Andrew. Each day was haunted by fear, abandoning her artistry in acting and dance. She was aware her skills had likely atrophied. Confronted by a multitude, she couldn¡¯t exhibit her vulnerability. It was momentarily beyond her reach. Ruby sighed, feeling she could have overestimated Sh¡¯s resolve. Should Sh persist with this mindset, tomorrow¡¯s audition seemed an insurmountable hurdle. Defeating Camille¡¯s favored student, Kristy, appeared to be an imusible feat. Sh¡¯s public appearance sparked a viral storm, flooding the inte. ¡°Sh surfaces at the city park, gathering a throng of followers ¡°Sh sumbs due to social anxiety and copses on the ground!!¡± ¡°Concerns mount over Sh¡¯s state of mind!¡± News bulletins cascaded, triggering fervent discussions amongizens. ¡°What¡¯s Sh thinking? Can she even perform at tomorrow¡¯s audition?¡± ¡°Doubtful. If she couldn¡¯t face fans at the park, how can she excel under the watch of millions of viewers?¡± ¡°Returning to the limelight, she shouldn¡¯t wallow in sentimentality, disappointing her fans!¡± At that moment, Kristy¡¯s new tweet surfaced¡­ ¡°While withdrawals are admissible in auditions, please don¡¯t lose hope. Even as the sole contender, I¡¯ll earnestly strive for recognition! Regrettably, I won¡¯t have the chance to learn from Sh!¡± Thements section brimmed with her followers¡¯ support. ¡°Kristy, our star! She¡¯s diligently prepared for this audition!¡± Chapter 345 ¡°Sh¡¯s presence or absence doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m eager to witness Kristy perform with Nics!¡± ¡°Sh might humiliate herself. Kristy is a top graduate of Skiyton Film Academy. How could she lose against Sh?¡± ¡°s, both of them are winners of Best Actress, but why the gap between them is so big?¡± Amidst this, Lindsey hurriedly headed to the park in a taxi, rmed by the trending topics online. ¡°Please, drive faster,¡± she pleaded with the driver. In the park, Sh still crouched on the ground, trembling. Ruby, unable to watch further, approached and rested her hand on Sh¡¯s quivering shoulder. ¡°Sh, rise. If it¡¯s too much, we can leave. ¡± Sh shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t go back like this¡­¡± ¡°Mommy!¡± A child¡¯s voice jolted Sh momentarily. Looking up, she saw ine dashing toward her, masked and hatted. Lindsey had brought her! ine embraced Sh, gazing up with her wide eyes. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t fear. I¡¯m here! Anut Lindsey said you were once awesome and formidable. I hope you reim that strength. I¡¯ll always support you!¡± Sh felt a glimmer of warmth in her deste heart for a fleeting moment. The darkness faded, a ray of light piercing through, dispelling the lingering fear and gloom. An unseen force lifted her from the abyss. She looked gratefully at Lindsey.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Since giving birth to ine, Sh had never danced. She only showed ine her vulnerable side. She had to exemplify strength, proving to ine that adversity could be ovee with resilience. ¡°ine, would you like to see me dance?¡± Sh locked eyes with her daughter. ine nodded eagerly. ¡°Yes, Mommy! You¡¯ll be the most splendid dancer!¡± A fire ignited within Sh¡¯s eyes. She smiled. ¡°Alright. ¡± With determination, Sh rose, turning to face the crowd. ¡°Sh, we love you!¡± the crowd cheered as Sh nced back at them. Their excitement was palpable. Sh offered them a warm smile, her voice gentle yet confident. ¡°Your support means everything. I¡¯d like to dance for you today. Your loyalty over the years has shaped me into who I am,¡± she expressed her gratitude. Chapter 346 Taking off her windbreaker, Sh revealed a green gauze dress beneath. Music filled the air in the park. Enveloped by the soothing melody, Sh moved her hips and lightly tapped her feet, dancing with a lively rhythm. As music filled the air, she began to dance, her movements initially hesitant after years without practice. Each misstep brought a flush of embarrassment, and she longed to hide away. Yet, glimpsing ine and her steadfast supporters from the corner of her eye, Sh steeled herself, pushing past the panic, her missteps not halting her flow. Slowly, her confidence grew along with her grace. Sh¡¯s arms moved fluidly, her dance captivating the onlookers who had gathered around. When the music ceased, her dance concluded, and the crowd erupted with enthusiastic apuse. Standing there, with the sunset casting a glow on her face, Sh seemed to shine, absorbing the crowd¡¯s praise and admiration.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. It was in this moment that Lindsey saw Sh¡¯s dazzling essence reemerge. Videos of Sh¡¯s dance spread online, sparking lively debates. Amidst a mix of praise and criticism, her dance became the subject of widespread conversation. ¡°Wow, Sh¡¯s got some moves! She can¡¯t be an amateur!¡± ¡°She¡¯s a star, yet she danced for us in the park like she¡¯s one of us. I¡¯m a fan for life now!¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s got an audition tomorrow, right? Dancing in the park today just screams that she¡¯s fishing for fame. It¡¯s beneath an award-winning actress to act like an Inte celeb who is eager for attention. ¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just hope her acting holds up tomorrow. That¡¯s what really counts in an audition. ¡± Kristy had bet on Sh embarrassing herself and bowing out of the audition because of the public¡¯s pressure. To her astonishment, Sh¡¯s public dance was a hit. Despite being a star, Sh was out there, wooing the crowd with her dance in the park. Kristy thought it was disgraceful. Jayleen, having seen the video, scoffed, ¡°Sure, Sh might get a little buzz before the audition with this stunt. Clearly, she¡¯s not secure about her acting. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point? She¡¯s not beating me at the audition tomorrow, anyway!¡± Kristy said smugly. Camille walked in just then, catching a glimpse of Sh¡¯s dance on theptop. Her face stiffened. ¡°That can¡¯t be right¡­¡± she whispered to herself. ¡°Ms. Dupont, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Kristy asked, puzzled by her reaction. Camille regained herposure and replied simply, ¡°Nothing. ¡± She had thought she caught a glimpse of someone in the video that resembled her mentor, Ruby Garcia. Chapter 347 Yet, it couldn¡¯t be. Ruby lived in Mubluosia. Camille had visited her at her vi beforeing here, and moreover, Ruby had been recruited as an acting coach for a movie. She was supposed to be in Mubluosia, not in a Local park. It had to be a mistake. Camille dismissed the notion with a shake of her head. Kristy grasped Camille¡¯s hands, her voice brimming with assurance, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m going to wow everyone tomorrow and make you proud!¡± In the park, Sh was engaging with her fans, taking pictures and signing autographs, her easygoing demeanor endearing her to them. Afterward, with the security team¡¯s help, Sh and herpanions managed to slip away from the enthusiastic fans and made their way to the side of the road. In that moment, a ck car halted before Sh, its window open. Arturo was at the wheel, his dark blue sunsses masking his eyes, giving only a glimpse of his striking features. His gaze shifted from Sh to Ruby beside her. ¡°Ms. Garcia, may I offer you a ride home?¡± he asked. Recognizing Arturo, Ruby¡¯s face Lit up with a smile. ¡°Okay, thank you, Arturo,¡± she epted and slid into the back seat of the car.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey watched, intrigued by the apparent familiarity between Ruby and Arturo. Given Ruby¡¯s stature, it wasn¡¯t odd that she mingled with high- profile individuals. Sh, momentarily stunned, was ushered into the car by Lindsey. ine nestled between Lindsey and Sh, her eyes wide with excitement. ¡°Wow, this car is so fancy!¡± ¡°ine, please sit properly and keep quiet,¡± Sh scolded. In response, ine pouted and leaned against Sh, feeling aggrieved. Arturo nced at ine through the rearview mirror, his expression hidden behind his sunsses. In a casual tone, he asked, ¡°Ms. Garcia, when did you return to the country?¡± Ruby replied, ¡°Just a few days ago. By the way, Arturo, don¡¯t you live in Blosa? What brought you to Morcastle?¡± Arturo, lips curling into a slight smile, replied, ¡°I have some projects in Morcastle that require my attention, so I decided to stay temporarily. ¡± Ruby chuckled. ¡°Ah, I see. I thought you were here for that young man from the Walsh family. ¡± The Walsh family? The mention of the Walsh family brought thoughts of Domenic to Lindsey¡¯s mind. But since Domenic hadn¡¯te to apologize to her yet, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but pout in dissatisfaction. ¡°Thest time I saw him was years ago. I wonder how he¡¯s doing now. I heard he¡¯s be quite prominent. ¡± Ruby sighed. Chapter 348 On learning that the individual in question was notable, Lindsey doubted any link between him and Domenic. After all, Domenic was just an ordinary person in her eyes. ncing at Lindsey through the rearview mirror, Arturo cleared his throat and reassured Ruby, ¡°He¡¯s doing fine. No need to worry about him. ¡± Ruby nodded gently. ¡°You two aren¡¯t getting any younger. Don¡¯t let your careers consume all your energy. It¡¯s time to consider settling down. I know a few youngdies from influential families¡ªeducated, well-mannered, and understanding. How about I introduce them to both of you someday?¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness. But I¡¯ve already found someone special. I appreciate it, but please don¡¯t bother,¡± Arturo responded in a casual manner. Ruby¡¯s face softened into a gentle smile. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m overly concerned. I¡¯m curious about the luckydy who has captured your heart. ¡± Lindsey nced at Sh, noticing she tightly gripped her dress hem in silence. ¡®s BunnyBookery Could it be that Sh was the one in Arturo¡¯s heart? What was happening between them? Having dropped off Ruby and Lindsey at their respective homes, Arturo turned the car around and drove Sh back to her ce. ine had fallen asleep, and Sh remained silent, lips pursed tightly as she looked out the window. Ultimately, the car stopped in front of her apartment building. Sh, without uttering a word, Lifted ine and opened the car door before stepping out. But Arturo swiftly got out, his tall figure blocking her path. Observing the woman before him, he asked, ¡°Sh, could you consider skipping the audition tomorrow?¡± Sh felt a twinge of disbelief and raised her gaze. ¡°What are you saying?¡± Arturo looked into her beautiful eyes. ¡°I know you¡¯ve suffered after marrying Andrew all these years.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. I take responsibility for what happened. Let me make it up to you. You don¡¯t have to struggle in the entertainment industry. Stay with me. I have a vacant house in Morcastle with trustworthy maids. I¡¯ll take care of you and ine. Come, live with me. ¡± Despite his affectionate demeanor, Sh couldn¡¯t help but feel disgusted. ¡°Arturo Yates, are you kidding me? Who do you think you are to me? Why should I depend on you?¡± Arturo gestured towards the peacefully sleeping ine nestled in Sh¡¯s embrace. ¡°You looked nervous when I mentioned I have someone special in my heart. Could it be because the me of affection for me still flickers within you? And ine¡­¡± He longed to confess that he might be ine¡¯s biological father. Yet, within Arturo¡¯s heart, reservations lingered, hindering him from confessing this undeniable truth. Sh smirked, ¡°Arturo Yates, spare me your nonsense!¡± ¡°Sh¡­¡± Arturo tried to speak, but Sh interjected with a sneer, ¡°Arturo, why not dere that you¡¯re willing to take me to Blosa?¡± Chapter 349 He parted his lips, yet silence clung to him, refusing to let any words escape. His silent demeanor mirrored the day Sh was ousted from the Yates residence, leaving Sh profoundly disappointed. She scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re as timid as ever. You im to want to help, yet you only allow me to stay in Morcastle. Fear of your overbearing mother watching you closely stops you from bringing me to Blosa. Even now, you remain under her control. You can¡¯t bring yourself to defy her! She detests me vehemently. Why would youe to me behind her back? If she discovers your entanglement with a divorcee who has a child, she¡¯ll surely erupt in anger! Arturo, return to your home. There are numerous young women in Blosa; you can find someone more suitable. I can lead a fulfilling life without your charity. The kindest thing you can do is to refrain from disrupting my peace!¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Then, Sh turned around and walked away, carrying ine in her arms. Her words pierced Arturo deeply. As he watched Sh¡¯s departing figure, his hands clenched into fists, veins pulsating on the back of his hands, and his eyes turned cial. Arturo got back into his car, shielding his red eyes with his hands. He knew Sh was right. He couldn¡¯t risk taking her to Blosa. The thought of his mother finding out about his rtionship with Sh and their child terrified him. She might go to extreme lengths to erase Sh from their lives. Frustrated, Arturo took out his phone, intending to talk to someone. He ended up dialing Domenic¡¯s number. Domenic took a while to answer, his voice so icy it could send shivers down one¡¯s spine. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was cold enough to send shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. ¡°Domenic, as it turns out, thedy sharing a roof with you isn¡¯t Lindsey Stewart. ¡± Arturo lit a cigarette and found a topic to chat with Domenic. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I saw Lindsey today at the city park, with Ruby Garcia and Sh. I¡¯ve told you before, Lindsey is no simple character. I didn¡¯t even know Ruby was back in town, but there she was with Lindsey, looking quite close. ¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was icy. Arturo cleared his throat and blew out a smoke ring. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t give anything away. I just gave them a ride home. But I noticed Lindsey doesn¡¯t live in one of your private properties. So, you two aren¡¯t together?¡± There was a moment of silence. Then after a brief pause, instead of answering, Domenic asked, ¡°What should I do to make a woman happy if she¡¯s mad?¡± Domenic¡¯s sudden question caught Arturo off guard, causing him to choke on his cigarette. ¡°Ahem. Domenic, don¡¯t scare me. Are you really the type of guy to go to great lengths just to please a woman? That doesn¡¯t sound like you. ¡± ¡°If you keep bullshitting me, not only will I not help you with your international business, but I¡¯ll also sabotage your efforts abroad. ¡± ¡°ALL right¡­ I admit I was wrong. ¡± Chapter 350 Arturo quickly acknowledged his mistake, but he was at a loss for what advice to give Domenic. After all, if Arturo knew how to calm a woman down, Sh wouldn¡¯t have resented him for so many years. In an ironic twist, the two business tycoons of Blosa and Morcastle were both grappling with women-rted issues at the same time.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Arturo let out a sigh and suggested, ¡°Domenic, you should talk to Mercer about this. He¡¯s great at coaxing women. Maybe we could all have dinner together soon?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tied up right now. We¡¯ll discuss itter. ¡± As Domenic was about to end the call, Arturo hurriedly interjected, ¡°Wait! You haven¡¯t told me who¡¯s staying at your ce. ¡± But the line went dead, leaving only a dial tone¡­ The following day, Lindsey reached the audition location, bright and early. The ce was buzzing with activity. It wasn¡¯t even nine in the morning, yet the entrance was swarmed with media and journalists, eager to be the first to break the news. Domenic hadn¡¯t contacted Lindsey at all the previous day. Despite feeling let down and upset, she knew she had to focus. She had prepared extensively for this audition and couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes. As soon as the reporters spotted Lindsey, they flocked to her for interviews. Lindsey responded to several questions with a friendly smile, just as Kristy¡¯s car pulled up at the theater¡¯s entrance. Instantly, the crowd that had been surrounding Lindsey shifted their focus and swarmed towards the car. Kristy¡¯s look was different from her usual mboyant style. She stepped out in a long, beige dress and subtle makeup, looking stunningly beautiful and elegant. Lindsey, seeing the reporters and media divert their attention to Kristy, felt a sense of relief and proceeded into the theater. While walking, she dialed Sh¡¯s number. ¡°Sh, where are you now?¡± ¡°I just got in the car. I¡¯ll be there soon. ¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯ll wait for you. ¡± Sh was in the car Lindsey had arranged for her. Her attire was simple and understated-a cream-colored id shirt neatly tucked into a long ck skirt, exuding a casual and easygoing vibe. After finishing her call with Lindsey, Sh peered out the car window. Although a bit anxious, she wasn¡¯t overwhelmed by fear or timidity. Determined to excel in the audition, Sh was ready to showcase her best and live up to the expectations of those rooting for her. Suddenly, a loud noise jolted Sh¡¯s senses. She lost her footing and toppled to the side. For a brief moment, it felt like the whole world was spinning around her¡­ During this moment, the staff were busier than ever, bustling around within the theater. Eight cameras were positioned around the theater¡¯s stage, capturing every angle. The live audition was trending on Twitter. Online chatter about the audition had been buzzing since before eight in the morning. The audition was structured to be fair, with both audience and judges¡¯ votes contributing to the final decision. Chapter 351 The identity of the judges, kept secret by Vincent, was a hot topic online. Netizens were busy specting and debating about who might be on the panel. It was twenty minutes to ten in the morning, with the audition set to start shortly. Vincent made his entrance at the theater gate, dressed in a customized suit. He immediately became the focus of the media, with shbulbs capturing his every move. Reporters eagerly surrounded him, extending microphones for an interview, as security guards escorted him inside. The arrival of the individuals following Vincent caused quite a stir. One by one, the mysterious judges made their entrance. First to appear was Brian Brown, a dean of Morcastle Film Academy and a respected figure in the performing arts.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Next, Robert Shaw, a renowned national actor, made his appearance at the theater. He was acknowledged by audiences as a seasoned performer. Elsa Lewis, the nation¡¯s top stage performer, and Larry Smith, a famous director, also arrived. These were prominent figures usually seen on TV and in the news. The final judge¡¯s appearance took everyone¡¯s breath away. It was Louis Watson, the president of Blosa Film University. Louis and Ruby were the visionaries behind the creation of Blosa Film University. Together, they transformed the film and television industry, which had been dormant domestically for almost a century. They not only introduced it to the global stage but also spurred significant growth in the sector, nurturing the country¡¯s first internationally celebrated superstars. Their contributions to the nation were profound, yet they shied away from fame, bing figures more known from history books than public sightings. Louis, dedicated to the field of education for many years, preferred to stay out of the spotlight. He maintained a low profile, appearing only asionally in professional journals or TV interviews. Despite this, his reputation was well-established in the entertainment industry. Louis¡¯s participation in the audition as a judge created a buzz online. Enthusiastic discussions broke out amongstizens. ¡°Oh my God! It¡¯s incredible that Vincent managed to get Louis, the president of Blosa Film University, to judge the audition. This really raises the bar for the whole event. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m excited to see who catches Louis¡¯s eye in the audition. ¡± ¡°Getting Louis¡¯s endorsement in the industry is a surefire way to boost one¡¯s pride. ¡± ¡°Kristy, my idol, is definitely going to impress Louis. ¡± As the esteemed judges took their seats, Lindsey nced at her watch. It was ten minutes to ten, and the audition was about to start. But Sh was nowhere to be seen. Worried, Lindsey tried calling Sh, but there was no response, which increased her concern. Just then, Jayleen entered from the outside, dressed in a business suit and high heels. She exuded the image of a capable and charming career woman. Chapter 352 Spotting the notable figures, particrly Louis, Jayleen approached them with a smile. Lindsey was about to greet the judges herself, but Jayleen got there first. Jayleen warmly weed the judges, not leaving Lindsey any room to speak. Then, Louis turned to Lindsey and casually asked, ¡°You¡¯re Lindsey Stewart, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey was surprised Louis recognized her. She responded with a polite smile, ¡°Pleased to meet you, Mr. Watson. ¡± Louis had been informed by Ruby that Lindsey was Juanita¡¯s daughter. Seeing her resemnce to Juanita, Louis was struck by how much she looked like her mother. Juanita¡¯s daughter was now all grown up. How time flies. Noticing Louis¡¯s kind gaze toward Lindsey, Jayleen¡¯s expression darkened. She had greeted Louis warmly, but he had ignored her, choosing instead to speak to Lindsey. Was Louis showing a special interest in Lindsey? What was so good about Lindsey? She thought to herself, even if Louis was interested in someone younger, he should reconsider. Feeling outshined, Jayleen was filled with frustration and annoyance. Noticing Louis¡¯s acquaintance with Lindsey, the other judges also turned their attention to her, engaging her in polite conversation. This only fueled Jayleen¡¯s irritation further.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. An idea struck her, and she turned to Lindsey with a fake smile. ¡°Lindsey, the audition¡¯s about to start. Where¡¯s Sh?¡± Thisment drew everyone¡¯s attention. Kristy had arrived quite early, yet there was no sign of Sh. It seemed unusual for Sh to bete to such a significant event. ¡®s BunnyBookery Feeling the judges¡¯ eyes on her, Lindsey quickly offered an exnation. ¡°The mornings are always busy on the roads, and Sh lives quite a distance away. I was talking to her earlier, and she was already on her way. She should arrive shortly. ¡± Jayleen¡¯s softughter filled the room, her voice taking on a mocking tone. ¡°I heard Sh was out dancing at the park yesterday, trying to build some fame before the audition. It must have been exhausting. Yet, she¡¯s nowhere to be seen today. If she knew it was going to be a long trip, why didn¡¯t she leave earlier? Kristy, on the other hand, cleared her schedule and left at the crack of dawn. She¡¯s all about honing her craft, not interested in those sneaky shortcuts to get ahead. ¡± The mood among the judges soured, all except for Louis and Robert, as Jayleen continued to express doubts. ¡°Sh doesn¡¯t seem to take improving her acting seriously. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯d stoop to dance at a park just to gain favor with the public for the vote. ¡± ¡°The audition¡¯s starting soon, and she¡¯s still not here. Does she even care about this opportunity?¡± ¡°Given herck ofmitment, I doubt her acting is up to par. I don¡¯t see what Vincent sees in her. Kristy¡¯s the better actress, in my opinion. Why hold the audition for her?¡± Before the auditions could even begin, Jayleen had already sown discord, leaving Sh¡¯s reputation hanging by a thread. Lindsey, doing her best to stayposed, stepped aside to make another call to Sh. This time, the call connected. ¡°Sh, we¡¯re about to start. Where are you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice wasced with concern. Chapter 353 Through the howling wind on the other end, Sh sounded strained. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve run into a bit of trouble here. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m on my way. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Lindsey felt a nervous twitch in her right eyelid. ¡°I was crossing the Bay Bridge when there was a car ident. ¡± As soon as Lindsey¡¯s car crossed the bridge, she¡¯d be at the theater. But in the middle of the bridge, things went sideways. Out of nowhere, another car charged from the opposite direction and mmed into Sh¡¯s ride. The driver tried to swerve, but it was no use. A fast-moving sedan smacked them, sending their car skidding towards the bridge¡¯s railings, almost flying off. Fortunately, a ck sports car swooped in and brushed against the teetering car, preventing a near disaster. Sh¡¯s car ended up overturned, teetering on the brink, barely a meter from a deadly plunge. The crash sent the bridge into an uproar and traffic into a standstill.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°What? A car ident? Sh, are you okay?¡± Lindsey blurted out, shocked. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m alright, Lindsey. Just hang tight. I¡¯ll get there as soon as I can,¡± Sh replied before hanging up. She couldn¡¯t help but stare at Arturo. Had Arturo not shown up in his car just in time to block the car Sh was in, it would have collided with the bridge railings and been reduced to ruins. The bridge was a no-go for driving now. Arturo had called for a motorcycle toe through. He was going to take Sh off to the theater on a motorcycle. Sitting on the bridge¡¯s edge, Sh was overwhelmed. She owed Arturo her thanks, yet she found herself at a loss for words. Meanwhile, the theater¡¯s audition live stream kicked off at ten in the morning, with millions of viewers jumping in, causing awork crash. Lindsey eyed the theater¡¯s entrance, anxiety bubbling inside her. Despite this, she kept a cool exterior. Just then, Vincent approached and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Lindsey, where¡¯s Sh? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± Vincent¡¯s tone held a note of worry. ¡°She ran into a bit of an ident on her way over. She¡¯ll be here shortly,¡± Lindsey reassured him. ¡°An ident?¡± Vincent¡¯s brow creased, sensing the gravity of the situation in Lindsey¡¯s serious tone. With a worried bite of her lip, Lindsey gave Vincent a nod and offered an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t see thising. ¡± ¡°On a day like today, with such an unexpected urrence, it¡¯s hard to believe, isn¡¯t it?¡± Vincent said, his words tinged with underlying meaning. He then turned and strode towards the stage. Lindsey, struck by a thought, grew anxious. She quickly pulled out her phone and called Nancy. ¡°Nancy, I need you to dig up whatever you can on the car crash at Bay Bridge this morning¡­ I¡¯ll wait for your update. ¡± Chapter 354 As the live broadcast resumed, the scene came alive with tens of millions glued to their screens. The chat was aze withments, too fast and too many to follow. Vincent stepped onto the stage, delivering a brief but impactful wee before solemnly presenting the judges and¡­ the special guest, the renowned actor, Nics Aston! The moment Nics appeared, the live audience erupted into a frenzy.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. For Lindsey, this was a thrilling first encounter with the famed actor. Since his rise to stardom, he had swiftly won a lot of awards. Not only did he have a remarkable appearance, but his acting was also wless. Nics was a rarity, a male star celebrated for his striking appearance and exceptional talent. His fame eclipsed others, as he remained the darling of the public eye. Indeed, he was the nation¡¯s darling, a true heartthrob. Nics stood tall and dashing in his sharp suit, turning heads and stealing hearts of countless girls watching the live broadcast. From her spot below the stage, Jayleen couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°He really lives up to his reputation as the best actor. He¡¯s even more stunning in person than on screen. ¡± Kristy gave a little shrug, unimpressed. ¡°He¡¯s okay, but my Mr. Walsh outshines him. ¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Jayleen recalled the striking man she¡¯d seen at the Flourish Club once. Sure, he was a bit more good-looking than Nics and had a frosty vibe about him. But how could hepare to the star actor? ¡°When did he be yours?¡± Jayleen raised an eyebrow at Kristy. With a wave of her hand, Kristy replied with a hint of a smile, ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time. ¡± The event moved on, and it was time for Sh and Kristy to step into the spotlight, but with Sh nowhere to be seen, Vincent had to scrap that part. ¡°Where¡¯s Sh? She should be here by now. ¡± Kristy inquired, her brow furrowing. Jayleen scoffed, ¡°Who knows? Maybe she backed out. ¡± She nced at Lindsey across from her, who looked noticeably pale. With the live stream¡¯s audience numbers about to hit a new high, Vincent made the call to begin the audition without further dy. The audition was a three-part challenge, and before each scene, the actors were given the script just before their performance to keep the movie¡¯s plot under wraps. The scripts were creatively adapted from the lead role in Vincent¡¯s next film. With Sh¡¯s absence, Kristy had to be the first one on stage for the performance. Kristy received the script and ten minutester, she stepped onto the stage, gracing the camera with a captivating smile. Her fans¡¯ments quickly filled the screen. ¡°There she is, my goddess!¡± ¡°Wow, she¡¯s stunning! She¡¯s breathtaking!¡± Chapter 355 A spotlight shone on Kristy, casting a halo effect on the stage around her. The opening scene¡¯s script bore a resemnce to a ¡°Romeo and Juliet¡± performance Kristy had done before. This time, though, the tragic romance was woven with a deeper rivalry, addingyers to the emotional stakes. Channeling her ¡°Romeo and Juliet¡± role, Kristy¡¯s eyes danced with a mix of sorrow and relief. Her movements were spot-on, and her performance was impable. As the lights brightened, Kristy stood up, gently dabbing away thest tear from her cheek. Praise poured in on the live stream. ¡°It was truly touching! Tears ran down my face!¡± ¡°Kristy has to be the finest actress out there!¡± ¡°She nails every role, no question about it!¡± ¡°Why even consider anyone else? Kristy is the star we need!¡± The crowd¡¯s apuse was hers, a testament to her skills. It was Sh¡¯s turn next, but the theater doors stayed closed, ominously quiet. The empty stage elicited numerous skepticalments from the viewers in the livestream. ¡°It¡¯s Sh¡¯s turn, yet she¡¯s nowhere to be found. Could the prospect of performing after Kristy¡¯s exceptional act have frightened her off the stage?¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s probably still getting ready backstage. Can¡¯t you be a little patient?¡± ¡°They were saying Sh hadn¡¯t even arrived. ¡± ¡°Really? How could she possibly bete to such a crucial audition? What was going through her mind?¡± ¡°Let Vincent to dere Kristy as the leadingdy!¡± The judges looked increasingly stern, murmuring amongst themselves. Lindsey was certain they were criticizing Sh, and even Nics checked his watch with an air of annoyance. Ten minutes passed, and the murmurs evolved into outright jeers directed at Sh. ¡°Sh¡¯s got cold feet!¡± ¡°She¡¯s making a fool of herself!¡± Below the stage, Jayleen gave Kristy¡¯s shoulders a reassuring squeeze and shot Lindsey a gloating nce.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She had vowed to ensure Lindsey¡¯s downfall, and she intended to keep that promise. Chapter 356 After today, she imagined Lindsey and Sh would be despised by all. Jayleen couldn¡¯t fathom how Lindsey would ever manage topete with her. With a smug smile, Jayleen shed the remnants of her earlier humiliation at Vincent¡¯s party, where Lindsey had publicly embarrassed her. Meanwhile, Lindsey remainedposed, waiting in silence. Suddenly, a beam of sunlight pierced through the theater entrance, capturing everyone¡¯s attention. As they all turned to look, a striking silhouette emerged in the glow. The crowd gasped in astonishment. It was Sh. She was making her entrance! Lindsey released a deep breath and rxed her hands. Jayleen was taken aback, her teeth catching her lip at the sight of Sh. ¡®s BunnyBookery Yet, as Sh approached the stage and the audience got a clear view, their faces twisted in scorn. Sh stood there, drenched in dust; her clothing was ripped, with frayed edges at her skirt¡¯s hem, and her hair in disarray, a dark bruise marking her forehead. She was quite the sight. Kristy couldn¡¯t resist a taunt. ¡°Sh, how¡¯d you end up like this? People will start thinking you were auditioning as a hobo. ¡± Sh brushed off Kristy¡¯sughter, took a respectful bow before the judges, and announced, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, I¡¯m Sh Potter. I ran into a bit of trouble on my way here. My apologies for the dy. ¡± Louis remained stoic, his face a mask of seriousness. Robert, the experienced actor, kept a congenial smile. Brian, head of the performance department at Morcastle Film Academy, kept his expression neutral. ¡°Save the excuses. ¡± Elsa, the top stage performer, sped her hands. ¡°Whatever the reason, you¡¯rete.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Now that you¡¯re here, let¡¯s get moving. No more dys. ¡± The well-known director Larry didn¡¯t hesitate to mark a cross next to Sh¡¯s name. ¡°Get on with it. The audience is getting restless. You know how important this audition is. ¡± Lindsey, script in hand, hurried to Sh¡¯s side, concern evident in her eyes. ¡°Sh, are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital?¡± Sh epted the script with a reassuring smile and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s my time to shine. ¡± After a quick nce at the script, Sh was about to make her way to the stage. Lindsey gave her a supportive pat on the back. ¡°Go for it, Sh. You can do it. ¡± With a grateful nod, Sh turned and stepped onto the stage, the spotlight hitting her the moment she did. From the livestream chat, a barrage of ridicule and skepticism poured in. ¡°Why did she bother showing up? Why doesn¡¯t she just give up?¡± Chapter 357 ¡°What¡¯s with her outfit? Is she trying out a new makeup trend? Is she trying to stand out?¡± ¡°She should just get off the stage to save the embarrassment!¡± Sh was in the midst of her performance, standing at the center of the stage, oblivious to the barrage ofments. As the surrounding lights dimmed, she seamlessly transformed into the character she portrayed. The tumultuous blend of emotions, entwining hatred and love, evoked memories of a person-Arturo. Such contradictory feelings, intricate and painful, rendered her unable to shed a tear. Sh¡¯s eyes, filled with despair, sadness, and madness, turned red as she suppressed the welling tears. Her tattered attire entuated the fragility she portrayed. The onught ofizenments gradually waned, seemingly influenced by the power of her performance. Only at the moment of Sh¡¯s character¡¯s ¡°death¡± did the pain in her eyes transform into a serene peace. With closed eyes, a relieved smile graced her lips, and a tear quietly fell. As the white light on her faded, the entire stage suddenly illuminated. The audience, still caught immersed in the somber mood, took a moment to regain their senses. After a brief silence, apuse erupted from the judges¡¯ table. Louis stood up, offering a round of apuse for Sh. Witnessing this, both those who wanted to apud and those who initially hesitated joined in. A wave of apuse swept through the theater, creating an electric atmosphere of appreciation and admiration. Kristy couldn¡¯t hide her disappointment. She had keenly observed Louis, but his reaction to her performance was lukewarm, unlike the enthusiastic apuse he now bestowed upon Sh. She believed her performance mirrored Sh¡¯s, so it came as an unexpected blow when Louis apuded for Sh. Why? Enraged, Kristy clenched her fists, digging her nails into her flesh. Jayleen¡¯s expression beside her grew even more contorted with displeasure. Sh, who hadn¡¯t engaged in acting for five years andcked the guidance of a skilled mentor, outshined Kristy. Sh¡¯s performance even surpassed her own abilities from five years prior, leaving Jayleen grappling with iprehension. How Sh emerged unscathed from the ident remained a lingering question. Jayleen¡¯s anger twisted her face, making her look unpleasant. Sh¡¯s impressive performance felt like a personal insult to Jayleen.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The first round of the performance concluded, and while Sh¡¯s talent was acknowledged, the viewer voting session was marred by usations. Many criticized her for beingte and used her of dancing in the park yesterday to boost her poprity. Professional rumor-spreaders exacerbated the situation, deliberately influencing public opinion and ultimately causing Sh to receive fewer votes than Kristy. Chapter 358 Now, the moment had arrived for the judges to cast their votes. Louis tacitly bestowed his vote upon Sh, apanying it with a remark, ¡°I believe Sh¡¯s performance is rathermendable. ¡± In the realm of acting prowess, Robert held Sh in high regard. However, her tardiness had spawned negative public sentiment, casting a shadow over her performance. In a subtle form of punishment to Sh, Robert cast his vote for Kristy. The other three judges also raised concerns about Sh¡¯steness and her unconventional park dance for publicity. In the end, all three of them voted in favor of Kristy. In the first act, Kristy secured a substantial lead in votes. Vincent dered Kristy as the victor of the initial round. Seeing most of the audience and judges rally behind her, Kristy felt relieved. She sat, legs crossed, but the authoritative Louis not choosing her left her slightly unsettled. Although Louis remained unconvinced with her performance, Kristy had already captivated the hearts of everyone else. She was determined to win Louis over in the uing scenes, prompting him to apud her. Seeing Kristy¡¯s resounding triumph, Jayleen couldn¡¯t contain hercency, nearly bursting intoughter. Approaching Lindsey with a feigned kindness, she remarked, ¡°Lindsey, this is just the start. I¡¯m confident Kristy will continue to shine. Considering we work together, heed my advice: Find a graceful way to quit. If Sh loses all three rounds, you and Sh will face a tarnished reputation, making it challenging to maintain your standing in the entertainment industry. ¡± Lindsey nced at Jayleen and responded with a smile, ¡°Miss Archer, as you mentioned, it¡¯s only the beginning. Let¡¯s wait and see. Oh, by the way, do you recall our bet? If Miss Chase ultimately loses, don¡¯t forget to relinquish your position as the director and let someone more capable take it. ¡± Jayleen smirked. ¡°I certainly haven¡¯t forgotten. If you lose, remember to resign from Vitality Entertainment. ¡± With that, Jayleen turned on her heel and departed, a fierce determination burning in her eyes.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Not only would she make Lindsey leave Vitality Entertainment, but she would ensure Lindsey¡¯s reputation in the industry took a hit. Lindsey was by no means a match for her! After seeing Sh off to the theatre, Arturo lingered outside, unsettled by the day¡¯s peculiar car ident. He retrieved his phone, a sense of uneasepelling him to dial a specific number. Meanwhile, in his office, Domenic fixated on the live audition broadcast. Lindsey asionally appeared on camera, a sight he couldn¡¯t afford to miss. These past two days had been restless for Domenic; a newfound reliance on a routine emerged. The sce of sleep seemed to only arrive when he held Lindsey close. Without her embrace, his already brief slumber grew even more elusive. His mind constantly churned, pondering how to reconcile with her, how to rekindle her joy, and ultimately, how to win her back. Until he found those answers, he hesitated to approach her, fearful of causing further disappointment. Amidst Domenic¡¯s contemtion, Arturo¡¯s call interrupted. With a press of his finger, Domenic answered. ¡°Domenic, I need your help. ¡± Arturo¡¯s tone carried an unusual gravity. This serious demeanor was unfamiliar in Arturo¡¯s conversations with Domenic, prompting a faint frown from thetter. ¡°Tell me. ¡± ¡°At nine forty-five this morning, a major car ident urred on the Bay Bridge. I need you to investigate, determine if it was an ident or something deliberate. ¡± A car ident¡­ The mention of a car ident triggered a realization within Domenic, aligning with Sh¡¯s recent state in the live stream. ¡°Okay,¡± Domenic curtly replied before disconnecting the call. Chapter 359 During the ten-minute halftime interval, Lindsey seized the chance to pull Sh aside. Concern etched across her face as she observed Sh¡¯s injuries. ¡°Sh, are you absolutely sure you¡¯re alright? How serious was the car ident? Did you sustain any other injuries?¡± Sh shook her head, her voice tinged with a hint of disbelief. ¡°Honestly, the ident was so abrupt. I¡¯m still in a daze, but I¡¯ll manage. This audition holds significance not just for my personal pride but also for your future, Lindsey. You¡¯ve supported and shielded me all this while. Now, it¡¯s my turn to repay you. Trust me. I will triumph. ¡± Lindsey enveloped Sh in aforting embrace. ¡°I trust you, Sh. Always have, always will. ¡± With the second act of the auditionmencing after ten minutes, Sh, having familiarized herself with the script, took the lead and stepped onto the stage. Lindsey¡¯s phone buzzed with a message from Nancy detailing the morning¡¯s events at the Bay Bridge. ¡°This morning, a sedan collided with amercial vehicle on the Bay Bridge, nearly causing thetter to plummet off.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Fortunately, a sports car intervened just in time. Eyewitnesses report the sedan was driving smoothly until it suddenly swerved and struck themercial vehicle. The sedan driver has fled the scene. ¡± A photo of the ident scene apanied the message. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Themercial vehicle in the photo was the one she had arranged to pick up Sh today. The severity of the situation caught her off guard¡ª Sh narrowly escaped death. With trembling fingers, Lindsey responded to Nancy, ¡°The timing of the car ident, right before the audition, seems too coincidental. It doesn¡¯t appear idental at all. Someone might have used foul y to prevent Sh from attending the audition. ¡± Nancy quickly replied, ¡°How can I help?¡± Forcing a smile, Lindsey typed, ¡°I might need to use your identity as Mercer¡¯s most influential fan. ¡± As the second act concluded, Sh¡¯s performance shone brightly, while Kristy¡¯s remained more conventional. Online voting surged, and at that moment, Mercer¡¯s most influential fan made a post. ¡°I¡¯ve learned that Sh waste today due to a major car ident on her way to the theatre. Despite injuries and a narrow escape from death, she exhibited unparalleled sincerity and determination. As much as I adore Mercer, I¡¯ll be supporting Sh for now. ¡± This post was way more believable than any random ount¡¯s remark, especially since it was from the most influential fan of Mercer. A video surfaced online, showing a woman emerging from a wrecked car, disheveled and hiding her face, yet her outfit was unmistakably the same as Sh¡¯s during her audition. The inte erupted into chaos. ¡°That was indeed Sh, emerging from a horrific crash. Without a word ofint or a plea for pity, she stepped right onto the stage and performed!¡± ¡°Anyone else could have made the most of the ident for a drop of sympathy. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that the strong would not dwell on their woes!¡± ¡°I feel so bad for Sh!¡± Chapter 360 ¡°Now, stop giving her a hard time for beingte.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. You weren¡¯t the one in that crash. And Sh was clearly the better performer just now!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. My vote goes to Sh. ¡± In a sh, the tide of public opinion turned, and Sh¡¯s votes soared, zooming past Kristy¡¯s. Jayleen watched, cheeks burning with rage, puzzled as to why Mercer¡¯s fan was so bent on backing Sh. Mercer, the chart-topping singer with a fanbase to match, mow seemed to have all his followers rallying for Sh. But Jayleen wasn¡¯t one to back down. Kristy had to clinch the win in this contest! She quickly texted the leader of the paid voters, ¡°Bring in the reinforcements! We need to beat Sh¡¯s votes!¡± The leader replied, ¡°Sure, but we¡¯re talking big numbers. As for the price, it wouldn¡¯t be cheap. ¡± Jayleen shot back, ¡°Name your price. I won¡¯t settle for anything less than Sh¡¯s defeat today!¡± ¡°Alright, deal,¡± the leader responded. As the voting clock ticked down to thest five minutes, Kristy¡¯s numbers, once dominated by Sh¡¯s, surged forward. By the closest of margins, Sh held on, winning by a single vote. In the judges¡¯ corner, Louis and Robert cast their votes for Sh, but the other three judges picked apart her performance. ¡°I feel Sh might¡¯ve pushed too hard in this role. ¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s expression really distracts me from getting immersed in the performance. ¡± ¡°Herstugh sent a shiver down my spine. It gave me the creeps. ¡± Netizens were fed up and kept voicing theirints. ¡°This character is meant to be wild. Did you really expect her to act sweet?¡± ¡°It was clear they were just nitpicking at her. ¡± ¡°Are those judges evenpetent? Did they get bribed or something?¡± In the end, the judges were split 3 to 2. Kristy won by one vote. It was quite a close call. Following a spirited debate, Vincent finally dered that in this audition round, Sh and Kristy were tied. The inte went into an uproar. ¡°Sh was clearly better. Are the judges and Vincent blind?¡± ¡°There¡¯s got to be some behind-the-scenes maniption. They say it¡¯s a fair contest, but it¡¯s anything but fair!¡± Chapter 361 ¡°Don¡¯t you think Kristy¡¯s votes just shot up too quickly? I bet they¡¯ve got people paid to boost Kristy¡¯s votes!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let them get away with this. Get our friends and family to support Sh!¡± Jayleen got a text from one of the judges. ¡°Tell Kristy she¡¯s got to nail the final scene to show her true talent, or we¡¯re out of options!¡± Jayleen responded, ¡°No worries. I¡¯ve got thest part of the script under control. Kristy¡¯s ready and will surelye out on top. ¡± Then, Jayleen messaged the leader of the paid voters, ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you guys surpass Sh¡¯s votes? You let Sh get another shot!¡± The leader replied, ¡°You gave us a five-minute heads up. We did what we could. But I¡¯ve got the next round covered. We won¡¯t lose in thest vote!¡± Jayleen insisted, ¡°Increase the numbers, spare no expense. We need to bridge that gap in the next vote!¡± She was convinced Sh didn¡¯t stand a chance! Jayleen nced at Lindsey, her sense of imminent victory overshadowed by a growing irritation. While she felt restless, like a fish out of water, Lindsey retained her cool,posed demeanor. Jayleen¡¯s irritation deepened, a part of her itching to strip away Lindsey¡¯s facade of tranquility.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Yet, she contained her rage. A woman who had climbed to the ranks of director of the agent department wasn¡¯t one to lose her head. Jayleen had her own tactics, her ruthlessness, and her unyielding ways. With years of experience in the ruthless industry, how could she allow a neer to overshadow her? The thought steeled her resolve. L indsey was going to face a crushing defeat. As the third round of auditions loomed, anticipation buzzed in the air. The final act would showcase Nics acting with the twodies, an event that had the live audience on the edge of their seats. Meanwhile, Sh¡¯s brow furrowed as she perused the script. Lindsey, noticing her expression, approached with a question. ¡°Sh, is everything alright? You don¡¯t look too good. ¡± Sh sighed andid the script aside. ¡°No, I¡¯m okay. It¡¯s just¡­ this role. I have to embody a mother who¡¯s just lost her child. Misled by her husband, she believes her lover is to me and kills him, only to discoverter he was her child¡¯s real father. It¡¯s all a cruel plot by her spouse, his twisted form of vengeance. The character unravels, descending into madness. ¡± ¡°Well, this character seems prettyplex, Lindsey remarked. She found thest scene quite tough. ¡°Like any job, the more tangled the role, the deeper the Life experience required. If I were her, madness wouldn¡¯t be my end. I¡¯d calmly avenge my child, then face the consequences. ¡± Lindsey, puzzled, inquired, ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not a mother, Lindsey. You wouldn¡¯t understand. See, Kristy¡¯s about to start her act,¡± Sh remarked, her gaze fixed on the stage. She pondered how Kristy would bring this character to life. On stage, Kristy shone as the lead, while Nics yed her on-screen husband. Chapter 362 Their exceptional acting drew the crowd in, making it clear Nics earned the title of Best Actor. Acting with him, Kristy¡¯s skills seemed to bloom effortlessly. She had rehearsed this particr scene many times alone, resulting in a disy of talent andmitment that surpassed her earlier acts. After the performance, everyone except Louis, who remained stoic, was vocal in their praise for her. The majority ofizens couldn¡¯t stopuding Kristy¡¯s wless act. Below the stage, Jayleen beamed with pride, confident in Kristy¡¯s win, thanks to Camille¡¯s meticulous coaching. Jayleen, feeling sure of her impending triumph, found her confidence shaken when Sh stepped onto the stage. Louis and Robert were eager to see what Sh had to offer, while the other three judges showed their skepticism, lounging back in their chairs, already set on casting their votes for Kristy the moment Sh¡¯s act concluded. Nics then made his entrance. He couldn¡¯t help but notice how Sh¡¯s allure had deepened with maturity, her aura now more serene, like still waters,cking her former sparkle yet exuding a tranquil grace. In his early days, Nics admired Sh¡¯s passion for her craft and had always hoped to work with her. Her abrupt departure from showbiz had been unexpected. Now, the prospect of sharing a scene filled him with a mix of nostalgia and anticipation, despite it being merely an audition. Sh¡¯s talent was undeniable, yet as Ni cs reflected on her current performance versus that of five years ago, he sensed something was missing. As the spotlight enveloped them, their performance unfolded. Sh began her performance following the script¡¯s lines diligently. Nics, too, felt an unusual surge of mood. It seemed his longing for Sh pushed him to embrace his character more deeply than ever before. Initially, Sh¡¯s portrayal rivaled Kristy¡¯s ster performance. However, as the script progressed and the heroine discovered the truth, veering into madness, Sh unexpectedly deviated from the prescribed Lines. The heroine, aware of the truth, calmly executed her husband, her face a mask of tears.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She wished to weep but could only muster a faint, bitter smile in the end. Unnoticed, the knife slipped from her grasp, leaving her resembling a puppet. Post-revenge, she mechanically walked towards the police station. When the curtain fell, even Nics found himself slightly taken aback. The y, meant to adhere to the original script, unwittingly followed Sh¡¯s rhythm, yet he remained impably in character throughout . He was profoundly moved by Sh¡¯s impromptu performance. She genuinely embodied the role of a mother consumed by Love for her child, losing her head because of hatred. It suddenly dawned on him what was missing in Sh¡¯s initial scenes: her innate talent. However, the recent scene unleashed her natural acting prowess wlessly. After five years of honing her craft, Sh¡¯s talent shone no less brightly than before. Chapter 363 countenance. Hemended, ¡°I once said, a truly great actor or actress must immerse themselves in their character. Understanding the character¡¯s inner workings and motives allows them to naturally embody the role, rather than rigidly following the script. Sh¡¯s performance exemplifies my words. In her performance, I felt the immense power of a mother, the madness of a criminal, and the desperation of a wife. It moved me deeply. ¡± Louis¡¯s appraisal left both Jayleen and Kristy visibly unsettled. It never crossed their minds that the meticulously rehearsed script Kristy dedicated herself to was surpassed by Sh¡¯s live adaptation! Louis¡¯smendation was followed by Robert¡¯s praise. Despite the remaining three judges¡¯ inclination to criticize Sh for her unauthorized deviation from the script, Louis¡¯s admiration rendered them speechless. Following the show, thements in the livestream became even more noteworthy. ¡°Who else could earn praise from Louis!¡± ¡°Sh was destined to be the finest actress!¡± ¡°There¡¯s noparison; she¡¯s in a league of her own!¡± ¡°While Kristy performed adequately, her delivery seemed stiff and contrivedpared to S h¡¯s natural grace. ¡± ¡°Those who doubted Sh¡¯s acting skills were clearly mistaken!¡± ¡°Sh, the ultimate actress, sweeps all the awards this year. Meanwhile, Kristy merely secured a handful of her roles in Vincent¡¯s films.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Can she evenpete with Sh?¡± ¡°Does everyone online have a short memory? Remember Kristy¡¯s terrible performance in the romantic drama before?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too harsh on her. Kristy¡¯s abilities fall short of what Sh effortlessly achieves, ha sha!¡± Online votingmenced. Initially presumed that Sh¡¯s votes would outnumber Kristy¡¯s, the reality unfolded differently. Kristy¡¯s vote count rapidly soared, creating a significant gap between her and Sh. Observing the escting numbers on her phone screen, Jayleen smirked. These everydayizens on the inte paled inparison to the social media force wielded by wealth and influence. In today¡¯s entertainment realm, how could one establish herself solely based on their performance? Thement section was abuzz after Kristy¡¯s baffling surge in votes. ¡°Everyone I know voted for Sh. Howe she¡¯s still trailing behind Kristy?¡± ¡°It looks like the paid voters are up to something. Kristy has no shame in trying to win. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s ruining the fair y. I¡¯m done with it. ¡± ¡°Let¡¯s rally behind Sh or even set up new ounts. We can¡¯t let the paid voters win. ¡± ¡°Today¡¯s more than just a contest. It¡¯s the folks taking on the big money. Let¡¯s do this!¡± Chapter 364 Jayleen was caught off guard by the sudden wave of enthusiasm online and Sh¡¯s votes had soared unexpectedly. Meanwhile, Mercer made a public statement admiring Sh and even performed a spontaneous song in honor of her act. Then, a host of celebrities, directors, and writers from the showbiz industry came forward tomend Sh¡¯s talents and cast their votes for her. Suddenly, all these prominent industry figures were advocating for Sh, causing a ripple effect with their fans casting votes too, and the inte was alive with chatter. Jayleen was so shocked she nearly broke her phone, staring in disbelief at the unfolding events. Sh had been away from the industry¡¯s attention for five years, and Lindsey was a neer as an agent. How did they manage to sway the industry to back them like this? Refusing to ept defeat, Jayleen reached out to the leader of paid voters. ¡°We need more people spreading the word to support Kristy, we have to beat Sh in the vote. ¡± The leader replied, ¡°We¡¯ve run into a problem. Our ounts got mass blocked. ¡± Through clenched teeth, Jayleen demanded, ¡°Didn¡¯t we pay them off? Why are the ounts still blocked?¡± The leader exined, ¡°The money¡¯s been sent back, and I was put on a cklist. ¡± Shock hit Jayleen hard, her eyes widened in disbelief. Her face lost all color, goingpletely pale. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of a deep void, her face numb from the impact of the news. Things weren¡¯t making sense to her, it was as if she had the whole world against her. Defeated, Jayleen slumped into a chair, feeling a sense of helplessness she hadn¡¯t known in her entire career in showbiz. Hope seemed to slip through her fingers. She was unraveling. Kristy, seeing her vote count surpassed by Sh¡¯s, grabbed Jayleen urgently. ¡°I don¡¯t get it, my votes were ahead, and now I¡¯m losing. You have to do something. ¡± Jayleen¡¯s expression turned stormy. What was left to do? She had exhausted every strategy at her disposal, leaving her vulnerable to a one-sided defeat. ¡°Take a look at it. Why aren¡¯t my votes increasing? They¡¯re actually dropping. What¡¯s happening?¡± Kristy eximed in shock, unable to hide her surprise.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Jayleen checked her phone and saw what had happened. The paid voters¡¯ ounts had been banned, making all their previous votes void. Meanwhile, Sh¡¯s numbers were still climbing, and Kristy¡¯s had shrunk to almost nothingpared to Sh¡¯s. In thisst showdown, Kristy and Jayleen had been thoroughly outdone. Chapter 365 Ten minutes ago, in the building of the Walsh Group.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Hendrix entered Domenic¡¯s office with confidence. ¡°Mr. Walsh, we¡¯ve set everything up just like you wanted. Miss Stewart¡¯s going to win, no doubt about it. ¡± Domenic flicked ash from his cigarette, his expression unreadable. He¡¯d noticed the strange spike in votes and realized someone was messing with the system. He had wanted a cleanpetition and had no ns to meddle. But he hadn¡¯t anticipated the other side would secretly y their financial hand. He wasn¡¯t about to just watch. To outsiders, Lindsey might seem like a simple, inexperienced agent with no chance against big money. Little did they know, Domenic himself was the financial giant backing her up. He was more than capable of taking on the opposition alone. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation into the car crash going?¡± Domenic inquired, leaning back in his chair. Hendrix updated him, ¡°The driver responsible got away. But I¡¯ve got the police on it, activating the sky eye system to ramp up the search. We should have a lead soon. ¡± ¡°Let me know the moment they catch him,¡± Domenic ordered. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Hendrix replied. After Hendrix left, Domenic picked up the phone to call Emilio, who was far off in Mubluosia. ¡°Hey Domenic, what¡¯s the matter ?¡± Emilio had his hands full with the business operations. Since Domenic¡¯s return, Emilio had been left to manage the affairs abroad alone. He¡¯d been working tirelessly. For Emilio, news from home was scarce. Domenic¡¯s voice, heavy and menacing, cut through the line. ¡°Finish up ande back. You need to set your guys straight. ¡± With that, Domenic ended the call. A wave of worry washed over Emilio. What on earth had his subordinates done to rile Domenic up? The fury in Domenic¡¯s tone hinted at a serious issue. It looked Like Emilio had to wrap things up quickly and head back. Meanwhile, in the online voting, Sh had surged past Kristy by andslide. Theizens erupted in celebration, proiming this event one for the history books. It was the day they collectively overthrew the influence of big money. Unbeknownst to them, there was an even bigger financial power backing them. Lindsey was stunned by the unfolding events. She hadn¡¯t anticipated the overwhelming show of force. A significant part of the celebrity world had rallied behind Sh, and the unity of theizens was beyond anything she had expected. Chapter 366 Lindsey¡¯s eyes filled with tears, deeply touched by the scene. She nced at Sh, who was next to her, and noticed she was also crying. However, thepetition wasn¡¯t over yet. During the judges¡¯ vote, Louis and Robert didn¡¯t think twice before backing Sh. The other three judges leaned towards Kristy, but they were under immense pressure. Louis had spoken so highly of Sh. To vote for Kristy now would not only draw the wrath of the public but also risk offending Louis. Despite Josh and Jayleen¡¯s generous offers, the judges couldn¡¯t afford to act unfairly and jeopardize their reputations. They also reasoned that even if Sh took this round, she would only draw even with Kristy over the three rounds. Kristy wouldn¡¯t be out of thepetition. With that in mind, they all cast their votes for Sh. Sh emerged victorious in that round. Yet, Kristy had won the first round, Sh the third, and the second was a draw. They were at a stalemate. Vincent, after a moment¡¯s thought, dered an additional round. This sudden round would determ ine the lead actress once and for all. Recognizing that there was still an opportunity, Jayleen urged Kristy, ¡°You mustn¡¯t let this extra round slip away. ¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Kristy responded with a confident smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already contacted my instructor. She¡¯s on her way here. ¡± The final round had no script. The actresses were to create the setting, story, and character themselves. Given the unique challenge, Kristy and Sh were allowed more time to prepare. The only criterion for this round was their ability to bring the scene to life. Camille¡¯s arrival at the theater during the preparations caused a stir among the judges; even Louis stood to wee her. It was clear to everyone that Camille hade specifically to support Kristy. With Camille¡¯s guidance, Kristy quickly figured out what her performance would involve, and Camille even took charge of directing the finer points of the next performance. This boosted Kristy¡¯s confidence immensely. Everyone at the theater made a point of praising Camille, leaving Lindsey and Sh on the sidelines. But they didn¡¯t mind. Instead, they focused on discussing the specifics and direction for the next performance. When the prep time was up, it was finally Kristy and Sh¡¯s turn to face off. Kristy stepped onto the stage first, and as the spotlight hit her, a hush fell. With Camille¡¯s coaching, Kristy¡¯s act transformed from her earlier ones. There was a depth to her performance now, captivating and intense. After she finished, the judges rose to their feet in apuse. Chapter 367 Camille, seated with the judges, though not voting, was a respected figure from the Skiyton Film Academy, and her opinion carried weight. ¡°Kristy nailed it. I¡¯ve got nothing to add. How about you, Mr. Louis Watson?¡± She arched an eyebrow in Louis¡¯s direction, her interest solely on him. Louis replied with a casual tone, ¡°She did well, for sure. Now, I¡¯m eager to see what Sh brings to the stage. ¡± What could Sh have done differently? Just earlier, Kristy¡¯s act was improvised by Camille right there, while Sh hadn¡¯t had any help from a coach. Even though Sh did a bit betterst time, this round she wasn¡¯t just up against Kristy, but also a professor from Skiyton Film Academy. It wasn¡¯t a fair contest. The three judges looked at Sh with disapproval. With Camille here in this round, they could boldly vote for Kristy. Lindsey was taken aback that Kristy would stoop to getting on-the-spot coaching from Camille. Wasn¡¯t that pretty much cheating? While Lindsey mulled this over, she caught Jayleen¡¯s mocking tone. ¡°Looks Like you¡¯re on the losing side, Lindsey. ¡± ncing at Jayleen and Kristy, Lindsey responded coldly, ¡°Kristy can¡¯t match Sh, so she brings in a coach? Doesn¡¯t that seem like an unfair edge?¡± Jayleen smirked. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re envious because Kristy has a good coach and Sh doesn¡¯t? Lindsey, it¡¯s your own fault for not securing a coach. ¡± Lindsey scoffed, ¡°Miss Archer, with all your influence, why didn¡¯t you find a coach for Kristy? She had to turn to her college instructor for help. Seems like you¡¯re set to win without even trying. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Jayleen¡¯s expression soured. Arms crossed, Kristy challenged Lindsey, ¡°There¡¯s no rule against coaches in auditions. Being jealous gets you nowhere. If you¡¯re so capable, why not get a coach for Sh right now?¡± ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t?¡± Lindsey asked, unfazed.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Kristy¡¯s scoff was sharp. ¡°Even if you do, what¡¯s the point? Can your coach match Ms. Dupont? She is¡­¡± Before Kristy could get her words out, she was interrupted by a voice from behind. ¡°Ms. Garcia!¡± Camille called out. Turning around, Kristy saw Camille rise from her seat, approach an elderlydy, and bow with deep respect. ¡°Ms. Garcia, what brings you here?¡± she asked. A crease formed between Kristy¡¯s brows as she considered whether this elderlydy was the one she was thinking of. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the judges stood up, looking stunned. There was only one Ms. Garcia that Camille would hold in such high esteem. Chapter 368 ¡°Is that¡­ Ruby Garcia?¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Ms. Garcia. My name is. Louis wasn¡¯t the only one. A few others also gathered around Ruby, introducing themselves with warmth. It was a surprise enough to have Louis, the president of Blosa Film University, present. But the appearance of Ruby, the film industry legend in the country, was astonishing. With the arrival of these two renowned individuals, the theater buzzed with excitement. Vincent approached, took Ruby¡¯s hand, and said with a surge of excitement, ¡°I thought you were in Mubluosia. If I¡¯d known you wereing, I would have offered you a ride. ¡± Ruby responded with a kind smile, ¡°I just wanted to see how my favorite student is doing. ¡± ¡°Your student?¡± Camille¡¯s eyes went wide. She knew Ruby was still working as an acting coach in Mubluosia and hadn¡¯t taken on private students for years. So who was Ruby referring to? The room filled with puzzled looks. Kristy¡¯s coach was Camille, and Sh didn¡¯t have a coach. Who could Ruby¡¯s student be? With a serene smile, Ruby made her way through the crowd. All eyes followed her as she stopped in front of Sh. Looking at Sh, Ruby¡¯s face softened. ¡°Sh is my student,¡± she announced. Everyone at the scene was taken aback to learn that Ruby was Sh¡¯s coach. Why hadn¡¯t Sh mentioned this? She had kept it so well hidden. Jayleen and Kristy were rooted to the spot. They recalled Ruby¡¯s earlier words¡­ What exactly had Ruby said? Kristy was in disbelief over Ruby¡¯s im that Sh was her student. Determined to get answers, Jayleen approached Ruby with a forced smile. ¡°Ms. Garcia, I hear you¡¯ve been overseas. How did youe to know Sh and be her coach? We don¡¯t mean to pry. It¡¯s just that Sh has never mentioned being your student. Could there be a reason she hasn¡¯t spoken of it?¡± Ruby nced at Jayleen before her friendly expression turned stern. ¡°Not everyone likes to broadcast having a good coach, as if they fear nobody would find out. A coach¡¯s strength means nothing if the student doesn¡¯t have the will or talents. Otherwise, they only perform when instructed and fall apart when left alone. What good does that do?¡± It was clear to all that Ruby was taking a jab at Kristy, so they stayed silent. With a look of dissatisfaction, Ruby addressed the silent group. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was Lindsey who requested me to coach Sh temporarily. ¡± What? The idea that Lindsey had persuaded the renowned Ruby to coach Sh was astounding. Those who once saw Lindsey as insignificant were now watching her intently. Moments ago, Jayleen and Kristy had ridiculed Lindsey for her inability to secure an acting coach. Now, they felt as if they¡¯d been struck across the face, their cheeks hot with embarrassment. Chapter 369 Lindsey hadn¡¯t just found any coach. She had found the best. Ruby took Lindsey¡¯s hand warmly, offering her a gentle look. ¡°Lindsey, I wanted to be here sooner, but was held up. Where are we in the audition process?¡± With a friendly grin, Lindsey replied, ¡°It¡¯s Sh¡¯s turn to perform, but she¡¯s uncertain about some parts. Maybe you could offer her some guidance?¡± The room was filled with shock. ¡®s BunnyBookery Now Lindsey got a helper. ¡°Sure thing. ¡± Ruby was more than happy to join Sh and work out the specifics of their act. The audience was starting to see Lindsey in a new Light. Lindsey and Ruby appeared to share a close bond. It made people curious about Lindsey¡¯s background. The three judges squirmed, troubled by the thought that they had unfairly judged Sh. They worried over the possibility of being cklisted from the film industry.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The judges, who had previously sided with Kristy, were kicking themselves for taking Jayleen¡¯s bribe to support her. Had they realized the connection between Lindsey and Ruby, and that Sh was Ruby¡¯s student, they would have sought Linds perform arrived. Ruby approached the judges¡¯ panel. On her way, she shed a grin at Louis and inquired, ¡°Louis, I missed the earlier performances. Who stood out the most?¡± Louis gave a slight smirk. ¡°Do you really need to ask? Your student, obviously. ¡± Ruby beamed, pleased. ¡°I always enjoy hearing youmend my student. Even if I already know, I still like to ask. ¡± ¡°Haha. You really haven¡¯t changed at all. ¡± They exchanged knowing smiles. Ruby took Camille¡¯s previous spot on the panel, with Camille standing by, too respectful to utter a word. Jayleen and Kristy, witnessing this, could only grit their teeth in silence. Sh then stepped onto the stage. Facing the industry titans and millions watching live, she smiled subtly. ¡°This final performance has no title or lines. Please watch and enjoy. ¡± Sh started her performance silently. Throughout the act, she didn¡¯t utter a single word, yet her expressions and movements delivered an engrossing portrayal without the need for actual objects. As she performed, the live stream¡¯s chat was flooded with newments. ¡°What role is Sh ying?¡± Chapter 370 ¡°Ah, I get it. Sh is embodying a swan with a broken neck. She was cast aside, scorned, and forsaken by the others. Overwhelmed with sorrow, rage, and despair, she plucks at her feathers and retreats into the shadows of a cave. But then, a sliver of light catches her eye, and she chases it. She stumbles time and again, yet each time she rises. Under the sun, her feathers grow lush once more, and she lifts her graceful neck, rising from the ashes again. ¡± ¡°No, Sh isn¡¯t just portraying a swan. She¡¯s mirroring her own life. ¡± ¡°The emotion is palpable. How many trials must she have endured to find such strength to rise every time?¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s act in really inspiring. Let it be a reminder to all watching. Never lose hope. The longest night will end, and the sun shall rise again. ¡± The performance ends as the swan spreads its wings and soars. Comments filled the screen. ¡°Sh, you¡¯ve stolen my heart. ¡± ¡°Sh¡¯s performance is more than a portrayal of a swan. Without a word, without props, her stunning performance touches the soul. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s what true acting is. ¡± The crowd erupted in cheers, this time for Sh alone. Their conviction was unanimous.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The three judges, previously influenced by Jayleen, now felt a sting of guilt. The thought of voting for Kristy again made them uneasy. Watching Sh on stage, Kristy pointed and yelled in fury, ¡°Sh¡¯s cheating with her performance. She¡¯s just fishing for pity by drawing on her own life. ¡± ¡°But her role is that of a swan,¡± a judge chimed in. ¡°She¡¯s¡­ She¡¯s using the swan as a symbol for her own story. ¡± Robert nced at Kristy and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re free to interpret this any way you please. To each their own, as they say about Hamlet. But in truth, she¡¯s only acting as a swan. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Kristy was at a loss for words, slumping into the chair, her spirits sinking. Jayleen, unable toe to terms with what had transpired, stood frozen, silent. Ruby then addressed the crowd, ¡°Since the audience gets to pick their favorite for the lead role, why not let them vote on this scene? We should stay out of it. ¡± Vincent nodded in agreement. After shutting down those paid voters, the voting was clean, a true reflection of public opinion. Stepping onto the stage, Vincent announced to the live stream audience, ¡°We¡¯re handing this special vote over to you. The judges will step back. Cast your vote for your preferred leadingdy. ¡± No sooner had the voting begun than Sh¡¯s numbers surged, leaving Kristy¡¯s far behind. ¡°Sh is the true star for me. ¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t Kristy¡¯s fans showing up? They seemed so confident before. ¡± Chapter 371 ¡°Enough with the insults. Even as a die-hard fan of Kristy, I¡¯ve cast my vote for Sh. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear Kristy was outdone. We ept it wholeheartedly. ¡± ¡°The gap between Kristy and Sh is evident. Kristy has much to learn. ¡± ¡°Wee back, Sh. The best is yet toe. ¡± Sh emerged victorious. An overjoyed Lindsey, tears streaming down her face, embraced Sh. ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Sh. I¡¯m so proud. You¡¯re the true leading Lady. ¡± Returning the embrace, Sh fought back tears. ¡°Thank you, Lindsey.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m lost without you. You¡¯re the reason I got a second chance. You¡¯re the beacon that the swan with a broken neck followed. ¡± Sh resolved to follow that beacon for life. As they shared this tearful moment, Vincent¡¯s stern voice cut through. ¡°Jayleen, I¡¯m aware of your ploy with the paid voters during the audition. ¡± ¡°Furthermore, she¡¯s been influe ncing the judges with bribes. ¡± Ruby, the voice¡¯s owner, stood with a piercing gaze. Being the most seasoned figure in the film industry, Ruby had an extensivework of connections. No matter what happened, it could not escape from her eyes. Before arriving here, she¡¯d heard about the bribery of the judges, prompting her toe personally. Vincent, too, had noticed that three judges,promised by bribes, were deliberately obstructing Sh¡¯s progress. Without their interference, Sh might have already secured her victory. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure this issue gets investigated thoroughly. ¡± Vincent¡¯s displeased nce swept across the room. The implicated judges hung their heads, visibly shaken. Then, turning to Jayleen with a stern look, Vincent publicly rebuked her actions, ¡°Jayleen, your actions have crossed a line. I won¡¯t be working with any artists under your management in the future. ¡± ¡°Mr. Lopez, please, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I didn¡¯t hire any paid voters. I¡­¡± Jayleen stammered in desperation. ¡°Don¡¯t bother exining!¡± Vincent interrupted. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m unaware that you bribed my staff for the audition script ahead of time? Jayleen, you¡¯ve been an agent for years. Don¡¯t you realize that while the script is set, the performance is not? I deliberately had the scriptwriter add an illogical plot to the third scene. It was a test of adaptability, but you directed Kristy to stick rigidly to the script, missing the whole point! Jayleen, you have done so many despicable things. You¡¯re not fit to be an agent. ¡± Vincent then turned his stern gaze to Kristy. ¡°Kristy, you had so much potential at the start of your career. I had high hopes for you. But instead of enhancing your acting skills, you chose underhanded tactics. This is a real letdown. ¡± Chapter 372 ¡°Mr. Lopez, I had no idea about any of this. Jayleen did it all without my knowledge. ¡± Kristy¡¯s voice quivered, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Kristy, how can you say that? I¡¯ve done everything for you!¡± Jayleen eximed, her eyes widening in disbelief. Tears brimmed in Kristy¡¯s eyes as she looked at Jayleen, her eyes red with emotion. ¡°Jayleen, everything you¡¯ve done was to secure your position as the director in thepany. I was just a tool for your ambition! You don¡¯t have the ability to be my agent at all. I¡¯m going to fire you! ¡° ¡°Kristy Chase, you¡¯re really going to get rid of me after everything I¡¯ve done for you? The reason why you lost the audition was because of your poor acting skills. I was a fool to pour so much effort into supporting you!¡± Jayleen said, trembling with fury. The two were locked in a heated exchange of me. Lindsey approached with a sly grin, her eyes narrowed. ¡°Miss Archer, it looks like you¡¯ve lost. A deal¡¯s a deal. Remember what you¡¯ve promised to me. ¡± Jayleen fixed Lindsey with a re, her eyes red and wild. She spat out her words with difficulty, ¡°Lindsey, do you think you¡¯ve really won? Just you wait. I¡¯m not backing down. You haven¡¯t seen thest of me!¡± Lindsey simply brushed her off and walked away, leaving Jayleen staring after her furiously, fists clenched in anger. Nobody paid any further attention t o Jayleen or Kristy. Vincent approached Sh and Lindsey with a kind smile. ¡°Congrattions, Lindsey and Sh! One of you won the bet, and the other earned the lead role. This calls for a celebration. I¡¯ll throw a party today to celebrate with everyone. ¡± He then turned to Nics, who had been quietly observing, and invited, ¡°Come along, Nics. ¡± Nics nced at Sh before responding calmly, ¡°Alright. ¡± Vincent nned to throw a party at Champs Le Bar tonight to celebrate.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. After their unsessful audition, Jayleen, Kristy, and the three judges they had bribed left feeling downhearted. But as they exited through the side door, they were met by a crowd of reporters and camera crews. The crowd fixated on Kristy, who was leading the way, and thrust a microphone in her direction. ¡°Miss Chase, can youment on your defeat to Sh?¡± ¡°How does it feel to miss out on the main role? Do you think your acting skills were the problem?¡± Kristy, her face flushing with anger, was at a loss for words. Shielded by security and her team, she eventually managed to slip into her car and drive away. Jayleen wasn¡¯t as fortunate. Left behind without anyment from Kristy, the reporters swarmed her next. The shing Lights bombarded her, and she shielded her eyes with her hand. ¡°Jayleen, you¡¯ve lost the bet. When will you give up the position as a director in thepany?¡± ¡°Did you rig the audition? Were you involved in Sh¡¯s ident?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you with Kristy? Is it because the audition didn¡¯t go as nned?¡± Chapter 373 The press was relentless, hurling baseless ims and pointed questions at her. In a mix of frustration and humiliation, Jayleen tried to fend off the cameras. Her usual air of arrogance had faded, leaving her looking quite mortified. ¡°Rubbish! It¡¯s all rubbish! Just stop! Enough! I¡¯m leaving!¡± The camera caught Jayleen at her most desperate and flustered, and the image was quickly posted online. That day, her name shot up in the search trends, andizens swarmed with ridicule. ¡°Have you seen Jayleen¡¯s face? Hrious¡­¡± ¡°Time to step down from the director¡¯s chair for someonepetent! Lindsey seems like she could handle it. ¡± ¡°People are starting to think Jayleen had a hand in Sh¡¯s ident!¡± ¡°They need to look into this and give us answers! If she¡¯s guilty, she should be in jail!¡± That afternoon, Nics had ns. So he said goodbye to Vincent and the rest. On his way out, he got a carefully selected package from his assistant and gave it to Lindsey. ¡°Miss Stewart, I noticed Sh¡¯s outfit was ruined in the crash, so I had my assistant pick out something new.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯ll fit, but could you give it to her? If she¡¯s okay with it, it might work for now. ¡± Earlier, Lindsey had found Sh an outfit, but it wasn¡¯t ideal for going out. ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you. Sh will be grateful,¡± Lindsey said with a polite smile, epting the package. With a warm smile, Nics left. Lindsey, with a sly grin, pulled Sh aside. She chuckled. ¡°It looks like you got lucky. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Sh¡¯s expression held a mixture of surprise and confusion. ¡°Nics had someone shop for new clothes for you,¡± Lindsey exined, as she passed the package to Sh and leaned in for a whisper. ¡°I think Nics likes you. ¡± Feeling her heartbeat quicken, Sh hastily ced her hand over Lindsey¡¯s mouth, cautioning her, ¡°Lindsey, stop spreading rumors. If this gets out, I¡¯ll be trending online!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep quiet. But you should think about moving on, especially now that you¡¯re divorced from Andrew,¡± Lindsey remarked, removing Sh¡¯s hand with a look of genuine concern. Sh averted her gaze, absentmindedly twirling the package¡¯s string around her finger. ¡°My focus is on my work right now. I¡¯m not interested in dating. Plus, I have ine to think about. I want to be there for her without any distractions. ¡± Lindsey, still upset from her argument with Domenic, wrapped an arm around Sh and said, ¡°Exactly. We need to prioritize our careers. Men should just step aside and let us be. ¡± The moment she finished her statement, Lindsey¡¯s phone buzzed. It was Domenic calling, as if on cue with her thoughts. Lindsey¡¯s lips tightened in a mix of annoyance and anticipation. Chapter 374 Sh, noticing Lindsey¡¯s reaction, tilted her head and let out a lightugh. ¡°Is that your boyfriend calling?¡± Quick to find a private spot, Lindsey hurried away, juggling her tumultuous feelings, and took the call. ¡°Lindsey, well done. I had no doubts about your victory. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was deep and soothing, causing Lindsey¡¯s cheeks to flush. ¡°Did you call just to say that?¡± Lindsey¡¯s lips curled in a slight pout as she inquired. After a brief pause, Domenic said, ¡°I wanted to know, are you avable this evening? There¡¯s a lovely spot I know that serves your beloved caviar and French foie gras. After the meal, how about we shop at the mall? Pick anything you want. Consider it a victory present. ¡± Domenic made no reference to their previous encounter. Was he trying to smooth things over with dinner and a present? Not a chance! Lindsey¡¯s response wasced with irritation. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t. Mr. Lopez is throwing a celebration party tonight. I¡¯m supposed to be there. ¡± Domenic fell silent.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Alright. Take care. If you need anything, just call me. If it gets toote, I can give you a ride. ¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ve been staying at Nancy¡¯s ce. I can get back on my own!¡± Lindsey ended the call, leaving the line dead. It was unheard of to just hang up on Domenic, and she was the first to do so. Domenic massaged his forehead in frustration, feeling stuck. He was a titan in the business world, yet romance was new territory for him. Lindsey was his first real love interest. He hadn¡¯t even had a woman as a friend before her. He had been studying books on romance, trying to figure out what makes a woman happy, but the practice was proving difficult. An idea struck Domenic. He reached for his phone again and called Arturo. ¡°You mentioned a gathering with Mercerst time. I¡¯m actually free tonight. ¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s meet at Champs Le Bar at 8 PM,¡± Arturo replied. Lindsey, for her part, wasn¡¯t trying to snub Domenic intentionally, but his obliviousness to his previous actions, following her, was irritating. She just wanted an honest exnation and an apology, something Domenic surely knew but chose to ignore. This thought only fueled Lindsey¡¯s anger. During her call, Sh had slipped away to change. Ruby, who had been busy with a crowd, noticed Lindsey lost in thought near the stage and approached her with a warm smile. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Snapped back to reality, Lindsey quickly took Ruby¡¯s arm. ¡°Ms. Garcia, what brings you here out of the blue?¡± Ruby¡¯s eyes were full of care. ¡°I came to make sure you and Sh weren¡¯t being pushed around. Am I not wee?¡± Lindsey rushed to reassure her, ¡°No, we¡¯re honored by your presence! Chapter 375 nd I can¡¯t thank you enough for all your help. Let me treat you to a meal sometime when you¡¯re free.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Ruby gave Lindsey¡¯s hand aforting pat and said, ¡°I enjoy social gatherings, and it turns out a friend of mine is returning soon. How about you join us? What do you say?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯d be happy to,¡± Lindsey responded with a smile. A knowing smile danced in Ruby¡¯s eyes. Vincent, observing Lindsey and Ruby¡¯s exchange, approached them. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s a surprise to see you¡¯re acquainted with Ms. Garcia. It¡¯s not every day one meets such an esteemed figure. ¡± Vincent¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He thought of Lindsey as a regr girl from a modest background, yet here she was, mingling with Ruby, which elevated his opinion of her. Just the other day, his wife mentioned Lindsey had a boyfriend and tasked him with uncovering the man¡¯s identity. Paige had her heart set on pairing Lindsey with Sumner. If Lindsey turned out to be a well-to-dody undercover to experience life, perhaps she could surpass Sumner in status. Given the current clues, Lindsey¡¯s mysterious boyfriend might be someone of significance, casting doubt on Sumner¡¯s chances. Ruby¡¯s smile widened at Vincent¡¯s rema rk. ¡°Life¡¯s full of unexpected encounters. Lindsey assisted me recently, and I¡¯ve taken a liking to her. She¡¯s kind and lovely. I¡¯ve got some free time, so I agreed to coach Sh. ¡± Vincent nodded, processing this information, yet he couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that Ruby¡¯s warmth towards Lindsey was extraordinary, resembling a grandmother¡¯s fondness for her granddaughter. Perhaps there was more to their connection, something they couldn¡¯t disclose to him. After a moment¡¯s thought, Vincent turned his attention to Sh. ¡°The film¡¯s about to start production. You¡¯re the lead actress, so let¡¯s get your contract signed to avoid any dys. ¡± Sh beamed and replied, ¡°Lindsey handles all my contract affairs as my agent. ¡± ¡°Okay, Lindsey, make sure youe to me with the contract when it¡¯s done,¡± Vincent told Lindsey. He then looked at Ruby and Louis and said, ¡°Ms. Garcia, Mr. Watson, I need to handle some work this afternoon, so I¡¯ll be heading out. ¡± Ruby gave a smile and replied, ¡°I could use a break too. Louis, we should get going as well. ¡± Lindsey quickly offered, ¡°I can drive you home. ¡± But Ruby dismissed the offer with a yful wave. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go with Louis. It¡¯s rare that we catch up. I¡¯m not letting him slip away so soon. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t push further, considering her own workload and the urgent contract for Sh. It was crucial to secure Sh¡¯s deal with Vitality Entertainment right away. She decided she would discuss it with Joshter that day. With the theater¡¯s main and side entrances crowded with reporters, they eventually slipped out through the fire escape, led by the staff. After changing, Lindsey and Sh were thest to leave the theater and spotted a sleek sports car with Arturo waiting casually by its side. Chapter 376 Catching sight of him, Lindsey nudged Sh with a meaningful look. ¡°Looks like someone¡¯s here for you, Sh. I¡¯ll leave you to it. I¡¯ve got to rush back and get that contract ready!¡± ¡°Hold on, Lindsey!¡± Sh tried to leave, but Lindsey was quick on her feet and slipped away before she could be stopped. Arturo moved quickly, getting to Sh and gently taking hold of her shoulders, scanning her for any sign of injury. ¡°Sh, are you alright? Let¡¯s get you to the hospital to make sure everything¡¯s okay,¡± he suggested with concern. Ever since Sh¡¯s ident, Arturo had been deeply concerned about her well-being, refusing to leave. He had witnessed the crash firsthand and understood the seriousness of the collision. Sh had barely managed to escape from the wrecked car. Sh shook her head, insisting, ¡°I¡¯m okay, really. There¡¯s no need for all that fuss. ¡± But before she could walk away, Arturo caught her wrist, spun her around, and gently but firmly pressed her against the car window. ¡°Why are you being so disobedient now?¡± he asked, his striking eyes revealing a flicker of frustration. Back when they were at the Yates¡¯ ce, Arturo would always speak to her in a yful, teasing tone, urging her, ¡°Sh, be obedient. ¡± Every time she heard him utter those words, regardless of the request, she¡¯d dly do it for him. ¡®s BunnyBookery That even included the night she was thrown out of the Yates¡¯ house. Arturo, a little drunk, had cradled her in his arms and murmured, ¡°Be obedient. ¡± She hadplied with his every request. But all herpliance led to that night when his father pped and berated her, and Arturo did nothing but stand there in silence, offering her no defense. Sh leaned casually against the car window, a hint of a mocking smile on her face. ¡°Hey Arturo, wake up. I¡¯m not a maid of your family anymore. Why should I listen to you?¡± The woman standing before him shone brighter than she ever did in the Yates household, yet her eyes were cold, devoid of the warmth and softness they once held. Arturo felt a wave of anger wash over him. He seized Sh¡¯s arm, yanked the car door open, and pushed her inside. ¡°Arturo Yates, stop it! I didn¡¯t agree to go with you. Let me out!¡± Sh¡¯s protest was fierce. Ignoring her struggle, Arturo shut the door, locked it, and slid into the driver¡¯s seat. The car roared to life and zoomed off. Lindsey, after handling urgent matters back at thepany, rode the elevator to Josh¡¯s office. She had ns to talk to him about Sh¡¯s contract. Reaching Josh¡¯s door, she found it ajar. She was about to knock when a voice she recognized halted her in her tracks.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 377 ¡°Mr. Harvey, what do you think we should do? I don¡¯t care much for being the director, but without me, you¡¯ll miss out on a lot, won¡¯t you?¡± That voice belonged unmistakably to Jayleen. Lindsey was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected such a flirty tone from Jayleen before. Josh wrapped his arms around Jayleen, seating herfortably on hisp. He said with ease, ¡°Your bet with Lindsey is buzzing online. Everyone¡¯s eyes are on it. We can¡¯t fool that crowd, so you¡¯ll need to step down from the director¡¯s role for now. Just y along, and when the hype dies down, I¡¯ll help you get back in charge. What do you think?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y games with me,¡± Jayleen warned, draping her arms around his neck and pouting. Josh squeezed her butt and countered, ¡°Have I ev er broken a promise to you? Plus, I need you to use that role to our advantage, don¡¯t I?¡± In the business world, profit often eclipsed romance. Jayleen understood this and trusted Josh¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re actually nning to sign Sh, aren¡¯t you? If Lindsey manages to snag an actress like her, she¡¯ll be a major rival. ¡± Gently tapping her nose, Josh assured her, ¡°Once Sh¡¯s with Vitality Entertainment, we¡¯ll decide if she rests or gets opportunities, won¡¯t we?¡± The n clicked for Jayleen. ¡°Exactly. Even if Sh does sign, we can block her fromnding any gigs. If she causes thepany to bleed money, we¡¯ll have the perfect chance to oust her and Lindsey. After all, it¡¯s money that talks. Those who pay top dor get the prime picks, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So, how about you reward me?¡± he teased. ¡°You always take such good care of me. ¡± Jayleen pressed her hands against Josh¡¯s face and ki*sed him softly.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Pleasured Moans echoed from the office shortly after. Hidden behind the door, Lindsey¡¯s hands were balled into tight fists. Sweat dampened her palms, and her hands¡¯ bulging veins betrayed her stress. She had imagined many scenarios but never that Jayleen¡¯s mysterious back was Josh, thepany¡¯s vice general manager. Together, they weren¡¯t plotting thepany¡¯s growth but scheming against their own staff and artists. Worse, they were epting bribes for personal gain. Disappointment swelled within Lindsey. She had joined Vitality Entertainment, inspired by her mother, aiming to be an outstanding agent just Like her. However, she hadn¡¯t anticipated such rot and corruption at Vitality Entertainment. What was her next move? Should she confide in Emilio? And how could she be certain Emilio wasn¡¯t part of this? It wasmon for employees to mirror their bosses¡¯ ws. Was it possible that Emilio was unaware of Josh and Jayleen¡¯s secret dealings? Chapter 378 If thepany¡¯s higher-ups were involved, it surely meant trouble. Maybe Emilio was even orchestrating it all. Lindsey pressed her fingertips together, a wave of despair rising within her, mingled with a fierce bitterness and disappointment. She retreated to the restroom, dousing her face with cold water in an attempt to find her calm. Rumors had already been circting that Vitality Entertainment wasn¡¯t the giant it once was, its glory days eclipsed by the rising star of Gallop Entertainment. The whispers hinted at a downfall rooted in its own rot from within. Lindsey knew if Sh inked a deal with Vitality, her career would likely crumble into nothing. At that moment, Lindsey felt that thepany no longer merited her loyalty or her sacrifices. Yet, she pondered if jumping ship to another enterprise would truly be any different. Deception and corruption seemed rampant everywhere. Perhaps the entire industry was tainted. Staring at the floor, Lindsey, who had always been astute and resilient, felt the harsh sting of reality. Her fingers curled into fists as she tried to lift her gaze to meet the reflection of the girl who had always been determined and unyielding. pping her cheeks lightly, she whispered a reminder to herself, ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve navigated through countless hurdles and disappointments to get here. Why let confusion and gloom overtake you now?¡± You¡¯ve always been the type to light up your own path, no matter how dark it gets. ¡± A spark lit up in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. A thought struck her. What if she used her inheritance to start her ownpany? It would be far better than working for someone else. That¡¯s how she would honor Sh¡¯s faith in her. Once the thought took hold, it grew as persistent as a budding flower. Lindsey stood tall, grinning at the determined girl in the mirror. No more second-guessing. She was ready to be her strongest self. Arturo drove Sh to his ce in Morcastle, a wealthy property developed by the esteemed Yates Group. ¡°Arturo, release me, please!¡± Sh struggled against his firm grip as she endeavored to break free. Despite her efforts, Arturo¡¯s strength prevailed, guiding Sh through the door and into the spacious bedroom, where he threw her onto thevish bed. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Sh protested, rising from the bed only to find herself pressed against the windowsill by Arturo¡¯s imposing presence. His big hand slipped under her silk dress, lifting it and revealing arge part of her tender skin to the open air in an instant. ¡°Since you refuse to go to the hospital, I shall conduct a check-up myself!¡± Wearing a sinister grin, Arturo seized Sh¡¯s slender wrists, holding them above her head with one hand while tugging at the clothing that veiled her body. ¡°I¡¯ve also studied some medical skills during my time at university.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± At first, Arturo harbored no ambition to inherit the Yates family legacy. His true passiony in medicine, a dream he pursued ndestinely by enrolling in medical school without his mother¡¯s knowledge. Upon learning of his intention to pursue medicine, his mother became furious. She changed his applications andpelled him to enroll in a business school instead. Chapter 379 Upon entering college, Arturo resisted his mother¡¯s ns and ndestinely went to a medical school to sit in on sses to pursue his interests. When his mother discovered his secret endeavors, she responded by sending him to a secluded school abroad for further studies. Following his father¡¯s demise, Arturo¡¯s mother exerted increasing control over him. Only in Sh¡¯s presence could he find a semnce of rxation. He appreciated her obedience and the sense of being in control. It was with her that he could feel like a person, rather than a mere puppet.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. However, Sh, who had consistently beenpliant with him, was now refusing his arrangements and attempting to break free from his control. In her eyes, there was only a lingering hatred and rejection. This left Arturo with an emptiness in his heart. He yearned to reim what was lost, but deep down, he sensed that it might be an impossible pursuit. The intensity of this emotion nearlypelled him to remove Sh¡¯s clothing, but a sudden, sharp pain in his arms disrupted his actions. Sh had delivered a powerful kick, causing him to release his grip on her. And then, a resounding pnded on his face! His face was tilted to one side. ¡°Arturo, you asshole!¡± Arturo turned and saw Sh pulling the silk covers over her body on the bed, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes reflected a mix of panic and disgust, and her body trembled slightly. He realized he had crossed a line, so he extended a hand to wipe away Sh¡¯s tears. However, she recoiled with the covers clutched protectively, treating him like a monstrous beast. Arturo¡¯s hand remained suspended in midair. Wearing a bitter smile, he spoke in a hoarse voice, ¡°Sh, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m just concerned about you. I-I did this to protect you. I¡¯m afraid you might get hurt by others. ¡± ¡°Protect me?¡± A mocking, exaggerated smile graced Sh¡¯s lips as if she¡¯d just heard a joke. ¡°Why weren¡¯t you there to protect me when your mother pped me and insulted me during my days with you family? You told me to go to Champs Le Bar that night, but where did you disappear afterward? Why weren¡¯t you there to protect me when Andrew r@ped me? You imed to be protecting me, but everything you¡¯ve done seems to be causing me pain. Can you point out something you¡¯ve done that hasn¡¯t hurt me? Please, stop acting like you genuinely want to protect me?¡± Arturo¡¯s brows furrowed as Shid bare the painful truths. Rising from the bed, he gripped his forehead with frustration. The Champs Le Bar incident haunted Arturo as a lifelong regret. Back then, he hadn¡¯t yet assumed control of the Yates family. That day, he was on a business trip in Morcastle and spent time with some clients at Champs Le Bar. Feeling a longing for Sh, he sent her a message, inviting her to join him. Little did he expect that Sh would show up. He got her so intoxicated that she became unconscious and unaware of her surroundings. In his intoxicated state, Arturo couldn¡¯t resist his desire for Sh and had s@x with her while she was drunk. After the incident, he worried that Sh might want him to take responsibility for his actions. He was also scared that if his mother found out, she would forbid it and possibly harm Sh. Furthermore, he was at a crucial point in taking on the leadership of the Yates Group, leaving him with no room for any setbacks. So he abandoned Sh in the room and fled. Later, Andrew intervened and destroyed this legendary movie queen. Chapter 380 Sh was correct; he was the one who wrecked her life. Even now, Sh mistakenly believes it was Andrew who r@ped her that night. However, she remained unaware that Arturo was the one who hurt her. And even now, Arturo still didn¡¯t dare to reveal the truth about that night to her. He hated himself so much, uncertain about how to make amends to her. ¡°Sh, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Arturo stammered. Sh stared at him with disdain in her pale eyes. ¡°We¡¯re worlds apart. You¡¯re the esteemed Mr. Yate. I¡¯m just an ordinary woman. If you really want me to have a better life, please let me go. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sh rose to her feet and left the bed, her clothes in tatters, revealing her naked form. Drained, she quietly approached Arturo¡¯s wardrobe, selected a man¡¯s jacket, and dr@ped it over herself. ¡°I¡¯ll get this jacket back to you. I¡¯m off now. Farewell. I hope our paths never cross again. ¡± She moved toward the door. As she did, Arturo r eached out, seizing her wrist. With a swift twist, she freed herself and exited without looking back. Arturo remained motionless, then, in a sudden gesture, he swept everything on the nightstand to the floor in frustration. That evening, at eight, Vincent hosted a celebratory gathering in the sumptuously appointed private room of Champs Le Bar. Champagne and cakes lent the room a festive air. Upon Lindsey¡¯s arrival, she found Sh already there, now d in a green dress. Settling beside Sh, Lindsey inquired casually, ¡°Sh, did you swing by home to change?¡± Caught in a distant gaze, Sh snapped to attention at Lindsey¡¯s voice. ¡°Ah, yes¡­ the other dress was a bit small. I went to switch it. ¡± Lindsey, sensing Sh¡¯s difort, pressed, ¡°You seem off. Everything alright?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine. ¡± Sh managed to curve her lips into a smile. At that moment, the private room door swung open. Paige and Vincent entered, together with Nics. Nics¡¯s gaze briefly met Sh¡¯s before swiftly shifting away. Lindsey watched Paige enter, her lips tightening slightly. She wondered what Sumner might have said to Paige after theirst encounter at the hot spring. Lindsey hoped Paige would understand that she just wanted to be a friend of Sumner. Paige, however, greeted Lindsey without any hint of concern. Approaching with warmth, she grasped Lindsey¡¯s hand. ¡°Lindsey, I was worried you might falter during Vincent¡¯s live-streamed audition, but you certainly proved me wrong.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. You even brought Ms. Garcia. You truly amazed me. ¡± Chapter 381 ¡°Mrs. Lopez, you give me too much credit.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was all thanks to Ms. Garcia¡¯s generosity,¡± Lindsey replied modestly. While they conversed, Ruby entered, prompting a look of astonishment from Lindsey, who quickly went to assist her. With a gracious smile, Ruby epted the help. ¡°I¡¯m getting on in years and almost declined the invitation, but I couldn¡¯t ignore Vincent¡¯s graciousness. I just hope my presence isn¡¯t a nuisance to you all. ¡± ¡°Not at all. It¡¯s because of you Sh nailed the audition. It would have been a loss had you note,¡± Lindsey assured her. Ruby gazed at Lindsey affectionately. ¡°You always know just what to say. ¡± Meanwhile, in another luxurious private room within Champs Le Bar, three dashing men sat in a cloud of smoke, each nursing a cigarette in contemtive silence. Mercer nced at Domenic, who sat brooding with an icy frown, while Arturo, beside him, radiated gloom. Mercer remained silent, pondering if they had summoned him simply because they were in a bad mood. Mercer cleared his throat with a conspicuous cough. ¡°How about we grab a drink?¡± he suggested. ¡°sure,¡± they replied together. Mercer¡¯s lips quirked into a half-sm ile as an idea struck him. ¡°Do you want to y something? Or we could invite some girls over to spice things up a bit?¡± ¡°No. ¡± They both declined at once. Mercer found their agreement unusual. Their passion for life seemed to have faded. Were they dumped by girls? Yet, he doubted that was really the case. Arturo, the heir of the Blosa family, could summon a crowd of women with a mere gesture. None would dare upset him. Domenic, the esteemed youngest grandson of the Morcastle family, rarely associated with women, revered by many as an unattainable figure. Had Mercer not seen Domenic embracing Lindsey earlier, he would¡¯ve believed Domenic to bepletely indifferent to women¡¯s charms. The tension in the air became too much for Mercer. He rose from the couch, staring at them both. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t invite me over just to smoke and drink, right?¡± he pressed. Arturo crushed his cigarette, resting his chin on one hand. A mischievous, charming smile formed on his lips. ¡°Mercer, Domenic has a question for you. So, he sent me to bring you out here. ¡± Mercer¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°What does he need to ask me? It¡¯s unbelievable. ¡± Arturo let out augh. ¡°We¡¯ve seen a lot of unbelievable things recently. Mercer, you¡¯ve got quite the reputation as adies¡¯ man, skilled in charming thedies. Domenic¡¯s wondering, what¡¯s the secret to putting a smile on a girl¡¯s face when she¡¯s upset?¡± Chapter 382 Mercer¡¯s gaze settled on Domenic. His look was icy, yet calm. Underneath, he had on a crisp white shirt, while a sharp business Waistcoat adorned his exterior. His hands, with distinct joints, gripped the cigarette, showing the confident air of a sessful businessman. ¡°Domenic, are you seeing someone currently?¡± Mercer asked, his voice tinged with nervousness. As Domenic¡¯s stare turned cold, Arturo gave Mercer a meaningful nce.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°I¡¯d rmend not pushing too hard. If you manage to upset this guy, you might find yourself banned in your industry!¡± Mercer quickly covered his mouth. ¡°Arturo, you¡¯re unusually talkative today. Did some woman dump you?¡± Domenic nced at Arturo. Arturo¡¯s brows gave a little raise, and he chuckled, ¡°How in the world could that happen? No woman has the power to dump me. ¡± Domenic responded to his obviously fake smile with a chilly, insulting snort. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple to please a girl,¡± said Mercer, lounging back on the sofa, arms dr@ped over the back. ¡°Women are driven by emotions. They don¡¯t care about being right or wrong; they care about your attitude. ¡± He spoke like an expert. Arturo inhaled from his cigarette, squinting at Mercer. ¡°Do you have any practical advice?¡± Mercer let out a helpless sigh. He straightened up and began, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you some real advice. Step one, let those sweet words work their magic! As they say, love needs to be shown. To bring a smile to a girl¡¯s face, kick things off by showering her with kind words andpliments in all sorts of ways. Call her beautiful, intelligent, generous ¨C anything that sounds nice. ¡± Arturo found these words were too mushy. He raised an eyebrow and exchanged a look with Domenic, who stayed cool and collected. ¡°Step two, get closer to them at the right moment. You can find opportunities to trap them between you and the wall or lean over in a car. Pair it with a loving gaze. Then, without uttering a word, lean in for a ki*s that leaves her feeling dizzy and utterly captivated!¡± ¡°The third step is spending money on her! No girl can say no to a man who splurges on her. In their minds, it¡¯s not just about showing off your financial capability; it¡¯s also a way to demonstrate how deeply you care and love her. With these three steps, you¡¯ll definitely make a girl happy,¡± said Mercer, as he crossed his arms, he focus ed his gaze on the two men. ¡°So, have you fellows picked up on those lessons?¡± After listening, Arturo responded, ¡°The third step is simple, but the first two¡­¡± His gaze then turned to Domenic¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Domenic, can you do it?¡± Domenic stayed silent, snatched his jacket, got to his feet, and headed for the exit of the private room. ¡°I could use a breath of fresh air. ¡± Inside the private room where Lindsey was,ughter and joy filled the room. People were toasting with champagne and slicing into a celebratory cake. It was a vibrant and festive atmosphere. They raised their sses in cheers, and each of them had already enjoyed a few rounds of champagne. Seizing the moment with Vincent and Ruby there, Lindsey, influenced by the alcohol, expressed her dream ofunching her own talent agency and sought the opinions of the two influential figures. Upon hearing this, Ruby¡¯s face lit up with a warm and d smile. Chapter 383 Lindsey was as brave as her mother.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re a remarkable girl. Believe in yourself and chase your dreams. And remember, I¡¯m here to support you no matter what. You¡¯ve got nothing to fear,¡± she said warmly. Vincent, on the other hand, was more straightforward. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve got more talent than most folks here. It¡¯s a shame to see you confined to just being an executive agent at Vitality Entertainment. The idea ofunching your own business is solid. If you¡¯re short on funds, you can always reach out to me for investment! I have faith in you. Believe in yourself. ¡± Vincent had held the belief for a while that the entertainment industry was in a bit of a mess, and it needed some fresh, strong contenders to step in and bring about a positive change. It came as a surprise that both Vincent and Ruby backed her idea ofunching her own business. This boosted Lindsey¡¯s confidence and fueled her determination. Following a few rounds of drinks, Lindsey began to feel a Little tipsy. At that moment, her phone rang. It was a call from Nancy. Amidst themotion inside the private room and her head spinning a bit, Lindsey made up her mind to step out and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Lindsey stepped out of the private room, phone in hand, and took the call in the quiet of the corridor. ¡°Hey Nancy, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯ste. Why are you still out? I¡¯m here getting bored by myself. ¡± Lindsey smacked her forehead. ¡°Shoot, I forgot to mention, Vincent¡¯s throwing a big party tonight. I¡¯m at Champs Le Bar, so I¡¯ll be homete, okay?¡± ¡°You went out to Champs Le Bar and didn¡¯t even tell me? Fine, I¡¯ll leave the door unlocked for you. ¡± After the call, Lindsey moved down the corridor, nning to freshen up in the restroom. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks. A tall, imposing figure was heading her way. It was Domenic. What was he doing here? She turned, attempting to slip away unnoticed. But after just a couple of steps, Domenic caught up and firmly took hold of her wrist. ¡°Lindsey?¡± She turned back, her gaze lifting to meet his. ¡°What brings you here? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re stalking me again. ¡± After a moment of surprise, Domenic swiftly realized what Lindsey meant. He gazed into her eyes and replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m here with my friends. ¡± ¡°Really? Friends? Where are they then? Call them over. Let¡¯s all meet,¡± Lindsey said, eyeing him with suspicion. She¡¯d never met any of his friends and was naturally curious. Domenic was at a loss for words. Chapter 384 With friends like Arturo and Mercer, any random call could spell trouble. He wasn¡¯t sure he could manage that. When Lindsey saw Domenic¡¯s lips tighten without a word, she sensed he wasn¡¯t telling the truth. Disappointment filled her gaze as she addressed him, ¡°You¡¯re really getting worse at lying. ¡± She pulled away from his grasp, turned, and started to walk off. Domenic, intent on following her, was stopped by the sound of Ruby and Vincent¡¯s voicesing from around the corner. Ruby was here! In quick steps, Domenic reached for Lindsey¡¯s wrist, flung open the door to a nearby private room, and pulled her inside. The room was empty and shrouded in darkness. ¡°Domenic, what are you doing¡­ Hmm. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s protest was cut short by an unexpected ki*s. Outside, Ruby, Vincent, and Paige paused near the room. ¡°I can¡¯t find Lindsey. I¡¯d like to say goodbye before I go. ¡± Ruby¡¯s voice came through. Lindsey was on the other side of that door, held close by Domenic¡¯s unyielding embrace. She pushed against him, trying to break free, but he was immovable, an unyielding wall that held her in ce. His ki*ses grew more intense, pinning her to the door, stealing her breath in waves that left her feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. ¡°She might be out handling some work. Ms. Garcia, if you¡¯re in a hurry, you could go ahead. I¡¯ll let Lindsey know you were looking for her once she returns,¡± Vincent offered, his voice reaching them from the hallway. Pressed against the door, Lindsey could hear every word clearly. ¡°I¡¯m just concerned, you know? It¡¯ste, and she¡¯s a young woman on her own. I think I¡¯ll give her a call,¡± Ruby said, concern edging her voice as she fumbled for her phone. Panic red in Lindsey¡¯s eyes, her pupils shrinking in sudden fear. In a desperate move, she bit down on Domenic¡¯s lip. With a grunt of pain, Domenic released her. Lindsey hastily grabbed her phone and silenced it. Ruby¡¯s call went unanswered, echoing in the silence until she eventually gave up and hung up. ¡°Then, please pass the message to Lindsey. ¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. ¡± As the sound of footsteps receded, Lindsey breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 385 Suddenly, with a click, Domenic flipped a switch, bathing the room in a soft glow. Lindsey looked up to see Domenic¡¯s striking features close to her own. ¡°Domenic, what the hell do you want?¡± she demanded, angercing her tone, seeking an exnation. He had pulled her into this secluded space and ki*sed her without a word, and she was far from ready to forgive him. Domenic touched the corner of his mouth, noting the blood where Lindsey had bitten him. It barely hurt. His gaze lingered on her. She was dressed in acy top tucked into a ck skirt, her figure alluringly highlighted. Her modest makeup added to her allure, a mix of innocence and appeal. Recalling the three tips Mercer had given him to charm a girl, Domenic stepped closer, backing Lindsey against the wall. Domenic leaned over, towering above Lindsey, and looked into her eyes.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. His voice, maic and captivating,plimented her, ¡°Lindsey, you look really beautiful today. ¡± His eyes, dark and fathomless, seemed to pull her in. Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s cheeks burn with embarrassment. She shoved him away, yelling, ¡°Get away from me, you creep!¡± Then, she bolted out the door without a second nce. Domenic was left dumbfounded. He had followed Mercer¡¯s advice, so why was Lindsey even more upset instead of pleased? In a private room, Mercer and Arturo were throwing dice. Domenic stormed in, shooting a cold look at Mercer before copsing onto the couch with a cigarette, smoking in frustration. Mercer exchanged a puzzled look with Arturo. Why was Domenic so mad after just a short time outside? And why did it seem like Domenic was annoyed with him? Mercer was curious about what he did wrong. He was inwardly grumbling. Had he known this would happen, he wouldn¡¯t have bothereding tonight. Back in the private room, Lindsey sat on the couch, fuming as she reyed the events in her head. She had expected Domenic to seek her out and apologize. But no, he didn¡¯t even acknowledge his mistake, instead choosing to ki*s her in a dark room. The way Domenic had called her beautiful, that look in his eyes, it all hinted at his true intentions. She wondered if he had picked up some bad habits recently. Or perhaps this was just who he really was? ¡°Lindsey, where did you go just now? And why is your face all flushed?¡± Noticing Lindsey was quiet in the corner, Sh frowned and checked in with her. Lindsey¡¯s cheek felt hot, a reminder of Domenic¡¯s antics. ¡°I might be a bit tipsy. It¡¯s no big deal. ¡± Lindsey took a deep breath and managed a smile for Sh. ¡°There¡¯s something on my mind I¡¯d like to discuss with you. ¡± Chapter 386 Sh gave a small nod. Putting the recent events out of her mind, Lindsey shared her n to start a business. Sh was taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s sudden ambition but found herself on board once Lindsey exined the corruption at Vitality Entertainment. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve actually dreamed of running my own business five years ago. But back then, something stopped me¡­ Now, five years on, the opportunity¡¯se back around. I¡¯ve always said I¡¯d follow you anywhere. Count me in on this business venture. ¡± ¡°Thanks, Sh. ¡± They embraced, while Nics watched from a distance, his gaze on Sh, full of intensity yet controlled. At eleven at night, Domenic sat in his car outside the bar, wondering about Lindsey¡¯s whereabouts and whether she¡¯d left. He thought to call her, but recalling how he¡¯d upset her earlier, he stowed his phone back in his pocket. With a soft sigh, he took hold of the wheel and drove off. Arturo leaned against the entrance of the bar, silently lighting another cigarette. This bar was the spot where he had hurt Sh. He stood there quietly, feeling the evening breeze. Then, Lindsey and Sh emerged from the bar, theirughter spilling into the night, with Nics trailing behind. Catching sight of Sh, Nics feigned indifference as he offered, ¡°Miss Potter, Miss Stewart, it¡¯s gettingte. May I offer you a ride home?¡± Despite their celebrity status, which usually meant heavy security, Nics and Sh appeared approachable. Arturo, however, recognized Sel ah immediately as she turned. His gaze widened in shock. Was she really here tonight? Watching Sh stand close to Nics, a sharp difort pricked Arturo¡¯s gaze. Discarding his cigarette, he closed the distance in a few strides and grasped Sh¡¯s arm. ¡°Sh, where are you going? Let me drive you. ¡± Sh¡¯s reaction to Arturo¡¯s sudden approach was a cold shrug as she freed herself and turned to Nics with a polite smile. ¡°I¡¯d love to. Thank you, Mr. Aston. ¡± Nics shot a quick look at Arturo and then invited Sh warmly, ¡°This way, please. ¡± Sh didn¡¯t nce back at Arturo, instead walking away with Lindsey and Nics. Frustrated, Arturo¡¯s hands formed tight fists, his eyes burning with fury. He pulled out his phone and dialed Mercer¡¯s number. Mercer had left the bar earlier than Arturo and Domenic and was now lounging in the car. Recognizing Arturo¡¯s number, he answered promptly. ¡°What¡¯s up, Arturo? What¡¯s the problem now?¡± ¡°Get back here and tell your brother to back off from Sh. If not, I¡¯ll find a way to get him banned. ¡± Mercer was still reeling when the line went dead. What just happened? How on earth did his brother get mixed up with Sh and tick off Arturo?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. A headache was starting to pound in Mercer¡¯s temples. Why was he so unlucky tonight? Chapter 387 Meanwhile, Arturo slumped into the car, his attention elsewhere. He leaned back, pressing his fingers against his forehead. Just then, his phone broke the silence with a loud ring. It was Domenic calling. Picking up, Arturo was met with Domenic¡¯s icy tone. ¡°We¡¯ve got the driver behind the crash. ¡± Arturo¡¯s gaze hardened. He straightened up and demanded, ¡°Where is he? I need to see him myself. ¡± Lindsey had taken a couple of days off. In that time, she¡¯d really dug into what it takes to set up a business. Maybe it was Josh¡¯s meddling, but the once-trending query ¡°Did Jayleen quit today?¡± had vanished in two days, with hardly anyone chatting about it online anymore.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. As days would pass, the public would slowly let this slide, and Jayleen could keep up her haughty demeanor. But Lindsey wasn¡¯t about to let Jayleen off the hook that easily. Two days on, Lindsey strode back into Vitality Entertainment. She gazed up at the imposing building, bathed in the glow of the sunrise, remembering her first eager interview here, filled with hope and ambition. But today was different. Today, she was ready to bid farewell to the ce she once aspired to be a part of. Lindsey walked in, her posture confident. Dressed sharply, her hair was pulled back into a ponytail that swished conspicuously as she moved. After being missing for a couple of days, Lindsey s uddenly showed up at the office, immediately catching everyone¡¯s eye. ¡°Look, Lindsey¡¯s back. Jayleen¡¯s still in charge, though. You think Lindsey¡¯s here to call her out?¡± ¡°By the looks of it, Lindsey¡¯s gearing up for a showdown with Jayleen. ¡± ¡°This is going to be intense. Let¡¯s go see what happens. ¡± They tailed Lindsey all the way to Jayleen¡¯s office. Lindsey didn¡¯t bother knocking. She just mmed the door open. The crowd behind her gasped. Lindsey was on a tear today, not giving Jayleen an ounce of courtesy. But Lindsey had won their bet, and it showed in her stride. Jayleen was lounging in her chair, fiddling with her phone. Themotion made her look up, only to find Lindsey snapping her photo. The camera sh caught Jayleen off-guard, making her squint and yell, ¡°Lindsey Stewart, what¡¯s this all about?¡± Without a word, Lindsey uploaded the photo to her Twitter for her millions of followers, sparking a discussion with the caption, ¡°Did Jayleen quit today? The answer is no. ¡± The topic, which had faded from view, was suddenly hot again. People online were talking. Chapter 388 ¡°Jayleen has no shame. She lost, she should just step down. Why¡¯s she still clinging to her role?¡± ¡°The buzz around her has been quiet. She¡¯s got to have some powerful backing. ¡± ¡°Vitality Entertainment¡¯s going down. ¡± ¡°Jayleen better resign fast, or I¡¯m done with Vitality Entertainment for good. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t give Jayleen a second nce as she made her way to the human resources department via the elevator. Once there, she caught everyone off guard. They exchanged puzzled looks, trying to figure out why she was there. Next, Lindsey mmed her work card and resignation letter onto the personnel director¡¯s desk. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s going on?¡± the director asked, looking up at her, bewildered. Lindsey cracked a smile and simply stated, ¡°I¡¯m quitting. ¡± ¡°yihat?¡± The shock wasn¡¯t limited to the director; the colleagues gathered around, drawn by themotion, were equally astounded by her announcement. Did she just say she¡¯s quitting? Confusion swept the room. Lindsey had just clinched a victory; she should have been basking in her sess. So why hand in her resignation now? Was it something to do with Jayleen? Amidst the collective disbelief, Lindsey calmly picked up her phone and made a post. She typed out, ¡°Did Lindsey hand in her resignation today? The answer is yes. ¡± She attached the photo of the resignation letter she¡¯d just submitted. Her post instantly went viral, stirring up a storm online. Theizens expressed their opinions heatedly. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Lindsey¡¯s victory should have meant Jayleen¡¯s resignation, right? Why is it the other way around?¡± ¡°It looks Like Jayleen must have pushed Lindsey out. There¡¯s got to be more to the story. ¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe how Vitality Entertainment is handling this!¡± ¡°We need to stop supporting Vitality Entertainment. We can¡¯t have apany like this in the industry!¡± Domenic was sitting through a business meeting when his phone buzzed with an alert that caught his eye.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It read, ¡°Ridiculous! Lindsey Stewart, who just won a bet, has unexpectedly quit, causing a stir. Contrary to expectations, Jayleen Archer, who should have been the one to quit, is staying on as the head of her department at Vitality Entertainment. We can¡¯t help but wonder if some big shots at Vitality are protecting Jayleen. ¡± Lindsey had resigned? Chapter 389 Domenic¡¯s gaze suddenly grew intense. He put the meeting on hold, snatched up his phone, and stepped outside to call Lindsey. She picked up quickly but her voice was icy. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Linds, have you resigned? What¡¯s going on? Why didn¡¯t you let me know?¡± Lindsey¡¯s response was cold. ¡°I believe we are still not on speaking terms, right? I don¡¯t see a need to update you on my moves. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the issue? Didn¡¯t you always want to be at Vitality Entertainment? Why¡¯d you leave all of a sudden?¡± Domenic wasn¡¯t in the mood for a spat. He was just trying to understand the sudden change. Something must¡¯ve triggered her abrupt resignation. As the head of Vitality Group and the major shareholder of Vitality Entertainment, Domenic knew he could fix whatever was wrong. Lindsey calmly revealed, ¡°Vitality Entertainment¡¯s riddled with corruption. The director and a top executive are colluding, epting bribes. I¡¯m fed up, so I¡¯m out. ¡± Normally, Emilio oversaw the Vitality Entertainment, and Domenic, swamped with other business, barely nced that way. But with Lindsey there, he had recently started to take notice. When Domenic heard what Li ndsey said, he scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. Corruption? Colluding? Bribery? These were serious problems at Vitality Entertainment that he was unaware of. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it myself. Unless there¡¯s something else, I¡¯m going to hang up. ¡± With that, Lindsey ended the call. Clutching his phone, Domenic walked over to therge window and quickly called Emilio. Emilio had just returned from overseas. His phone rang just as he switched it from airne mode. It was Domenic calling. A chill ran through Emilio. Domenic¡¯s calls often meant trouble. Sure enough, Domenic¡¯s voice was angry when he picked up. ¡°If you can¡¯t cut it as the general manager of Vitality Entertainment, consider yourself fired!¡± What?Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Emilio¡¯s forehead beaded with sweat. He had no clue what was going on, and Domenic wasn¡¯t one to give orders like that unless things were really bad. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Domenic?¡± ¡°You have one day to sort out yourpany¡¯s director Jayleen and her backer. Fail, and I¡¯m sending you abroad, where you¡¯ll stay for good!¡± Emilio was left in the cold, the phone call abruptly cut off before he could ask anything more. He immediately called his assistant. ¡°What¡¯s Jayleen been up to while I was gone? What¡¯s going on with thepany?¡± Chapter 390 Lindsey returned to her office to gather her belongings, a fleeting sense of aplishment mingling with a daunting feeling that her actions today might fade into obscurity. The task of confronting Vitality Entertainment¡¯s senior executives seemed insurmountable. Yet,promise was not in her nature. Despite her perceived insignificance, she was determined to chip away at the colossal iceberg before her. After a concise handover with the HR department, Lindsey sped a box containing her personal items and strolled toward the exit, aware of thepany¡¯s collective gaze following her progress through the lobby. ¡°Lindsey. ¡± Jayleen emerged in the hall, closing the distance between them swiftly, halting Lindsey in her tracks. Lindsey pivoted to find Jayleen still adorned in her signature elegance-a sleek ck silk wrap dress-exuding unwavering confidence with a professional poise untouched by the current circumstances. Crossing her arms, Jayleen cast a smile that only Lindsey could discern as a smug sneer. In a hushed tone, audible only to them, she murmured, ¡°Lindsey, do you truly believe that your resignation and a few Twitter posts can taint my reputation? You¡¯re too naive. This trending topic will fade soon, and within days, today¡¯s events will be forgotten. You¡¯ve altered nothing, only sacrificed your job in vain. Why did you have to take that step?¡± Without a trace of anger, Lindsey responded, her lips Lightly curving, ¡°Those who sow the seeds of wrongdoing will inevitably harvest their own downfall. How long do you reckon your pride will shield you? Let¡¯s wait and see. ¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Don¡¯t be obstinate. Despite your apparent victory, the reality is you¡¯ve lost to me. You¡¯re nothing but a perpetual loser, destined to never surpass me. ¡± Jayleen raised her chin with pride, her shrewd eyes narrowing. Disregarding any further conversation, Lindsey sneered and turned sharply, departing without another word. However, her purposeful stride came to an abrupt halt as Emilio strode through thepany¡¯s entrance. He was d in a finely tailored suit, a ck coat dr@ped over his shoulders, his expression grim, striding with sharp, brisk steps. ¡°Mr. Howard, you are back. ¡± Spotting Emilio, Jayleen swiftly altered her demeanor, transforming into a fawning smile and moving to greet him. Unperturbed by Jayleen¡¯s efforts, Emi lio stood before Lindsey, his cold gaze fixating on the box in her hands. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re not the one who should be leaving. ¡± In a sudden gesture, Emilio extended his hand, pointing directly at Jayleen beside them. ¡°Jayleen Archer should be the one leaving!¡± Jayleen¡¯s smile froze on her face, herposure faltering. Surprised, Lindsey raised her gaze to meet Emilio¡¯s inquisitive stare. ¡°Mr. Howard, what do you mean?¡± Jayleen asked incredulously. Only then did Emilio cast her a frigid nce. ¡°Although I wasn¡¯t present in thepany, I¡¯m well aware of your bet with Lindsey. Since you lost, you should have resigned! Moreover, the investigation revealed not only your maniption of the voting during the audition, disrupting fairness, but also your collusion with thepany¡¯s vice general manager, Josh Harvey. He misused his authority to elevate you to the director¡¯s position, while you facilitated his eptance of bribes for personal gain. Is this true?¡± All eyes within thepany were fixated on Emilio¡¯s words. Employees exchanged doubtful whispers, directing their gaze toward Jayleen. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she had an affair with Josh Harvey!¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s how she climbed thedder so swiftly-through such means!¡± ¡°Wearing ck silk stockings every day just to entice men. What a disgrace!¡± Chapter 391 Stunned, Jayleen¡¯s eyes widened. How could Emilio possibly be aware of what transpired between her and Josh? It seemed imusible! ¡°Mr. Howard, that¡¯s simply not true! I am entirely innocent in my dealings with Mr. Harvey.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. There must be a misunderstanding or someone falsely using me!¡± ¡°Falsely using?¡± Emilio snorted coldly, pivoting his gleaming leather shoes and gesturing toward his assistant behind him. The assistant promptly handed him records detailing hotel stays between Jayleen and Josh. Without hesitation, Emilio flung the stack of records at Jayleen¡¯s face. ¡°Every room booking in these records was made by Josh¡¯s assistant, and he has confessed to booking those rooms for you and Josh!¡± ¡°Um¡­¡± Jayleen stammered, still attempting to argue. ¡°You can¡¯t believe everything the assistant said, and even if Mr. Harvey and I are together, it has no impact on thepany. ¡± Without sparing her a nce, Emilio turned and signaled his assistant. The assistant swiftly turned on theptop, revealing a folder containing hundreds of pages of bribery records. ¡°How¡­ How did you get this?¡± Jayleen was in a state ofplete panic. These were records that existed solely on herputer, hidden meticulously and kept extremely confidential. ¡°Certain actions are bound to leave traces once executed. And acquiring these things is easy for me,¡± Emilio stated calmly, his authoritative gaze bearing down on Jayleen. ¡°I will hand over all these pieces of evidence to the police. With the amount of bribery you¡¯ve received, it should be no problem for you to be sentenced to several years,¡± Emilio stated firmly. Jayleen¡¯s face turned deathly pale, her hands trembling uncontrobly. She fell to her knees in front of Emilio, desperately clutching onto his trousers. ¡°Mr. Howard, all these things were ordered by Josh. I was threatened and manipted by him! I implore you, show mercy, refrain from delivering this evidence to the police. I dread the thought of imprisonment!¡± ¡°Not wishing to face the consequences? Impossible!¡± At that precise moment, a cold, poised voice resonated from behind Emilio. ALL present turned their attention toward Arturo, who entered with a retinue of uniformed police officers trailing behind him. Emilio pushed Jayleen away and pivoted to face Arturo, inquiring, ¡°Mr. Yates, what brings you here?¡± Arturo cast a disparaging nce at Jayleen, who was lying prostrate on the ground. ¡°Mr. Howard, it appears that a plethora of parasites have infested Vitality Entertainment. I¡¯ve arrived to assist you in exterminating these vermin. ¡± With that deration, Arturo approached Jayleen and peered down at her. ¡°It was you and Josh Harvey who orchestrated Sh¡¯s tragic car ident. The driver has confessed to all. Simply the charge of hiring someone tomit such an atrocious act is ample to ensure your incarceration!¡± The revtion that Jayleen and Josh had plotted Sh¡¯s ident left Lindsey utterly stunned. She red vehemently at Jayleen, her eyes aze with fury. ¡°In the pursuit of victory, you resorted to such ruthless tactics, nearly leading to Sh¡¯s demise! Have you no shred of humanity left?¡± Jayleen cackled wildly, her voice tinged with madness. ¡°Don¡¯t be so naive. In this cutthroat industry, ascending to such heights demands one to employ certain strategies. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll sumb, just as I have, willing to employ any means to achieve your desires!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be like you. I will use my own decent methods to achieve what I want,¡± Lindsey dered coldly, her eyes fixed on the disheveled woman before her. At that moment, Josh, escorted like a criminal, descended from the elevator. He kept his head down, concealing his eyes beneath his disheveled bangs. Spotting Josh being brought over, Jayleen abruptly stood up, pointing at him. She screamed hysterically, ¡°It was his fault! He orchestrated the crash into Sh¡¯s car, and I waspletely unaware!¡± Disregarding everything, she rushed forward, seizing his cor as tears streamed down her face. ¡°Josh, didn¡¯t you im before that you loved me and were willing to do anything for me? Tell them that you¡¯re solely responsible for all of this. It has absolutely nothing to do with me. Please! Say something!¡± ¡°Bah!¡± With contempt, Josh spat directly in Jayleen¡¯s face. ¡°Naive! I grew tired of you a long time ago. A middle-aged woman like you~ without the benefits you could bring me, I wouldn¡¯t even bother to look at you!¡± Chapter 392 Enraged, Jayleen trembled and struck Josh across the face. ¡°You despicable coward!¡± Breaking free from the restraining grip, Josh lunged forward, seizing Jayleen by the neck. ¡°Even if I end up in hell, I¡¯ll drag you down with me!¡± Jayleen¡¯s eyes rolled back as he tightened his grip around her throat. Swiftly, the police officers intervened, rushing forward to separate the two and promptly cing them both under arrest, escorting them to the awaiting police car. The sudden sequence of events left Lindsey momentarily stunned, standing in disbelief. Meanwhile, Emilio scanned the onlookers, his voice taking on a chilling tone. ¡°Recently, I will conduct a thorough investigation into the internal issues within Vitality Entertainment. Anyone prioritizing personal gain through hical means over their work will face severe consequences!¡± Among the crowd, some employees felt their resolve weaken. They couldn¡¯tprehend why Emilio suddenly chose to take such forceful measures. It became evident that Vitality Entertainment was indeed in dire need of a shake-out. After making his statement, Emilio¡¯s gaze returned to Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey,e with me to my office. ¡± Momentarily hesitating, Lindsey swiftly gathered her belongings and followed Emilio to his office on the top floor. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. Have a seat.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡± Emilio gestured toward the plush business couch adjacent to his desk. Lindsey eased herself onto the couch, taking in Emilio¡¯s poised demeanor. Emilio leaned forward, resting his hands on the desk, his tone gentle as he addressed her. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m fully aware of all that has transpired recently. Myck of oversight allowed these unfortunate events to unfold within thepany. However, with my return, such urrences will never repeat themselves. Therefore, you needn¡¯t resign anymore. ¡± A faint smile graced Lindsey¡¯s lips. ¡°Mr. Howard, I truly appreciate yourmitment to justice and ensuring that those viins face the consequences they deserve. But I have already resolved to leave. I¡¯m sorry. ¡± Determined to embark on her journey of establishing her ownpany, Lindsey remained steadfast. She was focused on the future, aiming to ascend to the pinnacle that was rightfully hers. Furthermore, the intrigues of office politics and petty conflicts had left her profoundly fatigued. ¡°Lindsey, I hold great faith in your capabilities, unquestionably so. With Jayleen gone, her role is now vacant. I can offer you a promotion to take her ce,¡± Emilio proposed, a touch of anxiety edging into his voice. Lindsey¡¯s departure would undoubtedly anger Domenic and spell trouble. He needed to persuade her to stay, regardless of the circumstance! Lindsey¡¯s long eyshes fluttered, and her eyes were filled with surprise Emilio had previously bent the rules to promote Lindsey to an executive agent, a move that stirred jealousy and criticism among many. Now, with the possibility of her bing the director, there was no telling how many people¡¯s sarcasm he would have to suffer. Facing Emilio, Lindsey said, ¡°Mr. Howard, I appreciate your kindness, but I can¡¯t make that promise to you. ¡± Emilio was baffled by Lindsey¡¯s decision to leave. He knew many aspired to join Vitality Entertainment, but couldn¡¯t. Despite current issues, it remained an industry leader. ¡°Vitality Entertainment is Morcastle¡¯s biggest entertainment firm. Chapter 393 It¡¯s the best ce for showcasing your talents. Where else do you want to go? What otherpany is trying to lure you away with a high sry? Tell me how much did they offer? I¡¯ll double it. ¡± Emilio was going to great lengths to retain Lindsey. Yet, Lindsey was surprised by Emilio¡¯s persistence. Her eyes quivered, and she nervously bit her lip. Determined to make Emilio ept her decision, Lindsey firmly said, ¡°Mr.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Howard, the truth is, I¡¯ve been considering setting up my own artist agency. My decision isn¡¯t influenced by the sry you offer. I hope you¡¯ll understand. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of starting your ownpany?¡± Emilio¡¯s voice suddenly grew louder, surprising Lindsey. He paused to think, then with a furrowed brow, said to her, ¡°Give me a moment. I need to make a call. ¡± Emilio stood up and walked out of the office with his phone. He dialed Domenic¡¯s number. Emilio thoughtfully prepared his words before saying, ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ve handled ourpany¡¯s matters, but there¡¯s an issue with Lindsey¡­ She¡¯s decided to start her ownpany, so she refused to stay¡­ A brief silence followed on the line. Then Domenic¡¯s calm, deep voice resonated, ¡°Let her go ahead. ¡± ¡°Domenic, she could be a rival if she starts her ownpany. ¡± Domenic said calmly and deliberately, ¡°Think of it like this; catfish are essential to encourage smaller fish to thrive, just as they keep the market lively. If herpany can be under our control but also enliven the market, it is in Vitality Entertainment¡¯s best interest. ¡± ¡°Domenic, you mean¡­ that if Lindsey actually establishes herpany, we might consider investing in it?¡± ¡°First, we¡¯ll see if she¡¯s capable of setting up herpany. ¡± Once Domenic hung up, he co uldn¡¯t resist a smile. Lindsey had a knack for surprising him. He always knew she was intelligent, courageous, and clever, but her ambition was something he hadn¡¯t anticipated. He was waiting for the day when she would be on the same height as him. Having grasped Domenic¡¯s intent, Emilio returned to his office, offering Lindsey a warm smile, and said, ¡°Lindsey, if you¡¯re set on leaving, I won¡¯t hold you back. Just remember to invite me to your newpany¡¯s opening. ¡± Lindsey found Emilio¡¯s sudden shift in attitude a bit odd. He had just stepped out for a call, and now he was epting her resignation. Who had he spoken with? Lindsey left Vitality Entertainment, her mind clouded with uncertainty. The day¡¯s events spread rapidly online. The inte buzzed with the news of Jayleen¡¯s criminal activities and her arrest, much to the public¡¯s satisfaction. Amidst this, Lindsey¡¯s social media following surged, and supportivements appeared under her posts. ¡°Jayleen has used so many despicable means, but she can¡¯t defeat Lindsey. Lindsey is too resilient. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m officially a Lindsey supporter now. ¡± ¡°Lindsey is on her way to bing the top agent nationwide. ¡± During this time, Kristy shared a post revealing her shock at Jayleen¡¯s true nature. Even though Kristy was unaware of Jayleen¡¯s actions, she believed her agent was at fault. Consequently, Kristy wanted to apologize to Sh and convey her willingness to learn from her with humility. Chapter 394 Kristy managed to uphold her dignity through this. Thements that followed showed sympathy. ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself, Kristy. ¡± ¡°Kristy, you began your careerter than others. Despite your awards, there¡¯s still room to grow. Let¡¯s be supportive and we¡¯ll see how it goes. ¡± ¡°Jayleen was holding Kristy back. Imagine if Lindsey were her agent. ¡± That evening, at the Stewarts¡¯ home. As Shelia read through Twitter, seeing the praises for Lindsey, her anger was so intense her cheeks flushed red. She had been hoping for Jayleen to put Lindsey in her ce, to enjoy Lindsey¡¯s downfall. However, Jayleen not only failed against Lindsey but also got arrested, which inadvertently boosted Lindsey¡¯s fame. Shelia considered Jayleen to be utterly useless. However, Shelia had been obedient recently, making significant progress in her rtionship with Jacob. He was even nning to introduce her to his parents soon. Shelia was confident that once she joined the Perry family, dealing with Lindsey would be effortless. Moreover, Shelia had an advantage up her sleeve. Shelia took out her phone and sent a text to Chayce. ¡°How much longer do I have to wait?¡± Chayce quickly replied, ¡°From what I can see, it looks like Lindsey isn¡¯t on good terms with her boyfriend anymore. He hasn¡¯t spent time with hertely. I¡¯ll have a chance to take action soon. Just be ready with a million bucks and wait for my good news. ¡± Shelia read this, switched off her phone, and leaned backfortably on the couch. Kendra,ing down the stairs, saw Shelia¡¯s big smile. ¡°What¡¯s making you so happy?¡± Kendra took a step ahead and asked. Shelia winked mysteriously.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Mom, just sit tight. I¡¯ve got a nice surprise for you in a few days. ¡± Yesterday, when Kendra found out Jacob nned to introduce Shelia to his parents, she was thrilled. Kendra felt hopeful for brighter days ahead. When Shelia hinted at a surprise, Kendra thought it might be about Jacob, maybe even marriage into the Perry family soon. Kendra wrapped Shelia in her arms, grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Shelia, you make me proud. Can¡¯t wait for your good news. ¡± Shelia, leaning on Kendra, smiled proudly. She couldn¡¯t wait to see the miserable end of Lindsey. Over the next few days, Lindsey was swamped with paperwork to start her own business. Simultaneously, she had to find an office space to rent as soon as possible. Chapter 395 On that day, Lindsey put in hours of work until ten in the evening, then wearily made her way back to Nancy¡¯s home. Since Lindsey wasn¡¯t far away from Nancy¡¯s home and it was just a short walk away, through a small alley, she proceeded on foot. As Lindsey entered the alley, her phone buzzed. It was Domenic calling. They hadn¡¯t spoken for a while. Recently, Lindsey was so busy she almost forgot she was mad at him. However, when she saw his name, the emotions she¡¯d momentarily set aside flooded back into her heart. She inhaled sharply and answered, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Linds, we need to talk,¡± he said. Frustrated, Lindsey gripped her phone and told him, ¡°I¡¯ve been wrapped up in my careertely, so I¡¯m not in the mood to talk with you. You can wait until I¡¯m free. ¡± ¡°Linds, are you still upset with me? How can I make things better? I will¡­¡± Ever since he couldn¡¯t make her happy thest time, he¡¯d been really down. But she loudly interrupted him, saying, ¡°It¡¯s been a while. I let go of that anger long ago. I¡¯m just really tired now. Need to sleep. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s reallyte. Why are you still outside? Where exactly are you?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice carried a touch of concern. ¡°Tom¡± Lindsey began to reply, but she suddenly tensed up, feeling someone¡¯s presence behind her. Just as she was about to look back, arge hand mped over her mouth from behind. Before she could even scream, Lindsey cked out¡­ ¡°Linds, can you hear me? Hello?¡± Her phone fell to the ground, faintly illuminated by the nearby streetlight. Domenic¡¯s voice kepting through, but Lindsey was no longer there to hear it. Lindsey couldn¡¯t tell how long she was unconscious. Waking up, she felt an intense chill. The biting cold felt as though it was seeping into her from every direction. She instinctively curled up. She wondered where this was. Opening her eyes, she saw a small, unfamiliar room. Her head throbbed slightly as she turned her neck and nced to the side, only to be met with a figure that sent shivers down her spine.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was Chayce! How could it be him? Lindsey tried to move her body to get up but realized she was lying on a sofa, her limbs bound tightly with rope, making movement impossible. Chapter 396 She managed to utter a hoarse whisper. ¡°Chayce, why are you here? This¡­ What is this ce?¡± Chayce, who had been fiddling with something on the dining table. Upon hearing her voice, he turned around while holding a ss of wine. ¡°Hey. ¡± He gave Lindsey a wicked grin as he said, ¡°You see, we¡¯re on a self-driving yacht. Must¡¯ve slipped my mind to mention it. Just you and me out here on the open sea. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Out at sea?! Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Chayce, why have you brought me here? Release me. If it¡¯s money you¡¯re after, we can talk about it. ¡± She assumed Chayce was again demanding money through drastic measures. However, Chayce ignored her plea. Instead, his gaze lingered over her. She was dressed in a form-fitting outfit that entuated her curvaceous figure. Her clear eyes and plush Lips had an enchanting appeal. Had Kendra not interfered earlier, he believed he would have already imed Lindsey. Now, his suppressed, animalistic desire was on the verge of erupting, his blood surging with intensity. Chayce finished his drink and approached Lindsey with a mischievous grin. In a frantic effort to escape, Lindsey writhed and twisted, but the ropes binding her rendered her motionless. She could only fix a piercing gaze on the man before her, demanding, ¡°Chayce, what the hell are you nning to do?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Chayce¡¯s smirk deepened, a hint of mischief shing in his eyes. ¡°A man and a woman, alone together ¨C what else could happen?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare! Name your any amount that you want. Just let me go, and I¡¯ll transfer the money straight to your ount. ¡± Lindsey was in disbelief that Chayce would stoop to such despicable means for money. Her main focus now was to secure her safety. Chayce¡¯s expression darkened, growing ominously menacing. He slowly closed the distance between them. As Lindsey¡¯s fear heightened, a cruel smile crept across his face. ¡°Now you want to give me money? Toote for that. I¡¯m not after your money. I want you!¡± With sudden ferocity, Chayce pounced on Lindsey, seizing her shoulders, and forcing her down onto the sofa. He leaned in close to her ear, emitting a derangedugh. ¡°I¡¯m going to¡­ ruin you.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡± Suddenly, Chayce took out a small knife, materializing as if from thin air. He lightly pressed it against Lindsey¡¯s cheek, its de barely grazing her skin. ¡°Should I start by carving this side of your face? Or maybe the other side?¡± Lindsey trembled uncontrobly, engulfed by an unprecedented level of fear. She was convinced the man in front of her had lost his sanity! Chapter 397 Yet, she fought to maintain her calm. ¡°Chayce, do you understand the gravity of your actions? This is an assault, a criminal offense. Do you really want to bebeled a criminal and end up in prison? If you continue on this course, you¡¯ll destroy your own future. How about this instead? Let me go, and we can talk things out. We can find many other ways to settle this, there¡¯s no need for such drastic measures. ¡± Chayce narrowed his eyes, anticipating her to break down in panic and cries, but instead, she stayed calm, trying to reason with him. A sly grin spread across Chayce¡¯s face. ¡°Lindsey, who would know I¡¯mmitting a crime here? Even if I were to toss you into the sea right now, people would just think you disappeared, with no trace of you found. I¡¯ve brought you here today, and I have no intention of letting you leave easily!¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes, filled with fear, met Chayce¡¯s as she questioned, ¡°What do you gain from doing this?¡± Chayce set the knife on the table near the sofa, a cold smirk on his face as he returned his gaze to her. ¡°It¡¯s just about taking someone¡¯s money and doing what they want. But I didn¡¯t enjoy f@cking an ugly woman. After I¡¯ve had my fun with you, I¡¯ll do itter. ¡± The fact that he had never had his way with Lindsey¡¯s body had always irked him. ¡°Just obey me and it¡¯ll be easier for you. If not, I can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t hurt you!¡± Chayce reached out and tugged at Lindsey¡¯s clothes. Lindsey couldn¡¯t move away in time, and her top was torn open, exposing her creamy skin andcy bra. Chayce licked his lips and sneered. ¡°Look at you, you¡¯re so s@xy. Were you nning to show all this to someone else? You¡¯re such a slut!¡± The thought of being deceived and made a fool of by Lindsey filled Chayce with bitter resentment She had always appeared so innocent and pure to him, but she acted in a flirtatious manner with other men. He was determined to take this chance to torment her and quell the rage burning inside him. Lindsey, her hands tied behind her, struggled to loosen the rope that bound her. But before that, she needed to calm Chayce down.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Chayce, who paid you to do this? Kendra or Shelia?¡± Chayce¡¯s eyes flickered with surpr ise at her question. Lindsey¡¯s suspicions were confirmed by his reaction. Besides Kendra and Shelia, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would involve Chayce in a plot against her. Lindsey gazed intently at the man before her and said with conviction, ¡°Chayce, don¡¯t be fooled by Kendra and Shelia. They¡¯re using you against me. They seem to offer rewards, but it¡¯s a trap. Once they¡¯re done, they¡¯ll turn you over to the police and send you to prison. Their n? They destroy me and eliminate you as a threat. Think about it, Chayce. You won¡¯t earn a dime, yet you¡¯ll risk everything for them and end up behind bars. Is that really worth it?¡± Chayce stood there, dazed. Lindsey¡¯s words threw his thoughts into disarray. His only goal was securing the million dors. The rest hadn¡¯t crossed his mind. Yet, pondering Lindsey¡¯s words, he wondered, could he trust her not to call the police once she was free? He realized there was no turning back now. He had to see this n through, regardless of the oue. ¡°Are you trying to convince me to release you with all this talk? You think I¡¯ll trust you again? As long as I leave no evidence, the police can do nothing about me. ¡± Chayce¡¯s eyes red with anger as he leaned in, poised to attack Lindsey¡¯s neck. Then, he noticed a red diamond ne adorning her neck. Was Lindsey still holding onto such valuable items? Chayce pulled the ne and held it in his hand, noticing that it was a genuine diamond. He grinned and said, ¡°It looks like your mother left you quite a fortune. I never expected you to afford such an expensive diamond ne. I¡¯ll take this ne as payment for what you owe me. ¡± Chapter 398 As Lindsey watched her ne, a gift from Domenic, being snatched by Chayce, her fear swiftly transformed into anger. She fixed her eyes on Chayce and demanded, ¡°Give me back my ne. ¡± ¡°Do you really not understand your current situation? What makes you think you can demand anything from me?¡± Chayce retorted, slipping the ne into his pocket. He then leaned down towards her neck. In defiance, she tilted her head and bit him fiercely on the shoulder. Chayce let out a scream of pain, clutching his shoulder as he stood up. In a swift motion, he pped Lindsey across the face. ¡°You bitch! How dare you bite me!¡± Despite the red mark from the p, Lindsey¡¯s gaze remained defiant and unflinching. There was no trace of fear or timidity in her eyes; instead, they held a fierce determination to confront him head-on, even if it meant going to the bitter end. Frustration boiled within Chayce, infuriated by his inability to subdue her. He violently yanked Lindsey from the sofa, causing her to crash onto the floor.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The impact made her head hit the floor hard, resulting in blood starting to seep out. But, Chayce showed no mercy. He manhandled Lindsey as if she were a discarded doll, tossing her around without care. He then aimed a harsh kick at her stomach. ¡°Let¡¯s see if you dare bite me again. ¡± ¡°Give my ne back to me¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s plea was desperate as she grabbed and tore at Chayce¡¯s trousers, enduring his relentless beating. It really hurt. But for Lindsey, she didn¡¯t care about the pain. Her mind was fixated on one thing ¨C the ne Domenic had given her, which she couldn¡¯t let fall into the wrong hands. As Lindsey¡¯s consciousness started to fade, Chayce paused, seeing she was no longer resisting. ¡°Bitch, you¡¯re now too weak to fight back, huh?¡± As Chayce spoke, he came up to pull her pants. Seeing that her legs were tied, he cursed. He untied the bindings around Lindsey¡¯s legs and advanced towards her. With all her might, Lindseynded a solid kick to Chayce¡¯s groin. This forced him to clutch himself and stagger back, groaning in agony as he leaned on the table¡¯s edge. ¡°Damn you! You¡¯re finished now,¡± Chayce stood up angrily. He balled up his fist and tried to m it into Lindsey¡¯s head. Just then, the cabin door was violently kicked open. The sound was deafening. Lindsey struggled to open her eyes and saw a tall figure enter. It was Domenic. He hade to her rescue. Chapter 399 Lindsey hadn¡¯tid eyes on Domenic in several days, and he seemed even more striking than she remembered. d in a ck overcoat and a well-fitting ck suit, Domenic entered to find Lindsey on the floor, injured and vulnerable. His eyes narrowed at the sight. Then he looked at Chayce, with a murderous look in his deep eyes. Domenic¡¯s intense presence made Chayce¡¯s skin crawl. He backed away nervously, stammering, ¡°What¡­ What are you doing here? This is my yacht¡­ Ah!¡± But before Chayce could finish, Domenic lunged at him,nding a solid punch on his face and sending him crashing to the floor. Chayce wiped blood from his mouth and scrambled to his feet. He had underestimated Domenic, viewing him solely as a man with nothing but a pretty face.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Gripping the knife from the table, Chayce swung it viciously at Domenic. In a state of panic, Lindsey cried out, ¡°Watch out!¡± Domenic deftly sidestepped Chayce¡¯s attack and seized the moment tond a kick directly on Chayce¡¯s face. Chayce¡¯s two front teeth flew out instantly. Domenic then pressed his polished leather shoe firmly against Chayce¡¯s face, applying crushing pressure. Chayce could only whimper in pain under Domenic¡¯s foot. As his arm was grabbed, Domenic¡¯s chilling voice echoed above him. ¡°Is this the hand you used to hurt her?¡± In terror, Chayce shook his head, but a scream of agony escaped him as his arm was broken. It was only then that Chayce understood the terrifying nature of the man he faced. Since he was no match for Domenic, he desperately tried to flee. Chayce grabbed a knife from the floor and sliced at Domenic¡¯s ankle. As Domenic stepped back, Chayce scrambled up and bolted out. Domenic didn¡¯t chase after him, because there were his men outside the cabin. Even if Chayce went out, he couldn¡¯t escape at all. Domenic hurried over to Lindsey. He quickly untied the ropes binding her, dr@ped his coat over her to cover her exposed body, and gently gathered her into his arms. Looking at Lindsey, her body marred with injuries, Domenic¡¯s heart felt as though it was being stabbed with a knife. He hade toote. His eyebrows twitched ever so slightly as Domenic sped Lindsey¡¯s pale hand firmly. Lindsey weakly opened her eyes to see the pained expression on his face. She mustered a faint smile. ¡°Why do you have such an expression? Do I¡­ appear that awful now?¡± Domenic¡¯s heart felt like it was being ripped in two. He shook his head and embraced her tightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Linds. I¡¯m sorry¡­ It¡¯s all my fault. I should have been here sooner. Why didn¡¯t I take you home earlier?¡± ¡°You¡¯re holding me too tight. ¡± Upon hearing her voice, he instantly loosened his hold and cradled her gently in his arms. Chapter 400 Lindsey¡¯s head throbbed from the recent blow, causing her to feel faint. The pain from her injuries was unrelenting. She fought against the urge to sleep, clinging to Domenic¡¯s coat sleeve with all her remaining strength. ¡°Chayce¡­ he took the ne you gave me¡­¡± Lindsey had managed to hold back tears during the abuse by Chayce earlier, but now, she couldn¡¯t help but break into sobs. Domenic gently lifted Lindsey and ced her on the sofa. Holding her hand, he whispered, ¡°Just wait here for a few minutes. ¡± After receiving a nod from Lindsey, Domenic left the room. Outside, in the shadowy night, the sea made horrible sounds. Chayce stood frozen on the deck, a gun pressed against his head, trembling with fear to the point of nearly losing control. Chayce knew how to swim and had thought about diving into the sea to get away. However, he was caught off guard when he was immediately met with a gun upon exiting the cabin. Domenic approached, stopping his subordinate from aiming the gun. His coat cor fluttered in the night breeze. ¡°Boss, just say the word, and I¡¯ll shoot him and toss him into the sea,¡± said Domenic¡¯s subordinate, standing beside him with respect, as though Domenic was a ruler. Looking at Chayce, Domenic said in a cold voice, ¡°Give back Lindsey¡¯s ne, or I¡¯ll end your life this instant. ¡± Chayce turned to see Domenic encircled by the same formidable men in ck from earlier. Was Domenic actually the boss they had mentioned? Chayce remembered Shelia describing Domenic as merely a pretty face with no real power. Baffled by the current turn of events, Chayce didn¡¯t have the luxury of time to think too much. He nervously retrieved the ne from his pocket, holding onto it as his final leverage. ¡°I¡¯ll hand it over, but you need to promise to let me go first.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. If not¡­ I¡¯ll toss this ne into the sea. ¡± He inched backward, leaning against the yac ht¡¯s railing, his hand poised over the water. Domenic, with an air of nonchnce, tilted his head slightly. ¡°Take a look behind you. Go ahead and throw it if you must. It¡¯s just a piece of jewelry. I can always buy another. But remember, you only have one life. Are you certain about your decision?¡± Chayce nced back and his eyes widened in shock. The previously dark sea was now illuminated by numerous boats encircling his yacht. Thispletely extinguished his thoughts of jumping into the sea as an escape n. He found himself cornered, with no way out, akin to amb awaiting its fate. He copsed onto the floor, staring in desperation at the tall figure. His lips quivering, he asked, ¡°Who¡­ Who the hell are you?¡± Domenic slowly approached Chayce, crouching down with one arm resting on his knee. Gazing into Chayce¡¯s scared eyes, Domenic¡¯s lips curved slightly as he asked, ¡°Do you really want to know who I am and what it might mean for you? Then, Chayce heard a creepy chuckle. ¡°I have the power to inflict pain far worse than death itself. ¡± Ovee with terror, Chayce knelt, pressing his forehead to the deck, tears and pleas spilling out. ¡°Sir, I¡¯m so sorry. This is all my fault. I didn¡¯t know who you were. I was just following orders. It was Shelia Stewart. She¡¯s the one who told me to do all this. Please, have mercy. Let me Live. ¡± Shelia Stewart? Domenic let out a derisive snort. Chapter 401 Domenic retrieved the red diamond ne from Chayce¡¯s grasp, then stood towering over him. He offered a slight smile, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll grant you a chance at life. This is your plea for mercy. Make sure you value it. ¡± With those words, Domenic turned and strode back towards the cabin. As he passed a subordinate armed with a gun, he paused briefly to instruct, ¡°Break his legs and throw him to the most chaotic slum abroad. ¡± ¡°Got it. ¡± ¡°Contact the head of Morcastle Hospital. I want their best doctors on call tonight. ¡± ¡°Yes, sir. ¡± The thought that someone else had harmed Lindsey, a woman Domenic himself would never dream of hurting, fueled his anger. Domenic¡¯s fists clenched tightly. He believed that simply killing Chayce would be letting him off Lightly. Domenic was determined to make life a living hell for anyone who dared to harm his woman. Upon returning to the cabin, Domenic found Lindsey unconscious. He carefully lifted her up, noting how light she felt in his arms. He longed to embrace her tightly, yet he restrained himself, fearing he might cause her more pain. He held her tenderly, exiting the cabin. Domenic carried Lindsey aboard a helicopter, and they swiftly made their way to Morcastle hospital. Morcastle Hospital was renowned as the top private medical facility, boasting the nation¡¯s Leading experts, state-of-the-art equipment, and the most Luxurious medical environment.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Of course, it was one of the Walsh Group¡¯s properties. The hospital¡¯s director, along with a team of medical professionals, was ready for them on thending pad. As Domenic emerged from the helicopter, they quickly took Lindsey from his arms, cing her on a stretcher and hurrying her into the emergency room. Hendrix, following Domenic, assured him, ¡± Mr. Walsh, with the hospital¡¯s director here, Miss Stewart will receive the best care. You should rest in the lounge. I¡¯ll manage things here and update you as soon as she is out of surgery. ¡± But Domenic didn¡¯t stop at all. He apanied the director to the emergency room entrance. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll wait right here. ¡± After saying that, Domenic sat on a bench at the door of the emergency room, with one hand cupping his chin and his eyebrows knitted. Only Hendrix knew that his boss would show this expression when he was worried. Domenic¡¯s gaze was fixed on the resuscitation room, where the red light glowed steadily. Hendrix had a moment of realization, seeing just how deeply his boss cared for Lindsey. He had even mobilized military resources to pinpoint Lindsey¡¯s location with remarkable speed. Although Hendrix joined Domenic¡¯s service at ater stage, he was aware of some aspects of Domenic¡¯s family history. Domenic¡¯s father, the firstborn of the Walsh family, was groomed from childhood to inherit the Walsh Group¡¯s legacy. However, he chose a different path, driven by love for Domenic¡¯s mother. This decision went against his father Jordan¡¯s wishes. Domenic¡¯s father ultimately left the family empire, a choice that led to his untimely demise in an ident. Chapter 402 Domenic had been banned from engaging with girls. And those close to him mysteriously vanished into thin air. That was why Hendrix understood Domenic¡¯s hiding his identity in front of Lindsey. But Hendrix always suspected Domenic¡¯s interest in Lindsey was fleeting, expecting his enthusiasm to wane soon. But now, it was not exactly what he was hoping for. Hendrix gazed worriedly at Domenic. Jordan, though old, remained the authoritative figure of the Walsh Group. None dared to defy Jordan, not in the Walsh Group nor in Morcastle. What repercussions could Domenic face if Jordan learned of his affection for Lindsey? Would Lindsey, like the many girls before, vanish into thin air? Hendrix pressed his lips firmly. To prevent such a fate, he was resolute about keeping this secret for his boss.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey¡¯s consciousness gradually came back from the chaos. She slowly opened her eyes, finding a pristine white ceiling above her. Turning her head, she saw the man¡¯s sturdy figure perched at the bed¡¯s edge. Her left hand nestled in his grasp, his warmth coursing through her fingers. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­¡± Lindsey softly uttered Domenic¡¯s name. His body jolted, swiftly lifting his head. ¡°Hey, Linds. ¡± Weariness was all over Domenic¡¯s angr, handsome face. In his reddened eyes, a glimmer of surprise flickered. ¡°Do you feel any difort? Is your body still aching?¡± Lindsey shifted slightly. Her limbs felt sore, but the pain had subsided. She grazed her forehead, finding the wound neatly bandaged. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. ¡± Domenic¡¯s stiff body finally eased as color returned to her pallid face. ¡°Are you hungry? Need something to eat? You must be thirsty after the long sleep. I¡¯ll fetch you some water. ¡± Domenic¡¯s soft, husky voice floated near Lindsey¡¯s ears. As he rose, a slender hand grasped his wrist. He turned, locking eyes with her, her gaze unwavering. She spoke softly. ¡°Don¡¯t leave¡­¡± He settled back, sping her hand and nodding gently. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t go. I¡¯ll keep youpany. ¡± A faint smile graced her weakened visage. She nced at him, her eyshes fluttering. ¡°How did you¡­ Find me today?¡± Grasping her cold fingers, he spoke in a low, hoarse tone. ¡°I was about to lose it when I couldn¡¯t find you. I had no choice but to alert the authorities. They traced your phone to an alley and followed the trail, eventually finding you. It took time, given you were on the sea. ¡± Domenic withdrew a phone from his pocket, passing it to Lindsey. She took her phone and looked up at him, her pallid lips curling slightly. ¡°You were rather swift. I feared I wouldn¡¯t make it through tonight¡­ Chapter 403 ¡°That wasn¡¯t an option. ¡± He pressed her soft hand to his Lips, nting a ki*s. ¡°I vowed to reach you first, no matter the danger.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡± His face bore several days¡¯ worth of stubble, causing a slight itch. Previously meticulous and prim, he¡¯d forgotten to shave owing to his concern for her. Suddenly, she found it hard to be mad at him. ¡°Linds,e home with me,¡± His gaze locked onto hers, pleading softly. ¡°You haven¡¯t apologized for distrusting and trailing me before. ¡± She pouted, studying his handsome face. ¡°How can I forgive you and return home if you don¡¯t apologize?¡± His dark pupils dted slightly. So, she¡¯d been awaiting an apology? He¡¯d pondered ways to cate her and avoid infuriating her but hadn¡¯t uttered a word of remorse¡­ He was some. ¡°Linds, give me a moment. ¡± With that, Domenic rose and exited the ward. Lindsey stared nkly at the man¡¯s tall, straight form, a dissatisfied frown gracing her face. Why did he flee when it came to apologizing? Minutester, the door creaked open. Domenic strolled in, holding a sizable bouquet of yellow roses intertwined with pink baby¡¯s breath, and stopped before her. Amidst Lindsey¡¯s puzzled look, Domenic bent down slightly and presented her with the flowers. He softly curved his lips, his gaze deep and earnest as he looked at her and said, ¡°Today was a bit of a rush, so this is all I could get. These yellow roses symbolize a heartfelt apology. Linds, I want to sincerely say, I¡¯m sorry. From now on, I promise never to do anything that upsets you. ¡± Lindsey gazed into his meaningful eyes, her lips tensing a bit. ¡°I really like you. Can you promise not to distrust me in the future?¡± Her eyes were clear, pure, and genuin , brimming with her feelings for him. He thought she would resent him, believing she could never have affection for him again. But she said she really liked him. Domenic felt her words softly caress his heart, creating a wave of emotions. ¡°Linds, I give you my word. I won¡¯t have any doubts about you ever again. I mean it this time, and I¡¯ll prove it with my actions. If I don¡¯t¡­¡± Before he couldplete his vow, Lindsey gently held his face and ki*sed his lips. Her voice was soft and soothing, saying, ¡°That settles it. You must trust in my feelings for you. I won¡¯t get involved with any other man. You¡¯re the only one I want. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes shimmered with happiness, and he tenderly cradled her neck, drawing her into a deep ki*s. ¡°I feel the same, there¡¯s no one else for me but you. ¡± Lindsey embraced Domenic¡¯s well-built back, earnestly responding to his affectionate ki*s. ¡°Embrace me tightly,¡± Domenic murmured in a low, husky voice, before capturing her lips once more. Lindsey held him close, her arms enveloping his broad back, silently promising to hold on to him forever. Chapter 404 The ki*s they shared was prolonged and filled with tenderness. As it ended, Domenic raised his head, his breathing deepened as he gazed at the enchanting woman below him. In his normallyposed eyes, a fire sparked to life, kindled by her presence. ¡°Linds, once you¡¯re fully healed. ¡± Lindsey immediately caught his implication, her cheeks blushing as she yfully scolded him, arms looped around his neck. ¡°Enough with the daring talk. We¡¯re in a hospital, remember to behave!¡± Domenic let out a gentleugh. He presented the yellow roses he still held to Lindsey. ¡°Now, do you forgive me?¡± Lindsey gratefully received the roses, her smile radiant. ¡°With such a heartfelt gesture, I can¡¯t help but forgive you. ¡± ¡°Do they please you?¡± Domenic inquired gently. Lindsey¡¯s face lit up with joy, and she nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Yes, I love them!¡± Domenic¡¯s smile grew wider.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The symbol of yellow roses was something he had stumbled upon in a book recently. Although he hadn¡¯t been interested in such details before, he found himself unexpectedly remembering it. Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s expression changed to one of rm. ¡°Oh no, the ne!¡± Recalling the ne, Domenic retrieved the red diamond ne from his pocket. Relief washed over Lindsey as she saw the ne was safe. She held it to her chest with relief. ¡°d it¡¯s still here. ¡± ¡°If you¡¯re fond of nes, I¡¯ll get you another one,¡± Domenic suggested. Seated beside her bed, his eyes were filled wit Lindsey gently declined, her eyes fixed on the red diamond ne in her hand. She softly said, ¡°This ne is a symbol of our promise, given by you. It means so much to me. I can¡¯t bear to lose ¡­¡± In an unexpected move, Domenic leaned in, gently pushing Lindsey back onto the bed and giving her a passionate ki*s. Lindsey clung to his white shirt, fully immersed in the embrace. As they parted from their passionate ki*s, Domenic gradually let go of her reddened lips. ¡°Why did you¡­ do that all of a sudden?¡± Lindsey gazed into his eyes, which were filled with desire. Her long, fine eyshes fluttered, enhancing her shy but captivating charm. Domenic¡¯s face was close to hers, and he tenderly rubbed his nose against hers. Speaking in a low, deep voice, he confessed, ¡°Hearing you speak like that makes it hard for me to keep my hands off you. ¡± A deep shade of red spread across her face, even her neck tinged with a faint pink hue. Lindsey felt the warmth emanating from him, slowly but surely dissolving her defenses¡­ ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­¡± Lindsey whispered under Domenic, feeling his careful restraint. ¡°Just not right now. Let¡¯s wait until you¡¯repletely better. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was gentle, almost as if he was reassuring himself. He then gradually Lifted himself off Lindsey. Lindsey gazed up at Domenic with her clear, sparkling eyes. ¡°Also, I¡¯ve been curious. Why is this ne shaped like a teardrop? Is there a special meaning behind it?¡± Chapter 405 Domenic took the ne from Lindsey¡¯s hand and ced it around her neck. He revealed, ¡°It¡¯s known as Blood of the Heart, symbolizing that you are the very essence of my heart. ¡± It turned out that the red diamond embodied such a significant and heartfelt meaning. Lindsey was profoundly moved, a wave of emotions welling within her. As Domenic looked up at her, she reached out, encircling his neck, and leaned in, eager to ki*s his lips once more. Maybe Lindsey put a bit too much enthusiasm into her action, as a sharp pain suddenly shot through her head, turning her tender ki*s into a grimace of difort. Domenic found her reaction amusing and couldn¡¯t contain hisughter. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who just reminded us that we¡¯re in a hospital? You should take it easy, don¡¯t tempt me too much, or I might lose my control of myself. Once you¡¯ve recovered, we can be as intimate as you wish. ¡± ¡°Domenic, you should practice some self-control, it¡¯s healthier that way!¡± Lindsey said, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. Yet, this was the first time she had seen Domenicugh so heartily, so freely. ¡®s BunnyBookery Despite her initial embarrassment, she found herself joining in hisughter. ¡°Speaking of which, where is Chayce? What happened to him in the end?¡± Lindsey¡¯sughter suddenly stopped as she inquired. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The police have apprehended him. He won¡¯t be a threat to you again,¡± Domenic reassured her, though his expression grew slightly grim. ¡°I always knew he wasn¡¯t a go od person, but I never thought he¡¯d sink so low as to take money from Kendra and Shelia to target me,¡± Lindsey said, her brows furrowed in frustration. She pondered over what might have happened if Domenic hadn¡¯t arrived when he did ¨C a chilling thought of her possibly floating lifeless in the ocean. Domenic, observing Lindsey, said in a gentle tone, ¡°Those two women seem to be constantly troubling you. Would you like me to step in?¡± ¡°Nope. I¡¯ll handle them myself,¡± Lindsey firmly stated, gripping the edge of her nket. She was resolved to confront Kendra and Shelia herself, determined to deal with them on her own! Domenic chose not to push the matter.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Though he wouldn¡¯t interfere openly, it didn¡¯t mean he wouldn¡¯t provide subtle assistance. He had his own way of dealing with those who dared harm his beloved. ¡°Oh no, Nancy must be getting anxious with me being out sote. I should call her,¡± Lindsey said, reaching for her phone. However, Domenic gently caught her wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already spoken to her,¡± he assured her. ¡°What? When was this?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°She called while you were unconscious, so I picked up. ¡± Chapter 406 And what exactly did you say to her?¡± Domenic shed a yful grin and said, ¡°I informed her that my girlfriend is in good hands and there¡¯s no need for worry. ¡± Lindsey was momentarily at a loss for words. How could he say something so prone to misinterpretation? Exhaling, Lindsey gave Domenic a look that was a mix of irritation and resignation. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should head back and get some rest too. ¡± Domenic responded without a word, gently scooping her up in a smooth motion to make space, then slid into the bed next to Lindsey. ¡°You¡­¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to leave tonight anyway. Nights can be chilly, and it¡¯s easy to get cold sleeping alone. I¡¯m here to keep you warm. ¡± The room was luxuriously furnished, and the bed was exceptionallyrge, more than adequate for two. It was just a bit awkward for the situation. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed a deep red, but Domenic smoothly slipped his arm around her, gently cradling her neck and drawing her close to him. ¡°Oh my!¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but let out a startled cry. ¡°Don¡¯t scream. We wouldn¡¯t want someone to hear and get the wrong idea,¡± Domenic said with a sly grin, ¡°It¡¯s much cozier to sleep close together. ¡± Resting against his chest, Lindsey felt the heating through his shirt, and she found herself rxing. His presence always enveloped her in a feeling of safety andfort. ¡°Linds. ¡± Domenic¡¯s deep, resonant voice broke the silence above her. ¡°Hmm?¡± Lindsey looked up, her eyes meeting his striking throat. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to share something about my family with you, but I wasn¡¯t sure how to start,¡± Domenic said, tightening his hold on her arm, and added, ¡°Both my parents are no Longer with us¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s body stiffened momentarily at his words. Domenic continued with a gentle tone, ¡°When I was ten years old, my parents got into a car ident. My mom got stuck in the car, and my dad managed to get out. But then the car caught fire. To save my mom, my dad went back into the fire. Later, people imed my dad sacrificed himself for love. They said he and my mom were deeply in love. Due to all this, my grandfather fell seriously ill. While he was sick, some of my uncles locked me in a cer and left me without food for ten days. I even missed their funerals. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyshes quivered as she hugged Domenic while he narrated the story tly. She was shocked and troubled. Simply listening to the ount left her with a sense of stifling despair. At the tender age of ten, how did Domenic endure such a traumatic experience? How did he manage to survive? Lindsey¡¯s tremulous voice finally broke the silence, ¡°During those ten days¡­¡± ¡°I survived by eating mud, scraping bits off the walls, and drinking water seeping through the cracks. The cer was damp, and the days were gloomy and rainy. Perhaps, by some twist of fate, I still survived. ¡± Chapter 407 Lindsey felt her heart being clenched by an unseen force, causing her aching pain. ¡°and how did you finally escape?¡± she asked, her voice still trembling. ¡°The neighbor¡¯s girl found me during a visit and rescued me. Fortunately, my grandfather was home that day, so he protected me from my uncles. ¡± Once Domenic concluded his narrative withposure, his once calm demeanor gave way to a coldness that settled in his dark eyes. However, he swiftly suppressed the surging emotion. Gently, he rubbed his chin against Lindsey¡¯s head and spoke, ¡°Linds, you mentioned not knowing much about me. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling to share my family history, but the truth is that I have no family except my grandfather. My grandfather is a traditional and stubborn man, not easy to connect with. I worry that meeting him might stress you out. I always thought I¡¯d introduce you when the time was right, but I overlooked your feelings. I¡¯m sorry. ¡± It dawned on Lindsey that Domenic never talked about his family because of this. Lindsey lifted her head, cupping Domenic¡¯s handsome face, meeting his unusual mncholy gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had no idea you experienced such pain. I was just too eager to know you and your family better. I was just afraid that if you ever left me, I wouldn¡¯t even know where to find you. ¡± Suddenly, Domenic tightened his embrace, holding Lindsey close. nting a gentle ki*s on her forehead, he asked, ¡°Have you forgotten? We¡¯re engaged. You¡¯re my fianc¨¦e and my future wife. I won¡¯t leave you; I¡¯ll be by your side for the rest of our lives. It¡¯s toote for you to run away. ¡± Lindsey lifted her head, ki*sing his prominent Adam¡¯s apple. Her hands encircled him as she whispered, ¡°I won¡¯t run away because you¡¯re my favorite. ¡± She then buried her flushed face in his arms. Domenic¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed with a subtle motion. Slipping hisrge hand under her chin, he lifted Lindsey¡¯s face to meet his gaze. Then, his thin lips met hers in a ki*s. ¡°Me too. I like you the best. ¡± On the second morning, Lindsey eagerly anticipated leaving the hospital, but Domenic was adamant about her staying. ¡°The doctor emphasized the need for you toplete your recovery here. ¡± ¡°But I still have a few procedures left. If I don¡¯tplete them on time, the opening of thepany will be dyed,¡± Lindsey exined, perched gracefully on the bed, her anxiety palpable. The previous night, during a conversation with Domenic, she had shared her ambitious n tounch apany. To her surprise, Domenic, with experience, offered valuable insights. He revealed that he had learned extensively from his entrepreneurial journey, providing Lindsey with a trove of substantial ideas that fueled her determination. ¡°Stay here for your recovery. Just provide me with the necessary materials, and I¡¯ll handle the rest for you,¡± Domenic suggested, his gaze unwavering.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Lindsey looked up, her eyes questioning. ¡°Is that possible? Some procedures require a personal touch. ¡± ¡°Trust me. I have a solution, Domenic assured, a smile ying on his Lips. Chapter 408 Casting a skeptical nce, Lindsey forwarded the backup materials to Domenic and, with a cunning grin, proposed, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal. I¡¯ll give you two days. If you can¡¯t pull it off, I get to leave the hospital. ¡± Doubt lingered in her mind; she held disbelief that Domenic could aplish the task. She resolved to await his return. Lindsey already had a n in mind. ¡°Just one day will be enough.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡± Domenic arched an eyebrow, gazing directly into Lindsey¡¯s eyes. Lindsey bit her lip skeptically and said, ¡°Don¡¯t make grand promises you can¡¯t keep. ¡± However, Domenic leaned closer, his voice low and maic, ¡°When have I ever let you down?¡± ¡°Alright. ¡± Lindsey pushed him away, her face turning a deep shade of red. Domenic chuckled, and once everything was sorted out, he departed from the hospital. He instructed Hendrix to handle the necessary paperwork and then made his way back to hispany. In the Walsh Group¡¯s building, while Domenic was engrossed in his work, a knock sounded at the door. ¡°Come in,¡± he said without raising his head. The door opened, and the sound of approaching footsteps filled the room. ¡°Domenic, I heard thatst night, someone even mobilized military resources just to track down ady. ¡± Domenic¡¯s brows creased as he looked up. Standing before him, Arturo had his hands in his pockets, his amber eyes slightly narrowed, observing him closely. Domenic reclined in his chair and met Arturo¡¯s gaze, saying, ¡°And? Arturo raised a hand, tapping his nose thoughtfully and said, ¡°No one in the city has the clout to do that except for your family. Domenic simply smiled in response, ¡°So?¡± ¡°Even I¡¯m aware of what happened. Don¡¯t you think your uncles will figure out who¡¯s behind it? Domenic, you might have overstepped a bit this time. ¡± Arturo¡¯s finger stopped at his nose, and his usually carefree andx demeanor shifted to one of seriousness. Domenic¡¯s expression remained unaltered. In a cool, detached tone, he said, ¡°I always consider the consequences of my actions. ¡± Arturo gave a casual shrug. ¡°I just came to let you know I¡¯m on your side. ¡± While speaking, Arturo squinted his eyes and leaned in closer to Domenic. ¡°How about a deal? You assist me with expanding my business abroad, and I¡¯ll help you handle your uncles. What do you say?¡± ¡°How dare you bargain with me?¡± Domenic said with a hint of scorn. Arturo exhaled deeply and sat down across from Domenic. ¡°Honestly, even though I¡¯m the head of the Yates family now, it¡¯s actually my mom who runs the Yates Group. I¡¯m just her figurehead, without real power to make significant decisions. I¡­ I¡¯m not content with that. The international market is an opportunity for the Yates family, and I need to seize it myself! Domenic, only if I truly gain control of the Yates Group can I support your im to the Walsh Group inheritance. It¡¯ll benefit you more than harm you. When have I ever let you down. ¡± Domenic gazed at Arturo with a prating, icy look, a sinister smile ying on his lips. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll lend you a hand, but you¡¯ll need to do a small favor for me first. ¡± Chapter 409 ¡°What¡¯s the favor?¡± Arturo felt a chill run down his spine, sensing trouble brewing. ¡°Last night, a friend needed help finding a girl. We¡¯re very close, so naturally, I assisted. ¡± Domenic looked at him indifferently. ¡°I expect that from now on, this will be the story everyone hears. ¡± Arturo was momentarily speechless. So, Domenic was expecting him to take the me! ¡°This might not be wise. My mother will be furious if she finds out,¡± Arturo said, clearly worried. Domenic nced down, adjusting his shirt cuffs dismissively. ¡°That¡¯s your problem. You need to find a solution yourself. Or were you just kidding when you said you wanted my help?¡± ¡°Fine, it¡¯s a deal!¡± Arturo realized he stood no chance against Domenic and resigned himself to his situation. ¡°You¡¯re putting in a lot of effort to gain control of the Yates Group.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Is this all for Sh?¡± Domenic inquired casually, lifting his gaze to Arturo. Arturo hesitated, then asked, ¡°Can you not look at me as though you know all my secrets?¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite obvious,¡± Domenic remarked with a sneer, focusing back on his documents. ¡°I¡¯m aware I can¡¯t keep secrets from you, but I¡¯m genuinely serious this time. ¡± Arturo got up, turned, and exited the office. Domenic watched him leave, and then his phone rang. The caller ID made Domenic frown and annoyance flickered in his eyes. Answering the call with a frosty tone , Domenic said, ¡°Uncle Rupert, what do you want?¡± ¡°Domenic, don¡¯t be so distant,¡± Rupert Walsh said, his tone carrying a hint of smugness. Among Domenic¡¯s uncles, Rupert Walsh held the most power. He was also the main obstacle in Domenic¡¯s path to inheriting the Walsh Group. The Vanguard Group he had established and managed didn¡¯t wield as much influence as the Vitality Group in Morcastle, but it still held a significant market share and had been steadily growing in recent times. Based on the information Domenic had gathered, Rupert had covertly formed alliances with Domenic¡¯s other uncles, trying to deal with Domenic together. However, to the outside world, Rupert always appeared to be a kind man. Domenic responded in a detached tone, ¡°Uncle Rupert, let¡¯s focus on the matter at hand. I¡¯m very busy. ¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. Your grandpa said it¡¯s been too long since hest saw you and he¡¯s really missing you. He wants you toe over for dinner tonight. You¡­ You¡¯lle, won¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t Grandpa tell me himself if he wants to see me?¡± Domenic asked in a soft voice. Rupert let out a sigh. ¡°He hasn¡¯t been in the best of health. I only found out when I visited him. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Is Grandpa sick?¡± Chapter 410 ¡°He¡¯s been suffering from worsening bouts of dizziness. He didn¡¯t want you to be concerned about him. ¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯ll visit him as soon as I¡¯m done here. ¡± Domenic ended the call abruptly before Rupert could add anything else. Later that evening, a silver-grey limited edition Bugatti pulled up on the driveway of Walsh Manor. Domenic stepped out of the car, straightening his ck suit as he walked towards the manor. The head gardener, busy with the nts, noticed Domenic and quickly bowed in greeting. ¡°Mr. Walsh, wee. ¡± Domenic paused to inquire, ¡°Who else is here today?¡± ¡°ALL your uncles have arrived, sir. ¡± A slight smile formed on Domenic¡¯s lips as he continued into the manor. The servant opened the grand doors, ushering Domenic into the opulent European-style vi. The interior boasted a stunning crystal chandelier and the floors wereid with costly marble, exuding elegance and grandeur. Every item in the room was a collector¡¯s piece. As Domenic stepped into the living room, he noticed his unclesfortably seated on the sofa, engaged in a cheerful conversation with his grandpa. Jordan¡¯s face lit up with joy at the sight of his grandson. He gestured towards Domenic and said, ¡°Domenic, it¡¯s good to see you here.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± ¡°Grandpa, Uncle Rupert mentioned your dizziness has been troubling you more. How are you feeling now?¡± Domenic approached, gently taking Jordan¡¯s hand and sitting beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t pay too much attention to Rupert¡¯s exaggerated stories. I¡¯m feeling quite well!¡± Jordan cast a quick nce at Rupert, who was seated across the room. With a warm smile, he asked Domenic, ¡°So, what brings you here today?¡± Domenic looked up at Rupert, sensin g that this meeting was no coincidence. Rupert¡¯s eyes gleamed with cunning, though he maintained aposed facade. ¡°Dad, you wouldn¡¯t believe it. Last might, there was a hugemotion in the city. Someone was desperately searching for a girl. I¡¯ve asked around, yet no one knows who¡¯s behind it. In Morcastle, who else has the power to cause such a stir and still avoid our notice?¡± Jordan¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°I¡¯m already aware of it. ¡± He then looked at Domenic with warmth in his eyes and said, ¡°It was a friend of Domenic¡¯s from the Yates family. Domenic, you mustn¡¯t let him do that again. They say that beauty can be a curse. I find that quite true. The head of the Yates family allowing suchmotion over a woman could lead to his downfall someday. ¡± Rupert¡¯s expression turned grave. He had assumed Domenic was responsible. Jordan disliked it immensely when men of the Walsh family became too infatuated with women. Rupert had intended to use this incident to create a stir. But unexpectedly, it was Arturo¡¯s doing, and Jordan was already informed. What Rupert didn¡¯t realize was that Domenic had already spoken to Jordan over the phone earlier that day. Knowing he couldn¡¯t keep it from Jordan, Domenic had confessed voluntarily. Meanwhile, Arturo had spread the word, and Jordan had quickly learned of it. ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re not nning to end up like Mr. Yates over a woman, are you?¡± Jordan suddenly asked, turning his attention to Domenic. ALL of Domenic¡¯s uncles shifted their attention to him immediately. Chapter 411 With a narrowed gaze and a faint curl to his lips, Domenic responded, ¡°Absolutely not!¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Hiding Lindsey¡¯s existence remained paramount until he hadplete control over the Walsh Group. Protecting her from any potential threats or harm was his priority. Herbert Walsh, another uncle of Domenic¡¯s intentionally teasing, remarked, ¡°I knew he¡¯d refuse. He¡¯s been alone since childhood. Doubt he never held a girl¡¯s hand!¡± This jibe brought stifledughter from the other uncles, lips pursed in amusement. At the peak of his manhood, Domenic led a chaste life, warding off any woman¡¯s advances. Rumors circted that no woman could get close to him. Despite numerous attempts by his uncles to introduce women into his life, none seeded in prating his defenses. They even remained oblivious to Domenic¡¯s appearance. Calmly sipping tea, Domenic retorted, ¡°My focus is the Walsh Group¡¯s affairs, unlike Uncle Hervert, who changes partners as often as clothes. Beware, lest one of your paramours sets a trap. It¡¯s not worth the risk. ¡± Herbert¡¯s sarcastic facade froze, startled that his romantic pursuits had been uncovered. How did Domenic know? Jordan pped on the tea table and shouted at Herbert angrily, ¡°Get out of my face! Go back and make a hundred copies of the family rules. You can¡¯t get out if you can¡¯t do that!¡± Herbert was furious, his face turning pale. He had to get to his feet furiously, then scowled at Domenic and walked out since he dared not defy Jordan. Domenic continued to sip tea calmly as though nothing had happened. Unnerved by Domenic¡¯sposure, his other uncles held their tongues. Domenic¡¯s ruthless reputation loomed, and they feared what he could have against them. ¡°Domenic, it¡¯s not that I disdain your romantic pursuits,¡± Jordan began, grasping Domenic¡¯s hand earnestly. ¡°But I wish for you to court a woman worthy of you. Those scheming temptresses out there aren¡¯t deserving. I long to witness your marriage and perhaps a great-grandson. Count on me to help you with the marriage thing. ¡± Domenic¡¯s teaden hand stilled, his gaze darkening. ¡°Grandpa, I have no intention of marrying anytime soon,¡± Domenic dered impassively. Jordan let out a little sigh. Since the death of Domenic¡¯s parents, Domenic had grown reticent and aloof. He asionally had trouble understanding his grandson¡¯s thoughts. Jordan barred Domenic from female associations, fearing a repetition of his father¡¯s mistake- abandoning everything for some stupid love. But Jordan couldn¡¯t let him wind up alone. He had ns; he groomed a woman for him from Domenic¡¯s youth. When she returned from her studies abroad, he believed she¡¯d captivate Domenic¡¯s heart. ¡°Shall we go for dinner?¡± With this thought, Jordan felt a tinge of relief, ushering Domenic toward the dining room. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Lindseyy bored on her bed. Sh and Nancy¡¯s daytime visit spared her from utter monotony. Now alone under the nurse¡¯s watchful eye, she felt trapped. Chapter 412 Domenic pledged help with her formalities but hadn¡¯t reached out or updated her. Pouting, Lindsey got her phone, contemting Domenic¡¯s whereabouts. With that in mind, Lindsey dialed Domenic¡¯s number. The Walsh family had very rigorous eating manners. Silence filled the dining room but for the faint tter of forks on knives. Domenic¡¯s phone rang during the family¡¯s poised dinner. It was a call from Lindsey. Domenic looked over to Jordan out of the corner of his eye. Jordan heard Domenic get up and say, ¡°Grandpa, I have to get this phone call. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s a work call, right? Go ahead. ¡± Jordan just let Domenic leave since he understood that he had a lot of work to do for the firm. Reaching the living room balcony, Domenic answered the phone and said, ¡°Linds, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Just checking in. You¡¯ve been silent. Have you been seeing some woman behind my back?¡± Lindsey¡¯s tone held a hint of yfulness. ¡®s BunnyBookery Chuckling, Domenic leaned against the balcony, gazing into the verdant scenery. ¡°No, I¡¯ve been tied up with your paperwork. Work calls now. I¡¯ll see you soon. Do you miss me?¡± His voice, low and maic, held a captivating allure. Blushing, Lindsey teased, ¡°Don¡¯t you miss me?¡± ¡°Immensely!¡± Domenic¡¯s reply oozed tenderness.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey smiled sweetly. Just as Domenic turned, Rupert stood at the balcony¡¯s door, a smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve got other things to handle. Bye. ¡± Lindsey was about to say something, but Domenic ended the call abruptly. Slipping his phone back into his pocket, Domenic faced Rupert with aposed look and inquired, ¡°Uncle Rupert, what brings you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just finished eating. There¡¯s some business at thepany I need to attend to. Don¡¯t worry about it. I was just passing through,¡± Rupert replied with a sly smile and narrowed eyes. Domenic nced around. The way from the dining room to the main entrance didn¡¯t even require passing through there. However, Domenic chose not to say anything. As they brushed past each other, Rupert, with a smile, said, ¡°Domenic, your grandpa is very fond of you. Don¡¯t disappoint him like your father did. ¡± Chapter 413 Domenic didn¡¯t respond and continued straight to the dining room. Something felt off. Rupert¡¯s instincts were telling him that Domenic was hiding something. He turned to watch Domenic¡¯s retreating figure, a smile forming on his face.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After the dinner with Jordan, Domenic excused himself early, citing workmitments. By ten in the evening, Lindsey had already dozed off in bed. Half-asleep, she sensed a rustling beside her, followed by a Large hand encircling her waist. Startled awake, she instinctively threw an elbow strike behind her! But her elbow hit nothing. Instead, it was caught, and she found herself pulled into a strong,forting embrace. ¡°It¡¯s me. ¡± A deep, slightly raspy voice broke the silence of the dark room. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me know you were here?¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned a shade of red. She had mistakenly thought an intruder had entered and nearly harmed Domenic. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to disturb your sleep. ¡± Domenic wrapped his arms around her from behind, nting a ki*s on her neck. Her scent brought him a se nse of calm. Lindsey inhaled the mixed scents of cedar and cigarette from Domenic. She turned around to face him, her arms reaching to embrace him, her nose brushing against him. ¡°You are acting like a puppy. Why are you sniffing me?¡± Domenic gazed at her with tenderness. ¡°I¡¯m going to check if you¡¯ve got the perfume of another woman on you!¡± Domenic chuckled and said, ¡°So, did you smell anything?¡± ¡°I can smell¡­¡± Lindsey lifted her head to look at Domenic¡¯s amused expression. ¡°You¡¯ve been smoking quite a bit. Are things bothering you?¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze grew serious, yet his demeanor softened. In the faint light, Lindsey¡¯s sweet smile wasforting. The tobo scent on him was strong, but she didn¡¯t shy away. Instead, she held him closer, as if to offer sce. He gently stroked her hair. ¡°I stopped by to see my grandpa after work and ran into my uncles. ¡± Lindsey looked surprised and asked, ¡°Did they give you a hard time?¡± ¡°No, they just made some annoying remarks. ¡± Domenic nestled his face in Lindsey¡¯s neck, his usually neat hair now tousled across his forehead. It was with Lindsey that Domenic could truly rx. As a prominent CEO, he rarely showed his sorrowful or vulnerable side to anyone. He was known for being powerful andposed, a man in control of everything. With Lindsey, he wasn¡¯t the unreachable king anymore; he was just a regr guy with feelings and wants. He could fully enjoy life and findfort in his loved one¡¯s arms when feeling down. What a happy life. Yet tonight, Domenic was filled with restlessness, uncertain about how long this happiness wouldst. He wasn¡¯t in a position to discuss his family affairs with Lindsey or introduce her to his grandpa. It felt like an enormous gapy between them. Chapter 414 The only solution was for him to be the heir of the Walsh Group and take over it. Domenic¡¯s hands balled into fists. He couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer. Unaware of Domenic¡¯s thoughts, Lindsey mistook his mood for feeling bullied. She cradled his head in her delicate arms, feeling his uneven, helpless breaths against her chest. ¡°I¡¯ll be your protector. ¡± Her voice, tender and soothing, reached Domenic¡¯s ears. ¡°This isn¡¯t justfort or sympathy, but a promise. ¡± Domenic wrapped his arms tightly around her slender waist, pressing his head deeper into her embrace. Lindsey realized Domenic might not believe her, but she insisted, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me. I¡¯m not scared to stand up for myself. I won¡¯t hesitate to fight back if Kendra and Shelia try to harm me. The same goes for you. If anyone dares to mess with my man, I¡¯ll make them regret it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here to protect you!¡± Domenic embraced Lindsey¡¯s slender back, holding her close in his arms. This day would always be etched in his memory.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The woman he held had just faced danger, was injured and lying in bed, yet she boldly dered her intent to protect him. Her vow warmed his heart, much l ike the gentle melting of ice under the spring sun. ¡°Okay. ¡± He lifted his head from her embrace, found her soft, pink lips, and ki*sed her passionately. His embrace tightened, as if he wished to meld her into his very being. The intensity of the ki*s left Lindsey a bit lightheaded. Instinctively, her legs entwined with Domenic¡¯s. Hisrge hand held the back of her neck, ensuring she couldn¡¯t pull away. Then, in a bold move, she rolled over, straddling him. The position was provocatively intimate. Her face flushed with heat. She pushed against his shoulder, her hands braced on either side of his head, looking down at his handsome, softly smiling face below her. Lindsey felt that her whole body was burning. That was because of the uncontroble desire that came from loving someone. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away today. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s pink lips curled into a smile, her eyes shimmering in the dim light. Domenic¡¯s hands found her hips, and he swiftly flipped their positions, pinning her beneath him. His weight pressed against her, and he yfully bit her earlobe. In a husky, seductive tone, he whispered, ¡°You¡¯re quite brave, thinking you can top me. Not a chance. ¡± As Domenic spoke, his hand slipped under Lindsey¡¯s clothes, causing her to shiver slightly. ¡°This isn¡¯t our first time. Why are you still so sensitive?¡± He teased, observing her flushed face. ¡°Last time¡­ I hardly remember it. ¡± Lindsey turned her head, her cheeks warming with shyness. At that time, she had been under the influence of a drug, her thoughts muddled. Her reactions to him had been more instinctive than deliberate, and the sensations hadn¡¯t fully registered in her mind. Domenic gently squeezed her waist andughed softly. ¡°I remember someone pleading with me to stop. ¡± Chapter 415 ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re really naughty. ¡± She yfully attempted to punch his chest, but he caught her fist in his hand. He ki*sed her earlobe and grinned. ¡°If you don¡¯t remember that night, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll make tonight memorable for you. ¡± She gripped his crumpled white shirt, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡± Suddenly, Domenic looked at her and asked seriously. Lindsey nodded timidly, her clear eyes slightly reddened. ¡°Yes. ¡± Domenic¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved visibly as he leaned down, ki*sing her heated neck all the way down¡­ His voice came out rough and deep. ¡°I nned to have s@x with you when I got back, but you¡¯ve tempted me like this¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s body felt like it was on fire. She didn¡¯t push him away. Instead, she hugged his neck and murmured, ¡°Mr.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Walsh, could you be a bit gentler this time?¡± Her request only stoked the fire in Domenic¡¯s heart further. He passionately ki*sed the delicate woman beneath him, their connection quivering a ¡°Domenic¡­¡± ¡°I want to hear more. ¡± ¡°Domenic, Domenic. . ¡°Keep saying my name until your voice fades. . Following that, Lindsey lost herself in the moment. Unlike their first time, filled with confusion, this time she was intimate with him and she felt pleasure. She repeated his name, etching it deep within her. Dawn was breaking. Just as Lindsey¡¯s consciousness was fading, she heard Domenic whisper in her ear, ¡°Linds¡­ I love you. ¡± Lindsey opened her eyes to find it was already the noon. Even the slightest movement caused her body to ache. With some effort, she managed to sit up in bed. ncing around, she noticed the ward was empty. Had Domenic left? ALL of a sudden, Lindsey felt a little depressed. Just then, the ward door opened. A woman dressed in professional attire entered, wheeling a cart filled with a variety of appetizing foods. ¡°iihat¡¯s all this?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes grew wide in surprise. ¡°Brunch. ¡± Chapter 416 The sound of a familiar,forting male voice filled the room. Lindsey looked up to see Domenic, tall and imposing, walking towards her. Domenic was wearing a crisply ironed white shirt, its cors neatly fastened. After the intense night they shared, he had returned to his typicalposed and striking demeanor. Lindsey tilted her head, eyeing the cart brimming with tasty food. She was torn betweenughter and tears as she joked, ¡°Are you relocating a restaurant here?¡± Domenic replied with a calm look, ¡°All these are nutritious food. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery He smiled, gazing deeply into Lindsey¡¯s eyes, ¡°You must be exhausted afterst night. You need to rebuild your strength. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned a deep shade of red! Staring at the cart full of food, Lindsey hesitated. ¡°But this is too much for me. We couldn¡¯t possibly finish all this, even together. And it must have cost a lot of money. It seems rather extravagant. ¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what you¡¯d like, and I didn t want to disturb your sleep, so I got a bit of everything. Don¡¯t worry about the cost, I can handle it. ¡± Domenic picked up a bowl of porridge enriched with sea cucumber and bird¡¯s nest, sitting next to Lindsey. ¡°How about this one?¡± Lindsey gave a small nod. After stirring the porridge, Domenic held the spoon to her lips, saying, ¡°Open up. Let me feed you. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes drifted to a woman standing at a distance, dressed like a hotel manager, who was smiling in their direction. ¡°Hold on, there¡¯s someone else here!¡± Lindsey caught Domenic¡¯s wrist, her cheeks blushing. Domenic nced at the woman and said with a smile, ¡°You can go now. ¡± The woman acknowledged with a nod and left the room. ¡°Now it¡¯s just the two of us. Are you ready to eat?¡± Without any other reason to refuse, Lindsey leaned in and began eating the porridge he offered. ¡°This is really good. ¡± She looked up at Domenic, pleasantly surprised, and took a few more eager bites. Unbeknownst to her, the food on the cart was from an exclusive high-end restaurant, requiring advanced orders and costing a small fortune.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. No wonder it tasted so delicious. Watching her enjoy the meal, a tender smile spread across Domenic¡¯s face. Once she finished the porridge, Lindsey gestured towards a te of abalones on the cart. Domenic passed them to her, and she teasingly offered him arge one, ¡°Here, have some abalone to boost your energy!¡± Chapter 417 Domenic caught her wrist, raised an eyebrow, and said in a low voice, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll need to use that energy again tonight? Well, I¡¯d love to. ¡± ¡°Stop talking and eat!¡± Lindsey popped the abalone into his mouth, chuckling, ¡°Just don¡¯t overdo it!¡± Amused by her words, Domenic ate the abalone in his mouth. He then took out a file holder from behind and gave it to Lindsey, saying, ¡°Everything you wanted is taken care of. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°That was quick, it¡¯s only been a day. How did you manage it so fast?¡± Domenic let out a softugh and yfully tapped her nose. ¡°You can never say a man is fast, especially in bed. ¡± ¡°Naughty!¡± Lindsey mumbled, opening the file to check. Indeed, all the necessary paperwork to start apany wasplete. She looked at Domenic in disbelief and asked, ¡°Is this another favor from your boss?¡± Domenic smirked slightly and said, ¡°Well¡­ you could say that. ¡± Sitting up straight, Lindsey said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, your boss has really helped us out. Shouldn¡¯t we thank him personally? Maybe I could invite him to dinner!¡± Domenic was momentarily lost for words. He wondered how Lindsey would react if she knew he was actually the boss he referred to. Domenic said, ¡°He is pretty tied up usually. I ¡®s unlikely he¡¯ll have the time for dinner. If you¡¯d like to thank him¡­ I can do it for you. ¡± Lindsey furrowed her brows and asked with a hint of suspicion, ¡°Why do you always seem so secretive and hesitant about your boss? What exactly does he do?¡± ¡°He¡­¡± Just as Domenic was about to respond, Lindsey suddenly eximed in shock, ¡°Is he some kind of mob boss?¡± Domenic rubbed his forehead, finding no words. Lindsey¡¯s imagination was something else. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My boss is involved in a legitimate business. He manages a multinational corporation and holds significant influence in Morcastle. But he¡¯s a bit of an enigma, preferring to stay out of the public eye. He also doesn¡¯t like us talking about him much, so¡­¡± Hearing this, Lindsey nodded, seemingly reassured. ¡°I get it. Big-time bosses are all a little weird. ¡± Domenic was speechless.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. He couldn¡¯t help but feel she was unknowingly describing him. Several dayster, Lindsey was discharged from the hospital. She moved back into Domenic¡¯s apartment. Nancy was initially discontented with the idea, but given that her parents were returning soon and that Domenic had apologized, Nancy agreed to let Lindsey return. ¡°Linds, always keep in mind, the key in any rtionship is honesty, and never hide anything. If he upsets you again in the future,e straight to me. I¡¯ll help you figure things out. ¡± Before she left, Nancy gripped Lindsey¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going to get a job and find my own apartment. ¡± Chapter 418 Lindsey looked surprised. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± Nancy exined, ¡°My parents have been acting strangetely. They¡¯re constantly setting me up on blind dates and talking about marriage. It¡¯s really irritating. ¡± After hearing that, Lindsey responded with a hint of envy, ¡°At least your parents are concerned about you. I might have parents, but I feel like an orphan. No one seems to care about me. ¡± ¡°Linds¡­¡± Nancy was aware of the hardships Lindsey had faced. She squeezed Lindsey¡¯s hand reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ve always got me by your side. ¡± Lindsey gave a nod and said, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a job, I¡¯ve got an opportunity ready. ¡± ¡°hat?¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes widened in curiosity. Lindsey then shared her idea about leaving her job to start her own business. ¡°I¡¯m actually in need of staff right now. Why don¡¯t you join me? But just a heads-up, due to budget constraints, the starting sry won¡¯t be very high. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery At this, Nancy¡¯s face lit up with excitement. ¡°Money¡¯s not a problem. When my parents get back, I¡¯ll ask them to invest in yourpany.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. How does that sound? I don¡¯t need a s ry right away. Just grant me some shares equivalent to my investment. It¡¯ll also be a perfect excuse to focus on my career instead of going on blind dates. ¡± Lindsey pondered for a moment. Even though she had received some money from her mother, starting apany was still a challenge. Nancy was her closest friend, and having her on board would be wonderful. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a deal,¡± Lindsey agreed with Nancy. Excited about her new venture, Lindsey quickly began nning for thepany. Nancy easily persuaded her parents to provide financial support. With this backing, Lindsey leased an office space on a busy street. To cut costs, Lindsey took on the task of designing and decorating the office herself. Nancy, ustomed to afortable life, mow worked alongside Lindsey in manualbor. Sh also pitched in whenever she had some free time. Once herpany was officially registered, Lindsey went on to sign a contract with Sh, making her Sh¡¯s agent under thepany¡¯s name. About a weekter, Lindsey¡¯spany was finally starting to take shape. One day, Domenic arrived with a group of professionally dressed individuals, wheeling in arge box that appeared to contain high-end equipment. ¡°What is this?¡± Lindsey was somewhat taken aback by the scene. ¡°It¡¯s a state-of-the-art smart security system,¡± Domenic exined casually, ¡°It¡¯ll ensure no one can break into yourpany unnoticed. Though it seems like a simple feature, it¡¯s crucial for a business¡¯s safety. ¡± This was one of the most advanced security systems developed by Domenic¡¯spany, worth millions. Domenic had even deployed his top security team for this project. After assessing Lindsey¡¯spany thoroughly, they developed a system perfectly suited to her needs. He couldn¡¯t always be there to protect her, so he did everything possible to prevent her from being harmed again. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help frowning and said, ¡°I¡¯m aware of these intelligent security systems. They¡¯re incredibly costly, at least several hundred thousand dors. This must have been a huge expense¡­¡± Chapter 419 She actually thought about installing a security system, but it was too expensive, so she put it on hold. Domenic offered a reassuring smile, already having an exnation in mind. ¡°They belong to my boss¡¯s security team. I spoke to my boss about it, and it didn¡¯t cost much. ¡± Only then did Lindsey let out a sigh of relief, and her tightly frowned eyebrows rxed. She knew a security team from arge corporation would be top-notch. Two hourster, the instation wasplete. Now, entry to Lindsey¡¯spany required face recognition. She could also monitor everything in real-time, control it with a button, and set off an rm through her phone. Lindsey looked at Domenic with gratitude. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t ept payment even if I offered. How about I thank you with a gift instead? Is there anything you want or need?¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Domenic wrapped his arm around her waist, leaning in close to gaze into her bright eyes. With a slight smile, he suggested, ¡°You don¡¯t need to spend much to thank me. All I ask for is tonight ¡° ¡°You are so naughty. ¡± Lindsey yfully tapped his chest. ¡°I¡¯ve got other matters to attend to. ¡± Domenic straightened up, a hand in his pocket, and smiled at Lindsey. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving then. Don¡¯t forget to thank me tonight. ¡± She called him a lecher in her heart. Lindsey pursed her lips, but her heart was full of sweetness. Just as Domenic left, Nancy returned. She looked around at the transformed office and was astounded. ¡°Linds, I¡¯ve only been gone a short while. How did everything change so fast?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lindsey took a look around. The team had not only installed what appeared to be top-of-the-line security equipment, but they had also cleaned every inch of the ce, making it spotless. As Domenic had put it, ¡°It¡¯s all part of the job. ¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes widened in amazement as she looked at Lindsey and eximed, ¡°Wow! It¡¯s like it¡¯s transformed from a simple office to a high-tech hub. How did you pull this off, Linds?¡± Lindsey yfully touched her nose and replied, ¡°Mr. Walsh and his team stopped by to set up the security system and ended up giving the whole ce a thorough cleaning, so¡­¡± ¡°Linds, what does your boyfriend do exactly?¡± Nancy looked at the advanced facial recognition system at the entrance and said, ¡°This looks like state-of-the-art security technology! It must have cost a fortune, easily a million!¡± Domenic intentionally used hispany products that didn¡¯t have any trademarks. However, Nancy had stumbled upon a simr report about this type of security equipment in a magazine, which sparked her recollection. Lindsey Looked at her and responded, ¡°He¡¯s just handling tasks for hispany. His boss is quite generous and gave him a good deal on this, but it¡¯s not as pricey as you think. Maybe you¡¯re confusing it with another brand?¡± Domenic might have some resources, but he wasn¡¯t the type to casually throw around millions. He was, in many ways, just an ordinary guy like her. Chapter 420 Nancy shrugged and said, ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ve only seen that kind of security system once. It could be an imitation. But it definitely makes ourpany look more professional. Not bad at all. ¡± Then, linking arms with Lindsey, Nancy suggested, ¡°We¡¯ve got the afternoon free, how about we go shopping?¡± Since Domenic¡¯s team had taken care of the cleaning, Lindsey and Nancy now had extra time on their hands. Lindsey agreed with a smile, ¡°Sure. And you can help me choose a thank-you gift for Mr. Walsh. ¡± Nancy gave her a sly look and joked, ¡°Linds, you seem to mention him a lot. You two are really madly in love. ¡± Lindsey lightly tapped Nancy¡¯s forehead and said, ¡°Stop it. Let¡¯s go. ¡± They were located on a busymercial street, with arge shopping mall not far from their office. Lindsey and Nancy made their way there together. Dressed in a simple printed T-shirt and jeans, with her hair tied back casually, Lindsey hadn¡¯t paid much attention to her lookstely. She had been too absorbed in herpany¡¯s matters. Nancy, meanwhile, had opted for a simple sportswear outfit, the least expensive in her wardrobe, chosen without worry for the day¡¯s manual tasks. Together, they entered the mall, chatting andughing. Even though it was a weekday, the mall was bustling as if there was a special event. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out,¡± Nancy suggested, eagerly pulling Lindsey along as they joined the crowd converging in the mall¡¯s center. They discovered it was the grand opening of a new store. ¡°It¡¯s Cherish, the renowned luxury brand!¡± Nancy voiced her surprise. This brand had recently gained immense poprity among high society, bing a favorite among wealthy and influential women. Only a few major malls had exclusive sections for Cherish. Nancy had seen it in fashion magazines and was immediately captivated by its distinct designs. Sadly, Cherish¡¯s products were not only expensive but often sold out quickly afterunch. Socialites would mor to get their hands on thetest collection, with some even spendingrge sums through different means to secure these sought-after items. Those who did manage to buy them often showed them off among their peers. Nancy had attempted to get Cherish items through alternative means but had never seeded in acquiring even one. ¡°The creator of Cherish was once the lead designer at Barberry. She left to start Cherish, creating quite a legacy,¡± Nancy shared, her eyes filled with desire as she admired the clothing and jewelry showcased on the elevated tform. At that moment, a lengthy line had already formed at the Cherish purchase counter, and Nancy eagerly tugged Lindsey to join it. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in luck with their event today; we might be able to buy one or two items,¡± Nancy said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. She had long dreamed of owning something from Cherish. When luxury brands like Cherishunch new stores, they often hold exclusive sales of their ready-to-wear collection to create excitement.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. This gives a rare chance for those who usually can¡¯t ess their products through private channels. ¡°Look at how casually you¡¯re dressed. Do you really think you can get your hands on something from Cherish?¡± A sharp, harsh voice suddenly came from behind them. Lindsey frowned and turned to see who it was. It seemed like enemies were destined to meet. It was none other than Shelia. Chapter 421 With Shelia was Olivia, an actress Lindsey had met before. Although Olivia didn¡¯t think highly of Shelia, she had to maintain a good rtionship with her due to her connection with Jacob, a man with considerable resources. To leverage Jacob¡¯s resources, Olivia feltpelled to maintain a pleasant rtionship with Shelia. At the sight of Lindsey, Olivia¡¯s pupils trembled slightly. Remembering the previous incident where she was threatened and used to gather information about Lindsey, Olivia knew that the person behind Lindsey was not to be underestimated, and she couldn¡¯t afford to offend them. Shelia and Olivia had starred as the main and supporting actresses in a web series that had recently gained some poprity online. Shelia, backed by Jacob, was increasingly gaining fame. Disguised, they arrived at the mall today, drawn by news of Cherish¡¯s store opening. They were eager to get their hands on the brand¡¯stest designs before anyone else. Shelia and Olivia were runningte. They should have been behind Lindsey and Nancy in line. Instead, Shelia, adjusting herrge sunsses, clumsily bumped into Lindsey¡¯s shoulder. She then guided Olivia to a spot ahead of Lindsey and Nancy. ¡°Hey, why are you cutting in line? What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Nancy¡¯s loud protest drew the attention of the surrounding people. Shelia, standing with her arms crossed and chin lifted arrogantly, seemed unbothered. ¡°Who saw me cutting in line? Wasn¡¯t I always been in front of you? And besides, you¡¯d better not line up. It¡¯ll be quite embarrassing if you end up not being able to pay. ¡± Since all four of them arrived near the end of the line and at roughly the same time, there were no clear witnesses to the line-cutting. ay? That¡¯s absurd!¡± Nancy, her sleeves rolled up, was ready to confront Shelia, but Lindsey quickly grabbed her arm to calm her down. ¡°You know, some vain people just love to y pretend to be wealthy. They might only have enough for a bus fare, but they¡¯ll still carry a fake Louis Vuitton bag. Dressing so shabby, how could they possibly afford Cherish? It¡¯s hard to believe the lengths some will go for vanity,¡± Shelia scoffed, certain that anyone apanying Lindsey couldn¡¯t be genuinely rich. The basic items from Cherish were priced in the hundreds of thousands of dors. She had spent considerable time convincing Jacob today, until he reluctantly handed over a ck card for her to purchase something from Cherish. Meeting Jacob¡¯s parents meant she had to show up with some luxury items. It was all about maintaining a certain image. Upon hearing Shelia¡¯sments, the youngdies in the line took a careful look at Lindsey and Nancy. They noticed that their outfits were in and without any adornments, making them appear not wealthy at all. This observation led them to disregard the two girls. They had a strong dislike for women who were not wealthy but pretended to be. This type of woman wasmon in their social circles, and they were often the ones most looked down upon by others.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Nancy, who usually had a short temper, was able to tolerate Shelia for such a long time only because Lindsey stopped her from reacting. Lindsey then winked at Nancy, left the line, and positioned herself in front of Shelia. With her lips slightly raised, she said, ¡°Shelia, whether or not we can afford expensive items is our own business. But it is definitely rude of you to cut the line in public. You seem to have created a minor stir online recently and have started building a reputation for yourself. Do you want to be a trending topic because of your actions today?¡± Upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s words, the people around them turned their attention back to Shelia. In the entertainment industry, there¡¯s a certain hierarchy of disdain. Film actors often look down on television stars, TV actors snub those in web dramas, and big-budget web series cast a shadow over their lower-budget counterparts. Chapter 422 These rich youngdies held a low opinion of lesser-known actors in online dramas. Wealthydies would invest directly in films and TV shows. In contrast, neers with some money might fund a production to secure a role, while thosecking talent or good looks, unable tond film or TV roles, would turn to online dramas as ast resort to earn a Living. Noticing Shelia¡¯s over-the-top disguise with a hat,rge sunsses, and a mask, the surrounding crowd couldn¡¯t help but find her appearance amusing. ¡°She¡¯s just in an online drama. Does she really think she¡¯s a big star? How many fans does she believe she has?¡± ¡°Even without that disguise, it¡¯s doubtful anyone would recognize her. ¡± ¡°I feel embarrassed standing next to her. Can she even afford Cherish?¡± Shelia fumed silently, her hands clenched into fists. Lindsey¡¯s few words had turned her into aughing stock. What a cunning bitch! ¡°Lindsey, you don¡¯t know yet, but I¡¯m going to star in Ray Films¡® annual blockbuster film this year. As for the online drama, the crew just asked me for help. I happened to be bored and agreed to be in it. ¡± Shelia lifted her head in a show of pride. Anticipating her future as Mrs. Perry and bolstered by Jacob¡¯s support, Shelia¡¯s arrogance knew no bounds. A role in Ray Films¡¯ annual blockbuster film?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. That was always a blockbus ter film with a luxurious crew. The moment the crowd heard about Shelia¡¯s uing role, they immediately Looked at her with new interest. Lindsey, wearing a gentle smile, signaled to the security guards who were on patrol nearby. At such a major brandunch, a team of security guards was essential to maintain order. ¡°What can I help you with, Miss?¡± A staff member in a security uniform approached Lindsey. ncing at Shelia, Lindsey said to the guard, still smiling, ¡°This customer here just skipped the line, disrupting everyone¡¯s order. If everyone starts cutting the line like she did, what¡¯s the purpose of waiting in line? As an international brand, Cherish surely wouldn¡¯t overlook such disrespectful behavior, would they?¡± ¡°Lindsey, stop making false usations. I was ahead of you to begin with! You¡¯re just saying this because you want to skip ahead!¡± Looking at Lindsey contemptuously, Shelia thought, what could Lindsey do to her as long as she insisted that she didn¡¯t cut the line? The security guard, assessing the situation, turned to the crowd and inquired, ¡°Did anyone see thisdy cut in line?¡± Everyone shook their heads. Their focus had been on the Cherish opening ceremony, not on what was happening at the end of the Line. Shelia smiled inwardly. She wasn¡¯t just a pretty face with big b@@bs without any brains. She had carefully observed the crowd before daring to confront Lindsey. She was not stupid enough to Leave any usation. ¡°Are you all blind? This woman here just cut in front of everyone!¡± Nancy¡¯s patience had run out. She pointed at Shelia, cursing. Chapter 423 ¡°She¡¯s so disrespectful, swearing in public like that. Clearly, she¡¯s not well-educated.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡± ¡°Her parents must not have taught her manners. ¡± ¡°I bet her family is just newly rich. ¡± ¡°Newly rich people are the worst. They think money can rece manners. ¡± Those waiting in line expressed their disdain and annoyance at Nancy¡¯s outburst. Nancy hated it when people looked down on her family for being newly rich. What was so bad about that? Wasn¡¯t having money enough? And what about manners? Could they fill a stomach? ¡°If one more person speaks another word, I¡¯ll rip their mouth off. ¡± Nancy yelled, pointing at the people on the line who were gossiping about her. Suddenly, the queue fell silent¡­ These youngdies were taken aback. They hadn¡¯t expected Nancy to be so feisty. ¡°Miss, this is a public ce. Mind yournguage, please. Keep it quiet. ¡± The security guard scolded Nancy. Nancy was furious. ¡°You security guards should be handling the Line-cutters, but instead, you¡¯re telling me I¡¯m the one in the wrong. Is that your idea of the job? You might as well quit. ¡± ¡°Nancy. ¡± Lindsey pulled Na s to engage in conversation with Lindsey. The security guard, clearly annoyed by Nancy¡¯s attitude, showed no sympathy. ¡°Miss, if you keep causing a scene, I¡¯ll have no choice but to escort you out. ¡± Shelia, enjoying the drama, was on the verge of Laughing. She eagerly anticipated seeing Lindsey and Nancy escorted out by the guards. ¡°Why should I leave? She¡¯s the one at fault. If you as much asy a finger on me, I¡¯ll call the police. I refuse to believe that there¡¯s no justice in this world,¡± Nancy stood her ground, boldly facing the security guard. Then, a woman in a formal suit approached them. She looked at Nancy and Lindsey and inquired of the guard, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°This woman is creating a disturbance. She¡¯s very Loud. I was just about to remove her,¡± the guard hastily used Nancy. ¡°Let me rify. Someone jumped the queue, but the guard did nothing. That¡¯s why I¡­¡± Nancy, boiling with anger, tried to step forward but was held back by Lindsey. Lindsey approached the woman in the suit and asked respectfully, ¡°Excuse me, may I know who you are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the general manager of this store and also in charge of this shopping mall. If you have any concerns, you can speak to me,¡± the woman responded, sternly. The guard¡¯sments had already shaped her view of Lindsey and Nancy negatively. ¡°That¡¯s perfect. ¡± Lindsey grinned, spun around, and pointed her slender finger toward a nearby corner. ¡°Hey, check out that camera over there. It should have caught our spot. If we watch the footage, we¡¯ll know if someone jumped the Line. ¡± Chapter 424 The manager nced where Lindsey pointed and noticed the camera hidden in that spot. Shelia was utterly shocked. She had looked around earlier but hadn¡¯t spotted any camera. It was a well-hidden spot, not easily noticed by many. The manager gave a nod and instructed the security guard, ¡°Please check the surveince footage. ¡± Then, she turned towards Lindsey with a softened expression.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Miss, if it¡¯s proven that someone jumped the queue, you¡¯ll have my support. Just give us a moment. ¡± Lindsey responded with a grateful smile. Meanwhile, Shelia felt trapped. She wanted to flee but knew leaving now would be an admission of guilt. Shelia clung to the hope that the camera might not have captured her act, given its remote location. After some time, the security guard returned. He leaned in close and whispered something to the manager. The manager¡¯s expression went all serious as she fixed her gaze on Shelia. ¡°Ma¡¯am, after checking, it turns out you did jump the line. Ma¡¯am, kindly step aside for these twodies behind you right now, or we¡¯ll have to get security to escort you out. ¡± Upon hearing this, all eyes in the vicinity turned to Shelia with expressions of disgust. ¡°Looks like she really did cut in line. Shame on her. ¡± ¡°You can tell she¡¯s trying to ide her face. It¡¯s no wonder if the camera didn¡¯t catch her clearly. ¡± ¡°She must be hiding her looks. Why else cover up like that?¡± ¡°Can you believe someone like that is an actress? The entertainment industry is really tainted. ¡± Shelia almost clenched her teeth so hard they might¡¯ve cracked. She never thought she¡¯d get caught on camera for real. Now she found herself in a tight spot, like holding onto a wild animal¡¯s tail. Reluctantly, she had to follow behind Lindsey. Olivia got a bit of teasing along with Shelia, and in her mind, she let out some choice words for Shelia. Olivia thought Shelia must¡¯ve had a few screws loose. ¡°Shelia, maybe we shouldn¡¯t buy it,¡± Olivia suggested, tugging at Shelia¡¯s sleeve. She was too embarrassed to stay any longer. If their identities were revealed, it could cause a problem. But Shelia brushed off Olivia¡¯s hand, defiantly saying, ¡°Why not? I want to see what they can actually afford. They¡¯ll probably just pick the cheapest thing from Cherish. ¡± Shelia was relieved she was well-disguised that day. Even if the camera had captured her, she was unrecognizable. If any negative news surfaced, she nned to have Jacob use his influence and money to quash it. Shelia waited tough at Lindsey when she failed to payter. The manager, sporting a gentle smile, addressed Lindsey and Nancy, ¡°I offer my sincerest apologies. Our security guard¡¯s oversight led to a misunderstanding. ¡± Please forgive me. ¡± ¡°For a renowned brand and mall to wrongly use customers without inquiry-should this tarnish our reputation, who would dare to spend money here?¡± retorted Nancy, crossing her arms in frustration. The manager met Nancy¡¯s gaze, acknowledging, ¡°You raise a valid point. How about this? Kindly provide your identity details. Aspensation, our store will grant both of you aplimentary membership card along with a lovely gift. ¡± Cherish¡¯s membership cards typically required a significant expenditure. Holders not only enjoyed priority ess but also relished a 10% discount on purchases. Chapter 425 At this proposal, envious nces from the onlookers were directed towards the two women. A collective wish lingered-wishing they were the ones given this unexpected privilege. Shelia defiantly stomped her foot, but herck of conviction was apparent; she found herself already at a disadvantage. Ironically, the membership card Lindsey received was originally gifted by Shelia herself. ¡°That¡¯s more agreeable,¡± Nancy conceded, her tone softening. She lightly touched Lindsey¡¯s arm, receiving a thumbs-up in return.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After recording Lindsey and Nancy¡¯s information, the manager requested, ¡°Please wait a moment. ¡± Ten minutes psed before the manager returned, apanied by a woman elegantly d in fashionable attire. The woman scrutinized Lindsey for a moment before inquiring, ¡°Are you Miss Lindsey Stewart?¡± Confused, Lindsey nodded, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. And you are¡­?¡± ¡°I am Caroline Gardner, the overseeing agent for Cherish¡¯s division in this country. ¡± The highest echelon of management at Cherish¡¯s division in this country was represented by the overseeing agent- a fact that left the crowd gazing at Caroline in sheer astonishment. ¡°Hello,¡± Lindsey greeted Caroline, somewhat unsure of why. Caroline, her lips forming a gracious smile, addressed Lindsey, ¡°Miss Stewart, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you here. Ms. Anti Wayne personally mentioned that you have the liberty to select any Cherish goods, and all your purchases within Cherish areplimentary worldwide. ¡± Lindsey, perplexed, gave Caroline a dumbfounded quizzical look. Who exactly was Lindsey? How could she receive such special treatment from Anti? ¡°Ms. Anti Wayne?¡± Lindsey inquired, clearly bewildered. ¡°She¡¯s the founder and chief designer of Cherish. ¡± Nancy, brimming with excitement, clutched Lindsey¡¯s arm. ¡°Oh my God, Lindsey, you know her?¡± Lindsey shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know her. Did you make a mistake?¡± Before this moment, Lindsey had little knowledge about the Cherish brand. How could she possibly be acquainted with its founder? Caroline smiled warmly, remarking, ¡°I might have been mistaken before. However, upon seeing you now, I am certain it¡¯s no error. ¡± ¡°Why? She¡¯s not wealthy. You must have made a mistake, protested an incensed Shelia, standing behind them. Caroline nced at Shelia, her dissatisfaction evident, yet she maintained a professional demeanor. ¡°Miss, this directivees directly from Anti to all agents worldwide. Only Miss Stewart is entitled to this privilege. ¡± Shelia was rendered speechless. Chapter 426 The entire gathering, including Lindsey, stood in stunned silence. After all, it was Anti-the name that resonated across the entire designer world. It was widely known that Anti was a daring and unconventional woman, and her designs were incredibly distinctive. Her annual design had now be a limited edition for Cherish, eagerly sought after by debutantes worldwide. ¡°Miss Stewart, as a Cherish VIP, please follow me. I¡¯ll take you to select your items first,¡± Caroline ushered. Shelia, anticipating a chance to embarrass Lindsey during her payment, found herself surprised. Not only did Lindsey ascend to VIP status, but her entire purchase came free of charge. Jealousy and annoyance brewed within Shelia. How had Lindsey managed to conceal so much from her? How could someone like Lindsey have any connection with the founder of a colossal international brand? Repeatedly attempting to undermine Lindsey, Shelia found the gap between them widening rather than narrowing. Attempting to contact Chayce, Shelia pulled out her phone in frustration, hoping to inquire what he was doing? Lindsey¡¯s unexpected appearance and what Shelia perceived as arrogance troubled her deeply. Despite her efforts, Chayce¡¯s phone remained off, frustrating Shelia even further. She thought Chayce , Shelia cursed inwardly and shot an angry re toward the direction Lindsey had departed. ¡°Lindsey is extraordinary. I heard she resigned from Vitality Entertainment and is nning tounch her own agency,¡± Olivia whispered, a trace of admiration evident in her eyes. In the showbiz industry, news rarely stayed hidden, especially concerning prominent figures like Lindsey. Her resignation had already spread within the circle. ¡°Where did she obtain the funding to establish apany?¡± Shelia challenged with defiance, a shadowy light flickering in her eyes as a sudden thought struck her. ¡°This bitch! She started apany with our family¡¯s money. No, I must inform my father,¡± Shelia seethed angrily, determined to take action. Lindsey and Nancy entered the VIP reception room with Caroline. Caroline handed Lindsey the product catalog and said with respect, ¡°Please, pick anything you like. ¡± But Lindsey didn¡¯t browse the catalog. Instead, she looked at Caroline and asked, ¡°Ms. Gardner, why is Anti being so kind to me? Does she know who I am?¡± ¡°Well¡­ Caroline paused briefly, turning to Lindsey. ¡°Hold on for a second.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. I need to make a call. ¡± She then left the room. Nancy clutched Lindsey¡¯s arm, her eyes full of wonder. ¡°Lindsey, are you keeping a big secret from me? Are you, by any chance, a millionaire hiding in in sight?¡± Lindsey touched her own forehead lightly and said, ¡°Are you getting carried away with your novels again?¡± Chapter 427 Nancy felt where Lindsey had touched and said, ¡°But why is this happening? It¡¯s so weird. Does that Anti have a crush on you? No, that can¡¯t be right. She¡¯s a woman too¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re really going off into some wild territory,¡± Lindsey gave Nancy a look that said she was being absurd. Soon after, Caroline came back.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She approached Lindsey with a kind smile and said, ¡°Miss Stewart, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t tell you much right now. However, you¡¯ll understand everything soon. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. She truly didn¡¯t understand. She decided not to blindly trust this unexpected generosity. What if it was a trap? Lindsey, having been betrayed and framed before, had be cautious and guarded. ¡°I appreciate it, but I can¡¯t ept any free products until I know why,¡± Lindsey firmly stated. Caroline respected Lindsey¡¯s stance. She smiled gracefully and professionally, choosing not to respond further. Afterward, Nancy picked out a bracelet she loved, paid a special price for it, and left the room with Lindsey. Nancy was in high spirits. ¡°Thanks to you, I finally got my Cherish! Let¡¯s go pick out a present for your boyfriend now. ¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lindsey agreed. They made their way to the men¡¯s section. Nancy surveyed the area, her handnding on a silver buckle belt in the disy. With a yful twinkle in her eye, she whispered to Lindsey, ¡°What¡¯s your boyfriend¡¯s build like? Does he have those s@xy abs you see in films?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned red as she listened to Nancy¡¯s suggestive words. ¡°Nancy, not so loud, we¡¯re not alone here,¡± Lindsey said, her face warm with embarrassment. She was d that no one seemed to be paying attention to them. With a mischievousugh, Nancy lifted the belt, giving Lindsey¡¯s shoulder a yful nudge. ¡°See, this belt is really quite s@xy. Why not get it as a gift?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lindsey eyed the fashionable belt, pausing briefly. She swallowed, thinking to herself, why not take a chance on it? After getting the gift for Domenic, they browsed through some women¡¯s clothing stores and ended up in a lingerie shop. Nancy immediately noticed a sheer silk nightgown on a mannequin. She pulled Lindsey to the side and suggested, ¡°This nightgown is really s@xy. He would love it. You should try it. ¡± Lindsey looked at the bright red nightgown. ¡°It¡¯s quite revealing¡­ I¡¯m not sure. ¡± ¡°Nancy, trust me on this. Guys love this sort of thing. You don¡¯t want other women catching his eye, do you?¡± Nancy said, encouraging Lindsey to take a chance. Lindsey gave the nightgown another look and raised an eyebrow at Nancy. ¡°Maybe I should try it?¡± Chapter 428 ¡°Absolutely!¡± Nancy eximed enthusiastically. They finished their day with dinner together and then went their separate ways home. The moment Domenic got home, he saw Lindsey stepping out with two shopping bags. ¡°There you are!¡± Lindsey weed him with a cheerful smile. Domenic smiled and came closer, wrapping his arms around Lindsey¡¯s waist. He noticed the shopping bags she was holding. ¡°You went shopping? Why didn¡¯t you let me know? I could have been your personal ATM and helped with carrying things. ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see you as just an ATM. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s lips formed a slight pout. Deep down, she held the belief that rtionships should stand on equal footing. She didn¡¯t want to rely on her boyfriend¡¯s money just because she was a girl. ¡°I picked out something special for you,¡± Lindsey said, pulling out an elegant box from one of the bags and smiling at Domenic. Domenic looked curious. ¡± What¡¯s inside?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey opened the box to reveal a belt and handed it to him. ¡°It¡¯s for you. Hope you like it. ¡± Domenic looked at the belt-a ck one with a stylish silver buckle, ssy and understated. Even though he owned many luxury belts, this one stood out to him. His expression softened as he looked at Lindsey. ¡°If it¡¯s from you, I¡¯m sure to love it. ¡± He extended his hand, and just as Lindsey assumed he was about to pick up the belt, she casually mentioned, ¡°This is my first time picking out a man¡¯s gift, so I¡¯m not really sure if it¡¯s your style. ¡± But before she couldplete her words, Domenic abruptly caught her outstretched wrist and drew her into his arms. ¡°What on earth are you up to?¡± Lindsey clutched his shirt, nearly stumbling. Domenic held her hands and directed them toward the buckle on his waist.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. There was a fiery fervor zing in his gaze. ¡°Test the belt¡¯s fit and see if it fits. ¡± I¡¯m not sure how. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face flushed instantly. ¡°Start by unfastening the belt. ¡± Domenic grinned, providing a step-by-step tutorial. Lindsey bit her lips and endeavored to unbuckle the belt. She couldn¡¯t release the sp despite sweating and attempting for a while. ¡°Well¡­¡± Domenic took Lindsey¡¯s hand and with a simple press, undid it. Lindsey blinked in astonishment. ¡°Now, lend a hand with this new belt. ¡± Domenic observed Lindsey¡¯s reddened and bashful cheeks with keen interest. Her shyness intrigued him most. Lindsey pursed her lips, retrieved the new belt from the box, and looped it around Domenic¡¯s waist. Whether intentional or not, she brushed against his waist-exactly the kind Nancy had mentioned. ¡°Is your mind wandering into risque territories?¡± Domenic chuckled. Chapter 429 Chills ran through Lindsey¡¯s hand as if her thoughts wereid bare. She tossed the belt down in frustration, stepping back, blushing, and pouting, ¡°Try it yourself!¡± Domenic smiled and secured the belt around his waist. In fascination, Lindsey watched. This man¡¯s figure was so fine that anything he wore looked splendid. A mere belt donned by him exuded a restrained, aristocratic air. ¡°It¡¯s said giving a man a belt aims to capture his heart. Are you afraid I might bolt?¡± Domenic looked up and said. Lindsey stepped forward, seized his belt, and pulled him closer. She narrowed her eyes, querying, ¡°How do you know so much? Have you received a belt from another woman before? Huh?¡± Domenic had recently gleaned such insights from books. The subtleties of rtionships eluded him previously. Extending his hands, Domenic pressed Lindsey¡¯s shoulders, pinning her against the shoe cab. Cupping her face, he stated emphatically, ¡°Don¡¯t misjudge me. You¡¯re the first to belt me, and thest one. ¡± Enraptured by his intense, dark gaze, Lindsey¡¯s bag slipped to the floor, revealing a peek of the cut-out nightgown inside. Domenic¡¯s gaze darted down ward. ¡°What¡¯s this? New attire?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face reddened instantly. She hurried to retrieve the bag, but before she could, Domenic swiftly plucked out the nightgown. The red cut-out nightgown unfolded before them. Damn! Lindsey¡¯s neck flushed crimson. Flustered, she shut her eyes, longing to find a hole to hide in. However, Domenic¡¯s warm hand encircled her slender waist. She heard his low, maic voice. ¡°How did you know I fancy this? Wear it for me tonight. ¡± Lindsey opened her eyes, bit her lip, and whispered into Domenic¡¯s ear, ¡°I never pegged you for such flirtation. Truly¡­ You¡¯re quite bold. ¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze darkened, and he scooped Lindsey up in his arms. Lindsey wound her arms around his neck, questioning, ¡°What are you up to?¡± Domenic carried her toward the bedroom, grinning, ¡°Taking you to sleep. ¡± Early the next morning, Lindsey¡¯s phone jolted her awake. She stretched her achy muscles and answered, ¡°Hello. ¡± ¡°Linds,e to the office!¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. It was Nancy calling. Shaking off her sleepiness, Lindsey got out of bed. ¡°There¡¯s a crowd gathered in front of thepany. In any case,e here first. ¡± Chapter 430 ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there soon. ¡± Walking out of the bedroom, she found the tableid with breakfast Domenic had prepared, along with a note: Off to work, remember to eat. Lindsey nibbled a bit of the sandwich and hastily left. Exiting the taxi, she saw a throng gathered outside thepany. Hastening through the crowd, she found Benny and Kendra at the center. Frowning, she inquired, ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± Benny turned, catching sight of Lindsey¡¯sposed face. Not having seen her for a few days, Lindsey had transformed into a more mature and poised version of herself. Benny knew Lindsey had be a hot topictely.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. He had anticipated Lindsey¡¯s realization of the harsh realities after her downfall, expecting her to return and apologize. But he never imagined Lindsey not only triumphing but also abruptly resigning tounch her ownpany. Last night, after learning the news from Shelia, Kendra had tried to provoke Benny, ¡°Benny,unching apany isn¡¯t child¡¯s y. Lindsey just graduated; what does she know? It¡¯s beyond her capabilities. If herpany fails, you¡¯ll be left cleaning up the mess. ¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t offer the money from her mother for yourpany¡¯s working capital. Instead, she left you with a significant potential problem. Once herpany takes off, it¡¯s like a ticking time bomb. Who knows if it¡¯ll be a burden to the family? If it affects the rtionship between Shelia and Jacob, it¡¯ll be troublesome. ¡± Despite Benny¡¯s years in the business realm, he couldn¡¯t manage thepany well. Kendra¡¯s words seemed rational to him. He feltpelled to stop Lindsey from establishing her own venture. ¡°Linds, just shut down the office and head home with me. ¡± Benny gave Lindsey an icy look and spoke. Lindsey couldn¡¯t believe her ears. ¡°What the hell are you even talking about?¡± Benny replied with anger, ¡°Lindsey, this has gone on too long. How could you start apany without consulting me? Do I even matter to you as your father?¡± Lindsey scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I don¡¯t consider you my father. ¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Benny¡¯s face flushed with rage. Yet, Kendra smiled and said. ¡°Linds, legally Benny is your father. If yourpany fails, he¡¯ll have to fix things. Don¡¯t be stubborn. You¡¯ve probably spent most of the money your mother left you. Just give what¡¯s left to your father and find a regr job. Our family can¡¯t handle any more problems. ¡± It took Lindsey a while, but she finally got it. They were worried herpany would lose money and bring them down. Benny, her father, had never believed in her ability to manage thepany sessfully. He had always doubted her. Chapter 431 A bitter smile crossed Lindsey¡¯s face. Seeing that Lindsey wasn¡¯t paying attention, Benny shouted, ¡°Can¡¯t you be less of a worry, just like Shelia? She¡¯s not my blood, yet she helps the family. She¡¯s marrying into the Perry family, one of the top four families in the town, bringing honor to our family. Shelia is outstanding. And you, what else can you do besides getting on my nerves?¡± Lindsey sneered. ¡°You know Shelia isn¡¯t your real daughter. Aren¡¯t you scared Kendra will kick you out once Shelia marries into the Perry family? When Shelia and Kendra are joyful then, what about you? Will you be alone forever?¡± Kendra¡¯s eyes flickered and she was shocked that Lindsey had guessed her thoughts. But until her daughter married into the Perry family, she needed to keep Benny stable. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve loved your father for years.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. I wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. Maybe you¡¯re just jealous of Shelia. So you¡¯re trying to cause trouble,¡± Kendra retorted. Lindsey nced at the two frustrated individuals before her with a nonchnt expression. ¡°What does she have that should make me feel jealous? Do you honestly believe Jacob will marry her? Don¡¯t be too gullible, Kendra. Do you know the kind of person your daughter is? What makes her deserve to be called Mrs. Perry?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Kendra was rendered speechless by Lindsey¡¯s words. Rage colored her face as she clung to Benny, tears welling up. ¡°Look at what your daughter is doing, Benny. If we allow her to run thepany now, it¡¯ll be a money pit in the future. Marrying into the Perry family isn¡¯t a walk in the park for Shelia. Should Shelia ask the Perry family for financial help Lindsey in the future?¡± Kendra was firm in her stance against Lindsey¡¯s business venture. Whether thepany lost or made money, it spelled trouble for her. As for Benny, he was patiently awaiting Shelia¡¯s marriage into the Perry family, hoping to secure some funds to rescue his failingpany. As for Lindsey, it would be best if she didn¡¯t hinder him or create more problems. ¡°You have to shut down yourpany today. ¡± Benny signaled to the group of people he had brought along. ¡°Start now. ¡± These men, tall and intimidating, clearly weren¡¯t to be messed with. Benny had hired them for intimidation. Now, following Benny¡¯smand, they charged ahead, poised to wreck everything in Lindsey¡¯spany. Lindsey, however, gazed calmly at Benny and Kendra. ¡°Feel free to break things if that¡¯s your fancy. My ce is equipped with a top-notch security system that¡¯s got every inch covered. Your every step is being documented, and it already rang up the police. They¡¯ll be here in no time. ¡± Upon hearing this, those men halted in their movements. They exchanged worried nces and didn¡¯t dare to advance any further. Benny found himself taken aback by the presence of such a sophisticated and clever security system. Systems like these came with a hefty price tag and were typically reserved for big corporations. How in the world did Lindsey manage to afford it? ¡°Lindsey, if you¡¯re set on running thispany, I¡¯ll cut all ties with you as your father from this very moment. ¡± Benny had to resort to using their father-daughter rtionship as a threat against Lindsey. He doubted that Lindsey would truly cut ties with him. ¡°Dad, it just dawned on me that Mom¡¯s decision to divorce you was a smart move. ¡± Lindsey was already quite disheartened, but Benny had a knack for adding to her disappointment. Lindsey had never seriously considered cutting ties with Benny because she didn¡¯t want to y into Kendra¡¯s wicked ns. However, at this moment, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but feel that her determination was almost a joke. She had always had her family on her mind, but Benny had never given much thought to her. In that case. ¡°Fine, then go ahead and cut the ties. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s tone remained t, and her face remained unchanged, but inside, it felt as if a heavy hand was squeezing her heart with pain. Chapter 432 Upon hearing that, Kendra fought the urge to burst intoughter. She was eager for Lindsey to cut ties with Benny promptly. That way, she and Shelia couldy im to the family¡¯s fortune. As for the unborn child, Kendra had ns to handle that situation. By then, Lindsey would bepletely defeated. ¡°Benny, with Lindsey talking that way, there¡¯s no need for you to wait any longer. You¡¯ve still got Shelia and our expected little one. They¡¯ll both be loyal and respectful to you. Why do you even care such an ungrateful daughter?¡± Kendra said, trying to make things worse. Anger coursed through Benny, shaking him. He never thought Lindsey would actually cut ties with him. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange those papers to sever our parent-child ties and send them to your home. Just make sure you sign them when they arrive,¡± Lindsey said firmly. She then spun around on her heel and headed into the building.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Benny tripped, his bnce slipping away, and he tumbled backward, copsing onto the ground in a faint. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re so cold-hearted! Your father¡¯s copse is on you!¡± Kendra cried out in despair. ¡°Benny, Benny! Call an ambnce!¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t stop or even nce back as she left. Nancy hurried after her. ¡°Linds, you were really tough today! Your ruthless father and stepmother deserved to be overwhelmed by anger and suffer! As soon as the words left her lips, Nancy realized she might have crossed a line. After all, Benny was Lindsey¡¯s real dad. She bit her Lip and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Linds. Anger got the best of me, and I blurted those out. ¡± ¡°Nancy, don¡¯t worry. I just need some time by myself,¡± Lindsey responded. She didn¡¯t nce back at Nancy; instead, she retreated into her office and locked the door. Once the door shut, she sank down against it, her eyes red from crying. She gritted her teeth, struggling to hold back the tears, but they still filled her eyes. Her mother and brother had left, and her father had severed all connections with her. Even though they were all still breathing in this world, they left her feeling like she had lost every member of her immediate family. Lindsey brushed away a tear from the corner of her eye and raised her head with determination. She had true friends and Domenic by her side. Lindsey wasn¡¯tpletely isted. Kendra and Benny weren¡¯t keen on herunching her ownpany, but she was resolute about making it a sess. What was more, she had big ns for a grand opening event to make a bold statement and prove them wrong! In the afternoon, Lindsey began crafting the invitations. In the following days, she went from house to house, personally inviting influential and famous folks from the entertainment world toe to herpany¡¯s grand opening. On that day, Lindsey made her way to Eastview Television Network, the major broadcast televisionwork in Morcastle. She had a talk with the folks there about teaming up to get extensive coverage of her uing grand opening. Lindsey was caught off guard when she ran into Shelia at the entrance of thatpany. Though not widely famous, Shelia was already apanied by assistants and bodyguards, drawing attention. At the same time, Lindsey noticed a slender man in a hood, hidden in a shadowy corner, watching Shelia closely. As Shelia neared where he was, he stepped out and yelled, ¡°Shelia Stewart!¡± Chapter 433 and the security guards stood in the man¡¯s way, giving him a stern warning that they¡¯d involve the police if he tried to bother her once more. The man stood there, fists clenched, looking both resentful and reluctant. Lindsey, sensing something odd, watched quietly from afar.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Once Shelia¡¯s group was gone, she approached the hooded man. With a slight smile, she asked, ¡°Do you need something from Shelia?¡± The man was taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s sudden approach, eyeing her warily. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Shelia¡¯s sister,¡± Lindsey answered. ¡°I saw what happened. If you have a message, I can pass it on to her. ¡± When the man learned that Lindsey was Shelia¡¯s sister, his expression changed. ¡°Okay, fine. You pass on the message to Shelia that if she keeps dodging me like this, I¡¯ll spill all our old secrets to the world!¡± Lindsey paused to examine the man. He was dressed in worn-out clothes and had a strange smell. Considering what she knew about Shelia, there had to be something suspicious about her association with a guy Like him. ¡°Secrets between you two?¡± Lindsey squinted, purposefully wearing a scornful look. ¡°She¡¯s never mentioned you before. Shelia is pure and innocent. How could she possibly be connected to someone like you?¡± Lindsay¡¯sment angered the man. He shouted, ¡°I¡¯m Shelia¡¯s ex. We slept together the very first time we met. Pure and innocent? Hell no!¡± A smirk yed on Lindsey¡¯s lips. It turned out this guy was Shelia¡¯s ex-boyfriend. And to top it off, they had been physically close to each other. She found this intriguing. As Jacob, the youngest son of the Perry family, one of the four prominent ns, would he ever consider marrying someone who had been in a previous intimate rtionship with such a man? Surely Shelia hadn¡¯t spilled the beans to Jacob about this. She must have fibbed to him, insisting she was still a virgin. Shelia had her sights set on bing Mrs. Perry and marrying into the renowned Perry family. Lindsey couldn¡¯t let her fulfill that dream so effortlessly, could she? ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey gazed at the man before her and said, ¡°Sir, I¡¯ll pass your message to Shelia, but I can¡¯t guarantee she¡¯ll want to meet you. After all, you know that Shelia is now¡­ quite the celebrity. ¡± She emphasized the words ¡°quite a celebrity¡± with a hint of implication. The man¡¯s expression soured. Lindsey took out a notepad from her bag, tore off a sheet, and wrote down her phone number. Handing it to him, she said, ¡°If you need assistance, feel free to reach out. ¡± With that, she walked away, a smile on her face, leaving the man confused. The evening before herpany¡¯s grand opening, Lindsey had herwyer send Benny a document to terminate their paternal rtionship. Along with it, she included an invitation to the opening of herpany. Meanwhile, at the Stewarts¡¯ residence, Benny mmed the document onto the table, fuming. He had previously been so enraged by Lindsey that he ended up in the hospital for a few days. Now, he was infuriated once again. ¡°A grand opening? I have no intention of attending,¡± Benny said and was about to crumple the invitation, but Kendra stopped him. Chapter 434 ¡°Benny, take it easy. She¡¯s extended the invitation to us. Wouldn¡¯t it look bad if we didn¡¯t show up? Let¡¯s go and see what she¡¯s made of herpany. If it¡¯s sessful, it reflects well on you. ¡± Kendra voiced these thoughts, but her real intentions were different. She wanted to use the opening ceremony as an opportunity to reveal how Lindsey had cut ties with her own father to run apany, which she considered unfilial. She believed that the bacsh from the attendees might jeopardize the future of Lindsey¡¯spany. Upon hearing Kendra¡¯s suggestion, Benny¡¯s expression eased. He pondered for a moment and then agreed, ¡°Fine. I¡¯m curious to see how she manages her business. ¡± That evening, Lindsey was lounging on her sofa, reviewing documents for the next day. The guest list and arrangements with Eastview Television Network for coverage were all in ce. Tomorrow promised to be a momentous opening ceremony At this time, a cheerful ringtone came. Lindsey answered the phone, ¡°Hello. ¡± ¡°Hello, is this Miss Lindsey Stewart?¡± ¡°Yes, speaking. Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°This is the producer from Eastview Television Network. I¡¯m calling to inform you that we won¡¯t be able to cover yourpany¡¯s opening ceremony tomorrow. ¡±Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Upon hearing this news, Lindsey sat up straight on the sofa. ¡°What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°The reason is that Kristy Chase is organizing a big fan event tomorrow right next to yourpany. Our bosses want us to focus on covering her event, so I apologize. ¡± Kristy had never hosted arge-scale fan event before. Coincidentally, she chose to do it on the same day as Lindsey¡¯s opening ceremony, and even selected a location near herpany. And she even arranged for Eastview Television Network to cover it exclusively. This seemed like a deliberate move against Lindsey. ¡°But I was the first to discuss this coboration with you. Isn¡¯t it usually firste, first served?¡± Lindsey asked, trying to remainposed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the decisiones from higher up. I can¡¯t change it. I just called to let you know. If there¡¯s nothing else, I need to go. Goodbye. ¡± The producer hung up the phone impatiently, and the anger in Lindsey¡¯s heart suddenly rose to the top of her head. She knew someone was trying to sabotage her. But there was no time for frustration or anger. What mattered most was finding another broadcast televisionwork to work with. After changing clothes in her bedroom, Lindsey grabbed her keys and headed for the door, Just then, Domenic opened the door. He happened to see that Lindsey was about to leave in a hurry. ¡°Why are you heading out sote?¡± Domenic stood in the doorway, effectively blocking her path. Lindsey let out a sigh and exined to Domenic that The ETN had canceled on her. Chapter 435 don¡¯t want you to be alone in this. I¡¯lle with you,¡± Domenic said, taking her hand and heading out without even stepping inside. Lindsey didn¡¯t resist. His presence wasforting, and she felt more at ease with him by her side. Together, they visited several broadcastingpanies but found that the schedules of medium andrge ones were already packed for the next day. Smaller ones wouldn¡¯t give the exposure she needed. As Lindsey¡¯s expression grew more tense with each rejection, she persisted, methodically ticking off each visited broadcastingpanies in her notebook before moving to the next. When they called a taxi for the fifth time, Domenic gently caught Lindsey¡¯s wrist. ¡°I¡¯m worried this might be futile. Let me see if my boss can assist us. How about this? I¡¯ll call my boss and see if he can help me. ¡± Domenic had been thinking about helping Lindsey for a while but had hesitated, fearing he might reveal too much. That was why he had apanied her to multiple broadcastingpanies. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s dwindling confidence, he felt it was the right moment to step in. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem right to trouble your boss sote. ¡± Lindsey hesitated. ¡°And you¡¯ve been asking him for favors because of me. Won¡¯t he start thinking less of you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. He¡¯s very understanding with his employees,¡± Domenic assured her, gazing into her worried eyes. He reached out to gently pinch her cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t be downhearted. The worst that can happen is I¡¯ll just have to work a bit harder for him.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Despite Lindsey¡¯s reluctance to trouble Domenic¡¯s boss, the current circumstances left her no choice but to involve him. The uing opening ceremony heavily relied on media coverage¡ªa pivotal opportunity to garner maximum attention and elevate thepany¡¯s visibility. Agreeing with the n, Lindsey nodded as Domenic dialed a number in front of her. As the call connected, Lindsey heard Domenic addressing the other party, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s Domenic speaking. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice startled Hendrix to the point where his heart nearly skipped a beat. Good Lord! How could his boss call him boss?? ¡°Here is the thing. Domenic exined Lindsey¡¯s predicament in detail, and soon Hendrix grasped the essence of his boss¡¯s intentions. ¡°Okay, I see,¡± Hendrix replied in a hushed tone, fearing that Lindsey, standing beside Domenic, might overhear. After ending the call, Domenic turned to Lindsey with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s head back. My boss mentioned he¡¯ll assist. There will be positive news soon. ¡± Lindsey felt a rush of relief as she witnessed Domenic speaking to his boss on the phone. ¡°Your boss has been incredibly helpful. I¡¯m truly grateful,¡± she said, but her lips pursed, a hint of guilt flickering within her. Domenic, however, gently held her shoulder and leaned in, locking eyes with her. ¡°It was my assistance that made the difference, yet you¡¯re contemting thanking him. I might just be jealous,¡± he teased. Chapter 436 She chuckled softly. ¡°Why are you prone to jealousy so easily?¡± Domenic quirked an eyebrow, his lips curling into a yful smile. ¡°What can I do? I hope you have only me in your heart. ¡± Her fingers curled around his neck as she leaned in, nting a tender ki*s on his lips, gazing into his eyes. ¡°In my heart, there has only ever been you,¡± she confessed. Domenic¡¯s hand drew her closer by her waist. ¡°Have you learned the art of flirtation now? Huh?¡± ¡°He who lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas,¡± Lindsey quoted with a coy smile. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a few tricks from a rather mischievous someone. Domenic chuckled, leaning in to whisper in her ear, ¡°You know, I¡¯m particrly susceptible to being flirted with. By doing this to me tonight¡­¡± Lindsey blushed, pushed him away, and huffed, ¡°Tonight, I¡¯m sleeping in a separate room!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it after we get back,¡± Domenic replied with a faint smile, taking her hand and eagerly leading her back. Upon arriving home, Domenic received a message from Hendrix. In the bathroom, Lindsey readied herself for bed, donning a Light-colored cotton nightgown. Meanwhile, Domenic strolled over, leaning casually against the doorframe with his sturdy back, one hand nonchntly tucked in his pocket. His shirt was unbuttoned at the cor. His gaze, filled with desire and a refined touch of mischief, focused on Lindsey.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why don¡¯t you wear that red nightdress?¡± he teased, his lips curling into a flirtatious smile as he spoke in his maic voice, his words carrying a yful ambiguity. Lindsey¡¯s face flushed pink; she knew Domenic was referring to thecy nightgown she had purchased while shopping with Nancy. The consequence of wearing it usually meant a night filled with passionate intimacy with Domenic. She marveled at how this man had such boundless energy. It was, frankly, exhausting. ¡°Well¡­ it¡¯s a bit soiled. I washed it,¡± she stammered, wiping her face with a towel before turning to face Domenic. Domenic¡¯s prating gaze had already discerned her response. He nodded knowingly. ¡°My boss just texted. He mentioned that he¡¯s arranged with Twitter; they¡¯ll be sending someone to cover and track yourpany¡¯s opening ceremony tomorrow. ¡± ¡°Twitter?!¡± Lindsey eximed and found it unbelievable. Originally, she intended to reach out to Twitter for media coverage. However, they were fully booked and appeared disinterested in covering her opening ceremony. Consequently, she opted for coboration with Eastview Television Network instead. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Lindsey eximed, excitement brimming in her voice as enveloped him in an embrace. ¡°The reach of Twitter surpasses that of any broadcastingpany. Their support is truly fantastic. Your boss is truly remarkable. He¡¯s practically capable of anything. I¡¯m starting to admire him!¡± A faint frown etched across Domenic¡¯s face. Despite being the boss whom Lindsey was praising, a subtle pang of jealousy crept in, uninvited. Was he actually feeling jealous of himself? It was a strange and irrational sensation. ¡°Linds, the person standing in front of you is me. Don¡¯t idolize other men. Idolize me, and that should be enough,¡± Domenic teased, reaching out to gently pinch Lindsey¡¯s cheek. ¡°Narcissistic. ¡± Lindsey pouted, yet her eyes shimmered with warmth. Chapter 437 Almost infatuated, Domenic gazed at her smiling face, reached out to hold her wrist, and in a husky voice, he said, ¡°It¡¯ste; we should go to bed. ¡± With that, he took her hand and led her towards the bedroom. ¡°Hey, I said we¡¯d sleep separately tonight,¡± Lindsey reminded him. Her feeble resistance prompted Domenic to scoop her up horizontally. Lowering his gaze, his lips curled up in a mischievous smile, causing her heart to flutter. ¡°Husband and wife should sleep together,¡± he whispered, his voice filled with warmth. ¡°We¡¯re not married yet!¡± Lindsey lightly tapped his muscr chest with her fist. ¡°Before long, you¡¯ll be my wife, so why not start practicing now to get ustomed to our future together?¡± His words reached the tenderest corner of her heart. She nestled her head in Domenic¡¯s embrace, finding sce in the rhythm of his strong, steady heartbeat. They would be together forever, wouldn¡¯t they? She strongly believed it. The following day, Lindsey arrived at herpany earlier than usual. Her attire exuded professionalism-a sleek ck blouse paired elegantly with a gray suit jacket. Each button was meticulously fastened, entuating her slender waist. Fitted gray trousers adorned her, gracefully elongating her already shapely legs. Lindsey appeared polished and eye-catching. Domenic had freed up half of his day to apany Lindsey. He too was impably dressed in a tailored dark suit, radiating an air of charisma. ¡®s BunnyBookery As the first arrivals, they meticulously began setting up each detail of the venue, piece by piece, with unwavering attention. At 9 am, Nancy, rubbing her sleepy eyes, also made her way to thepany. She caught sight of a man nearby, casually with one hand in his pocket, his back turned as he concentrated on writing something on an autograph board. His script was bold and assertive,plementing his exceptional good looks. Nancy leaned in toward Lindsey, tapping her shoulder gently. She gestured with a nod of her chin towards the man and whispered, ¡°Linds, who is that man?¡± He¡¯s quite hot. ¡± It was Nancy¡¯s first timeying eyes on Domenic in person. ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend,¡± Lindsey replied casually, her focus on the task at hand. Nancy was so taken aback that she offered Lindsey a thumbs up. ¡°Linds, you¡¯ve casually caught the attention of such a looker. You¡¯re setting the bar for us all!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tease. Help me out quickly; the media will be here soon. ¡± Meanwhile, a mere hundred meters away, preparations for Kristy¡¯s fan meeting were in full swing. Spearheading the entire event was none other than Shelia herself.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 438 ollowing her setback in securing the lead role for Vincent¡¯s new movie, Kristy swiftly reached an agreement with Ray Films and enthusiastically signed on for a new movie. It was during this time that Shelia had the chance to get acquainted with Kristy. Amidst the entertainment industry¡¯s glittering facade, rivalry ignited between Lindsey and Kristy, kindled by past discord over casting choices and stoked by Shelia¡¯s deliberate incendiary remarks. ¡°Kristy, Lindsey¡¯s arrogance knows no bounds. After Sh won the audition, Lindsey promptly nned avishpanyunch, even securing coverage from Eastview Television Network. She aims to ride this wave to boost her poprity. Without her, you wouldn¡¯t have missed out on starring in Vincent¡¯s new movie. It appears she¡¯s seizing this chance to trample on you and ascend. From what I know, she¡¯s a schemer who stops at nothing,¡± Shelia said, fueling Kristy¡¯s simmering animosity towards Lindsey. Upon Shelia¡¯s suggestion, Kristy resolved to stage arge-scale fan meeting, intending to disrupt Lindsey¡¯s opening ceremony. Meanwhile, Shelia busily arranged the meeting venue but couldn¡¯t help noticing Lindsey and others bustling at thepany¡¯s entrance from afar. Approaching Lindsey with an air of smugness, she said, ¡°Lindsey, were I you, I¡¯d reconsider hosting the opening today. Right next door is Kristy¡¯s fan meeting. You know her immense poprity. Your affair might seem feeble and vanquished inparison. It wouldn¡¯t bode well for your reputation if this spreads online. ¡± Lindsey lifted her gaze to Shelia¡¯s arrogant and obnoxious features. It turned out she was the reason behind Kristy¡¯s sudden fan meeting. Meeting Shelia¡¯s arrogance, Lindsey responded with a faint smile, ¡°Shelia, resorting to Kristy¡¯s aid because you couldn¡¯t handle it alone? Are you merely a minion, scurrying around seeking help from anyone?¡± ¡°You!¡± Shelia¡¯s re burned with anger as she restrained herself, retorting with curled lips, ¡°Your snark won¡¯t serve you well. Your time to rue wille!¡± As the time for the opening ceremony and fan meeting neared, Kristy¡¯s car rolled past Lindsey and Shelia, stopping nearby. Kristy lowered her window, donning oversized sunsses that only revealed her delicate chin and red Lips. ¡°Lindsey, fancy seeing you here. Who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯d venture into running apany? Seems like the entertainment circle isn¡¯t too discerning after all. Everyone¡¯s dipping their toes!¡± Kristy smirked, her toneced with provocation. Unfazed, Lindsey replied with a smile, ¡°Indeed, the entertainment industry¡¯s bar isn¡¯t that high. Even someone with your acting prowess secured the Best Actress award thrice. Mypany¡¯sunch doesn¡¯t seem as noteworthy. ¡± With a casual disregard, Lindsey left behind a pointed retort, leaving Kristy fuming. Kristy¡¯s eyes red from beneath the sunsses.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Lindsey, despite your words, my status as the Best Actress stands. But the longevity of yourpany¡¯s sess remains uncertain!¡± ¡°Your reminder is duly noted. I¡¯ll bear it in mind,¡± Lindsey said with a smile that seemed impervious to any hurt. Kristy¡¯s irritation only intensified on seeing Lindsey¡¯s seemingly unshakable arrogance. Then she noticed Domenic, whom she held dear, approaching Lindsey from behind. ¡°Linds, everything alright?¡± Domenic gently dr@ped his arm around Lindsey¡¯s shoulders. Hismanding presence, entuated by a crisp suit that exuded aristocracy, softened into warmth as he faced Lindsey, leaving Kristy captivated by his irresistible allure. ¡°Nothing. I just coincidentally ran into Miss Chase and exchanged a few words. She¡¯s holding a fan meeting nearby,¡± Lindsey said, tilting her head and giving Domenic an affectionate smile. Their gazes held an unspoken connection, which only heightened Kristy¡¯s frustration. Biting her lip, she crumpled the silky fabric of her dress, the pang of jealousy growing louder within her. How could he show interest in Lindsey but not even spare her a nce? This only fueled herpetitive spirit, igniting her determination to snatch Domenic away and make him fall head over heels for her. Chapter 439 Kristy shut the car window firmly, signaling to the chauffeur. With a nod, the chauffeur steered the vehicle away, heading toward the nearby square. Shelia emitted a disdainful snort at Lindsey and then departed. Upon hearing Lindsey mention Kristy¡¯s uing fan meeting, a shadow crossed Domenic¡¯s gaze. He surmised that this meeting might be an attempt to hijack Lindsey¡¯s poprity. Domenic let out a cold, mirthless chuckle. There was no chance he¡¯d allow his woman to lose. It was impossible. At ten o¡¯clock in the morning, both the opening ceremony of Lindsey¡¯spany and Kristy¡¯s fan meetingmenced simultaneously. Despite Kristy¡¯s poprity taking a hit following thest audition, she still boasted a massive fan base. Furthermore, Jayleen shouldering all the me allowed Kristy to cultivate an innocent image, earning her substantial sympathy. Combined with her performance during the audition, which, while not as extraordinary as Sh¡¯s, was stillmendable, Kristy sessfully maintained a high level of poprity. The first ever fan meeting drew ecstatic crowds.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Fans from all corners of the country flocked together, swiftly filling the square to its brim. Meanwhile, Kristy¡¯s team strategically secured the top trending spots, catapulting her to the coveted number one position. ¡°Kristy Chase¡¯s monumental inaugural fan meeting, broadcast live throughout. ¡± The live stream rapidly gained immense poprity, attracting a wide audience in no time. Amidst this whirlwind, Lindsey maintained her calm demeanor, meticulously wrapping up her final preparations. Twitter¡¯s representatives had arrived at Lindsey¡¯spany and swiftly set up multiple camera positions near the entrance. The event staff stood tall, positioned on either side of the red carpet, eagerly anticipating the arrival of guests. Passersby couldn¡¯t help butment on the scene. ¡°What sort ofpany is this? Doesn¡¯t seem to attract much attention. ¡± ¡°Seems there¡¯s a famous celebrity nearby. Let¡¯s head over and check it out!¡± ¡°I heard it¡¯s actress Kristy Chase!¡± ¡°Oh my goodness! Finally, a chance to see her in person! Hurry up!¡± Compared to the bustling atmosphere surrounding Kristy, Lindsey¡¯s vicinity appeared rtively subdued. Passersby were maically drawn to the vivacious energy surrounding Kristy¡¯s event. Shelia observed the subdued scene outside Lindsey¡¯spany, a self-satisfied smile adorning her lips. Crossing her arms and lifting her chin proudly, she eagerly anticipated witnessing Lindsey¡¯s potential embarrassment. At that moment, Twitter sent a notification to every user, and it disyed the following message: ¡°Former executive agent Lindsey Stewart of Vitality Entertainment, whose client triumphed in auditions, establishes a new talent agency, infusing the entertainment industry with renewed vigor. Twitter will be live streaming and reporting on this grand opening ceremony. ¡± As the live stream highlighted Lindsey, who guided Sh to victory over Jayleen, numerous online users gravitated towards the broadcast, joining inrge numbers. Chapter 440 A barrage ofments began to flood in. ¡°Why does Lindsey¡¯spany appear so deserted despite its opening?¡± ¡°Kristy holding a fan meeting nearby exins Lindsey¡¯sck of poprity. ¡± ¡°She¡¯s clearly overshadowed by Kristy¡¯s fame. ¡± ¡°Why is Lindsey insistent on opening herpany today? It appears she might stillck the necessary experience. ¡± Unexpectedly, a sleek, Luxurious car appeared in the live stream frame. As the doors swung open, a man and a woman emerged, stunning everyone watching the livestream. The live stream¡¯sment section overflowed like a river in spate, filling the screen within moments. ¡°Sh and Nics together! It¡¯s like hitting the jackpot!¡± ¡°Talk about a match made in heaven! I ship this duo so hard, it¡¯s unreal!¡± Sh¡¯s presence was anticipated, but her arrival, apanied by Nics, was akin to setting off fireworks. The live stream¡¯s poprity skyrocketed instantly, rivaling even the viewership of Kristy¡¯s live feed! Dr@ped in a champagne-colored silk gown, Sh exuded grace, her creamy arms peeking through the sleeveless attire. The plunging V-neck teased a hint of elegance while the high slit unted sleek ck high heels, exuding an aura of power. Contrary to her usual pure elegance, she emanated an irresistible sensuality and allure today. This stark transformation set social media aze, grabbing the attention of all. ¡°Is that really Sh?¡± The crowd surrounding Kristy swiftly shifted their gaze towards Lindsey¡¯s direction. ¡°She¡¯s stunning! I¡¯ve never seen her in such a tantalizing attire. I need a picture for my socials!¡± Nics, apanied by Sh, donned an all-white suit. But what caught everyone¡¯s eye was the absence of anyyer beneath, subtly showcasing his well-built chest through the deep V-neck. Their amalgamation of wildness and seriousness, coupled with their maic chemistry, left fans feeling flushed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Nics Aston, the top-notch actor? He looks dashing. Who knew he had such a physique!¡± ¡°Seeing the best actor in this unique style is a rare treat.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. What a day!¡± Suddenly, a voice eximed, ¡°It¡¯s Lindsey¡¯spany¡¯s opening day. They¡¯re the special guests!¡± The cluster of onlookers initially gathered around Kristy¡¯s fan meeting dispersed swiftly, all rushing towards Lindsey¡¯s vicinity, eagerly vying for a glimpse. ¡°Sh! Nics! Over here!¡± The crowd erupted in cheers. Like the brightest stars at a film festival, Sh and Nics smiled and waved at the crowd. Their charisma had an irresistible allure, captivating everyone present, irrespective of age or gender. Twitter exploded with their names, trending just beneath Kristy¡¯s strategically orchestrated trends, seizing the second spot. Chapter 441 Many caught wind of this news on social media, flocking to Lindsey¡¯s livestream to witness the spectacle of the best actor and actress gracing the asion together. With all eyes on them, Sh and Nics approached Lindsey. ¡°Linds, congrattions on yourpany¡¯s opening!¡± ¡°Miss Stewart, Congrattions!¡± Lindsey whispered affectionately to Sh, ¡°You¡¯re quite a vision today!¡± Sh curved her lips into a smile. ¡°Definitely. I had to ace the task you set for me. ¡± The murmurs between the two were lost on Nics. Initially invited by Lindsey to the opening ceremony, he wasn¡¯t particrly keen. However, ater invitation from Sh changed his mind, and he readily agreed to apany her. As for the suit, it was Sh¡¯s choice for him. She assured him he¡¯d look dashing in it, and for some inexplicable reason, he couldn¡¯t refuse her. Plus, he relished her praise! After signing their names on the autograph board, Sh and Nics were escorted to their seats by the event staff. On Kristy¡¯s side, the crowd had deserted her area, flocking to Lindsey¡¯s. Although her fans remained, Kristy was visibly displeased. Lindsey¡¯s area didn¡¯t have as many peoplepared with Kristy¡¯s fan base.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. After all, Kristy¡¯s fans from across the country filled therge square, showing their support. To win some love from the crowd, Kristy went all out, mingling with fans and handing out little treats that anyone around could snag. Quite a few folks swiveled their heads toward Kristy, hungry for those giveaways. Thements on Kristy¡¯s live stream were full ofpliments. ¡°I never thought Kristy would be so friendly in person. ¡± ¡°Oh my, I wish I could meet Kristy too. ¡± Now, the host chimed in during the live stream and announced, ¡°Everyone, Miss Kristy Chase isn¡¯t just here for the live audience; she¡¯s connecting with all you fine folks tuning in online today. If you join in on the fun, you might just snag one of our special gifts!¡± Suddenly, Kristy¡¯s live stream was flooded with new viewers, making it extremely popr. Right then, the host sent by Twitter got a surprise message. He addressed the live camera and said, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourselves for some big shots joining us shortly. You won¡¯t want to blink and miss them! For those who stick around till the live stream¡¯s curtain call, there¡¯s a shiny Twitter medal and a whole year of free Twitter membership waiting just for you. We appreciate your support!¡± Thosememorative medals were typically reserved for grand Twitter festivities. No one saw iting that they¡¯d be dishing out these special tokens for Lindsey¡¯spanyunch today, and they were being mighty generous with them, too. The online audience was astonished. Following this operation, even though Kristy was plum worn out from chatting with everyone on the scene and on the live stream, the number of folks tuning in online was on the decline. Chapter 442 ¡°Kristy, it looks like all the folks in our live stream have swarmed over to Lindsey¡¯s camp. ¡± Shelia let out a furious stomp with her feet. Anxiety washed over Kristy, making her eyes go red. She wasn¡¯t about to let Lindsey win today.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. So, Kristy announced to her fans and the live stream audience, ¡°Today, whether you¡¯re here in person or joining us online, if you stick around till the very end, I¡¯m dishing out two-year Twitter memberships, straight from my own pocket!¡± Theizens were all happy. They hadn¡¯t anticipated benefiting the rewards of Kristy and Lindsey¡¯s showdown, but they were secretly rooting for an intense sh between the two, hoping for it to be as fiery as possible. Many joined Kristy¡¯s live stream, lured by the two-year Twitter membership offer. Some passersby, realizing there was something to gain, left Lindsey¡¯s side and joined Kristy¡¯s. ¡°Kristy must be losing her mind. She¡¯s digging deep into her own wallet to hand out memberships to this many folks. It¡¯s a hefty sum, no doubt about it. ¡± Nancy remarked by Lindsey¡¯s side. Lindsey smirked and said, ¡°The more outrageous she acts, the more attention we get. ¡± At that moment, Lindsey¡¯s live stream was flooded with morements. Vincent then brought Ruby into view of the camera. ¡°Who¡¯s the elderdy with Vincent? She seems kind of familiar. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s Ruby Garcia, the famous person from our textbooks. ¡± ¡°Wow, I can¡¯t believe Ruby Garcia is at Lindsey¡¯s opening! It¡¯s incredible that Lindsey managed to invite such a high-profile guest. ¡± Soon after, many well-known celebrities arrived at Lindsey¡¯s opening event. They all knew Vincent and Ruby would be there, having been invited by Lindsey. They were pleased to attend. It seemed like getting an invite from Lindsey was a badge of honor. Those who weren¡¯t invited felt left out. Shelia was utterly shocked. She couldn¡¯t wonder how Lindsey had managed to pull in so many big names from the entertainment industry. But for the passersby, they weren¡¯t too bothered about the heavyweight characters gathering on this side. To them, having a personal stake in things still held a tad more significance. Just then, a fancy car pulled up in front of Lindsey¡¯spany, drawing everyone¡¯s attention once again. Mercer, the most popr singer, stepped out of the car. He was more famous than his brother Nics, and everyone knew it. Lindsey¡¯s live stream numbers were skyrocketing. Catching sight of Mercer, Lindsey paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, before leaning over to Nancy. ¡°Did you ask Mercer toe?¡± Chapter 443 Nancy, eyes wide with astonishment and delight, shook her head. ¡°I mentioned it, but he declined. What brought him here?¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze narrowed thoughtfully as she looked around. Domenic was missing. He¡¯d been here a moment ago. Where had he vanished to? She quickly texted him. ¡°Where did you go?¡± His response was prompt. ¡°Got tied up with a task from the boss. Saw you were busy, so I didn¡¯t bother you. I¡¯ll be back soon. ¡± With a yful note, Lindsey texted back, ¡°Your boss must really value you. Keep up the good work. ¡± After that, she put her phone in her pocket. Moments ago, Domenic had slipped away to avoid Ruby when he saw her get out of the car. Now, he sat on the coffee shop¡¯s second floor across the street, taking in the event through the French window. Mercer was here on Domenic¡¯s request, not just as a guest but to perform a song for the opening. Having a celebrity like Mercer was a big deal. Had Domenic nned this as a special surprise for Lindsey? Despite finding Domenic¡¯s methods excessive, Mercer wouldn¡¯t dare defy him. So here he was, even though unwilling. Approaching Mercer, Lindsey greeted him with a warm, professional smile, ¡°Mr. Aston, what a pleasure to have you. Please, have a seat. ¡± Mercer shot Lindsey a quick wink and made his way to the guest seat, where he took a seat. His assistant leaned over to Lindsey and shared that Mercer was set to perform a song at the opening event. This news took Lindsey by surprise. Mercer offering to sing was a rare treat, something not even money could usually secure. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what made her so lucky to receive this privilege. ¡°Linds, there¡¯s something off today. It feels like everyone¡¯s lost their minds. ¡± Nancy couldn¡¯t hide her astonishment. To her, Mercer had always been the dream guy. And now he was here to perform? It didn¡¯t make sense. Lindsey, with a yful arm around Nancy¡¯s shoulder and a curious lift of her brows, teased, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s here just for you. ¡± ¡°For me?¡± Nancy pointed to herself, disbelief coloring her voice as she stared at Mercer. ¡°No way¡­¡± ¡°I barely know the guy.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. There¡¯s no way he came here for me. It just doesn¡¯t make sense. It¡¯s you he¡¯s close to. Why else would he suddenly show up offering to sing?¡± Lindsey mused over it, trying to piece it together logically. Nancy felt a flutter of hope. Could Mercer havee for her? Meanwhile, Nics watched Mercer. Although the two were brothers, their rtionship was a secret known only to those closest to them. In public, they acted as strangers. With all the guests seated, Lindsey announced the start of the ceremony. The usual formalities and speeches wrapped up quickly. The singer Lindsey originally booked was unexpectedly reced by Mercer. As the audience apuded, Mercer strolled to the stage¡¯s center. Dressed in a rxed suit, his good looks were undeniable. Chapter 444 Mercer, guitar in hand, settled cross-legged on stage and shed a captivating smile at the camera, sending hearts racing across the room. ¡°Mytest album will be released next month. Today, I¡¯m thrilled to perform the title track for the first time, exclusively for all of you. ¡± Whenever Mercer dropped a new album, it was always a big deal. His fans had been eagerly awaiting his new music. He announced he¡¯d be performing his new album¡¯s title track today. Instantly, this news shot to the top of trending topics. This topic soared higher in poprity than the one promoted by Kristy. ¡°I don¡¯t want a Twitter membership anymore. I can¡¯t miss Mercer¡¯s new album¡¯s title track debut. ¡± ¡°Why bother with a membership? I¡¯m not a frequent Twitter user, but if I skip Mercer¡¯s album¡¯s title track debut, I¡¯ll miss it forever. ¡± ¡°I wish I could be there in person. Hearing it through a screen just isn¡¯t the same. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s livestream suddenly got super popr, even Kristy¡¯s fans just kept pouring in. Mercer¡¯s local fans started flocking to Lindsey¡¯s ce in taxis, and it even caused a traffic jam! Before long, Lindsey¡¯spany entrance was swarming with people. It felt like a concert was happening right there. People passing by couldn¡¯t resist joining the fun. Whether they had a Twitter membership or not, they all gathered around the vicinity of Lindsey¡¯spany to watch Mercer sing the song from his new album. Even Kristy¡¯s fans found themselves drawn to Mercer¡¯s stage. ¡°Kristy, what¡¯s the deal between Mercer and Lindsey? Why is he supporting her?¡± Shelia couldn¡¯t understand it at all. She figured bringing Kristy into the mix would surely give Lindsey a run for her money and make her look bad. Shelia hadn¡¯t expected Lindsey¡¯s event to attract such high-profile guests, transforming it into something akin to a concert. This was totally out of Shelia¡¯s expectations. At that moment, Kristy¡¯s usually charming face lost its color. She¡¯de here to put Lindsey down, but it felt like the tables had turned, and she was the one feeling humiliated. Lindsey¡¯s camp was now flooded with influential figures and celebrities. Kristy felt outmatched, facing them all alone. In frustration, Kristy clenched her fists, ring at Shelia. ¡°This is all your fault,¡± she snapped. ¡°You pushed me into this fan meeting, and now we¡¯ve ended up boosting Lindsey and making ourselves look foolish. ¡± ¡°Kristy¡­ I never imagined Lindsey would have so many influential supporters. Don¡¯t worry. The best part is yet toe.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡± Shelia replied, her eyes narrowing. Benny and Kendra were already on their way. If not for the traffic, they would have arrived much earlier. Meanwhile, Mercer began singing his new song with great affection. His voice was so enchanting that it held people in a spell. The fans and passersby nearby gradually lifted their hands and swayed along with the music. What was once a bustling square fell silent, all thanks to Mercer¡¯s song. Mercer had double the crowd of audiencepared to Kristy¡¯s fan meeting. Kristy¡¯s side seemed pretty tiny inparison. Mercer¡¯s new song ¡°Infatuation¡± quickly dominated major media headlines and trended online. Chapter 445 The team at the Eastview Television Network was filled with regret. If only they had known, they would have covered Lindsey¡¯s event live, riding on her sess. Now, Twitter reaped all the benefits, leaving The ETN with a dwindling viewer count. From the stage¡¯s edge, Nancy gazed at Mercer¡¯s handsome, gentle profile. When he sang, basking in the sunlight, he exuded an indescribable air of leisure and nobility. He was incredibly captivating and enticing to behold. Mercer graced the opening ceremony not only with his presence but also with his performance of ¡°Infatuation¡±. Nancy couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Mercer¡¯s heartfelt rendition of the song was meant for her. Nancy had never felt such a rush of excitement before, her heart pounding wildly. As the song concluded, the air was filled with deafening apuse. ¡°Absolutely breathtaking! My heart¡¯s just melted!¡± ¡°Mercer is the best, I¡¯ll always be his fan!¡± Around her, admiration flowed from the crowd in waves.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Nancy¡¯s emotions were still in turmoil, her mind ying with the fantasy of Mercer singing only for her. ¡®s BunnyBookery It would be lovely if he could serenade her with a song one day. While the audience was still basking in the afterglow of Mercer¡¯s performance, the throng was jostled apart by a couple who seemed to be in their middle ages, tantly ignoring protests. They made their way to the front of the stage, drawing res. ¡°Who are these two? So rude!¡± ¡°Why are they pushing through Like that? Just stop. ¡± ¡°Shame on you two!¡± ncing towards the source of themotion, Lindsey narrowed her eyes. It was Benny and Kendra. Why were they arriving just now? Earlier, on their way, Benny and Kendra had caught a glimpse of Lindsey¡¯spany¡¯s grand opening via an online livestream. Benny was taken aback, hardly able to believe his daughter could pull off such a feat, drawing in numerous distinguished guests. Initially, he came with anger, but along the way, his fury started to fade, reced by a realization that he might have misjudged Lindsey¡¯s capabilities. Meanwhile, Kendra was seething with jealousy. Watching Benny¡¯s amazed and proud reaction to the livestream, she feltpelled to intervene. ¡°Benny, if Lindsey is doing so well, why doesn¡¯t she lend a hand to yourpany? You could easily get some financial help from her wealthy acquaintances to solve the problems. I think she¡¯s just worried we¡¯ll be a burden to her. That¡¯s probably why she pushed you to cut ties before. Now she¡¯s got exactly what she wanted,¡± Kendra instigated, causing Benny¡¯s anger to re up once again. Benny was determined to have a serious talk with Lindsey. But before he could speak, Kendra boldly stepped forward, her eyes locked on Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey, your opening ceremony looks quite extravagant. It must have cost a fortune. ¡± Chapter 446 Lindsey responded with a lightugh, ¡°Actually, the expense is quite modestpared to what you¡¯ve been taking from our family all these years. ¡± Kendra¡¯s expression darkened ominously. She then turned towards the crowd, and suddenly, she burst into tears, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°Listen, everyone. Our daughter, she¡¯s been so heartless. She used the money meant for saving lives in our family to support her lover, putting her father¡¯s business in deep financial trouble with massive losses. I don¡¯t even know which rich man she¡¯s involved with now, setting up her own business and hosting such a fancy event. She shows no concern for her own family. Fearing we might hold her back, she even cut ties with her father right before this grand opening. How can a daughter be so cruel?¡± Kendra continued, tears streaming down her face. She had intentionally dressed in an old outfit from her days as a maid in the Stewart household, and she even got Benny to wear an aged, threadbare cotton T-shirt. They truly had the appearance of being impoverished and destitute. Their simple attire and Kendra¡¯s tearful story caused the bystanders to start questioning Lindsey, murmuring to each other. ¡°Could it be true that she¡¯s misusing her family¡¯s money for her lover?¡± ¡°She¡¯s so young, yet she owns apany and even got numerous high-profile people to support her. It¡¯s hard to imagine she did this without any powerful support. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear now. She must havetched onto some rich guy to pull off such an borate event. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°She¡¯s Likely worried that her family¡¯s financial struggles would hinder her climb to the top of sess. That¡¯s probably why she chose to cut ties with them. A woman like that is quite terrifying. ¡± In a dramatic move to back up her ims, Kendra swiftly pulled out the document that legally ended the parent-child rtionship from her pocket, unfolding it for all to see. Kendra dered, ¡°Check this out. Lindsey had this sent over yesterday. She¡¯s already agreed to it. Her mother didn¡¯t want her around, so her father took on the burden of raising her alone. Now look where he¡¯s ended up. ¡± Indeed, the document bore Lindsey¡¯s signature, while Benny¡¯s remained absent.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The sight of the agreement only fueled further criticism towards Lindsey. ¡°She¡¯s so ungrateful. ¡± ¡°To have a child like that, her parents are cursed. ¡± ¡°With her morals in question, I doubt the quality of her business. ¡± As the live stream¡¯s chat filled with insults aimed at Lindsey, Shelia¡¯s lips curved into a satisfied smirk. She felt triumphant, believing her mother hadnded a direct hit on Lindsey. Eagerly, Shelia anticipated Lindsey¡¯s response. Leaning in, Kristy nudged Shelia and whispered, ¡°Is Lindsey¡¯s lover Mr. Walsh?¡± With a disdainful snort, Shelia confirmed, ¡°Yep, the man¡¯s got nothing but his looks to show for himself. You¡¯ve met him?¡± Kristy¡¯s lips curled into a smug smile, her excitement barely contained. If Domenic was after money, she could use that to her advantage. No price was too high for Kristy to get what she desired. While the crowd was busy casting stones at Lindsey from their moral pedestals, she approached them calmly. With a casual wave, a suited man joined her side. Chapter 447 With a serene smile, Kristy said, ¡°This gentleman is my mother¡¯s attorney. My stepmother has imed that I stole family funds, but in truth, it was the money bestowed by my mother. Coincidentally, the attorney arrived today. Here¡¯s the will to prove it. Look closely and don¡¯t be swayed by one-sided stories. ¡± Lindsey was ready for Kendra¡¯s drama at the ceremony and had nned ordingly. At Lindsey¡¯s cue, thewyer presented Juanita¡¯s will.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. It listed one receiver to her estate. It was Lindsey. Lindsey exined, ¡°The money from my mother funded mypany. My stepmother eyes my assets, twisting the truth. Instead of marrying the cheat she chose for me, I found a trustworthy partner. Yet, she¡¯s turned that into scandal, aiming to tarnish my name and take away the money. Regarding the breaking off of the parent-child rtionship¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze shifted to Benny, her eyes stripped of innocence and reliance, reced by disappointment and coldness. ¡°My father feared my business would falter and affect him, so he suggested we cut ties first. He chose his new family over me. Tell me, who¡¯s truly heartless?¡± Her voice was detached and firm, sending shivers through the crowd who hadn¡¯t foreseen this turn of events. Benny, flustered, stammered, ¡°I¡­ I never said such things. ¡± Lindsey, with a dismissive wave, held her phone up to him. ¡°I recorded your words yesterday. Should I y them for everyone to hear?¡± Yesterday, Benny used far too many words. If Lindsey had yed the recording of their conversation, Benny¡¯s reputation would have beenpletely ruined. ¡°Benny, don¡¯t believe her. She didn¡¯t record anything. It was just a bluff. ¡± Kendra fixed her gaze on Lindsey, her eyes widening in surprise. Little did she anticipate that Lindsey¡¯swyer had joined the ceremony too. It appeared as though Lindsey had been one step ahead, well aware of her intentions, and had strategically positioned herself to counter her moves. However, Kendra couldn¡¯t believe Lindsey had really recorded their conversation. ¡°If you have it, y the recording. I don¡¯t believe you have one. ¡± Kendra shouted. Lindsey smirked and pressed y on her phone, and suddenly, Benny¡¯s voice filled the room¡­ ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Benny, turning sharply, pped Kendra across the face. He snapped, ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯m embarrassing enough, do you?¡± ¡°Benny¡­¡± Kendra, dizzy from the p, nearly toppled over. She clutched her face, tears streaming, and tried to speak but was silenced by Benny¡¯s sharp look. Observing Kendra¡¯s distress, Lindsey stopped the yback, sparing Benny further embarrassment. Benny¡¯s reaction, however, seemed to confirm Lindsey¡¯s earlier ims. The conversation took a new turn. ¡°So, the stepmother is to me. She¡¯s truly malicious, eager to destroy her stepdaughter. ¡± Chapter 448 ¡°Such an evil stepmother. ¡± ¡°People often say that when a stepmother enters the picture, your real dad¡¯s lover for you may diminish. That¡¯s actually true. ¡± ¡°I really pity Lindsey. Why does she have such a father?¡± The whole situation made Benny look quite embarrassed. Moreover, the grand opening of Lindsey¡¯spany was impressive. She managed to invite numerous important figures, signaling a promising future for her business. Benny figured that he might have to rely more on Lindsey in the future. Furthermore, he had no real desire to sever ties with Lindsey. After wrestling with his thoughts, he finally gave in and approached Lindsey. He spoke softly, ¡°Linds, I reckon yesterday was on me. I¡¯m worried that maybe you¡¯re too young to grasp it all.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. You know, many young folks dive into the business world, but it often goes chaotic in the long run. I just had your back, hoping you¡¯d tread carefully. As for cutting ties, well, those were just hot-headed words. Don¡¯t let them get under your skin. ¡± Lindsey shot him a chilly nce and spoke in aposed tone, ¡°If you genuinely care about me, then go ahead and sign this agreement to formally end our parent-child bond. You can go on and lead your life with Kendra and Shelia. Let¡¯s part ways light-heartedly. I hope down the road, you won¡¯t look back with regret. ¡± As Benny began to speak, Lindsey¡¯s voice rose to silence him. ¡°No need for more words,¡± she dered. ¡°Your stance has shifted, and it¡¯s because you¡¯ve noticed mypany¡¯s still thriving. You aim to have a safety for your retirement, someone you can rely on. You reckon that no matter how good Shelia is, she¡¯s not your real daughter. As for Kendra¡¯s unborn child, you¡¯re holding out until it¡¯s born to confirm if it¡¯s yours. Until then, you can¡¯t fully cut ties with me. Fear of the unknown keeps you clinging to our father-daughter connection. Am I correct?¡± Benny gazed in astonishment at the girl before him, once seen as rebellious, innocent, and naive. Each of her words struck him unexpectedly. Lindsey was bing more like her mother. Kendra, hearing this, turned to Benny in astonishment. Kendra found herself confined to the house by Benny¡¯s orders. Despite being treated simrly by Lindsey, Benny still yearned to reconcile with her. Shelia¡¯s remarkable qualities went unnoticed, with Benny not even mentioning her. This made Kendra realize she had been deceiving herself all along. Kendra¡¯s decision to marry Shelia off to Jacob was also a bid for her own escape. Now, Kendra¡¯s determination to leave Benny intensified. She had only Shelia to rely on, so Shelia¡¯s marriage to the Perry family had to be sessful. ¡°Linds, why would you think that of me?¡± Benny stayed quiet for a while, then said with a heavy heart. ¡°You¡¯re all grown up. If you want me out of your life, I¡¯ll back off. But you¡¯re my flesh and blood. That bond won¡¯t ever change, so I¡¯m not going to sign this paper to cut ties. ¡± He snatched the document from Kendra¡¯s hands and ripped it to shreds. Benny couldn¡¯t just let Lindsey go, not until Shelia secured a marriage with the Perrys to boost his business, and not until Kendra¡¯s baby was born, proving it was his child. Self-interest was Benny¡¯s guiding star, always picking the path that benefitted him most. With that, he turned his back on everyone and left. Kendra followed him, feeling disheartened. Thements on the live stream were buzzing. ¡°Lindsey is a force to be reckoned with. ¡± Chapter 449 ¡°She doesn¡¯t hold back against her stepmother and that no-good father. Go, Lindsey!¡± ¡°Lindsey is awesome. ¡± Her boldness won her a swarm of new followers. Shelia, frustrated, bit her Lip nearly to bleeding. Now her mom had lost to Lindsey, and even Benny softened up. It was clear. All of Shelia¡¯s ns to outdo Lindsey today had crashed and burned. In a huff, Shelia tried calling Chayce, but his phone was still off. What was going on? He hadn¡¯t answered his phone in days. Could something have happened to him? A dark suspicion crept into Shelia¡¯s mind. Could Chayce¡¯s disappearance be connected to Lindsey, too? Shelia¡¯s lips trembled. Suddenly, she was so intimidated by Lindsey that she couldn¡¯t bring herself to move. The fan event wrapped up quickly.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Kristy may have lost to Lindsey, but she learned something valuable about Domenic, so she wasn¡¯t too upset. ncing towards Lindsey¡¯spany, Kristy¡¯s lips curled into a smile. She whispered to herself, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lindsey, we have all the time in the world. ¡± Lindsey¡¯spany¡¯s grand opening went off without a hitch. There, Lindsey inked a movie deal with Sh and Vincent, marking thepany¡¯s first big venture. And just like that, Lindnita Artists Agency was officially established. That night, Lindsey took some friends out to a karaoke bar to sing and celebrate the new business. Vincent and Ruby, finding the ce too loud, opted out of the youthful festivities and excused themselves. Nics, on the other hand, stayed because Sh was there. Mercer was reluctant to join in but he tagged along to keep an eye on Nics, as ordered by Arturo. ¡°Nancy, Mercer¡¯sing with us. Do you think he¡¯s doing it for you? This could be your golden chance. Grab it,¡± Lindsey urged, pulling Nancy to the side and peering at her knowingly. Nancy bit her lip. Despite her past encounters with numerous men, she appeared flustered and uncertain. Lindsey could tell Nancy was genuinely caught up with Mercer, though she didn¡¯t know the details. Chapter 450 Curious but patient, she decided to wait for Nancy toe to her when she was ready to share. After making sure everyone was set, Lindsey reached out to Domenic. ¡°Hello, got any ns tonight? I¡¯m throwing a little celebration at the karaoke bar, and you¡¯re invited. What do you say?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to be there?¡± Lindsey listed the expected attendees, and upon not hearing Ruby¡¯s name, Domenic said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll join you. ¡± ¡°Great, that¡¯s settled. ¡± Lindsey ended the call, feeling a surge of excitement. The thought of Domenicing tonight filled her with an uncontroble joy. Later that evening, at Deep Sea. This bar was among the more upscale spots in Morcastle. Lindsey and Nancy had arrived early, eager to extend their hospitality. They even ordered a whole table of beer in anticipation. Shortly after, several well-known celebrities arrived incognito and slipped into the private room. It was only after the door was shut that they shed their disguises. In contrast to their morous public personas, they were now in the simplest of casual clothes. Nancy stole nces at Mercer. He was dressed casually in a white sweatshirt and coffee-colored trousers, his hair loosely styled, projecting an approachable, boy-next-door charm. She couldn¡¯t help but think this was how he used to appear around her in the past. Sh loungedfortably on the sofa. Nics aimed to sit beside her, but Mercer swiftly took the spot between them. Nics, visibly annoyed, shot a disapproving re at Mercer. The private room, apart from their group, also hosted some other young guests from today¡¯s opening ceremony. They were the kind of crowd that enjoyed mixing and mingling in a fun setting. Mercer looked around with aposed expression. He turned to Lindsey and asked, ¡°Is this everyone, Lindsey?¡± ¡°Just a moment. We¡¯re still waiting for one more person. ¡± Lindsey nced at her watch, confident that Domenic, who was known for his punctuality, would be there shortly. ¡°Who are we waiting for?¡± Sh inquired, a hint of curiosity in her voice. ¡°Well¡­¡± Just as Lindsey was about to respond, the door to the private room swung open from the outside, and the silhouette of a tall, sturdy man stood in the backlight,ing into view for everyone. This evening, Domenic donned a ck shirt. His wrists remained unadorned, without a wristwatch. As he entered, he carried an aura of icy detachment, appearing distant and aloof from personal connections. Both Mercer and Nics inhaled sharply at his arrival.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Domenic actually came too! Nics nced at Mercer, noticing him subtly cing a finger to his lips, a silent signal for discretion. Chapter 451 ¡°Who is this guy, Linds?¡± Sh rose from her seat.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The man in front of them emanated amanding presence, unmistakably marked by his high status. Lindsey moved closer to Domenic, gently linking her arm with his and resting her head against his shoulder. ¡°Everyone, meet my boyfriend, Domenic. ¡± Nics and Mercer both took another sharp breath, clearly shocked! Nics shot Mercer a puzzled look, as if silently questioning what was happening. Mercer just shrugged and gave a nonchnt eye roll, as if to say, ¡°I have no idea. ¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re Linds¡¯s boyfriend. Pleased to meet you,¡± Sh greeted warmly before teasingly turning to Lindsey. ¡°I see why you were so quick to clear up those rumors. You didn¡¯t want your handsome boyfriend to get any wrong ideas. Linds, you¡¯ve really been keeping him a secret. ¡± Lindsey offered a yful wink as she introduced Domenic to everyone else. She had anticipated Domenic might be a bit overwhelmed meeting such prominent stars. However, Domenic just listened calmly to the introductions, offering a slight, polite smile. ¡°Pleasure to meet all of you. ¡± ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for so long, yet here we are, acting Like strangers,¡± Mercer murmured softly. ¡°What was that, Mercer?¡± Sh, catching his whisper, quickly questioned him. Mercer looked taken aback and quickly waved his hand. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Just talking to myself, don¡¯t worry about it. ¡± Once Lindsey found a seat for Domenic, she sat beside him. The mood in the private room shifted, turning somewhat awkward. Nancy, hoping to lighten the mood, chimed in, ¡°Since we¡¯re all here, why don¡¯t we y a game? How about truth or dare?¡± Just as Nancy finished her suggestion, the door to the private room swung open again. Hadn¡¯t Lindsey mentioned they were only expecting one more? Was there someone else who hadn¡¯t arrived yet? Amidst everyone¡¯s puzzled looks, a woman, her identity concealed behindrge sunsses, entered. She shut the door, removed her sunsses, and revealed a strikingly beautiful face. It was Kristy. With a slight smile on her lips, Kristy surveyed the room and asked in a soft voice, ¡°Seems like a fun night. Why wasn¡¯t I invited?¡± ¡°Miss Chase, how did you find out we were here?¡± Lindsey rose from her seat, her expression a mix of surprise and concern as she faced Kristy. Kristy took off her coat, showcasing a striking red dress. She casually found an empty spot and sat down. ¡°I overheard about it. Lindsey, you really should have told me about yourpany¡¯s grand opening. If I had known, I wouldn¡¯t have scheduled my fan meeting on the same day. ¡± As she crossed her legs, the room¡¯s attention seemed to be drawn to her. Positioned directly across from Domenic, her long, sleek legs were particrly captivating. Kristy¡¯s gaze lingered on Domenic, reclining on the sofa. His ck shirt stood out in the dim light, with one button casually undone at the cor. His waist was entuated by a ck belt. Kristy felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. However, what irked Kristy was that Domenic¡¯s eyes were fixed on Lindsey with evident affection, seemingly oblivious to her presence. Chapter 452 Lindsey pondered for a moment and realized that many of today¡¯s attendees at her opening were likely acquaintances of Kristy and it seemed possible that anyone would have ryed the news to her. But why did Kristy suddenlye here since she hated her so much? With a mix of suspicion and caution, Lindsey offered a smile to Kristy. ¡°Miss Chase, since you¡¯re here unexpectedly, why not join us in the game?¡± Kristy¡¯s Lips curled awkwardly. Lindsey¡¯s quick wit often left her at a loss for words, unintentionally making her seem out of ce, and she struggled toe up with a response. Her visit here wasn¡¯t really to celebrate Lindsey¡¯spany opening. Her true motive was centered around¡­ Domenic. ¡°Miss Chase, we were just about to y truth or dare. Would you like to join us?¡± Lindsey settled back into her seat, her eyes on Kristy across the way. ¡°Sure,¡± Kristy replied, eager to participate. ¡°Just to be clear, we¡¯ve got celebrities and a renowned singer here. But we¡¯re ying truth or dare, so let¡¯s embrace the thrill. Remember, if it¡¯s your turn,plete your chosen option, regardless of who you are,¡± someone in the room chimed in. Lindsey nodded in agreement. ¡°Given your high-profile status, it might be wise to leave your phones aside for the game, just to avoid any potential issues. ¡± In a world where caution was key, leaving nothing to chance was important. If someone were to sneakily take photos and share them online, it could easily be a sensational story. ¡°Sounds good. ¡± Everyone in the private room agreed and passed their phones to Lindsey, eagerly anticipating the uing game of Truth or Dare. With two stunning actresses and two top male celebrities in the room, the excitement of the group was high.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Kristy found herself ncing at Domenic asionally, mulling over what she might ask him to do if she won. ¡°Let¡¯sy out the rules first. Each of us will take turns rolling the dice. The person with the highest score can require the one with the lowest to choose between answering a truth question honestly or performing a dare task. Everyone ying has toply with the game¡¯s rules. ¡± After Nancy said the rules, everyone agreed. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s start now. ¡± Lindsey was the first to roll the dice, and the turns went around. Mercer ended up with the lowest score on the first round. ¡°Damn it!¡± Mercer was speechless and cursed under his breath. He thought he was on an unlucky streak. And in this round, the highest score goes to a music producer from a recordpany. With a sly grin, turned to Mercer and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go with the truth questions. Mercer, how many women have you been with? And when did you first getid? Where did it happen? With whom?¡± Chapter 453 Mercer, undaunted, took out a cigarette, lit it, and ced it between his lips, giving the producer a sideways nce. ¡°Hold on, the rules say you can only ask one question. Why are you asking a bunch all at once?¡± ¡°Come on. If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯m ready to switch to Dare. ¡± The producer and Mercer shared a friendly rtionship. If Mercer chose Dare, the producer wasn¡¯t going to go easy on him. Mercer released a puff of smoke, a hint of resignation in his voice.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve had too many women to count. ¡± The revtion elicitedughter from everyone in the room. To the public, Mercer was the charming, young, and talented singer. But to those people who knew him, he was recognized as a notorious yboy within the industry. His romantic exploits outnumbered even his wardrobe changes. Despite his reputation, Mercer had never been known to seriouslymit to a rtionship. Lindsey, not very familiar with Mercer¡¯s personal life, found her opinion of him diminishing after hearing his admission. She nced at Nancy with concern. Nancy, looking visibly distressed, bit her lower Lip. ¡°As for my first time¡­¡± Mercer¡¯s gaze brieflynded on Nancy, who was seated opposite him. Sitting up, he put out his cigarette in the ashtray. ¡°I first got involved in high school,¡± he confessed in a low voice, his eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°That sounds about right for you. You always had a way with the girls back in school,¡± a voice in the room chimed in, teasing him. Mercer¡¯s expression grew somber. ¡°I didn¡¯t know her, but I ended up sleeping with her. That¡¯s all there is to it. ¡± After saying that, Mercer leaned back on the sofa, with a gloomy expression on his face. ¡°Mercer, are you serious? How could you sleep with someone you didn¡¯t even know? We want the full story,¡± the producer called out, clearly unsatisfied. Mercer nced at the producer, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°I¡¯ve answered your questions. If you¡¯re really curious, maybe you can ask again if you win the next round. ¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s move on to the next round,¡± the producer grumbled, leaning back in disappointment. Just as they were gearing up for another roll of the dice, Nancy abruptly stood up and said, ¡°Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. ¡± Then she turned around and left the private room. Lindsey, noticing Nancy¡¯s distressed demeanor, quickly excused herself to the others, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, I¡¯m going to check on her. You guys take a break. We¡¯ll resume the game when I return. ¡± After Lindsey left the private room, she followed Nancy to the restroom. Chapter 454 The door was shut. From inside, Lindsey heard the sound of Nancy vomiting. But Nancy hadn¡¯t even started drinking yet. Why was she throwing up? Lindsey was confused. ¡°Nancy, are you alright?¡± Lindsey knocked on the door twice, her voice filled with concern. After a moment, the door opened. Nancy came out, Looking pale and her eyes red, which startled Lindsey. Lindsey ced her hands on Nancy¡¯s shoulders and asked anxiously, ¡°What¡¯s happening to you? Are you sick? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?¡± Nancy weakly shook her head, her usually tough and assertive demeanor reced by a frail and pitiful appearance. ¡°I¡¯m okay, Linds. Let¡¯s head back. I don¡¯t want to ruin everyone¡¯s fun. ¡± ¡°Your wellbeing is what matters most. If you¡¯re not feeling well, you need to let me know. We can always skip the game today if we have to. ¡± ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve never lied to you, have I? I¡¯m feeling much better now.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Let¡¯s get back. I¡¯m curious to see what happens next. ¡± Nancy gave Lindsey¡¯s wrist a gentle tug, her usual lively demeanor quickly returning as she led them back to the private room. ¡®s BunnyBookery Upon their return, the group was ready for another round of the game. This round, Nics scored the lowest, while a renowned scriptwriter topped the scores. Many in the room secretly grumbled, noticing that the men kept winning and losing in turns. They were all anticipating the women¡¯s turn to do something. Nics, known in the industry for his aloofness and short temper, regarded everyone with a cold disdain. No one expected him toe here today. However, his joining spiced things up. The scriptwriter, with a mischievous grin, said, ¡°Sorry, Nics, but I¡¯m going for Dare this time. I dare you to pick someone in this room and give them a ki*s. And it can be anyone, male or female. ¡± Since Nics began his career, there hadn¡¯t been a single rumor about his love life. Not even the most determined paparazzi had snapped a picture of him with a woman. This led to whispers suggesting he might be more interested in men. This was the ideal moment to test the theory about Nics¡¯s s@xuality. After all, it was difficult for a gay to ki*s a woman. Mercer nced at Nics, his brother. Even he wasn¡¯t entirely sure if Nics Liked men or women. Arturo had called Mercer in a fit of anger earlier. Could it be because Nics had¡­ feelings for Sh? Nics looked around with his cold eyes and asked, ¡°Do I really have toplete this task?¡± ¡°Yes, you do. We have agreed at the beginning that we must abide by the rules. ¡± Nics¡¯s cold gaze grew more intense. He nced at Sh next to him and hesitated. Chapter 455 ¡°Then, I¡¯ll pick¡­¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Spotting Nics casting a tender look at Sh, Mercer quickly intervened. ¡°Nics, I get it, choosing someone for a ki*s is tough. Let me make it easier. Pick me. We¡¯re both guys, no need to feel awkward. Just promise not to put me on the spot if you win the next round,¡± Mercer said with a cheeky smile. ¡°How can you suggest that, Mercer?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t bend the game¡¯s rules like that. ¡± ¡°The choice has to be made by Nics himself. You can¡¯t decide for him. ¡± The others voiced their objections. Nics looked at Mercer, who was winking at him. He then nced at Sh out of the corner of his eye. Holding back an almost overpowering desire, Nics responded casually, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll pick Mercer. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery After saying that, Nics quickly seized Mercer and brushed his Lips against the hair by Mercer¡¯s cheek.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hey, is that it?¡± Mercer, who was undoubtedly straight, had no romantic interest in Nics. So, the gesture held no real meaning. Everyone felt let down. ¡°Let¡¯s move on to the next round,¡± Mercer said, grabbing the dice to roll. This time, Domenic scored the lowest, and Kristy scored the highest. Mercer and Nics perked up at this oue, eager to see what Kristy would dare Domenic to do. Anything Domenic did would be an unprecedented spectacle, given his usually lofty demeanor. Some in the group felt down, hoping this round would be over quickly. ¡°Miss Chase, will you go for Truth or Dare?¡± someone in the group asked. Kristy held the dice, her gaze fixed on Domenic with a hint of allure in her eyes. Her red lips curved into a suggestive smile. ¡°It¡¯s hard to decide. ¡± This remark left everyone puzzled, their eyes turning to Kristy. Chapter 456 ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Mercer leaned forward, curiosity evident in his voice. Rising from her seat, Kristy¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at Domenic. ¡°Truth or Dare is supposed to be thrilling. What happened just now wasn¡¯t thrilling enough. I¡¯m thinking of spicing things up with a more exciting challenge. I wonder, Mr. Walsh, are you up for it?¡± This proposition reignited interest among the others, their previously indifferent expressions now eager. ¡°We agreed beforehand that everyone, regardless of who they are, must follow the game¡¯s rules. As long as it¡¯s within the rules, the loser can¡¯t refuse or break them. ¡± ¡°Yes. Lindsey, what do you think?¡± Everyone was aware that Domenic was Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend. Although his exact identity and status were unknown, his rxed yet imposing demeanormanded respect. The decision was left for Lindsey to make. Lindsey bit her lip slightly before responding, ¡°Miss Chase, it all depends on whether your suggestion is within the game¡¯s rules. If it is, then my boyfriend will certainly adhere to them. ¡± ¡°Alright, go ahead Miss Chase, don¡¯t hold back. ¡± As everyone watched, Kristy narrowed her eyes seductively. She reached into her bag and pulled out a gleaming gold bank card. Leaning against the table edge, she stretched across therge table, cing the card before Domenic. The room filled with puzzled nces. With a smile, Kristy looked up at Domenic and proposed, ¡°Mr. Walsh, this card holds five million dors. You have to choose between Lindsey and this money. If you pick the card and break up with Lindsey right now, the money is yours. But if you choose Lindsey, you¡¯ll be passing up five million dors. ¡± Havingid out her challenge, Kristy returned to her seat on the sofa, arms crossed and legs crossed, watching Domenic for his decision. Kristy had heard from Shelia that Domenic¡¯s rtionship with Lindsey was merely transactional, driven by money.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. She believed a man like that would gravitate towards wealth. How wealthy could Lindsey be, especiallypared to a top actress like herself? To Kristy, five million dors was a trivial amount, but for Lindsey and Domenic, it was significant. Kristy just wanted to humiliate Lindsey in front of so many people. The room fell into a hush; Kristy¡¯s unexpected bold move had thrown everyone off bnce. Five million dors wasn¡¯t chump change. To most folks, earning such a sum in their lifetime was an unattainable dream. A hefty five million would grace his palm if Domenic parted ways with his girlfriend. Without batting an eye, eight out of ten men would choose the cash. Some among the onlookers wondered why fate hadn¡¯t favored them. If Kristy offered them five million, they¡¯d ditch their girlfriends in a heartbeat! All eyes turned towards Domenic, a mix of curiosity, envy, and relishing the unfolding drama; a smorgasbord of expressions. Reclining on the sofa, Domenic maintained an air of indifference, his eyelids barely fluttering. Lost in a reverie, no one could discern if he focused on the bank card or Kristy. Or perhaps, nothing. Chapter 457 Seated beside Domenic, Lindsey sported a sly grin, whispering in his ear, ¡°Paying you five million just to sever ties with me? That¡¯s a bargain. You could retire for a decade, you know. Give it a thought?¡± ncing down at the teasing woman, Domenic lowered his voice, dripping with allure. ¡°Do you still see me as your kept man? I must give you a lesson tonight!¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears med red; had they been alone, she could¡¯ve given him a nudge. While this whispering continued, the others waited anxiously. ¡°What she suggests aligns with the game¡¯s code-a truth or dare scenario. Sir, it¡¯s decision time. Fear not; this business ends here and today; no one talks when we step out. And remember the game¡¯s rule: be true to your heart, no lies,¡± someone prodded, the crowd eager to see what he¡¯d choose. Slowly, Domenic sat up, resting his hands on his knees. He bent slightly, and his eyes were cold and apathetic.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. His fingers covered the bank card on the table. Kristy smiled. Gasps echoed as everyone presumed Domenic would opt for the bank card, spelling Lindsey¡¯s fate. Yet, human nature could get ruthless. Sympathetic gazes shifted to Lindsey, who, unfazed, casually sipped her beer with no hint of anxiety or sorrow. Then, in a swift motion, Domenic flung the card forward. It glided swiftly tond in front of Kristy. Kristy¡¯s smug smile vanished, reced by a furrowed brow, disbelief etched on her face. She gazed up at Domenic, bewildered. With a faint smirk, Domenic sped Lindsey¡¯s wrist, drawing her close. For the first time that night, Domenic locked eyes with Kristy. His gaze had a mesmerizing effect. ¡°I choose Lindsey,¡± he asserted softly. Kristy¡¯s eyes wavered, panic in her voice, ¡°Are you certain? Here¡¯s five million; with it, you could have any woman!¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes shifted to the woman in his embrace, affection evident in his eyes. He replied firmly, ¡°Linds is beyond price to me. Not five million, not fifty, nor even five billion could measure up to her worth!¡± Silence enveloped everyone. They didn¡¯t expect that they had to witness PDA during the game. Amidst the bewildered spectators, only Nics and Mercer remainedposed. Mercer, hidden behind a veil of calm, couldn¡¯t help but inwardly sneer. Kristy¡¯s demeanor appeared so haughty, yet five million dors meant nothing to Domenic, a man whose wealth stretched into the billions. Kristy¡¯s attempt to sway Domenic with money was futile, an act destined for failure even in an alternate reality. Chapter 458 Frustration gripped Kristy as she balled her fists, her eyes aze with anger. The sight of Lindsey drawing closer to Domenic ignited jealousy within Kristy. Topound her dismay, Lindsey regarded Kristy with disdain, as if she were a pitiable and insignificant soul. Kristy couldn¡¯tprehend his choice. What spell did Lindsey cast that made Domenic relinquish five million dors while refusing to dump her? Wasn¡¯t he short of money? Or was there something else he sought? Then what on earth did he want? The enigma of Domenic¡¯s desires confounded Kristy, marking the first time she encountered a sense of loss and frustration in the presence of a man. Until now, men had pursued her, offering everything she desired. Kristy had once believed there was no man in existence who could resist her allure. Yet, encountering Domenic shattered that perception, revealing the agony of unrequited love. For Kristy, it felt like a resounding p across her face, extinguishing any desire to continue this game. ¡°Enjoy yourselves. I have other matters to attend to,¡± Kristy dered haughtily, rising from her seat. With an air of arrogance, she donned her sunsses, swung the door open, and departed the private room. The crowd remained puzzled, their confusion lingering in the air. Did Kristy storm off because this man didn¡¯t choose her money? ¡°Come on, let¡¯s continue to y. Don¡¯t let her affect our good mood,¡± Mercer urged, taking the dice cup, signaling for the game to resume. Once Kristy departed, the group indulged in drinks and games, fostering a serene and convivial ambiance. Following several rounds, Mercer, feeling a touch stifled, excused himself to take a breather. Politely excusing himself to visit the restroom, he left the private room. He positioned himself by the window at the far end of the corridor, lighting a cigarette¡ªtonight had seen him finish an entire box, an unusual indulgence for him, one brought on solely by Nancy¡¯s presence. Mercer vividly recalled their initial encounter: Nancy, besieged by delinquents, her petite frame pinned against a wall, her distress palpable.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. These delinquents, assuming her family possessed newfound wealth, demanded money from her. Mercer coincidentally pedaled through that alley on his bike, catching sight of Nancy¡¯s tear-stricken face. Without hesitation, he wielded his bike as a weapon against the delinquents. At that time, he possessed the vigor of youth, brimming with boundless strength and a firm belief in justice. Yet, reality persistently overpowered him. Mercer was surrounded by those delinquents, along with Nancy. Driven by their distorted desires for control and curiosity, they demanded Mercer get intimate with Nancy. If Mercer refused, they threatened to kill both of them. The city experienced rampant social disorder during that period. Mercer hailed from a noble family, yet despite his wealth, he felt powerless against these hooligans. Mercer was aware of Nancy¡¯s intense fear, but in a bid to save their lives, he reached out and took action. He pulled off her dress, pressed her under his body, and did that unforgivable thing to her in front of those delinquents. Chapter 459 Mercer whispered in Nancy¡¯s ear repeatedly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Don¡¯t be afraid¡­¡± Her tears fell despite her clear and beautiful eyes being stained with mud because of the situation. Afterward, the delinquents took several inappropriate photos of the two and left, leaving Mercer filled with guilt and anxiety. He avoided talking to Nancy and swiftly departed. Even though Mercer¡¯s family used their connections to handle the situation and eliminate all the photos taken, Mercer never crossed paths with Nancy again. Subsequently, Mercer experienced a period of depression.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. In an effort to help him move on from the distressing experience, his parents sent him abroad. They no longer pressured him into a political career but allowed him to pursue his passion for music. However, Mercer continued to carry regret and guilt, often contemting that dying during that time might have felt like a relief. Yearster, Nancy unexpectedly reappeared at Champs Le Bar. Despite recognizing her immediately, Mercer felt scared to face her again. Later, he couldn¡¯t fathom how Nancy became the most influential fan of his. He dared to exchange brief messages with her but remained cautious. ¡°Mercer, what are you doing here?¡± Nancy¡¯s beautiful voice interrupted his thoughts. Startled, he turned to see her smiling at him. Mercer¡¯s heart quivered. He drew in a breath of smoke, masking his swirling emotions, and settled back into his usual detached, cool demeanor. ¡°Time for a break and a quick smoke. I¡¯ll be back inside soon. ¡± He flicked the cigarette away, stamping it out with his shoe, his voice t, then strode past Nancy toward the private room. ¡°Mr. Aston!¡± Nancy called out to him. Mercer knew he should keep walking, but against his will, his feet stopped. He didn¡¯t look back, just listened to the clear voice behind him. ¡°Would you be my boyfriend?¡± Mercer¡¯s heart missed a beat. His eyebrows came together in a frown. He finally turned, facing the girl who had made such a bold request with what seemed like a Herculean effort, his expression one of shock. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Mercer¡¯s voice was sharp. Suddenly, Nancy stepped closer, her eyes burning with intensity. Gone was the frightened look she once had, reced by a fierce determination as she locked eyes with him. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I really mean it. ¡± Nancy¡¯s hands were balled into fists, her resolve clear as she held his stare, fighting the fear inside her. But her heart raced, filled with a mix of adoration when he was absent and overwhelming fear when he was near. It was a gut reaction, this push and pull of emotions, that tortured her with a mix of pain and yearning. Chapter 460 After the incident, Nancy started to feel off.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The sight of men made her queasy, and she struggled to maintain everyday social interactions. She decided to take a break from her studies, but for reasons she couldn¡¯t pinpoint, Mercer lingered in her thoughts. Back then, his identity was a mystery to her. She was aware of his kindness. He had risked his own safety for hers, and what followed seemed out of their control. Yet the pain had be her reality. Nancy spent six months trying to heal, aiming for an ordinary life. She threw herself into dating, but each boyfriend reminded her of Mercer in some way. She was determined to prove she wasn¡¯t scared of men, especially not Mercer. She convinced herself she had moved on. But intimacy always ended with her getting sick, and her rtionships fell apart. Still, she fought to be a regr girl who could love and be loved. Eventually, she learned that Mercer, her savior and source of pain, was now a famous singer. It hit her then. She didn¡¯t need to prove anything through other men. Mercer had always been the one. Seeing Nancy¡¯s stunning face, Mercer looked at her with a mix of emotions andughed lightly. ¡°You¡¯re not scared of me, are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared!¡± Nancy, summoning her bravery, looked up at him with determination. ¡°Mercer, I really like you,¡± she admitted. Mercer¡¯s expression turned serious as he took her arm, pulled her close, and bent down to ki*s her. Nancy¡¯s heart raced, her mind resolved, but her stomach turned. She wanted to ovee her fear. She kept telling herself that she was just like anyone else! ¡°Eww!¡± But her body betrayed her resolve. She couldn¡¯t hold back, and she ended up vomiting all over him. Mercer¡¯s face was marred by an expression so fierce it bordered on wild. His gaze fixed on the woman before him, who had just vomited from his ki*s. A mockingugh escaped him. ¡°Nancy, you said you like me, yet you throw up after one ki*s? And all over me, too!¡± He held his hands up, away from the mess on his chest, his face drained of color, and he seemed on the verge of copsing. ¡°No, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± Nancy stammered, herplexion ashen, her whole frame shaking violently. Chapter 461 ¡°Quit lying to yourself,¡± Mercer jeered, his own voiceced with self-mockery. ¡°You¡¯re scared of me, and I despise you. We¡¯re never going to work. ¡± Nancy lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°You despise me? Why? You were the one who¡­¡± ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I wouldn¡¯t be the person who I am now!¡± Mercer¡¯s voice boomed, his anger flushing his face a deep red. Nancy gazed at him, feeling as if a knife twisted in her heart. She wondered if he med her. If he hadn¡¯t tried to save her, he might have avoided all the trouble. Was it her fault he was hurting? ¡°Mercer Aston, I never asked for your help,¡± Nancy said, her voice rough with emotion. Mercer nced at her, his hands trembling with the effort to remain calm. His expression was icy. ¡°The biggest mistake of my life was saving you on a whim,¡± he said. With that, he stormed off. Nancy, usually the cheerful one, crumbled. She sank to the floor, wrapped her arms around her knees, and sobbed. Mercer headed to the restroom to clean up. Then, he burst back into their private room, startling everyone with the m of the door. Annoyed, he snatched his coat from the couch and muttered without looking up, ¡°Got something to take care of, I need to head out. ¡± The others caught sight of his damp attire and couldn¡¯t hide their surprise. ¡°Mercer, did you take a swim in the toilet or what?¡± Mercer bit back any further exnation. As he headed out, Nics seized his wrist, inquiring in a deep voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Only then did Mercer remember that his brother was there. Clutching Nics¡¯s arm, he said, ¡°Hey, Nics, a producer mentioned something to me for you today.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s too loud in here. Can we talk?¡± Nics, curious, donned his sunsses and stepped out with Mercer. They found a quiet spot outside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Tell me. ¡± Nics asked, his voice even. Mercer turned around, yanked off his sunsses, and looked Nics dead in the eye. ¡°Are you falling for Sh?¡± Nics paused and said, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Mercer saw the truth in his reaction. Pointing to himself, he warned, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but steer clear of Sh. She¡¯s Arturo¡¯s girl. ¡± Chapter 462 Nics gave a wry smile and replied slowly, ¡°Are they dating, engaged, or married? If not, why do you say that Sh is his girl? She belongs to herself, nobody else. ¡± Unable to sway Nics with words, Mercer grabbed him by the cor and pinned him against the wall. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to see my brother and my friend at each other¡¯s throats over a girl. Plus, you¡¯re no match for Arturo. Turns out, Sh had a child with Arturo!¡± Nics¡¯s face registered utter disbelief. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Mercer rxed his hold and stepped away. ¡°Nics, I¡¯ve said my piece. Just be careful not to get too caught up with Sh, or we might all end up in a tough spot. ¡± Nics, usually the picture of calm, now had a lot on his mind. With nothing more from Nics, Mercer slipped into his coat and left. The moment Mercer got into his car, he pulled out his phone and made a call. A soft voice answered. ¡°Mr. Aston, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call?¡± ¡°Meet me at Champs Le Bar, third floor, in thirty minutes,¡± Mercer said and then hung up, tossing the phone onto the seat next to him before driving off. Once Mercer was gone, Nancy returned to their private room and told Lindsey she wasn¡¯t feeling well and needed to head home early. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll call it a day,¡± Lindsey said, feeling weary herself. She took the chance to wrap up the gathering. Leaving the karaoke bar, Lindsey and Nancy walked arm in arm until Nancy stopped. She was pale but forced a smile. ¡°Linds, I won¡¯t hold you up from your time with your boyfriend. I¡¯m off, bye. ¡± ¡°Nancy. ¡± Lindsey reached for her, noticing how cold her wrist felt. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± Nancy justughed it off. ¡°Of course, I am fine. Don¡¯t look so sad to see me go, or you¡¯ll make someone jealous. ¡± She shot a yful look at Domenic standing behind Lindsey. ¡°ALL right. See you tomorrow. ¡± ¡°Sure.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Take care,¡± Lindsey said, still concerned. As Nancy walked away, she turned back with a grin. ¡°Linds, make sure you two find happiness together, okay?¡± ¡°Nancy¡­¡± Lindsey started, but Nancy cut her off with a wave, still smiling. ¡°I mean it. Although it seems a little early now, I¡¯ll give you my best wishes when you get married. For now, I¡¯m off. ¡± Lindsey watched her go, frowning as Nancy¡¯s cheerful figure vanished from sight. ¡°Mr. Walsh. ¡± Lindsey said softly. Domenic¡¯s hand found its way to her shoulders. He inquired, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t everyone seem off today? Nancy hadn¡¯t always been this way, but today¡­ I can¡¯t shake the feeling she¡¯s keeping secrets from me. ¡± Chapter 463 Domenic Looked toward where Nancy had gone. ¡°The thing with your best friend and Mercer might be moreplicated than you think. ¡± Lindsey paused, troubled by the same thought. Beyond being his biggest supporter, what connection could Nancy have with Mercer? And her recent wish, tinged with sadness, were out of character. Just then, Lindsey¡¯s phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. Answering the phone, Lindsey said, ¡°Hello. ¡± ¡°Is this Lindsey?¡± ¡°Yes, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Shelia¡¯s ex. Can we meet? I need to talk to you. ¡± This day had been anticipated by Lindsey, and a smile graced her face as she replied, ¡°Sure thing, no worries. ¡± After Lindsey hung up the phone, Domenic noticed her smug grin. ¡°Why the happy face?¡± ¡°Just some good news. Let¡¯s head back. ¡± Lindsey grasped his hand, weaving her fingers through his. ¡°Alright.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Sensing Lindsey¡¯s reluctance to speak, he chose not to pry. Their mutual vow was to trust each other, with no conditions attached. That night, they walked home together, their hands sped, basking in the city¡¯s vibrant night lights. They appeared to be just an average couple. Little did they know, a bigger challenge was silently creeping up on them¡­ On the third floor of Champs Le Bar, a woman with a graceful figure approached a room and pressed the doorbell. After a while, the door swung open, revealing a man in a simple white bathrobe, his hair still damp and tousled across his forehead. ¡°Mr. Aston,¡± the woman said in a flirtatious tone, but before she could say more, Mercer pulled her into the room and shut the door with a firm kick. He didn¡¯t utter a word as he guided her to the plush bed and gently pushed her onto it. ¡°Take it easy. You¡¯re being too rough,¡± the woman protested, rubbing her wrist, yet she couldn¡¯t help but send an alluring nce his way. Mercer, a man many women fantasized about, had first encountered her at a fashion event. They¡¯d exchanged numbers and had yful chats, but this was their first time alone together. The situation was clear. It was two adults meeting in a roomte at night, their intentions hardly a mystery. Chapter 464 Mercer stood by the bed, gazing at the captivating woman lying there. With a nonchnt grin, he picked up a bank card from the nearby table. He dangled it before her and said, ¡°Make tonight worthwhile, and this card¡¯s yours. ¡± With a bewitching smile, she sat up and reached for the knot of his bathrobe. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re well taken care of,¡± she assured him. An hour had passed when Mercer sat on the bed¡¯s edge, d in a bathrobe, with his robe belt tossed carelessly at his feet. His fingers clutched a cigarette while the floor around him was covered in spent stubs. The bathroom door opened with a soft click, and a woman emerged, her approach hesitant and her expression frozen. ¡°Mr. Aston, I¡­¡± she began timidly. Without a word, Mercer grabbed a bank card from beside the bed and tossed it to her. Blowing out a ring of smoke, hemanded, ¡°Take the money and leave, and don¡¯t breathe a word about today, got it?¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Sure, sure. My lips are sealed,¡± she assured quickly, scooping up the card before slipping into her bag and hurrying out. Once alone, Mercer¡¯s frustration bubbled over, and he crushed his cigarette underfoot. Despite the woman¡¯s attempts to entice him, nothing had stirred within him. Ever since that incident in the alley years ago, he had been unable to perform. He knew he was straight, but his impotence infuriated and humiliated him. Maybe it was his way ofpensating, chasing after women, trying to prove his masculinity. But every intimate encounter ended in shame when he couldn¡¯t perform. It was his darkest secret, so he yed at love instead, masking his deep-seated insecurities. But today had been different. At the karaoke bar, when he pulled Nancy close and ki*sed her, something ignited within him. He thought he was cured, driven by a newfound desire. He had hoped to carry that passion into his rendezvous, but once again, he faced disappointment. Why did this happen? He cradled his head in agony, dreading the thought of facing Nancy, yet inexplicably, she was the only one who had sparked a reaction in him. ¡°Oh God, are you f@cking kidding me?¡± Mercer grumbled as he sprawled out on therge bed. Nancy¡¯s image haunted him. Her flustered expression and timid eyes in the alley had been surprisingly touching, almost pitiable. Chapter 465 He was definitelying down with something, and it wasn¡¯t anything minor. With a deep sigh, Mercer shut his eyes, willing his mind to go nk. Sh, a bit flushed from the drinks, was dropped off at her ce by Nics. The hint of red made her look even more enchanting. Nics seemed to watch her a lot, whether he meant to or not. He seemed like he wanted to say something the entire ride, but he kept silent. As they pulled up to Sh¡¯s apartment building in the fancy car, Nics was just about to open the door for Sh when something caught his eye outside. He just froze. Sh didn¡¯t move to open the door either. She turned to see Nics staring intently outside, a deep look in his eyes. ¡°Nics, is something wrong?¡± she asked. With a nod of his chin towards the outside, Nics said, ¡°Arturo¡¯s here. ¡± Then he unlocked the car door. Sh¡¯s grip on the handle tightened, and her body tensed up in the seat. Noticing her pale face, Nics¡¯s cold look grew even sharper. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to face him, stay put. I can take you away to hide for a bit. ¡± But Sh bit her lip silently and held on to the car door. She managed a weak butposed smile at Nics. ¡°Thanks, but you don¡¯t have to worry about me. This is my problem. I should head in. See you around. ¡± With that, she pushed the door open and stepped out of the car. ¡®s BunnyBookery Nics didn¡¯t leave right away. Instead, he peered through the dark window at the two figures outside. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Sh approached Arturo with a questioning look. Catching sight of the fancy car by the curb, a slick grin spread across Arturo¡¯s face. He seized Sh¡¯s wrist, drew her close, and ki*sed her swiftly. Nics¡¯ eyes fluttered shut, and he jerked his head to the side. His hands clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles white, his eyes stormy. He floored the gas pedal, speeding away.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Sh, pressed against Arturo¡¯s solid frame, struggled to break free, but he was immovable, holding her firmly. Frustrated, she bit his tongue sharply. Arturo winced, a trickle of blood running from his lip, but he didn¡¯t stop, his ki*s growing more intense. The tang of blood filled their mouths, and Sh gasped for air. Finally, Arturo let her go, looking down at her. ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Sh¡¯s voice shook with anger. Arturo, blood on his lips, stared coldly at her. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t shown up, would you have invited that guy in? So, you¡¯ve been pushing me away because you¡¯ve got someone else!¡± Chapter 466 In a swift motion, Sh pped him, turning his head with the force of it. ¡°I told you we¡¯re done. My life, my choices, they¡¯re none of your business! And don¡¯t you dare judge me with your dirty mind. Your behavior is nothing but repulsive. ¡± Arturo slowly turned his head, meeting the gaze of Sh in front of him.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Her expression always seemed to carry a hint of anger whenever she looked at him. His heart ached, a sensation akin to being tightly grasped by an unseen force. ¡°Have I agreed to what you said?¡± Arturo asked. Suddenly, his grip tightened on Sh¡¯s arm, his eyes filled with an unusual possessiveness. ¡°You don¡¯t understand why I continue to speak kindly to you?¡± he said. ¡°I will obtain what I desire by any means. Remember, your role was toply with my wishes from the moment you entered my domain. Don¡¯t assume that having some achievements in the entertainment industry automatically makes you noble. Always remember who provided you with those resources. ¡± ¡°Arturo Yates, you asshole!¡± Enraged, Sh attempted to strike him, but Arturo swiftly intercepted her wrist. ¡°How dare you strike your master?¡± Arturo rebuked her. He forcefully guided her toward the car. ¡°Let go of me! I am no Longer your servant. I have severed all ties with your family!¡± Sh protested, struggling against Arturo¡¯s hold. It waste at night with hardly any signs of activity. Only the two of them remained. ¡°Where are you taking me? Let go of me! Despite her resistance, Arturo guided her into the car, securing the door firmly. He drove her to his apartment in Morcastle, ushering her into the spacious living room before her inquiry arose. ¡°Why have you brought me here again?¡± Sh folded her arms across her chest protectively, watching him cautiously. She had anticipated Arturo doing something excessive, reminiscent of theirst encounter. However, upon his entry into the room, a noticeable calm seemed to envelop him. He retrieved a pair of women¡¯s slippers from the shoe closet and nced up at Sh. ¡°Come here, change your shoes. ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t wear other women¡¯s shoes. ¡± Observing Sh standing resolutely, unmoving, Arturo sighed helplessly. He gently took her wrist and seated her on the stool at the entryway. ¡°Arturo Yates, I hate it most when you force me!¡± Sh¡¯s eyes zed with anger as she stared at him. Arturo, avoiding her gaze, narrowed his eyes and, without looking at her, squatted down, grasping her ankles. Startled, Sh attempted to withdraw her feet, but he exerted an overpowering force, keeping her grounded. ¡°I remember you used to like this style of slippers, so I bought another pair for you. Don¡¯t be stubborn. Change them quickly. ¡± Sh gazed at the pair of slippers, her beloved fluffy slippers. Chapter 467 Somehow, her heart ached. Gently, he removed her high-heeled shoes and quietly slipped the slippers onto her feet. ¡°Your feet are red. Why don¡¯t you listen to me?¡± Arturo remarked. Wearing high heels for an extended period had been ufortable, but Sh hadn¡¯t cared until now. After slipping into the cozy slippers, an immediate sense of rxation washed over her. Arturo remained seated, extending and resting her tiny hands on her round, soft knees.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t expect gratitude for what you¡¯ve done. ¡± Sh nervously bit her red lips, lowered her feathery eyshes, and her face blushed, her tone softening. Arturo pursed his lips and then said, ¡°I¡¯m not asking for your forgiveness. I want to start over with you. Sh¡­ I lost my temper earlier and said things I shouldn¡¯t have. The sight of you with another man drives me crazy. I¡­ I only want you to give me another chance. Sh, can we go back to how we were?¡± Arturo crouched halfway in front of Sh and spoke in a tone that was almost begging, his eyes filled with hope. Sh smiled faintly. ¡°Go back to how we were? When was that? When I was your servant, following your orders and enduring your insults?¡± Arturo¡¯s brow creased. He always treated Sh like a precious gem. He didn¡¯t remember ever humiliating her. ¡°Sh, you used to have feelings for me, right?¡± Arturo gripped her arm. ¡°I have feelings for you too. Let¡¯s forget thest five years. I promise to treat you well. Believe me. ¡± ¡°You have feelings for me?¡± Sh appeared as though she¡¯d just heard a baffling joke. ¡°If those actions were your way of showing affection for me, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t ept it. ¡± In the past, when Arturo was cheerful, he¡¯d treat Sh to candies, splurge on delightful toys, and even gift her fancy jewelry. But when he was in a sour mood, he¡¯d brush her aside and flirt with other girls right before her eyes. Arturo used to bring questionable girls home, and when his mother discovered it, he¡¯d shift all the me onto Sh. He¡¯d im that these girls were Sh¡¯s friends and that she was the one who brought them over. Arturo¡¯s mother would beat and punish Sh for it. Arturo was acting like a coward, would merely watch Sh silently, never uttering a word in her defense. Was this what Arturo considered affection? That was a joke. Sh believed that only her former naive self could have been taken in by such a spineless man from the start. But now, she had awakened to reality. ¡°Sh, I admit I was wrong in the past. I¡¯m trying to change. Trust me, I¡¯ll treat you right. I mean it. I¡¯ll marry you and make sure you marry me with dignity. ¡± Arturo raised his handsome visage with confidence. Chapter 468 Did he promise to marry her? Sh was taken aback. What was he thinking? How could he marry a former maid? Would his mother ever agree to such a thing? After all these years, was he still trying to deceive her with empty promises? ¡°Arturo, enough with your empty promises. I¡¯m not the same person I once was. Your words only make me despise you more. ¡± Sh rose from the shoe stool, no longer wishing to linger. Just as Arturo was about to continue, a knock on the door interrupted him. Who could it be, knocking at such ate hour? Realizing something, Arturo quickly ushered Sh behind him.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. He whispered to her, ¡°Go inside and close the door. ¡± ncing at the door and then at Arturo, Sh offered a nonchnt node. Afterward, she spun around, strolled into the bedroom, and gently shut the door. With Sh out of sight, Arturo opened the front door. Standing there was Arturo¡¯s mother, Miranda Yates, nked by two bodyguards dressed in ck. Her expression was stern, and a prominent scar marred her left face. Stretching from the base of her ear to her cheek, distorting her once elegant features into something fearsome and intimidating. ¡°Arturo, I have heard you are in Morcastle looking for a woman. Is it true?¡± Arturo¡¯s face briefly showed surprise, but he quickly concealed it. ¡°Mom, why are you here?¡± He asked, his lips tight as he nced at the bodyguards behind her. ¡°You wait outside. ¡± Miranda directed her words to the two bodyguards standing behind her. The two men nodded obediently, ¡°Yes, madam. ¡± Once the bodyguards left, Miranda entered the room and gracefully seated herself on the living room sofa. Arturo nced towards the bedroom where Sh had disappeared, then settled into the single sofa. ¡°If I hadn¡¯te, who knows what mess you would¡¯ve created here in Morcastle. ¡± Miranda wore opulent silk attire. Even in Arturo¡¯s presence, she kept her hands neatly folded on her knees and maintained an upright posture. Her appearance and demeanor indicated her noble Lineage. ¡°Mom, do not believe everything you hear. I¡¯ve already exined I came to Morcastle for a business coboration with Domenic. Our family¡¯s prospects in Blosa are limited, and I¡¯m doing this for the sake of¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Miranda cut him off sharply, her re piercing. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d fall for that? Are you here in Morcastle because of that bitch Sh Potter?¡± A touch of irritation crossed Arturo¡¯s handsome features. ¡°Mom, please maintain the dignity befitting the head of the Yates family. Chapter 469 Avoid speaking ill of others. I¡¯d prefer you not to behave this way. ¡± Miranda scoffed in response. ¡°Have you ever heard me insult anyone other than that bitch? She¡¯s the only one who deserves it. ¡± Resentment filled Miranda¡¯s eyes and creased her brows as she spoke about Sh. Observing her obedient son defending Sh, Miranda tightened her grip on the sofa¡¯s armrest and fixed a sharp gaze on Arturo. ¡°Arturo, that bitch takes after her mother. If her mother hadn¡¯t disguised herself as a secretary, infiltrated your father¡¯spany, enticed him into infidelity, and leaked Yates Group¡¯s business secrets to our rival, we wouldn¡¯t have faced the financial crisis back then. Your father wouldn¡¯t have beenbeled a financial criminal, and he wouldn¡¯t have tragically struck Sh¡¯s mother with his car and taken his own life at home. I brought Sh back home to have her work as a servant. I wanted her to make amends for what her mother had done to our family. But this bitch enticed you while I was away. Is she aiming to ruin us, just like her mother? I just kicked her out. It was the greatest mercy that I didn¡¯t beat her to death. ¡± Receiving no response, Miranda continued, ¡°Arturo, you knew all I have done for this family since your father¡¯s demise, right? Numerous people are looking to take over the Yates Group. If I hadn¡¯t kept a firm grip on the reins, the family business would have slipped through our fingers long ago. You wouldn¡¯t be the esteemed head of the Yates family today. The scar on my face is a reminder of the attempt on my life by those individuals. I faced danger head-on to safeguard the Yates Group and you, nearly losing my life in the process. Yet, you¡¯re still entangled with the daughter of the person responsible for your father¡¯s death. Arturo, doesn¡¯t any sense of shame cross your mind?Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Miranda didn¡¯t set the bar too high for her prospective daughter-inw. As long as she was a decent, educated, and virtuous young woman, Miranda had no objections. However, it was inconceivable for that individual to be Sh. Even if she had be a renowned actress, it was utterly imusible. Miranda firmly opposed Arturo¡¯s connection with Sh, the daughter of their enemy, especially since Sh was a divorcee. ¡°Mom!¡± Though light fell on Arturo¡¯s face, it did nothing to dispel the darkness and chill that had settled on his features. ¡°I know all this. And I¡¯ve already told you, I don¡¯t care for Sh. That night, I was drunk and just messing around with her. She¡¯s moved on, got married, has a kid. Why are you bringing this up now?¡± Arturo only found out that Miranda had banished Sh from the Yates¡¯ residence after the fact. Because of this, Arturo had suppressed his longing for Sh, never visiting her until a business trip brought him to Morcastle. He had experienced hate, sorrow, and a sense of helplessness. But as years passed, he questioned why they should bear the resentment of the previous generation. The business battles were brutal, and Sh¡¯s mother ultimately sacrificed her life. The feud should have ended there. Neither he nor Sh owed anything for the past. However, Arturo concealed these thoughts from Miranda. Her fixation on the past was intense; she adored Arturo¡¯s father deeply. Even after his infidelity and subsequent death, she never held him responsible. Instead, she directed all her bitterness towards Sh¡¯s mother and Sh. This fixation had turned Miranda into a particrly dominating and formidable figure. Her ruthless tactics ensured that any dissenter wouldn¡¯tst long under her rule. Even with Arturo, her own son, she was exceedingly strict. From childhood, this instilled in Arturo a profound fear of her. Upon hearing Arturo¡¯s exnation, Miranda¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Then what¡¯s this gossip I¡¯m hearing?¡± Arturo reclined on the sofa, his usual easygoing demeanor resurfacing. ¡°It¡¯s about a girl I¡¯ve taken a Liking to recently. She got into trouble, so I lost my head a bit and had Domenic step in to assist. ¡± Chapter 470 ¡°A girl? What¡¯s her background? Is this serious?¡± Miranda¡¯s brow creased at the question. Any girl but Sh piqued her interest. She only cared if Arturo liked her. ¡°I¡¯ll probably get bored with her quickly. It¡¯s not worth mentioning,¡± Arturo said with a mischievous tone. Miranda let out a relieved breath. ¡°You can have your fun with any woman you want, just not Sh. I¡¯m only tolerating her because I¡¯m trying to be merciful. But if I find out Sh¡¯s tempting you, I swear I¡¯ll make her vanish. No one could save her. ¡± Arturo felt a shiver run through him. He stopped himself from saying more, got up, crouched down in front of Miranda, took her hand, and whispered, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no way I would ever love Sh. I despise her as much as you do. ¡± He kept his voice down, cautious not to let Sh overhear from the bedroom. He said what he did just to appease Miranda, to keep the peace with Sh. Miranda¡¯s face softened as she patted Arturo¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯ve never let me down, Arturo. Since your father died, you¡¯re all I¡¯ve got. I know you¡¯ll make the right choice. Everything I do is for you. ¡± ¡°I get it, Mom. I always listen to you,¡± Arturo murmured, his eyes narrowing. Satisfied, Miranda stood to leave. She had a flight back to Blosa that night. Arturo lingered in the living room, his thoughts veiled in wisps of smoke from a consumed cigarette. He eventually made his way to the door leading to his bedroom. Moments passed before he tapped gently on the door, which swung open almost instantly, revealing Sh behind it. Her eyes were cloaked in a veil of mist, obscuring her true emotions. ¡°Who came just now? You¡¯re so secretive. ¡± Sh met Arturo¡¯s gaze with her clear eyes. ¡°It¡¯s my mom. ¡± Arturo didn¡¯t hide it, his voice light. Sh¡¯s lips quirked upward slightly as she remarked, ¡°She cares so much about you that she chased you to Morcastle. You¡¯d better not do anything that will make her worried in the future, such as getting involved with me. ¡± Arturo¡¯s brow furrowed in thought, pondering how much of his conversation with his mother Sh might have overheard. Having spoken her piece, Sh glided past him, heading towards the entryway to change her shoes. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. ¡± Arturo turned to watch her slender figure. Her demeanor had shifted from the quiet serenity of her past self to an aura of mature detachment. Unconsciously, she had transcended from a maid sheltered by his presence to a woman capable of standing on her own.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Allow me to drive you home. It¡¯ste, and it¡¯s not safe for you to go alone,¡± Arturo offered. Arturo unexpectedly didn¡¯t stop her. Pausing in the midst of putting on her shoes, a subtle sneer flickered at the corners of Sh¡¯s mouth. Silently, they descended the stairs and entered the car. Not a word was exchanged during the journey. The vehicle halted in front of Sh¡¯s apartment building. She unfastened her seat belt and calmly stated, ¡°Thank you. ¡± ¡°Never mind. ¡± Arturo replied Lightly. Chapter 471 As if he had never been crazy about her before. Exiting the car, Sh strode into the apartment building, her posture erect, seemingly indifferent to everything around her. But as soon as the door closed behind her, tears cascaded down her cheeks like an uncontainable flood. Suppressing her sobs with one hand covering her mouth, she clutched the door handle tightly to stifle any sound. Slowly, she slid down against the door, her emotions overwhelming her. Outside, Arturo remained seated in the car. Though separated by just a door, they felt as distant as if separated by an entire world. During the conversation between Arturo and Miranda, Sh, leaning against the bedroom door, had overheard most of their exchange. Previously, Sh had been perplexed by Miranda¡¯s unkindness and the burden of menial tasks imposed upon her. She had been grateful to Miranda for taking her in after her mother¡¯s passing and had never voiced any grievances. It dawned on her that Miranda¡¯s behavior was rooted in revenge against her all along. Arturo¡¯s derations of affection towards her and his desire to marry her appeared to be nothing more than lies. Sh grappled with the realization that she didn¡¯t truly know how many other women Arturo might have been involved with. It was possible he was upset about not winning her over previously, leading him to fabricate those absurd lies to deceive her. She wondered if he still perceived her as just the humble maid from their past. Or maybe this was a part of his revenge against her? Despite Sh¡¯sck of love for Arturo now, her heart still throbbed with inexplicable pain. Tears streamed down her face as she wiped them away. After a prolonged moment, she gradually calmed herself, sinking to the ground and tenderly embracing herself. Ever since Sh could remember, she¡¯dcked a father. She and her mother had relied solely on each other.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Her mother possessed the most beautiful countenance and the kindest heart imaginable. How could such a thing have happened? What exactly happened back then? What had led to these irreversible tragedies that reshaped Sh¡¯s destiny? Perhaps she would never receive answers for the rest of her life. Slowly rising, she made her way toward her dwelling. She hadn¡¯t truly had a home before, but now, wherever ine resided, that was her home. For ine¡¯s sake, Sh vowed to remain strong. The following afternoon, Lindsey arranged to meet Shelia¡¯s ex-boyfriend at a local coffee shop. ¡°Did you tell Shelia what I saidst time? What did she say?¡± the man asked impatiently as he settled into his seat. Lindsey took a sip of her coffee and met his gaze steadily. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen her?¡± At this, the man brimmed with resentment. Gritting his teeth, he said, ¡°I tried every means to contact her, but she just didn¡¯t see me. She even had me taken to the police station. I spent a day in custody before being released. ¡± Lindsey raised her eyebrows slightly. His ount aligned precisely with her assumptions. Chapter 472 Knowing Shelia¡¯s nature, it was improbable for her to reconnect with this man. She wished to sever all ties with himpletely. Setting down her cup, Lindsey feigned a helpless sigh. ¡°I conveyed your message to Shelia. But she mentioned she¡¯s on the brink of marrying into a wealthy family and wants no association with someone like you. She also warned that if you persist in searching for her, she¡¯ll find a way to ensure you¡¯re out of her life for good. ¡± Upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s words, the man¡¯s eyes red with a fiery rage. ¡°What did you say? How could someone like her marry into wealth?¡± Lindsey affirmed firmly, ¡°She also insisted she never had any intimate rtions with you. She remains a virgin. ¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Bullshit!¡± the man cursed furiously. ¡°I have leverage against her. If she pushes me too far, I¡¯ll expose everything. She won¡¯t Like that either. ¡± The man¡¯s motive behind seeking Shelia was rooted in his assumption that she, having attained some level of stardom through an online drama, had amassed considerable wealth. Recently strapped for cash, he intended to request money from Shelia. However, his attempts to approach her were futile. Instead, he incurred expenses on travel and amodation, wasting his resources in vain pursuit. His frustration surged. As Lindsey observed, her eyes subtly narrowed, a faint smile gracing her lips. Her slender fingers traced the mug¡¯s handle as she casually remarked, ¡°You came to her seeking money, right? What if I offered to pay for whatever information you have on her? Wouldn¡¯t that be simpler for you?¡± The man scowled deeply. ¡°What do you need that information for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m proposing a deal. As for my intentions, you need not concern yourself. But rest assured, I won¡¯t disclose the source,¡± Lindsey replied coolly. Lindsey maintained her meaningful smile as she calmly spoke, ¡°You¡¯re free to decline this deal. But considering Shelia¡¯s disposition, she won¡¯t seek you out. Once she enters into this affluent family, your chances of reaching her will diminish. Stirring trouble might lead to dire consequences, especially when a powerful family decides to handle amoner; it¡¯s as effortless as crushing an ant. ¡± She continued, her tone unwavering, ¡°Even if you decide to expose her online, she could easily pay someone to erase all traces. Conversely, revealing what you possess might result in her taking drastic measures to silence you¡­ perhaps even resorting to killing you. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s clear, astute eyes fixed on the man, conveying her message without a hint of hesitation. Her words sent a shiver down the man¡¯s spine. His prior experience of being taken to the police station fueled his apprehensions. During Shelia¡¯s college days, she harbored disdain for poverty and exhibited a robust sense of vanity. If she discovered he possessed damaging information about her, she¡¯d go to great lengths to preserve her image and ensure a smooth marriage into a wealthy family. At that point, he would be in danger. His sole aim was mary gain without getting entangled with Shelia. As long as he could exchange the information he had for money, the identity of the buyer mattered Little. The man swiftly reached a decision. He looked at Lindsey and conceded, ¡°Fine, make me an offer. If the price is right, I¡¯ll sell it to you. ¡± After a long day at work, Lindsey returned home to find Domenic hadn¡¯t yet arrived. She settled onto the couch and dialed Shelia¡¯s number. Chapter 473 ¡°Hey, Lindsey. Why did you call me?¡± Shelia snapped as soon as she picked up. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°So, Shelia, I hear you¡¯re getting married into the Perry family, is that right?¡± ¡°Oh, why do you care? Are you jealous?¡± Shelia¡¯s voice oozed with smug satisfaction. ¡°Tough luck. Unlike your guy, mine¡¯s not a loser. ¡± ¡°Shelia, Dad¡¯s easy to fool, but not me. ¡± Lindsey leaned back, her voice cool and steady. ¡°The Perry family is among the top four families, you know. Jacob¡¯s their golden boy. He¡¯s bound to pick ady who¡¯s his match, wealth and all. And no offense, but that¡¯s not you. ¡± Shelia¡¯s anger red at Lindsey¡¯s taunt. Fists balled, she shot back, ¡°Just because you¡¯ve never caught a wealthy guy doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t. Jacob adores me, and he wants to marry me. He¡¯s even taking me to meet his parents soon. And you? Ever witnessed a grand feast at a rich family¡¯s home? Well, join me and you can watch if I will wed Jacob in grandeur.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Shelia took the bait. Lindsey¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s see if your words hold any truth. And if they don¡¯t, I¡¯ll be sure to let Dad know about your little charade. ¡± Shelia¡¯s grin stretched wide. Lindsey had unwittingly given her the perfect setup to embarrass her, and Shelia wasn¡¯t about to decline. She intended to crush Lindsey utterly. ¡°We have an agreement then. The dinner¡¯s this weekend at eight. I¡¯ll text you the details. And don¡¯t forget to bring your date to witness my triumph. ¡± Lindsey had to suppress a smirk after hanging up. Shelia was such an easy mark, falling for Lindsey¡¯s words without a second thought. She had a surprise waiting for Shelia, one she couldn¡¯t wait to unveil, especially with Jacob and his parents watching. Just then, the door swung open, and Domenic walked in, as dashing as ever, holding a small bag. ¡°Hey, there you are. ¡± Lindsey leaped off the couch, a bright smile on her face, and nced at the bag curiously. ¡°What¡¯s that you¡¯ve got?¡± Domenic took her hand, led her to the couch, and sat down. He pulled out a beautiful strawberry cake from the bag, its sight alone was mouthwatering. ¡°You must be exhausted after yourpany¡¯s opening day. A little sweetness helps with the happiness hormone. You¡¯ll sleep like a baby tonight. ¡± Lindsey beamed at him. ¡°Look at you, getting better at sweet-talking by the day. ¡± Like any dessert lover, Lindsey eagerly grabbed a fork and savored a bite, the sweetness melting on her tongue. ¡°This is amazing. Try some. ¡± She offered him a piece with her fork. Without a word, he epted and finished it in one bite. That¡¯s when Lindsey realized she¡¯d used that fork herself. Her cheeks warmed with a blush. Acting nonchnt, she reached for another piece. ¡°Got any ns this weekend? Fancying to a party with me?¡± He looked at her, curious. ¡°What kind of party?¡± ¡°A dinner with the Perry family. ¡± Chapter 474 ¡°The Perry family?¡± Domenic furrowed his brow a bit and questioned, ¡°Are you familiar with them?¡± Lindsey said, ¡°Of course not. The Perry family is out of my social circle.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. My sister Shelia told me that Jacob Perry wants her to meet his parents, and she¡¯s asked me toe too. I¡¯m notfortable going to these things by myself. It feels strange going alone. So, I was hoping you coulde with me¡­¡± Even though the Perry family is among the top four families, just like the Walsh family, they¡¯re the least influential of the four. They¡¯re not in the same league as the Walsh family. The Perry family has tried to work with the Walsh Group a few times but only managed to meet with some junior folks from thepany. Moreover, Domenic was a man of mystery, always staying under the radar, ensuring that his true identity as a member of the distinguished Walsh family remained hidden from sight. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll join you. These family gatherings always have a bunch of young guys around. What if someone tries to sweep my beautiful, kind, and clever fianc¨¦e off her feet?¡± Domenic¡¯s lips curled into a half-smile. ¡°You¡¯re getting quite the smooth talker!¡± Lindsey Laughed as she fed Domenic a piece of cake. Domenic squinted his eyes and with a thoughtful look, gestured towards her mouth. ¡°Right there. ¡± Lindsey blinked in surprise but then felt the dab of cream on her lips. She quickly wiped it away from the corner of her mouth. Suddenly, Domenic¡¯s gaze deepened, he reached out, holding the back of her head gently, and leaned in for a ki*s on her Lips. Reeling from the ki*s, Lindsey heard his voice close to her ear, deep and smooth. ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered how sweet your Lips would be. And they are. ¡± That weekend, the Perry family¡¯s grand banquet was held at their vi. The hill behind was dotted withnterns, Lighting up the night sky like stars on earth. Lindsey followed the directions from Shelia and reached the vi with Domenic. She looked up at the hill, now a canvas of Lights, and thought about the Perry family¡¯svish lifestyle to host such an event. Shelia appeared at the vi¡¯s entrance and saw Lindsey admiring the view. She teased, ¡°Lindsey, caught your eye, hasn¡¯t it? Not every day you see something this grand, I suppose?¡± Lindsey turned to find Shelia in a flowing gown of silk that clung and moved with her, a picture of understated sophistication. Her usual bold makeup was reced with a softer touch, and her hair was pulled back in a ssic bun, giving her the air of a refineddy. In contrast, Lindsey¡¯s choice was modest. She wore a white blouse and a skirt blooming with flowers. Next to Shelia¡¯svish look, it was quite in. Shelia¡¯s lips twitched with a smirk, d Lindsey hadn¡¯t tried to outshine her today. Shelia thought that at least Lindsey knew her ce. Then her eyes drifted to the man beside Lindsey. He stood there, hand in his pocket, ck jacket adding to his impressive presence. His striking looks made him stand out, regardless of the setting. Chapter 475 But what did it matter? To her, he was just a loser. A flicker of envy crossed her heart, but she quickly reced it with contempt, a habit she had cultivated over time. ¡°The Perry family sure does impress,¡± Lindsey remarked with a calm smile. ¡°Shelia, marrying into the Perry family would be a real Cindere story for you. You¡¯d rise to riches and fame overnight. Dad¡¯s counting on you to bring some of that Perry family¡¯s wealth to his business, to pull the Stewart family out of this rough patch. Don¡¯t let him down. ¡± Shelia detected the doubt in Lindsey¡¯s tone, the disbelief that she could be Mrs. Perry. It didn¡¯t matter. Lindsey would see she was wrong soon enough. ¡°Why would I let Dad down? Unlike you, I don¡¯t make a habit of opposing him. I¡¯m his golden girl now,¡± Shelia snapped back with a haughty lift of her chin, looking down on Lindsey. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go inside. I¡¯ll give you a tour of what a real prominent family¡¯s home is Like. ¡± The grand vi was brimming with opulence. Stepping through the grand, intricately carved doors, a lively party scene came into view. Lights dazzled and music flowed like gentle streams. Guests sipped from their sses with poise, smiles gracing their faces. Beyond therge windows, the shimmering infinity pool mirrored the grandeur of the vi. Shelia nced at Lindsey and Domenic, expecting they¡¯d be amazed by such magnificence. Imagining them staring in jealousy, she almostughed. Yet Lindsey showed no surprise or jealousy. A subtle smile yed on her lips, her gaze sharp and focused. For Domenic, the extravagance was nothing out of the ordinary.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Even in a simple leather jacket, he blended in seamlessly, exuding confidence. His stature was tall, his features chiseled, and an air of authority about him drew the young women¡¯s eyes. Could thedy at his side be his girlfriend? Lindsey clung to Domenic¡¯s arm, prompting jealous res from the other debutantes. They seemed unfazed, as if they were just at a regr gathering, which made Shelia silently scoff at their act. ¡°You¡¯re now the center of attention. I have to say you are such adies¡¯ man,¡± Lindsey remarked, noticing thedies eyeing Domenic. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Domenic teased, looking fondly at her. ¡°Should I continue to be the life of the party? I do enjoy making you jealous,¡± he added with a yful tone. ¡°Jealous? Hardly,¡± Lindsey retorted, pausing abruptly in her steps. She spotted Kendra and Benny humbly mingling with some distinguished guests. Shelia eagerly approached, taking Benny by the arm. ¡°Dad, mom, Look who¡¯s here. ¡± Chapter 476 Benny¡¯s smile vanished as he turned to find Lindsey, hands neatly in front of her, purse in grasp, greeting them sweetly, ¡°Dad, Kendra. ¡± ¡°Why are you here?¡± Kendra asked with a scowl, clearly unsettled by Lindsey¡¯s presence. Lindsey nced at Shelia and responded, ¡°Shelia invited me. I wanted to see how well she¡¯s doing. ¡± Shelia let out a huff. ¡°Mom, Lindsey doubts I can marry into the Perry family, so I brought her here to see for herself. Don¡¯t be too jealous. ¡± Lindsey simply smiled, choosing to remain silent. Benny approached Lindsey, peering into her sparkling eyes, yet her thoughts remained a mystery to him. ¡°Linds, this evening is crucial for us. Now that you¡¯re here, please keep a low profile. Don¡¯t disrupt Shelia¡¯s opportunity, or else¡­¡± Narrowing her eyes, Lindsey interjected, ¡°Or else what? Cut ties with me? Dad, remember, I handed that contract to you. You¡¯re the one who ripped it up and refused to sign. Besides, if Shelia is aspetent as she ims, I shouldn¡¯t be an issue, should I?¡± Benny¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡°Do as you wish,¡± he conceded, turning away to mingle with the upper crust, wine ss in hand. As Kendra passed Lindsey, she leaned in close, her warning low and fierce. ¡°Lindsey, don¡¯t cause trouble, or you¡¯ll regret it. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery shing a cryptic smile, Lindsey responded, ¡°Well, since you¡¯ve put it that way, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re not disappointed tonight. ¡± ¡°You¡¯d better be,¡± Kendra shot back, piercing Lindsey with onest re before moving on. ¡°Lindsey, they¡¯re throwing a big dinner tonight for the Old Mrs.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Perry¡¯s birthday,¡± Shelia said as she strolled up to stand with Lindsey, a smirk ying on her lips. ¡°Try not to embarrass us, okay? Just stay out of the way and don¡¯t act like a country bumpkin. ¡± Jacob made his entrance from upstairs, looking sharp in a perfectly cut suit and a fine bottle of red wine in hand. His smile widened as he spotted Lindsey and Domenic. It wasn¡¯t just Shelia¡¯s idea to have Lindsey around; Jacob had given the nod too. Ever since he dropped a cool two million at the equestrian club, he¡¯d been itching for a way to get back at Domenic. This party was his perfect opportunity to put them in their ce. Noticing Jacob, Shelia turned on her charm with a sweet greeting. ¡°Mr. Perry. ¡± Jacob responded by pulling her close and draping an arm around her waist intimately. He¡¯d just selected a particrly good bottle of wine from his collection. Stopping a passing waiter, he grabbed a couple of sses, filled them, and offered them to Lindsey and Domenic with a grin. ¡°Shelia wanted her sister and her brother-inw here to give them a taste of the high life. It¡¯s only right I y the gracious host for her sake. ¡± Jacob lifted his head with a smug grin. ¡°You see this wine? It¡¯s a rare vintage from Romanee-Conti, costs a fortune per bottle. Bet you¡¯ve never imagined sipping on something this fancy. But hey, I¡¯m feeling generous. It¡¯s on me. ¡± Shelia, nestled in Jacob¡¯s embrace, wore a look of pride. This time, Lindsey had to be filled with envy and jealousy. The Perry family was incredibly wealthy, and Jacob showered Shelia with affection. In the future, she would be Mrs. Perry, a position far more prestigious than Lindsey¡¯s. Chapter 477 In her mind, Shelia sneered, thinking Lindsey cannot hold a candle to her. With each passing moment, Shelia¡¯s self-admiration grew. How did she get so lucky to meet with Jacob? She nced at Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend, thinking he wasn¡¯t in the same league as Jacob. After all, it wasn¡¯t about looks. It was the status and the wealth that mattered. Those were the real tickets to a woman¡¯s happiness. Dreaming of hervish future, Shelia snuggled up even closer to Jacob. Jacob took a leisurely sip of his wine, looking thoroughly pleased. ¡°Ah, sweet and lingering. That¡¯s the mark of a great wine. ¡± Noticing Lindsey and Domenic hesitating with their sses, Jacob urged, ¡°Come on, why aren¡¯t you drinking? There¡¯s plenty more where that came from. Help yourselves. ¡± Jacob burst outughing when he caught sight of them, acting as if they¡¯d never been out in the world before. He casually mentioned to Domenic that the two million he lost to him was nothing more than the cost of a couple of wine bottles. Themotion drew the guests, who began to crowd around them. ¡°Mr. Perry, it¡¯s quite wasteful to offer a rare collection of Romanee-Conti to those who don¡¯t know their wine. ¡± ¡°Indeed! You should save it for us. ¡± Jacob just waved his hand dismissively and assured them, ¡°No need to worry. There¡¯s plenty of fine wine for the night. Help yourselves to as much as you¡¯d like. ¡± ¡°Mr. Perry, that¡¯s very generous of you!¡± Amidst the shower ofpliments, Jacob¡¯s smile vanished at the sound of Domenic¡¯s low voice. ¡°Jacob Perry, could it be that someone¡¯s tricked you?¡± Jacob¡¯s smile stiffened into a frown as he turned to Domenic. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Domenic swirled his wine ss, a small smile ying on his Lips. ¡°This wine is fake. ¡± Fake? Confused nces shot around the room. The idea seemed absurd. How could the wine from Jacob¡¯s cer be a fake? The Perry family, being one of the top four affluent families, had no need to skimp on quality. For them, authenticity was a matter of pride. ¡°You¡¯re calling this wine a fake? Have you ever even tasted something genuine?¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Chapter 478 ¡°He¡¯s just looking for attention. ¡± People nced at Domenic with scorn. Next to him, Lindsey cast a worried look his way. What made him so certain that this wine, worth a fortune, was a fake? Yet Domenic seemed unfazed by the derision. Holding the ss to his nose, he inhaled softly andmented, ¡°This supposed Romanee Conti has a rich, nuanced body, and a texture as smooth as silk. Its scent isplex, a mix of tart and sweet, reminiscent of roses losing their bloom, leaving behind an exquisite trail. ¡± With a gentle swirl of his ss, he continued, ¡°Notice how distinct the wine¡¯s ¡®tears¡¯ are, unlike any regr red wine. But the Romanee-Conti you boast of doesn¡¯t possess this characteristic. ¡± Domenic gave Jacob a smile, his expression calm, his voice confident andpelling. His words carried weight, convincing those around him. Jacob couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was more to Domenic than met the eye. Yet, Domenic¡¯s attire was simple. It was a in leather jacket without a hint of luxury, not even a fancy watch in sight. He didn¡¯t dress like someone affluent. How could he seem so knowledgeable about fine wines? Jacob questioned whether Domenic was just bluffing. ¡®s BunnyBookery But why would someone fabricate such a story here, at this moment? Was there any point? Jacob¡¯s face tensed. He looked at Domenic with scorn and let out a derisive snort. ¡°You talk like you¡¯ve sipped on Romanee Conti. ¡± ¡°Why not bring in an expert to test my im?¡± Domenic suggested, unfazed by Jacob¡¯s scorn, his smile undiminished, his stature emanating a presence that overshadowed Jacob¡¯s. The onlookers, though skeptical about Domenic, seemed entertained by the unfolding drama. They chimed in, ¡°Let¡¯s have it appraised, shall we?¡± ¡°If this wine¡¯s the real deal, these two should be shown the door. ¡± ¡°And if it¡¯s fake¡­ That¡¯s impossible. Mr. Perry wouldn¡¯t purchase a fake. ¡± The sarcasm in their voices was palpable. Jacob, feeling the heat of embarrassment, knew he had to agree to the wine appraisal. Refusing would only confirm the suspicions of his critics. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go through with it. But if that wine is genuine, you¡¯re deliberately causing a scene and spouting nonsense. Unless you bow and say sorry to me, I won¡¯t let this slide. Guards. ¡± No sooner had Jacob spoken than he signaled to his aide, instructing him to take the wine to the most renowned wine expert. Jacob was determined to see Domenic apologize. Off to the side, Shelia was giving Lindsey a hard stare. Lindsey and Domenic were her guests, yet Shelia hadn¡¯t anticipated Domenic would challenge Jacob so openly. She figured Domenic was just trying to stir up trouble for her.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Shelia deemed Lindsey and Domenic a sorry pair, with Domenic parading around as if he were something special, only to embarrass himself. When the wine¡¯s authenticity was confirmed, it would be a blow to his pride. Shelia didn¡¯t want any part of this mess. Chapter 479 With that thought, Shelia quickly distanced herself and, in a sugary tone, told Jacob, ¡°I apologize, Mr. Perry. This mess is on me. I just wanted Lindsey and her partner to enjoy the party, never expecting them to be so brazen and spew such nonsense¡­ If only I hadn¡¯t invited them. ¡± Jacob, looking affectionate, pulled Shelia close and said, ¡°You were just being nice. She¡¯s fortunate to have a sister like you. But once you¡¯re part of my family, cut ties with them. We can¡¯t have them tarnish our reputation. ¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Sure thing. ¡± Shelia snuggled into Jacob¡¯s arms contentedly, and when he hinted at her uing marriage with him, she couldn¡¯t contain her happiness. A smug look crossed her face as she nced at Lindsey. Meanwhile, Lindsey, gripping the edge of Domenic¡¯s jacket, voiced her concern with a hint of nervousness, ¡°Can you be certain? What if that¡¯s the real wine?¡± They were in the Perry¡¯s residence, and any slip-up by Domenic would not go unnoticed by Jacob. Plus, she was worried about what this meant for her own schemes¡­ Domenic gave her cheek a yful pinch and chuckled deeply. ¡°When have I ever been wrong?¡± Half an hourter, Jacob¡¯s assistant hurried back and whispered urgently to Jacob. Jacob¡¯s expression turned ashen instantly. ¡°Is that what the expert said?¡± His eyes bulging, Jacob looked as though he wanted tosh out at the messenger. The assistant replied in a shaky voice, ¡°Yes, those were the expert¡¯s words, without a doubt. ¡± Reeling from the news, Jacob took a few steps back. ¡°Mr. Perry, what¡¯s the verdict? Is the wine real or not?¡± someone inquired. Jacob¡¯s anger red as he threw his wine ss to the ground with a crash. ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ve been tricked!¡± he yelled. The room, once buzzing with chatter, went dead silent. Everyone¡¯s attention was on him. Jacob wasn¡¯t a wine expert; he just liked the expensive stuff. He had heard about the pricey Roman¨¦e-Conti and, without much thought, had a friend pick it up for him. But, it was a fake! The crowd caught on to Jacob¡¯s rage and realized the mishap. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ve reached a verdict,¡± Domenic said, raising an eyebrow at Jacob. ¡°Who¡¯d have thought, Jacob Perry, of the elite Perry family, would serve fake wine? This could really smear your family¡¯s name. ¡± ¡°Did he choose a fake wine over losing face?¡± ¡°He seems rich but easy to fool. ¡± ¡°And who¡¯s the man who spotted the fake Roman¨¦e-Conti right away?¡± ¡°This man knew it was a fake, and Jacob didn¡¯t, that¡¯s quite something. ¡± Lindsey, amazed, turned to the man next to her, seeing him in a new, impressive light. ¡°Have you had this wine before?¡± she whispered. ¡°Just once, with my boss. It¡¯s a taste you can¡¯t forget,¡± Domenic answered, smiling slightly. Chapter 480 Lindsey looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise, and said, ¡°I think I might have to take another look at you. ¡± ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± he asked, a little taken aback. Her eyes, a captivating mix of challenge and charm, narrowed. ¡°I used to think I knew quite a bit, especially around you. I had my areas of expertise. But now I see that someone in your position must see things on a much grander scale. I guess I can¡¯t just show off around you anymore. I wouldn¡¯t want you to think less of me. ¡± Domenic let out a low, warmugh and drew her close. ¡°And what exactly do you want to show off?¡± he asked, looking into her eyes, which sparkled even more up close. She turned a shade of pink, and with a yful swat at his chest, she retorted, ¡°What kind of turn is this conversation taking?¡± He leaned in, his voice a soft growl by her flushed ear. ¡°You can show off anything you like. Let¡¯s explore that further tonight. ¡± ¡°Enough, stop teasing!¡± She gave a flusteredugh, pushing him back, turning her face away to hide her reddening cheeks. Meanwhile, Jacob mmed his ss down in annoyance. Kendra and Benny made their way through the crowd to Shelia¡¯s side and pulled her away to ask in hushed tones, ¡°What¡¯s got Jacob so worked up?¡± In frustration, Shelia blurted out, ¡°That guy Lindsey brought along has made Jacob look like a fool!¡± ¡°I had a bad feeling the moment she showed up!¡± Kendra¡¯s eyes, filled with bitterness, scanned the room before settling on Lindsey. There she was, standing with poise. Her simple attire didn¡¯t take away from her elegance. With a single nce, her grace was evident. Her presence was a constant source of anxiety for Kendra. At tonight¡¯s family dinner, Jacob had only asked for Shelia to join, but Kendra had been adamant about tagging along. When she heard it was the Perry family¡¯s gathering, Benny saw an opportunity to mingle with the influential and perhaps secure some investments. So, they persuaded Shelia tomunicate with Jacob, and eventually, they were granted permission to attend. Now, with Lindsey showing up alongside that man, they were at a critical moment. If they ended up offending the Perry family, it could sabotage Shelia¡¯s chances of marrying into wealth.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Kendra nced at her daughter, feeling a mix of helplessness and frustration. Shelia¡¯s pride and impulsiveness often led her to act without thinking of the aftermath. Maybe Lindsey had tricked Shelia into inviting her on purpose. It was hard to guess her next move. All she seemed to want was to throw them into disarray! Kendra was deep in thought, determined to find a way to keep Lindsey away from the dinner. A glimpse of the infinity pool through the French windows sparked an idea, and a sly grin spread across her face. Near the pool, the Perry family had arranged for the most renowned ensemble to entertain. Kendra approached Lindsey with a deceitful smile. ¡°Linds, didn¡¯t you use to love ying the violin as a kid? What made you stop after growing up?¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression clouded, and she pressed her lips together tightly. Why was Kendra bringing this up out of the blue? Chapter 481 As a young girl, Lindsey had shown promise with the violin, prompting her mother to hire a celebrated violinist for lessons, an expensive tutor who charged by the minute. The annual cost of these lessons was close to a million. Once her parents got divorced, her father, struggling with the expenses, put an end to her violin lessons. Being understanding, young Lindsey silently set aside her beloved instrument, continuing to practice only in secret. She often thought that had she left with her mother, she might have be a skilled violinist. Lindsey let out a bitter chuckle. Life was likeing to a crossroads. One wrong turn could lead you down an entirely different path. But the choices were hers, and regardless of the challenges, she was determined to keep moving forward without any regrets. Kendra had always known how much Lindsey cherished ying the violin since her childhood. Once Kendra started working for the Stewart family, she noticed the sweet strains of violin music often filled Lindsey¡¯s room. ¡°Linds, the Perry family invited the most famous ensemble in Morcastle for a performance today. Guess who¡¯s ying? Monica Hughes, the renowned violinist. You¡¯re really expanding your horizons by spending the day with Shelia. ¡± Monica Hughes¡­ Lindsey¡¯s eyes flickered. Her old violin teacher had thest name Hughes. Could it be the same person? Overhearing their talk, Shelia lifted her head with a smug smile. ¡°That¡¯s right. Without me, you¡¯d never get the chance to experience such skillful music, much less meet Ms. Hughes. ¡± They were clearly unting this fact in front of her. Peering out the window, Lindsey noticed an ensemble performing by the pool.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Driven by curiosity about whether this Monica Hughes was her childhood mentor, she found herself walking towards them, almost as if pulled by a maic force. Kendra let out a softugh and trailed after Lindsey, aware of her budding interest. Lindsey¡¯s gaze was drawn to the woman at the heart of the ensemble, ying the violin with effortless grace. She stood there, watching her, speechless. Even though Lindsey couldn¡¯t recall Ms. Hughes¡¯s face, the splendor of her violin performance had long been imprinted in her memory. Suddenly, Monica nced over at Lindsey. Catching her gaze, Lindsey quickly looked away, unable to meet Monica¡¯s eyes. Monica had once been full of hope for her, even offering to cut her lesson fees in half. But she, eager to save her father some money, had falsely imed she lost interest in the violin and no longer wished to continue her Lessons. This lie angered her mentor, and she walked out on Lindsey. Now, as they faced each other again, Lindsey was overwhelmed with regret, feeling she had let her mentor down. After a recent performance, Monica suggested everyone take a break. She set her violin aside and approached Lindsey. ¡°You¡¯ve been watching me closely, youngdy,¡± Monica said softly. ¡°Do you have a fondness for the violin?¡± Lindsey bowed her head, nodding slightly without a word. Chapter 482 Kendra then seized Lindsey¡¯s arm and announced to Monica, ¡°Ms. Hughes, you¡¯re right. Lindsey adores the violin. She¡¯s been longing for a chance to y for you, perhaps to receive some guidance. ¡± Monica regarded Kendra with a look of disdain, then turned to Lindsey with a warm smile. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s fine by me. ¡± Lindsey lifted her gaze to the violin resting on the shelf by the pool. It had been ages since shest yed, and the sight of her old instrument stirred something deep within her. Yet, she dismissed the thought with a shake of her head. ¡°No, let¡¯s not. It¡¯s been too long. I¡¯ve probably forgotten how to y,¡± she said. ¡°Just give it a try. There¡¯s hardly anyone around. It won¡¯t hurt,¡± Monica coaxed, her voice as encouraging as it was years ago. While Lindsey wavered, Kendra reached out, seized Lindsey¡¯s arm, and tugged her toward the violin. ¡°Come on, Linds, Ms. Hughes is right. This chance is rare. Stop making excuses. There¡¯s no need to y shy,¡± she urged. ¡°Kendra, stop it. Let me go,¡± Lindsey protested, detesting Kendra¡¯s grip on her. But Kendra was relentless, pressing Lindsey¡¯s hand against the violin. ¡°Stop being stubborn, Linds. I¡¯m just thinking of you. You loved the violin. It¡¯s only because of your dad you stopped. You¡¯ve held that grudge for years. I know you¡¯re dying to y again. Don¡¯t be shy. ¡± Domenic was about to intervene as he watched Kendra¡¯s persistent hold, but before he could act, the scuffle sent Lindsey tumbling forward into the pool. With a ssh, she hit the water. ¡°Oh no! Linds! Someone help!¡± Kendra crouched by the poolside, tears streaming down her face, yet a slight smile betrayed her true feelings. She was the one who had nudged Lindsey into the water during their scuffle. As the onlookers gasped amidst the ssh, a shadowy figure shed his coat and dove into the pool with haste. Lindsey emerged, gasping for air, only to be hoisted up by someone.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Domenic hade to her rescue. His wet hair was on his forehead, and his shirt clung to his toned physique. He snatched up his jacket from the ground and wrapped it around Lindsey, who was trembling slightly. His hands,rge and restless, held her drenched shoulders as he scanned her worriedly. ¡°Linds, are you alright?¡± Lindsey fluttered her eyshes open to look at Domenic. She had seen him leap into the water without a second thought to save her. Now, soaked to the skin, droplets slid down from his damp hair, but he seemed oblivious to his own state, concern etched in his gaze. ¡°Were you terrified? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here with you now. ¡± He gently patted her head. With a face full of emotions, Lindsey pursed her lips before erupting intoughter. ¡°I can swim just fine. Nevertheless, I¡¯m truly touched by your gant act of rescue, risking your own safety for me. ¡± Domenic breathed out a sigh of relief, gently tapping her forehead. ¡°Regardless of your aquatic prowess, I¡¯de to your rescue regardless. But it¡¯s evident our acquaintancecks depth. Let¡¯s converse at lengthter. I wish to know more about you. ¡± Chapter 483 As Lindsey aimed her fist toward Domenic, he intercepted, sping her hand in his. With Lindsey fine, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. As the tranquility settled between them, Kendra abruptly dashed toward Lindsey, visibly concerned. Squatting down, she inquired, ¡°Linds, are you alright? The dinner is imminent. It¡¯s unwise to attend in your current state. Return to change, perhaps even visit a doctor. You can¡¯t catch a cold. ¡± Kendra¡¯s sudden concern triggered a realization in Lindsey. It dawned on her that this orchestrated scenario was a deceitful ploy concocted to oust her from the scene. ¡°Mr. Walsh, did you catch that? Someone¡¯s shedding crocodile tears,¡± Lindsey disregarded Kendra, arching her brows at Domenic. Domenic chuckled, assisting Lindsey to her feet, enveloping her in his embrace. Kendra shot a covert re at Lindsey but then realized something and turned to Domenic. Was this man¡¯s surname Walsh? ¡°Absolutely. You must change your clothes lest you catch a cold. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°The city¡¯s quite a stretch away. Doubt they¡¯ll make it in time. . Kendra was ted by the guests¡¯ statements. At that moment, Benny approached, casting a frown upon seeing Lindsey. ¡°You can¡¯t present yourself to Old Mrs. Perry in such disarray! Swiftly change your clothes, avoid any discourtesy!¡± Benny feared Lindsey could bring embarrassment on him before the Perry family if she appeared unkempt. Ignoring Benny, Lindsey fixed her gaze on Kendra, sneering, ¡°Kendra, you deliberately pushed me into the pool just now. If you wished to oust me, there were better ways. ¡± Kendra had made a stealthy move just now. Kendra swiftly adopted a forlorn expression, tugging at Benny¡¯s sleeve.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Benny, Lindsey alwaysmented her inability to pursue violin lessons due to financial constraints. Today, by chance, she met Monica Hughes, hoping for guidance but was too embarrassed. I merely attempted to assist, leading to an inadvertent pool mishap. I tried to aid her, yet she turned on me. I shouldn¡¯t have bothered in the first ce!¡± Since Benny had rebuked Kendra previously, she had been ignored for days, nursing a grudge against Lindsey. Benny gave Kendra a quick nce. Shelia got to meet Jacob¡¯s parents today. For some reason, the two of them thought the same thing about one thing at the same time, regardless of what Kendra had said. Their intention was to remove Lindsey from the picture and prevent her from interfering with Shelia¡¯s marriage. This had to do with the Stewart family¡¯s future growth. Casting a nce at Kendra, Benny¡¯s countenance turned icy. ¡°Linds, I¡¯ve mentioned before, it¡¯s not that I opposed your violin pursuits, but the expenses were prohibitive. Ourpany was in its infancy, and choices were limited. Your regrets are known to us all. While Kendra might have acted hastily today, it¡¯s for your benefit. Don¡¯t behave childishly. You¡¯ve seen what¡¯s necessary. I¡¯ll arrange a cab to escort you back. ¡± Chapter 484 Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but find it ironic that her dad and stepmom saw her as the troublemaker, pretending they were the innocent ones.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Back in the day, when her dad said no to violin lessons, she didn¡¯t kick up a fuss orin, understanding his struggles. But now, why was she being med? She had always been kind and reasonable, yet now it seemed to count for nothing. Her heart, once tender, was now immune to the swings of emotion. She felt none of it was worth her effort anymore. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to drop off some clothes. ¡± Noting the determination on Lindsey¡¯s face, Domenic figured she had her own agenda for attending this family dinner. Just as he was about to reach for his phone to dial, a sophisticated and graceful female voice interrupted. ¡°No need for that. You don¡¯t have to go anywhere. Mrs. Evelyn Perry and I go way back. I¡¯m sure she can spare some clean clothes for you,¡± Monica stated as she approached. Kendra¡¯s face tensed up at once. ¡°Ms. Hughes, but. . It wouldn¡¯t be right for Lindsey to wear Mrs. Perry¡¯s clothes. We shouldn¡¯t let her dirty them. Maybe it¡¯s best if she just goes home. ¡± Monica¡¯s gaze on Kendra was icy as she retorted, ¡°The dinner tonight is to honor the Perry family¡¯s guests. Lindsey fell into the pool at their ce, so they should take care of it. It¡¯s only a dress. ¡°Would Mrs. Perry really mind? Or do you think Mrs. Perry Lacks generosity?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. It¡¯s just¡­Kendra¡¯s lips quivered as she forced a strained smile. ¡± She had everything mapped out in her head, yet she never saw iting that Monica would go to great lengths for Lindsey. People of such wealth and status were usually aloof and self-centered, uncaring towards strangers unless it served their interests. Why was Lindsey always so lucky? ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A sharp voice sliced through the air from the vi¡¯s entrance, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. They turned to see Jacob¡¯s mother, Evelyn Perry, poised and regal in an elegant evening gown. A hush fell over the crowd; no one wanted to get involved. They preferred to stay out of it and just watch the drama unfold. Upon seeing Evelyn, Monica approached her with a respectful nod. ¡°Mrs. Perry, there was a small mishap. Thisdy identally fell into the pool, and her clothes were soaked. Her friend jumped in to rescue her. Could we possibly get some dry clothes to prevent them from catching a cold?¡± Evelyn nced over at Lindsey and Dominic before softly gripping Monica¡¯s arms, her stern expression melting into a warm smile. ¡°Certainly. Ms. Hughes, you¡¯re acquainted with thisdy?¡± Monica returned the smile thinly. ¡°Yes, we go way back. ¡± Kendra¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. The idea of them being acquainted long ago appeared hard to believe. Evelyn confirmed with a nod. ¡°It all makes sense now. You wouldn¡¯t stand up for someone you didn¡¯t know. Since you¡¯re acquainted with her, I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s treated well. ¡± With those words, Evelyn instructed her servants to escort Lindsey and Domenic to the dressing room. Chapter 485 The wealth of the Perry family was unmistakable. Their dressing room alone was the size of a typical home, stocked with an array of clothing. A maid guided Lindsey to where thedy¡¯s attire was kept, revealing arge wardrobe filled with stunning evening gowns. ¡°Miss, these garments are all new.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Mrs. Perry says you may select any that you like,¡± the maid offered. Lindsey¡¯s gaze was fixed on the expansive array of gowns. The opulence of the wealthy had truly astounded her for the first time that evening. Drawn to a particr piece, she reached out and picked a dress of red velvet. ¡°Miss, that¡¯s a great choice. The dress looks really nice on you. ¡± The maids at the Perry household were quick topliment, especially when they noticed someone favored by Mrs. Perry, they couldn¡¯t be sweeter. ¡°Is that so? Thanks. ¡± Lindsey offered a small, restrained smile. Truth be told, she had picked this particr dress because it appeared modestly priced. The other options were shy and clearly expensive. And she wasn¡¯t used to wearing such vibrant colors in public. After she chose the dress, a maid did her makeup to match the red fabric. The transformation was so striking that even the maid was taken aback. Stepping out of the dressing room, Lindsey bumped into Domenic, who had also changed. He was examining his sleeves. Their eyes met, and she paused. He looked up, his usually stern gaze warming at the sight of her. ¡°That¡¯s a good look on you. ¡± His smile widened, and he offered his arm. ¡°Shall we?¡± Lindsey linked her arm with his, tilting her head yfully. ¡°I bet you¡¯ll have all thedies¡¯ attention tonight. ¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Domenic nced downward and inquired. ¡°Because you¡¯re so good-looking!¡± she eximed. With a warm smile, Domenic yfully tweaked Lindsey¡¯s nose and replied, ¡°You have a way withpliments. Keep theming. I enjoy them. ¡± Arm in arm, they descended the stairs. As they made their entrance into the bustling hall, the crowd began to settle. All eyes were on Lindsey and Domenic as they made their way down from the second floor. ¡°Wow, look at that handsome guy!¡± a guest whispered, hand over her mouth in awe. ¡°The kids we¡¯d have would be gorgeous,¡± another one said, letting her imagination run wild. Dressed in a sharp ck suit with his hair slicked back, Domenic¡¯s striking features were on full disy. His ck tiey perfectly against his crisp white shirt, and his trousers cut a sharp silhouette, exuding the cool,manding presence of a business tycoon. His posture radiated an aloof, regal air. Chapter 486 He had the broad shoulders, trim waist, and long legs of a runway model, captivating everyone¡¯s gaze. The elite women of society buzzed with excitement, all of them eager to learn everything about him.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Who¡¯s that woman with him? Howe we didn¡¯t notice her before?¡± someone asked, taken aback. Everyone¡¯s expressions turned to frowns when a shriek pierced the air from among the guests. ¡°She¡¯s Shelia¡¯s sister. She was here a moment ago, but no one noticed her in those in clothes. Who knew she¡¯d look so stunning when she got all dressed up!¡± Surprise flickered in every pair of eyes. The young woman before them was d in a red gown that made her fair skin glow. The dress hugged her slim waist perfectly, fiery and vibrant, shining like the sun. Shelia¡¯s hands balled into tight fists, her anger simmering. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Lindsey had ended up in the water, nor why Jacob¡¯s mother had taken her to change into such a stunning dress. Staring at Lindsey¡¯s enchanting look, envy coursed through her. She wished she could make her sister vanish and regretted the decision to invite her. Kendra¡¯s gaze on Lindsey was filled with bitterness. Her n to get rid of her backfired, only to make her more dazzling. The red dress seemed as if it was crafted just for her. Her daughter, Shelia, was suddenly relegated to a mere background character. Kendra seethed with frustration. She med herself for bringing this upon herself! Lindsey approached Shelia and Kendra with a smile. ¡°Kendra, you probably think the dress I wore earlier was too in. That¡¯s why you put in so much effort to help me find a better one. Thank you. ¡± Shelia widened her eyes and exchanged a nce with Kendra. Suddenly, Kendra¡¯s expression shifted. She bit her lower lip and twitched the corner of her mouth. ¡°Old Mrs. Perry has arrived!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Someone called out, and everyone¡¯s attention shifted upstairs. They watched as a few servants assisted Melinda Perry downstairs, followed by Jacob¡¯s parents, Arthur Perry and Evelyn. The hall filled with guests gathered on both sides of the staircase, gazing up at Melinda. Jacob approached Melinda first, eximing, ¡°Grandma!¡± Melinda leaned on a cane adorned with a golden phoenix pattern, exuding the poise and elegance of a prominent family. Her face Lit up with joy seeing Jacob, and she descended the stairs to sp his hand. ¡°Jacob, where¡¯s your girlfriend? Have you brought her with you? Let me meet her. ¡± Jacob was the darling of the family. Not only did Arthur and Evelyn adore him, but Melinda, who was nearly a century old, also adored him. After all, Jacob was the youngest in the family. That¡¯s why Jacob was so arrogant. For his marriage, his family only asked that it be a girl of his liking, decent and educated. Despite the tolerant conditions, Jacob had been hesitant to tie the knot. However, they had heard that he was in a serious rtionship this time, and his family, and especially Melinda were eager to meet this young woman. Jacob had no choice but to introduce Shelia to them. Chapter 487 The highlight of Melinda¡¯s day was meeting Jacob¡¯s girlfriend. If the girl turned out to be kind and decent, it could mean wedding bells in their future. Melinda¡¯s greatest wish was to see Jacob start a family before her death. She held high hopes for this young woman. ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s her. ¡± Jacob gestured toward where Shelia stood with a wave of his hand. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey and Shelia stood shoulder to shoulder. When they noticed Jacob¡¯s wave, they both turned to look at him simultaneously. Melinda approached them using her cane. Aware that Jacob was calling her, Shelia beamed with anticipation. After tonight, her marriage with Jacob would be a sure thing. She would be the envy of everyone. Her life had never shone so brightly before. With a wide grin, Shelia approached Melinda, extending her hands to offer support. However, Melinda didn¡¯t even acknowledge her presence. She walked past Shelia and went straight to Lindsey, enthusiastically taking hold of her hands and giving her a thorough once-over. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she spoke, ¡°Youngdy, you must be Jacob¡¯s girlfriend. You¡¯re stunning, and your demeanor is impable. That red dress suits you wonderfully. I liked such a vibrant red dress when I was your age. By the way, what does your family do? Go ahead, tell me everything about you. ¡± A hush fell over the gathering. It was awkward. Jacob¡¯s actual girlfriend had already arrived, yet Melinda still confused Lindsey for Jacob¡¯s girlfriend. Lindsey hadn¡¯t drawn much attention standing beside Shelia at the beginning. But now, in her dazzling evening gown and delicate makeup, she outshone everyone, leaving Shelia feeling overshadowed. Anyone who saw Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but be captivated, especially Melinda, who eagerly anticipated her grandson¡¯s choice of a girlfriend. People exchanged nces, their eyes filled with amusement and sympathy as they shifted their focus to Shelia. Then, their gazes returned to Jacob, whose attention was fixed on Lindsey. Jacob was also amazed by her beauty today. Shelia¡¯s expression shifted dramatically. She was filled with the urge to dash forward, rip Lindsey¡¯s red dress to shreds, and scratch her pretty face. Kendra suddenly realized she might have made a grave mistake. Not only had she inadvertently made Lindsey the center of attention, but she had also drawn Melinda¡¯s interest towards her. She wondered how she could rectify this situation for her daughter. Benny, caught off guard by the unfolding events, stood by, unsure of how to react. Lindsey, poised and calm, rified, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯m not Jacob¡¯s girlfriend. The person you¡¯re looking for is right there. ¡± She then directed her gaze towards Shelia.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Melinda¡¯s expression instantly turned rigid. She shifted her attention to Shelia. She frowned unhappily. Shelia, attempting to maintainposure, forced a smile and introduced herself, ¡°Nice to meet you, I am Jacob¡¯s girlfriend, Shelia. ¡± Chapter 488 The smile on Melinda¡¯s face vanished, reced by a chilly gaze. She examined Shelia from head to toe, then summoned Jacob over. Doubting her own perceptions, Melinda questioned Jacob, ¡°Is this woman really your girlfriend?¡± Jacob nced at Shelia and affirmed, ¡°Yes, Grandma. She¡¯s my girlfriend, and the woman beside her is her sister, Lindsey. ¡± Melinda looked at Shelia closely. Years of experience in a prominent family had honed her ability to read people. She couldn¡¯t help but question why her grandson, who grew up in a rich family and held a high position at Ray Films, encountering numerous beautiful women, would choose someone who appeared so artificially charming. On the surface, Shelia seemed innocent and pure, but Melinda sensed underlying cunning and vulgarity. She realized she paled inparison to the stunning girl before her. They were sisters, yet it was obvious who shone brighter when they stood side by side. Why did Jacob opt for the less appealing one? Though Melinda was reluctant to admit it, she was content knowing her grandson was happy. As an old woman, she acknowledged she might be out of touch with the younger generation¡¯s tastes. Melinda offered Shelia a forced smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made a mistake, please forgive me. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. It doesn¡¯t bother me. ¡± Shelia made an effort to smile, aiming to leave a positive impression on Melinda. Melinda nced once more at Lindsey, holding onto a sliver of hope, but then resigned herself to the reality and joined the other guests. Arthur dered the start of the family celebration. Everyone joyfully wished Melinda a happy birthday. They all have prepared very expensive gifts. Shelia, Kendra, and Benny too had invested significantly in their gifts for Melinda¡¯s birthday celebration. After presenting her gift, Shelia approached Lindsey with a look of disdain. ¡°It¡¯s Mrs. Melinda Perry¡¯s birthday. Didn¡¯t you prepare a gift for her?¡± Lindsey, arms crossed and one hand clutching her chin, eyed Shelia and teased, ¡°Take a guess. ¡± ¡°Ha, I bet you didn¡¯t prepare anything at all!¡± With a smirk, Shelia hid the fact that it was Melinda¡¯s birthday from Lindsey, hoping to see her embarrass herself. The guests nearby turned their attention to Lindsey, ¡°Really? You came to the birthday without a gift?¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite rude, not even knowing basic social etiquette!¡± ¡°Maybe she is too poor to get a decent gift. ¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Even in those fancy clothes, it just proves that while the Perry family¡¯s wardrobe is impressive, those wearing them might still be poor underneath. ¡± Shelia felt a surge of satisfaction hearing the mockingments about the two. She thought that when Melinda discovered Lindsey hadn¡¯t brought a gift, she would surely be displeased, making Shelia more favorable in her eyes. Just as Shelia smiled proudly and imagined what would happenter. Suddenly, the doors of the Perry family vi swung open, and two sharply dressed men entered. Chapter 489 They wore white gloves and carried a tray of aromatic wood, covered with a red silk cloth. Instantly, they captured the attention of all the guests, drawing everyone¡¯s eyes to them. Both men wore a namete studded with diamonds pinned to their chests. Someone in the crowd recognized the emblem and gasped in surprise. ¡°They¡¯re from Imperial Treasure. ¡± Imperial Treasure was a renowned jewelry brand in the country. The most luxurious and exclusive jewelry in the nation came from Imperial Treasure.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. These pieces were beyond price, and not avable for public purchase. Every two years, Imperial Treasure unveiled a new creation, disyed only for public viewing, and not for sale. Having an item from Imperial Treasure¡¯s collection was a top-tier status symbol. Even elite families like the Perry family couldn¡¯t im ownership of Imperial Treasure¡¯s collections. The sudden appearance of Imperial Treasure representatives raised eyebrows. Could the item on the tray they carried be¡­ The two well-dressed men approached Melinda, their smiles polished and professional. They said, ¡°Mrs. Perry, this is the birthday gift from Miss Lindsey Stewart. We hope you¡¯ll graciously ept it. ¡± With that, one of the men gently removed the red silk from the tray, unveiling a ne of agate beads. The agates were unprocessed, showcasing their natural beauty. Each stone was distinct in its features and shape. The rarity of such an agate bead ne¡­ was beyond measure. Adding to its value, it was a creation of the esteemed Imperial Treasure, elevating its rarity and significance. Everyone around was astonished. Those who had earlier mocked Lindsey and Domenic were now craning their necks to get a better look at the ne. They resembled people who had never seen such luxury before. Their view of Lindsey suddenly changed, filled with awe and a hint of fear. Who on earth was this Lindsey, capable of gifting something from Imperial Treasure? The ne was incredibly valuable. Yet, Lindsey herself was just as baffled. She had no idea when or how she had arranged such a gift. She nced at Domenic, who seemed to sense her gaze. To hide the fact that he was secretly behind this surprise, he averted his eyes and said, ¡°Linds, I didn¡¯t know you had connections with Imperial Treasure. You¡¯re quite extraordinary. It looks like I¡¯ll need to rely on you even more. ¡± Initially, Lindsey suspected that Domenic was behind everything. However, observing his reaction, she dismissed the idea. It seemed unlikely he could secure items from Imperial Treasure. So, who was responsible? Lindsey always felt that there was a very powerful person behind her who seemed to have been helping her secretly. In the past, she had this feeling faintly, but she was not sure. But today she was almost sure. This realization brought a mix of unease and anxiety. Who could be offering her such significant help? Lindsey scanned the room but couldn¡¯t find any clues. Chapter 490 Benny, Kendra, and Shelia stood in stunned silence. They couldn¡¯t fathom how Lindsey could afford such a luxurious gift. Benny gazed at Lindsey, filled with disbelief. What more was there to her that he was unaware of? He was astounded by her connection to Imperial Treasure. Her resources and background seemed incredibly vast. Then why hadn¡¯t she assisted hispany during its struggles? His feelings toward Lindsey were a mix of disappointment and increased respect. Upon realizing the gift was from Imperial Treasure, Melinda reached out with a trembling hand to gently lift the ne. Melinda had always yearned for an item from Imperial Treasure¡¯s collection. Despite her efforts over many years, she had never seeded in acquiring one. In Morcastle, only the Walsh and Lawson families, among the four major ns, had any ties to Imperial Treasure. The other Stewart family members had presented quite ordinary gifts, but this extraordinary ne came from Lindsey. This indicated that it wasn¡¯t the Stewart family who were influential, but rather Lindsey herself. Could Lindsey be connected to either the Walsh or the Lawson family? Considering this, Melinda¡¯s disappointment deepened. Why had Jacob chosen Shelia over Lindsey?! If Lindsey indeed had powerful connections, the Perry family could potentially leverage that to elevate their standing among the four prominent families in Morcastle. However, on second thought, Shelia was Lindsey¡¯s sister and family bonds often came into y. She would naturally support her family in some way. Reflecting on this, Melinda felt considerably more at ease. If Lindsey did have any ties with those two families, Jacob wouldn¡¯t be able to marry her. ¡°Lindsey, I appreciate the expensive gift you¡¯ve given me. I truly adore it,¡± Melinda said warmly as she looked at Lindsey. Lindsey responded with a somewhat awkward smile. ¡°It just urred to me that Lindsey appears to be the head of the newly established Lindnita Artists Agency! It was trending at the top of the search results back then. ¡± Ray Films belonged to the Perry family, so among the guests at the event, there were naturally some from the entertainment industry. Initially, Lindsey had gone unnoticed due to her simple attire. However, with the presentation of the valuable ne, Lindsey¡¯s name rapidly spread throughout the gathering, and she was soon recognized. ¡°Lindnita Artists Agency, huh? I¡¯ll keep it in mind and drop by sometime. ¡± ¡°My daughter has always aspired to enter the entertainment industry. Would Lindsey¡¯s new agency be open to talent?¡± ¡°With such a strong background, herpany surely has a promising future. We should discuss potential coborations soon. ¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. At that moment, Lindsey¡¯spany garnered significant attention and a boost in reputation. Chapter 491 Domenic¡¯s purpose behind the gift had been aplished. ¡°Shelia, your sister runs her ownpany and is really impressive. What about you?¡± Evelyn inquired as she looked at Shelia. Shelia nervously bit her lip and admitted, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m an actress at Ray Films. ¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Evelyn nodded, showing a hint of disappointment. She must have secured a role at Ray Films with Jacob¡¯s assistance. Furthermore, Shelia¡¯s name didn¡¯t ring a bell in the entertainment industry. She appeared to be rtively unknown. The gap between the two sisters was striking! ¡°The entertainment world can be quite unpredictable. Jacob, your girlfriend¡­¡± A touch of discontent flickered in Evelyn¡¯s astute gaze. ¡°Mom, Shelia has just graduated. She is pure and unworldly. ¡± Jacob held Shelia close and vouched for her, saying, ¡°She¡¯s always been faithful and never dated anyone else but me. She¡¯s unlike those flirtatious women. ¡± In truth, Jacob didn¡¯t have a strong desire to marry Shelia. He had brought her here today for two reasons: to appease his family¡¯s relentless pressure for marriage and to persuade her into sharing her first intimate moment with him before tying the knot. Although Jacob wasn¡¯t enthusiastic about marriage, his family¡¯s demands were relentless. Additionally, fulfilling his grandmother¡¯s wish was of utmost importance. Despite being a yer, Jacob held a deep filial respect for Melinda, who had always favored him. Being in the entertainment industry, he knew the moralplexities that often captivated women. The wealthy girls, born of good upbringing and strong morals, were like lifeless statues, devoid of any romantic passion, which bored Jacob. However, Shelia was unique.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. She held onto her innocence and willingly joined him in fun and games. Aside from asional impatience, she waspatible with Jacob in other ways. Jacob¡¯s intention to marry Shelia wasn¡¯t about sharing his life with her but to appease his family¡¯s pressure to marry and fulfill his grandmother¡¯s wish. Sheliacked any significant family connections and wouldn¡¯t be a threat to him. This way, he couldfortably immerse himself in the morous world. Even when he returned home, Shelia wouldn¡¯t be a dullpanion. It was like having the best of both worlds. Evelyn had recently dispatched someone to gather information about the Stewart family. The results showed that the Stewart family managed a modestpany and they weren¡¯t affluent, but their reputation was untarnished. Upon hearing Jacob¡¯s assertion that Shelia had never had a boyfriend before him, Evelyn couldn¡¯t help but hold a high opinion of Shelia. Conversely, Lindsey had a more striking appearance. She possessed beauty andpetence, but her nature was far from stable, rendering her unsuitable for marriage. No one could ascertain how many influential individuals she had secretly associated with to attain her current position. She doubted Lindsey¡¯s innocence. So, for Jacob, having a pure and innocent girl like Shelia was the better choice. Evelyn murmured a few words to Melinda, sharing her thoughts. Melinda cast a nce at Shelia. While Melinda favored Lindsey, her grandson liked Shelia, and Evelyn had a point. Jacob wouldn¡¯t be able to handle a woman Like Lindsey. While Jacob hadn¡¯t been in a serious romantic rtionship before, it seemed he was taking this one seriously. If Melinda were to voice her objections and upset Jacob, it could further dy his marriage. After pondering for a moment, Melinda nodded in agreement. Chapter 492 Observing this, Evelyn approached Jacob and Shelia. ¡°Jacob, Shelia is a wonderful young woman. You should cherish her. Today, your grandmother¡¯s birthday, it¡¯s an opportune moment to formalize your marriage. How about celebrating two joyful asions at once?¡± Kendra and Benny happened to be close by. Hearing that, they were so thrilled that they nearly leaped for joy. Shelia was about to marry into a wealthy family! Their daughter¡¯s exceptional qualities had won her the favor of the Perry family from their very first encounter, and now she was on the verge of bing engaged on the spot. Henceforth, Kendra and Benny would be Jacob¡¯s future inws and anyone who crossed their path would have to treat them with respect and ttery. ¡®s BunnyBookery Benny eagerly rubbed his hands together. The investment challenge troubling hispany seemed poised to find a solution. With Shelia¡¯s assistance and the Perry family¡¯s support in the future, hispany was bound to expand significantly. Perhaps one day, it might rank among the toppanies in the country. He also wished Lindsey could be as aplished and willing to contribute to the family. With these thoughts in mind, Benny cast a disappointed nce at Lindsey. Meanwhile, Shelia¡¯s heart brimmed with joy. She felt like she stood on clouds, gazing at these ordinary individuals. She was on the verge of bing a wealthydy atst. The trials she had faced had been stepping stones to her personal growth. She would hold a prominent position and possess immense wealth in the future. There would be no more envy of Lindsey or feelings of inferiority to others. Lindsey could never be able to surpass her. Lindsey would ultimately be defeated by her. Of course, Shelia wanted to share this good news with Lindsey. She approached Lindsey, crossed her arms, and asserted, ¡°Lindsey, do you believe me now? Are you convinced? I¡¯ve always said I would marry into the Perry family. You¡¯ve worked for so long. What¡¯s the point? How can a smallpanypete with the Perry family among the four prestigious families? In the end, you won¡¯t evene close to my sess. Consider my suggestion. A woman¡¯s marital prospects matter more than her background. Regardless of your past pride, you¡¯ll eventually be overshadowed by me. ¡± Lindsey narrowed her eyes and maintained a smile. She gazed at Shelia with clear, exquisite eyes and replied, ¡°The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Have you ever heard of this before?¡± ¡°Lindsey, no need to overreact. You¡¯re just feeling envious. ¡± Shelia couldn¡¯t fathom why Lindsey remained soposed at this critical juncture. Just then, Evelyn¡¯s voice filled the room, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, in celebration of Melinda¡¯s birthday today, I have an important announcement.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. My son Jacob and Miss Shelia Stewart are getting engaged¡­¡± At that moment, Jacob¡¯s phone buzzed with a new message. He pulled out his phone to read the message. His body tensed all of a sudden. Shelia, standing close to Jacob, looked smug and superior. Noticing Jacob¡¯s intense focus on the message, she grasped his arm and said, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You look so serious. ¡± Jacob turned to Shelia, his eyes red and furious, and pped her across the face! Shelia hit the floor hard from the p. Dazed, she held her reddened, swollen cheek, staring up at Jacob, her eyes wide with disbelief. The unexpected turn of events left everyone in the room bewildered. What had just happened? Chapter 493 Evelyn had only moments ago announced their engagement, and now Jacob had struck his fianc¨¦e? That was a bit of a quick turnaround. ¡°Jacob, what is this behavior?¡± Melinda banged her cane on the floor, scolding him sharply. Jacob¡¯s demeanor was like that of a wild beast, his eyes bloodshot and his face contorted with rage. He red at Shelia, whoy on the floor, his hands shaking with fury, ¡°You deceitful bitch! How could you lie to me like this!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m confused. I¡¯ve never lied to you!¡± Shelia scrambled over and clung to Jacob¡¯s leg, her tears flowing freely. ¡°Get off me!¡± Jacob shoved Shelia away, sending her sprawling onto the marble floor. ¡°Shelia!¡± Kendra rushed to Shelia¡¯s side and supported her. She red at Jacob, ¡°Mr. Perry, if you have something to say, just say it. How can you hit Shelia?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Evelyn approached Jacob and seized his arm. ¡°Jacob, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°See for yourself!¡± Jacob handed his phone to Evelyn. Evelyn looked at the phone, viewing a video in an anonymous message. Her expression contorted in shock, and she turned a fierce re toward Shelia. ¡°Let me see that!¡± Melinda, sensing something amiss, demanded. Evelyn passed her the phone, and Melinda¡¯s expression turned to shock. The video disyed Shelia in a very shameful position, naked and on a bed, in a poorly lit room. The man filming could be heard breathing heavily, urging her on with crude words, ¡°Bitch, faster. Don¡¯t you want it? Make me feel good, and I¡¯ll ensure you get your high. ¡± Shelia then sped up her movements. Melinda felt that it was unbearable to witness. She stepped forward trembling on her cane, mming the phone heavily in front of Shelia. Seeing the video, Shelia was struck with a sense of paralysis and disbelief. She couldn¡¯t believe the night¡¯s events were captured on video, and she was at a loss as to how it ended up with Jacob. Surely, the man in the video wouldn¡¯t have sent it, so who was responsible? The lights in the hall were warm, but Shelia felt icy all over. It was as if she was pulled into a dark abyss, and the darkness had gradually devoured her, leaving only¡­ desperation.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Jacob, is this the girlfriend you imed was pure and unworldly?¡± Melinda¡¯s rage shook her to the core. She had never endured such a humiliation. Jacob eximed with frustration, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve been deceived too. Chapter 494 I haven¡¯t been intimate with her yet. I had no idea she was such a bitch. ¡± Upon hearing his confession, Melinda instantly grasped the situation. Her anger red even higher. She raised her cane and struck Shelia forcefully. ¡°Bitch! How dare you deceive us? I¡¯m going to beat you to death today. ¡± Shelia was beaten to the floor, writhing and crawling, letting out continuous screams of agony. Despite being an olddy, Melinda had been a vigorous and confident woman in her youth. She had dealt with countless bitches like Shelia and always managed to strike with remarkable precision, rendering Shelia unable to stand. Shelia rolled on the floor in pain, repeatedly begging for mercy. Yet, no one intervened. ¡°Stop it! Stop it!¡± Kendra rushed forward, embracing Shelia in an attempt to shield her. However, Melinda showed no mercy whatsoever. ¡°Your daughter is a real bitch. It¡¯s your failure as a mother that you didn¡¯t raise her properly. She deserves this punishment. ¡± Then, Melinda used her cane to strike Kendra. Kendra cried out in pain but didn¡¯t dare to resist against Melinda. She could only protect her daughter and endure the blows from the cane. Benny¡¯s legs gave way, and he copsed to the floor. He crawled toward Melinda and bowed, begging for mercy. ¡°Mrs. Perry, please have mercy. My wife is pregnant. She can¡¯t endure any more beatings. ¡± Upon learning that Kendra was expecting, Melinda ceased her assault. After sufficiently venting her anger, she snorted heavily and departed with assistance from others. The onlookers in the hall took out their phones, capturing the scene with disdainful nces directed at Shelia. Lindsey took a step back, observing the situation with an icy demeanor. This shameful incident urred on Melinda¡¯s birthday, tarnishing the Perry family¡¯s reputation. The Perry family expelled Shelia, Kendra, and Benny. The three leaned on each other as they walked across the vi¡¯swn. Their presence radiated a profound sense of destion and sorrow. A captivating figure obstructed their path. Lindsey stood a short distance away, exuding grace in her red dress. Her radiant presence was a stark contrast to the trio¡¯s gloomy demeanor. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s you, right? It must be you. ¡± Shelia charged at Lindsey as if she had lost her mind. However, Lindsey gracefully sidestepped, causing Shelia to stumble and fall t on her face. Lindsey lowered herself slightly, casting a cold gaze upon the woman now crying on the ground. Shelia¡¯s pride and everything she once held dear had crumbled. She now was just the center of ridicule. Yet, it was not Lindsey who had destroyed Shelia but herself. Lindsey grinned and remarked, ¡°Shelia, I might have missed your grand wedding with Jacob, but I witnessed your ¡®spectacr¡¯ exit. Take a good look at yourself. You don¡¯t need me to bring you down; you¡¯re already shattered.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Who do you think you are to step on me? Keep dreaming. ¡± Chapter 495 ¡°I¡¯m not finished with you. ¡± Lifting her eyes filled with resentment, Shelia shot a fierce re at Lindsey. ¡°You still have the strength to speak?¡± Lindsey responded with a smile, remaining unfazed. ¡°It appears that the punishment you received today was too light. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, did you have a hand in this? Did you do this to Shelia?¡± Benny¡¯s gaze bore into Lindsey, his anger fueled by the realization that hispany¡¯s hopes of securing funding from the Perry family had evaporated. Lindsey sneered, rose to her feet, and fixed a cold gaze upon Benny.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Deeds done in darknesse to light. In your eyes, you have an obedient daughter and a faithful wife. Yet, how many disgraceful acts have theymitted without your knowledge?¡± With those words, she turned and departed, disregarding Benny¡¯s seething and enraged countenance. Lying weakly in Benny¡¯s embrace, Kendra understood that anything she said now would only irk him further. Besides, she was too drained to summon any strength. Not far from them on the nearby road, Domenic pulled over. Lindsey opened the front passenger door and climbed in. ¡°It¡¯s over. Let¡¯s head home!¡± A soft, sweet smile graced Lindsey¡¯s lips as if everything that had transpired tonight held no significance for her. Domenic curled his lips into a smile and replied, ¡°Certainly. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°This rented car is sofortable. I¡¯m feeling a bit tired. I might take a nap. ¡± Having said this, Lindsey closed her eyes with a deep sigh. As Domenic admired her beautiful profile, his eyes filled with affection. Just rest. With him by her side, she could sleep peacefully for as long as she pleased. The car pulled up in front of their apartment building. Lindsey was still in a deep slumber, thoroughly exhausted from the night¡¯s events. Domenic beamed with affection. After parking the car, he gently opened the passenger door and lifted Lindsey out of the vehicle. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes fluttered open, and she was nestled in Domenic¡¯s embrace, still feeling disoriented. Her weary body instinctively shifted, yearning to be set down. ¡°Don¡¯t move. ¡± Domenic¡¯s deep, charismatic voice held a touch of authority. He tenderly transported her back home. As Domenicid Lindsey gently on the soft bed, he touched her ears and gazed down with his captivating eyes. ¡°Would you like me to help you switch into your nightgown?¡± Lindsey pressed her lips together, and her cheeks flushed. She spoke bashfully, ¡°Alright, but you have to close your eyes. ¡± ¡°As if I haven¡¯t seen your body before. ¡± His Adam¡¯s apple made a subtle movement as he spoke with a smile. ¡°But I¡¯ll feel self-conscious¡­ Lindsey gently nibbled her lower Lip. Domenic¡¯s eyes darkened, and suddenly, he leaned down to capture her lips in a ki*s, attempting to steal her breath away. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but encircle her arms around his neck. His warm presence melted the coldness in her heart. Chapter 496 After an affectionate ki*s, Domenic nibbled her earlobe and whispered huskily, ¡°I wanted to ki*s you earlier tonight. Has anyone ever told you that you look stunning in red?¡± Domenic admired the blend of innocence and allure when she wore red. Because of that red nightgownst time, he was crazy in bed throughout the night.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey quickly extended her hand to hold his robust chest, pouting as she spoke, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal first. You can¡¯t be as intense asst time. I¡­ I can¡¯t handle it. ¡± ¡°I wanted to be tender with you, but I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯re incredibly alluring today. ¡± Domenic held Lindsey¡¯s waist, burying his head in her soft, fragrant tresses. He spoke in a low, maic voice, ¡°So, don¡¯t get your hopes up too much, Linds¡­¡± His chilly lips trailed down her neck, causing Lindsey¡¯s delicate form to quiver ever so slightly. She clung tightly to the man¡¯s back, feeling his warmth, his heartbeat, and murmured, ¡°You saw what happened today; I practically have no family left, just like you now. ¡± Domenic paused, lifting his gaze to meet Lindsey¡¯s. Lindsey¡¯s previouslyposed eyes now glistened with a hint of moisture. Tears trickled slowly from the corners of her eyes, casting a poignant aura upon her. Domenic, rmed, wiped away the tears from her face. His eyes held a visible depth of affection. Softly, Domenic uttered, ¡°You still have me. ¡± Those incredibly tender words shattered Lindsey¡¯s emotional defenses. She couldn¡¯t hold back her sobs, tears flowing freely. Today marked herplete triumph and revenge, yet it offered no sce. Instead, weariness gripped her heart. Each step she took today was with much care. Since when had her life turned into this? She had only wanted an ordinary existence cherished by her parents. But circumstances hadpelled her to be cautious and ruthless. Ultimately, she emerged as the victor, but it felt like she had sacrificed. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­ You truly adore me and never deceive me, would you?¡± Gazing into Domenic¡¯s eyes, Lindsey sought a reassuring response from him, hoping for sce. Domenic avoided meeting Lindsey¡¯s gaze, gently caressing the hair around her ear as he replied slowly, ¡°Of course¡­ Even if there were things I hid from you, it would only be to safeguard you. ¡± ¡°Yet, I wish forplete honesty between us. There¡¯s nothing we cannot ovee together. ¡± Lindsey enveloped him in a warm embrace, like a child seeking the purest heart and unconditional love from the one she held dear. Lindsey peered deeply into Domenic¡¯s eyes, her words deliberate and heartfelt, ¡°I no longer wish to be just your girlfriend. I want us to be amitted couple, to share our lives. Why don¡¯t you introduce me to your grandfather? I¡¯ll do my best to win his approval. ¡± Domenic, somewhat taken aback, gazed at the woman in his embrace, her anticipation palpable. He recognized her exceptional qualities and knew that anyone who got to know her would be charmed. However, the circumstances surrounding his family were extraordinarily delicate. The timing wasn¡¯t right. In Jordan¡¯s mind, his son¡¯s decision to marry amoner, forsake everything, and die for love had always been a sensitive topic. Domenic wasn¡¯t sure about how his grandfather would react when he discovered Lindsey¡¯s existence. Would she end up vanishing like those girls from before? Even if there was a slight chance, he couldn¡¯t risk it. And his uncles, who had been attempting to oust him from the position of heir, would undoubtedly exploit this situation. Chapter 497 Until he was sure, he couldn¡¯t reveal his true identity, let alone make this matter known to the public. ¡°Linds, do you trust me?¡± Domenic inquired in a hushed tone. Lindsey nodded resolutely. Domenic reassured her, ¡°If you trust me, please wait longer. I will persuade my grandfather and bring you to meet him as soon as possible. ¡± Lindsey responded with a gentle, sweet smile, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll patiently await your return. I¡¯ll always be here, waiting for you. ¡± With that, Domenic deepened their ki*s, growing more passionate. At the Stewart household, Benny scolded Shelia again, redirecting his anger towards Kendra, ¡°Is this how you¡¯ve been raising Shelia? Shemitted such a disgraceful act and disgraced me! Like mother, Like daughter. Kendra, are you engaging in simr activities behind my back?¡± Kendra had always believed her daughter to be virtuous, preserving her purity. She had never fathomed that Shelia would harbor such a monumental secret. She sat on the sofa, lost in thought. The events of the evening had deeply shaken her. They had been on the point of securing a match into a wealthy family, with her bing the mother-inw of a rich man. Regardless of the many mistakes Shelia had made, she was still her biological daughter. She could have concealed her youthful and naive wrongdoings effectively. If not for Lindsey¡¯s revtion, Shelia wouldn¡¯t have missed the opportunity to marry into a wealthy family. It was all Lindsey¡¯s doing! Kendra dug her nails into her skin. Sooner orter, she¡¯d make sure Lindsey experienced a despair a thousand times worse than she was now! ¡°Benny, me me if you must. It¡¯s my fault. I failed to guide Shelia properly. But remember, we¡¯ve all been young, and no one is without mistakes. Shelia might have done wrong in the past, but she has changed. If it weren¡¯t for Lindsey¡¯s interference, Shelia would already be engaged to Jacob, and yourpany¡¯s investment problem would have been resolved. Despite being a family, Lindsey has repeatedly schemed to destroy us. Why must she do these to us?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Kendra cried and said. Right at that moment, Benny¡¯s phone rang unexpectedly. Who could be calling at this hour? Benny furrowed his brow and answered the call. After a brief conversation, hisplexion paled, and the phone slipped from his grasp to the floor. Lying on the sofa, Benny appeared to have aged several years. ¡°Benny, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Observing the situation, Kendra rushed over and inquired. ¡°Our former business partners want to terminate our contracts. The already fragile capital chain has shattered. Mypany is on the brink of bankruptcy¡­¡± Benny spoke with a chilling detachment as if he were a walking dead. Kendra was stunned. ¡°What? Why are they terminating the contracts?¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Because we¡¯ve angered the Perry family. They have the power to make our lives miserable. ¡± Kendra sank into the sofa, muttering, ¡°It¡¯s all because of Lindsey!¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m ruined. I¡¯m utterly ruined!¡± Suddenly, Shelia screamed and threw herself at Kendra¡¯s feet. Chapter 498 Kendra cast a frigid nce at her daughter. Shelia sobbed loudly, ¡°Ray Films canceled my contract and even threatened to cklist me! That video also got uploaded on the Inte. Everyone was mocking me. That bitch has ruined my future! Mom, Dad, please take some action, or I¡¯ll be in serious trouble!¡± ¡°Shame on you! If you had notmitted such a disgraceful act, we wouldn¡¯t be entangled in this mess! Get out! I never want toy eyes on you again!¡± Benny¡¯s hands quivered uncontrobly. He regretted allowing Kendra to bring Shelia into their lives and merge her into the Stewart family when they married. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s clear that Lindsey is to me. How can you let me take the fall for this?¡± Shelia retorted, her voice full of frustration. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Kendra abruptly rose from the couch and stopped the two arguing individuals. ¡°Kendra, if mypany goes bankrupt, I¡¯ll divorce you!¡± Benny stormed out, his fury palpable. Kendra¡¯s body stiffened. It had taken her considerable time and effort to secure her ce by Benny¡¯s side and attain the status of a wealthy wife. Now, her aspirations of clinging to a wealthy family had been shattered. Without Benny, she would likely revert to her previous life. Kendra tightened her fists. She was determined not to let such a thing ur, no matter what. ¡°Mom, how could Dad say such things?¡± ¡°Return to your room!¡± Before Shelia could utter another word, Kendra¡¯s stern tone sent shivers down her spine. ¡°So, what am I supposed to do about my problem then¡­¡± ¡°Let me handle it. ¡± Hearing Kendra¡¯s assurance, Shelia breathed a sigh of relief. She pursed her lips and retreated to her room. Once everyone had departed, Kendra sat on the sofa.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. After pondering for a while, she retrieved her phone, located a number, and dialed it. A deep voice soon answered the phone. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯d Like to meet you tomorrow. ¡± The man on the line scoffed. ¡°What makes you think I¡¯ll agree to meet you?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t trouble you if it weren¡¯t challenging. ¡± ¡°Kendra, you¡¯re pushing your luck. ¡± Kendra¡¯s fists tightened as she spoke, ¡°Yet Shelia is your child, too. How would it impact you if her true identity were exposed?¡± Chapter 499 The man¡¯s voice grew serious. ¡°Are you trying to intimidate me? Keep in mind that my patience has its bounds. ¡± ¡°I knew you could easily make me vanish, but I¡¯ve got a contingency n. What if I mention my stepdaughter¡¯s boyfriend¡¯s Last name is Walsh? Interested now?¡± Following a brief pause, the individual on the opposite end of the call responded, ¡°Tomorrow at two in the afternoon at Rivercross Club. You know where to find me. ¡± ¡°Got it. See you then. ¡± The next day, sunlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating the girl¡¯s serene face.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. The room was bathed in warmth. Lindsey, waking up, felt the sleep leave her eyes. She realized she was close to Domenic, enveloped in his arms, feeling his steady breathing. Was he not getting up early today? Or was she up too early? Lindsey gently rose from his embrace, but the next moment, he circled his arm around her waist from behind. He spoke in a deep, leisurely tone, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re headed?¡± ¡°The morning is breaking. It¡¯s time to rise and head to work. ¡± Lindsey extended her hand and yfully pinched his cheek. With a slight frown, Domenic¡¯s eyes slowly fluttered open. As he squinted at the warm sun peeking through the curtains, he suddenly pulled her back onto the bed. His tall frame now hovered over her. ¡°It¡¯s still early. ¡± ¡°Still early? Time to get up. ¡± Lindsey murmured a softint from beneath him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk in such a sweet and soft tone. I won¡¯t be able to control myself. ¡± Domenic smiled, his voice soft and filled with a maic allure. His dark eyes felt like a captivating abyss. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned crimson. She covered her mouth, reluctant to use that tone anymore. She feigned seriousness and said, ¡°I had a rather exhausting nightst night. I have a lot on my te today. ¡± However, Domenic¡¯s deep gaze refused to relent. He reached out, gently removing her hand from her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯re quite skilled at turning me on. ¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that. It¡¯s just that you have a hard time controlling yourself. You¡¯re incredibly lustful, have remarkable physical stamina, and¡­¡± Domenic locked eyes with her. ¡°If you keep talking, I might have to silence you myself. ¡± Lindsey promptly sealed her lips, casting him an innocent gaze. At that moment, her phone rang. She gestured toward the phone on the bedside table and winked yfully at him before reluctantly getting up. Lindsey swiftly rose and picked up the phone, saying, ¡°Hello. ¡± Nancy¡¯s voice sounded urgent, ¡°Linds, where are you right now? Thepany has received numerous partnership requests today, and a group of aspiring artists has also shown up for auditions. Can youe over and take a look?¡± Lindsey nced at the time on her phone. It was already eight in the morning. Chapter 500 ¡°Nancy, hold on a moment. I¡¯ll be there shortly. ¡± After hanging up the phone, Lindsey turned to find Domenic had already dressed himself. His fingers were deftly fastening the buttons of his crisp white shirt, entuating his well-defined chest. Lindsey shook her head. How could she yield so readily to this man¡¯s charms? She swiftly climbed out of bed and began to dress. Once dressed, Lindsey hurriedly made her way out, but not before extending an invitation to Domenic, ¡°If you¡¯re free after work tonight, let¡¯s go grocery shopping and cook together. ¡± She yearned for a simple and ordinary life-starting her day at dawn, returning to her cozy home as the sun set, preparing meals and washing dishes with her beloved, cuddling up to watch their favorite movie after dinner, and eventually drifting off to sleep in each other¡¯s arms. Domenic shared the same sentiment. Despite his current prestigious position, he deeply missed the simple warmth of living with his parents in the past. He affectionately nodded in agreement, and once Lindsey had left, he descended the stairs. Hendrix pulled up in a car, and Domenic climbed inside. He received a high-end suit jacket, draping it over his pristine white shirt and adjusting an opulent velvet tie, instantly morphing into a formidable figure in the business world. ¡°Boss, as per your instructions, the 8 a. m. video conference has been rescheduled to 10, followed by a business negotiation at noon and a 2 p. m. engagement¡­¡± Hendrix meticulously outlined the day¡¯s agenda, brimming withmitments until 9 in the evening. ¡°Anything scheduled after 6 tonight, push it to tomorrow,¡± Domenic stated casually, recollecting Lindsey¡¯s words before she departed. Hendrix paused while reviewing the schedule, then lifted his gaze to his boss. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s timetable is just as packed. There¡¯s a meeting scheduled after 6 tonight. It was quite challenging to secure that time with the Mubluosianpany abroad. What¡¯s your take¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s elegant brows furrowed momentarily but quickly regained hisposed demeanor. ¡°Understood, keep everything as nned. ¡± He proceeded to take out his phone and dialed Arturo, who promptly answered. ¡°There¡¯s a meeting tonight with thepany on Mubluosia regarding an overseas project. Are you interested?¡± Arturo¡¯s excitement was palpable, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m interested!¡± ¡°Remember the promise you made to me. You have my permission to attend the meeting tonight. ¡± After hanging up the phone, Domenic¡¯s expression changed to one of severity as he peered out the window. It was time to speed things up¡­ Upon her arrival at the office, Lindsey plunged into her hectic workload.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. After the Perry family¡¯s banquet, herpany¡¯s reputation soared. Now, the business world was buzzing with the association between Lindsey and Imperial Treasure, drawing the interest of numerouspanies looking to partner with her. Even artists from smaller firms were considering the possibility of switching to her side. Chapter 501 The atmosphere was indeed lively. While Lindsey was interviewing an artist and feeling somewhat overwhelmed, a suddenmotion erupted in the crowd gathered outside. ¡°Showing up like that and still daring to interview, absolutely shameless. ¡± ¡°Everyone these days wants a piece of the entertainment industry, but they don¡¯t even give themselves a once-over in the mirror. ¡± ¡°If they¡¯re serious about working in this industry, they ought to watch their words and eat less so they don¡¯t end up this overweight. ¡± Amidst the noise, a chubby girl in the crowd became the target of mockery. Lindsey rose from her seat and made her way toward themotion. As the interviewer approached, a hush fell over the crowd. Lindsey observed the girl standing silently, eyes cast down, her lips tightly sealed. Despite her size, she had a charming appearance. With a bit of weight loss, she could be quite the star. Lindsey¡¯s demeanor grew cold as she spoke to the gathering. ¡°Everyone, being polite and showing respect to others is the absolute minimum standard I expect from artists.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. If I catch anyone being disrespectful here again, don¡¯t be shocked if I show them the way out. ¡± Having said her piece, she turned and went back to her seat. The chubby girl finally raised her head, looking bewilderedly in the direction Lindsey had left. An hourter, the chubby girl¡¯s turn to meet Lindsey. As Lindsey looked up at her, she smiled, ¡°Are you here to try out as an artist?¡± The chubby girl shook her head, her hands fidgeting nervously, tracing circles with her index finger. ¡°You are not?¡± Lindsey was a little bewildered. The girl nodded once more. Despite Lindsey¡¯s confusion, her face showed no hint of impatience. With a gentle smile, she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m here looking for an artist for an acting position. If you¡¯re applying for another role, it¡¯s in the next room. ¡± ¡°I¡­¡± The girl hesitated, then suddenly burst out, ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re my idol! I¡¯m your fan!¡± Lindsey blinked and nodded gently, ¡°Well, thank you. ¡± ¡°No matter the position you¡¯re offering, if I can secure a job in yourpany, I¡¯m willing to do whatever it takes!¡± The girl¡¯s face flushed crimson, as if she¡¯d expended all her strength. ¡°Then, let me review your resume first. ¡± Despite the girl¡¯s im of being a fan, this ce wasn¡¯t a sanctuary; entry required an interview. Upon hearing this, the girl hastily retrieved a crumpled resume from therge pocket of her jeans¡¯ suspenders. ¡°Sorry, I. I forgot it. Lindsey smiled politely and epted her resume. Chapter 502 ¡°Yes,¡± the girl answered nervously. Lindsey perused her resume and remarked, ¡°Your university achievements aremendable, winning aputerpetition. This resume could secure a position at an intepany. Why pursue a role here?¡± ¡°Because¡­ Xiomara pursed her lips, her cheeks puffing up. ¡°Because I admire you greatly. I want to work alongside you. ¡± Lindsey regarded her tenderly. The girl¡¯s eyes were earnest, reminiscent of her own hopeful graduation days. Lowering her head, Lindsey smiled, cing the resume aside. ¡°Coincidentally, I have an opening inwork technology. You can start here. ¡± ¡°Great! Thank you! I¡¯ll give it my all. ¡± The girl beamed with joy. Lindsey smiled gently. This girl was undeniably endearing. At two in the afternoon, at the Rivercross Club¡­ Kendra had informed Benny beforehand that she was meeting acquaintances who were wives of sessful men, hoping to help thepany. Benny, engrossed in multiple issues, didn¡¯t object and allowed her to go. She pushed open the door to the club¡¯s mostvish private room on the second floor. At a nce, she spotted a man seated in the center of the sofa. d in a white shirt and ck vest, he lounged with crossed legs,zily leaning against the sofa¡¯s back. As Kendra entered, the man¡¯s shrewd andposed gaze subtly narrowed. They hadn¡¯t crossed paths for two decades, yet this woman remained captivating. Today, she wore a purple, form-fitting dress, swaying gracefully as she approached. Approaching forty, she had maintained herself well, appearing no more than her thirties. ¡°Rupert, long time no see. ¡± Kendra walked over and settled beside him. Today, she deliberately dressed up, her face adorned with delicate makeup. Her fingers elegantly tucked strands of hair behind her ears, exuding the allure of a mature woman with every gesture. Rupert Walsh, smiled, slipping his arm around Kendra¡¯s shoulder. I didn¡¯t expect you to still captivate me after nearly twenty years. With a faint smile ying on her lips, Kendra gazed softly at him. Her slender index finger delicately covered the man¡¯s lips, an exceptionally enticing gesture. ¡°I don¡¯t put much stock in a man¡¯s words.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. I believed what you said twenty years ago and ended up abandoned. Do you think I¡¯d believe you again after another twenty years?¡± Rupert chuckled, reached for the whiskey before him, poured a ss, and offered it to Kendra. ¡°I appreciate intelligent women. Tell me, what brings you to me this time?¡± Kendra downed the ss of whisky in a single gulp. In the past, she had been the top escort in this club, and out-drinking a dozen men was a piece of cake for her. Chapter 503 As a result, she gained some fame and waspelled to share a drink with Rupert. After the alcohol-fueled encounter, Rupert shirked his responsibility for it. Later, during Kendra¡¯s pregnancy, she identally discovered that Rupert was the son of the prestigious Walsh family, one of the four prominent ns. Consequently, she decided to keep the child and used it as leverage to force Rupert into taking responsibility for her and the baby. The Walsh family had strict rules, and it was prohibited for members of the Walsh family to engage with women outside of marriage. In an attempt to avoid any potential future issues, Rupert initially nned to eliminate Kendra. However, a stroke of luck came his way when his wife experienced a premature birth around the same time, leading to the tragic loss of their child. This unfortunate event softened Rupert¡¯s heart, showing a glimmer of mercy toward his illegitimate child. Maybe it was the fear of losing another child that made Rupert, a typically ruthless man, decide to release Kendra and provide her with a mary settlement to resolve the situation. Kendra, a clever woman, understood that if she kept pestering Rupert, the oue would only worsen for her. Furthermore, by keeping the baby, she believed there might be an opportunity for her to change her fortunes down the road. ¡®s BunnyBookery Once Kendra weed Shelia into the world, her funds dwindled rapidly, and her former employment at the club vanished. Left with no financial support, she endured a rough existence, dwelling in the slums for eight years while single-handedly raising her daughter. Subsequently, shended a job as a servant for the Stewart family. Observing that Benny was unattached following his divorce, she seized the opportunity to make her move. Once she had secured her status as Mrs. Stewart, Rupert unexpectedly contacted her to inquire about her child. Rupert¡¯s wife couldn¡¯t conceive after losing her baby, and his marriage being a business arrangement, he couldn¡¯t divorce without his father¡¯s approval. Lacking an heir, he remembered Kendra¡¯s child. He assured Kendra that if her child ever faced any trouble, he¡¯d step in when required, but beyond that, he wouldn¡¯t interfere in their lives. This hinted that his concern was solely for the child, and he had no interest in Kendra¡¯s life. Kendra couldn¡¯t help but tighten her fists. She had endured humiliation for so many years and was determined never to return to a life of poverty and disgrace. With these thoughts in mind, Kendra¡¯s smile grew softer and more alluring. She delicately traced circles on Rupert¡¯s chest with her fingers, well aware that he relished the sensation of being seduced. ¡°Shelia¡­ She inadvertently angered the Perry family, and as you¡¯re aware, they hold significant power. Shelia is vulnerable, and the Perry family could easily make her disappear. Ray Films has also taken action, blocking her and even sharing apromising video of her and her former boyfriend on the inte. Shelia¡¯s reputation is in a mess, making it challenging for her to find a spouse in the future, let alone continue her career in the entertainment industry. ¡± Rupert listened quietly, lighting a cigarette between his fingers and reclining on the sofa. ¡°Tell me about your stepdaughter¡¯s boyfriend. There are plenty of people with the Walshst name. What makes you think I¡¯d be interested in him?¡± Kendra¡¯s lips curled slightly as she replied, ¡°He¡¯s tall and striking, with an imposing presence. It made me feel¡­ She nced at Rupert and said, ¡°He looks like you. ¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Rupert¡¯s curiosity piqued as he raised an intrigued eyebrow. ¡°Continue. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure of his full name yet. He started as my stepdaughter¡¯s fake boyfriend. Rumor has it he was poor. I¡¯m puzzled about hismanding presence. Eventually, they became an actual couple. ¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°A poor guy?¡± Rupert¡¯s expression turned thoughtful. This was intriguing. He straightened up on the sofa, taking a long drag from his cigarette. He considered that showing Kendra a photo of Domenic might make it easier for her to identify him. Chapter 504 However, Domenic maintained a discreet presence and always kept an air of mystery around him, making it nearly impossible to find any photographs of him from various events. Rupert exhaled a smoke ring in Kendra¡¯s direction and spoke, ¡°I can assist you in handling Shelia¡¯s problem, but you need to help me obtain a photo of your stepdaughter with that man. ¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your n, but we must not overlook Shelia¡¯s situation. ¡± Kendra nced at him, enduring the smell of smoke. Rupert gave her a quick look and promptly dialed a number on his phone. After ending the call, Rupert reached for Kendra¡¯s waist. ¡°Tomorrow morning, all the bad stuff about Shelia vanishes. And as for the Perry family, I¡¯ve already sorted things out. Shelia won¡¯t be out of the picture but won¡¯t be back at Ray Films. I¡¯m bringing her into Gallop Entertainment. With my backing, she¡¯ll have a smooth path in the entertainment industry from now on. ¡± Rupert¡¯s words filled Kendra¡¯s heart with happiness. Even though he had said he wouldn¡¯t meddle in her matters, wouldn¡¯t that pave an easy path for her sess if her daughter had a sess? Kendra beamed with a lovely smile. ¡°You¡¯re still as capable as ever. ¡± ¡°You have seen what I can do in the past. Tonight¡­¡± Rupert¡¯s eyes locked onto Kendra¡¯s. At first, he hadn¡¯t paid her much mind, but now, the enchanting woman before him had him reconsidering his thoughts.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Kendra smiled mischievously, reaching around his neck. ¡°We just agreed on something earlier. If you want me, it will cost you something else. ¡± Even with a baby growing inside her, she felt no guilt for the little one; as long as she could achieve her goals, she¡¯d do whatever it took. Rupert raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharpening. ¡°What is it you want?¡± ¡°Just money. I want arge sum of money. ¡± Rupert let out a coldugh. To him, money was trivial, even though she was as materialistic as ever. ¡°Agreed. ¡± Lindsey had been working nonstop all day, and when she checked the time, she found out it was already 8 in the evening. She had intended to go grocery shopping and cook with Domenic tonight before her morning departure. Who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d be this upied? Just as Lindsey was about to call Domenic, he called her. They both apologized at the same time after responding. At that moment, they were briefly surprised, and Lindsey chuckled. ¡°Are you also pulling ate shift tonight?¡± ¡°Yes, you too?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot of work at thepany today; looks like I¡¯ll be burning the midnight oil¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s calm and captivating voice resonated through the phone, ¡°Make sure you look after yourself and don¡¯t push yourself too hard. Honestly, I had high hopes for tonight, but¡­¡± Chapter 505 Lindsey realized he meant their dinner ns. She cheerfully responded, ¡°No worries, we have our whole lives ahead; there¡¯ll be more chances. ¡± Domenic just hummed in response. Lindsey had a sudden realization about her casual mention of a lifetime and felt her cheeks inexplicably flush. Then, she yfully squinted her eyes and said, ¡°There is no way you are getting away from me for good! I¡¯ll keep a tight grip on you unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± Lindsey paused, her voice softening. ¡°Unless someday you tell me you don¡¯t love me anymore. Then I¡¯ll set you free. ¡± ¡°That day will never arrive. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice, deep and full of warmth, reached Lindsey, ¡°In this life, it¡¯s only you and me, together forever. ¡± It was like a feather softly settled on the water, creating ripples that extended outward. A rush of emotions washed over Lindsey, and her nose tingled just a bit. She swiftly pushed down her sentimental feelings and arched an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re quite the charmer. How about sharing a few more sweet words with me?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic was at a loss for words. He said those words just because he meant it. And now, requesting him to speak tenderly in all seriousness felt a tad challenging. ¡°Don¡¯t get too greedy, Linds. I¡¯ve got some other matters to handle; we¡¯ll talkter. ¡± After hanging up the phone, Lindsey felt a sweet warmth envelop her heart. The sound of Domenic¡¯s voice had managed to alleviate her exhaustion significantly.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. That night, Lindsey was so engrossed in her work that she drifted off to sleep right at her office desk. Upon awakening the next morning, she discovered a message from Domenic, sent the night before, exining his absence due to an overwhelming workload. Surprised by the realization that both she and Domenic shared the experience of workingte and being unable to return home, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but smile knowingly. ¡°Me too! I didn¡¯t even realize when I fell asleep in the office. ¡± It appeared that Domenic had been eagerly anticipating her response. Barely moments after her reply, the phone pinged with message. I thought you might be upset because I didn¡¯te homest night, Domenic wrote. Exiting her office, Lindsey wrote back. ¡°Am I truly that narrow-minded?¡± Domenic¡¯s reply came swiftly. ¡°Because I hope you can miss me if I fail to make it home. ¡± A yful smirk tugged at Lindsey¡¯s lips as she swiftly typed back a single word, ¡°Freak!¡± After sending the message, she nced up and noticed Xiomara, the new employee who had joined just the day before, diligently sweeping the now-emptypany premises. ncing at the clock, Lindsey realized it was only six in the morning. ¡°Why do youe so early?¡± Startled by Lindsey¡¯s voice, Xiomara nearly dropped the broom in her hand. ¡°Lindsey. . Why. Why are you here? Chapter 506 Chuckling softly, Lindsey replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same question I asked you a moment ago?¡± ¡°I. It¡¯s my first day at work. I thought if I arrived early and did more, I could live up to your expectations,¡± Xiomara exined, feeling a bit self-conscious and uncertain. ¡°I¡¯ve sorted out thepany¡¯swork, but now I¡¯m unsure what to tackle next, so I opted for some cleaning,¡± she confessed. ¡°You¡¯ve aplished so much work¡­ in such a short time? Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Completing all those tasks before six in the morning was a feat that would typically take her an entire day. ¡°Because. it¡¯s easy for me,¡± Xiomara replied, her embarrassment evident as she scratched her head. Lindsey found herself observing the girl before her with a newfound curiosity. ¡°Lindsey¡­ Xiomara hesitated, her fingers fidgeting as she contemted speaking up but stopped short. ¡°Just say what you want to say,¡± Lindsey encouraged gently.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Biting her lower lip, Xiomara finally voiced her thoughts, ¡°Can I attend the performance training sessions when I don¡¯t have any tasks? And¡­ And learn alongside them?¡± Though Lindsey¡¯spany wasn¡¯t vast, it boasted a dedicated training department and a specialized ssroom for practical sessions. Recognizing the significance of honing acting skills for aspiring performers, Lindsey spared no expense in hiring seasoned instructors to train new talents at varying times. Arching an eyebrow, Lindsey inquired, ¡°Are you interested in acting?¡± Xiomara lowered her head, but she still nodded. ¡°Go ahead. As long as it doesn¡¯t interfere with your own duties, it¡¯s no problem,¡± Lindsey assured her with a gentle smile. The girl, taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s encouragement, lifted her head and beamed. ¡°Thank you, Lindsey!¡± By eleven in the morning, Xiomara hadpleted all her tasks and made her way to the training ssroom. Overwhelmed by a sense of inferiority, she hesitated at the door, unable to muster the courage to step inside. Peering through the ss door, she observed the ongoing session, asionally attempting different expressions under the teacher¡¯s guidance. Just as she was getting absorbed in the joy of performing, a cruelugh pierced the air. ¡°Hahaha, does this patheticpanyck artists? It¡¯s even employing someone so overweight! The entertainment industry isn¡¯t a ce for trash. ¡± Startled, Xiomara turned to find a scornful woman standing behind her, arms crossed, exuding arrogance. ¡°Shelia, what are you doing here?¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice cut through the tension as she emerged from her office, instantly recognizing the haughty neer. Hadn¡¯t her reputation plummeted to the point where she wouldn¡¯t dare show her face here? How dare she step foot in this ce? Was she here for revenge? Shelia turned to face Lindsey, who was watching her cautiously. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Shelia approached her, her heels clicking on the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here to see yourpany and share some exciting news. ¡± Lindsey eyed her skeptically. ¡°Are you sure? You know, what¡¯s good news for you might be bad news for me. ¡± Chapter 507 ¡°I¡¯ve just signed a deal with Gallop Entertainment. Aren¡¯t you happy for me?¡± Shelia said with augh. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. How did Shelia sign up with Gallop Entertainment? Didn¡¯t she just get banned by Ray Films, and the indecent video was exposed and discussed byizens? Gallop Entertainment was a prominent entertainmentpany, second only to Vitality Entertainment. How could they possibly sign a deal with someone as controversial as Shelia, with all those negative headlines surrounding her? ¡°Are you too happy to speak?¡± Shelia¡¯s face sported a mischievous grin. Lindseyposed herself and met Shelia¡¯s gaze calmly. ¡°Wow, take a look at your shabbypany. It¡¯s nothingpared to the awesomeness of Gallop Entertainment. ¡± Shelia rose to her feet and scanned Lindsey¡¯spany.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Ultimately, her gaze settled on Xiomara, positioned outside the performance room. Sheliaughed and quipped, ¡°And your actress over there, she¡¯s just a tad¡­ Unique. Lindsey, why did you bring an actress of this level on board? It can¡¯t be that you¡¯re aiming to grab everyone¡¯s attention with such a clever scheme. ¡± Lindsey brushed off herments and replied icily, ¡°Is it any of your business? If you¡¯re done with whatever you came for, it¡¯s probably best you leave now. We¡¯re swamped and don¡¯t have time for your nonsense. ¡± Shelia sneered and pulled a gold-ted invitation from her bag,ying it before Lindsey. ¡°Take a look at this. ¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Someone in thepany recognized the invitation and couldn¡¯t contain their excitement. ¡°It¡¯s the yearly invite to the prestigious global brand fashion show! In the past, they used to invite celebrities from top-tierpanies or international superstars¡­¡± Shelia smirked. ¡°That¡¯s right, Gallop Entertainment secures a slot at the grand event annually. This year, I¡¯ve been chosen to represent thepany at this show. It¡¯s crystal clear that thepany values me greatly. Well, a smallpany like yours would never get an invitation to a fashion show of this level. ¡± She moved closer to Lindsey, her tone taunting. ¡°Lindsey, no matter how hard you try to bring me down, I always end up on top. Does that bother you?¡± Lindsey replied, not angrily, but with a smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who¡¯s always bringing yourself down?¡± Herposed demeanor seemed to embarrass Shelia more than anger her. Instead of the reaction she sought, Shelia was frustrated, her lips pursed. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve dropped by to inform you that our little game isn¡¯t over. I swore I¡¯d have you at my mercy one way or another!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Having said her piece, Shelia turned on her heels and departed. Once she was gone, Lindsey¡¯s expression grew serious. She pulled out her phone and opened Twitter. To her surprise, all the recent scandalous posts and trending topics about Shelia had vanished. Moreover, the headlines published Shelia¡¯s innocence, packed with detailed evidence, and imed that the controversial video was not her. Rumors started circting that it was all a set-up to tarnish Shelia¡¯s reputation. They even started entertaining conspiracy theories, suggesting that there must be someone out there with a grudge against Shelia, inventing a fake video to tarnish her reputation. Following that, Gallop Entertainment made a loud and proud announcement of Shelia¡¯s addition to their list, throwing their support behind her. This triggered a significant and sudden shift in the Inte trend, driving Shelia¡¯s poprity to new heights instead of causing it to dwindle. Lindsey clenched her fists. It was like before ¡ª Shelia was making aeback. It was clear to Lindsey now that Shelia had a powerful backer, someone other than Jacob, pulling strings from the shadows. The capabilities and influence of Shelia¡¯s backer were immeasurable, to the extent that even the esteemed Perry family had to tread cautiously, letting go of Shelia just like that. They Perry family was among the four major families, yet this person¡¯s power surpassed theirs. Who could be supporting Shelia from behind? Chapter 508 Lindsey sensed an unsettling threat, feeling an impending unease. Who on earth was behind Shelia? ¡°Lindsey, did I embarrass you?¡± Xiomara¡¯s voice,den with dejection, interrupted Lindsey¡¯s contemtion. Turning around, Lindsey observed Xiomara, her head bowed in apparent distress. ¡°Not at all,¡± Lindsey gently reassured her. ¡°Her issues are with me, not with you. Don¡¯t take it to heart. ¡± ¡°That woman. Is she an artist from Gallop Entertainment, named Shelia Stewart?¡± Xiomara cautiously raised her head. ¡°Yes,¡± Lindsey confirmed. Patting Xiomara¡¯s shoulder, Lindsey gestured toward the adjacent performance room. ¡°If you aspire to learn acting, step into that room confidently. Don¡¯t worry about others¡¯ opinions. ¡± Xiomara clenched her hands tightly, cautiously meeting Lindsey¡¯s gaze. ¡°Lindsey, do you think I¡¯m a chubby girl who shouldn¡¯t dream of entering the entertainment industry as an actress someday?¡± Lindsey smiled warmly and said, ¡°Of course not. Every dream deserves respect. ¡± With those simple words, tears welled up in Xiomara¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re the best person I¡¯ve ever met. . Ruffling Xiomara¡¯s hair gently, Lindsey reassured her, ¡°Cheer up, I need to attend to some things now. ¡± As Lindsey departed, Xiomara¡¯s gaze followed the path Shelia had taken, squinting her eyes and biting her lip. She muttered softly to herself, ¡°Gallop Entertainment¡­ Shelia Stewart¡­¡± Meanwhile, Domenic was in the midst of official business when his phone rang melodiously. ncing at the caller ID, he saw it was a call from Emilio. Answering the phone, he was met with Emilio¡¯s urgent voice, ¡°Domenic, have you seen it? It¡¯s Lindsey¡¯s sister, Shelia.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. After the explicit video leaked, the inte was flooded with criticism. Ray Films even publicly cklisted her. But today, all her negative press vanished. Major headlines simultaneously released positive news of her, and even Ray Films retracted their stance, iming they were mistaken yesterday! Moreover, she¡¯s secured a contract with Gallop Entertainment in high profile!¡± ¡°Cut to the chase. ¡± Lowering his gaze, Domenic swiftly signed documents, his words radiating undeniable authority. Emilio cleared his throat. ¡°Ray Films is affiliated with the Perry family¡¯s industry. Controlling major headlines isn¡¯t easy, even for me. I can only influence a few. To make the Perry family step back, control all major headlines, and secure her a ce in Gallop Entertainment¡­ These are no easy feat. The only people capable of achieving this are probably the Lawson family and¡­ the Walsh family. Currently, unless it¡¯s personally handled by Kennedy Lawson, it¡¯s unlikely¡­ Domenic, do you think¡­¡± Emilio trailed off, hinting at something. Domenic, catching his implication, paused his pen on the document, his expression darkening. Speaking in a low tone, he replied, ¡°I understand. Continue monitoring Shelia¡¯s situation. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Just as Emilio intended to end the call, a thought struck him. After a deep breath, he continued, ¡°If I may suggest, it might be better for you to reduce your recent meetings with Lindsey, lest¡­¡± ¡°I know what to do,¡± Domenic cut him off decisively. Chapter 509 Ending the call swiftly, his expression notably stern, Domenic pondered for a moment before dialing a number. After a few beeps, anguid yet clear female voice echoed from the receiver, ¡°Domenic? Can pigs fly today? You actually called me. ¡± ¡°Aunt Rachel, I do call you every year, remember?¡± Domenic said lightly. ¡°You call every New Year, wish me a happy new year, and then hang up quickly. It¡¯s like saying one more word is too much for you. ¡± Rachel Walsh often teased Domenic, who usually responded with silence. But this time, he quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been tied up with business. Please don¡¯t be upset with me. ¡± On the other end, Rachel was slightly taken aback. Then, with a hint of curiosity, she asked, ¡°Do you need my help with something? Just tell me. ¡± Rachel, Domenic¡¯s aunt, was second only to his mother in understanding him well. She was the beloved daughter of Jordan, ustomed to avish lifestyle. She was also dearly loved by Domenic¡¯s father. As far as Domenic could remember, Rachel had married into the Lawson family. During his time living away with his parents, Rachel often visited, bringing him toys and treats. Back then, Domenic was quite fond of his Aunt Rachel. However, over time, Domenic grew distant from her. He vividly remembered being locked in the cer by his uncles, and Rachel hade to visit Jordan that day. She was there but did not help Domenic.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. This incident left an enduring scar in Domenic¡¯s heart. Although the pain faded over time, the scar remained, creating an unbridgeable rift. ¡°What¡¯s Uncle Brady up to these days?¡± Domenic casually inquired. Rachel¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. It was rare for Domenic to ask about Brady. Was something amiss? ¡°He¡¯s been tied up with a project in Domico City recently. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just curious. ¡± Leaning backzily and holding the phone, Domenic mused, ¡°Emilio mentioned that a female artist, despite being cklisted by Vitality Entertainment, is still thriving in showbiz. Not only that, she¡¯s being whitewashed by the media, and even the Perry family seems to respect her. Outside of higher-up in the Walsh Group, only Uncle Brady could pull that off. ¡± ¡°A female artist¡­¡± Rachel¡¯s frown deepened, her expression turning grave. She couldn¡¯t help but think of Everleigh, the renowned singer from twenty years ago. Since the Everleigh incident, Rachel had severed all connections between Brady and the women in the entertainment industry. She viewed them as deceptive, ambitious individuals using their charm for personal gain. Rachel was determined not to let anyone entice her husband again. Being naturally cautious, Rachel had even ced informants around Brady. She would have known if something this significant had urred. Therefore, she felt confident that Brady wasn¡¯t involved in the matter. ¡°Domenic, your uncle¡¯s been swamped with worktely. He hasn¡¯t had time for the entertainment industry. It definitely wasn¡¯t him. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. You¡¯re my aunt, after all. If he ever treats you poorly, you can count on my support. ¡± Although Domenic¡¯s words were pleasant to hear, his voice was cold and alienated. Chapter 510 Rachel felt guilty and was just relieved that he still acknowledged her as his aunt. ¡°You sure have a way with words, unlike my husband. ¡± Then Rachel asked, ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re turning thirty soon. Your grandpa is starting to worry about your marriage. Is there someone you¡¯re interested in? If so, I can talk to him for you. ¡± ¡°Aunt Rachel, my heart¡¯s set on working for the Walsh Group, and marriage isn¡¯t on my mind. ¡± ¡°Domenic, don¡¯t let what happened between your parents¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got something else on my te. I¡¯ll end the call now. ¡± Once Domenic ended the call, Rachel sighed as the busy tone echoed through the phone. Rachel noticed that each time she brought up Domenic¡¯s parents, he would cut the conversation short. She understood the past had deeply affected Domenic, transforming him from a naive boy into a self-reliant man overnight. Furthermore, Domenic had been locked in such a horrible ce. When he emerged, he had turned sly and distant, to the point where even Rachel would asionally feel fear. Was there any girl out there who could truly capture his heart? Rachel shook her head, pondering Domenic¡¯s prospects as the heir to the Walsh Group. Love didn¡¯t seem to be in the cards for him, given his responsibilities with family. Any marriage would probably be more of a strategic partnership. How would he ever find genuine freedom? Besides Rachel¡¯s eldest brother, her other brothers likely didn¡¯t grasp the concept of loving someone. Hence, they remained indifferent and ruthless. They were willing to harm their nephew if it served their purposes. At times, Rachel felt empathy for them. What was the meaning of life if someone never experienced love? Rachel and her eldest brother were the exceptions. Rachel had fallen in love with the heir of the Lawson Group and had married Brady. However, she was well aware that Brady had no love for her. He had married her solely for the sake of the family¡¯s interests. Over the years, Brady had shown respect to Rachel, and everything appeared fine with him. However, there was a distinct absence of intimacy or romantic interest between them as a couple. Rachel¡¯s envyy with her eldest brother. He had managed to break free from the constraints and married the woman he loved, someone who loved him in return. In the end, the two of them met their fate in a car ident, an ending Rachel considered the best one. Domenic was Rachel¡¯s eldest brother¡¯s only child and held a special ce as Jordan¡¯s favorite grandson. Given Jordan¡¯s personality, he would pick a daughter-inw who was wless in every aspect for Domenic. If Domenic aimed to be the heir, he couldn¡¯t decline. Then, his future was fixed. It was incredibly dull. When would the Walsh family¡¯s future generations be able to break free from this constraint and experience love and life without restrictions?This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Rachel shook her head, sighed, and stepped indoors. On the other side, Domenic set his phone down and leaned back in his chair, thoughtfully massaging his eyebrows with slender fingers. If not for Brady, there was only one other person in the entire Walsh Group capable of handling things as well as Domenic. It was Rupert, Domenic¡¯s second uncle. Chapter 511 But why would Rupert assist Shelia? Domenic suspected that his uncle was beginning to think he had a secret rtionship. Could his uncle have figured out that Lindsey was the woman in question? It looked like he needed to keep his distance from Lindsey for a while. Domenic massaged his temples. He could stayposed in most situations, but he couldn¡¯t shake the inexplicable irritation of not being able to see Lindsey. That afternoon, Lindsey wrapped up her work. She nced at her watch, realizing it was dinner time. She was eager to give Domenic a call. ¡°Hello. I¡¯ve got some good news for you. I¡¯ve wrapped up my tasks. Are you still stuck with overtime? If you can finish work sooner, we¡­¡± ¡°Linds. ¡± Out of the blue, Domenic cut in with a low-toned voice. Listening to her cheerful and crisp voice, Domenic sensed a slight tightness in his chest. He spoke in a low,posed tone, ¡°I need to head back to my grandfather¡¯s ce for a while. He called and mentioned he wasn¡¯t feeling well. I¡¯m concerned about him, so I thought I¡¯d return to keep himpany for some time. ¡± ¡°Is your grandfather okay?¡± Lindsey expressed her concern, saying, ¡°You should head back as soon as possible. If needed, consider taking him to the hospital. Don¡¯t dy, or a small issue might be a big one. It could be troublesome. ¡± Domenic did intend to spend some time at his grandpa¡¯s ce, ensuring he could stay informed about the situation. He had no intention of letting his uncles take advantage of his absence to plot anything in secret. However, when Domenic sensed that Lindsey was incredibly considerate and hadplete trust in him, without a shred of doubt, he felt heavy in the heart. ¡°Linds¡­¡± Domenic called out her name with a hoarse voice. ¡°Is something bothering you? Are you feeling down?¡± Lindsey noticed the sadness in his voice. With his captivating voice, Domenic replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m feeling a bit down knowing that I won¡¯t get to see you for a while. ¡± His yful tone caused Lindsey to break intoughter.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you want to see me, you cane over anytime. Plus, even if you¡¯re busy and won¡¯t see me for a few days, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s forever. Since your grandfather isn¡¯t feeling well, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re going back to keep himpany. Sometimes, older people im they¡¯re sick when they¡¯re not truly unwell. They felt lonely and used this tactic to grab their families¡¯ attention. If you go back and spend time with him, maybe he¡¯ll recover back soon. ¡± After a brief pause, Domenic had something on his mind but decided to keep it to himself. Finally, he whispered, ¡°Make sure you look after yourself when I¡¯m not around. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m swamped with work since thepany just started. I¡¯ll sleep just fine without you around. ¡± ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Domenic¡¯s teasing reply made Lindsey¡¯s face blush. ¡°Ahem, I mean¡­¡± ¡°Get some good rest and wait for me to return¡­¡± Domenic chuckled knowingly. ¡°Try not to miss me too much on those lonely nights. ¡± ¡°Make sure you¡¯re not the one missing me too much. ¡± Chapter 512 Just as Lindsey fired back, she caught the man¡¯s alluring and resonant low voice. ¡°I will miss you very much. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart raced for a moment. She gently bit her lip and murmured, ¡°Same here. ¡± On the morning of the second day, when Lindsey arrived at the office, she found out that everyone in thepany was huddled together and engaged in a discussion. When Lindsey entered, Nancy broke away from the crowd and tugged Lindsey to the side. Nancy informed her, ¡°Linds, I heard that Gallop Entertainment¡¯swork system got hacked and crashedpletely. The entirework department staff had to put in an all-nighter to fix the system. ¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Lindsey cast a surprised gaze at Nancy. Gallop Entertainment was a prestigiouspany. Thework security should have been well-built. How could it have beenpromised so easily by a hacker? ¡°I also heard that everyputer in theirpany went darkst night, but a text was disyed on the screens. ¡± Nancy added in a peculiar tone. Lindsey¡¯s curiosity peaked. ¡°What did it say?¡± ¡°Shitty Shelia Stewart get out of showbiz. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help butugh. Nancy crossed her arms, wearing a skeptical expression as she remarked, ¡°She brought this upon herself with all her wrongdoings. I can¡¯t fathom which influential figure she¡¯s crossed paths with, someone keen on giving her a taste of her own medicine. After this mess, her reputation in thepany must be in disarray. It¡¯s a shame this issue hasn¡¯t made waves on the inte. It seems like Gallop Entertainment¡¯s insiders tried to keep it under wraps, but it¡¯s leaked out across the entertainment industry. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but ponder thatst night when Shelia set foot in thepany and started spewing empty words, Gallop Entertainment swiftly turned the tables on her. Lindsey¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but drift to Xiomara¡¯s desk.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. People were discussing and enjoying themselves. Only she sat alone in front of the desk, looking lonely. Lindsey approached Xiomara with a smile. ¡°Why are you sitting by yourself here?¡± Xiomara looked up, forcing a smile on her chubby cheeks. ¡°I guess not everyone¡¯s fond of a fat girl like me, so¡­ it¡¯s better I stay alone. ¡± Lindsey pulled a chair close and sat next to Xiomara. ¡°Who says that? I really like you. Don¡¯t belittle yourself. ¡± Blushing, Xiomara looked down. ¡°Thanks, Lindsey. I¡­ I really like you a lot too. ¡± With a smile, Lindsey suddenly spotted a lunchbox on the desk. It contained nothing but vegetables. ¡°Are you trying to lose weight?¡± Lindsey asked casually. Xiomara gave a nod. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure it won¡¯t work, but I want to give it a shot. ¡± ¡°Why are you so certain it won¡¯t work?¡± Lindsey observed Xiomara closely and sensed that there was more to her story than met the eye. Xiomara fidgeted with her fingers, pausing for a moment before speaking slowly, ¡°As a child, I had a health condition that caused me to be obese. I tried countless doctors and various methods to address it, but nothing seemed to work, so¡­¡± Lindsey realized that Xiomara had once dreamt of bing an actress, a dream she had to abandon due to her weight. Chapter 513 Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for Xiomara. ¡°Never lose hope. The world is vast, and I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a solution out there for you. And remember, the acting industry is quite diverse. You can definitely find roles that suit you. It¡¯s not just about being a poprity star, but about being a good actress. ¡± Xiomara shook her head vigorously. ¡°I never aimed to be just a poprity star. I¡­ I just love acting. ¡± Lindsey offered a reassuring smile. She appreciated Xiomara¡¯smitment to her dream, especially since Xiomara had expressed her desire to join the acting ss. Then, Lindsey¡¯s gazended on a series ofplex codes on Xiomara¡¯sputer screen. An idea struck her, and she asked casually, ¡°Did you hack into Gallop Entertainment¡¯swork?¡± ¡°No! Not me!¡± Xiomara¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and concern. With an obscure smile, Lindsey said, ¡°Oh, I just thought maybe you were secretly avenging me. ¡± Xiomara looked shocked and bit her Lip. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just keep doing your thing. I¡¯m going to get busy. ¡± Lindsey patted Xiomara¡¯s shoulder and got up to leave. Xiomara let out a relieved breath and smiled contentedly. Lindsey approached Nancy, took hold of her arm, and led her to the side. ¡°Nancy, I need to ask you something. Do you know any treatments or methods to manage obesity?¡± Nancy gave Lindsey a puzzled look. ¡°Why are you asking about that?¡± Then, Nancy¡¯s thoughts drifted to the fat girl Lindsey had hired. With a narrowed gaze, Nancy said, ¡°Linds, you¡¯re too considerate. ¡± Lindsey gave Nancy a gentle nudge. ¡°Nancy, you always know so much. Could you help me look into it?¡± Nancyughed softly. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re asking, how could I refuse to help?¡± Lindsey shed a mischievous grin, then turned to leave. But then, a thought struck her.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. She looked back at Nancy and said, ¡°By the way, why haven¡¯t you, the biggest Mercer fan, been active onlely?¡± In the past, Nancy used to regrly post lots of updates about Mercer in his fan club. But recently, there was a rumor circting online that Mercer¡¯s biggest fan stopped following him and has been absent from the fan club for quite some time. Nancy¡¯s usually sparkling eyes lost their shine. She forced a smile and said, ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been swamped with our joint business. I can¡¯t spend all day online anymore. Oh, I just remembered, there¡¯s a contract I need to sort out. I have to go. ¡± With those words, Nancy quickly gathered her materials and hurried out of the office. Lindsey watched her leave, feeling that something was amiss. Chapter 514 Several dayster, Nancy informed Lindsey about a major breakthrough at the city¡¯s most prestigious medical research institute. They had developed a promising new obesity treatment. However, its production was limited, and it wasn¡¯t avable to the general public yet. ess to this medicine required some insider connections. Now that Lindsey had known the way, she thought she should have a try anyway. What if it worked? After wrapping up her work, Lindsey made time to visit that medical research institute herself. The gleaming white structure bestowed an air of dignity upon the research institute. Many people in white coats walked through the building quickly. Lindsey approached the reception desk to discuss her reason for being there. She was interested in learning about a particr medicine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss. I can¡¯t share much about that medicine. Keep an eye on our announcements. We¡¯ll release any updates as soon as we can,¡± the receptionist replied with a friendly smile. Lindsey then inquired, ¡°Do you know when there will be an update on the medicine?¡± The receptionist answered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the details. ¡± Lindsey realized that getting information was tough without the right connections. But she didn¡¯t have any insiders at the research institute. If Nancy had known someone, she surely would have informed her sooner. Feeling slightly let down, Lindsey was about to leave when a group of staff in whiteb coats entered through the automatic gate. Leading the way was a young man, seemingly in his twenties, standing tall and walking with an upright posture.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He wore his white coat open, and its hem fluttered as he moved, exuding a vibrant energy. He was followed by several older men who looked like professors. Lindsey found herself intrigued by the young man. He seemed familiar to her. As the man entered, he nced at Lindsey, a hint of surprise on his attractive face. He paused, whispered something to the professors behind him, and they nodded before departing. The man turned and made his way towards Lindsey. Lindsey observed him with a puzzled expression. Only when he came to a halt in front of her did she realize he was indeed approaching her. ¡°Lindsey?¡± The man looked at her with a hint of ambiguity. Lindsey questioned, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man slightly curled his lips, his hands tucked into hisb coat pockets. Before he could respond, a passerby halted to greet him, ¡°Professor Lopez. ¡± Chapter 515 He acknowledged with a nod and a smile. He was already a professor at such a young age. Lindsey¡¯s eyes couldn¡¯t help but sparkle with excitement. She inquired earnestly, ¡°Have we met before?¡± The man gave Lindsey another look and smiled.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re quite a sensation online. It¡¯s normal for people to recognize you. ¡± Lindsey nodded, feeling a bit awkward. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Had she be so famous that people recognized her in public? This thought crossed Lindsey¡¯s mind, and then she heard the man ask, ¡°What brings you here?¡± She looked up at the young professor in front of her. Since he was called a professor, he must know something about the specific medicine. ¡°Professor Lopez, I¡¯ve heard about a new obesity treatment your team developed. Are you familiar with it?¡± The man seemed confused. ¡°Do you need it?¡± ¡°Yes, if it¡¯s not too much trouble, could I. . Lindsey carefully chose her words. She was meeting this man for the first time and wasn¡¯t sure if he could assist her. ¡°Certainly,¡± the man replied without hesitation. Lindsey paused mid-sentence, eyes as wide as saucers. She looked up at the man in bewilderment and blurted, ¡°Really? How much is it? I can transfer the money to your ount!¡± Lindsey was ecstatic to hear that this professor, whom she had just met, was willing to help her. On second thought, perhaps he just wanted to make some extra money-after all, these kinds of ¡°private sales¡± of drugs probably happened a lot in research centers like this one. But to Lindsey¡¯s surprise, the man simply chuckled. ¡°No need. It¡¯s not a problem at all. Just wait here. I¡¯ll be back in a jiffy. After giving her a reassuring smile, he turned around and strode down the corridor, disappearing behind the corner. Lindsey watched him walk off in a daze, feeling a little flustered. Why would this man help her? It was the first time they had met. Lindsey wasn¡¯t a fool, and she knew that there was no such thing as a free meal in this day and age. Feeling uneasy, she approached the receptionist to ask about this professor. ¡°Professor Lopez? Well, our research institute invited him from Mubluosia to be one of our project¡¯s technical guides. It¡¯s said that even the director has to be courteous with him. I believe the medicine you asked about just now was developed by him and his team. ¡± The receptionist gushed about Professor Lopez excitedly, with unmasked admiration in her eyes. It could be seen how popr this man was at the research institute. When Lindsey was done speaking with the receptionist, she took a seat and waited anxiously. It felt like an eternity had passed by the time The man finally returned, only this time, he had changed into a dark grey suit, which made him look like a noble elite. Chapter 516 He stopped in front of Lindsey and handed her several medicine boxes. ¡°Here¡¯s the drugs you asked for. It¡¯s enough for a whole course of treatment. You¡¯re wee. ¡± Lindsey looked up at him in a daze for a few seconds, hesitant to take the medicine boxes. ¡°But¡­ why are you helping me?¡± The man turned his face away, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m just doing this on a whim,¡± he murmured lightly. ¡°May I know your name? I have to thank you properly someday. ¡± Lindsey finally epted the boxes of medicine, albeit somewhat reluctantly. She didn¡¯t want to owe him anything. The man looked down at her with an ambiguous smile. ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough. ¡± Lindsey pursed her Lips. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why she always encountered strange people and strange happenings recently. Last time, when she met Cherish¡¯s general agent of the country in the mall, thetter said those exact same words. ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll walk you out,¡± The man said while adjusting the cuffs on his exquisite suit. Lips still pursed, Lindsey followed him out. ¡®s BunnyBookery When they made it to the roadside, Lindsey started to raise her hand to hail a taxi, but the man stopped her. ¡°Actually, I just got off work. Where are you headed? I can give you a ride. ¡± Lindsey nced at him uneasily. This man was so hospitable-a Little too hospitable.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey knew the way the world worked. If a man emerged from out of the blue and went out of his way to help her, then it was probably because¡­ he took a fancy to her. And if that was the case, she might not be able to repay him. With a sigh, Lindsey locked eyes with him and said seriously, ¡°Professor Lopez, thank you for your kindness. I truly appreciate it. However, I¡¯m worried that my boyfriend will misunderstand us, so I can¡¯t take you up on that offer. ¡± The man narrowed his deep-set eyes at her and said nothing. Lindsey waited for the man to say something, half-expecting that he¡¯d want to take the boxes of medicine back. But in the end, he just smiled and said, ¡°Okay, see youter. ¡± Then he turned around and left. Lindsey was stunned. She had tantly rejected him, but he didn¡¯t seem to care at all. Had she misunderstood the situation? Anyway, the important thing was that she finally got her hands on the medicine. Xiomara could be cured! Lindsey hailed a taxi. Sitting in his golden Bentley Continental GT, Leonel Lopez took out his phone and made a call. Chapter 517 ¡°Mom, I just ran into Linds at the research center today. ¡± An audible gasp sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°Did she recognize you?¡± ¡°No. After all, so many years have passed. If she didn¡¯t look like you, and if there weren¡¯t any recent photos of her online, I wouldn¡¯t have recognized her. ¡± As he spoke, Leonel tinkered with a shiny golden lighter in his hand. ¡°Oh, and there¡¯s one more thing. ¡± There was a slight pause in the movement of his hand as he said, ¡°She has a boyfriend. ¡± In a hushed pause, Leonel¡¯s smiled as he posed a prediction. ¡°As a matchmaker, your odds seem doomed to falter. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s normal for Linds to have a boyfriend at her age. But mark my words, when sheys eyes on that gent, a change of heart will dance its way in! However, your timely observation only adds urgency to the matter. ¡± Setting down the lighter, Leonel pressed the steering wheel. ¡°Heading back home yourself soon? Let¡¯s go over this talk when there. ¡± With the call ended, Leonel¡¯s car whisked away. Lindsey¡¯s thoughts were a whirlwind, Leonel¡¯s face upying her mind relentlessly. An uncanny sense of familiarity and trust swirled within her, inexplicable yet profound. Upon her return to the office, she called Xiomara, giving her the boxes of medicine. ¡°Lindsey, what¡¯s this?¡± Xiomara¡¯s brow furrowed in puzzlement. With a soft grin, Lindsey said, ¡°Fresh out of Morcastle¡¯s medical research hub, it¡¯s a specialized potion targeting obesity. Give it a whirl. It could just do the trick for you. ¡± Eyes widening, Xiomara gasped, ¡°Lindsey, you¡­ You did this for me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s merely happenstance. ¡± Lindsey casually flipped through her desk documents. Desiring not to elevate the gesture and burden Xiomara with a sense of indebtedness, Lindsey was caught off guard seeing Xiomara¡¯s tears falling on her desk in consecutive circles.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Lifting her gaze, Lindsey met Xiomara¡¯s teary eyes. Lindsey desired to give Xiomarafort. After wiping away her tears, Xiomara looked at Lindsey. ¡°Thank you, Lindsey. I¡­ I¡¯ll find a way to repay you. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so dramatic!¡± As Lindsey forced a nonchnt smile, Xiomara dashed out of the office, leaving Lindsey shaking her head in bemusement. As Xiomara exited, a knock rapped on Lindsey¡¯s office door. Her assistant informed her of a visitor iming to be the representative of the global fashion show. Lindsey, hearing that, got up swiftly and walked out to wee the esteemed guest. The representative conveyed his proposal-inviting Lindsey and Sh to the fashion show. ttered, Lindsey epted the invitation. Chapter 518 With her work done for the day, Lindsey boarded the bus home, fatigue coaxing her into slumber. Awakening, she realized she¡¯d missed her stop. The solepanion on the bus was a man cloaked in ck, mirroring her exit. It was hard for her not to notice him, after all, as the bus had only the two of them. As Lindsey walked, so did the man, maintaining a certain distance between them, instigating a surge of anxiety in her. Memories of Chayce¡¯s abduction surged, and Lindsey hastened her pace, sprinting before the man could react. Lindsey called Domenic while she was running, and he promptly picked up. She gasped for air and said, ¡°I¡¯m being followed!¡± Domenic¡¯s voice grew grave, ¡°Find a crowded spot and send me the location. I¡¯m on my way!¡± Seeking refuge amidst the bustling streets, Lindsey sent her location pin to Domenic. Scanning her surroundings, the man in ck was nowhere to be seen. Stationary and wary, she waited. Twenty minutespsed before a cab pulled over. Lowering the window, Domenic¡¯s low voice came. ¡°Hop in. ¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey swung the door open and got into the car, which sped off instantly. She melted into Domenic¡¯s embrace, sping his waist tightly. ¡°Are you not wary of prying eyes this time?¡± Domenic gazed down at her, a faint grin on his Lips. Lindsey clutched him tighter, snuggling against his chest Like a kitten. Seated in the taxi with Domenic, she was clearly aware that the driver peered through the rearview mirror, seeing her unyielding grip on the man. In times past, she could have been shy and demure in the presence of others. However, what happened just now left her with lingering anxiety. Her concern for social propriety dissipated as she sought sce in the secure embrace of Domenic¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you terribly. ¡± Her voice, soft and fragrant, echoed gently. Nestled against his chest, she exuded an air of sweetness andpliance. Domenic¡¯s throat bobbed faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s get off here. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Before Lindsey could figure out his intent, Domenic told the driver to stop and swiftly got her out of the vehicle. Chapter 519 ¡°Why are we stopping so suddenly?¡± As Lindsey¡¯s mind wandered, Domenic cornered her against the wall at the back of a building. Night had descended. Also, everyone had gone home, and this secluded nook saw no passerby. The chill moonlight bathed the ground in its luminance. Lindsey found herself enveloped and ki*sed by Domenic in this quiet nook.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. She leaned on his shoulder, her strength seemingly drained, surrendering to his overwhelming passion and body heat. With one hand, Domenic held her slender waist while the other meandered restlessly inside her garments! ¡°Wait. Let¡¯s find another ce. ¡± Lindsey grasped Domenic¡¯srge hand, breathless. Her reddened eyes, misty and bashful, were a potent allure to him. Domenic¡¯s eyes bore intensity. Subduing his desire, he rearranged her clothes to cover her delicate body from the night cold. His fervent breath lingered near her ear. The mingled heavy breaths of the two frolicked wantonly in the tranquil ambiance. He enfolded her in his robust embrace. Their separation had been brief, but their longing for each other immense. Lindsey reciprocated, clinging to his firm back. Resting her head against his broad shoulder, she asked in a husky tone, ¡°How is your grandfather? Is he feeling better?¡± ¡°Not well. I have to keep himpany a few more days. ¡± Domenic released Lindsey and pressed her shoulders. His striking eyes seemed especially piercing in the moon¡¯s glow. ¡°Why did you mention being followed? Tell me about that. ¡± Recounting the evening¡¯s events, the light in Domenic¡¯s eyes dimmed progressively. He discerned numerous sets of eyes surveilling themtely. Rupert harbored suspicions about Lindsey and himself. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this swiftly. ¡± He ruffled her hair with hisrge hand. ¡°Avoid deserted these days. And immediately notify me if anything amiss arises. ¡± ¡°What will you do? Is it perilous?¡± Lindsey wrapped her arms around his waist, her eyes fraught with concern. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we involve the authorities? There¡¯s a streak of peculiar incidents recently. ¡± ¡°What else has urred?¡± Domenic asked seriously. Lindsey disclosed her encounter with Professor Lopez at the research center. ¡°Professor Lopez¡­¡± After a brief pause, Domenic nced at Lindsey. ¡°Remember, tell me of such incidents in the future. Know that I am always by your side. I¡¯lle through for you anytime. ¡± The Walsh Group backed this research facility, but few people knew about it. Should Lindsey divulge her quest for a specific drug, Domenic could procure it expediently. ¡°Okay, I know,¡± Lindsey replied in a docile andpliant tone. Chapter 520 He yfully pinched her supple cheek, smiling. ¡°Why the unusual submissiveness today?¡± Lindsey raised her eyes, a touch of vulnerability in their dark depths, and nervously nibbled her lip. ¡°I just got scared. ¡± Without hesitation, Domenic enveloped her in his arms, softly biting her earlobe and whispering in a husky voice, ¡°Did you know, that look might attract unwanted attention from men? Don¡¯t do it again. ¡± yfully, Lindsey teasingly jabbed his chest. ¡°Who else would think so but you?¡± In response, Domenic captured her wrist, pinning it against the wall with a firm grip. His intense gaze held hers. ¡°Don¡¯t tempt me. I don¡¯t want to sleep with you here. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery A sudden rush of color flooded Lindsey¡¯s cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you anymore!¡± Ignoring her words, Domenic leaned in, ki*sing her once more, a gentle peck on her lips. He spoke in a deep, gravelly voice, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to talk to me?¡± Gritting her teeth, Lindsey hesitated. ¡°No. ¡± With a yful persistence, Domenic ki*sed her again, coaxing her response. ¡°Say it again. You truly don¡¯t want to talk to me anymore?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t think clearly. Despite her resolve, she found herself drawn into his embrace, returning his ki*s involuntarily. Unnoticed by Lindsey, a triumphant grin spread across Domenic¡¯s face. Later, as they reached home in a taxi, he remained inside the car. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to attend to. You head on in. ¡± Standing outside the vehicle, Lindsey nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go in now. ¡± Domenic observed Lindsey¡¯s path until she vanished into the apartmentplex. Only then did he signal the driver to start the car, waiting until the light flickered to life in his apartment window. Within the car, he ced a call, his voice chillingly cold. ¡°Someone followed Lindsey just now. Find them and bring them to me. Also, arrange for discreet protection-two men. You¡¯re responsible if anything happens to her. ¡± After ending the call, Domenic stared out the window, his legs crossed, a hint of gloom gleaming in his eyes. Following his encounter with Kendra, Rupert didn¡¯t waste time. He covertly dispatched someone to gather photos of Domenic for Kendra¡¯s identification. Lately, Domenic had grown more discreet and guarded, limiting his interactions to Vitality Group¡¯s senior executives. Rumors swirled about his increased visits to Jordan¡¯s mansion, sparking Jordan¡¯s satisfaction as he considered entrusting the Walsh Group to him.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Every encounter Rupert had with Domenic at the mansion ended abruptly, Domenic always finding a swift excuse to depart. Chapter 521 This pattern raised red gs-something was off. Rupert¡¯s instincts pointed to Domenic being the man Kendra mentioned, but his search for information on Domenic left him frustrated and agitated.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Relying on Kendra became Rupert¡¯s sole hope. If she could confirm Domenic as the man linked to her stepdaughter, dealing with Domenic would be simpler. In less than a day, Domenic¡¯s subordinate apprehended the man who trailed Lindsey that night, presenting him to Domenic. The ck-d man nced up at Domenic, seated on a leather sofa, exuding a potent, intimidating aura. Overwhelmed, the man couldn¡¯t contain his fear. Under the interrogation¡¯s pressure, the man confessed. Kendra had tasked him with trailing Lindsey and capturing a photo of her and her boyfriend. He remained clueless about Kendra¡¯s intentions with the picture. Flicking cigarette ash into a crystal ashtray, Domenic maintained an impassive demeanor, issuing instructions to his subordinate. Then, he strode away wordlessly, his long legs carrying him. Momentster, heart-wrenching pleas for mercy echoed behind him. Meanwhile, Kendra repeatedly called the man trailing Lindsey until he finally answered. Anxious, she inquired, ¡°Any updates? Have you managed to take any photos?¡± Have you taken any photos?¡± Blood stained the man¡¯s lips, nked by towering figures. Trembling, he feignedposure and uttered, ¡°Not yet¡­¡± ¡°How much longer? If you can¡¯t deliver, return the cash, and I¡¯ll look for another hand!¡± Instantly, he replied, ¡°Fine, keep the money. Find another person for the task!¡± Kendra stood wordless. After striking a deal with Rupert, she dispatched shadows to tail Lindsey, yielding naught. She had been busy for thest week, but she never even got to snap a picture of them. Although Rupert was furious, he also understood that Domenic was most likely the one who had done this. Not even he couldpete with him, much less Kendra. Domenic would be suspicious, and it would work against him if it continued in this manner. To lower Domenic¡¯s guard, Rupert had to retract his spies. The pursuit of the photos had to be momentarily shelved. The fashion industry¡¯s g was a week away, today marking the premiere of high-end luxury brands¡¯ annual fashion show. Prior to the showcase, nationwide buzz heralded the event. Morcastle¡¯s centralmercial street¡¯s colossal LED screen showcased the show¡¯s adverts. Twitter buzzed, tracking and reporting the entire spectacle. This was fashion¡¯s annual festivity, attracting stars across realms, rivaling the fervor of film festivals. International stars who were already well-known worldwide or emerging stars who major entertainment corporations preferred were the stars who were invited to the big show. Chapter 522 On this particr day, all eyes were on each other, and the enthusiasm was on par with the film festival. By seven in the evening, the show¡¯s participants graced the hall, one after the other. The red carpet teemed with the press and reporters. Cameras and mics would race up to do interviews as long as a fancy car was parked at the end. ALL domestic entertainment bigwigs graced the event. To everyone¡¯s amazement, though, the guest on the broadcast representing Gallop Entertainment was a rtively unknown newbie. Her prospects seemed boundless! Shelia wore a brand-new Armani fall gown and very beautiful makeup on her face. Her fake face became more genuine and softer, and her brown hair formed a lovely shape. Clearly, a skilled makeup artist hade up with her look, which instantly elevated her from a little-known Inte star to a well-liked actress. On the red carpet, she waved, radiating a winsome smile. It instantly captivated many. ¡°Shelia¡¯s change with Gallop Entertainment is stunning. She¡¯s resplendent today!¡± ¡°After enduring torment, Shelia finally ascends!¡± ¡°Her brilliance shall never fade!¡± ¡°Shelia, triumph!¡± Amidst this, Kristy emerged from a vehicle, d in bespoke Burberry, bedecked in dazzling diamonds. ¡°Kristy. ¡± Shelia warmly grasped Kristy¡¯s arm, seemingly enhancing her poprity beside the movie Luminary. ncing at her, Kristy snorted quietly to herself. She had no idea how thisdy had joined Gallop Entertainment, gained poprity, or gotten promoted so quickly. Despite the facade of harmony, Kristy looked down on Shelia. ¡°Miss Stewart, Miss Chase, look here. ¡± The media aimed their lenses, capturing the duo from myriad angles.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The alliance of the fledgling actress and the esteemed movie queen eclipsed other stars, a magnificent sight. Just as they reveled, a shriek arose from the throng. ¡°Sh arrives. And beside her¡­ Lindsey!¡± Upon hearing the news, cameras quickly focused on Sh and Lindsey, who had just emerged from their vehicle. They were dressed in exclusive Cherish autumn dresses and jewelry. The colors of their outfits and essoriesplemented each other perfectly, making them look regal and absolutely stunning. They effortlessly overshadowed Kristy and Shelia. Onlinements were buzzing with excitement. Chapter 523 ¡°Cherish went for Sh and Lindsey this time around. In previous years, it was always global superstar types who got to wear their clothes. ¡± ¡°The moment the really famous actress showed up, some folks suddenly overshadowed. ¡± ¡°I think Lindsey Lindsey is much more beautiful than that Shelia. ¡± The debutantes started talking about Cherish¡¯s fresh arrivals this season. They were already scheming to get their hands on them. Seeing Lindsey, Shelia¡¯s expression darkened, and she clenched her teeth in frustration. Why was Lindsey here? Lindsey wasn¡¯t just present; she was dressed in Cherish¡¯s luxury attire,manding all the attention. Weren¡¯t only celebrities supposed to wear such brands? ¡®s BunnyBookery How did Lindsey manage to wear it? Shelia remembered mocking Lindsey at her office about not being invited. Now that felt like a real p to her. She was boiling with anger. Seeing Lindsey brought back the memory of that embarrassing karaoke bar incident for Kristy. Her face froze with that memory. Yet, Kristy had to put on an act for the media. The moment she stepped into the scene, she gently freed her arm from Shelia¡¯s grip and walked up to Lindsey, wearing a faint smile. Kristy motioned with her head towards the seat behind her and remarked, ¡°Lindsey, this is your first time in such a grand event.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Maybe you¡¯re not aware that agents usually stay at the backstage and don¡¯t get a front-row seat. ¡± ¡°Some people are just brazen. ¡± Shelia stepped up and gave Lindsey a haughty smile. She remarked, ¡°Lindsey, those invites have seat numbers for a reason. Everyone is sitting where they¡¯re supposed to. You came in with Sh, right? If you don¡¯t have the invitation, there¡¯s no need to linger here. There are plenty of agents like you in the backstage, and that¡¯s where you belong. ¡± Lindsey sported a smile on her pretty face that was hard to read. She joked, ¡°Miss Stewart, it¡¯s your first time to take part in a major show, yet your humility doesn¡¯t quite match a newbie. You sure are quite something. ¡± Upon hearing this, all the senior leaders who took part in the show shot Shelia disapproving nces. Shelia¡¯s lips twitched as she said, ¡°I¡¯m just giving you a friendly heads-up. It¡¯d be embarrassing to get kicked out by the staff. ¡± ¡°How can you be sure I don¡¯t have an invitation?¡± Lindsey said unhurriedly. Seeming to have heard a joke, Shelia crossed her arms over her chest and couldn¡¯t help but smirked. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s not wrong to say that you are inexperienced. You see, in these big shows, agents are not known for sitting on the front-row spots. Who are you, anyway? What makes you so special? Do you think this prestigious event is making an exception just for you?¡± Lindsey, with a smile, reached into her bag. Before she could pull out her invitation, amanding female voice interrupted. Chapter 524 ¡°I invited her here. ¡± Turning around, they saw a distinguished middle-aged woman approaching, standing next to Lindsey. In a fancy purple gown, thedy appeared to be in her forties. She exuded beauty, grace, and sophistication. At first nce, there was a hint of resemnce between her and Lindsey. Everyone was stunned. ¡°I¡¯m the one running the show, Anti. ¡± Hearing this, all four of them suddenly widened their eyes. Could they be mistaken? The sophisticateddy before them was Anti, a renowned figure in fashion and the founder of Cherish. Anti was the person in charge of the show. Suddenly, Shelia was struck by a realization. She remembered meeting Lindsey at the mall, where Lindsey received preferential treatment from Cherish¡¯s main representative in the country. Anti had issued an order that Lindsey¡¯s purchases at Cherish were all free. She hadpletely forgotten about it! ¡°Are you Ms. Anti?¡± Lindsey¡¯s clear-eyed gaze met hers, stirring a feeling of familiarity once again. Anti responded with a warm smile, her eyes gentle.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. However, her expression changed to one of coldness when she faced Shelia and Kristy. ¡°Lindsey won¡¯t be sitting here. She¡¯ll be in the VIP section for the fashion show. ¡± What?! Shelia and Kristy were astounded. It was rare for even global celebrities to ess VIP seats, usually reserved for high-profile figures in the fashion world or executives of major corporations allied with luxury brands. ¡°Ms. Anti, VIP seats aren¡¯t meant for just anyone, right?¡± Kristy said, her voice tinged with irritation. Anti arched an eyebrow and fixed her gaze on Kristy. ¡°Lindsey is the boss of Lindnita Artists Agency and is poised to be our future business partner. If she doesn¡¯t deserve a VIP seat, then who does?¡± Kristy opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t say anything. What did Anti just say? Lindsey would be her business partner? Both Lindsey and Sh were unable to hide their astonishment. Sh tugged at Lindsey¡¯s sleeve, whispering urgently, ¡°Linds, what¡¯s going on? Since when did you start working with Cherish?¡± Lindsey could only shake her head in confusion. ¡°What if I told you¡­ I have no idea?¡± Chapter 525 Sh¡¯s surprise grew even greater. ¡°Ms. Anti, I understand that Gallop Entertainment has been discussing a partnership with you. Does a smaller firm like ours not meet the criteria? Or is there a special connection between you and Lindsey?¡± Shelia asked, trying to probe further. Anti nced at her with a smirk. ¡°I founded Cherish and have the freedom to coborate with anyone. You¡¯re essentially a nobody, yet you dare to question me? Gallop Entertainment, with its preference for artists like you, is not on my list for coboration. ¡± Shelia was left feeling humiliated and chose to remain silent. ¡°Come on, Linds, let¡¯s head to your VIP seat,¡± Anti said, her demeanor changing instantly as she addressed Lindsey. She took Lindsey¡¯s hand with a gentle touch and led her towards the VIP area. Sh gave Lindsey a secret thumbs up.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. She had made the right choice. Lindsey was truly impressive! Sh then nced back at Shelia and Kristy, smiling smugly. ¡°Serves you right. ¡± Shelia and Kristy, seething with anger, sat back in their seats. ¡®s BunnyBookery Their faces were a picture of frustration. As Anti escorted Lindsey to the VIP section, Lindsey prepared to ask a question but was interrupted by a familiar face in the VIP area. ¡°Ms. Garcia?¡± Lindsey eximed, as Ruby greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Ms. Garcia, Linds, please excuse me. I have to go now,¡± Anti said before turning to make her exit. Lindsey was left with her unanswered questions, which she had to hold onto for the moment. After a brief conversation with Ruby, the show kicked off as nned. The stage shone under the bright spotlight, and the VIP area, right in front, was clearly visible. Cameras zoomed in on Lindsey, capturing her presence in the VIP section. There was an uproar on the Inte. ¡°Did I see it wrong? Is that Lindsey, the talent agent, in the VIP seat?¡± ¡°She had only justunched herpany, yet there she is, upying a VIP seat at the show. Truly impressive!¡± ¡°Today, she¡¯s wearing an outfit from Cherish¡¯stest collection. Rumors have been circting that Cherish was on the lookout for a new face to represent their brand. Could Lindsey be their next coborator?¡± ¡°Oh my goodness! I¡¯m about to witness the rise of a new starpany in showbiz in my life!¡± The fashion show was a resounding sess. Cherish¡¯s final disy was stunning, captivating the audience. Anti, the creative force behind it all, stood on stage, basking in the acim. Chapter 526 Lindsey, meanwhile, was feeling somewhat overwhelmed, _her uncertainties growing. Why did Anti show her such kindness? Lindsey was confused. It seemed unlikely for someone of Anti¡¯s high status to have a connection with her. After the show, Ruby gently sped Lindsey¡¯s hand and said kindly, ¡°Linds, remember when I mentioned that someone we know would return? Well, they¡¯re back, and I want all of us to meet. Now that she has returned, can you attend our party tomorrow evening?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey recalled her intention to express her gratitude to Ruby with a dinner invitation. Ruby, the party-loving soul she was, preferred to hold off and celebrate with their mutual acquaintance once they returned, involving everyone in the festivities. Now, with Ruby¡¯s invitation, Lindsey wouldn¡¯t dream of declining such a gesture. ¡°Tomorrow works for me, Ms. Garcia. I¡¯ve had the idea of having you over for dinner, so I¡¯d like to be the one covering the bills. What do you say?¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll leave the bill to you. Feel free to handle it however you Like. ¡± While Ruby spoke, Anti approached them. The moment Lindseyid eyes on her, her heart started racing uncontrobly. ¡°Linds, could you escort Ms.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Garcia for me? I have some matters to attend to. ¡± In her conversation with Lindsey, she disyed great kindness, as if they had been old friends for ages. The moment Anti concluded her words, she turned to leave. But in a sudden burst, Lindsey raised her voice and called out, ¡°Miss Anti!¡± Anti pivoted and offered a gentle, warm smile. ¡°Well¡­ Thank you so much for today. ¡± Realizing it wasn¡¯t the right moment for a long conversation, Lindsey refrained from saying more, not wanting to intrude on Anti¡¯s busy schedule. ¡°Don¡¯t regard me as a stranger. ¡± Anti shed a smile at her and departed. Once she had seen Ruby safely back to her ce, Lindsey didn¡¯t linger any further. The moment Ruby stepped into her house, her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out and checked the screen. Wearing a mysterious grin, she answered the call. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Garcia. ¡± Ruby sat on the worn-out sofa, her hands folded behind her back, and spoke in a low voice, ¡°If you¡¯re looking to show your gratitude, it might be a good idea to be kinder to Lindsey. The path to sess isn¡¯t an easy one for her. ¡± ¡°I will. I promise I will make it up to her when I return. ¡± Out of the blue, a thought struck Ruby. She lifted her head and inquired, ¡°Oh, by the way, will that young man you mentioned be joining you tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve reached out to him. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll arrange for the two to meet and get to know each other better. As for marriage, that¡¯s still up in the air. ¡± ¡°Young people today follow their hearts. An arranged engagement might not sit well with them. ¡± Ruby observed with a nod. Chapter 527 ¡°I trust my judgment on this matter. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the young one from Everleigh like?¡± Ruby mumbled to herself and then turned her gaze toward the window. On the following evening, once Domenic wrapped up his meeting, apanied by Arturo, he returned to the top-floor office at Vitality Group¡¯s headquarters. Arturo, seated cross-legged on the leather sofa, remarked, ¡°I never imagined the overseas property would be this substantial. Even if I only get a small piece of it, it would be worth more than half of the Yates Group¡¯s business in Blosa. ¡± Seated at his desk, Domenic reclined leisurely and uttered, ¡°My uncles have been eyeing the international market for a while now. Lately, they¡¯ve been quite restless and discontent with their current situation. I¡¯d like you to step in and manage a portion of the business, helping me stop their overseas ambitions. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I know this approach well. I assure you, they won¡¯t even get a tiny slice of the cake. ¡± Arturo smiled. ¡°By the way, are you nning to return to spend the evening with your grandpa tonight?¡± Domenic sat up, idly toying with a golden pen, and remarked casually, ¡°No, I won¡¯t be heading back there. I¡¯m off to my ce. I really miss her. ¡± In the past few days, Rupert had ceased all his scheming. His spies around Domenic were all pulled back, as reported by his own men. This meant Domenic was free to reunite with Lindsey. Domenic, adjusting his tie, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle to himself. His spirits were visibly lifted. Noticing Domenic¡¯s cheerful demeanor, Arturo raised an eyebrow and inquired, ¡°Since when did you be so love-struck?¡±All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Domenic just smiled at Arturo, choosing not to respond. At seven in the evening, at Whispering Mist. This upscale restaurant was situated in the busiest part of the city, but it exclusively took reservations from its members in advance. Lindsey was stepping into this famous establishment for the first time. The entrance, crafted from wood, stood grand and antique. Guided by a waiter, Lindsey reached the private room. Upon opening the door, she suddenly stopped. In the private room, besides Ruby, Lindsey unexpectedly saw Anti and Professor Lopez. Why were they here together? A mix of confusion and resolve filled Lindsey as she entered. ¡°Linds, there you are,¡± Ruby greeted with a weing smile. Chapter 528 Anti and Leonel stood up from their seats, smiling at Lindsey. ¡°Ms. Garcia,¡± Lindsey greeted Ruby with respect, then turned her attention to the others. ¡°Ms. Anti, Professor Lopez, what brings you¡­¡± After ncing at the three of them, Ruby held Lindsey¡¯s hand and walked up to the two. Ruby smiled kindly and said, ¡°Linds, these are the people I mentioned to you. Anti, also known as Juanita Lopez, was once my student. And this is her son, Leonel Lopez. ¡± Upon hearing these two names, Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck her mind, leaving her frozen and speechless. It had been over a decade, and the faces of these two people had faded in Lindsey¡¯s memory, but she vividly remembered their names. Juanita was her biological mother. Leonel, her elder brother, had taken their mother¡¯s surname from the start. Years ago, Juanita had gone abroad with Leonel. For more than ten years, there had been no word from them. Lindsey never expected their paths to cross again. Yet here they were, in front of her, very much alive. The odd feeling she had experienced earlier now made sense. Lindsey was just realizing that her mother was the founder of the renowned Cherish brand. Her brother had achieved sess as a medical professor at a young age. They had recognized her and been aiding her without her knowledge. On the contrary, Lindsey felt she had been left far behind by them. Lindsey¡¯s fingers tensed and she clenched them tightly. ¡°Linds. ¡± Juanita approached Lindsey, her voice quivering with excitement as she held Lindsey¡¯s hands. ¡°It¡¯s been over ten years. You¡¯ve blossomed into a beautiful woman. ¡± Lindsey remained motionless. She tried to speak, but words failed her. Lindsey often dreamed about her mother. She had envisioned their reunion many times. Now, faced with the reality, her emotions were a mix of joy and sorrow.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey longed to bridge the gap with her mother but was unsure how to start. To Lindsey, it felt like she and her mom were strangers who knew each other deeply. Once, Lindsey had harbored resentment towards her mother. Over the years, and especially after recent events, she hade to understand her mother¡¯s actions, transforming her resentment into guilt. Lindsey now regretted the harsh words she had once spoken to her mother. This guilt made facing Juanita a challenge, as Lindsey struggled to even lift her gaze. Noticing the tension, Ruby stepped in to lighten the mood. She took Lindsey¡¯s hand and guided her to a seat. ¡°You¡¯re finally together after so long. Don¡¯t hold back. ¡± Chapter 529 Sitting beside Lindsey, Leonel offered a reassuring smile. ¡°I told you. You will know my name sooner orter. ¡± ¡°Professor¡­¡± Lindsey suddenly hesitated, unsure of what to call him. ¡°Just call me by my name. ¡± he offered, stretching out his hand to gently ruffle Lindsey¡¯s hair. It was a gesture he¡¯d employed when she was a child, and back then, Lindsey would trail after him everywhere. After a pause, Lindsey¡¯s voice emerged, distant yet yielding. ¡°Leonel. ¡± Leonel smiled tenderly, while Juanita observed with satisfaction. ¡°Linds, I¡¯ve heard about what happened to you recently. I¡¯ll be staying for a while. If you encounter any problems, feel free to let me know,¡± Leonel assured her. Lindsey nodded silently. ¡°Juanita, why hasn¡¯t hee yet?¡± Ruby interjected, shifting the conversation. Juanita nced at her wrist, checking the time. ¡°He should be here soon. ¡± Who would being? Lindsey wondered.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. As she pondered, the door to the private room swung open. ¡°Ms. Lopez, I apologize for my tardiness. There¡¯s quite a traffic snarl on the road. I am sincerely sorry,¡± the man uttered politely and with a gentle demeanor. Lindsey lifted her head towards the door and noticed Sumner standing there d in a light-colored T-shirt. When their gazes met, both were taken aback. ¡°Here you are, Sumner!¡± As soon as Juanita caught sight of Sumner, she rose and extended a warm wee to him. ¡°Let me introduce everyone here to you. ¡± Juanita sped Sumner¡¯s wrist, embarking on the introductions. ¡°This is Ruby Garcia. ¡± Sumner nodded at Ruby with a genial smile and greeted her warmly, ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Garcia. ¡± Sumner drew a faint narrowing of Ruby¡¯s eyes. He bore a striking resemnce to her beloved student, and she found herself instantly fond of him. ¡°I won¡¯t introduce this one to you; you already know him. ¡± Even though Juanita skipped over Leonel, Sumner politely acknowledged him, ¡°Leonel. ¡± Leonel reciprocated with a nod and a smile. Chapter 530 ¡°This is my daughter, Lindsey. ¡± Approaching Lindsey, Juanita ced aforting hand on her shoulder. Sumner widened his eyes and inquired, ¡°Is Linds your daughter?¡± Juanita appeared surprised. ¡°Do you two know each other?¡± Sumner nodded, a gentle smile gracing his lips. ¡°We¡¯re old friends. ¡± Observing the subtle shift in Sumner¡¯s gaze towards Lindsey, Juanita¡¯s eyes sharpened, sensing an unusual sentiment. With a smile, Juanita remarked, ¡°Linds, I never imagined you two knew each other. Fate seems to have orchestrated your meeting. ¡± Lindsey remained dazed, her thoughts in disarray. ¡°How do you know each other?¡± Seated backfortably, Juanita continued, ¡°I used to be close friends with Sumner¡¯s mom. When I learned that Sumner was studying in Mubluosia, I reached out to him. ¡± Sumner nodded gently. ¡°During my time in Mubluosia, your mother and brother looked after me well. ¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re all acquainted, formalities are unnecessary! Then let¡¯s get started!¡± Ruby pped her hands and said excitedly. The waiters promptly served all the dishes, and they engaged in conversation while enjoying their meal. ¡°Linds, I heard yourpany¡¯s been thriving. Would you consider taking me in?¡± Sumner asked, casting a nce at Lindsey. Lindsey recalled her promise to act as his agent.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡®s BunnyBookery But they hadn¡¯t contacted each other since theirst encounter at the hot spring resort. ¡°Sumner, are you interested in joining Lindsey¡¯spany?¡± Juanita¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°Well, it¡¯s up to Linds,¡± Sumner replied, casting a silent nce in Lindsey¡¯s direction. Juanita was aware that Sumner¡¯s musical talent came straight from his mother. Years ago, at a concert, Sumner stepped in for an unwell bass yer and performed a stunning song, leaving everyone there amazed. ¡°Linds, even though Sumner studied finance at university, he¡¯s also been learning music on his own. His achievements in music are just as remarkable as his finance skills. He¡¯s bound to be a hit in the music industry,¡± Juanita enthusiastically praised Sumner as much as she could. Having Sumner work at Lindsey¡¯spany was a great opportunity. Perhaps it would bring Sumner and Lindsey closer. Lindsey, having given her word, found it hard to decline, especially since they were close friends. ¡°Alright, wee aboard,¡± Lindsey said with elegance. Sumner smiled, his gaze constantly drifting towards Lindsey. Seeing this, Juanita couldn¡¯t help but giggle. She nudged Leonel and whispered, ¡°Looks like there¡¯s a spark between them. ¡± Leonel cast a nce at Lindsey, who seemed unfazed, and dampened Juanita¡¯s hopes. ¡°She¡¯s already got a boyfriend. ¡± Chapter 531 ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to handle that,¡± Juanita retorted, giving Leonel a yful pinch on the arm. Leonel winced and muttered, ¡°Mom, can you not pinch me like I¡¯m still a kid?¡± Juanita, ignoring her son¡¯s reactions, turned to Lindsey with a seemingly casual question. ¡°Linds, it¡¯s been a while since you graduated. Have you found yourself a boyfriend?¡± As Sumner was about to grab some food, he paused for a moment, and everyone else¡¯s attention shifted to Lindsey. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Yes,¡± Lindsey responded softly, a hint of blush coloring her cheeks. ¡°And what does he do for a living?¡± ¡°He helps out his boss at apany,¡± Lindsey replied truthfully. Juanita couldn¡¯t help but smile, realizing that Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend was just a regr employee. ¡°What about his family background?¡± Lindsey looked up from her meal to address her mother¡¯s curious inquiry. ¡°He lost his parents and only has a grandfather. They¡¯re just a normal family. ¡± Lindsey had no intention of keeping her rtionship with Domenic a secret from her mother. With her mother¡¯s return, she nned to reveal her rtionship eventually. Upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s words, Juanita¡¯s expression turned into a frown of displeasure. An ordinary boy from a simple family, burdened by an elderly rtive? Juanita was a renowned international female entrepreneur, the creator of the Cherish brand, a top-tier global designer, and a key investor in the film industry worldwide. Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . She envisioned a future where her daughter would join her in business, gaining wealth and influence. She couldn¡¯t ept her daughter marrying someone deemed unsuitable and potentially burdensome. Juanita turned to face Lindsey with a serious demeanor. ¡°Linds, you should break up with him. ¡± This blunt statement shocked everyone. Leonel looked at his mother in surprise. Why was she so direct? Lindsey, with a mix of shock and disbelief in her eyes, turned to her mother and asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s not worthy of you,¡± Juanita said. She had always been straightforward, and the thought of her daughter with a man who didn¡¯t match her standards was unbearable for her. Determined to secure her daughter¡¯s future happiness, Juanita felt it was necessary to be harsh and end their rtionship. ¡°You¡¯ve never met him or really know him. How can you judge him like that?¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice rose in protest. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just learn about him from what you said? Amon job, an average family, burdened with an elderly grandfather. Lindsey, I¡¯ve experienced such things.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Your father was also¡­¡± Juanita¡¯s emotions nearly led her to reveal past incidents. Fortunately, Leonel tugged at her sleeve, helping her regain herposure. ¡°In any case, a woman should choose a partner of equal standing. Otherwise, you will regret it in the future!¡± Chapter 532 Lindsey bit her lip, a hint of self-derision in her smile. ¡°I should choose a partner of equal standing? But what kind of family background do I have? Dad¡¯s cutting ties with me. And you. Didn¡¯t you abandon me a long time ago?¡± Her words struck a painful chord in Juanita, and the mood in the room instantly turned cold. Juanita¡¯s fists clenched as she said, ¡°Linds, I never abandoned you. Remember when I asked if you wanted to leave with me? You chose to stay with your father. Do you remember what you said back then?¡± Lindsey hung her head, her lips pressed tightly together. She remembered the harsh words she had said to her mother¡ª ¡°I won¡¯t go with you. You left Dad because he had nothing. Your love for money is all I see. How can you love me? I refuse to be Like you! Pretend you never had a daughter like me, and I¡¯ll do the same about having a mother like you!¡± As she grew older, Lindsey came to understand her mother¡¯s background. Her mother came from a wealthy and prestigious family, while her father was once a man of modest means. He improved his life through his rtionship with her mother andter established his own business. Once her father had achieved something, he found he could no longer tolerate her mother¡¯s controlling nature. He also grew weary of peoplebeling him a man who once Lived off his wife. This led him to adamantly seek a divorce from her mother. Thinking of this, Lindsey felt pain in the heart. She struggled to catch her breath. Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . ¡°Despite all that, I never held it against you. ¡± Juanita¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Juanita was a strong woman, she hadn¡¯t allowed herself to cry for many years. But today, after being apart from her daughter for so long, their reunion brought back a flood of emotions, stirring her deeply. ¡°I tried reaching out to you in the first few years after I left. But how did you respond? You would hang up the phone as soon as you heard my voice. Then, you stopped answering my calls after that. Eventually, I lost all contact with you. I¡¯ve been searching for you all these years. It wasn¡¯t until I saw you in the trending news that I realized you¡¯ve grown into an independent woman!¡± Lindsey curled her fingers tightly. She couldn¡¯t bear to look up at her mother, whose heart she had wounded with her words. She fought hard to keep her tears at bay, not wanting her mother to see her vulnerability. ¡°Linds, I will always be your mother. I just hope that everything I¡¯ve done leads to your happiness. ¡± Juanita moved to sit beside Lindsey, taking her hand with a sincere expression. ¡°There¡¯s something important I need to discuss with you, beyond just our reunion. It¡¯s about your marriage. Actually, there¡¯s been an arranged engagement since you were young. ¡± Her revtion caused a collective gasp among those present. Lindsey looked up abruptly, her eyes, clouded with tears, filled with astonishment. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Before you were even born, I had already chosen a person for you to marry. The divorce from your father and our lost contact dyed this for so long. Before I went abroad, I left a property in your name, which you¡¯d inherit upon engagement. ¡± Chapter 533 Juanita¡¯s gaze, gentle yet firm, drifted towards Sumner. She then turned to Lindsey with a smile. ¡°Your fianc¨¦. is Sumner. ¡± Sumner was momentarily lost for words, his usually expressive eyes narrowing in surprise. He stared in disbelief. Lindsey, equally shocked, managed augh after a moment. ¡°Mom, what are you saying? Sumner and I are just¡­ ¡° Juanita cut her off, gripping her hand tightly, and said, ¡°Linds, when Sumner¡¯s mother was alive, we agreed on your engagement. It was her final wish. Sumner is outstanding and a perfect match for you. Trust me. ¡± Lindsey gazed at her mother, speechless. After a while, she pulled her hand away and stood up, overwhelmed with emotion. ¡°Mom, choosing who I love and marry is my decision. How can you make these choices for me without considering my opinion? You walked out of my life when I was young. You¡¯ve been absent for so many years. And now, out of the blue, you return to tell me I must marry someone. Did you ever think about how I might feel about this? Have you ever shown me any respect?¡± Juanita¡¯s bossy nature led her to believe she could meddle and rule her daughter¡¯s life. Little did she know, Lindsey¡¯s response would be wildly unexpected. Juanita got up from her chair, locked eyes with Lindsey, and uttered, ¡°Linds, if I could¡¯ve reached you all these years, you¡¯d have known much sooner! I did it all for your sake!¡± Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . ¡°Mother!¡± Lindsey had the urge to argue, but she realized that continuing would lead to a sh with her mom. Reuniting after so many years was a joyous asion. She didn¡¯t want to sour the atmosphere. She kept her emotions in check and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling too good. So¡­ I¡¯ll wrap it up for today. Time for me to go. ¡± With that, Lindsey quickly grabbed her handbag and headed for the door. ¡°Linds!¡± Juanita yearned to follow, but Ruby¡¯s voice halted her in her tracks. ¡°Juanita. ¡± Ruby sighed and added, ¡°Just give her some space. She needs time to digest what you said; it¡¯s a lot to take in, and it¡¯s quite a shock for her. ¡± Juanita sank into her chair upon hearing those words. Listening to the exchange between the two, Sumner¡¯s thoughts were all jumbled up. He coughed and inquired of Juanita with a grave tone, ¡°Ms. Lopez, what¡¯s happening here? Are the things you are discussing are true?¡± Juanita was lost in her thoughts, drowning in boredom, until Summer¡¯s voice yanked her back to the present. She only realized that Sumner was still sitting there. Straightening up, Juanita addressed Sumner. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sumner. I acted too hastily. What I said is the truth.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s on me for not letting you know all this time. ¡± It was then Juanita recognized she had oversimplified the situation. Juanita had high hopes for Sumner, who was adopted by Vincent and came from a respectable background. She believed once Lindsey met him, she would be taken with him. Chapter 534 However, Juanita hadn¡¯t anticipated that Lindsey already had a boyfriend, one she was deeply in love with, sparking Juanita¡¯s curiosity about this mysterious partner. ¡°Ms. Lopez, you¡¯ve been close with my mother for many years. Could you tell me why she passed away?¡± Sumner appeared to have caught a lifeline just as he was about to be overwhelmed and was eager to learn more about his mother. Juanita, however, remained silent while Ruby¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears at the other end of the table. Before leaping from the building, Everleigh wrote a farewell letter, wishing that those left behind would safeguard the reasons for her demise and herplicated rtionship with Brady, concealing them from Sumner. She hoped for her child to live a joyful life and grow strong and healthy. She didn¡¯t want her son to carry the burden of her death or hold any resentment towards his father. It was a decision she made on her own. Therefore, whether it was Juanita, Ruby, or Paige, they never revealed the cause of Everleigh¡¯s death to Sumner, merely hinting at an unfortunate ident. After a lengthy silence, Juanita finally spoke. ¡°Sumner, all you need to know is that your mother¡¯s greatest wish was for you to be happy. ¡± Sumner felt heavy in his heart. Why did everybody keep quiet about anything concerning his mother? Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . Would he find happiness living in ignorance forever? He longed for nothing but the truth!Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Sumner rose to his feet and softly spoke, ¡°Ms. Garcia, Ms. Lopez, Nelson. I just remembered I¡¯ve got something else to attend to, so I¡¯ll head out now. ¡± With those words, he wore a courteous smile, turned, and exited the room. ¡°Sumner!¡± Juanita called out to him. Sumner hesitated for a moment. Then Juanita¡¯s question reached him from behind. ¡°What are your thoughts on the engagement with Linds¡­ Do you have feelings for her?¡± With his lips pressed together tightly, Sumner didn¡¯t turn to face them. In a quiet voice, he said, ¡°Linds and I are just friends. I respect her decisions. ¡± He then swung open the balcony door and exited. Juanita stumbled backward, visibly shaken. Leonel approached and helped her from behind. He sighed and said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re rushing things. It seems like they¡¯re not really into each other now. I¡¯m afraid their engagement¡­¡± ¡°Leonel, I trust my instincts. ¡± Juanita halted, pivoted, and met her son¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯m convinced that Sumner has feelings for Linds. As for Linds, I¡¯ll work on gradually changing her mind. ¡± Ruby rose to her feet and gently shook her head. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t interfere in their rtionship. ¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t ept that!¡± Juanita raised her voice, a rare show of emotion in front of Ruby. She was visibly trembling. Chapter 535 ¡°I havemitted Everleigh to fulfill her final wish. ¡± Tears started streaming down Juanita¡¯s face. Leonel was taken aback, having never seen his mother so vulnerable. She always appearedposed and sharp in front of everyone else. With her hands hiding her face, Juanita wept. ¡°The day before Everleigh took that leap, I met her. She confided that her greatest desire was to witness the union of the two kids in marriage. She also mentioned¡­¡± Memories rushed back. It was two decades ago when the young Lindsey and Sumber were mere infants. Holding her daughter, Juanita had visited Everleigh. The first time the two kids met, they reached for each other¡¯s hands andughed together. ¡°Juanita, see how fond they are of each other. They¡¯ll make a perfect pair as they grow up. ¡± ¡°Juanita, I wish they could grow up overnight. I¡¯d Love to witness their wedding and the joy of bing grandparents. You and I will surely be the loveliest mother-inws. ¡± ¡°Juanita, please make sure to take good care of them and keep them safe. ¡± ¡°I hope he lives a happy life, also for my part. ¡± These memories cut deeply into Juanita¡¯s heart. ¡°If I had known earlier that she was contemting suicide that day, could we have prevented all of this? Would she still be leading a good life today?¡± Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . For all those years, Juanita always felt sorry for her friend. Ruby stepped closer and wrapped Juanita in aforting embrace. ¡°You can¡¯t me yourself. It¡¯s she¡­ she chose to give up. Once a person gives up on themselves, no amount of persuasion from others can make a difference in their will to live. ¡± With her fists clenched, Juanita leaned into Ruby¡¯s embrace and resolved, ¡°I will fulfill Everleigh¡¯sst wish. That¡¯s my promise to her. ¡± Sumner raced down the city road, gripping the steering wheel tightly. The exchange between Juanita and Lindsey stayed with him, lingering in his thoughts. Abruptly, he mmed on the brakes and stopped the car. Resting his head against the steering wheel, he was overwhelmed with emotion. He had been ready to let go of Lindsey. But then Lindsey¡¯s mother suddenly told him that it was his mother¡¯s final wish that he could marry Lindsey. He had feelings for Lindsey, but she didn¡¯t return his affections! His thoughts were all jumbled up, and he felt lost, not knowing what to do. What was the real story behind his mother¡¯s passing?Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Why had everyone kept it from him? Why was it shrouded in secrecy? Sumner felt like he¡¯d stumbled into a massive web, trapped in a corner, bewildered and powerless. Chapter 536 Lindsey left the restaurant and went back home, lost in her thoughts. She pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Just as she was about to reach for the light switch, strong arms encircled her from behind. ¡°Why are you home sote?¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± In the darkness, Lindsey called out softly. ¡°It¡¯s me. ¡± Came a low response. He drew close to her, wanting to ki*s her earlobe, but Lindsey got out of his embrace. With a flick, the light illuminated the space. Lindsey looked at the striking figure before her, her eyes turning red. Furrowing his brow, Domenic cupped Lindsey¡¯s face, asking, ¡°Have you been crying? Who has troubled you?¡± Biting her lip, Lindsey shook her head. Next, she closed her eyes, buried her face in Domenic¡¯s chest, and tightly embraced him.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. This was a little too much for Domenic, and he held her softly. A calm murmur touched her ears. ¡°What¡¯s troubling you?¡± Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . ¡°Just hold me tight!¡± Lindsey nestled into his arms more. In response, Domenic embraced her tighter. ¡°Even tighter!¡± Heplied, enfolding her in a firmer embrace. They exchanged a long, wordless hug before Lindsey got out of his arms. Her tears flooded her clear eyes at this very moment. At that moment, locking eyes, Lindsey rose on tiptoes, encircled his neck, and tenderly ki*sed him. At the moment of the soft touch, his pent-up longing and desire erupted, and it could no longer stay tamed. Driven by an intense fervor, disregarding all else, Abruptly, Domenic grabbed her waist, trapped her between him and the cab, and took the lead to ki*s her. Although her body was a bit shaky and cold, she was ki*sing more vigorously and intensely than ever. Her hands were equally as restless¡­ Domenic immediately grabbed Lindsey and ced her on the shoe closet by the door as he grew increasingly aggressive and wanted to get more from her. He undid his shirt with one hand, revealing his robust chest. cing his hands by her ears, he asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°Do you want it here, or¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s legs wound around Domenic¡¯s waist. Her red face and trembling frame betrayed her arousal. Chapter 537 ¡°Right here! Just hold me. ¡± It was her first initiative for a ki*s. The more she wanted, the more spellbound Domenic became. His breath hitched, Adam¡¯s apple bobbing hard before he ki*sed her Lips. After their fervor subsided, Domenic reclined on the sofa, Lindsey in his embrace, with only one floormp casting a warm glow in the room, enveloping them in love. Lindsey nestled against him, breathless. ¡°I feel so cold. ¡± Domenic, casting a nce downward, chuckled softly. ¡°You were aze moments ago. Why the sudden cold?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t release me. I¡¯ll freeze the moment you do!¡± Lindsey¡¯s faint voice echoed in the vast living space. Frowning, Domenic pulled her close. ¡°Linds, what¡¯s the matter?¡± He clearly had sensed her unease. Lindsey withdrew slightly, confessing in the soft light, ¡°My mother and brother have returned. ¡± Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . Domenic was taken aback; her mother had been overseas since her divorce more than a decade ago, never returning until now. Or so he knew. ¡®s BunnyBookery But why did they suddenlye back today? ¡°What have they done? Did they hurt you?¡± This was his first assumption. But Lindsey shook her head. ¡°No, they¡¯re leading content Lives, and¡­ They¡¯re kind to me. ¡± Domenic helped her stand, turning her to face him, staring into her mncholic eyes. ¡°Then what¡¯s eating at you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s soft murmurs were apanied by a bittersweet smile, making it hard for him to interpret her emotions. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m just overwhelmed with happiness. I don¡¯t really know how to handle with so much joy.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Domenic¡¯s brows knit together as he observed her, then he let out a light chuckle and gently touched her nose, saying, ¡°You seem so out of sorts. But¡­ I get it, though. If I were to see my parents again, I¡¯d probably be even more ted and confused than you are now. ¡± Hisughter had a soothing quality, softening the usually stern look on his face. Lost in her thoughts, Lindsey leaned into his embrace, masking the unease on her face. She nestled against his chest, tickling Domenic slightly. Domenic yfully rolled over, pinning her back down on the sofa. He whispered in her ear teasingly, ¡°Ready for another round?¡± The next morning, gentle sunlight ki*sed Lindsey¡¯s eyelids, coaxing her awake. She saw Domenic standing in front of the mirror, fixing his tie. Chapter 538 He had an impressive build with a physique that seemed slender in clothes but revealed well-defined muscles underneath. His waistline was particrly captivating. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned a shade of pink as she recalled the events of the previous night. ¡°Don¡¯t fall too hard for me. ¡± After finishing his tie, Domenic nced over at Lindsey. Only then did she be aware that her gaze had been overly intense. ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself,¡± Lindsey retorted softly. She tossed aside the quilt, slipped on a shirt, and got out of bed. Approaching Domenic, she ced her fingers on his tie. ¡°Hold still. It¡¯s slightly askew. ¡± Watching her focused on fixing his tie, Domenic noted her blushing face and sleepy eyes. She looked so gentle and submissive, like a virtuous wife. Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . Domenic couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, causing Lindsey to nce up, puzzled. ¡°What are you Laughing at?¡± The man¡¯s smile was subtle, his gaze deep. ¡°What did you think ofst night?¡± Lindsey¡¯s ears and cheeks turned a bright shade of red. She yfully hit his chest, ¡°What kind of question is that? You¡¯re such a flirt!¡± As Domenic held her hand and touched her blushing ear, he whispered softly, ¡°I had a great time. ¡± He let out a light, happyugh, then stood straight and gently pinched Lindsey¡¯s reddened cheek. ¡°I have to say that you are more and more like my wife now. ¡± Lindsey was caught off guard by his words. The thought of her mother¡¯s insistence on breaking them up and that arranged engagement left Lindsey feeling down. Yet, she didn¡¯t want to worry Domenic, so she managed a subtle smile and said, ¡°Will you be home early tonight?¡± ¡°So early in the morning and you¡¯re already missing me?¡± Domenic teased her yfully. Lindsey yfully hit him, but Domenic caught her fists in his hands. His hands wererge, enveloping Lindsey¡¯s in a gentle hold. He smiled softly. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll be home early. We¡¯ll shop and cook together. ¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey¡¯s heart fluttered with sweetness, and she nodded gently. After Domenic left, Lindsey headed to her office. At ten in the morning, Sumner made his way into Lindsey¡¯spany. Dressed in a crisp, white hoodie, he radiated a fresh, youthful aura. Chapter 539 The moment he stepped into the office, he drew everyone¡¯s attention. The receptionist couldn¡¯t help but skip a beat when sheid eyes on him. He was like a walking dream of someone¡¯s first love! Lindsey came out of her office, extending a hand towards Sumner. ¡°Wee aboard, Sumner. I hope you enjoy working with us. ¡± The crowd was visibly surprised. He had just signed on with Lindsey! Xiomara peeked from her desk, her eyes fixating on the strikingly handsome man before her, instantly captivated by his allure. As something came into her head, Xiomara let out a sigh. She lounged back in her chair, pulling open the drawer to retrieve the drug Lindsey had once given her. ¡°Xiomara, did Lindsey give you that medicine to help with weight loss?¡± Her female colleague nced at the medicine box in Xiomara¡¯s hand and inquired. With a slight nod, Xiomara pressed her lips together in confirmation. Note:All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . ¡°Wow, she¡¯s really looking out for you. Does she really n to train you to be a star or something?¡± the female colleague said sarcastically. Xiomara quickly rified, ¡°No, no! It¡¯s just a one-time help. There¡¯s nothing more to it!¡± The female colleague huffed and stopped talking with her, but from the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the box of that particr medicine. After Sumner got settled in his role, Lindsey received a call from Juanita around noon. ¡°Linds,e home for lunch. I¡¯ve prepared your favorite foie gras. ¡± ¡°Mom, there¡¯s a lot on my te at the office. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to make it for lunch. ¡± Lindsey was somewhat conflicted and unsure about facing her mother. Moreover, she genuinely was swamped with work, so she declined the invitation politely. Juanita appeared to grasp her intentions and said slowly, ¡°I realize it was my mistake yesterday. I didn¡¯t take your feelings into consideration¡­ I¡¯m sorry. If lunchtime is too busy for you, what about dinner? It¡¯s been so many years since we¡¯ve had a proper talk. ¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lindsey found herself hesitating, recalling her conversation with Domenic from the morning. ¡°Linds, if you don¡¯t show up, does that mean you can¡¯t forgive me?¡± Juanita¡¯s voice sounded disheartened on the other end of the call. Lindsey felt her resolve soften. She sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯lle over after I finish at work. ¡± Chapter 540 Once the call ended, Leonel stood with his arms crossed, eyeing his mother who was quite the actress. ¡°So, has Lindsey agreed toe over today?¡± ¡°Trust me. When have I ever failed to get what I want?¡± Juanita replied with a cunning grin. ¡°And how do you n to do that?¡± Leonel queried. With a smirk, Juanita exined, ¡°Sometimes I have to step back to move forward.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Let¡¯s get her to break up with that guy first. That¡¯ll give Sumner his chance. ¡± Leonel, with a skeptical lift of his brows, stood and headed to his research institute. In the evening, after wrapping up her work, Lindsey left the office. She had already informed Domenic that she¡¯d be visiting her mother and asked him not to wait up for her. Just as she was about to hail a taxi, Sumner approached from behind. ¡°Linds, are you heading home? It¡¯s on my way. Let me give you a lift,¡± he offered, his voice casual, a slight smile on his face. Under normal circumstances, Lindsey might have epted Sumner¡¯s offer without a second thought. However, given the recent events, she consciously maintained a distance. ¡°No, that¡¯s alright, Sumner. I¡¯m headed to my mother¡¯s ce, and it¡¯s not on your way. ¡± Sumner¡¯s usually bright and clear eyes dimmed a bit. He hesitated before saying, ¡°Linds, I only found out about the arranged engagement yesterday as well. Don¡¯t feel pressured. My parents are gone, and I¡¯m on my own. There¡¯s no obligation for us to follow through with it. ¡± When Lindsey heard his words, she felt even greater sympathy for him. ¡°Thanks, Sumner. For me, marriage is about love between two people. I already have a boyfriend, and you. . You only see me as your friend, right? So, it¡¯s clear we¡¯re not meant to be together, aren¡¯t we?¡± As she spoke, Sumner¡¯s hands clenched tightly. Note: All membership owners kindly join this Whatsapp group for new uing stories and updates. . ¡°What if¡­¡± Clenching his fists, Sumner looked up at Lindsey and pretended to be casual, saying, ¡°I mean if you weren¡¯t dating anyone and I didn¡¯t have a girlfriend, could there be a chance for us to¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Lindsey said firmly without any hesitation. She was uncertain whether Sumner¡¯s question was merely casual or if he harbored deeper intentions Linked to their supposed engagement. However, she was clear in her resolve not to give him any hope. Because her heart had room only for Domenic, leaving no space for anyone else. Sumner rxed his hands and gave Lindsey a yful look, letting out a lightugh. ¡°You reject me so quickly. It¡¯s almost like I¡¯m not charming enough. ¡± His light-heartedment made Lindsey feel more at ease. ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re attractive, easy-going and talented. I¡¯m sure many girls are interested in you. ¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re not one of them¡­¡± Sumner said quietly to himself. Chapter 541 ¡°What did you say?¡± Lindsey asked, turning her head slightly, not quite catching his words. Sumner quickly shed a boyish, genuine smile. ¡°Oh, nothing. Since we¡¯re not going the same way, I¡¯ll leave first. ¡± ¡°Alright. ¡± After parting ways with him, Lindsey hailed a taxi and went on her way. Arriving at the high-end apartmentplex where Juanita lived, Lindsey knocked on the door. Juanita greeted her warmly, taking her hand and leading her inside. Lindsey surveyed the apartment; it was decorated like a show home, elegant and sophisticated. ¡°Mom, did you rent this ce?¡± Lindsey inquired. ¡°I¡¯ve just bought it,¡± Juanita replied, as casually as if she were talking about picking up groceries. Yet, a stylishly furnished home of around two hundred square meters in the city center wouldn¡¯t be inexpensive. Lindsey felt the huge difference in their lifestyles again. Juanita seated Lindsey at the dining table, which was set with a variety of delicious dishes, all childhood favorites of Lindsey¡¯s. This gave Lindsey a surreal feeling, as if she had traveled back in time over a decade. ¡°Is my brother around?¡± Lindsey began to feel morefortable as she looked at Juanita. Juanita, serving Lindsey some food, replied, ¡°He said he¡¯d be workingte tonight and mighte hometer. ¡± Lindsey understood, knowing his work at the research institute kept him busy. As they talked, Lindsey recounted her past few years, including Benny¡¯s marriage to his servant and Kendra¡¯ster misdeeds. But she left out anything about Domenic. Upon hearing this, Juanita couldn¡¯t contain her anger and burst out, ¡°Benny must have felt too suffocated when he was with me. That¡¯s why he married a servant to serve him. How spineless! Helping the woman who cheated on him and neglecting his own daughter. Has he lost his mind? Linds, you¡¯ve suffered a lot all these years. Now that I¡¯m back, I¡¯ll make things right. Just wait and see how I handle that despicable bitch!¡± Feeling her mother stand up for her, Lindsey experienced a sense of warmth and care she hadn¡¯t felt from her family in a long time. ¡°Speaking of which, how did you meet your boyfriend?¡± After her outburst about Benny, Juanita switched topics, asking Lindsey. Lindsey¡¯s heart raced at the thought of revealing her one-night stand with Domenic, a n hatched by Kendra and Chayce. She knew it would only make her mother angrier and spoil her impression of Domenic. After a moment of thought and a bite of her meal, Lindsey decided to begin with the story of hiring Domenic as a pretend boyfriend for the engagement party.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. She figured it was pointless to hide it since Kendra and Benny were already aware of it. Chapter 542 Listening to Lindsey, Juanita¡¯s face darkened. ¡°So, he¡¯s basically just an opportunist?¡± she said. ¡°Mum, it¡¯s not like that. Back then, he was just trying to help me out¡­ And ever since, he¡¯s really been there for me. We¡¯re sharing a rented apartment, but he never asks for rent money. He even handles all our living costs. I¡­¡± Lindsey was in the middle of defending Domenic when Juanita cut in, looking at her intently. ¡°Linds, from what you¡¯ve told me, are you living together with this man?¡± Lindsey paused eating, her lower lip caught between her teeth. A mother always knows her daughter best. Juanita, seeing Lindsey¡¯s reaction, understood her suspicion was correct. Setting her fork down, Juanita sat up straight and said to Lindsey with a serious tone, ¡°Linds, you should move in with me. ¡± Lindsey stared at Juanita, taken aback. Before Lindsey could say anything, Juanita cut her off. ¡°You¡¯re living with a man without being married. It¡¯ll look bad if people find out. ¡± ¡°Mom, he¡¯s my boyfriend. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough. ¡± Juanita raised her voice and scolded Lindsey. Then Juanita softened her tone and said, ¡°Back then, I wasn¡¯t there for you, and your dad was no help, so you had to leave. And someone took advantage of that. But now I¡¯m here. This is where you belong. Pack your things today. I¡¯ll send a car for you tomorrow. ¡± In her heart, Juanita was convinced that Lindsey had gotten herself involved with a man who was just after her money, simr to how Benny had deceived Juanita. Juanita was determined not to let her daughter walk the same path she had, and she would use any means necessary to end Lindsey¡¯s current rtionship. At least Juanita was set on not giving them any opportunity to grow closer. Seeing Lindsey remain quiet as she stirred her food, Juanita understood that Lindsey was unhappy with her n. After a moment of thought, Juanita looked at Lindsey with a softer expression. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? I ask you to stay with me for a few days and you hesitate? Now that you have a boyfriend, you don¡¯t even want to be around your mother. ¡± Lindsey was taken aback by the sudden shift in Juanita¡¯s tone. Knowing Juanita had just returned from overseas, Lindsey felt she should spend more time with her mother. She was okay with visiting as long as Juanita didn¡¯t insist on her moving back in. ¡°Mom, I¡¯lle over tomorrow and spend some time with you. ¡± Juanita felt a surge of happiness when Lindsey agreed. She believed that if Lindsey came over, she would find a way to keep her here. But Juanita knew this wasn¡¯t enough to address the root issue. A crafty smile yed on her Lips as she plotted her next move. Elegantly taking a bite of her food, Juanita casually mentioned, ¡°By the way, Linds, I¡¯ve returned for another reason.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m looking for a brand ambassador for Cherish. ¡± Chapter 543 Lindsey had already surmised that Juanita¡¯s return wasn¡¯t just about reconnecting with her. She recalled Juanita mentioning potential coboration with herpany during that fashion show. ¡°Mom, have you thought of anyone specific for the position?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking to partner with yourpany. As for who to choose, I¡¯ll leave that to you. ¡± Lindsey cast a troubled nce at Juanita, her expression turning into a frown. ¡°I¡¯ve justunched mypany. Teaming up with Cherish could stir up rumors. Besides, if my rtionship with you is exposed, the public opinion will definitely be disadvantageous. I¡¯d rather earn my opportunities. I want to win the chance to work with Cherish based on my own efforts. ¡± Juanita, with her arms folded, looked at her overly cautious daughter, raising her eyebrows in mild surprise. Juanita herself had always acted boldly, rarely pausing for careful consideration. Her confidence stemmed from growing up in a well-known family, surrounded by a nurturing and supportive environment. She grew up with immense self-assurance, backed by the support of her influential family. Apart from her unsessful marriage to Benny, Juanita had managed her life without major problems. Lindsey, however, faced a different reality. Shecked a powerful background and connections. Her journey was marked by numerous challenges and harsh critiques. She treaded each step with caution, which ultimately led to the founding of Lindnita Artists Agency. This made Lindsey more thoughtful in her approach. Of course Juanita knew that. But now that she was back, everything would be different. ¡°Linds, ever since Cherish started, it¡¯s always been about pushing boundaries and outdoing itself. Thanks to this attitude, it managed to emerge from tough situations and make a mark in thepetitive business world. Your journey from a small-time agent to your current position is exactly what Cherish strives for. I¡¯m not just your mother, you know. Your impressive track record is why I decided to work with yourpany. ¡± Juanita¡¯s points were well thought out, but Lindsey was still feeling uncertain. ¡°But even so¡­¡± Lindsey hesitated. ¡°Linds, you need to understand something. Even if you were to obtain Cherish¡¯s cooperation fairly, people might still find out the fact that I¡¯m your mother. They could think you¡¯ve got an edge because of that. Sadly, this might not change how they see you, no matter what you do. ¡± Juanita had a point. The idea of fairness seemed distant for Lindsey in this partnership. Juanita continued, ¡°People who really make seed don¡¯t care about the small details. You¡¯re the head of thepany now. It¡¯s your job to make the most of what you have. You might not like this approach, thinking everything should be fair and square. But I need to tell you, the world isn¡¯t always about fairness. Some people¡¯s beginning lines are finish lines for others. It¡¯s a tough pill to swallow, but that¡¯s just how it is. Lindsey, I¡¯m not saying you should trick or manipte people. What I am saying is that the world, especially in business, can be harsh. Many turn a blind eye, but you should keep your conscience clear. Don¡¯t let what others think stop you from doing the right thing. ¡± On her way home, Lindsey mulled over her mother¡¯s words, feeling somewhat relieved. She epted the coboration with Cherish,mitting to help pick the right spokesperson. Acting with a clear conscience was key to her peace of mind. Lindsey seemed cheerful and at ease as if she had broken free from the burden. She felt like she was spreading her wings, ready to embrace the world. Lindsey arrived home at ten in the evening. Domenic was lounging on the sofa, engrossed in a finance magazine, legs crossed. He wore gold-rimmed sses, bathed in a warm, yellow glow that added to his distinguished air. ¡°So you havee back. ¡± Noticing Lindsey¡¯s arrival, Domenic set aside his magazine. He was dressed in a dark gray shirt today, exuding a mature and reserved charm. Lindsey hurried over, gently lifted his face, and nted a ki*s on his cheek. Her eyes narrowed yfully. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for a day.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Do you miss me?¡± Chapter 544 Domenic grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his arms, and seated her on hisp. ¡°iihat¡¯s got you so cheerful today?¡± His deep, soothing voice caressed her ears, the warmth sending a shiver through Lindsey. Lindsey wrapped her arms around Domenic¡¯s neck, her voice tinged with excitement. ¡°I¡¯ve secured a partnership with Cherish!¡± ¡°Oh? The Cherish that¡¯s a global Luxury icon? You are getting more and more capable. ¡± Domenic, usually so reserved, showed a hint of astonishment. Domenic had suspected something when Lindsey sat in the VIP section at the fashion show, which had everyone talking. He did a bit of investigation and found out that Cherish¡¯s founder was Lindsey¡¯s own mother. Yet, he kept it to himself. Watching his girl brimming with joy, he couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly. However, Lindsey¡¯s happiness wasn¡¯t just about the deal. Her mother¡¯s words had also given her a new perspective. But¡­ Catching a glimpse of Domenic¡¯s smile, Lindsey paused, then said with a hint of uncertainty, ¡°Domenic, starting tomorrow, I need to spend some time with my mother¡­¡± Domenic gazed intently at Lindsey. ¡°How long are you nning to stay?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lindsey pursed up her lips, took a moment to ponder, and finally chimed in, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but I think¡­¡± Before she couldplete her sentence, Domenic gently pushed her onto the sofa. His sturdy frame loomed above her, and his breath brushed against the tip of her nose. ¡°Don¡¯t be gone too long. Make sure to return soon. ¡± Lindsey Lifted her head and nuzzled against his nose. With a yful grin, she remarked, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a taste of what it¡¯s like to be home alone this time. ¡± Domenic understood she meant the time he returned to be with his grandfather. He chuckled softly and arched an eyebrow. ¡°It seems like you missed me while I was gone. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned bright red out of embarrassment. Her fists clenched, and she was on the verge of striking him. Without waiting for her response, Domenic leaned in and ki*sed her lips. On that evening, Kendra received some cash from Rupert, providing relief from Benny¡¯spany¡¯s urgent situation. Kendra lied to Benny that she borrowed the money by speaking highly of him in front of her female friends. Benny¡¯s attitude towards Kendra improved significantly when he noticed her generous financial assistance to help him ovee the challenges. Yet, the funds were sufficient only for a limited time. Lately, Benny had been actively searching for investments and remained active in social activities. Kendra loungedfortably on the home sofa, with Shelia sitting nearby, giving Kendra¡¯s legs a soothing massage. ¡°Mom, ever since Lindsey got in touch with Anti, she¡¯s be so full of herself. I heard Lindsey¡¯spany is teaming up with Cherish. I can¡¯t quite fathom what is good about her.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Shelia was still upset about being overshadowed by Lindsey at the fashion show a few days ago. Shelia couldn¡¯t bear that Lindsey outshone her and had a more fulfilling life. Kendra scoffed, thinking that Lindsey could never match the influence of the Walsh family, the most powerful among the four prime families in Morcastle. Chapter 545 In Pa¡¯s eyes, with Rupert from the Walsh family backing her, Shelia should be confident no one in Morcastle would dare cross her. Furthermore, Pa had s@x with Rupert that day. She could tell that Rupert was quite pleased with her. She knew she had to be patient in her ns. If her daughter could win Rupert¡¯s favor, she believed Benny¡¯spany would have a smoother path to sess. At that point, Benny would treat her kindly, leading to a significant shift in her standing within the family. Kendra gave Shelia¡¯s hand a reassuring pat and remarked, ¡°This is a golden opportunity. Lindsey¡¯spany is fresh on the scene, and partnering with such a big brand will surely spark a lot of online buzz and chatter. No need to put Lindsey down. The higher she climbs, the harder she¡¯ll fall. If she doesn¡¯t achieve results that match her resources, it¡¯ll surely sting, and her reputation will take a hit. ¡± Hearing this, Shelia was taken aback. After pondering for a moment, she grasped Kendra¡¯s idea. With a smile, Shelia gave Kendra a thumbs -up and eximed, ¡°Mom, this strategy is brilliant. You¡¯re a genius. ¡± When they were hatching their n, Benny opened the door and entered the room. Spotting this, Kendra swiftly rose from the sofa, brimming with enthusiasm. She hurried over, fetched Benny¡¯s slippers, and assisted him in changing his clothes. Kendra held the title of Mrs. Stewart, yet she found herself doing the same thing a servant did. This left Shelia quite displeased. Benny appeared weary. Kendra brewed him some coffee and began massaging his shoulders, sitting next to him.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Benny¡¯s irritated look softened considerably as he tenderly sped Kendra¡¯s hand. ¡°Kendra, I appreciate your dedication during these times. Despite being pregnant, you¡¯ve been actively involved inpany matters. Without the money you borrowed, thepany could have faced¡­¡± Kendra offered a gentle smile. ¡°We¡¯re family. I must support you and help thepany ovee these challenges. Unlike Lindsey who¡¯s found sess and seems to have conveniently overlooked those who raised her. ¡± Benny sighed. ¡°If only Lindsey could be a bit like you. She wouldn¡¯t have ended up estranged from us. ¡± ¡°Benny, I¡¯ve heard Lindsey is doing well these days. Herpany is about to partner with a global Luxury brand. She¡¯s likely to make a substantial amount of money. She could easily assist you financially, but she would rather see yourpany face bankruptcy than offer help. ¡± Kendra said in a constricted voice, ¡°Lindsey is your flesh and blood. How much did you invest in raising her? She¡¯s living afortable life now, yet she doesn¡¯t seem inclined to show any gratitude. It just isn¡¯t worthwhile. ¡± Benny¡¯s knuckles turned white as he clenched them. Suddenly, a realization hit him, prompting him to rise from the sofa. ¡°You¡¯re right. I invested a considerable amount in raising her. Now that she¡¯s well-off, it¡¯s only fair that she repays me. I¡¯ll visit her tomorrow. How can a daughter turn a blind eye to her parents¡¯ well-being?¡± Kendra nodded softly while resting in Benny¡¯s embrace. She gently patted his chest. ¡°Benny, try not to get too worked up. Just have a heart-to-heart with Lindsey. After all¡­ Blood is thicker than water. Her heart isn¡¯t made of stone. ¡± Observing Kendra¡¯s sequence of actions, Shelia couldn¡¯t help but think that experience brings wisdom. In this way, it would not only unsettle Lindsey but also divert her focus from the coboration with Cherish. Consequently, she might be more prone to making errors and messing up the partnership. Chapter 546 Furthermore, it could escte the tension between Benny and Lindsey. Shelia nned to use this to tarnish Lindsey¡¯s reputation as an ungrateful daughter. Everything was perfect. On the following day, as Lindsey was deeply engrossed in her tasks, there came a gentle knock on the door of her office from the receptionist. ¡°Lindsey, a man iming to be your father is here to see you. ¡± Lindsey furrowed her brow. ¡°What¡¯s he doing here? Let him in. ¡± With Benny¡¯s presence, Lindsey felt no fear. She was ready to handle whatever came her way. Before long, Benny walked into Lindsey¡¯s office. Sporting a ttering grin, he sat across from her, seeming self-conscious. ¡°Linds, yourpany seems to be doing great. Honestly, I had a narrow view of your abilities before. I never imagined you¡¯d be such a business. ¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve got something on your mind, spit it out. I¡¯ve got a lot on my te. ¡± Lindsey, without lifting her gaze, continued to attend to the ongoing business. Benny¡¯s smile froze momentarily, but he managed to chuckle. ¡°Well, here¡¯s the deal. You knew that Shelia had a falling out with the Perry family before. They got so upset that they suspended the partnership between our business and mypany was on the brink of bankruptcy. I came here today to see if you could lend me money to tide thepany over these tough times. ¡± The pen in Lindsey¡¯s hand paused. She lifted her eyelids to give Benny a steady look. ¡°What¡¯s it to me if yourpany goes bankrupt?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. Benny¡¯s expression soured at her words. He swallowed his anger and forced a false smile, saying, ¡°You¡¯re my flesh and blood. I brought you up. How can you im this has no bearing on you?¡± Lindsey smirked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to cut all ties with me before? Now that you see mypany thriving, do you suddenly want to establish a connection with me? Benny Stewart, you¡¯ve got quite the knack for ying your cards right in any situation. ¡± Lindsey no longer addressed him as ¡°Dad¡±. Instead, she referred to him by his full name. It seemed to cut deep into Benny. His anger became too much to contain, and he yelled, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m your father, and you¡¯re my daughter. No one can change that fact! Now that I¡¯m in a bind, you must lend a hand. If you continue to ignore my business, don¡¯t be surprised if I resort to legal action to resolve this matter. ¡± Lindsey found Benny¡¯s actionsughable. She couldn¡¯t fathom why he would consider suing her. With a dismissive tone, she remarked, ¡°Feel free to sue me if that¡¯s what you want. I¡¯ll just wait for yourwyer¡¯s correspondence. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯d appreciate it if you leave now. You¡¯re interrupting my work. ¡± ¡°Damn!¡±¡± Benny was seething with anger. Realizing Lindsey wasn¡¯t intimidated by the threat of legal action, Benny felt utterly powerless. ¡°Since you¡¯re showing no mercy, don¡¯t expect any from me. You¡¯ll regret this. I¡¯ll make sure you repay everything you owe me! With that, Benny stormed out in a anger. However, Lindsey remained unbothered by his threats and carried on with her work. Chapter 547 The further Benny walked away from herpany, the angrier he grew. He retrieved his phone and dialed his legal team to start gathering documents. He was determined to confront Lindsey in court! Just after ending the call, Benny¡¯s phone rang again. This time, it was an unknown number. ¡°Who¡¯s calling?¡± Benny answered irritably. ¡°Is this Mr. Benny Stewart?¡± the caller said politely. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. Who are you?¡± ¡°I represent LMH Group. We¡¯re hosting a banquet this weekend and would like to extend an invitation to you and your family. You¡¯ll receive the official invite at your office. ¡± LMH Group?! Benny¡¯s eyes grew wide in amazement. He had learned from a leading business magazine that LMH Group ranked among the top three groups in Mubluosia. Its operations spanned globally, epassing a diverse range of sectors. And it also had a very powerful venture capital firm. It was very experienced and visionary. ¡°Are you saying LMH Group has invited me to a banquet?¡± Benny couldn¡¯t believe it at all. ¡°Yes, Mr. Stewart. ¡± Upon hearing the confirmation, Benny¡¯s excitement was palpable. He joyfully responded, ¡°Great, my family and I will be there on time!¡± After ending the call, Benny was brimming with excitement. The gloom he had felt earlier vanished at the thought of LMH Group¡¯s interest in him. It seemed they had noticed hispany. Maybe they were interested in investing in hispany! Securing an investment from LMH Group could be the lifeline hispany needed. This might be his chance to turn things around. And it could mean an end to Lindsey¡¯s infuriating behavior. Benny was in high spirits as he drove away in his Benz. Around noon, as Lindsey prepared to head out for lunch, she noticed Xiomara still engrossed in her work. Approaching Xiomara with a smile, Lindsey inquired, ¡°Did you take the medicine I gave you? How are you feeling? Any side effects?¡± Xiomara, seeing Lindsey, quickly paused her work and stood up. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve taken the medicine as scheduled and didn¡¯t feel any side effects.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡± Lindsey nodded and said, ¡°This medicine usually doesn¡¯t have many side effects, which is why I brought it for you. Remember, though, if you start feeling unwell, stop using it right away and tell me. ¡± ¡°Okay, I know. ¡± Lindsey was quite fond of Xiomara. She found her to be thoughtful and cooperative. Chapter 548 Observing Xiomara¡¯s face, Lindseymented with a smile, ¡°Looks Like you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight in thest couple of days. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xiomara, feeling her cheeks, was visibly thrilled. ¡°Just keep it up!¡± Having encouraged Xiomara, Lindsey was about to head out when she noticed Sumner leaving the practice room. He was the final artist to break for lunch, as the rest had already left. Xiomara tensed up when she saw Sumner, and she peeked behind Lindsey. ¡°What a coincidence, Linds! How about we grab Lunch together?¡± Sumner stood in front of Lindsey and smiled gently. Even though Sumner and Lindsey worked at the samepany, they typically kept to their tasks and rarely crossed paths. Of course, Lindsey was careful not to give Sumner any special attention. Faced with his invitation, there was a noticeable hesitation in her eyes. Sumner understood Lindsey¡¯s fear of being misinterpreted if seen alone with him, so he nced at Xiomara standing behind Lindsey.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. He reasoned that if he included another person, Lindsey would agree. With this in mind, Sumner softly said to Xiomara, ¡°You shoulde with us. ¡± Xiomara pointed to herself in astonishment. ¡°What? Are you talking about me?¡± ¡°There are just three of us left in thepany. Who else could it be but you?¡± Sumner¡¯s tender words stirred Xiomara¡¯s heart, causing it to race. ¡°Lindsey¡­¡±¡± Xiomara¡¯s face had an unexined hint of blush as she nced at Lindsey. Detecting something unusual, Lindsey smiled and suggested, ¡°How about we go together?¡± The three of them headed to a restaurant close to the office. Over lunch, Lindsey discussed Sumner¡¯s career aspirations. She intended to have him participate in the talent show, the most effective way for a neer to build a reputation. Sumner listened intently, prepared to follow Lindsey¡¯s guidance. His goal wasn¡¯t fame in the entertainment industry. Xiomara sat beside them, picking at her food and asionally casting intentional nces in Sumner¡¯s direction. If Sumner happened to catch her gaze, she would quickly avert her eyes and act as if she weren¡¯t interested. Lindsey had a feeling that something was amiss with Xiomara. A man like Sumner had a knack for winning a girl¡¯s affection. Out of the blue, a thought popped into Lindsey¡¯s head. If she could y matchmaker between Sumner and Xiomara, perhaps her mother would reconsider Sumner¡¯s engagement to her¡­ After lunch, it was back to business as usual, and the three returned to thepany. Chapter 549 Back at her desk, Xiomara opened her drawer and retrieved the medication. She clenched her teeth and swallowed a couple more pills. Xiomara had a desire to shed some pounds. She believed that with weight loss, she¡¯d gain the confidence to stand tall in front of Sumner. Otherwise, she¡¯d continue to feel inadequate around him. ¡°Xiomara, that medicine of yours looks intriguing. Mind if I take a peek?¡± A colleague seated beside Xiomara suddenly chimed in. Xiomara jumped, caught off guard Regaining herposure, she hesitated before responding, ¡°Um¡­ ¡°What? Are you that uptight? We¡¯re colleagues, and you won¡¯t let me check it out?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. ¡± Xiomara, usually easily persuaded, felt pressured and handed over the medicine, saying, ¡°Here you go. ¡± Xiomara¡¯s colleague examined it briefly, then handed it back to Xiomara with ament, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like anything special. Good luck with it. ¡± The woman went back to her tasks, but Xiomara remained unaware of the wicked grin on the woman¡¯s face. In the evening, Lindsey returned home and organized a change of clothes. Afterward, she hailed a taxi and went to Juanita¡¯s ce. Lately, Lindsey had been spending some time at her mother¡¯s ce. After dinner, Juanita and Lindsey sat on the sofa, engaging in conversation. Juanita took an invitation out of her bag and gave it to Lindsey. ¡°Ourpany is throwing a banquet this weekend. Make sure to bring your boyfriend. I¡¯m curious to meet him. ¡± Lindsey was taken aback as she looked at the invitation, noticing the gold-ted lettering. ¡°LMH Group?¡± Lindsey had heard of the LMH Group before, but it was in a whole different league from her world. She never imagined she¡¯d have any connection with the LMH Group someday. Seeing the astonishment on Lindsey¡¯s face, Juanita grinned and shared, ¡°Yes, Cherish is a brand under the LMH Group, and I happen to be one of the directors there. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened, and she suddenly felt that her mother before her was beyond her reach. ¡°Mom, how many identities of you are still unknown to me?¡± Lindsey gazed at Juanita with awe. Juanita chuckled softly, stroking Lindsey¡¯s hair gently. ¡°Don¡¯t change topic. Truth be told, I¡¯m keen to find out who the man who¡¯s captured my daughter¡¯s heart is. You once mentioned my ignorance of him. Hence, I intend to acquaint him better, ensuring his care for you is met with my confidence. ¡± While Juanita¡¯s words ostensibly epted Domenic, her true aim was to ce him in a quandary during LMH¡¯s banquet. She desired to exhibit the chasm between him and Lindsey, hoping he¡¯d shrink from adversity. Simultaneously, she aimed to enlighten Lindsey about his unworthiness. Chapter 550 Her infatuation stemmed from a narrow perspective; she hoped that Lindsey would no Longer be enamored by this man upon mingling with the true elites of high society. Unaware of Juanita¡¯s thoughts, Lindsey rejoiced that the engagement wasn¡¯t mentioned and appreciated her mother¡¯s willingness to understand the man she loved. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll inquire about his avability this weekend. If he¡¯s free, I¡¯ll bring him along to the event. ¡± After conversing with Juanita, Lindsey, realizing the hour waste, went to retire for the night. Leonel had been preupied at the research institute, often returningte or staying there. Lindsey seldom spent time with him. Upon reaching her room, she got her phone and dialed Domenic¡¯s number. In his office at the time, Domenic was working on an overseas project. In front of him was a sophisticated, gilt invitation card with the words ¡°LMH¡± engraved on it. It was noticeably more refined than the one Juanita had given to Lindsey. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s iing call, Domenic grinned softly, answering promptly. ¡°Already missing me?¡± ¡°Absolutely! I just can¡¯t help it!¡± Lindsey yfully replied. In a hushed tone, Domenic teased, ¡°Send me your location. I¡¯ll pick you up after work. ¡± Lindsey, caught off guard by his unexpected seriousness, responded, ¡°I don¡¯t think it a good idea. It¡¯ste, and I¡¯m at my mother¡¯s. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate¡­¡± Domenic whined, ¡°Meeting your mother is inevitable. Am I not up to par?¡± This banter elicitedughter from Lindsey. ¡°You¡¯re incredibly charming. If you¡¯re unsuitable, then no alive man is. ¡± Raising an eyebrow, Domenic remarked, ¡°You tter me. Tell me, what¡¯s up?¡± Perceptive as always, he sensed that there was something Lindsey wanted to talk about from their brief exchange. ¡°The LMH Group extended a banquet invitation this weekend. Can you apany me as my date?¡± Domenic nced at the invitation on his desk, which initially didn¡¯t catch his attention. While LMH Group was not particrly important to him, it was still a top global conglomerate known for inviting elite members of high society to their events. How could they suddenly invite Lindsey to attend? With a smile, he replied with narrowed eyes, ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll see you this weekend. ¡± Upon ending the call, Domenic called Hendrix. ¡°Compile a list of the attendees for the uing LMH banquet. ¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Boss, will you be attending it?¡± Hendrix was caught off guard. Every year, the CEO of Vitality Group would get an invitation from the LMH Group to the banquet, but Domenic had never gone in person. Why did he suddenly seem interested in LMH¡¯s banquet this time? Fixing a cold gaze on Hendrix, Domenic signaled silence. Chapter 551 Seeing that, Hendrix immediately stopped asking, ¡°Of course, boss!¡± Once back at home, Benny excitedly shared with Kendra about receiving an invitation from the LMH Group. ¡°Benny, if a major conglomerate like LMH is inviting us to their event, does that mean ourpany is finally recovering?¡± Upon hearing from Benny that LMH Group was an outstandingpany, Kendra immediately felt enthusiastic. ¡°We¡¯re not just recovering, we might be on the verge of a major breakthrough!¡± Benny eximed, his face Lit up with pride. He was eager to mingle with the higher-ups of LMH Group at the banquet, hoping to secure an investment. ¡°But why would LMH, such arge conglomerate, take interest in us all of a sudden?¡± Kendra wondered, a flicker of worry crossing her mind. Benny, however, was too caught up in his tion and ego. He assured Kendra, gripping her shoulders confidently, ¡°The venture capital firm of LMH targetspanies Like ours, ones thatck funds but are brimming with potential. They must have recognized our potential, which is why they¡¯ve invited us!¡± Kendra felt a wave of relief wash over her after hearing Benny¡¯s words. She soon found herself swept up in the same excitement for what the future might hold. Later that evening, Shelia returned home. With her recent involvement in manymercial shootings, she had been arriving home nearly at dawn each day. Overwhelmed with excitement, Kendra couldn¡¯t sleep. She hurried to Shelia¡¯s room to share the news about the banquet. ¡°Did the LMH Group really invite us?¡± Shelia asked in astonishment. Since stepping into the entertainment world, her horizons expanded, and of course, she was familiar with LMH. When she heard they had extended an invitation, she was so thrilled she could hardly contain herself! ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Shelia, make sure you dress elegantly. It¡¯s a high-end event. You might catch the eye of some rich young man,¡± Kendra advised, still clinging to her aspiration of marrying Shelia into a wealthy family. For Kendra, this was more than a mere dream; it was a concrete goal. Her push for Shelia to enter show business was part of her n to make her a wife to a rich man. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯ve got a professional styling team from Gallop Entertainment. I¡¯ll definitely make an impression,¡± Shelia assured her confidently. Once Kendra had left the room, Shelia perched on the edge of her bed and, with a smug grin, pulled out her phone to make a call. The lively ringtone jolted Lindsey awake. Who could it be? And at such ate hour? Half-asleep, Lindsey groped for her phone, hit the answer button, andzily uttered, ¡°Hello. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s me.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Annoyed by the disruption, Lindsey frowned and retorted, ¡°Why are you calling in the middle of the night? What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± ¡°I just wanted to brag a bit. Mom and Dad are going to a fancy banquet hosted by LMH. Ever heard of LMH Group? Ah, never mind. You wouldn¡¯t get it. But anyway, they¡¯re a big internationalpany and it is way out of your league. Too bad you¡¯re not on good terms with us. Dad might have thought of bringing you along. ¡± She called specifically to unt her family¡¯s sess and to feel superior to Lindsey. Chapter 552 Lindsey was indeed a bit surprised, not by the invitation itself, but by the thought that Benny and Kendra were also included. She figured this must have been her mother¡¯s doing, as it seemed unlikely they¡¯d get an LMH invite otherwise. A drama was going to be unfolded. Lindsey couldn¡¯t suppress a smirk. ¡°Shelia, why do you feel the need to share all this with me? Aren¡¯t you worried I might show up at the LMH banquet too and overshadow you, just like at the Perry event?¡± Shelia was momentarily speechless, then scoffed as if she¡¯d heard the funniest joke. ¡°Lindsey, really? Who do you think you are? You think LMH would invite someone like you?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Not many people were aware that the Cherish brand was part of the LMH Group. Shelia simply assumed that Lindsey was indulging in wishful thinking. However, Lindsey responded casually, ¡°Well, if someone like you can be invited, perhaps¡­ I might receive an invitation too. ¡± ¡°Huh!¡± Shelia scoffed dismissively, ¡°Lindsey if you manage to show up at LMH¡¯s banquet, I¡¯ll write my name backwards. ¡± Lindsey found Shelia¡¯sment amusing, barely holding back herughter. She said, ¡°Remember your words. It¡¯ste now. I¡¯m off to bed. Goodbye. ¡± After ending the call, Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows raised in amusement, pondering the potential excitement of the uing banquet. On the weekend. The LMH banquet was hosted at the international banquet center, a venue illuminated and artistically designed. By seven in the evening, the banquet¡¯s esteemed guests started arriving.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Benny, Kendra, and Shelia were among the early attendees. Benny had invested a significant amount in a custom-made suit for the asion. Kendra and Shelia also dressed up elegantly. Kendra donned a dark red dress, tailored to fit her perfectly. Her hair was styled with finesse, and her dark blue earrings shimmered in the light, adding to her dignified appearance. Shelia chose to wear a champagne-colored gown. The movement of its hem added to her charm under the Light. Before the banquet officially began, Benny was already mingling with the high society. Kendra and Shelia apanied him with grace, smiling and offering toasts. Suddenly, the attention of the guests shifted towards the entrance of the banquet center. Benny, Kendra, and Shelia instinctively looked in that direction. Lindsey entered, adorned in a long white dress embellished with numerous small pearls. Her long ck hair was elegantly coiled up, secured with a hairpin. The dress, crafted from smooth silk, highlighted her figure. Her transparent crystal high heels lent an extra grace to her slender legs. The ne adorning her neck sparkled brilliantly in the light. She stood amidst the crowd, exuding an ethereal and majestic aura. Chapter 553 Shelia blinked in disbelief, thinking she was mistaken. Why was Lindsey here? Kendra¡¯s expression turned sour. Memories of the incident at the Perry family¡¯s dinner were still fresh in her mind. She wondered if Lindsey hade to make a scene again. Benny¡¯s gaze fixed on Lindsey with a wary expression. As Lindsey approached them, before she could utter a word, Shelia blurted out, ¡°Lindsey, how on earth did you get in here?¡± Lindsey met Shelia¡¯s gaze and replied with a smile, ¡°I was invited, of course. ¡± Shelia retorted with a scornfulugh, ¡°Today¡¯s banquet is attended by the elites of business and aristocracy. What right do you have to be here?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t qualify, so your littlepany on the verge of bankruptcy does?¡± With a smile on her face, Lindsey looked at the three people and said, ¡°You must realize that if I¡¯m here, it means I¡¯ve been invited just like you. ¡± ¡°Who sent you the invitation?¡± Benny question with a stern expression. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey nced at Benny and casually said, ¡°It was none other than a director from LMH Group. ¡± Benny¡¯s whole body froze in disbelief. The thought of someone as elite as an LMH Group director knowing Lindsey and inviting her to the event seemed inconceivable. Benny suspected she was merely joking. Shelia couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. ¡°Lindsey, do you really expect us to buy into your absurd story?¡± Kendra replied with an icy tone, ¡°Lindsey, too many lies will only make you aughingstock. It¡¯s one thing to embarrass yourself, but don¡¯t drag our family down with you. ¡± Family? Lindsey sneered, her lips curling slightly. Kendra saw herself as part of the family now. And Lindsey was just an outsider. The people around couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when they heard Lindsey¡¯s words. Among them were CEOs of multinational corporations and notable business figures. None of them could receive a personal invitation from a director of the LMH Group. So, how could this young woman they didn¡¯t know im such a thing? They assumed she was only seeking attention, trying totch onto power with her exaggerated ims. They viewed Lindsey with scorn. Seeing the crowd start to mock Lindsey, Shelia was visibly pleased and stood tall. ¡°Lindsey, the director of LMH Group, is esteemed and busy. How could they invite you, a small business owner, personally?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Right after Shelia wrapped up her statement, aposed and stern voice chimed in abruptly. Shelia and the onlookers turned their heads to spot none other than Anti, the founder of Cherish! Leonel was right behind her.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 554 Upon seeing the two, Benny¡¯splexion drained of color, and he stood there motionless, like a statue. ¡°Benny Stewart, your choices are going downhill fast. ¡± Gazing at Kendra, who stood alongside Benny, it was clear that Juanita, despite wearing a simple velvet dress, exuded an aura that outshone Kendra¡¯s. ¡°Benny, who is this?¡± Kendra noticed the shift in Benny¡¯s expression and realized that their rtionship wasn¡¯t straightforward. ¡°It appears you are unfamiliar with me. Allow me to introduce myself to you. ¡± Juanita gracefully walked over to Kendra in her stylish leather high heels, casting a disdainful nce. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°I am a director at LMH Group and the founder of Cherish, the renowned luxury brand. My name is Juanita Lopez, and I was once married to Benny. ¡± Kendra was visibly taken aback. The poised, elegant, refined woman in front of her was Benny¡¯s former wife! Kendra suddenly found it hard to catch her breath. She made a valiant effort to stand tall but nearly stumbled. Despite the blush on her cheeks, her face remained as pale as ever. Shelia, too, was taken aback and left speechless. ¡°Juanita, Leonel, how could you ¡± Benny stuttered, panic welling up inside him. He gazed nkly at his ex-wife and the son he had been separated from for over a decade. Leonel merely gazed at his biological father with a cold detachment, offering no words. Now that Juanita had be the director of the LMH Group, a deep sense of inferiority and embarrassment welled within Benny. It surpassed anything he had felt during their time together. ¡°Had I not divorced you, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today. For that, I thank you. ¡± Juanita¡¯s icy gaze seemed to chill Benny to the core. She then turned her attention to Kendra. ¡°You¡¯ve set your sights on this type of low-quality woman, Benny. You truly have a knack for never failing to let me down.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± At this, Benny¡¯s expression darkened. Kendra, biting her lip and clenching her fists, felt she had been physically struck, her pride searing in pain. In the face of Juanita¡¯s prestigious position at LMH Group, Kendra felt powerless to respond. Just the mention of Juanita¡¯s role had diminished Kendra¡¯s presence. Juanita sped Lindsey¡¯s hand affectionately, her gaze softening. ¡°Linds, where is your boyfriend?¡± Lindsey answered, ¡°He¡¯s tied up with some important business at hispany, so he¡¯ll arrive a bitte. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you to your seat in the meantime. ¡± Juanita grasped Lindsey¡¯s hand and guided her to the front of the banquet hall. As Lindsey strolled ahead, she turned to Shelia, a mischievous smile on her lips. ¡°By the way, ording to your words, should you change your name now?¡± Chapter 555 Shelia, who had been quite pleased just moments ago, was now seething with anger and close to losing herposure. Benny was utterly stunned, rendered speechless. Was this poised and refined woman truly the Juanita he used to know? Juanita¡¯s mere presence made Kendra feel inadequate. Kendra truly couldn¡¯tpare to Juanita in any way. Benny¡¯s emotions were a tangled mess at this point. Kendra called out, ¡°Benny. ¡± But Benny just nced at her and walked off without a word. Kendra shivered involuntarily. The look he gave her wasced with contempt and disappointment! She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her skin, as she red resentfully in the direction Juanita and Lindsey had gone. The banquet hadn¡¯t started yet, but Juanita secured a seat for Lindsey right near the stage. The seating order reflected the guests¡¯ status; the seats near the stage were reserved for the elite in the business world. Benny, by contrast, could only find a ce in the distant back corner. ¡°Your boyfriend can sit here when he arrives,¡± Juanita said, her smile gentle as she patted the seat next to Lindsey. Lindsey nodded subtly, her gaze nervously darting around the room. She recognized several attendees ¨C prominent figures she had seen in financial magazines and on the news. Being seated among these influential figures with Domenic was something she had never imagined. Lindsey sat rather stiffly in her chair, hands folded in herp, trying not to appear overly anxious. A few prominent business figures, observing Juanita personally organizing Lindsey¡¯s seating, made the first move to engage Lindsey in conversations. ¡®s BunnyBookery Despite feeling nervous internally, Lindsey maintained herposure. She engaged in the discussions with elegance and charm, quickly winning over the prominent business figures. Observing her daughter effortlessly fitting in among the high society, Juanita couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of contentment. A faint smile yed at the edges of her lips as she looked forward to Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend¡¯s arrival. She was sure he¡¯d feel inferiorpared to these elites. Then, a particr individual caught Juanita¡¯s eye. He was d in a finely tailored suit, his cor pin glittering with diamonds, radiating a sense of authority and sophistication. ¡°Mr. Howard. ¡± Juanita rushed forward to wee him. This was Emilio Howard, the vice president of Vitality Group. His entrancemanded attention, with everyone standing up to show their respect. Lindsey, too, sat up straighter and focused on Emilio. He had made it as well. ¡°Ms.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Lopez, it¡¯s an honor to meet you,¡± Emilio greeted with a smile, epting Juanita¡¯s handshake. ¡°The CEO sends his best wishes to you. ¡± Juanita responded with a weing grin, ¡°Mr. Howard, it¡¯s a pleasure to have you here. If I had been informed earlier, we would¡¯ve had someone at the door to wee you. ¡± Chapter 556 The LMH Group invited members of Vitality Group every year, but it was usually a director who attended. Emilio¡¯s appearance this time was a pleasant surprise for everyone. Lindsey caught snippets of conversation from the other guests and realized Emilio was not just the general manager of Vitality Entertainment but also the vice president of the corporate giant Vitality Group. His frequent absence from thepany due to his demanding schedule suddenly made sense. ¡°Lindsey. ¡± Emilio swiftly spotted Lindsey among the crowd, approaching her with a gentle smile.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re here as well. ¡± Emilio approached Lindsey to greet her, which she found ttering. Lindsey responded, ¡°Mr. Howard, it¡¯s been a while. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping up with your progress. Yourpany¡¯s doing well. It¡¯s important to acknowledge the achievements of the young. ¡± Emilio¡¯smendation touched Lindsey unexpectedly. Having been her former boss, his opinion meant a lot to her. Lindsey had always looked up to him with a certain respect. Juanita knew Lindsey had previously worked at Vitality Entertainment but was unaware of her acquaintance with Emilio. This revtion increased Juanita¡¯s respect for her daughter. Juanita seated Emilio in the front row while Lindsey took a ce right behind him. Emilio pivoted and nced at the vacant seat beside Lindsey, a subtle smile gracing his lips. ¡°Linds, the banquet is about to start. Where¡¯s your boyfriend? He hasn¡¯t arrived yet?¡± Checking her watch by lifting her wrist, Juanita expressed her displeasure quite evidently in her tone. Lindsey replied, a bit tense, ¡°He should be here any minute. ¡± Right after Lindsey concluded her sentence, her phone buzzed. She retrieved her phone and noticed it was a call from Domenic. She hastily answered the call. ¡°I¡¯m here. Where are you?¡± A soothing and subdued voice resonated. Lindsey promptly rose from her seat and turned her gaze toward the entrance. She soon spotted a tall, imposing figure. ¡°Over here. ¡± With Lindsey waving to him, the individuals seated around also turned around with curiosity in their eyes. Shifting his gaze briefly, Domenic noticed the young woman standing in the front rows, enthusiastically waving her arm. He adjusted the hem of his expensive suit and strode directly toward her. The guests stared in awe at the man approaching. Chapter 557 As he drew near, even Lindsey felt her heart race. Domenic wore a sleek ck suit and a navy blue shirt underneath. His tie was perfectly knotted, and a blue diamondpel pin sparkled. His hair was styled back, entuating his handsome features. His eyes, both dark and handsome, peered out from behind golden-rimmed sses. He exuded an aura of quiet reserve and unpretentiousness. ¡°Who is this man?¡± A hush fell over the crowd. They sensed that this man approaching them was someone exceptional, yet he was unfamiliar to them all. Standing next to Lindsey, his warm smile seemed to charm everyone present. ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting out for me, haven¡¯t you?¡± His voice was soft and low, filled with affection for the woman beside him. Lindsey shook her head and was just about to usher him into a seat when Juanita popped up right in front of them. ¡°Linds, who is this?¡± Juanita¡¯s usuallymanding presence softened considerably upon seeing Domenic, and her tone was unexpectedly respectful and gentle. Lindsey blushed as she nced at her mother and admitted, ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend. ¡± Juanita had a moment of surprise. She gazed up at the strikingly tall and remarkable man before her. He was Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend, that opportunist? Juanita couldn¡¯t trust what she was hearing. She¡¯d met her fair share of people, and the way this man held hisposure wasn¡¯t something just anybody could fake. Juanita¡¯s brow furrowed as she considered that without knowing more about this man¡¯s history, she could be deceived by him. Plus, with Lindsey already head over heels, it made her extra cautious. Juanita silently concluded he must be skilled at pretending. Juanita¡¯s expression shifted to one of subtle challenge. She nned to expose this man¡¯s true nature today. Noticing that most guests had taken their seats, Juanita turned to Lindsey. Her words, though directed at Lindsey, were meant for Domenic. ¡°Linds, since everyone¡¯s here, let me introduce them to you. ¡± Juanita proceeded to introduce Lindsey to the distinguished guests one by one. Once the introductions were done, it was in to see that Lindsey appeared noticeably more nervous and on edge. These people represented leaders from every corner of the country and the CEQs of big-namepanies and substantial organizations. Their high status would leave people in awe. Whenever Juanita introduced an elite, she¡¯d sneak sidelong nces at Domenic now and then, half expecting him to flinch, but he remained calm from start to finish¡­N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. ¡°Here we have Mr. Howard, the vice president of the Vitality Group!¡± Chapter 558 Juanita announced, ying her trump card while ncing at Emilio in the front row. Surprised, Emilio stood up, awkwardly touching his forehead and shyly looking at Domenic.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. But Juanita seemed oblivious to Emilio¡¯s difort. She turned to Lindsey with a smile and said, ¡°Linds, since you¡¯ve worked at Vitality Entertainment, you must know about the Vitality Group. The Vitality Group owns numerous industries and holds significant economic influence in Morcastle. Even though Vitality Entertainment is a frontrunner in show business, it¡¯s just a fraction of the Vitality Group¡¯s vast businesswork. For LMH Group to expand in Morcastle, we would need Vitality Group¡¯s support. By the way, Linds, whichpany does your boyfriend work for?¡± Lindsey understood that her mother was trying to put Domenic in an awkward spot. ¡°He¡­¡± Lindsey lifted her head and nced at the man beside her. Oddly, there was no sign of displeasure on his face. Domenic spoke up before Lindsey could respond. ¡°I work at a small firm. It¡¯s not much of a job. ¡± Hearing this, everyone at Domenic with a mix of condescension and skepticism. What qualifications did an employee of a smallpany have to be here? Raising her eyebrows, Juanita pretended to be sorry and said, ¡°That¡¯s on me. I should have looked into this beforehand. I assumed Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend was quite influential. Oh, and let me introduce her. This is Lindsey Stewart, my daughter. ¡± Her casual mention of ¡°My daughter¡± caused a collective gasp of surprise from those nearby. Every gaze turned towards Lindsey, causing even Emilio to look on in astonishment. Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he observed Juanita. He quickly grasped her true motive for the evening. ¡°Ms. Lopez, it¡¯s no surprise Miss Stewart is so impressive in her speech and behavior. She¡¯s your daughter after all!¡± ¡°Ms. Lopez, your daughter is really elegant and capable!¡± ¡°Ms. Lopez, why didn¡¯t you mention your daughter before? My son is still single, what luck!¡± Everyone already liked Lindsey, and now, they were overly sweet to her. They tried to establish a connection with Juanita, ignoring the fact that Domenic was standing beside them. And the way they looked at Domenic was filled with contempt and disregard. They thought he wasn¡¯t worthy of Ms. Lopez¡¯s daughter. Emilio gazed back at the crowd and shook his head without uttering a word. He pondered what their reactions might be if they realized the man they were dismissing was actually the president of the Vitality Group. With this amusing thought, Emilio¡¯s Lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Ms. Lopez, it¡¯s almost time for the banquet to start. ¡± He gently reminded Juanita, hoping to prevent her from causing more trouble. Juanita checked the time on her watch and then cast an unwilling re at Domenic. A subtle smile formed on her Lips. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to sit here today only because of Lindsey. Otherwise, given your status, you would have been relegated to a back corner. ¡± Chapter 559 With that, she walked away arrogantly. Sitting in his seat, Domenic kept silent with a cold face. Lindsey turned to him, her expression tender and somewhat vulnerable. She reached out to tug at his sleeve. ¡°Are you upset?¡± Domenic turned to the delicate woman beside him, his smile gentle. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m that petty?¡± Lindsey bit her lip gently and said, ¡°I was worried it would bother you, so I didn¡¯t mention my mother¡¯s opinion of you. I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t expect her to act like this¡­¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic yfully ruffled Lindsey¡¯s hair and teased, ¡°I¡¯m not bothered by that. But with all these business elites eager to match their sons with you, I can¡¯t help feeling a bit threatened. ¡± Lindsey intertwined her fingers with Domenic¡¯s. She smiled at him and yfully said, ¡°Well, you better start treating me even better. Otherwise, I might just end up with someone else!¡± Domenic drew her closer and whispered in her ear with a charming smile, ¡°Then, what more should I do for you? Just say it, and I¡¯ll obey. ¡± His flirtatious tone and words made Lindsey recall their past moments together. She blushed and shot Domenic an annoyed nce. ¡°Miss Stewart, did you know today¡¯s party was designed by the renowned interior designer Hawley Schmidt? I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s also a friend of your mother. ¡± After Juanita left, an elite next to Lindsey began to talk with her gantly. Before Lindsey could respond, Domenic interjected with a scoff, ¡°Although the design style of Hawley is strange and changeable, it usually carries a sense of coldness and detachment. However, today¡¯s party has a warm color scheme. If I¡¯m not mistaken, this must be the work of his favored disciple, Elias Palmer. ¡± The man paused, taken aback, and stared at Domenic in disbelief. Elias was known as a renowned interior designer, but it was less known that he was mentored by Hawley. With a dismissive sneer, the man retorted, ¡°Who told you Elias is Hawley¡¯s apprentice? Don¡¯t spout nonsense if you don¡¯t know. ¡± ¡°He is right. ¡± Emilio turned to look at them and said, ¡°I¡¯ve met Hawley a few times. It¡¯s understandable you¡¯re unaware, as Elias is indeed his acknowledged disciple. Only those close to him in the industry are aware of this. ¡± The man inhaled sharply, turning his attention back to Domenic. ¡°Do you know Hawley personally?¡± Domenic replied with a subtle smile, ¡°We¡¯re mot close. Just acquaintances. ¡± They didn¡¯t grasp the significance of being a casual acquaintance of someone Like Hawley. The elite felt a bit embarrassed. It seemed his experience paled inparison to that of an employee from a smallerpany. Others around still assumed Domenic was just showing off.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. They thought he was lucky to speak on a topic he knew well. Chapter 560 Some of them were there at Juanita¡¯s behest, aiming to undermine Domenic. Some of the men purposely engaged Domenic in more intricate discussions, drawing on their knowledge and experience to tackle sophisticated issues. It was clear to any observant person that they were intentionally trying to make things difficult for Domenic. Yet, astonishingly, Domenic held his own. From the fundamentals of societal functioning to business foresight, he was not only articte but also insightful. His unique views made even the most influential attendees sit up and pay closer attention. They found themselves gaining a clearer perspective on their future business strategies. More and more people pricked up their ears to listen to Domenic¡¯s opinion, and agreed repeatedly from the bottom of their hearts. As they discussed business strategies with him, their perception of Domenic shifted significantly. They went from doubt to respect, and eventually, a hint of admiration was evident. At that moment, the banquet hall¡¯s Lights dimmed, signaling the start of the event. They stopped talking and looked at the high tform.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey nudged Domenic and looked him up and down. In a hushed voice, she said, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re just an employee? The way you spoke just now, you seemed more like the boss. ¡± Lindsey was genuinely impressed by Domenic¡¯s words. For a moment, she saw him as a king among men. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°My boss is an exceptionally knowledgeable person who prefers to stay under the radar. I¡¯ve merely picked up a few things from him. These people here don¡¯t have his level of experience. ¡± Looking at the tall tform in front of him, Domenic said in a normal tone. This made Lindsey even more intrigued about Domenic¡¯s boss. She wondered, who could this intriguing person be? As the LMH banquet¡¯s opening ceremonymenced, a spotlight lit up the stage¡¯s center, catching Lindsey¡¯s attention. Sumner, dressed in a pure white suit with his hair neatly styled, seated himself at the piano, his fingers gliding over the keys with elegance. Domenic¡¯s eyes turned dark and narrow uponying eyes on Sumner. The sweet notes of the piano touched everyone¡¯s hearts, filling the room with melody. As the song concluded, the audience erupted into apuse, and the lights throughout the hall switched on. People murmured about the night¡¯s young performer. Usually, only a world-renowned pianist had the honor of ying the LMH banquet¡¯s opening tune. ¡°Let¡¯s thank Sumner Lawson for his wonderful performance. He¡¯s a promising new talent in the music world, destined for great things. ¡± Juanita approached the stage, took Sumner by the arm, and guided him into the spotlight, where all eyes were on him. It was known to some that Sumner was Vincent¡¯s godson. Standing side by side with Juanita on stage was a significant nod of approval and recognition. This way, Sumner¡¯s reputation spread far and wide, making him well-known not only in the business world but also in the entertainment industry. Once the opening ceremony wrapped up, guided by the staff, guests found their ces at the long banquet table, clinking sses in cheerful. toasts. Chapter 561 The air was filled with lively conversation andughter. Juanita, with Lindsey on one side and Sumner on the other, gracefully moved through the crowd, introducing them to the influential guests. Standing next to Juanita, Lindsey and Sumner exuded a regal and graceful air. Their appearance sparked hushed conversations about how perfectly theyplemented each other. Domenic, reclining casually in his chair, watched them with a look of cool detachment. Emilio, seated next to Domenic, leaned over and whispered, ¡°Juanita really seems to favor Sumner. Don¡¯t he and Lindsey look like a couple together?¡± Domenic¡¯s response was a sharp, piercing look that seemed to speak volumes. Despite knowing he was provoking Domenic, Emilio couldn¡¯t resist inquiring, ¡°You¡¯re not nning to reveal the truth to her?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the right time yet,¡± Domenic replied calmly. ¡°She might choose someone else by then! And even if she¡¯s Juanita¡¯s daughter, that doesn¡¯t guarantee Jordan will like her. ¡± Domenic shot him a sharp look. ¡°You¡¯ve been quite chatty today. Better to focus on your own matters. Emilio¡¯s mouth twisted into a wry smile as he sat up. The people at the table observed the man¡¯s deep familiarity with Emilio, along with his formidable presence. They thought that he couldn¡¯t be just an ordinary person. They began to treat him with a newfound respect. Just then, Juanita approached with Sumner, stopping near Domenic. Sumner¡¯s eyesnded on Domenic and darkened. Juanita introduced Sumner to everyone, expressing regretfully, ¡°Sumner is such adorable. I¡¯d be thrilled if Lindsey found someone like him. What a pity¡­¡± As she said this, her eyes drifted to Domenic with a look of disdain. ¡°Mom!¡± Lindsey sounded a bit upset.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Juanita¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as she added, ¡°But I do respect Lindsey¡¯s choices. She¡¯s new to society, so it¡¯s natural for her to have limited perspective¡­¡± Juanita¡¯s words carried an undertone of sarcasm. Domenic, however, remained seated with just a slight smile, unaffected. ¡°Ms. Lopez, let me tell you, Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend is no ordinary man! Chapter 562 If I were in your shoes, I wouldn¡¯t dismiss him so lightly. ¡± These words came from an executive who had risen from his seat at the banquet table, his tone serious. Juanita was stunned, looking at the speaker with confusion written all over her face. ¡°I agree! He is totally right. ¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Unexpectedly, the other big shots at the banquet table also echoed their affirmation. ¡°Ms. Lopez, your future son-inw is a very talented man. You should not look down upon him!¡± ¡°It seems that Lindsey has good taste when ites to getting herself a man. If my daughter could find such an excellent boyfriend, I would be thrilled!¡± The attitude of these people towards Domenicpletely baffled Juanita and Sumner. At this time, Emilio offered his opinion as well. ¡°I can see that everyone in here is wise enough. This guy¡­ I mean this mister here sure has a wide perception. After hearing what he said just now, I dly wee him to join my group! In fact, if our CEO is here, I¡¯m sure that he¡¯ll feel the same. He will admire this young man very much!¡± He winked at Domenic, expressing his approval. The corners of Domenic¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, but his eyes conveyed a clear statement. He actually wanted Emilio to shut up! ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty. How about you work for ourpany instead?¡± ¡°No, you should choose ourpany! We will pay you at least a million dors a year!¡± ¡°Ha! These guys are insincere. If you take your talents to mypany, I can offer you whatever you want as long as it is within my ability!¡± ALL the big shots immediately wanted to poach Domenic, and the banquet turned into what seemed to be arge-scale bidding war for an outstanding prospect. A well-prepared banquet suddenly became a recruitment meeting. It wasn¡¯t the most pleasant sight to see, especially for Juanita. She couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. What was so special about Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend? Why did these CEOs love him so much? It didn¡¯t even take much time for Mr. Howard to admire him. Lindsey pursed her Lips and smiled secretly. This time, her mother asked for it. Now, she should have seen Domenic in a new light. Still sitting firmly in his seat, Domenic smiled politely at everyone and said, ¡°Thank you for all the offers andpliments. However, my boss treats me well, so I have no intention of quitting my current job for the time being. ¡± ¡°I see, but may I at least ask who your current boss is?¡± Of course, someone would inevitably be curious. If Domenic was willing to follow this person wholeheartedly, then it just meant that the boss must be extremely powerful andpetent as well. However, Domenic just smiled and dodged the question. ¡°Sorry, he doesn¡¯t like his staff talking about him in private. We can just talk about something else. ¡± Hearing this, the big shots couldn¡¯t help but be a little depressed. At this time, Juanita finally learned from the man, whom she asked to suppress Domenic, everything that happened just now. He had been talking very wisely in front of so many big shots, not afraid to show his unique insights. His strong and brilliant personality had easily conquered everyone present in the room! Chapter 563 Juanita¡¯s face grew even darker. This wasn¡¯t what she was usually hearing from Lindsey. With furrowed brows, she carefully examined Domenic again. All she could see was that he exuded an inexplicably elite aura. However, Juanita still wasn¡¯t thoroughly convinced. After all, she had already encountered the type who was seemingly brilliant and eloquent, but all they could do was empty talk. Hence, she thought that though Domenic could deceive Lindsey and these big shots, she shouldn¡¯t be affected. Besides, even if he didn¡¯t tell them who his boss was, there should be a way to find out. When she finally found out his real background, she would let Lindsey see his true colors! Walking up to those big shots, Juanita raised her ss and proposed a toast to them. She smiled and dered, ¡°Sumner has signed in Lindsey¡¯s agency. Now, the two of them are working together. Please take good care of them in the future. ¡± As soon as Domenic heard this, the look on his face suddenly became serious. He looked up at Juanita and the two people beside her¡ª Lindsey and Sumner. Wanting to be polite, Lindsey smiled and raised her ss as well. Her cheeks had be rosy from having drunk too much. She clinked sses with those big shots and was about to drink when Sumner stopped her. ¡°Linds, you already drank too much tonight. Let me take that one for you. ¡± But as soon as Sumner said that, Domenic stood up from his seat and swiftly took the goblet in Lindsey¡¯s hand. Domenic looked at Sumner with a neutral expression and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend. I¡¯ll take this one for her. ¡± Sumner watched silently as Domenic downed the champagne in one go. After setting the ss down, Domenic turned to Juanita and said, ¡°Ms. Lopez, Lindsey isn¡¯t much of a drinker and she¡¯s getting a bit tipsy. I¡¯ll take her for a rest. ¡± Sensing a change in Domenic¡¯s expression, Lindsey gently tugged at her mother¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Mom, I really can¡¯t have any more to drink. ¡±This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Noticing that Lindsey¡¯s cheeks were indeed red, Juanita¡¯s tone softened as she consented, ¡°Go and rest. ¡± With her mother¡¯s approval, Lindsey softly took hold of Domenic¡¯s arm. Domenic, wearing a subtle smile, addressed the gathering with poise, ¡°Please excuse us. ¡± He then left, guiding Lindsey with him. The two of them found their way to a lounge near the banquet center. Domenic requested a ss of lemonade from a waiter and handed it to Lindsey, then casually inquired, ¡°Is Sumner working at yourpany now?¡± Holding the ss, Lindsey nodded and confirmed, ¡°Yes, he initially auditioned as a singer for Vitality Entertainment. I promised to be his agent back then. Later, when he learned I was running apany, he joined us. ¡± Chapter 564 A scoff escaped Domenic¡¯s lips. Sumner, being Vincent¡¯s godson, had his pick ofpanies in the entertainment industry, yet he chose Lindsey¡¯s. His motives seemed clear to Domenic. He disliked the idea of anyone regarding his girlfriend with any untoward intentions, let alone having such a person constantly near her. Seatedfortably on the sofa, his legs crossed, Domenic loosened his tie but said nothing. ¡°Does it bother you that Sumner¡¯s at mypany?¡± Lindsey inquired, tilting her head to look at him. He nced at her with his handsome eyes and said, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Are you still feeling jealous?¡± ¡°He¡¯s around you every day, and spends way more time with you than I get to be. ¡± Lindsey straightened up and rified, ¡°That¡¯s not exactly right. Even though we¡¯re at the samepany, we hardly cross paths when we¡¯re busy. ¡± Having said that, she grasped Domenic¡¯s sturdy arm, swaying slightly, and spoke gently. ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on between us. We¡¯re just friends and co-workers. Everyone at the office could vouch for me. And if you¡¯re still unsure, you can always check the surveince footage! You¡¯re the one who set up the security system. You know how effective it is. ¡± Domenic nced at her. The girl gazed back earnestly, her eyes soft, making every effort to assert her innocence. The jealousy in Domenic¡¯s heart melted away instantly. He extended his hand and caressed her cheek. Feeling this, Lindsey pressed her face against his warm palm, gently rubbing it. ¡°I trust you, but I can¡¯t help but feel a bit jealous. ¡± he said, his eyes deep in the soft yellow Light. Suddenly, Lindsey lunged at him, pinning him to the sofa. Gazing down into his handsome eyes, she said word by word firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯ll never leave you, no matter what. ¡± After a brief pause, Domenic gently held Lindsey¡¯s wrist and said with a smile, ¡°I think your mom likes Sumner. On the other hand, she seems to have something against me. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s only because she doesn¡¯t really know you yet!¡± Lindsey grew slightly anxious at this thought. She positioned her arms beside his head and looked at him intently. ¡°But I understand you. I know how good you are. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes grew intense. He cradled her head and ki*sed her. When the two were ki*sing passionately, the door of the Lounge was suddenly opened from the outside. ¡°Linds, are you feeling better now?¡± Juanita stood there, taken aback by the scene before her. Lindsey quickly got up, straightened her disheveled dress, and, flushed with embarrassment. Chapter 565 Domenic, seated upright with hands resting on the sofa¡¯s back and his tie slightly askew, exuded an air of unruliness. ¡°Come out.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Juanita shot her daughter a piercing nce, turned around, and strode away. Sulking, Lindsey pursed her lips and hurried to catch up with her mother. Juanita stopped in a secluded nook, turned abruptly, and cast an angry re at Lindsey, saying, ¡°This man purportedly intended to escort you to rest. I sensed his intentions were nefarious. Did heck control in the lounge? If I hadn¡¯t intervened, would you have dallied in carnal affairs? You, as a youngdy, ought to grasp self-preservation. Don¡¯t give yourself casually to an undependable man. ¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re misconstruing the situation! Mr. Walsh is not the man you perceive him to be,¡± Lindsey hastily exined. ¡°Mr. Walsh?¡± Juanita frowned. ¡°Walsh, you say?¡± ¡°Yes, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Lindsey queried, perplexed by Juanita¡¯s reaction. ¡°ihat precisely is his name?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Domenic Walsh. ¡± Juanita had never encountered this name before. However, the Walsh family, preeminent among the four ns in Morcastle, crossed her mind momentarily. The Vitality Group, founded by the formidable youngest scion of the Walsh family, held an enigmatic status in the business realm. Notwithstanding his face, even his name was scarcely recognized. On reflection, Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend was merely an ordinarypany employee. How could he possibly be associated with the Walsh family? Many people bore the surname Walsh, prompting Juanita to dismiss it as a coincidence. As Juanita pondered this, Domenic advanced toward her from the corner, his pretty face and perfect building entuating why her daughter was smitten with him. ¡°Ms. Lopez, Linds, I¡¯ve just received an urgent call from thepany. I regretfully must leave now. ¡± Domenic resumed hisposed demeanor, a faint smile gracing his lips. His words andportment were faultless, but the more impable his behavior, the more disquietude gnawed at Juanita. How profound must a man be to disguise himself so wlessly. ¡°Very well,¡± Juanita consented, but she didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°Let me walk you out. ¡± Turning to face Domenic, he nodded at her. ¡°Linds. ¡± Unable to bear Lindsey¡¯s meekness, Juanita yearned to intercede, but Lindsey paid no heed to her reservations. Firmly sping Domenic¡¯s arm, she exited the banquet hall with him. Fuming with ire, Juanita retrieved her phone and dialed her assistant¡¯s number. ¡°Conduct an inquiry into a man by the name of Domenic Walsh. I need to know about his employment and superiors. ¡± Meanwhile, Benny, Shelia, and Kendra sat in a corner, oblivious to the scene unfolding. After learning that Benny was the head of a tiny business, the bigwigs around Benny showed little interest in speaking with him despite his desire to make friends with them. This gathering exuded an air of utilitarianism and purpose. Chapter 566 Benny, feeling thoroughly disregarded, dined in silence, engulfed by despondency. Shelia tugged at her mother¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s with dad? He¡¯s been indifferent for a while now. ¡± Kendra gazed at Benny and bit her lower lip. ¡°He must rue divorcing that woman years ago. ¡± ¡°How do we maneuver? Lindsey¡¯s mother wields immense influence. How shall we navigate this?¡± Shelia asked anxiously. Gripping her cutlery tightly, Kendra regarded her daughter with a hint of envy. ¡°I have my stratagem, Shelia. You needn¡¯t feel overshadowed. In terms of stature, you eclipse her by far!¡± Shelia was taken aback. ¡°What do you mean? I don¡¯tprehend. ¡± Kendra offered no further exnation, slicing her steak and consuming it. At that moment, Kendra¡¯s attention was abruptly seized by a pair of figures at the banquet hall¡¯s entrance. It was Lindsey and her boyfriend! In the past days, Kendra had failed to capture any photo of Lindsey and her boyfriend, and she hadn¡¯t anticipated the man¡¯s presence at the banquet. Abruptly, she set aside her utensils, rose from her chair, and swiftly departed. ¡°Where are you heading?¡± Benny furrowed his brow and shot a quick look in Kendra¡¯s direction. ¡°IT need to use the restroom. ¡± Kendra kept her displeasure toward Benny, maintaining a gentle outward demeanor. Benny didn¡¯t respond, and Kendra quickly left, following Lindsey and Domenic. Before getting into the car, Domenic ced his hand on Lindsey¡¯s waist and grinned, saying, ¡°When will you return and shower me with your affection? I¡¯ve already experienced the challenges of being on my own. ¡± Lindsey blushed and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to my mother about it tonight. How about next week?¡± Domenic was on the verge of stepping into his car when Kendra chased over to the door. She grabbed her phone, aiming it at him and Lindsey. Just as she was about to snap a photo, an unexpected collision with someone caused her phone to tumble to the ground. She raised her gaze and found herself face-to-face with a man dressed in ck. That man uttered in a frosty tone, ¡°My apologies. ¡± With that, he made a hasty exit. Despite her anger, Kendra didn¡¯t have the luxury of arguing with the man. She hurriedly retrieved her phone, intending to take photos, but Domenic had vanished. Lindsey strolled over and asked, ¡°Kendra, why are you here alone?¡± With a guilty conscience, Kendra swiftly stashed the phone in her handbag and met Lindsey¡¯s gaze. ¡°Oh, nothing much. I just needed a breather. Lindsey, were you saying goodbye to your boyfriend?¡± Lindsey wasn¡¯t in the mood for conversation. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied and headed inside. Kendra hastened to catch up and shed a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been with your boyfriend quite a while now. Why don¡¯t you bring him home with you, and we can all have dinner together? We¡¯re family, and I wouldn¡¯t want that bond to be strained.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Chapter 567 Lindsey came to a halt and narrowed her eyes at Kendra. ¡°Kendra, it¡¯s just the two of us here. You don¡¯t have to put on an act. Rather than ying mind games with me, maybe you should focus on your situation. It would be embarrassing for any guy if his current partner pales inparison to his ex. ¡± Kendra¡¯s face froze. When they stepped into the banquet hall, they spotted Juanita standing nearby while Benny pursued her with an adoring expression.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey arched an eyebrow and shot a quick look at Kendra. Kendra halted, clearly seething with anger. On the way back home after the banquet, Kendra took the passenger seat, her lips pressed together as she turned to Benny. She spoke softly, ¡°Benny, I¡¯ve got a prenatal check-up scheduled for tomorrow. Could youe with me?¡± Benny gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed straight ahead, sporting a notably chilly expression. ¡°I¡¯ve got something on my te tomorrow. I¡¯ll have the maid apany you. ¡± Kendra crumpled the hem of her dress. Usually, whenever she had a maternity checkup, Benny would put everything aside to be with her. But today, everything had changed after his encounter with Juanita. Kendra was overwhelmed by a strong sense of crisis. She sensed a pressing need to take action. After a refreshing shower at home, Lindsey slipped into herfy Loungewear and headed to the living room. Juanita and Leonel were both already there. ¡°Mom. ¡± Lindsey called Juanita over and settled beside her, her lips slightly pursed. She said, ¡°I¡¯ve been by your side for some time. I¡¯m thinking of heading back home for a few days next week. . Upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s departure ns, Juanita couldn¡¯t help but specte that it had something to do with the man from earlier today. Juanita massaged her temples, leaning back on the sofa. ¡°Linds, ever since I lost track of you, I¡¯ve been troubled by headaches. Now, hearing you¡¯re leaving¡­ oh, it¡¯s bringing another headache¡­¡± Gazing at Juanita, Lindsey found herself at a loss for words. ¡°Mom¡­¡± She tried to say something more, but Juanita quickly grabbed Leonel¡¯s attention. ¡°Leonel, remember what you told me before about what I should do to ease my headache?¡± Leonel nced at his mother, unimpressed with her acting. He sighed and turned to Lindsey. ¡°¡°Linds, Mom usually needs a gentle temple massage to alleviate her headaches. It usually helps in about ten minutes. I¡¯ve been tied up with the institute and couldn¡¯t be there. Could you stay and look after Mom?¡± Chapter 568 Lindsey knew what she had to do; after all, Juanita was her mother and she needed to care for her. ¡°Leonel, it¡¯s my responsibility to look after Mom. I¡¯ll stay here for now. ¡± Then Lindsey assisted Juanita up from the sofa and began to massage her temples. Juanita, watching her son, sneakily gave him a thumbs up. The following day, back at the office, Lindsey was greeted with multiple coboration offers for Sumner from various record Labels and filmpanies.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. At the banquet of LMH Group, Juanita had made Sumner a favorite among investors before he even made his debut. But Lindsey was wary of such instant fame. She believed that relying on industry ttery only brought fleeting sess. For long-term growth in the industry, one needed to work hard and earn public admiration through their talent. Therefore, Lindsey decided that Sumner should first participate in a major talent show. While Lindsey was busy researching potential shows, amotion erupted outside her office. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Lindsey, Xiomara fainted. ¡± Lindsey immediately got up from her chair, opened the door swiftly, and stepped out. The scene shocked her. Xiomara was on the ground by her desk, foaming at the mouth. ¡°Get an ambnce, now. ¡± Without wasting a moment to figure out the situation, Lindsey swiftly took out her phone to call for an ambnce. But Sumner gently stopped her, suggesting, ¡°It will take time if we wait for an ambnce. It¡¯s faster if we drive in my car. ¡± Hisposed voice helped calm Lindsey. Sumner tossed the car keys to Lindsey, then carefully lifted Xiomara, who was still lying on the floor. Xiomara was heavy, making it a challenge for Sumner to carry her, but he persisted, clenching his teeth as he carried her to the car and gently ced her in the back seat. Lindsey handed over her office responsibilities to Nancy and then got into the car. The car sped all the way to the nearest hospital. Lindsey held Xiomara¡¯s hand all the way, until Xiomara was taken into the emergency room. Once the door closed, Lindsey copsed onto a bench outside the resuscitation room, her hands tightly clenched. Sitting next to Lindsey, Sumner wanted tofort her by patting her back, but he hesitated, his hand hanging in the air. Chapter 569 After pausing for a brief moment, he retracted his hand, looked at Lindsey, and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be too worried. She will be okay. ¡± Lindsey bit her Lips hard, feeling a sense of unease. Two hours passed, and then the light in the emergency room turned off, and the door slowly opened. Lindsey stood up quickly from her seat, rushed to the doctor, and asked anxiously, ¡°How is Xiomara?¡± The doctor faced Lindsey and questioned, ¡°Has the patient been taking any medication randomly recently?¡± ¡°Take medication randomly?¡± Lindsey immediately thought of weight-loss drugs she had given to Xiomara. She opened her mouth, then closed it, uncertain of how to respond. At that moment, the elevator doors opened with a ding, and a group of reporters emerged. They hurried straight towards Lindsey. ¡°Miss Stewart, we¡¯ve heard that you asked an artist from yourpany to take weight-loss pills. She¡¯s now in the ICU due toplications from those medications. Is this true?¡± Upon hearing the reporter¡¯s words, the doctor¡¯s demeanor shifted to one of frustration. ¡°Weight-loss pills have side effects. They should never be used carelessly!¡± he said sharply. Immediately after, a reporter thrust a microphone towards the doctor and inquired about Xiomara¡¯s health. Maintaining his professionalism, the doctor declined toment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the patient¡¯s condition is confidential. We cannot disclose any details without the consent of either the patient or her family. ¡± Standing protectively in front of a confused Lindsey, Sumner addressed the gathering of reporters with authority, ¡°This is a hospital. Please respect its sanctity and refrain from causing disturbances! Our agency will provide a formal statement regarding this incident. For now, I need you all to leave. Otherwise, I will have no choice but to call the police. ¡± The reporters had already gleaned their sought-after scoop, so they hurriedly dispersed from the corridor. ¡°Are you alright, Linds?¡± Sumner turned his attention towards Lindsey. Lindsey pinched her fingers and steadied her nerves as she looked at Sumner. ¡°Thank you, Sumner. I¡¯m fine. ¡± Shortly afterward, the doctor called them to his office. ¡°So, here¡¯s the situation: the patient overdosed on weight-loss medication, leading to multiple organ failures. While she¡¯s currently stable, she is still in aa. As for now, it¡¯s hard to say when she might regain consciousness,¡± he exined solemnly. Hearing this, Lindsey felt dizzy and nearly copsed but was quickly supported by Sumner. ¡°How did this happen? That medication couldn¡¯t cause such severe side effects,¡± she murmured in disbelief. The doctor was visibly irked by Lindsey¡¯s stubbornness.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That woman¡¯s life is invaluable! As her employer, you can¡¯t just care about your business interests. Her health and well-being should be your priority. Please notify her family toe to the hospital immediately. ¡± Chapter 570 Leaning on Sumner for support, Lindsey exited the doctor¡¯s office without a word. ¡°Linds, what¡¯s all this about the weight-loss pills the doctor mentioned?¡± Sumner asked, full of concern. He knew Lindsey wasn¡¯t the person who¡¯d do anything to make the trainees lose weight. Besides, Xiomara wasn¡¯t even a trainee in thepany; she was an average employee. ¡°Sumner, I¡¯ll fill you in on the detailster. Right now, there¡¯s something urgent I need to check. Could you please get in touch with Xiomara¡¯s family for me?¡± Lindsey requested urgently. ¡°Of course,¡± Sumner responded, nodding promptly. Grateful for his assistance, Lindsey quickly forwarded Xiomara¡¯s family contact information to him. Without wasting any more time, Lindsey rushed to that medical research institute. En route, she noticed Xiomara¡¯s incident had already blown up online. Public sentiment quickly turned against Lindsey, with negativements flooding social media. ¡°Have you lost your conscience, Lindsey?¡± Onement read. ¡°How could you ask your trainee to take low-quality weight-loss pills for a quick fix? Is your thirst for sess so great that you ignore human life?¡± another used. ¡°The moment she gained a bit of fame, she started exploiting her artists. I hope her hicalpany shuts down soon!¡± Wrote another person. Lindsey switched off her phone, choosing to ignore the online vitriol. It was crucial for her to remainposed and not panic. Half an hourter, she was waiting outside the medical research institute. She had called Leonel earlier to escort her into his office. No sooner had Lindsey entered the room than she burst out with her query. ¡°Xiomara took the weight-loss pills you gave me, and she suddenly started foaming at the mouth and had to be rushed to the ICU. Are there any known side effects of this medication?¡± Sitting across from her, Leonel responded calmly, ¡°That medicine has undergone a series of clinical trials recently, with no significant side effects reported. In fact, we¡¯re going tounch it in the market soon. ¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then, why did Xiomara¡­¡± Lindsey began, only to be interrupted. ¡°Are you sure she didn¡¯t take any other pills?¡± Leonel asked, his eyebrows arching in curiosity. His question left Lindsey deep in contemtion. Lindsey pondered it carefully. When Xiomara copsed and was swiftly transported to the hospital, the reporters swarmed in like bees to honey, bombarding her with queries about the weight-loss pills the moment theyid eyes on her. However, Lindsey remembered that she had privately provided Xiomara with the weight-loss drugs. The mystery remained: How did the reporters catch wind of this unless someone had preemptively leaked the information, foreseeing this entire scenario? ¡°Could Xiomara¡¯s medication have been tampered with?¡± Lindsey raised her eyebrows, fixing her gaze on Leonel in wide-eyed astonishment. Resting his chin on his hand, Leonel said, ¡°It¡¯s still possible. ¡± Chapter 571 Lindsey¡¯s mind reeled. Considering this possibility, she resolved to delve into thepany¡¯s surveince archives for the past week, seeking any breadcrumbs that could unravel this enigma. As she readied to depart, Leonel¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°If indeed the medication was swapped, then the genuine one must be in possession of the individual who orchestrated the switch. ¡± As Lindsey exited the research institute, her phone buzzed with a call from Domenic. ¡°Linds, I noticed the uproar. How¡¯s the situation shaping up on your end?¡± Rying every detail about Xiomara and the weight-loss medication, Lindseyid bare the unfolding crisis to Domenic. ¡°I can scarcely believe this turn of events. Fear not. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this,¡± assured Domenic before ending the call. Afterward, Lindsey returned to the hospital, finding Xiomara still unconscious. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s return, Sumner rose and made his way over to her. Exhaling a sigh, Sumner said, ¡°I reached out to Xiomara¡¯s family and learned that she had lived with her neglectful aunt since childhood. Her aunt, being frugal to a fault, has distanced herself from Xiomara and is unlikely to show up.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡± Gazing into the ward where Xiomaray, Lindsey was filled with remorse and self-reproach. Had it not been for her actions, Xiomara wouldn¡¯t be in this dire state. ¡°I will cover her medical expenses. Whatever the cost, I¡¯mmitted to her recovery. ¡± But Sumner intervened gently, ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of it. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s my culpability. I can¡¯t let you bear that burden. How have you spent? I¡¯ll transfer the amount. ¡± Lindsey hurriedly attempted to make a transaction, but Sumner stopped her. Sumner ced a hand over her phone and met her gaze. ¡°Linds, your concerns are mine. Don¡¯t dwell on such small sums. I¡¯ll handle the hospital expenses. Rest assured. Presently, our priority is quelling the rising tide of public opinion¡­ The public¡¯s outcry against you and thepany has reached its zenith. ¡± Clenching her fists tightly, Lindsey uttered with a grave expression, ¡°Someoneid a trap, intending harm on Xiomara to target me. I refuse to dance to their tune¡­¡± Before she finished speaking, a deep, masculine voice resonated from behind. ¡°Pardon me, are you, by chance Miss Lindsey Stewart?¡± Turning around, Lindsey saw a man in a ck jacket standing before her. ¡°That¡¯s me. And you are?¡± Producing an identification card, he disyed it briefly before tucking it back into his pocket. ¡°I¡¯m with the police. Mr. Walsh has tasked me with investigating the weight-loss pill incident. ¡± With that, he reassured Lindsey with a smile, ¡°This investigation will proceed discreetly to avoid tipping off any adversaries. ¡± Acknowledging the covert approach, Lindsey nodded in agreement. She hadn¡¯t expected Domenic to mobilize the police force on her behalf so swiftly. It would all be so much easier if the cops could help. Lindsey recounted the whole story to the police officer and handed over a copy of thepany¡¯s surveince footage. Chapter 572 The officer stressed the need for secrecy in the investigation, cautioning against divulging any details to outsiders. After the officer departed, Sumner furrowed his brow, studying Lindsey intently. ¡°Your boyfriend seems to wield significant influence. ¡± After a momentary pause, Lindsey inquired, ¡°Does he now?¡± A faint smile touched Sumner¡¯s lips. ¡°The fact that he can summon the police at will speaks volumes, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Pondering for a moment, Lindsey considered that the typical procedure would involve her visiting the police station to provide a statement. Yet, here the police hade to her as though entrusted by Domenic. Perhaps it was due to the sensitive nature of the case, preventing a public investigation. Also, Domenic could possess connections within the police force. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey offered Sumner a gentle smile, saying, ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re letting your imagination run wild. I must return to thepany. Please remain here for the time being. ¡± With a nod, Sumner kept his thoughts to himself until Lindsey was out of sight, murmuring, ¡°Really? Am I perhaps¡­ overthinking this?¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. While seatedfortably on the sofa at home, Shelia juggled a small white box in one hand while scanning the trending topics with the other. A faint smile danced at the corners of her mouth, and suddenly, she erupted intoughter. Curious about her daughter¡¯s sudden mirth, Kendra descended the stairs and asked, ¡°Shelia, what¡¯s brought about this gleeful mood?¡± Fixing her gaze on the small box held in Shelia¡¯s grasp, Kendra asked, ¡°What¡¯s in that box?¡± Seeing her mother, Shelia¡¯s demeanor grew even more self-assured. She lifted the box before Kendra and said, ¡°This, Mom, is my solution for dealing with Lindsey!¡± ¡°What precisely is it?¡± Kendra took the box and scrutinized it from all angles. The only inscription adorning it was the phrase ¡°On Trial. ¡± ¡°They¡¯re weight-loss pills,¡± Shelia raised an eyebrow, meeting her mother¡¯s gaze. ¡°I managed to bribe one of Lindsey¡¯s employees and found her attempt to help an employee shed some pounds with these weight-loss pills. Little did Lindsey know that the pills she acquired were swapped with inferior ones carrying potent side effects. Here, feast your eyes!¡± Shelia continued, passing her phone to Kendra, ¡°Now, no matter how she exins it away, she¡¯ll find herself tongue-tied!¡± Kendra went through the trending topics on weight-loss pills, getting a glimpse of the whole story. An expression of astonishment crept onto her face as she regarded Shelia. ¡°Shelia, did you truly orchestrate this?¡± Arms folded across her chest, Shelia lounged on the sofa and replied, ¡°Ever since Lindsey¡¯spany¡¯s inception, I¡¯ve nted spies within its ranks. Mom, didn¡¯t you advise me that to counter Lindsey, one must covertly devise a strategy, exploit her vulnerabilities, and then strike decisively?¡± During herst visit to Lindsey¡¯spany, Shelia¡¯s intent was not mere mockery but covert observation. True to her intuition, she noticed Xiomara. Kendra, taken aback by her daughter¡¯s revtions, felt a mixture of surprise and pride. Seating herself, she sped Shelia¡¯s hand, seemingly feeling a newfound maturity within her. ¡°Shelia, you¡¯re finally mature enough!¡± Chapter 573 Shelia had experienced so many disappointments from Lindsey. After doing some introspection, Shelia came to the conclusion that Lindsey had often defeated her because she had approached the situation too simplistically. Though her outward demeanor still carried traces of arrogance and dominance, Shelia had begun an internal growth process, which was quite something on her side. Faced with Lindsey¡¯s formidable alliance with her influential mother, a direct confrontation became futile. Luckily, she ultimately found a perfect chance to ruin Lindsey! On Xiomara¡¯s copse, her informant promptly ryed the news, enabling Shelia to contact certain reporters to expose the truth swiftly. On top of it all¡­ ¡°Mom, remember when you suggested ingratiating ourselves with Lindsey before destroying her? Well, I followed your counsel!¡± Shelia then disyed recent onlinements about Lindsey to Kendra. Shelia started the rumors that Lindsey¡¯s firm would work with Cherish before the weight-loss drugs incident, and she also took the lead in boasting about Lindsey online anonymously. Every day, she showered Lindsey withpliments online. She wasuding her as a paragon of modern female capability, given her swift establishment of apany and securing such a monumental partnership. Not only did Lindsey win the respect of arge number of youth, but she also elevated everyone¡¯s adoration and affection for her to an unprecedented level. Negative remarks, however, were like a power surge following Xiomara¡¯s ordeal. The more people who had previously admired Lindsey, the more they criticized her today; some of them even took the lead in disgracing her! The once adoring masses now hurled vitriol, metaphorically dismembering Lindsey¡¯s reputation. ¡®s BunnyBookery As Kendra read the scathing online remarks, she gazed incredulously at her daughter. Was this truly the same Shelia, once impulsive and uplicated? Kendra¡¯s heart swelled with uncontainable joy as she held Shelia in her embrace. Observing her daughter¡¯s maturation, Kendra found her eyes moistened, unable to contain the emotions that surged within. ¡°Shelia, once upon a time, I perceived your thoughts as simplistic. Now, youe up with your own ideas, finally bringing me a sense of relief!¡± ¡°Mom, what course of action do you advise for me?¡± Sheliacked the sagacity to craft aprehensive n. She happened to be privy to Xiomara¡¯s circumstances.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. However, she hadn¡¯t contemted the subsequent steps to dismantle Lindsey for good. Kendra rolled her eyes contemtively, swiftly formting a scheme. ¡°Ah, you mentioned Gallop Entertainment¡¯s attempts to coborate with Cherish, right?¡± Shelia nodded affirmatively. ¡°Indeed, but Lindsey beat me to it. After all, Anti happens to be her mother. ¡± With a sudden p, a hint of ruthlessness glinted in Kendra¡¯s gaze. Chapter 574 ¡°Immediately reach out to Gallop Entertainment¡¯s business director and reveal the maternal connection between Juanita and Lindsey. He¡¯ll discern the necessary course. Subsequently, we¡¯ll merely observe the drama from a secure distance!¡± Pondering for a moment, Shelia beamed with delight. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re extraordinary! I¡¯ll contact the business director forthwith. ¡± In the midst of their conversation, Benny barged in through the door.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. By now, midday had arrived. He entered and nced around the dining room. When he noticed Kendra and Shelia whispering, he stared at them with displeasure. ¡°Is lunch ready? What¡¯s that discussion about?¡± ¡°Nothing of consequence. I shall start cooking now. ¡± Kendra swiftly hid the small box in her possession, though Benny had caught a glimpse, causing a slight frown to crease his features. Upon Lindsey¡¯s return to thepany premises from the hospital, something suddenly struck the back of her head. When Lindsey turned around and covered the back of her head, she noticed a few young men and women nearby. They swore, ¡°Shame on you! Sacrificing your reputation for lucre!¡± They then fled, leaving Lindsey no chance to react or rify. At that moment, Lindsey saw the perilous esction of the situation at hand. Not only wereizens disparaging her online, but they had begun seeking retribution in reality. Why did the collective response grow so vehement? Upon entering thepany, Lindsey saw Nancy¡¯s evident distress. Rushing to her side, Nancy urgently pulled Lindsey away. ¡°Linds, what should we do? Several artists have filed their requests to have their contracts terminated today. A few attorneys also called and insisted that we pay the artists for the damage we¡¯ve brought them. Furthermore, all of the agreed-upon contracts have now been ced on temporary hold. Should things continue in this manner, I fear that the firm may¡­¡± ¡°Hold on. This was orchestrated. I¡¯ll find the culprit. ¡± cing her hands on Nancy¡¯s shoulders, Lindsey maintained aposed gaze. ¡°We¡¯ll issue a statement assuring the public of an impending exnation. Regarding contract termination, hold off on agreeing to release the artists until the issue has been resolved. If they persist in departing, no one will be retained, and the business will look into their liquidated damages in ordance with thew. As for the coborations, let them stay suspended for a while. How much cash can the corporation currently ess, by the way?¡± Nancy, overseeing finances as well, replied, ¡°Despite recent talks and deposits for contracts, it¡¯s insufficient. Thepany faces a cash crunch. I am afraid thepany is likely to run out of money if the coborations stop and we cannot collect the remaining amount. But I can work out the financial part. I¡¯ll ask my folks to get me more. ¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll devise a solution for our financial woes. ¡± With that assurance, Lindsey turned and headed to her office. Nancy stood, biting her lip. As a stakeholder, she couldn¡¯t let Lindsey shoulder all the burdens alone. She had to help thepany somehow. Back at her office, Lindsey powered up herputer and browsed the trending topics online. The top searches were all about the weight-loss pill incident, withizensunching a major bacsh against Lindsey. Chapter 575 But the most eye-catching headline was¡ª EXCLUSIVE: Lindsey¡¯s Biological Mother is the Founder of Cherish! Thements under this post were brutal. ¡°I used to believe Lindsey made it on her own, only to find out she has a powerful family background. ¡± ¡°I knew Lindsey¡¯s background was no ordinary one. How else could a new agent stand up to a director like Jayleen? And even outmaneuver Kristy? Now it all makes sense.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡± Anotherment mocked, ¡°So her mother is Anti, huh? No wonder Cherish snubbed Gallop Entertainment and went for a smaller, newly establishedpany. These behind-the-scenes deals are sickening!¡± ¡°We have all been deceived by the inspirational persona established by Lindsey before. If such a person¡¯spany could survive, the showbiz is really a mess!¡± Theizens who had been fond of Lindsey were bacshing her angrily. They also threatened that if Cherish cooperated with Lindsey¡¯spany, they would permanently boycott Cherish. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey knew Cherish could get dragged into this mess, which was thest thing she wanted. With a throbbing headache, Lindsey took a deep breath and called Juanita. ¡°Hey, Mom. How are you doing today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Juanita replied, her tone surprisingly calm and unaffected by the turmoil, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Oh, you want to talk about the scandal trending online, right? I¡¯ve spoken to Leonel. It¡¯s all just nasty tactics. Need me to step in and handle it?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll look into it. You don¡¯t have to do anything. ¡± Lindsey insisted, not wanting to involve her mother further. She hesitated, then added, ¡°I called to say¡­ I¡¯ve decided to end my partnership with Cherish. ¡± Ending the partnership would effectively silence all the rumors. Lindsey saw this as the quickest solution to the issue. ¡°Linds, are you really going to yield to those who persecute you? This is not what my daughter will do. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s grip tightened. After a lengthy pause, aposed voice came from the phone, ¡°Do you really think calling off our partnership will stop the online hate? Not a chance! They¡¯ll just im you caved under pressure and look down on you even more! Remember what I told you; once this was all exposed, any exnation would seem like an excuse. The best approach is to ignore it and keep doing your thing. By the way, there is one more thing. Gallop Entertainment reached out for a coboration. Linds, you¡¯re smart enough to see what¡¯s going on. ¡± A realization dawned on Lindsey. Gallop Entertainment was thepany where Shelia was now. She recalled Shelia mentioning Gallop¡¯s interest in working with Cherish. If Lindsey stepped aside, the one likely to gain the most was¡­ Thinking of this, Lindsey¡¯s thoughts became clear in an instant. ¡°I got it, Mom. ¡± After ending the call, Lindsey knew her next move. She contacted the officer who had visited her earlier, sharing her suspicions about Shelia and requesting a private investigation. Late into the night, after finishing tasks assigned by Lindsey, Nancy just stayed in the office. Lindsey had left earlier and hadn¡¯t returned yet. Nancy, after spending ten minutes mentally preparing herself, finally picked up her phone and messaged Mercer. Chapter 576 ¡°I could really use your help. ¡± Mercer responded almost immediately, ¡°Remember, you have to be sincere when asking for a favor.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Nancy hesitated, her fingers hovering over the phone. She gritted her teeth and replied, ¡°What do you want?¡± Mercer only replied with three words. ¡°Come to me. ¡± He followed up by sending her an address. Nancy¡¯s narrowed gaze dredged up the distressing scene of her uncontroble outburst over Mercer, alongside the stinging recollection of his hurtful words. If she went to find him, how could she face him? ncing toward Lindsey¡¯s office, Nancy understood the gravity of the unfolding events at thepany, yet felt powerless to intervene. With fists clenched, she mustered a response, ¡°I¡¯m on my way. ¡± Guided by the address Mercer had sent, Nancy arrived at an upscale club. Inside the private room, Mercer, d in a dark gray T-shirt, possessed an almost meticulously crafted handsomeness. He held two scantily d women close, their lipstick marks adorning his face. As Nancy pushed the door open, the sight before her was shockingly extravagant. Her memory painted Mercer as a gant, impably dressed young man, but now he appeared a debauched yboy. It turned out that her opinion of him all these years was just her fantasy. ¡°Come here,¡± Mercer casually beckoned from his seat upon seeing Nancy¡¯s entrance. Nancy stood in front of him, clenching her fists. Mercer¡¯s gaze moved up and down Nancy, and he scoffed, ¡°Weren¡¯t you more assertivest time? Why the hesitation now? Don¡¯t be shy. ¡± Upon hearing his words, Nancy slowly rxed her clenched fists, letting them fall to her sides. ¡°I know what you want me to do for you, but there¡¯s no benefit for me. ¡± As a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Mercer was well aware of the turmoil at Lindsey¡¯spany. It was evident to him why Nancy sought him out-to leverage his influence and reputation to mitigate the public fallout. Looking directly at Mercer, Nancy inquired, ¡°What exactly are you asking of me?¡± She was astute enough to realize that Mercer wouldn¡¯t have summoned her if he hadn¡¯t already made up his mind to assist her. Raising an intrigued eyebrow, Mercer observed Nancy with a hint of amusement. Then, in a nonchnt tone, he said, ¡°Take your clothes off. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief at his request. Chapter 577 ¡°Didn¡¯t I make it clear to you? I just told you to take your clothes off!¡± Mercer fixed his intense gaze on Nancy, a suggestive nce that spoke volumes to any woman. The twodies sitting beside him giggled. ¡°Mr. Aston asked you to take off your clothes. Couldn¡¯t you grasp that?¡± one of them chimed in teasingly. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, there¡¯s no need to feign innocence,¡± another added. It was evident that he was deliberately putting her in an ufortable position by suggesting she disrobe in front of others, aiming to embarrass her. Nancy, her fists still clenched, Locked eyes with Mercer, her own now tinged red with emotion. ¡°Are you willing to help me if I take off my clothes?¡± ¡°At the very least, I¡¯ll consider it. Otherwise, please leave,¡± Mercer replied, his tone casual yet firm as he reclined nonchntly. Nancy sensed that despite his ample femalepany, she couldn¡¯t fathom his intentions behind such behavior. To take revenge on her? Without another word, Nancy removed her coat, revealing a delicate white blouse that exuded subtle allure-often the most enticing attire for men. Mercer, with a prating gaze, arched an eyebrow. ¡°Is this enough for you?¡± Nancy met his gaze, seeking some rity. ¡°Keep going,¡± Mercer urged, his eyes hinting at his desires. Feeling a mix of frustration and resolve, Nancy steadied herself, pinching her fingertips into her palms. With precise movements, she began to unbutton her blouse. As she removed her blouse, wearing only a bra, her exposed cleavage and slender figure carried an allure that could captivate any man¡¯s attention. Mercer hesitated for a moment, then abruptly pushed away the twodies by his side! ¡°Go away!¡± Mercer sharply scolded the twodies. Confused and unsure of their mistake, they quickly opened the door and ran away. As the door swung open, a chilly breeze caressed Nancy¡¯s skin, making her shiver. Once the door shut, Mercer rose to his feet and walked towards Nancy. A deep, unspoken gloom filled his eyes.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Chapter 578 He gazed at her intently. Despite previous flirtations with the other two women, Mercer felt nothing. Yet now, in Nancy¡¯s presence, he sensed a change within himself. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Nancy¡¯s voice quivered, and tears welled in her eyes. Suddenly, she found herself enveloped in the man¡¯s embrace. He then bent his head down and gently pressed his lips to hers. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­¡± Nancy felt her stomach twist in difort. Overwhelmed with the urge to throw up, she instinctively shoved Mercer away. However, Mercer¡¯s hold on her grew firmer. Grasping her chin, he whispered, ¡°Go ahead and throw up in my mouth if you can. ¡± ¡°No way!¡± Nancy balled her hands into fists, shaking like a leaf, yet she somehow managed to hold back her urge to vomit. When she didn¡¯t throw up, Mercer¡¯s furrowed brows eased. Opening his eyes, he saw the girl before him, her cheeks flushed red and her eyshes quivering. She looked painful yet enjoyable. This spurred Mercer¡¯s excitement. He lifted Nancy onto the sofa and ki*sed her passionately¡­ The sensation of sickness slowly faded away. Experiencing a ki*s Like this for the first time, Nancy, caught in a whirl of ecstasy, Looped her arms around Mercer¡¯s neck and breathed deeply.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. As they were lost in their ki*s, a loud ringtone shattered the tender moment. Mercer¡¯s brow furrowed in annoyance, yet he was reluctant to break their ki*s. Without a look, he simply ended the call. Meanwhile, Domenic stood by the French window in the top-floor office of the Vitality Group. He stared at his phone, now disconnected, his usually cold expression turning darker. He couldn¡¯t believe Mercer had just hung up on him! Eventually, Mercer released Nancy. They were both breathing heavily, with Nancy gasping for air on his shoulder. Her face waspletely red. ¡°You¡¯re not going to vomit?¡± Mercer whispered into her ear. ¡°I still feel nauseous,¡± Nancy admitted, lips tightly pressed together. Mercer let out a chuckle and reached for Nancy¡¯s hand. The moment Mercer¡¯s fingers brushed a specific spot, Nancy jumped out of his embrace. The nausea she had been holding back surged up once more. It was an involuntary reaction, beyond her control. Nancy grabbed her clothes, opened the door, and hurried out. Mercer¡¯s expression darkened once more. She was still unable to fully ept him. Chapter 579 Annoyed, Mercer grabbed the phone to check the missed call. His eyes widened in surprise at the caller¡¯s name! Oh no! It was Domenic he hung up on! In a panic, Mercer quickly dialed back. Following several rings, the voice on the other end answered with a notably cold tone. ¡°Am I disturbing your good time?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery With an awkward smile, Mercer replied in an unusually ingratiating tone, ¡°I was caught up in a task just mow, and my assistant disconnected the call. I noticed and called you back right away. So, what do you need from me?¡± Domenic snorted coldly. ¡°You must have learned about those trending topics. What I want you to do is to tweet that you¡¯re supporting Lindsey. ¡± Hearing this, Mercer was in a daze for a moment. As he had expected, Domenic must havee to him because of Lindsey.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. In fact, Nancy did the same. He couldn¡¯t begin to imagine how powerful and influential this Lindsey was. With some hesitation, Mercer said, ¡°Domenic, I also want to maintain a good reputation. No matter how we look at it, the nature of the event is bad. If I speak for Lindsey, I will definitely bashed by many haters. Can you please spare me this time?¡± ¡°I take it that you are unwilling to do so?¡± There was no change in Domenic¡¯s voice, but it could easily send a chill down one¡¯s spine. ¡°Fine. Then, you can just wait to be banned in your industry. ¡± When he was about to hang up the phone, Mercer shouted in a hurry, ¡°Okay, okay! I¡¯ll do whatever you want! There, are you satisfied?¡± ALL these years, he had only managed to keep an invincible position, thanks to Domenic¡¯s support. Therefore, he really had no choice but to ept his request. Hearing this, Domenic smiled slyly. ¡°Do it tonight. I don¡¯t like to wait. ¡± After hanging up the phone, Mercer leaned hard against the sofa, wiping the beads of sweat on his forehead. At this time, Nancy came back, pushing the door open. She had been dressed neatly, standing in front of Mercer with a pale face. ¡°Are you done throwing up?¡± Mercer looked up at her, asking impatiently. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. You know that I didn¡¯t mean it,¡± Nancy said softly, biting her lower lip. With a deep sigh, Mercer stood up, put on his coat, and said tly, ¡°I¡¯ve told you this before. It will never work between us. ¡± When he was about to walk out of the room, Nancy suddenly tugged him from behind. Not intending to let go, she said bluntly, ¡°I¡¯ve done what you told me to. Now, will you help me or not?¡± Mercer steadily turned around and nced at her. The next moment, he reached out his hand and gently pinched her cheek. Chapter 580 Looking down at her seductive cleavage, which was emphasized by her dress, he said in a yful tone, ¡°Since you have done that, I can¡¯t say no, right?¡± Without saying anything more, he shook off Nancy¡¯s hand and left. Standing in a daze, Nancy was a bit confused. Did Mercer mean that he would help her? Did he change his mind because she pleased him? But she couldn¡¯t make it to the end, and she almost vomited in front of him again. For now, she should be d that he was willing to help her. Nheless, she still couldn¡¯t help but feel a little depressed. About an hourter, another topic soared to the top. As agreed, Mercer tweeted to support Lindsey. He stated that in consideration of Lindsey¡¯s personality, she wouldn¡¯t do anything to hurt her employee. He insinuated that there must be some hidden facts that the public were yet to know, and that he hoped that theizens could give Lindsey some time to deal with it. As soon as he tweeted this, some people began to change sides and spoke for Lindsey. More importantly, some people in the entertainment industry, who believed in Lindsey, would not dare to stray into the rough. But they seemed to be encouraged when they saw that Mercer made his stand. They also began to advocate for Lindsey on Twitter, convincing moreizens to see this matter rationally. When Domenic took a look at thements on Twitter, he nodded and saw that this was what he was expecting. He could have used his influence to suppress all the trending topics. But they were now in the age whereizen¡¯s opinions held a strong power. If he forcibly suppressed their views, it might actually worsen the situation, which would obviously be unfavorable to Lindsey. Now, the time he bought was enough for his people to find out who was the person pulling the strings behind the scenes. Lindsey had been reaching out to public rtionspanies for the entire day. When she returned to her office in the evening, she immediately checked the surveince video from this week, hoping to find some clues. But when she saw what was currently happening on Twitter, she was surprised. The entertainment circle could be very toxic and harsh. If one person had allegedly done something wrong, others would likely decide to stay away from them, so as not to be involved. However, out of nowhere, Mercer suddenly expressed his support for her. Of course, she was aware that he wouldn¡¯t help her for no reason. After thinking for a while, Lindsey only thought of one person-Nancy. She immediately called Nancy and asked without filter, ¡°Did you go meet with Mercer today?¡± Nancy sat on the flower bed¡¯s edge outdoors, embracing the cool breeze. When Lindsey¡¯s question came through the phone, she took a moment to collect her thoughts before replying, ¡°Yep, I went over to him, seeking some assistance. ¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did he do anything to you?¡± Someone as popr as Mercer, ready to stand by her side during a controversy, must have had some pretty sweet benefitsing his way. And the one with the power to provide those perks was none other than Nancy. Nancy¡¯s voice, tinged with a touch of sadness and carried by the wind, replied, ¡°No, he¡¯s aware of your personality, so he¡­¡± Chapter 581 ¡°Nancy, what¡¯s happening with you and Mercer?¡± Lindsey¡¯s curiosity got the better of her. Nancy¡¯s grip on the phone briefly tightened, and she tried to say casually, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you know, the thing between men and women! Anyway, the oue turned out just fine. Oh, I¡¯ve got another matter to handle, I gotta go. ¡± And then the phone call ended. Lindsey bit her lip firmly, aware that Nancy was purposefully keeping something from her, yet she had no idea what Nancy had done to earn Mercer¡¯s help. This situation had started to impact people who mattered to her. With a solid thump, Lindsey set her phone down on the table, her fists tightly clenched. She was determined to confront whoever caused this issue! Half an hourter, Lindsey, dizzy from watching security footage, heard her phone ring. Her troubled look instantly transformed into a smile when she saw that it was from Domenic. Greeting him sweetly, she said, ¡°Mr. Walsh. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m right by yourpany¡¯s entrance. ¡± His deep, soothing voice surprised Lindsey. She nced at her watch, realizing it was alreadyte at night. She swiftly swung the door open and stepped out, where she indeed spotted Domenic, looking tall and dashing on the other side of the ss door, clutching a small bag in his hand. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lindsey asked, leading Domenic to her office. Today, he sported a dark gray overcoat, giving off aposed and cool vibe. As he ced the little bag on the table, a mouthwatering aroma filled the air, causing Lindsey to swallow and gaze at Domenic with wide, inquisitive eyes. ¡°Is this something delicious?¡± As he arranged the food, Domenic responded with his captivating eyes lowered, ¡°I thought you might not have had a chance to grab a bite today, with all thepany stuff going on. These are your favorites. Eat up; no matter how hefty the problem, a full stomach is a must. ¡± Lindsey looked at the luxurious dishes spread out. Her heart warmed at the sight of them. Leaning closer, Lindsey ced a ki*s on Domenic¡¯s cheek. ¡°Thanks a lot.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡± Domenic halted his actions and stood upright, gently gripping Lindsey¡¯s waist and drawing her closer to him. He looked deep into her eyes and uttered, ¡°If you keep seducing me this way, I might not let you finish that meal. ¡± Lindsey tapped his shoulders gently and whispered near his ear, ¡°You¡¯re more tasty than this meal. ¡± Domenic promptly grasped her butt, giving her a gentle lift. Chapter 582 From what Lindsey understood about him, she had a strong feeling that the next moment would involve a passionate ki*s. She closed her eyes in anticipation. But to her surprise, Domenic yfully gave her a gentle pat on her butt and chuckled, ¡°Such intense desires, huh? You¡¯re quite impatient, aren¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey blinked and found herself met with Domenic¡¯s incredibly attractive face, adorned with a naughty grin. ¡°You are making fun of me!¡± She made a fist and yfully tapped Domenic¡¯s chest with it. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat. Your health matters more. ¡± Domenic gently pushed Lindsey towards the table, handing her the utensils. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned as red as a ripe tomato, and she felt sweet in the heart and forgot all the worries of the day. She savored the meal heartily while Domenic sat beside her, silently watching with an affectionate smile dancing on his lips. Just as the warm atmosphere settled, Domenic¡¯s phone rang Taking a quick look at it, he couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows ¡°Okay, I see. ¡± After ending the call, he turned his gaze toward Lindsey, his demeanor bing grave. ¡°Linds, there¡¯s been some headway in the investigation. ¡± Lindsey quickly stood up from her seat and wiped her mouth. ¡°Really? Was it a call from the police? Then what are we still waiting for? Let¡¯s go to the police station now!¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°No need to be so hasty. Besides, he¡¯s already on his way here. ¡± Domenic remainedposed, leaning casually on the sofa. About twenty minutester, the police officer arrived at Lindsey¡¯spany. He took a nce at Domenic and quickly averted his gaze afterward. ¡°Sir, thank you foring here. ¡± As soon as they met, Lindsey politely expressed her gratitude. Initially, she had already nned to go to the police station, but she didn¡¯t expect that the police officer would insteade directly to herpany. The officer just smiled back at her and put aptop and some documents on the table. Then the police officer yed surveince footage, pausing at a specific moment. Pointing at the screen, he said, ¡°Look here. ¡± Lindsey carefully observed the screen but she couldn¡¯t spot anything unusual. But as the officer gradually zoomed in on the video, Lindsey¡¯s expression changed, and her eyes widened in surprise. In the video, a woman sitting beside Xiomara¡¯s desk was discreetly opening and closing a drawer, while trying to wake Xiomara up, who was sleeping at her desk. As the video was zoomed to the maximum, Lindsey caught a glimpse of a small white medicine box in the woman¡¯s hand. ¡°So, she swapped Xiomara¡¯s medication!¡± Lindsey eximed in shock. Chapter 583 Domenic then raised an eyebrow towards the officer, who immediately understood the signal. ¡°Earlier, we¡¯ve already detained and interrogated that woman in the video. And just as you suspected, the mastermind, who ordered her to do it, was no other than¡­ Shelia Jones!¡± Sure enough, it was her! Hearing the officer¡¯s conclusion, Lindsey felt a surge of mixed emotions coursing through her body. There was excitement mingled with an inexplicable sense of uneasiness. Everything seemed to be going too smoothly. The investigation and the interrogation by the police immediately yielded favorable results. But right now, the pressing matter was to reveal the truth to the public as soon as possible, and to bring the criminals to justice! ¡°sir, do you have any other concerns?¡± Lindsey seemed to have realized something and turned towards the officer. The officer let out a sigh and nodded gently. ¡°Based on the current evidence that we have, we can only charge the person who swapped the medication. As for Shelia Jones, there is still not enough evidence to convict her. ¡± Lindsey understood fully well. Despite the woman, who swapped the medication, admitting that Shelia was the mastermind, there wasn¡¯t enough concrete evidence to establish a case against her. ¡°Did they somehowmunicate or have any financial transactions?¡± Lindsey inquired. The officer shook his head. ¡°Well, they did have somemunication. The problem is that we can¡¯t ess the specifics of their conversations. Regarding financial transactions, Shelia was smart enough to use an anonymous ount for transfers, and the source was traced back to a different country. ¡± Lindsey was surprised to hear this detail. After all, it was unusual for Shelia to be this cautious, almost leaving no trace of her involvement. It was not her style at all. Was it because there was another person behind her, who was giving her instructions? ¡°But¡­¡± The officer¡¯s voice trailed off as if hesitating slightly. Then, he eventually continued, ¡°ording to the suspect¡¯s confession, after swapping the medication, she handed the original ones to Shelia. So¡­¡± ¡°So, if we can find the original ones that should be in Shelia¡¯s possession, that is enough evidence to convict her!¡± Lindsey interjected, finishing off the officer¡¯s train of thought. ¡°That is right. The only problem is that she might have already disposed of them. ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she will do that,¡± Domenic chimed in, his lips curving slightly upward as he looked at Lindsey. ¡°You know her quite well, don¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey also smiled in response, her eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°Of course, I understand her too well, She¡¯s the type of person who would keep those pills just to mock me when my reputation is utterly ruined!¡± ¡°We¡¯re facing a tough task. We need to find those pills from Shelia without her knowing. If she finds out, she might destroy them, and we won¡¯t be able to prove her guilt.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡± The police officer¡¯s statement sent Lindsey deep into thought. Domenic said in a soothing voice, ¡°We need to locate someone Shelia is close to, someone she trusts and relies on. ¡± Chapter 584 His reminder triggered a sh of realization in Lindsey. ¡°I know just the person!¡± Stepping out of the office, they found the night had grownte. Domenic sped Lindsey¡¯s hand, hesitant to say goodbye. ¡°Do you have to leave now?¡± Lindsey looked off into the distance, then smiled at Domenic. ¡°I need to go back home. This n requires my mom¡¯s assistance, and it¡¯s hard to convey everything through a call. ¡± Domenic let out a gentle sigh. ¡°Okay,e back as soon as you can. I can¡¯t sleep well at night without you. ¡± Lindsey nodded silently, choosing not to mention to Domenic the fact that her mom had prevented her from leaving. Upon Lindsey¡¯s arrival at Juanita¡¯s ce, Juanita was still awake. The sight of Lindsey entering the apartment brought her a sense of relief. Just as Juanita was about to ask about the day¡¯s happenings, Lindsey came up to her with a serious tone. ¡°Mom, there¡¯s something important I need to talk to you about. ¡± Juanita knew this was a big deal just by looking at how serious Lindsey appeared. The next morning, Shelia casually made her way down the stairs, wearing a bold purplece dress. Kendra was busy making breakfast, but when she spotted Shelia, she wiped her hands on her apron and rushed over, gently pulling her away. ¡°I heard thatst night, Mercer Aston, the famous singer, stood up for Lindsey. What¡¯s so special that makes all these big shots rush to help her?¡± Kendra was truly puzzled by how Lindsey managed to pull off all of this.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Shelia, on the other hand, remained calm and collected. She casually yed with her vibrant red nails, saying, ¡°So what? Even if influential people vouch for her, it won¡¯t erase the fact that she handed out those dodgy weight-loss pills to her employee, putting her in the ICU. That¡¯s undeniable evidence. People will gradually lose faith in her without concrete evidence proving her innocence. Those who stand by her will suffer! Her reputation in the entertainment industry could crumble, and she might even have to deal with legal trouble!¡± ¡°Shelia, are you certain no one will discover that those pills were switched?¡± Kendra asked with concern. Shelia exuded confidence as she raised an eyebrow at Kendra. ¡°Mom, no need to worry. I promise, this time, it will be wless!¡± Kendra felt uneasy, even though Shelia seemed confident. ¡°Get rid of the real medicine soon, so you don¡¯t get caught,¡± Kendra suggested. Shelia gave Kendra a quick look. ¡°No need to hurry. I¡¯ve got my reasons for holding onto it. Besides, I¡¯ve stashed it away in a secret spot where no one will ever stumble upon it. ¡± After hearing this, Kendra decided not to push the topic any further. Shelia wrapped up breakfast and made her way to the office. Just then, Benny emerged from his room, and, as per the usual routine, Kendra was serving him breakfast. Chapter 585 Benny looked normal, but unexpectedly said, ¡°Kendra, if you¡¯re free today, why don¡¯t you and your friends go shopping? You can pick out some new clothes. ¡± Kendra found herself momentarily surprised. Benny hardly ever proposed buying her new clothes. What was going on today? She scooped soup into his bowl and answered, ¡°Thepany¡¯s been a bit tight on fundstely. Let¡¯s save a bit for now. ¡± ¡°To make up for not going with you to the prenatal check-up, even though the budget may be a bit tight, we¡¯ve got enough for a couple of outfits. Seeing you dressed up nicely always makes me feel better. ¡± Benny took the soup from her with a warm smile. Kendra pondered his sudden kindness. Maybe he had a change of heart. ¡®s BunnyBookery After all, with Juanita¡¯s current situation, she probably looked down on Benny. Most men were often swayed by what they saw, and when they came across a young, attractive, and attentive woman, it was rare for any man to simply walk away. Benny¡¯s shift in behavior eased some of the sadness that had been weighing on Kendra. She agreed with Benny to join her friends at the mallter in the day to pick out some nice clothes. And she had ns to please him when she returned in the evening. Benny smiled, but his eyes darkened slightly, unnoticed. After Kendra finally left, Benny was left alone in their home. He couldn¡¯t help but think of his conversation with Juanita fromst night. ¡°Benny, I know that you have a problem with yourpany¡¯s capital chain. If you can¡¯t find a new investor as soon as possible, yourpany is set to go bankrupt. ¡± ¡°Since you know what the situation is, can you help me this time for old times¡¯ sake?¡± ¡°I can help you, but not for free. You will have to do me a favor, too. ¡± ¡°Tell me! If I can do it, then I will help you right away!¡± In order to save hispany, Benny decided that he would do anything. However, he didn¡¯t expect that what Juanita would ask him was to find the box of weight-loss pills that Shelia had switched and hidden. Benny wasn¡¯t an avid inte user, so he had only heard bits and pieces of recent events.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. When Juanita filled him in on everything, his expression quickly turned serious. It turned out that his stepdaughter had framed his biological daughter. ¡°Benny Stewart, if you are a real man, have some conscience and decency! Help Lindsey out! Or have you forgotten that she is your real daughter?¡± Although Benny didn¡¯t have so much affection for Shelia, he still valued her because of the financial benefits he could possibly receive from her. If Shelia became famous in the showbiz industry, he was able to milk her for lots of cash. On the contrary, even after Lindsey made a name for herself, she was still unwilling to help him out. Chapter 586 Noticing that Benny had gone silent for a while, Juanita knew exactly what he was thinking. ¡°Think about the real reason why Lindsey turned her back on you. It¡¯s because you don¡¯t trust her, and you only believe what that bitch Kendra says! You are foolish enough not to realize that your wife is carrying another man¡¯s child. Benny, can you stop being such a wimp just this once?!¡± Of course, Benny also suspected it, but he was so blinded that he was unwilling to believe it. When the child was born, he could figure out who was lying and who was telling the truth. As for Kendra, even if Benny wasn¡¯t the real father of her baby, she didn¡¯t dare abort the baby. After all, Juanita¡¯s return posed a huge threat to her. Therefore, the baby in her belly was herst resort to keep Benny by her side. Benny thought for a while and replied, ¡°Juanita, Kendra is my wife now.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Lots of things may have happened in the past, but the most important thing for a couple is their trust in each other. No matter what, her daughter is now also my kid. I really can¡¯t do what you¡¯re asking me¡­¡± Juanita wanted tough at Benny¡¯s words, since she knew his personality the best. Not wanting to waste any more time talking to him, she gave him an ultimatum. ¡°I don¡¯t care about your so-called principles. Let me just reiterate this. If you help me this time, I can invest in yourpany and introduce resources to you. But if you don¡¯t, you know that I have many ways to make yourpany go bankrupt! Now, do you want to save yourpany or still choose the girl who¡¯s not even rted to you? Make your choice. ¡± In fact, when Juanita said that she was willing to invest in hispany, at that point, Benny had already made a clear choice. After all, thepany was his whole life. Without it, he was nothing. Afterward, Benny rose to his feet and started searching through the living room, looking for the box of medication. He had the image of a white medicine box in mind, and he vaguely remembered Shelia taking it to her bedroom. After an hour of meticulous searching, Benny finally located it tucked away in the bottom drawer of Shelia¡¯s closet. His hand trembled as he held the medicine box, but it wasn¡¯t out of guilt for betraying Shelia. He was trembling from excitement, knowing that hispany could finally be revived! Then, he immediately dialed Juanita¡¯s number and said, ¡°I¡¯ve found it. I can hand it over to the police right now, but you have to transfer 10 million dors into mypany¡¯s ount first. There is no room for negotiation. ¡± ¡°Deal. ¡± Shelia was on the film set, waiting for the crew to start shooting. It was her first role in a movie since joining Gallop Entertainment. The set¡¯s usual bustle was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of several police officers. ¡°Who is Shelia Stewart here?¡± one of the officers asked, his voice cutting through the chatter as he scanned the area with a serious gaze. An immediate hush fell over the set as all eyes turned to Shelia, who was lounging in a chair. The officer approached Shelia and asked, ¡°Are you Shelia Stewart?¡± Shelia, visibly taken aback by the police presence, quickly stood up. Chapter 587 ¡°Yes, I am. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been reported as a suspect in a drug exchange case. We need you toe with us for questioning,¡± the officer said firmly. ¡°What?¡± Shelia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°No, sir, you must be mistaken. You should be looking into Lindsey Stewart, not me,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°The report we received has your name. Please cooperate ande with us. ¡± It was clear from the officer¡¯s tone that he was getting impatient. Other officers stepped forward and went to stand behind Shelia. She got the hint that refusal wasn¡¯t an option, and the police would resort to coercive measures if she protested. The set was filled with murmurs as the crew exchanged confused nces, watching Shelia being escorted away by the police. Within minutes of being taken into custody, Shelia found herself sitting in an interrogation room at the police station. A police officer ced a white medicine box in front of her and addressed her sternly, ¡°Your father, Benny Stewart, has used you of manipting an employee at Lindnita Artists Agency to tamper with Xiomara¡¯s prescribed weight-loss medication. This act allegedly led to Xiomara¡¯s drug poisoning, and she¡¯s still in critical condition. We found this box of medicine in your room, and the employee you supposedly influenced has confessed. What do you have to say about these usations?¡± Shelia, utterly stunned, could barely process the words.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Her jaw started trembling. ¡°You¡¯re saying¡­ Benny reported me?¡± she stammered. ¡°Yes,¡± In a sudden outburst of disbelief and rage, Shelia jumped up from her seat only to fall back abruptly since she was handcuffed to the table. ¡°Why? Why would he do this to me?¡± Her voice was a mix of despair and anger as she shouted at the top of her Lungs. The interrogating officer, unmoved by her emotional disy, said, ¡°Please calm down. Remember, there¡¯s leniency for those who confess and severe punishment for those who refuse to speak the truth. ¡± But Shelia was beyond reason, consumed by a sense of betrayal. ¡°I need to see Benny. I have to talk to him,¡± she said through clenched teeth. Amid the chaos at the police station, Kendra, having just heard about Shelia¡¯s arrest while shopping, stormed into the police station. Her eyes immediately fell on Benny, who was sitting in the reception area. She tossed her shopping bags onto a nearby chair and approached him, grabbing his cor in a fit of rage. ¡°Benny Stewart, how could you do this? Shelia is your daughter too. How can you hand her over to the police like this?¡± Kendra¡¯s voice quivered with emotion. Her entire body shook uncontrobly. The shock of Benny¡¯s betrayal was overwhelming, transforming into a seething anger she could hardly contain. ¡°I did it for the sake of mypany,¡± Benny responded calmly. Chapter 588 Something clicked in Kendra¡¯s mind at that moment, and she startedughing hysterically. ¡°Did Juanita promise you something? Is that why you sent me away today to shop for clothes? All these years, I thought you cared for me. I¡¯ve done so much for this family. How can you be so heartless?¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t take drastic measures, do you want to see thepany copse and go bankrupt? You¡¯re focused on protecting Shelia but you need to think beyond that. If not thepany¡¯s future, you have to consider what¡¯s best for our unborn child,¡± Benny replied with a hint of redness creeping into his cheeks. After a pause, he added, ¡°I¡¯ve been a father to Shelia for so long. Now, it¡¯s time for her to make a small contribution to the family. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Kendra looked at him with bloodshot eyes. ¡°A small contribution? Benny, do you even realize that what you¡¯ve done could put Shelia behind bars?¡± Benny said indifferently, ¡°I talked to awyer. He told me she won¡¯t be locked up for many years. ¡± Kendra was taken aback. ¡°Not for many years? Do you realize? If this unfolds unfavorably, Shelia¡¯s future is in for a real rough patch! Her path in the entertainment world hase to a close!¡± ¡°Entertainment world? You keep talking about its riches, but have you ever seen her give me a dime? When she¡¯s released, I¡¯ll sort her out with a job, ensuring her golden years are filled with serenity. It¡¯se to this juncture. You¡¯ve always been level-headed; you should know where I¡¯ming from. I¡¯m doing this all for our family¡¯s sake!¡± Benny didn¡¯t want to argue with Kendra anymore and turned his back to her. Kendra sank into the chair, a sense of helplessness washing over her.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. What more words or actions could she muster at this point? Benny had always insisted it was for the family¡¯s sake, but it was only now that Kendra realized he never truly counted her or Shelia as part of his family. He was only looking out for himself, ready to throw anyone aside. Kendra thought her years of hard work had be nothing more than a joke. Since Juanita¡¯s return, Benny had been groveling at her feet. Kendra felt she was disposable, always on the verge of being thrown away. Kendra had never felt so weak and helpless, and tears began to flow. But she had never faced a challenge she couldn¡¯t weather. No matter how tough or trying it got, she had always survived it. So, this time, she wouldn¡¯t throw in the towel so easily! Brushing away her tears, Kendra exited the police station and called Rupert¡¯s number on her phone. Her voice quivered with emotion as she implored, ¡°Rupert, you¡¯ve got to rescue Shelia this time! I¡¯m ready to go to any lengths for you if it means saving Shelia!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t rush it. ¡± Upon hearing Kendra¡¯s story, Rupert let out a gentle chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major. It¡¯s just a minor thing. There¡¯s no need for tears. I¡¯ve got some contacts down at the police station; I¡¯ll see about getting Shelia out on bail. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± Kendra felt a surge of relief and wiped her tears. ¡°Are you genuinely ready to lend a hand to Shelia?¡± Rupert replied casually, ¡°I¡¯ve told you. I won¡¯t overlook Shelia¡¯s situation. Just go home and wait for the news. ¡± Kendra regained herposure. She got up and walked confidently. Chapter 589 Rupert was Shelia¡¯s biological father. With him in the picture, things could be sorted out smoothly. Before long, the news of Shelia getting caught swapping medicines started making waves on the inte, stirring up quite amotion among people online. Those who used to point fingers at Lindsey suddenly shifted their focus to Shelia, delving into her past and airing out her dirtyundry. ¡°I recall her getting arrested once for some shady deal. ¡± ¡°Yes! I vaguely remember this incident, but as of now, there¡¯s no sign of it in any online reports. ¡± ¡°Doing something so awful makes me wonder if the woman in that scandalous video from before is her!¡± ¡°I always doubted her innocence.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Shelia seems to have a lot of secrets; I wonder who¡¯s supporting her!¡± ¡°The fact that Gallop Entertainment signed someone like her is questionable!¡± The online mood took a sudden turn, but until there was an official word from the authorities, many were holding onto their faith in Shelia, waiting for the real story toe to light. In the CEO office of the Vanguard Group, Rupert paced back and forth. He¡¯d dialed up a few numbers just moments ago, but strangely, none of the high-ranking officers he usually had good ties with at the police station picked up the phone. His only option was to dispatch someone to the police station to make connections, but they got turned down. ¡®s BunnyBookery What had started as a simple affair had morphed into a situation where it seemed like an enormous force was obstructing his lines ofmunication with the police. But in Morcastle, who else could hold enough sway to block his path like this? Out of the blue, Rupert recalled Kendra¡¯s stepdaughter¡¯s boyfriend, who went by the name Walsh. If Shelia were put behind bars, it would prove Lindsey¡¯s innocence. So¡­ Domenic took action. It must be him! Who else could pull this off except for him? It couldn¡¯t be Jordan! Rupert let out a derisive snort, recognizing that he had finally found some w about Domenic. So, it was time to wrap up this affair. He slipped into his coat, exited the building, hopped into his car, and sternly told the driver, ¡°To Lindnita Artists Agency. ¡± After addressing thepany¡¯s urgent matters, Lindsey went to the hospital. Xiomara had been moved from the ICU to a general ward. Sumner had been watching over her for the past few days, ensuring Lindsey could focus on her work without added worry. ¡°Has she woken up yet?¡± Lindsey asked as she entered the ward. Chapter 590 She sighed as her eyesnded on Xiomara¡¯s motionless body. Sumner shook his head. ¡°No, not yet. But the doctors say she¡¯s improving. There¡¯s hope she might wake up soon. ¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°How are things at thepany? I read online that Shelia manipted one of your employees and tampered with Xiomara¡¯s medication. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes narrowed as she observed Xiomara¡¯s paleplexion. ¡°Shelia acted recklessly, endangering the innocent just to harm me. She won¡¯t escape the consequences,¡± she said, clenching her fists. ¡°Shelia seems to have the support of some influential people. ¡®s BunnyBookery Whenever negative news about her surfaces online, it gets removed immediately. I¡¯m afraid this time¡­¡± Lindsey shared Sumner¡¯s concern. However, the situation was different this time. Shelia had vited thew. If attempts were made to absolve her of the charges, her secret supporter woulde to Light. Lindsey really wanted to know who was behind Shelia. ¡°Sumner, thank you for staying here these past few days. I¡¯m free now, so I¡¯ll stay here. You should go home and rest,¡± Lindsey said with a smile. She changed the subject, choosing not to dwell on Sumner¡¯s earlier remark. Sumner gave her a knowing look but opted not to say anything else. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll switch shifts with you tonight,¡± he said, standing up. After he left, Lindsey sat beside Xiomara¡¯s bed, gently brushing her bangs aside. The once chubby-faced Xiomara looked noticeably thinner, her facial contours more pronounced. She could tell that Xiomara was born to be a stunner. Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she noticed a slight quiver in Xiomara¡¯s eyshes. Lindsey¡¯s hand froze mid-air as she eagerly called out, ¡°Xiomara? Please, wake up. ¡± Her voice, full of hope, seemed to reach Xiomara, who slowly fluttered her eyes open.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Lindsey¡­¡± Xiomara¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper, raspy and weak. ¡°What¡­ what happened? Where am I?¡± Lindsey held her hand and replied softly, ¡°You fainted. You¡¯re in the hospital now. ¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry¡­ for causing you trouble. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. She was touched by Xiomara¡¯s selflessness, even in her fragile state. Chapter 591 ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I didn¡¯t take good care of you,¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice quivered slightly, betraying her attempt to stayposed. Xiomara nced around and asked, ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡± ¡°About three days. ¡± ¡°Oh my God, I can¡¯t believe it. My work¡­¡± Xiomara, overwhelmed by concern for her responsibilities, attempted to get up, only to be met with a stabbing pain in her stomach. Lindsey gently pressed Xiomara back onto the bed. ¡°Your tasks have been assigned to others. Right now, you need to focus on your recovery. And don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll consider this a work-rted injury and won¡¯t deduct your sry. Please, you have to be in bed. ¡± Restrained by the pain, Xiomara looked at Lindsey with gratitude. ¡°Lindsey, have you been here all this time? Did you pay my hospital bills, too?¡± Lindsey smiled and shook her head. ¡°No, Sumner has been looking after you. I was tied up withpany matters. He¡¯s the one who¡¯s taken care of everything, including your medical expenses. ¡± Xiomara¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Sumner did? Really?¡± ¡°Sumner is a sweetheart, always thoughtful and kind.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Anyone who¡¯s his girlfriend must be over the moon! Oh, and when you passed out, Sumner was the one who scooped you up and took you to the hospital!¡± Lindsey was aware of Xiomara¡¯s crush on Sumner. For the past few days, Sumner had been by Xiomara¡¯s side the entire time. Maybe there was a chance for something to develop between them. Xiomara¡¯s eyes went wide when she heard Lindsey¡¯s words. She opened her mouth, then closed it, looking both shocked and bashfully happy. ¡°I used to think I was on the heavy side, and guys would bail when they saw me, but he lifted me and carried me to the car. He doesn¡¯t mind how I look?¡± She seemed to be speaking partly to Lindsey and partly to herself. Lindsey rushed to respond, ¡°No way. Sumner¡¯s not the type to be shallow and judge by looks alone. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± A spark Lit up in Xiomara¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes, I know him better than anyone. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, you and Sumner, are you¡­¡± Ever since Sumner joined Lindnita Artists Agency, Xiomara had a hunch that there was something special about his rtionship with Lindsey. Sumner had a habit of gazing at Lindsey with a profound and tender Look. Xiomara often wished Sumner would look at her that way, but she never let herself get her hopes up. Lindsey caught Xiomara¡¯s drift and smiled warmly. ¡°We¡¯re just close friends. We got to know him when I was in college. I knew he wanted to be a singer, and since I¡¯m an agent, joining mypany was a natural step for him. ¡°I see¡­¡± Xiomara felt a wave of relief. If there were any romantic connection between Sumner and Lindsey, she wouldn¡¯t entertain illusions or wishful thinking about it. Chapter 592 ¡°Well, Sumner is quite the catch. ¡± Lindsey meaningfully patted the back of Xiomara¡¯s hand, then pivoted to snatch an apple from the bedside table and peel it. Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Had Sumnere back for something? Lindsey set aside the apple, got to her feet, strolled over to the door, and swung it open. But instead of Sumner, she was greeted by a man she didn¡¯t recognize. He looked in his fifties, dressed in an expensive ck overcoat, exuding the aura of a high-ranking character from a TV drama. Lindsey nced at him, feeling a flutter of anxiety. ¡°You are¡­¡± The man wore a friendly smile. It melted away a good portion of his frosty demeanor. ¡°You are Lindsey Stewart, aren¡¯t you?¡± His words held a gentle and kind tone. Lindsey felt less tense than she had moments ago. Lindsey gave a nod and inquired, ¡°Who might you be?¡± ¡°I happen to be Domenic¡¯s uncle. ¡± Rupert had set out to track down Lindsey at her workce. But when he got wind of her being at this hospital, he wasted no time rushing there. Lindsey¡¯s eyes opened wide in astonishment.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. This man was Domenic¡¯s uncle? Lindsey remembered Domenic telling her about his uncles Locking him in a cer and starving him for ten days, nearly killing him. He didn¡¯t even consider them family. As she pondered this, Lindsey¡¯s attitude towards this man shifted to vignce. Why did Domenic¡¯s unclee here? ¡°What do you need?¡± Lindsey asked, her voice growing colder. Rupert offered a smile and strolled past her, entering the ward. He cast a nce at Xiomara, whoy on the bed. His voice remained calm and gentle. ¡°Domenic has told me much about you. I wanted to see the woman who¡¯s caught his attention. ¡± Rupert turned back to Lindsey, smiling, ¡°I see now. You¡¯re both beautiful and intelligent. I¡¯ve heard yourpany¡¯s facing troubles. If you need assistance, don¡¯t hesitate. We¡¯re practically family now. Chapter 593 No need to be strangers. ¡± Lindsey gazed at him, a gentle smile gracing her lips. ¡°Does he know that you paid me a visit today?¡± ¡°I rushed here and haven¡¯t informed him yet. You¡¯re right. I should give him a call. ¡± Rupert retrieved his phone from his pocket and punched in Domenic¡¯s number. The phone was answered immediately. From the other end came Domenic¡¯s brisk tone. ¡°Uncle Rupert, what do you want?¡± He always answered Rupert¡¯s calls with such directness, almost as if he was reluctant to engage in conversation. Rupert, noticing Lindsey nearby, said with a sly chuckle, ¡°Domenic, you won¡¯t believe who I bumped into. ¡± Domenic felt his hand tighten around the phone. Before he could respond, Rupert said with a sinister grin, ¡°I¡¯ve met your girlfriend. ¡± Domenic¡¯s hand clenched tighter, but rather than showing any sign of distress as Rupert might have expected, he asked in a steady voice, ¡°Where are you right now?¡± Rupert answered casually, ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital, visiting her friend. You know, you really should introduce your girlfriend to your family. Your grandfather, especially, would be quite interested in your romantic life. He¡¯d¡­ be quite pleased. ¡± Domenic picked up on the hidden intent behind Rupert¡¯s mocking tone. He had expected Rupert to approach Lindsey eventually, but he just hadn¡¯t expected it to happen so quickly. Clearly, his uncle had been observing his behind-the-scenes maneuvers, hence his uncle¡¯s confidence in Lindsey¡¯s connection to him. Domenic curved a slight smile and said, ¡°What a coincidence. I just learned that you¡¯ve gotten quite close to Lindsey¡¯s stepmother, Kendra. Rumor has it she had once been expecting a child after being involved with you. Could that be Shelia by any chance?¡± Rupert, so calm and friendly moments ago, suddenly looked unsettled. He had intended to intimidate Domenic today, only to find himself unexpectedly cornered. Casting a nce at Lindsey, he exited the ward. Standing in an empty corner, Rupert clutched his phone and said in a hushed tone, ¡°How long have you known about Kendra and me?¡± Domenic¡¯s reply was calm.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°I started investigating when you had Kendra follow Lindsey. Without that knowledge, would I dare to confront you so directly? Isn¡¯t that right, Uncle Rupert?¡± ¡°You anticipated this moment all along?¡± Rupert¡¯s voice betrayed a hint of frustration. Chapter 594 ¡°Yes, but things escted faster than I expected, thanks to Shelia¡¯s bold attempt to frame my girlfriend. ¡± Rupert had thought he was moving stealthily, nning to surprise Domenic, but he didn¡¯t realize Domenic had already sensed his n and strategically cornered him first. This revtion halted Rupert¡¯s next action. In frustration, Rupert punched the wall. He realized he had been too hasty and careless in his dealings with Domenic. ¡°Do you really think you can keep your Rupert with Lindsey a secret from your grandfather?¡± Rupert challenged, still not willing to concede. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°This business is mine alone. You needn¡¯t worry about it. Instead of concerning yourself with me, perhaps you should focus on your own matters. Imagine the reaction of Grandpa and your wife if they discover your extramarital affair and the daughter you fathered outside your marriage. Remember, Uncle Rupert, I have always been on your side, and I trust you will do the same, won¡¯t you?¡± Domenic fiddled with a pen, his voice light yetced with an ominous undertone. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll always be on your side,¡± Rupert replied with a slight smile. After a brief pause, he added, ¡°Since we¡¯re in this together, could you possibly go easy on Shelia this time?¡± A low, maic chuckle escaped from Domenic¡¯s throat. ¡°Are you begging me? If you¡¯re begging me, I might think about it. ¡± Rupert¡¯s hand tightened into a fist; the sting of Domenic¡¯s mockery was clear. Plead with him? No way! Domenic¡¯s voice, deep and resonant, came through again. ¡°You know me. Anyone who hurts my loved ones will face consequences, no matter who it is. ¡± Domenic¡¯s words hung in the air after he ended the call. It appeared that he was issuing a warning to both She and Rupert. Rupert clenched his fists tightly and stared at Domenic in anger. He also promised himself that he¡¯d defeat Domenic and witness his downfall sooner orter. Burning with the desire for revenge, Rupert turned on his heel and strode out of the hospital.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. In the hospital ward, Xiomara turned to Lindsey with a curious look. ¡°Lindsey, who was that man?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my boyfriend¡¯s uncle,¡± Lindsey replied with a smile while continuing to peel an apple. ¡°You have a boyfriend! Really?¡± Xiomara¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as if she had heard big news. Lindsey nced at Xiomara, her lips curling into a yful pout. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t I have a boyfriend?¡± Chapter 595 Xiomara knew Lindsey was approachable despite always being serious in the office. But today, she felt more like a close friend. ¡°Oh, no, that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Xiomara quickly rified, waving her hand. ¡°I was just curious about the kind of man who would be with someone as perfect as you. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re so sweet,¡± Lindsey said, chuckling softly. Then she handed the peeled apple to Xiomara and added, ¡°I¡¯m not as fabulous as you think, and he¡¯s just a regr guy. ¡± As soon as Lindsey finished speaking, her phone rang. She pulled it out with a continuing smile. ¡°Well, speak of the devil. I need to take this call,¡± she said to Xiomara. Xiomara nodded. Lindsey stepped out of the ward to answer the phone. ¡°Where¡¯s your uncle? He went out to call you and hasn¡¯te back,¡± she inquired. On the other end, Domenic¡¯s voice was gentle. ¡°What did he tell you?¡± he asked.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Nothing much. I know how your equation is with him. I haven¡¯t forgotten about him locking you in the cer!¡± Lindsey replied, her voice carrying a hint of resentment. Domenic chuckled. ¡°nning to avenge me, are you? Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯ll be plenty of opportunities for that. For now, if you run into any of my uncles, just walk away without saying a word. ¡± ¡°Alright, if you say so. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s obedient tone made Domenic gulp saliva. ¡°So, will you being back tonight?¡± he asked, his voice maic. ¡°Well¡­¡± Before Lindsey could finish, Domenic asked, ¡°Is it because your mother doesn¡¯t want you to return?¡± It was as if he could read Lindsey¡¯s mind. Lindsey sighed softly. ¡°She hasn¡¯t been welltely. I want to stay with her a little longer. ¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Domenic replied helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re doing the right thing. ¡± After a brief pause, he changed the topic. ¡°¡°Linds, what are you going to do about Shelia?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face darkened. ¡°She has broken thew. Regardless of what I want to do, she¡¯s facing legal consequences,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I see,¡± Domenic responded. After Lindsey hung up the phone, she returned to the ward. Xiomara, still weak and recovering, had fallen asleep. Approaching the bed, Lindsey gently tucked her in. Xiomara¡¯s condition had been pretty serious the past few days, but no one from her family bothered to visit the hospital. Holding her hand, Lindsey felt sorry for her. After staring at her peaceful face for a few minutes, Lindsey sumbed to the fatigue umted over the past two days. Resting her head near Xiomara¡¯s hand, she drifted off to sleep. Chapter 596 Time slipped by unnoticed as Lindsey slept. When her eyes fluttered open after some time, she found a man¡¯s jacket dr@ped over her shoulders. Turning her head, she noticed Sumner seated close by. His gaze was intense yet tender as he watched over her with concern. ¡°There you are, Sumner,¡± Lindsey said as she straightened up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She removed the coat dr@ped over her shoulders and expressed her gratitude to Sumner before handing it to him. Lost in thought, Sumner gazed at her, took it over, offering, ¡°I¡¯ll be here tonight. You can return and get some rest. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s better if I. ¡± As Lindsey attempted to decline Sumner¡¯s offer, she noticed Xiomara¡¯s eyshes trembling slightly on the bed.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Arching her eyebrows, Lindsey smiled, realizing it might be a good opportunity for them. ¡°Well, then, thank you, Sumner. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. ¡± Sumner smiled warmly. Casting another nce at Xiomara, Lindsey turned to leave but felt a warm touch on her shoulders. Sumner had dr@ped his coat over her from behind. ¡°Nights are getting colder. Your clothes aren¡¯t warm enough. Take care not to catch a cold. ¡± Lindsey tenderly felt the coat, warmth flooding her heart, yet she knew there couldn¡¯t be anything more between her and Sumner. epting the coat would imply allowing him to take care of her,plicating matters further. ¡®s BunnyBookery With this realization, Lindsey removed his coat, turned around, and gently returned it to Sumner. ¡°I appreciate your kindness, Sumner. Keep your coat. I¡¯ll hail a taxi and head home shortly. ¡± Sumner tightened his grip on the coat, looking into Lindsey¡¯s evasive eyes. Feelings long suppressed surged inexplicably. ¡°¡°Linds, are we still friends?¡± Momentarily stunned, Lindsey met his gaze and affirmed, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve always considered you an important friend. ¡± ¡°Since we are friends, it¡¯s normal for us to care about each other. Why do you always refuse my kindness? Or perhaps¡­ you also have feelings¡­¡± ¡°No. ¡± Lindsey raised her voice to halt him, determination shining in her eyes. ¡°you¡¯re overthinking this. I simply don¡¯t want to create unnecessary misunderstandings between us. After all¡­ I already have a boyfriend. ¡± ¡°Linds, does he really deserve your love?¡± Sumner gazed at her, his eyes unwavering, filled with reluctance. Lindsey didn¡¯t evade his question. She smiled gently and replied, ¡°There¡¯s no measure of worthiness in a rtionship. It¡¯s about my willingness tomit. ¡± Sumner¡¯s lips quivered slightly after a brief pause. He hesitated before saying, ¡°If one day you discover he¡¯s lied to you, what will you do?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t Lie to me,¡± Lindsey responded firmly. Observing Lindsey¡¯s unwavering confidence, Sumner slumped his shoulders helplessly, sensing an untrustworthy aura around the man she defended. Chapter 597 I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sumner murmured despondently. Lindsey pursed her lips and assured him, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know you¡¯re looking out for me. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave now. Please take care of Xiomara. ¡± Once Lindsey departed, Sumner sighed softly, turning to sit on the chair beside the bed, closing his eyes for a moment¡¯s respite. Xiomara slowly opened her eyes and gazed upward, catching a glimpse of Sumner¡¯s handsome profile. Xiomara had overheard Sumner¡¯s conversation with Lindsey. Did Sumner harbor feelings for Lindsey, while she didn¡¯t reciprocate them? The thought lingered, unsettling her. Helplessly curling up her fingers, Xiomara couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling of inadequacy. It seemed understandable-everyone would be drawn to an outstanding and captivating woman like Lindsey.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Compared to her, Xiomara felt like an ugly duckling, dreaming of winning the favor of a prince. Furrowing her brow in painful dismay, Xiomara found herself grappling with an overwhelming surge of sadness, trapped within her heart with no release. The following day, Kendra paced anxiously in the Living room, awaiting news from Rupert. Despite the passing night, no positive update had arrived. Shelia remained confined in the police station. Kendra attempted to gather more information but found no signs of her daughter¡¯s release or bail. Unable to endure the suspense any longer, Kendra finally ced a call to Rupert around noon. As soon as the beep echoed, the phone line went dead. Kendra was stunned and quickly redialed. She heard a message, ¡°Sorry, the number you dialed is busy, please try againter. ¡± What just happened? Why had Rupert abruptly stopped answering her calls? Kendra attempted to call several more times but to no avail. Frustrated, she hurled the phone onto the couch, feeling utterly defeated. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to help Shelia? After all, Shelia was his daughter! Kendra knew she couldn¡¯t just sit idly. If he wasn¡¯t picking up the phone, she¡¯d confront him in person. It had never crossed Kendra¡¯s mind to disrupt Rupert¡¯s work and personal life. Yet, for his daughter¡¯s sake, she was ready to risk it all. She hailed a cab to Rupert¡¯spany. The towering building¡¯s ss windows reflected the bright sunlight, making Kendra feel small and insignificant. With determination, she stepped inside. Approaching the reception desk, Kendra exined her purpose. ¡°Hello, I need to see your CEO, Rupert Walsh. ¡± Chapter 598 The receptionist nced up and inquired, ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t. ¡± ¡°Unfortunately, you need an appointment to meet the CEO. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to make an appointment. When can I see him?¡± The receptionist browsed the schedule and replied, ¡°You can see him in¡­ about a week. ¡± ¡°What? A week?!¡± Kendra shouted. Waiting a week was out of the question! ¡°I need to see him now. Please let him know,¡± Kendra insisted firmly to the receptionist. The receptionist ignored her. She was used to dealing with demanding visitors. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t notify him without an appointment. ¡± Kendra, seeing the receptionist¡¯s stubborn stance, felt her anger surge. She clenched her teeth, ready to cause a scene. ¡°Rupert Walsh,e out here! If you don¡¯t show yourself, don¡¯t hold it against me for taking extreme measures. There¡¯s nothing I wouldn¡¯t do for my daughter!¡± At the Vanguard Group, a renowned corporation, security was always on high alert. Noticing themotion in the lobby, the security team approached to try and expel Kendra. But Kendra refused to leave quietly, raising her voice and drawing more attention. The security guards had no choice but to physically escort her out. ¡°Don¡¯t cause any more trouble, or we won¡¯t be so polite anymore!¡± one of the guards warned her sternly before walking away. Standing outside, Kendra gazed at the towering structure. The revolving door seemed like a barrier, cutting her off from herst hope. She slumped to the ground, buried her face in her hands, and cried in despair. She realized men were heartless and ungrateful. None of them could be trusted. After shedding many tears, Kendraposed herself. She had always sought to depend on men for sess and riches, but now she realized that thest thing in the world she could rely on was men. She stood up from the ground and felt the taste of blood in her mouth. Juanita and Lindsey had wronged her daughter Shelia.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Kendra swore that she would not let them off easily. Kendra returned to her home, feeling like she was in a daze. Benny hadn¡¯t been around for thest few days. He was tied up with business, having secured a hefty investment from Juanita, and hadn¡¯t even inquired about Shelia. Kendra¡¯s emotions were a mix of absurdity and sorrow. It seemed Like all her hard work had been for nothing. She was unwilling to ept it! Earlier, she had sought advice from awyer. Thewyer had said that, given the circumstances, Shelia might face a maximum of one year in prison. One year might seem short. But the real concern was Shelia¡¯s future. Chapter 599 A conviction would ruin her life forever, burdening her with a criminal record and constant criticism. Kendra spent a long time lost in thought on the sofa. After calming herself, she hailed a cab to Lindnita Artists Agency. Lindsey happened to be in the lobby when she suddenly heard someone call out her name from behind. Turning around, she saw Kendra standing at thepany¡¯s entrance, offering a soft smile. Lindsey¡¯s brow furrowed. She hesitated for a moment before approaching. As she neared Kendra, Kendra suddenly knelt down, tears streaming down her face. ¡°¡°Linds, please, I beg you to forgive Shelia. She¡¯s your sister!¡± Upon hearing Kendra¡¯s statement, everyone at thepany was taken aback. Shelia and Lindsey, sisters? Then it dawned on them that both shared the Stewart surname. Lindsey gazed at Kendra with aposed expression, looking down. ¡°Don¡¯t create a scene here at my workce. Shelia and I share no blood ties. ¡± ¡°I am married to your father. Blood-rted or not, the fact is you¡¯re sisters. How can you be okay with your sister being imprisoned?¡± Kendra¡¯s distress appeared to garner sympathy from others. Lindsey responded with a scoff, ¡°I¡¯m responsible for her imprisonment? She got what she deserves! She orchestrated the swapping of Xiomara¡¯s medication, endangering Xiomara¡¯s life!¡± ¡°You were the one who handed the medication to Xiomara.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Without you giving it to her, none of this would¡¯ve happened. And how can you be so sure your medication is safe? Maybe the problem was with the medication you provided!¡± Kendra retorted, her eyes fiery. Lindsey smirked, not swayed by the attempt to make her feel guilty. ¡°The quality of my medication isn¡¯t for you to judge. That¡¯s for the FDA to determine. ¡± ¡°Lindsey, can you really be so ruthless? Do you intend to push us over the edge?¡± Kendra¡¯s tears stopped as she red at Lindsey with resentment, revealing her true self. ¡°Kendra, how often must I remind you? Evil deeds only lead to self¡ªdestruction. ¡± Lindsey remained firm. She just looked at Kendra coldly and said, ¡°If you truly care about Shelia, help her be a better person once she¡¯s free. Make sure she doesn¡¯t harm anyone else. ¡± Kendra¡¯s hands formed tight fists, her nails digging into her skin. She gritted her teeth and muttered, ¡°You¡¯ll regret this. ¡± Lindsey had no more words for her. She instructed the receptionist, ¡°Please escort the guest out. ¡± But Kendra didn¡¯t actually leave. She hid herself in a shadowy spot and waited until dark. Stealthily, she trailed Lindsey, discovering where she lived. It was a very upscale apartmentplex. ¡°Lindsey, if you¡¯re set on ruining Shelia, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless. ¡± Kendra whispered to herself, watching Lindsey enter the affluent apartmentplex, her fists still clenched in the shadows. Chapter 600 Xiomara¡¯s condition improved significantly. Most of her tubes were removed, and she could now get out of bed and move around a bit. The doctors mentioned she¡¯d need some time to recuperate even after leaving the hospital. Lindsey agreed without hesitation. Xiomara was gradually regaining her spirits, and Lindsey arranged for a caregiver to care for her. Sumner returned to work. Once his intensive training period ended, Lindsey nned to have him participate in a major talent show. The employee involved in the medicine switch had been arrested. Shelia¡¯s incident stirred up quite the buzz online, but the public adopted a wait-and-see approach pending a formal verdict. As time passed, the chatter about the incident faded. Everything seemed to be back to normal. Kendra didn¡¯t make trouble again. Meanwhile, Lindsey¡¯spany continued to prosper. On a particr day, Lindsey set aside less urgent matters to visit thergest church in the city. With Domenic¡¯s birthday approaching, she purchased a high-quality rosewood bracelet with her own money. For a month, she went to church with the bracelet, holding it as she prayed. Her prayers were for Domenic. Her n was to present him this unexpected birthday gift, hoping for his safety and happiness. Lindsey kept this a secret from Domenic, aiming to surprise him on his special day. Lately, Domenic had been swamped with work. Lindsey and he didn¡¯t have many chances to meet, but when they did, their longing was undeniable, leading to passionate ki*ses every time they reunited. Things appeared to be improving gradually.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lately, Lindsey¡¯s mother didn¡¯t seem to be as resistant to Domenic as she had been previously. Lindsey intended to convince her mother to allow her to return to Domenic¡¯s apartment at his birthday. One evening, after a refreshing shower, Lindsey, with her damp hair, walked into the living room. Juanita was there, engrossed in a magazine on the sofa. Lindsey approached and gently massaged her mother¡¯s temples. In the days Lindsey spent at Juanita¡¯s ce, she rediscovered the warmth of family. They chose not to bring up the unpleasant events of the past. Lindsey contemted, realizing there were still many days ahead. She intended to mend the hurtful words she had uttered to her mother in the past, gradually rebuilding their rtionship. Even if she were to marry Domenic in the future, she would continue to visit her mother regrly. She allowed herself to dream about what was toe. ¡°Linds, is there something on your mind?¡± Juanita¡¯s gentle voice snapped Lindsey out of her daydreams. Lindsey cleared her throat, speaking softly, ¡°Mom, Domenic¡¯s birthday ising up. Can I go back to celebrate with him?¡± Juanita¡¯s movements briefly halted, and she turned to face Lindsey and smiled as she asked, ¡°What if I were to say no?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not a kid anymore. I don¡¯t have to do everything you say!¡± Chapter 601 Lindsey pressed her lips, and her displeasure was evident. Juanita chuckled. ¡°Well then, why bother asking me?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re my mom. I hold you in high regard. ¡± Lindsey said. Juanita shook her head, a hint of resignation in her smile. ¡°Alright, but I still don¡¯t approve of you two until I know more about him. I¡¯m not some heartless mother. Since it¡¯s his birthday, I¡¯ll make an exception. ¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Lindsey embraced Juanita and nted a ki*s on her cheek. Their bond was growing stronger with each passing day. Juanita wrapped her arms around Lindsey and smiled warmly. Over the past few days, the individuals Juanita had dispatched to dig into Domenic¡¯s background hadn¡¯t turned up any valuable information. She had a vague sense that this man was extraordinary. On the evening of that banquet, he had effortlessly won over the prominent figures in attendance with just a few words. Now, she reasoned that these big shots had encountered different people and were adept at assessing character. So, who exactly was this man? What secrets was he keeping? For the sake of her daughter¡¯s lifelong happiness, Juanita was determined to unravel this mystery. She had even tapped intoLMH Group¡¯s connections and presumed that answers would surface shortly. On Domenic¡¯s birthday, Lindsey finished her work early in the morning and delegated the remaining tasks to Nancy. When she stepped out of her office, she called Domenic.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you still at work?¡± ¡°No, I requested the day off today,¡± Domenic replied in a maic voice. ¡°Really? Where are you now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at St. Paul¡¯s Church. ¡± Lindsey felt a touch of surprise. Domenic had never stepped foot in a church before. So why had he requested time off to go to one today? But she chose not to delve further into it. Instead, she gazed at the rosewood bracelet in her bag and smiled. ¡°I have some good news for you. I¡¯ll be back tonight!¡± ¡°Okay. Domenic didn¡¯t respond with the excitement she had anticipated; instead, he replied calmly. Lindsey experienced a slight disappointment, but she uttered softly, ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight, then. ¡± Following the phone call, Domenic remained seated in the deserted church. It wasn¡¯t a Sunday, so only a few people were present. He directed his gaze at the massive cross ahead. His deep, unyielding eyes held mncholy that couldn¡¯t be dissolved. Chapter 602 Today was the anniversary of his parents¡¯ death. Domenic clearly remembered the day his parents passed away.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The three of them had gone for an outing, enveloped inughter and conversation all the way. However, on the highway, the car suddenly lost control, careened into the guardrail, and flipped over, billowing dense smoke from the engine¡¯s front cover. Several passers-by bravely rescued his father from the driver¡¯s seat. Despite the pain, his father fervently attempted to open the back door to free both his son and wife. Regrettably, the door remained locked, resisting his utmost efforts. With everyone¡¯s immediate decision, they shattered the car¡¯s ss. Domenic¡¯s mother hoisted him up, and together, with the collective efforts of his father and thepassionate bystanders, they pulled him out. As his father endeavored to extricate his mother, he discovered her legs trapped beneath the broken front seat. Her forehead bled from the ident, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness. Just then, the car emitted a strange noise, leaking a considerable amount of gasoline. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here! The car is going to explode!¡± shouted an experienced driver. Without a word, they swiftly dragged Domenic¡¯s father several meters away. Domenic overheard their cautious murmurs. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± ¡°I dare not go there. ¡± ¡°Fortunate that some might survive. ¡± In anguish, he cried out while seated on the ground. The onlookers wore pitiful expressions, their gaze fixed on the leaking car while shaking their heads. No one dared to move forward, unsure of when the inevitable explosion would ur. Their only recourse was to wait for rescue. Suddenly, sparks ignited within the car, setting it aze. Witnessing this, his father abruptly shook off the hands of those beside him and dashed desperately toward the burning vehicle. ¡°Dad!¡± he cried out anxiously. His father paid no heed, fixated on reaching the car. As soon as he reached it, a deafening bang resonated. The explosion reverberating through the vicinity. Thick ck smoke ascended rapidly into the sky, shrouding everything before Domenic in a deep darkness that even seemed to taint the sky itself. His ears rang, drowned in the cacophony of surrounding screams, leaving him disoriented, unable to discern reality from the chaos. ¡°Damn it, he asked it for himself!¡± Chapter 603 ¡°How could he disregard his child and rush in so recklessly? Utterly irresponsible! Now, both his parents are gone!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think he wants to live either. ¡± ¡°What a poor kid!¡± Overwhelmed, Domenic shut his eyes, unable toprehend why his father had abandoned him to rush towards certain danger. Was it a love-driven act, as some suggested-his father opting for suicide for love? Was it true that for his beloved parents, their world revolved solely around each other, rendering his existence a mere inconsequential essory? Domenic yearned to understand what significance he held in their lives, but they departed without uttering a word, leaving behind no trace but ashes. It was as if they had never crossed his life¡¯s path. A profound ache pierced his heart like a knife, a relentless pang that refused to subside. The thought of it kept haunting him, the pain unyielding. Every year, on the same day dedicated to honoring his parents, Domenic sought sce in the church alone.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. He hoped that amidst prayers, the Lord might offer answers to the questions weighing heavily on his mind, resolving the insurmountable conflicts within his heart. Despite the passing years, answers continued to elude him. He was left with only the chilling silence of the cross before him. ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic intended to linger a bit longer at the church, but Lindsey mentioned her n to return that night, prompting him to cut short his stay. It presented a rare opportunity for the two of them to fulfill their wish of buying groceries and cooking together. As he prepared to depart, a familiar figure caught his eye by the church¡¯s entrance-it was Lindsey. Lindsey¡¯s radiant smile offered sce to Domenic in this sacred space. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Domenic approached Lindsey, gazing into her bright eyes with deep fondness. ¡°Do you realize what today is?¡± Lindsey asked, her smile yful and sweet. Upon hearing this, Domenic was taken aback. Did Lindsey realize that today marked the anniversary of his parents¡¯ passing? He parted his lips slightly, ready to respond, but Lindsey retrieved a dainty blue box from her handbag and extended it toward him. ¡°Happy birthday. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes shimmered with radiance. Suddenly, Domenic was momentarily speechless. He had forgotten it was also his birthday. Ever since that tragic ident, his birthday has be the anniversary of his parents¡¯ passing. His heart had grown heavy on that fateful day, and he hadn¡¯t celebrated his birthday since. ¡°Even though I wanted to surprise youter tonight, I believe presenting it to you here, at this moment, holds greater significance. ¡± Lindsey opened the blue box and retrieved the rosewood bracelet. She raised Domenic¡¯s hand and delicately slid it onto his wrist. She said softly, ¡°I brought it each week when I came here to pray for a full month. I never anticipated you¡¯d be here on this special day, too. It¡¯s like a divine sign. I hope it can always bless you in the future, ensuring your safety and health throughout your life. ¡± Chapter 604 Domenic fixed his gaze on the woman adorning the bracelet on his wrist. In some inexplicable way, he felt like shedding tears. He hadn¡¯t felt so moved in many years. He abruptly grasped Lindsey¡¯s wrist and led her toward the altar at the front of the church. The setting sun cast its elongated shadows through the stained ss window, enveloping the two in a warm glow. sping Lindsey¡¯s delicate fingers, Domenic turned toward her and knelt on one knee. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but race. Grasping her hand firmly, Domenic gazed at Lindsey with deep sincerity. He said deliberately, ¡°Linds, today, I vow that you¡¯ll be my one and only wife. I¡¯ll be there to protect you, tofort you in sorrow, and to do everything in my power to bring you joy. I¡¯ll love you till myst breath. ¡± His abrupt and earnest vow brought tears to Lindsey¡¯s eyes. She ced her hand over her heart, sensing that she was enveloped in joy at this very moment, with all the hardships and sorrows fading away.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. She saw a bright and hopeful future ahead. ¡°Are you asking me to marry you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at the man before her. Domenic had acted subconsciously because he was deeply moved at the moment. But when Lindsey asked him, he suddenly realized he might have rushed things. He had envisioned a more borate proposal and wedding for her. Domenic looked at Lindsey with an apologetic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Linds. I didn¡¯t have a ring ready today. Consider this a promise before the actual proposal. When I get back¡­¡± Before Domenic could finish, Lindsey smiled softly and interrupted, ¡°No ring?¡± She removed the red diamond ne she had been donning and delicately looped it around her ring finger, creating the illusion of a scarlet diamond ring. ¡°Well, now, you can propose properly. ¡± Gazing at the sparkling waterdrop-shaped red diamond, Domenic lifted his gaze to meet Lindsey¡¯s hopeful eyes. With a subtle smile ying at the corners of his lips, he cleared his throat and asked in the most affectionate tone, ¡°Linds, will you marry me?¡± With a radiant smile, Lindsey replied softly, ¡°Yes, I do. ¡± Domenic stood up, gently cradled the back of her neck, and ki*sed her. The ki*s was more passionate than ever, conveying emotions words couldn¡¯t express. For a long time after that moment, Lindsey would forever cherish the immense happiness she felt that day. It was a memory worth relishing throughout her life. Meanwhile, Juanita was seated on her home sofa, engrossed in watching TV, and her phone rang. Juanita retrieved her phone and noticed it was a call from the headquarters of LMH Group. She promptly straightened her posture and answered the call. Chapter 605 ¡°Ms. Lopez, our investigation suggests that the man you¡¯re inquiring about could be¡­¡± Juanita¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and her face twitched slightly as she listened to the revtion. Once the call ended, Juanita reclined on the sofa, lost in thought. She tried topose herself. The caller had only hinted at a possibility; they weren¡¯t certain if Domenic was indeed that person. But if he turned out to be that person, why had he hidden his identity and deceived Lindsey? Juanita was unsure of his motives, but she felt obligated to inform Lindsey! She took out her phone and dialed Lindsey¡¯s number. Lindsey and Domenic had just left the church. They strolled together along the boulevard, savoring the serene and beautiful surroundings. ¡°What would you like for dinner tonight?¡± Domenic asked Lindsey affectionately. Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled as she replied, ¡°I¡¯m more interested in learning cooking than eating. You must teach me all your culinary skills tonight. ¡± Domenic affectionately ruffled her hair and said, ¡°Why do you have to learn to cook? If there¡¯s anything you crave, just let me know. ¡± Lindsey shook her head and said, ¡°I want to cook for you, It¡¯s important for me to prepare a meal for the one I love. It gives me a unique sense of fulfillment. ¡± Domenic gazed at her, smiling warmly. The soft breeze caressed his face, and the setting sun cast a beautiful light in his eyes, adding a splendid shimmer to his gaze. Suddenly, a sharp ringtone interrupted thefortable and easy-going mood between them. It was Lindsey¡¯s phone ringing. Lindsey released Domenic¡¯s hand to check her phone. Recognizing Juanita¡¯s number, she halted and turned aside. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Lindsey, where are you right now?¡± Juanita¡¯s voice wasced with urgency. A sense of unease crept over Lindsey. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m outside. Is everything okay?¡± ¡°Come home immediately. There¡¯s something important I need to discuss with you. ¡± Lindsey gave Domenic a puzzled look and said, ¡°It¡¯s an hour¡¯s drive from here to your ce.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. If it¡¯s urgent, why not just tell me over the phone?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t exin it clearly on the phone. Anyway, just hurry back!¡± Juanita¡¯s voice was decisive, and she ended the call before Lindsey could respond further. Juanita was known for her assertive manner when she made up her mind about something. Chapter 606 Lindsey exhaled deeply, turning back to Domenic, saying, ¡°I need to head to my mother¡¯s house. Perhaps you should¡­ go back and wait for me?¡± ¡°Are you sure you can get back?¡± Domenic asked with a yful smile. Lindsey understood his concern. She was a bit worried her mother might insist on her staying over, but today was significant for her, and Lindsey was determined not to give in. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure to return! We have a date to shop for groceries and cook together,¡± Lindsey said confidently. Domenic just lifted an eyebrow and didn¡¯t press further. He simply offered, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you there. ¡± After ending the call, Juanita felt uneasy. She was unsure how to break the news of the investigation results to Lindsey. Could Lindsey ept the possibility that her seemingly ordinary boyfriend might be a significant figure in Morcastle? What would her reaction be if she found out? After some thought, Juanita dialed Sumner¡¯s number. ¡°Sumner, are you free at the moment? If you¡¯re not busy, could youe over? I need to discuss something with you. ¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Sumner agreed without hesitation. Just then, the doorbell chimed. Juanita put the phone down, stood up, and walked to the door. There, she saw Marisa Carson, the house cleaner. Juanita opened the door for her and said with a smile, ¡°Marisa, the house is a bit messy today. Thanks foring. ¡± Marisa returned the smile and replied softly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, no problem. ¡± Her gaze dropped as she clutched her cloth bag tighter. Juanita didn¡¯t notice this. She turned back towards her room. She always feltfortable leaving the apartment in Marisa¡¯s care. So, as usual, she left Marisa to her work. After returning to her room and shutting the door, Juanita decided to lie down on the bed. With over an hour before Lindsey¡¯s return, she thought it best to rest a bit. She covered herself and drifted off to sleep. Little did Juanita know, the person she trusted was about to cause her grave harm. Marisa methodically cleaned the house as she always did. She nced towards Juanita¡¯s room, biting her lip nervously. She then slipped into the kitchen and quietly turned on the gas valve of the stove. An hourter, Lindsey and Domenic gged down a taxi to the apartment where Juanita resided. Stepping out of the car, they were greeted by the ck smoke rising from the building ahead. ¡°It¡¯s on fire!¡± ¡°Is anyone trapped inside that apartment?¡± A crowd gathered outside, their eyes fixed on the window cloaked in ck smoke, fingers pointing in its direction. Chapter 607 A call had gone out to the fire department, but it would take some time before they showed up. At that moment, everyone could do nothing but stand there, helpless, as the fire continued to creep. Nobody dared to approach any closer. Then, suddenly, a burst of mes shot from the window, causing their hearts to skip a beat. Lindsey lifted her gaze, fixing her eyes on the room where the fire raged. Something about it seemed oddly familiar. Then, her gazended on the curtain, now aze and dancing in the breeze. At that moment, her eyes widened in sudden realization! ¡°It¡¯s my mother¡¯s apartment! It¡¯s now on fire!¡± As this struck her, Lindsey was on the brink of dashing in like vrazy, but Domenic swiftly caught her arm from behind. ¡°It¡¯s too risky!¡± ¡°My mother is in there! I need to save her!¡± Lindsey let out a piercing scream, unable to believe her own eyes. The fire was devouring her mother¡¯s apartment, and her mother was still inside, expecting her return. ¡°Going there means you¡¯re heading straight into death¡¯s embrace!¡± It brought back memories for Domenic, memories of his parents¡¯ tragic end. He couldn¡¯t bear to endanger Lindsey. ¡°Hold on. The fire trucks are on their way. ¡± Lindsey acted like a madwoman, disregarding everything as she darted in a frantic frenzy. Her sole obsession at that moment was to save her mother from the raging mes! She understood that the longer her mother remained indoors, the greater the peril she faced. She struggled to free herself from Domenic¡¯s firm grasp, but he held on with determination, refusing to let go. Driven by desperation, Lindsey seized his arm and sank her teeth into it with all her might. She bit down without a second thought, oblivious to the pain it caused Domenic, causing his grip to loosen a little. In that precious moment, she broke free and rushed into the fire, driven by sheer desperation. Deep down, Domenic yearned to follow her, but the instant he tried to move closer, it was as if his brain got stung by an instinctual warning signal, setting off a mental rm. His father had dashed to the car, heedless of the danger. The haunting memory of his father¡¯s demise in an explosion reyed in his mind, wounding his heart. He felt his feet were encased in lead, rendering him unable to move forward. At that moment, a silhouette swiftly moved past him and dashed into the building ahead. As the figure sped past him, Domenic was left utterly stunned. He was sure that it had been Sumner who had just rushed inside. Sumner, mirroring his father¡¯s fearless dash to save his mother, had plunged into the fire. Meanwhile, Domenic stood frozen, overwhelmed with fears¡­ It was as if Domenic¡¯s heart had been struck with a heavy, blunt object. He stared at the ever-growing ze.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. The man who had always beenposed and unflinching now confronted an immense barrier in his soul, one he found hard to ovee. The memory of the car explosion cast a dark shadow over his mind, leaving him consumed by nothing but fear. Time ground to a halt for Domenic. He stood still, surrounded by a whirlwind of activity-people bustling about, the wailing sirens of fire trucks, and firefighters. Once inside the building, Lindsey wasted no time. She tore a strip of fabric to cover her mouth and nose, then hurried into the room where Juanita was trapped. Chapter 608 Her mothery on the bed, motionless, resembling someone in deep sleep. Even before the mes could reach here, the entire bedroom had be engulfed in dense smoke. With each stride, Lindsey battled the sensation of suffocation, but her determination to reach her mother spurred her on without pause. She pressed her lips together, attempting to extend her hand toward her mother. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice was as rough as a rusty lock. The moment she parted her lips, thick smoke rushed in, causing her to cough incessantly, struggling against the choking sensation. ¡°Mom¡­ Wake up! Don¡¯t sleep!¡± Inside her, Lindsey¡¯s heart screamed in hysteria. She summoned every ounce of her strength to reach the bed where her mothery and tried to pull her closer. However, her awareness started to blur, and her physical strength reached its breaking point. Exhaustion overwhelmed her to pull her mother up from the bed. Lindsey slumped onto the bed¡¯s edge, tears streaming down her face in a torrent of despair. Amidst her hopelessness, a familiar figure materialized by her side. With his back, he helped Juanita rise from the bed. Lindsey instinctively assumed it was Domenic, but when she nced up, her eyes met Sumner. ¡°Sumner, why are you here? This ce is too dangerous!¡± Lindsey cried out to Sumner, her voice urgent. By then, the fire had engulfed the doorway. They all knew that entering was a dangerous, potentially one-way journey. Lindsey¡¯s decision to save her mother was understandable, but she couldn¡¯t fathom why Sumner had suddenly appeared, putting his life on the Line. Sumner, with Juanita on his back, passed a damp cloth to Lindsey, gesturing for her to cover her mouth and nose. Lindseyplied, her eyes fixed on Sumner, full of bewilderment. Sumner, eyeing the bedroom door, spoke in an urgent tone. ¡°The fire¡¯s getting out of control.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Stick close to me. We need to get out now!¡± Lindsey had no time for questions. She gave a quick nod and gripped the cloth tightly over her mouth and nose. She felt her consciousness waning due to theck of oxygen, aware she couldn¡¯tst much longer. ¡°sumner. ¡± Lindsey whispered to Sumner, ¡°Promise me, if I copse, keep going and don¡¯t look back. You must save my mother. ¡± Sumner met Lindsey¡¯s gaze. He nodded, whispering back, ¡°But I won¡¯t leave you behind. ¡± With that, he flung open the bedroom door and yelled, ¡°Go, now!¡± Chapter 609 They bolted out together, the searing heat engulfing them. Lindsey¡¯s consciousness began to fade as the mes raged on. As they approached the apartment door, Lindsey¡¯s strength gave out, and she copsed. ¡°Lindsey!¡± Sumner cried out in distress, but his voice couldn¡¯t reach her. He had vowed to safely evacuate Juanita, and he was determined to keep his word. Gritting his teeth, he continued out with Juanita on his back, silently urging Lindsey in his heart to hang on.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Thankfully, firefighters were on the scene just in time to assist Sumner at the stairs. Once Juanita was in the firefighters¡¯ care, Sumner didn¡¯t hesitate. He turned back and dashed towards Lindsey, ignoring the dangers. Behind him, the firefighters yelled out, quickly following to help. As Domenic witnessed Juanita being carried out by firefighters and ced into an ambnce, he snapped back to reality. He hurried over, grabbed a firefighter¡¯s arm, and asked frantically, ¡°Where¡¯s Lindsey? Why hasn¡¯t shee out yet?¡± ¡°Sir, we¡¯re still conducting the rescue. We¡¯ll do everything we can to save everyone. ¡± Domenic trembled upon hearing the firefighter¡¯s response. He stared at the fiery scene, knowing Lindsey was still inside and yet to escape. Everyone was striving to rescue her. Sumner had dashed into the fire without hesitation, while he stood frozen, unable to act. Domenic felt utterly foolish. He had just pledged to protect Lindsey from any danger, yet now, faced with a real threat, he hesitated. He questioned his right to im love for her. Domenic clenched his fists. It was as if two voices were arguing incessantly in his head. One voice argued that entering the ze was a death sentence, urging rationality and self-preservation. Love wasn¡¯t worth dying for! Was he going to repeat the mistakes of his parents? The other voice in his head challenged him. ¡°Don¡¯t you care about her? When you truly love someone, you should be willing to face any danger for her. Her well-being should be your top priority, far surpassing your own safety. Otherwise, how can you im to love her?¡± Domenic¡¯s mind was in turmoil. He had no other option but to tap his head, trying to find some semnce of peace amidst the chaos. At that moment, Domenic glimpsed a figure in the corner of his eye. When he looked up, he saw Sumner emerging from the building, his body smeared with soot and his clothes charred from the mes. Yet, he held Lindsey securely in his embrace. This scene was a painful sight for Domenic. He had never realized his own weakness and powerlessness more clearly than at this moment. Sumner noticed Domenic standing nearby. His gazended on Domenic, carrying a mix of mockery and disdain. Chapter 610 Domenic felt the urge to dash over and help Lindsey, to assess her condition himself.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Yet, he understood that his moment of hesitation had cost him the privilege to do so. He stood there, like a child guilty of a wrongdoing, filled with regret and unable to move. Even as Lindsey and Sumner got on the ambnce, Domenic briefly stepped forward, only to retreat a momentter, weighed down by a sense of failure and guilt. Sumner waited outside the emergency room, filled with anxiety after Lindsey and Juanita were rushed in. Lindsey emerged from the emergency room about ten minutester. She had been slightly suffocated but was soon to wake up after receiving oxygen. Juanita¡¯s condition, however, was grim. She had inhaled too much smoke, causing significant brain damage due to prolonged suffocation. Sumner¡¯s heart dropped when he heard this news. He sat by Lindsey¡¯s bed, grasping her cold hand in his. He longed for Lindsey to regain consciousness but dreaded the harsh reality she would face upon waking. Suddenly, he felt a slight tremble in her hand. Looking at Lindsey, he watched her eyes slowly open. ¡°Sumner¡­¡± The girl wearing the oxygen mask couldn¡¯t articte her words clearly. Sumner had to lean in close, cing his ear in front of her, to barely discern what she was trying to say. ¡°Did you rescue my mother from the fire?¡± A pang of sorrow hit Sumner. He forced a smile, reassuring her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ms. Lopez is safe. The doctors are taking care of her. Focus on your recovery first. That way, you can look after your mom, right?¡± Listening to these words, Lindsey¡¯s tense body eased. A faint smile appeared on her face as she nodded, though it took effort. And with that, she drifted back to sleep,forted. Sumner carefully adjusted the covers around her and gently caressed the short Locks of hair on her forehead before he buried his face in his hands, ovee with pain. Why did all of this happen? He vividly recalled Juanita¡¯s voice on the phone, asking him toe see her because she had something important to share. What could it have been? Could it be that the fire was connected to what she wanted to tell him? Sumner¡¯s head was swirling with confusion. He wasn¡¯t up for figuring out what sparked the fire. All he wished for was for Lindsey and Juanita to recover soon. Having taken a moment to steady himself, Sumner got to his feet and stepped out of the hospital room, intending to take a breather. But right after he shut the hospital room¡¯s door behind him, he spun around to find Domenic there, causing him to halt in his tracks as well. They were now eye to eye. Domenic spoke up first, saying, ¡°Is¡­ Is she alright?¡± With a mocking tone, Sumner replied, ¡°You¡¯re concerned about her now? Chapter 611 Where were you when she needed you?¡± Domenic¡¯s fists tightened, and his face remained unreadable, which made him look quite lonely. He didn¡¯t reply to Sumner¡¯s question. Instead, he said calmly, ¡°I want to see her. ¡± Yet, as he moved toward the door, Sumner¡¯s hand blocked him. The anger in Sumner¡¯s eyes was clear. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to see you. ¡± Domenic halted and looked up at the cold gaze of the man in front of him. ¡°Did she tell you that?¡± Sumner stared back at Domenic, a mocking smile on his face. ¡°Does it matter? You shouldn¡¯t even think about seeing her. You¡¯re her boyfriend, you were supposed to be there for her, yet you hid away.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. You¡¯ve lost any right to be by her side. ¡± With every word, Sumner¡¯s voice grew more heated, his face flushed with intensity. Deep down, he believed Domenic was unworthy of Lindsey. Domenic¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly, and his lips moved lightly. But finally, he couldn¡¯t say a word. His hands were clenched so tightly that the veins on the back stood out. After what felt like an eternity, his grip finally eased. He looked at Sumner and said simply, ¡°Look after her. ¡± With that, he turned and walked away. Domenic had actually checked on Lindsey¡¯s condition with the doctor before approaching her room. Knowing she was stable brought him a sigh of relief. ¡°Coward!¡± Sumner¡¯s voice was a quiet growl as he watched Domenic walk away. Domenic then returned to the apartment he shared with Lindsey. He slumped onto the couch, lighting cigarettes one after another. The smoke veiled his face, and the glow of the burning embers dropped to the floor, littering it with spent cigarettes. His gaze drifted to the kitchen, a space filled with unfulfilled promises with Lindsey. Over recent years, Domenic had carved out a realm for himself in the business world. Whatever he set his mind to, he made happen. Yet, he hadn¡¯t managed to do something quite so simple. He reached for his phone and rang up Hendrix, saying, ¡°Tell the Morcastle Central Hospital to keep a close watch on Lindsey and Juanita. Also, look into what caused today¡¯s fire in Juanita¡¯s apartment. ¡± Feeling helpless, he resorted to issuingmands, the only action that came instinctively to him. After a long time, it was already dark outside the window. Domenic fell. on the couch, and the light of his cigarette was still flickering. He didn¡¯t turn on the light, so his face could not be seen in the dark. Chapter 612 Then, abruptly, his phone rang, piercing the heavy stillness of the room. Domenic wasn¡¯t particrly keen on answering, but he reluctantly retrieved his phone for a nce.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. When he spotted Lindsey¡¯s name on the caller ID, he momentarily froze and hastily discarded the cigarette butt on the floor. Taking a deep breath, he hit the answer button. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m feeling better now. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s feeble, muffled voice sounded Like it was passing through something as she inquired, ¡°Where are you right now? I¡­ I¡¯lle to you. Today¡­ is your birthday, right? I promised to to celebrate it with you. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes welled up with unrestrained emotion. He raised his head, fighting to contain the pain in his heart. His voice cracked as he spoke. ¡°You silly girl, you¡¯ve already celebrated my birthday and given me such a priceless gift, remember? Right now, you need to rest properly. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°Just take it easy. ¡± Domenic offered hisforting words tenderly, and Lindsey eventually ceased her protest. She sniffled and, in a choked voice, began, ¡°I¡­ I want to see you. Can¡¯t you visit me? Why didn¡¯t you visit me? Why weren¡¯t you here when I woke up?¡± Halfway through, her voice caught in her throat, leaving Domenic at a loss for words. The weight of self-me and guilt pressed even heavier upon him. ¡°I¡¯m on my way now. Earlier, I¡­ I went to grab some food. I figured you¡¯d be hungry when you woke. Give me a second; I¡¯ll be right back. ¡± Domenic snatched his coat as he spoke, then hastily headed outside. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll¡­ wait for you. ¡± Lindsey responded weakly and then slowly hung up. Her handy limp on the bed, the oxygen mask still clinging to her face. She was too weak even to Lift the phone now. A couple of minutes passed, and the ward¡¯s door creaked open. Lindsey swiveled her head toward the door happily and without thinking, she eximed, ¡°Mr. Walsh!¡± However, the person who walked in wasn¡¯t Domenic; it was Sumner. Lindsey¡¯s disappointment was impossible to conceal, and when she called out, Sumner¡¯s footsteps involuntarily stalled for a brief moment. Nevertheless, he maintained a gentle smile as he drew closer and greeted her, ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re finally awake. ¡± Lindsey gave a subtle nod. Sumner then pulled a container of hot porridge from a bag and set it on the bedside table. ¡°Feeling hungry? The doctor said you should only have in porridge for now. When you¡¯re better, I¡¯ll bring you something more delicious. ¡± Sumner took off Lindsey¡¯s oxygen mask, cradling a bowl of porridge. He blew gently on a spoonful before extending it toward her. His eyes drifted unintentionally to Lindsey¡¯s phone beside her, showing the recent call history with Domenic. Sumner raised his gaze to meet Lindsey¡¯s, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corner of his Lips. Chapter 613 ¡°You¡¯ve already called him, even though you just woke up. ¡± Lindsey fell into a brief silence, her lips pressed together as she regarded him. Eventually, she broke the silence, asking, ¡°Sumner, my mom¡­ has she¡­ woken up?¡± Sumner¡¯s gentle blowing stopped suddenly. His grip tightened, and in a swift motion, he mmed the bowl onto the table. His eyes, filled with emotion, fixed on Lindsey¡¯s pale face, and he took a deep breath.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Is that all you have to say to me? Is my only purpose to be your source of information?¡± ¡°Sumner¡­¡± Lindsey regarded him with surprise, never having witnessed him so furious. However, she couldn¡¯t fathom what she had done to provoke him. Lindsey remembered how Sumner had helped her and her mother escape. She wanted to know about her mother¡¯s condition and realized she had forgotten to thank him. Feeling remorseful, she quickly said, ¡°Sumner, thank you for saving us, I¡­¡± ¡°Your thanks? That¡¯s not what I want to hear. ¡± Sumner cut her off, raising his voice slightly before sitting beside her. Following a brief pause, Lindsey couldn¡¯t suppress the questions swirling in her thoughts. ¡°Sumner, it was such a dangerous situation. Why did you still venture inside? Can you grasp how close we were to losing our lives? If anything had happened to you, I¡¯d have carried that guilt with me for the rest of my life. ¡± Sumner gazed at her, his eyes carrying a profound intensity. ¡°I did it because I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of anything happening to you. Even if it meant risking my life, I would have done it for you. ¡± Lindsey averted her gaze, murmuring softly, ¡°But¡­ we¡¯re just friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± Sumner gave a half-smile. ¡°And so? As your friend, I didn¡¯t hesitate to rescue you. Yet your boyfriend just stood by, doing nothing while you were in danger. Lindsey, do you really think he cares about you?¡± These words hit Lindsey hard. Shey there, speechless, a sting of pain in her heart. Still, she wasn¡¯t ready to ept it. She looked him in the eye, trying to defend, ¡°Waiting for the firefighters was the sensible thing to do. I acted without thinking. ¡± Sumner, visibly upset yet trying to conceal it with a smile, retorted, ¡°Sensible? Since when does love follow logic? Tell me, how will you react if he gets trapped in the fire? Even if you acknowledge the necessity of being rational, will you stay outside awaiting help?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t find the words. She knew she would have dashed in without a care, much like she had when saving her mother earlier today. ¡°Sumner, what are you trying to say?¡± Lindsey felt overwhelmed and confused as she looked at Sumner. ¡°I mean to say¡­¡± Sumner started, but was cut off when the door swung open. They both turned to see Domenic at the doorway, eyeing them. Sumner¡¯s brow furrowed in annoyance. He couldn¡¯t believe Domenic had the nerve to show up. Domenic walked over to the bedside table, eyeing the hot porridge. He clenched the bag he was holding. Sumner nced at the bag and said icily, ¡°Lindsey should only have in porridge. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Chapter 614 Lindsey intervened, ¡°Sumner, stop. ¡± Sumner looked at Lindsey lying in bed and let out a sigh. ¡°I need to handle something. You two talk. ¡± Once Sumner left, Domenic put the bag on the bed and sat next to Lindsey¡¯s bed. He remained silent but checked her, noticing a bruise under her arm. He took out the ointment he had brought and gently applied it to her bruise. Domenic hung his head, concentrating to make sure he didn¡¯t hurt her.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Then he carefully set the ointment aside, got up, and helped Lindsey sit up against the bed¡¯s headboard. He picked up the bowl of porridge from the bedside table, scooped up a little bit, and tasted it first to ensure it wasn¡¯t too hot before feeding her. All the while, Lindsey watched him silently. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Domenic, who seemed to care so much about her, could appear so distant in that moment, just as Sumner had described. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Lindsey asked, ignoring the spoonful of porridge he offered. Domenic paused, a flicker ofplicated emotions crossing his face. He put the spoon down and looked away. ¡°I don¡¯t really know what to say, so I¡¯ve been keeping quiet. But I¡¯m just relieved you¡¯re okay. ¡± Lindsey tilted her head, reached out to gently cup Domenic¡¯s face, and coaxed him to meet her gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. I can tell you¡¯re worried about me. ¡± Domenic¡¯s chest tightened, leaving him breathless. Guilt had always haunted him, but her words made him feel even worse. He realized how undeserving he was of Lindsey¡¯s love. ¡°Linds¡­¡± He tried to speak, but Lindsey interrupted him. She cradled his face in her hands and silenced him with a tender ki*s. Her actions spoke louder than words. She knew he wasn¡¯t the person Sumner described. He wouldn¡¯t¡­ But Domenic gently pushed her away, cing his hand on her shoulder. Domenic evaded her questioning look, methodically stirring the porridge, and murmured, ¡°Eat now, or it¡¯ll cool down soon. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze lingered on Domenic, sensing a change in him post-fire, almost as if he was intentionally avoiding her. But why? ¡°Domenic. . Just as Lindsey was about to speak, the door burst open, and the attending doctor strode in, approaching her bedside. ¡°Miss Stewart, how are you feeling today?¡± The doctor had been directed to closely monitor Lindsey, leading to frequent check-ins by various doctors on her condition. Lindsey answered gently, ¡°I¡¯m not experiencing any difort. ¡± Chapter 615 The doctor listened, then reassessed her with his stethoscope. Nodding, he informed, ¡°All looks good. You should be able to leave the hospital in a few days. ¡± ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± Lindsey acknowledged, then quickly inquired, ¡°And my mother¡­ Juanita Lopez, how is she doing?¡± The doctor¡¯s face clouded over, his eyes shifting away from Lindsey to the medical records. While jotting down notes, he offhandedly remarked, ¡°Just focus on resting. Once you¡¯re better, you can visit her. ¡± Lindsey felt a twinge of unease at his demeanor. Leaning in, Lindsey grasped the doctor¡¯s coat sleeve, urgency in her voice. ¡°Doctor, please, what¡¯s the matter with my mother? I feel rested; I need to see her now!¡± As Lindsey began to push back the covers, poised to rise, Domenic gently restrained her shoulder, advising, ¡°Linds, listen to the doctor. Take it easy!¡± Tears welled up in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. She faced Domenic, her voice trembling. ¡°She¡¯s my mother, the one I¡¯m closest to. I need to know what¡¯s happening with her. ¡± Turning to the doctor, she implored, ¡°Doctor, I need to know. As her daughter, I deserve to know what¡¯s happening, whatever it is. ¡± The doctor exhaled deeply, shutting his notebook, and turned towards Lindsey. ¡°Your mother has sustained irreversible brain damage from too much smoke inhtion. She¡¯s still unconscious. ¡± Lindsey pressed urgently, ¡°When will she wake up? A week, a month, a year?¡± The doctor hesitated, his lips tightening as he grappled with his response. Finally, he told Lindsey, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to predict. It might be a year or two. But there¡¯s also a chance she may never regain consciousness. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s body ckened, ovee with emotion, and Domenic swiftly enveloped her in his arms for support. ¡°Linds¡­¡± Tears streamed down Lindsey¡¯s ashen face, yet her voice retained a surprising steadiness. Between sobs, she managed to say, ¡°I understand. Doctor, may I see her now, please?¡± Noticing her mental resilience was stronger than anticipated, the doctor chose not to intervene and nodded softly in agreement. With Domenic¡¯s steady support, Lindsey rose from her bed and trailed the doctor to the ICU. There, in a solitary room, she found Juanita. Juanitay there, ensnared in a web of tubes, motionless and pallid, her eyes gently closed as though in a deep sleep. More urately, were it not for the persistent beeping of the heart rate monitor nearby, she would bear a startling resemnce to someone no longer alive.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Lindsey felt her legs give way beneath her, nearly copsing to the floor. ¡°Linds!¡± Domenic¡¯s arms encircled Lindsey¡¯s fragile shoulders, offering support. In that moment, she appeared so vulnerable, as if a mere breeze could topple her. Gathering her strength within Domenic¡¯s embrace, Lindsey took tentative steps, inching closer to Juanita¡¯s bedside. Reaching the bedside, Lindsey knelt down with a soft thud. She tenderly grasped Juanita¡¯s hand, still connected to an IV, and whispered, ¡°Mom¡­¡± However, as the word escaped her lips, Lindsey¡¯s tears couldn¡¯t be restrained any longer. ¡°Mom, please wake up! It¡¯s me, Linds, I¡¯m right here! Please wake up, okay?¡± Lindsey gently swept stray hair from her mother¡¯s forehead. Chapter 616 Mere hours ago, they had been conversing on the phone; how could she be so unresponsive now? ¡°Linds¡­¡± Domenic, squatting beside her, grasped her cold hand, softly saying, ¡°Your mom needs to rest, and you do too. Let¡¯s go back for now, alright?¡± ¡°Her apartment didn¡¯t catch fire for no reason. ¡± Lindsey murmured, head bowed and hands balled into fists, ¡°Someone did this deliberately. I¡¯ll find out who; I have to know who hurt her. ¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you look into it. But first, you need to take care of yourself. How else will you have the strength for anything?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was soft and soothing, gently easing Lindsey¡¯s worn-out nerves. Just then, the doctor behind them chimed in, ¡°You¡¯re lucky things turned out this way, considering the circumstances. It¡¯s good she was rescued just in time. Anyter, and it might¡¯ve been toote. Miss Stewart, I heard you faced the fire to save your mom. You¡¯re a determined daughter, her life¡¯s safe thanks to you. ¡± Domenic felt a dull ache in his chest at those words. What if he had insisted Lindsey wait for the firefighters? Would he have been responsible for her mother¡¯s death? Did he make a mistake? Back then, did his father rush to his mother with the spark of hope in his heart?All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lindsey was fortunate to survive, but what if she hadn¡¯t, like his father? The thought sent another sharp pain through Domenic¡¯s head. Lindsey, hearing the doctor, couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Without Sumner¡¯s timely help, she and her mom might not have made it out of the fire. Thinking back, Lindsey recalled Sumner¡¯s words. ¡°As your friend, I didn¡¯t hesitate to rescue you. Yet your boyfriend just stood by, doing nothing while you were in danger. Lindsey, do you really think he cares about you?¡± This made Lindsey¡¯s heart feel heavy and ufortable. She nced at Domenic, who looked just as pained. ¡°Domenic. . she started, wanting to ask what was on his mind at that moment. But she hesitated, knowing that such a question might show ack of trust and make them both ufortable. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. ¡± Domenic helped her up and they left, walking in silence. They were physically close, yet there seemed to be a distance between their hearts. Entering Lindsey¡¯s ward, they found Sumner there. Hearing them, he quickly came over and pulled Lindsey away from Domenic. In the past, Domenic would have immediately pulled her back, not letting Sumner near her. But now, he just stood there, his hand hanging in the air, eventually doing nothing. ¡°Linds, where have you been?¡± Sumner assisted Lindsey to sit by the bed, his gaze fixed on Domenic with irritation. ¡°She¡¯s juste to and isn¡¯t fully back to herself yet. How could you think of taking her out?¡± Lindsey reached for Sumner¡¯s arm and exined, ¡°Sumner, don¡¯t me him. I chose to go see my mom. ¡± ¡°You¡­ you saw your mom?¡± Sumner was taken aback. He had been aware of this sad news for some time but hadn¡¯t shared it with Lindsey, fearing it would upset her. Chapter 617 He had intended to wait until Lindsey was better to tell her, but this was unexpected Sumner shot Domenic a piercing look again. ¡°Have you let her know?¡± Domenic remained silent, and Lindsey chimed in, ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t him. I asked the doctor to let me know. ¡± Sumner, were you informed about my mom¡¯s situation from the start and hid it from me? Sumner gave a nod, ready to justify his actions, but Lindsey cut him off. ¡°I get it, you were looking out for me. You thought I couldn¡¯t deal with the shock, but I¡¯m tougher than you think. The doctor just checked me out, said I¡¯m all good. I¡¯m nning to leave tomorrow. ¡± ¡°No way!¡± Sumner was straight to the point. ¡°Sumner, Listen up. I¡¯m heading out of here to dig into what really happened with that fire. If you try to stop me, well, that¡¯s the end of our friendship. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes were firm, making it clear she wasn¡¯t backing down. Sumner just stared at her, lost for words, then finally let out a sigh. ¡°Alright. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile was small but genuine. She turned to Domenic and said, ¡°It¡¯ste. You both should head home.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Tonight, I need some space. ¡± ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t be alone. I¡¯ll stay, keep youpany, look after you,¡± Sumner insisted. Lindsey nced again at Domenic, a slight smile on her lips. ¡°Sumner, my boyfriend¡¯s still here. He¡¯s the one who should stay, if anyone. ¡± Sumner stood there, stunned, his hands slowly clenching. ¡°I need some time alone, so you guys don¡¯t have to stick around. Please, just leave. ¡± Lindsey removed her shoes, got into bed, and wrapped herself in the covers. Domenic nced her way, and she returned the look. Their eyes met, and both sensed a strange distance growing between them. ¡°Sleep well,¡± Domenic murmured, then turned to leave. Sumner, watching him go, called out in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re just going to walk away like that?¡± ¡°Sumner, could you also step out, please?¡± Lindsey requested. With a sigh, Sumner said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll check on you tomorrow. ¡± As Domenic stepped out of the hospital, Sumner dashed after him and caught his arm. ¡°Wait!¡± Domenic stopped abruptly and turned to face the man before him, his eyes cold as ice. He looked down at Sumner¡¯s hand, which was holding his arm. Dominance radiated from Domenic, making Sumner instinctively let go of his grip. Chapter 618 ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Domenic inquired. Sumner had something he¡¯d been holding back. He took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Do you really love Lindsey?¡± Domenic¡¯s expression darkened a bit. He stared at Sumner, his voice still icy. ¡°Why should that matter to you?¡± ¡°It matters a lot to me!¡± Sumner said, his fists clenched. His previously uncertain look became firm. ¡°She¡¯s supposed to marry me!¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, his intense look almost lethal. Sumner met his gaze bravely and exined, ¡°You seem unaware of the situation. Lindsey probably didn¡¯t n to tell you. She was ready to go against her mom and call off our engagement just to be with you. Honestly, I never wanted this engagement either. I respected Lindsey¡¯s choice and didn¡¯t want to trap her with this meaningless arranged engagement. ¡± ¡°So, why are you bringing this up now?¡± Domenic questioned. Sumner couldn¡¯t hide his contempt as heughed. Stepping forward, he red coldly at Domenic. ¡°You know, I figured out you don¡¯t really love her. Not Like I do, anyway. She won¡¯t be happy with you. But me? I can make her happy. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes darkened, his cold gaze dropping. Heughed, a mix of bitterness and sarcasm, and locked eyes with Sumner. ¡°You think you can take her from me? Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, Sumner. ¡± With those words, Domenic walked off, his tall figure disappearing into the night. Sumner yelled after him, ¡°If you don¡¯t love her, let her go! If you won¡¯t, I¡¯m not backing down!¡± Without turning, Domenic felt like a massive hand was tightly clenching his heart, on the brink of crushing. He walked on until a rare Bugatti pulled up. Hendrix rolled down the window, looking concerned. ¡°Boss, get in. ¡± He¡¯d followed Domenic all the way from the hospital, making sure they weren¡¯t followed. But Domenic ignored him, visibly trembling, as if he was suppressing a flood of emotions. ALL of a sudden, he clutched at his own chest, hunching down and desperately struggling to breathe. Hendrix burst out of the car, rushing to Domenic. ¡°Boss, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay? Get in, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital! Domenic casually waved his hand. ¡°Join me for a drink. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Hendrix looked shocked. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit unusual?¡± he muttered to himself. He had been Domenic¡¯s right-hand man for over a decade but always kept things strictly professional. They had never shared a drink. ¡°You don¡¯t want to?¡± Domenic raised an eyebrow. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go alone. ¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that,¡± Hendrix quickly replied, feeling anxious. He made up his mind. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go. ¡± Chapter 619 So, they ended up at Champs Le Bar. Meanwhile, Kristy was dining with some investors there. Stepping out for air, she spotted Domenic, ushered into a VIP room. What brought him to this ce? He was known as someone who lived off Lindsey¡¯s support. The respect he was getting seemed odd. Kristy couldn¡¯t help but sense that there was something unusual happening. After a moment of thought, an intriguing idea suddenly came to Kristy. Domenic sat in a private room, downing one drink after another. Hendrix was with him, but even he struggled to pour the drinks quickly enough. ¡°Boss, perhaps you should ease up on the drinks,¡± Hendrix urged with genuine worry. Domenic shot him a nce, poured another ss to the brim, and handed it to Hendrix. ¡°You join me, too. ¡± Hendrix resigned and epted the ss, clinking it with Domenic before downing it in one gulp. The strong scent of alcohol caused Hendrix to cough uncontrobly. The liquor was very strong! After just a few rounds, Hendrix began to feel dizzy, and Domenic also disyed signs of being intoxicated. Domenic, with a lifted ss, wore a casual yetnguid smile on his lips. Yet, within that smile, a mysterious touch of sadness lingered. ¡°Hendrix, tell me something. Am I really in love with her or not?¡± The query nearly prompted Hendrix to expel his drink in astonishment. He gazed at his boss in disbelief. He understood that when Domenic was referring to Lindsey. Nheless, Domenic didn¡¯t strike Hendrix as the type to be distressed by matters of love. Considering Domenic¡¯s nature, it was more fitting to say that it was about his desires rather than love. If he desired something, he would unquestionably attain it, regardless of whether love was a factor. Even though Hendrix could see that Domenic had developed feelings for Lindsey, Hendrix still believed that Domenic wasn¡¯t the kind of person to easily fall in love with someone. There were whispers that Domenic had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital in the past for reportedly stabbing his uncle. He had received a diagnosis of some emotional disorder, exhibiting an indifferent and ruthless demeanor towards others, instilling fear in those around him. The idea that someone Like Domenic would discuss love was astonishing and left Hendrix at a loss for words. ¡°Boss, only you can answer that question. As for me, I cannot say for sure,¡± Hendrix replied evasively. Domenic let out a light scoff, raising his ss. In the grip of alcohol¡¯s influence, he seemed to converse more with himself than with Hendrix. ¡°They im I brought about my parents¡¯ demise and that anyone by my side will face a tragic fate.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. I abandoned her in the fire. As a selfish person like myself, what right do I have to profess love for her?¡± Hendrix, though perplexed, gleaned the source of Domenic¡¯s despondency. Chapter 620 ¡°Boss. ¡± Hendrix straightened up, addressing Domenic with a calm gaze. ¡°I have something to say, but I¡¯m unsure if I should voice it. ¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Domenic pressed, his interest piqued. Clearing his throat, Hendrix continued, ¡°You know your grandfather¡¯s stance. Without his approval, your rtionship with Miss Stewart may face challenges. I¡¯ve heard that he has already chosen you a wife. Do you think he will ept Miss Stewart? If this love is destined to fleet, perhaps it¡¯s better to end it sooner thanter. ¡± Domenic mmed his ss on the table, his voice low and hoarse. ¡°Lindsey is the only one I want. I won¡¯t marry anyone else. ¡± Hendrix offered a subtle smile. ¡°If you¡¯ve made up your mind, why seek validation from me? The answer lies within your heart, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Domenic nced at him and suddenly erupted into Laughter. Yes, he knew the answer, but what good was it? Simply loving her-did that equate to being good for her? If his grandfather were to discover Lindsey¡¯s existence, what would happen to her? Could he genuinely ensure her safety? He wasn¡¯t even brave enough to sacrifice his own life for her sake! How could he talk about keeping her safe? Domenic continued to drown his sorrows in several more sses of alcohol.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. At that very moment, the door to the private room swung open. In walked a group of alluring women dressed provocatively and oozing confidence. Hendrix was taken aback; he hadn¡¯t requested these kind of services. Drawn by Domenic¡¯s striking appearance, thedies eagerly sat beside him, their hands gently resting on his strong shoulders. ¡°May I join you for a drink, sir?¡± one of the women asked. ¡°Take your hands off,¡± Domenic said icily, gripping his ss. The women exchanged nces but made no move to leave. Instead, they drew closer. ¡°Don¡¯t be so unkind! Sir, how should we address you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, take your hands off!¡± A menacing re flickered in Domenic¡¯s eyes. Sensing Domenic¡¯s anger, Hendrix swiftly rose to drive the women away,manding, ¡°Get out! Get out! My boss isn¡¯t interested in women Like you!¡± The women noticed Domenic¡¯s sullen expression and felt a surge of fear. They didn¡¯t dare to stay any longer and quickly exited the room. As they stepped outside, they collided with Kristy. Chapter 621 Kristy discreetly beckoned one of the women aside and, in hushed tones, asked, ¡°How did it go?¡± The woman, thinking of the scene inside the room, responded, ¡°There were only the two of them inside. The other man orded him ¡®boss¡¯ deference. His exudes an air of status, exhibiting profound persona extraordinariness. ¡± In response, Kristy pursed her red lips. She then got several hundred dors from her wallet, giving them to the woman before her. ¡°Keep this between us,¡± she cautioned. A smile graced the woman¡¯s lips. ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t tell a soul. ¡± As the women departed, arms folded, Kristy strolled toward the room where Domenic was. Internally, she cursed Shelia for deceiving her by portraying Domenic as nothing more than an opportunistic man who relied on women for his own gain. Her intuition had long hinted at Domenic¡¯s exceptional demeanor. His visit to Champs Le Bar, the deferential address as ¡°boss,¡± and bearing the surname Walsh indicated strong potential as the heir of the Walsh family, a preeminent Lineage. Nevertheless, she yearned for conclusive verification. Retreating to her private room, she feigned indisposition, using it as an excuse to excuse herself from the bar. Subsequently leaving the establishment, she chose not to stray far, ensconcing herself inside her car, eyes fixed on the entrance of the bar through the window. After a long wait, she finally saw Domenicing out, supporting the heavily inebriated Hendrix. ¡°If you cannot hold your liquor, refrain from drinking this much!¡± muttered Domenic, casting a helpless nce at Hendrix. Initially invited for drinks, Hendrix¡¯s incapacitation necessitated Domenic¡¯s support. What the hell was this? Domenic, visibly vexed and perturbed, reached for his phone and ced a call. A little whileter, a man in ck came driving a limited-edition Bugatti. After getting out of the car, he took Hendrix and put him in the passenger seat. Then he invited Domenic inside by opening the rear door. Kristy removed her phone and captured an image of the opulent Bugatti. Looking at the captured photo when the car vanished, she found herself momentarily entranced. The rarity of the limited edition Bugatti was staggering! To imagine someone in the city possessing such opulence hinted at an individual from the Vitality Group. Promptly, she sent the car¡¯s license te number to an acquaintance in the traffic department, requesting identification of the vehicle¡¯s owner. Before long, she received a response with the name Domenic Walsh. The following morning, after Lindsey¡¯s hospital discharge procedures, she contacted Sumner, urging him to prioritize his training and not toe and see her. No sooner had she finished than police officers looking into the fire incident arrived at the hospital. They imed to have arrived to investigate yesterday, but Lindsey was still in aa at the time. Remainingposed and seated by the bed, Lindsey calmly answered the officers¡¯ questions.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 622 She provided the police with all the details regarding the situation at the day¡¯s urrence. Finally, she asked, ¡°Officer, have you found the cause of the fire?¡± The officer met her gaze, replying, ¡°Our investigation indicated that the owner forgot to turn off the gas valve after cooking, instigating the fire. ¡± ¡°So, it was my mother¡¯s inadvertent oversight?¡± Lindsey sought rification. ¡°While it might be challenging to ept, that appears the more usible scenario,¡± the officer exined.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. The policeman brought up an additional possibility as they recorded the information. ¡°But there¡¯s more to it than that. An employee of a domestic service firm visited the homeowner¡¯s home before the fire to carry out housekeeping duties. ¡± ¡°A domestic service firm?¡± Lindsey¡¯s brows furrowed, a sudden disquiet manifesting. She pressed, ¡°Could it be that person?¡± The officer remainedposed. ¡°That avenue was explored. Nheless, our investigations affirm your mother specifically designated the employee for routine household cleaning. Their rapport was amicable, devoid of any acrimony. The servicepany corroborated this. That employee imed that when cleaning that day, she did detect a slight gas smell. But she didn¡¯t look into it or stay too long since she was anxious to get home to look after her own child after work. ¡± Lindsey clenched her fists, sensing a discordant element. ¡°You mentioned Juanita called an hour before the fire. Maybe to ask you toe back for dinner. ¡± The officer¡¯s tone conveyed a semnce of sympathy as he nced at Lindsey. Head bowed, Lindsey shook it repeatedly. ¡°No¡­ Something isn¡¯t just adding up!¡± Lindsey said to the police officer, ¡°I¡¯m worried because my mom seemed so anxious on the phone. She had something important to tell me. Plus, I had already told her I wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner. So why would she cook? And even if she did cook, why would she head to sleep in her room right after starting to cook? There must be something wrong!¡± One of the officers replied to Lindsey, ¡°We¡¯ve taken that into consideration. However, we found a stockpot on the stove with spareribs simmering in it. It seems they required a long cooking time, so she might have gone to her bedroom for a short nap. Tragically, the fire was extinguished, but the gas kept leaking, leading to the unfortunate incident. ¡± ¡°Simmering spareribs?¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression grew more troubled as she had a sudden realization. She quickly stood up from where she was sitting and dered, ¡°No, this doesn¡¯t make sense! My mom¡­ she never cooks stewed spareribs!¡± ¡°What?¡± The officer looked at her with surprise. Lindsey remembered and said, ¡°My mom specializes in French cooking. She has never cooked stewed spareribs before!¡± The police officers looked at each other, realizing they hadn¡¯t fully considered this particr aspect. ¡°Alright, we have understood the situation now. We will continue our investigation and reach out to you with any new information,¡± one of the officers said as he closed his notebook and got up. Lindsey quietly acknowledged and remained silent. Once the police departed, Lindsey exited the ward. She nned to visit her mother in the ICU, but then she encountered Leonel, who arrived quickly. ¡°Linds!¡± Leonel rushed over and firmly grasped Lindsey¡¯s shoulders. His eyes were bloodshot, his face filled with anguish, and he appeared on the verge of breaking down. He repeated in disbelief, ¡°How could this happen?¡± How could this happen?¡± ¡°Leonel, take it easy. Lindsey held onto Leonel¡¯s arm, trying her best to remainposed. ¡°I stayedte at workst night and didn¡¯t return home. This morning when I got back, I saw the apartment¡­ Thank goodness you¡¯re alright. How is Mom doing?¡± Leonel inquired with worry. ¡°Leonel, let¡¯s go see Mom,¡± Lindsey said softly and started to walk. Chapter 623 Leonel paused briefly, then followed her. Together, they reached the ICU. After getting the doctor¡¯s approval, they opened the door and entered. In the silent room, the only sound was the steady beeping of the medical monitors. Leonel walked over and knelt by Juanita¡¯s bed. He softly called out, ¡°Mom, Mom, it¡¯s me, Leonel.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯m here. ¡± But there was no response from Juanita. A sense of dread washed over Leonel. He turned to Lindsey, his voice filled with concern. ¡°Linds, why isn¡¯t she waking up? What did the doctor say about when she might wake?¡± Lindsey felt a sharp ache in her heart and a bitter sensation in her nose. She moved behind Leonel and gently pressed on his shoulder, trying to support him. ¡°Leonel, the doctor mentioned she might remain in a vegetative state. ¡± ¡°What?!¡± Leonel¡¯s strength seemed to drain away, and he slumped to the floor. Fortunately, Lindsey caught him in time. ¡°It can¡¯t be true¡­ How could this happen¡­¡± Leonel muttered in disbelief. Tears filled his eyes as he looked up at Lindsey, asking in anguish, ¡°Why on earth is the apartment on fire?¡± Lindseyposed herself and looked at him with a determined gaze. ¡°I think someone might have set the fire on purpose. ¡± ¡°Who? Who would do this thing? I won¡¯t let them off easily!¡± Leonel eximed, overwhelmed with emotion. ¡°We don¡¯t have all the details yet, but I have an idea. Leonel, help me find the person who did this and avenge Mom!¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze became cold, her determination fueled by a deep desire for vengeance. Leonel, influenced by Lindsey¡¯sposed demeanor, started to calm down. He nodded firmly and agreed, ¡°Okay!¡± Lindsey looked at him and said, ¡°We should visit the domestic servicepany. ¡± On the way, Lindsey filled Leonel in with all the details she got from the police. She suspected that a female house cleaner might be involved in the arson. The reason behind her actions was yet to be uncovered. When they reached the domestic servicepany, Lindsey stated their intention. Thepany¡¯s manager greeted them warmly. He expressed regret to Lindsey, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Marisa, the employee you¡¯re asking about, resigned this morning and has already left ourpany. ¡± ¡°Resigned?¡± Leonel scoffed, his tone hinting at suspicion. ¡°Sounds like someone¡¯s feeling guilty. ¡± The manager, clearly in defense of Marisa, responded calmly, ¡°You can¡¯t really say that, sir. From my perspective, Marisa¡¯s been nothing but sincere. She¡¯s kind to everyone here and never shies away from tough tasks. Everyone respects her a lot. Ms. Lopez picked her for her work ethic, and she¡¯s been great at keeping the house spotless. ¡± Leonel gave a mockingugh. ¡°Oh, a sincere woman? It¡¯s always the sincere ones who harbor dark secrets!¡± Lindsey, trying to ease the tension, gently tugged at her brother and turned to the manager with a polite smile. ¡°So, what made Marisa quit then?¡± The manager, noting Lindsey¡¯s polite demeanor, turned to her and exined, ¡°She resigned to take her sick son to another city for medical treatment. ¡± Chapter 624 ¡°Medical treatment?¡± Lindsey¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, catching on to something important. ¡°Yes,¡± the manager nodded in confirmation. ¡°Marisa¡¯s been willing to take on even the most unpleasant jobs because her son is seriously ill. She¡¯s been working tirelessly to pay for his treatment. ¡± Leonel¡¯s hands clenched in frustration. ¡°So, it¡¯s all about money for her!¡± ¡°But the police found that nothing was stolen,¡± Lindsey interjected, contradicting Leonel, yet deep in thought. Suddenly, her eyes Lit up with realization. ¡°We can¡¯t let her get away!¡± Without wasting a moment, they hurried to the police station to report that Marisa was leaving Morcastle. Based on Lindsey¡¯s statement, the police decided to question Marisa again. Upon discovering she was about to fly out, they rushed to check the flight records and found her flight scheduled to depart in an hour. Before the police could coordinate with the local authorities, Leonel and Lindsey were already speeding towards the airport. At the airport, Marisa cradled a three-year-old boy, seemingly too weak to move, in her arms. She lingered in a corner, clutching her boarding pass. A woman, cloaked in a ck windbreaker and a hat, approached her. It was none other than Kendra. Kendra handed Marisa arge, overstuffed bag, her gaze sharp. ¡°Take this 500 thousand and leave for good. Remember, you chose this,¡± she said sternly.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Marisa felt the weight of the bag pull at her shoulder. She looked up at Kendra, noticing several men in ck searching for someone. A chill ran through her, her face losing color. Briefly silent, Marisa finally raised her eyes to Kendra, a look of sorrow etched on her face. ¡°What if I changed my mind now? Would you still honor your promise?¡¯ Kendra, taken aback, gazed deeply into Marisa¡¯s eyes and then smiled reassuringly. ¡°Absolutely. ¡± Marisa¡¯s lips quivered, tears spilling onto the floor as she gently stroked the sleeping child. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Kendra¡¯s voice was edged with uncertainty. Marisa, tears welling in her eyes, replied shakily, ¡°Escape¡¯s not an option for me. And the money¡­ it¡¯s barely enough to cover his medical bills for a year. How am I supposed toe up with that kind of cash every year? Poverty¡¯s the toughest battle to fight. ¡± Kendra, growing more anxious, pressed on, ¡°We need to move fast. The police could be on us any minute! After a brief pause, Marisa, with tears rolling down her cheeks, handed over the bag and her child to Kendra. ¡°Please, you have to save him. If anything happens to him, I¡¯ll never forgive you, even in death. ¡± Kendra gave her a quick look and scoffed. ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve already promised you. ¡± Then she adjusted her hat and swiftly walked away, cradling the little boy. Marisa, feeling like she was in a trance, dropped her suitcase and aimlessly left the airport. Outside the airport, she staggered to the roadside. Suddenly, a group of men in ck noticed her. Chapter 625 ¡°Hey, stop there!¡± Marisa tripped and bumped into the oing car just as the man in ck yelled out. With a loud bang, the car¡¯s window shattered. The impact thrust Lindsey and Leonel forward, their seatbelts snapping them back. Lindsey¡¯s head was ringing, and she felt nauseous. She tried to steady herself, shaking her head. Lindsey got out of the car and hurried to the front, shocked at what she saw. Leonel was in the driver¡¯s seat, gripping the wheel. He looked pale and terrified. He had identally hit someone! But that person had intentionally bumped into his car. Then, police sirens sounded in the distance, approaching the crash site. The officers stepped out of their vehicle, tasked with questioning Lindsey. They were all visibly shocked to see her. Then, they noticed Marisa on the ground, bleeding heavily. ¡°Lindsey, what happened here? Is this your doing?¡± The police had thought that Lindsey might have attacked Marisa for revenge. But Marisa hadn¡¯t been convicted of anything yet. Was it possible that Lindsey acted so rashly? Lindsey¡¯s mind was in a whirl. ¡°No, she ran into the car herself. ¡± The police summoned an ambnce and started to assess the situation. The officer who had been questioning Lindsey stood before her and asked, ¡°Do you recognize her?¡± Lindsey shook her head. The officer frowned, realizing that Lindsey didn¡¯t know Marisa. There was no longer any reason to seek revenge. The policeman let out a soft sigh and looked at the injured woman on the ground. ¡°That¡¯s Marisa,¡± he said softly, ¡°the house cleaner at your mother¡¯s ce. ¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Lindsey¡¯s eyes opened wide in shock and said, ¡°That¡¯s Marisa?¡± She peered at the injured woman, struggling to breathe. The distressing scene turned her stomach. Holding her mouth, she hurried to the side and threw up. How could this be happening? Why did she walk towards their car? Was she attempting suicide to escape punishment? But that manager mentioned she had a very sick child. How could she abandon her child and choose death? Chapter 626 Lindsey¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil. If Marisa died, the truth about the fire would remain hidden. Leonel got out of the car and came over to Lindsey, gently patting her back to calm her down. ¡°Linds, are you alright?¡± After throwing up, Lindsey stood up, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Leonel, Marisa tried to end her life. We¡¯ve lost the lead. ¡± Leonel paused, surprised. He nced at the woman on the ground and asked, ¡°You mean, this is Marisa?¡± Lindsey nodded, then approached Marisa and crouched beside her, whispering, ¡°Why¡­ Why did you do this?¡± Soon after, Lindsey and Leonel were escorted to the police station for questioning. Several men in ck, who had been following Marisa, appeared once the police had left. The leader of the men made a call, saying, ¡°Boss, Marisa¡­ Marisa ran into Lindsey¡¯s car and died. ¡± ¡°What? How about Lindsey?¡± His voice was mixed with shock. ¡°Lindsey was taken away by the police. But don¡¯t worry.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The surveince footage clearly indicated that Marisa had deliberately collided with Leonel¡¯s car; it wasn¡¯t Leonel and Lindsey¡¯s fault. ¡®s BunnyBookery With Marisa¡¯s passing, the question is, should the investigation into the matter continue?¡± ¡°Continue investigating. There¡¯s someone behind her. ¡± ¡°Yes, sir. ¡± In the office, Domenic sat in a leather chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. He swiveled the chair, gazing out of the French window into the radiant sunlight. Meanwhile, Lindsey and Leonel upied the interrogation room, their heads bowed in evident distress. Following a preliminary inquiry, the police reviewed nearby surveince footage, confirming Marisa¡¯s deliberate act of colliding with their car. ¡°There¡¯s a possibility of arson leading to suicide,¡± concluded the police officer. ¡°But Marisa had a critically ill child. If she¡¯s gone, where does that leave the child?¡± inquired Lindsey. The officer stated, ¡°We¡¯re investigating, but progress has been elusive. As you¡¯ve proven your innocence, you¡¯re free to leave. Rest assured, we¡¯ll reach out if there are any developments. ¡± Exiting the police station, Leonel paused, turning to Lindsey. ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡± In a grave tone, Lindsey expressed her thoughts, ¡°I can¡¯t shake the feeling that things aren¡¯t that simple. Marisa had no financial motives, and no known grudges against Mom. What would drive her tomit arson and subsequently decide to end her own life? There¡¯s something she wanted to conceal. And her child¡­ that¡¯s our only potential breakthrough. We must find that child. ¡± Chapter 627 ¡°ording to the police, when Marisa entered the airport, she held her son in her arms. However, when she left, the boy was not with her. He must have been taken away at the airport,¡± Leonel recounted, nodding in agreement. ¡°A living person doesn¡¯t vanish without a trace,¡± Lindsey remarked, lifting her head with aposed and discerning gaze. ¡°We must have missed something crucial! The authorities are eager to close the case swiftly. We¡¯ll have to conduct our own investigation. ¡± A sudden thought struck her, prompting her to retrieve her phone and dial a number. ¡°Hello, Xiomara, how have you beentely? How¡¯s your recovery?¡± Ever since Xiomara¡¯s discharge from the hospital, Lindsey had granted her an extended break to recuperate at home before returning to work. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m doing much better. I can resume work now,¡± Xiomara¡¯s voice exuded vitality, indicating her significant recovery. ¡°Could youe to thepany if you have time today?¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes, of course. I¡¯ve been feeling bored at hometely. I¡¯ll head there right away!¡± Xiomara responded, her enthusiasm evident. Lindsey replied, ¡°Great, I¡¯ll be waiting for you. ¡± Inside Lindnita Artists Agency, a hive of activity buzzed as everyone focused on their respective tasks. Amidst this, a slender figure gracefully entered through the door, catching everyone¡¯s immediate attention. A ripple of whispers and hushed admiration spread among the employees. ¡°Look, a hottie!¡± ¡°Absolutely stunning figure!¡± ¡°Could she be here for an artist position?¡± ¡°If she signs with ourpany, given Lindsey¡¯s management, she¡¯ll surely soar in poprity!¡± Meanwhile, Sumner emerged from a training ssroom and couldn¡¯t help but notice the captivating figure standing conspicuously at the heart of the office. She was impossible to ignore, drawing the gaze of everyone around her. The girl sported a white shirt paired with a denim skirt, her hair elegantly tied in a bun. Youthful, enchanting, and radiating allure, she was a sight to behold. Despite stealing a nce, Sumner averted his gaze. However, the girl, basking in the warm attention of the crowd, made a beeline straight for him. As she passed a group of male colleagues, her slender, long legs captivated their attention, leaving an impression that lingered in their admiring gazes. ¡°Sumner,¡± called out the girl. Sumner halted and turned to face her, a slight frown crossing his brow. ¡°Have we met before?¡± ¡°Forget about me? I¡¯m Xiomara. ¡± Indeed, the girl was none other than Xiomara! Excitement rippled through the entire office as everyone gathered around Xiomara, expressing their astonishment. ¡°Oh my God, Xiomara, how did you be so slim?¡± Chapter 628 ¡°You look so beautiful after losing weight! We couldn¡¯t even recognize you!¡± ¡°Xiomara, are you avable tonight? How about having dinner together?¡± Xiomara grinned at the crowd. ¡°Well, I have indeed shed some weight recently, but it¡¯s not that drastic!¡± Unbeknownst to them, she hadn¡¯t just lost some weight; she had shed a significant amount. Moreover, her diligent daily workouts at home had added to her grace and charm. From the corner of her eye, Xiomara noticed Sumner watching her, which stirred a sense of restlessness within her. Feeling the weight of his gaze, she locked eyes with him. ¡°Sumner, is Lindsey here?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner met Xiomara¡¯s gaze directly. His eyes retained their usual neutrality. ¡°She¡¯s at her office. ¡± ¡°Okay. Xiomara¡¯s charming smile drew the attention of several male colleagues, yet Sumner responded only with a faint smile. Meanwhile, Lindsey and Leonel awaited Xiomara in Lindsey¡¯s office. A knock echoed, prompting Lindsey to hasten to the door. Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled at the sight of the slim, beautiful girl. ¡°Xiomara?¡± Chuckling, Xiomara remarked, ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re the first one to recognize me today. ¡± Lindsey widened her eyes in surprise. She had once thought Xiomara¡¯s features delicate, imagining her beauty if she shed weight. However, Xiomara¡¯srge eyes, oval face, rosy lips, and sweet dimples still amazed her. Xiomara rivaled even the most popr celebrities,parable even to Sh. Led into the office by Lindsey, Xiomara received a warm greeting before the door closed behind them. Grasping Xiomara¡¯s hand, Lindsey eximed, ¡°Xiomara, you¡¯ve lost weight!¡± After a twirl, Xiomara smiled. ¡°Yes, thanks to the weight-loss pills you provided. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have been so slim. ¡± Seated on the couch, Leonel stared nkly at the young, stunning girl before him. When Xiomara entered, she was too engrossed in conversation with Lindsey to notice another person present. Yet, her gaze eventually fell upon Leonel. Startled, she turned to Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey, who is this?¡± After a quick nce at Leonel, Lindsey led Xiomara towards him and exined, ¡°Without him, you wouldn¡¯t have lost weight so quickly. ¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Xiomara was rendered confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lindsey smiled as Leonel rose from his seat. Extending his hand to Xiomara in a gentlemanly manner, he introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m Leonel, Lindsey¡¯s brother. I¡¯m a guest professor at the Morcastle Medicine Research Institute, responsible for the research and development of medication for obesity. You¡¯re the first one to lose weight after taking my medicine. Nice to meet you. ¡± Observing her brother¡¯s hurried introduction to Xiomara, Lindsey couldn¡¯t stifle augh. Chapter 629 Men were often visually stimted creatures. The sight of a beautiful woman could leave them momentarily captivated. Leonel was no different in this regard. Eyes wide with surprise, Xiomara grasped Leonel¡¯s hand and eximed, ¡°So, you¡¯re the creator of the weight-loss pills! You¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°I¡¯m ttered. ¡± Leonel smiled. Lindsey interjected, ¡°Well, that¡¯s all the chit-chat. ¡± She redirected the conversation with a serious expression, addressing Xiomara, ¡°I actually need your help today. ¡± ¡°Tell me, Lindsey. I¡¯ll do whatever I can to assist!¡± Xiomara replied eagerly, always seeking a chance to repay Lindsey¡¯s kindness.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ncing discreetly at the door, Lindsey, now more vignt since the recement of Xiomara¡¯s weight-loss pills, took extra precautions to ensure their privacy. She guided Xiomara to a seat far removed from the door, positioning herself opposite Xiomara. Leaning in, Lindsey whispered, ¡°Before we proceed, there¡¯s something I need to confirm. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Xiomara¡¯s expression mirrored Lindsey¡¯s seriousness. ¡°Previously, Gallop Entertainment¡¯swork suffered a hacker attack. Was that your doing? Be honest with me. You needn¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t disclose this to anyone. ¡± Throughout all the trials, the person Xiomara trusted most in the world was Lindsey. ¡®s BunnyBookery After a brief moment of consideration, she responded candidly, ¡°Yes, I did it. ¡± Lindsey smiled knowingly. She had long suspected Xiomara harbored the skills of a covert hacker, but she respected Xiomara¡¯s privacy, choosing not to expose her secret. However, now, Lindsey needed to leverage Xiomara¡¯s exceptional abilities. ¡°Good. Then¡­ you can do what I¡¯m about to propose next. ¡± Xiomara¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as she asked, ¡°What exactly is it? Why is it being kept so secretive?¡± ¡°I require your assistance in collecting all the surveince footage from the airport, the vicinity of my mother¡¯s residence, and a domestic servicepany for the past month,¡± Lindsey replied. Xiomara, taken aback, inquired, ¡°Why do you need them?¡± Lindsey opened up to Xiomara about her mother¡¯s situation, trusting herpletely since she had chosen her for this task. Upon hearing the story, Xiomara¡¯s expression of shock slowly turned to anger. She grasped Lindsey¡¯s hand firmly, vowing, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get it done and help you catch whoever set that fire!¡± Lindsey smiled and patted Xiomara¡¯s hand in gratitude. ¡°Thanks a lot. ¡± That evening, Xiomara arrived with numerous surveince videos on her hard drive. She had even hacked into the police¡¯s system and downloaded all the data on the arson case. Chapter 630 Lindsey felt deeply thankful. Realizing the enormity of the task, Lindsey enlisted Nancy and Sumner¡¯s help to speed up the process. Each of them sat with aptop, meticulously scrutinizing the surveince footage. Before long, Leonel spotted a suspicious person in the airport¡¯s surveince video. ¡°Hey Linds, check out this person!¡± he called Lindsey over. They observed a woman in ck wearing a sunhat in the video. She seemed to be carrying something under her windbreaker as she left the airport. Interestingly, she hadn¡¯t had it when she entered. The woman looked eerily familiar to Lindsey. ¡°Linds, over here!¡± Nancy called out. She pointed to a frame in the video from the vicinity of Juanita¡¯s residence. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this woman look a lot like your stepmother?¡± Upon closer inspection, Lindsey confirmed it was indeed Kendra. At that moment, Sumner also made a discovery. ¡°Lindsey, in the domestic servicepany¡¯s video, Marisa was seen meeting a woman in ck. ¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. After checking, Lindsey realized the woman in ck was the same one they had seen at the airport. They spent two days piecing together the clues, slowly uncovering the truth. Lindsey figured out that Kendra was the one behind the arson. Kendra sought revenge on her. She med her for Shelia¡¯s looming imprisonment and Vincent¡¯s betrayal. Kendra wanted her to feel the agony of losing her loved ones. Lindsey¡¯s face turned cold as she thought about it. ¡°Linds, we should give these proofs to the police,¡± Leonel suggested, his hands balled into fists. But Lindsey disagreed. ¡°Our evidence isn¡¯t solid enough, some of them are just guesswork. Giving them to the police won¡¯t be enough to pin Kendra. Plus, we¡¯d just tip her off and make her more cautious. ¡± ¡°So what do we do? Can¡¯t we do anything to her?¡± Leonel asked, frustrated. ¡°The only way to nail her is to find that kid. I have to head to her residence,¡± Lindsey dered. ¡°Why go back there?¡± Leonel asked, puzzled. Lindsey smirked. ¡°I have a n to make Kendra hand over the child herself. ¡± Meanwhile, at home, Kendra lounged on the sofa, sipping her tea. She felt triumphant. After a month of plotting, she finally had her way. She had long wanted to remove Juanita from the picture. With Juanita in a vegetative state, she posed no more threats to her. Kendra had nned to hire hitmen to take out Marisa once she left Morcastle. Marisa was sensible enough to kill herself. Chapter 631 With Juanita¡¯s money, Benny¡¯s business took off, greatly enhancing Kendra¡¯s lifestyle. Yet, her primary concern remained Shelia. Despite consulting numerouswyers, Kendra understood that unless the user withdrew the case, Shelia faced inevitable imprisonment. Xiomara had handed Shelia¡¯s case to Lindsey, who Kendra knew wouldn¡¯t relent easily. Kendra had always thought that if someone stopped her from living well, she¡¯d make sure they had it even worse. That was why Lindsey¡¯s actions had pushed Kendra to kill Juanita. Without this, Kendra might not have been so bold. She figured Shelia might end up in jail for a year, but Lindsey? She¡¯d lose her mom forever. This thought gave Kendra a strange sense offort. Kendra gently caressed her slightly swollen belly as she contemted. Realizing that she now held a privileged position within the family, she knew she couldn¡¯t proceed with keeping the baby. Just then, the doorbell chimed. ¡®s BunnyBookery Kendra got up, strolling over casually. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± she called out. But the moment she opened the door, her expression turned to stone. Standing there was Lindsey! ¡°What¡­ What are you doing here?¡± Kendra blurted out, a wave of guilt washing over her, though she tried to stay cool. ¡°I came to see you. Aren¡¯t you going to let me in?¡± Lindsey asked with a calm, friendly smile, showing no signs of recent troubles. Kendra eyed Lindsey warily. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Lindsey was up to no good. Still, she decided to let her in. ¡°Come on in. ¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Kendra was curious to see what Lindsey was nning. Lindsey entered, scanning her surroundings and listening intently. There was no sign of anyone else. Clearly, Kendra hadn¡¯t taken Marisa¡¯s son home. So, she must have hidden him somewhere else. ¡°Linds, what brings you here today?¡± Kendra appeared behind Lindsey, examining her closely, trying to guess what Lindsey was up to. Lindsey, with a faint smile, turned and casually asked Kendra, ¡°Kendra, did you hear about the fire in an upscale apartment a few days back?¡± Chapter 632 Kendra¡¯s eyes flickered. She nced away and responded, ¡°I think I saw something about it online, but I can¡¯t recall much. Why do you ask?¡± Lindsey arched an eyebrow and went on, ¡°There was also a car crash at the airport two days ago. A woman crashed into a car and died. Have you heard about that?¡± Kendra¡¯s face tensed, and her heart skipped a beat. She stared at Lindsey, realizing the implications. Lindsey¡¯s questions suggested her suspicions. But without concrete evidence, Lindsey¡¯s suspicions were pointless. Kendra knew as long as she denied everything, Lindsey couldn¡¯t touch her. Kendra eased her expression and responded, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard about any car ident. But, why are you asking?¡± Lindsey, with a slight smile, strolled to the table and poured a ss of water. She took a sip and began, ¡°I found out that the woman who killed herself was Marisa Carson. She¡¯s the one behind that arson. She did it for her sick child, but nothing was actually stolen from the ident site. If she was desperate enough to do that, it must mean someone offered her a big reward, maybe cash or something else. That person is the true criminal behind the fire, right, Kendra?¡± Kendra felt a lump in her throat and her fingers went numb. She hadn¡¯t expected Lindsey to piece it all together so urately. ¡°Why are you telling me this? I didn¡¯t tell her to do any of that!¡± she eximed, quickly downing her drink in one go. Lindsey watched Kendra panic yet deny everything, fighting back augh. She had anticipated this. Gazing at Kendra, Lindsey¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°If she was so determined to save her child, why would she suddenly kill herself? Unless, the one behind this promised to take care of her child in return for her taking the me bymitting suicide. ¡± Kendra¡¯s anxiety grew. Her hand shook as she held her ss, but she knew she couldn¡¯t show weakness in front of Lindsey. Striving forposure, she looked at Lindsey and asked, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Lindsey smiled softly and said, ¡°You know, I could¡¯ve figured that out myself, no need for the police.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. They¡¯re already searching for the kid, aren¡¯t they? Find the kid, and we find the mastermind. Kendra, ever wonder how long they¡¯d lock this mastermind up?¡± As she spoke, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but Laugh. ¡°Maybe she¡¯ll end up sharing a cell with Shelia. My sister won¡¯t be lonely anymore. ¡± ¡°Lindsey Stewart!¡± Kendra¡¯s anger boiled over. In a fit of rage, she mmed her ss onto the table, shattering it. As the shards pierced her hand, Kendra¡¯s anger turned to pain. Lindsey smirked. ¡°If you¡¯re innocent, why so defensive as if you are guilty?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not guilty of anything,¡± Kendra retorted, hiding her injured hand. Her voice trembled, betraying her inner turmoil Desperate to change the subject, she said, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve been thinking. Shelia messed up, sure. She¡¯s young, didn¡¯t think things through. But she¡¯s sorry now. You know, she¡¯s your step-sister. Any chance you could drop thewsuit? For old times¡¯ sake?¡± Lindsey¡¯s response was frosty. ¡°For old times¡¯ sake? I feel nothing but hatred for her. Like I¡¯ve said, Kendra, if you don¡¯t want your actions exposed, better not do them in the first ce. There¡¯s always a trail, unless¡­ you can eliminate the problem at its source!¡± Her voice rose at the end, as if taunting Kendra¡¯s inability to do so. Then, she stormed out. The moment the door shut, Kendra copsed onto the sofa, her body shaking. Was Lindsey telling the truth? Had the police pieced it together and started searching for the child in secret? Chapter 633 Despite her careful actions, she feared being tracked down. Lindsey¡¯s words echoed in her mind. She had to cover her tracks. She needed to eliminate the problem at its source. Determination gripped Kendra. She had a n forming. Earlier that day, after Benny had fallen asleep, Kendra had slipped into a ck windbreaker and sunhat, sneaking out to catch a taxi under the cover of darkness. ¡®s BunnyBookery Unbeknownst to her, a ck car sat silently across the street, nearly invisible in the shadows. Lindsey and Leonel sat in their car. Their ck vehicle crept behind Kendra¡¯s taxi, maintaining a careful distance to stay unnoticed. After half an hour, they reached a run-down house in the outskirts. Kendra stepped out of the taxi and entered the building. Parking their car in a hidden spot, Lindsey and Leonel quietly got out and sneaked towards the house. Leonel raised his foot to kick down the door, but just then, Lindsey realized something wasn¡¯t right and grabbed him. Despite her attempt, Leonel had already kicked the door open. ¡°Kendra, you criminal! Where¡¯s the kid?¡± Leonel yelled, storming inside. Entering the house, he froze in shock. Lindsey came in behind him, scanning the area with a puzzled look. The house was bare, with only Kendra standing there. There was no sign of any child. ¡°Lindsey, why are you here in the dead of night?¡± Kendra taunted Lindsey with a smug grin. Lindsey felt a surge of nerves. She realized Kendra had tricked her! Kendra knew Lindsey was probing her, so she cleverly led her into this trap. ¡°Where¡¯s the kid?¡± Despite her inner turmoil, Lindsey kept aposed exterior.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. She understood that staying calm was crucial to uncover Kendra¡¯s weakness. Kendra smirked, casually folding her arms, and replied, ¡°Kid? I¡¯m lost here. Are you talking about Marisa¡¯s child? You know, if someone really wanted to move the kid, they wouldn¡¯t do it themselves. And like you said, to cover their tracks, they¡¯d have to get rid of any loose ends. Chances are, you¡¯ll never see this child again. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes zed with fury at Kendra. She couldn¡¯t believe Kendra would harm a child! If the child was indeed gone, Lindsey would lose the key evidence of Kendra¡¯s guilt, and her chance to avenge her mother would vanish. Anger bubbled up in Lindsey, nearly overwhelming her. She fought the urge tosh out and tear away Kendra¡¯s deceitful facade. But she forced herself to remainposed. Chapter 634 Kendra leaned in close, whispering in Lindsey¡¯s ear so only she could hear, ¡°Lindsey, I warned you you¡¯d regret this. ¡± Kendra had struggled at the bottom of society for many years, making her less naive than Shelia and unwilling to disy her vulnerability when provoked. She knew all too well that to make it in this world and achieve her goals, she had to be upromising. Removing any obstacles was a necessity. It wouldn¡¯t be urate to say that everything during the day was purely acting, but there was an element of it involved. She intended to lure Lindsey over and embarrass her, ensuring that Lindsey wouldn¡¯t oppose her Like this anymore! Finishing her statement, Kendra stood straight, nced at Lindsey and Leonel, andughed carelessly. ¡°Well, if you¡¯ve got nothing else to do at thiste hour, get some sleep. I¡¯m tired, too. ¡± She yawned and headed for the door. But suddenly, a dark figure dashed past Lindsey, heading straight for Kendra. Without saying anything, Leonel grabbed Kendra¡¯s shoulders, spun her around, andnded a forceful punch. Kendra screamed, copsing to the floor with blood trickling from her mouth. ¡°Leonel!¡± Lindsey was inplete disarray, witnessing the scene unfold before her. Leonel had struck Kendra, but sheughed through the pain. ¡°Go on! Hit me again. If you¡¯re brave enough, kill me! Causing harm on purpose and taking someone¡¯s life deliberately. Let¡¯s find out who will end up with a longer prison sentence!¡± ¡°You think I wouldn¡¯t dare?¡± Leonel hurried towards Kendra and seized her by the cor. With ease, he raised her from the ground. Elegantly stepped in and grabbed Leonel¡¯s arm. ¡°Leonel, stop this!¡± ¡°Linds, if thew can¡¯t punish her, I¡¯ll seek justice for Mom today!¡± As Leonel spoke, he threw Kendra down and pressed his foot toward her head. Leonel¡¯s foot hovered, unable to descend, as Lindsey clung to him from behind. Desperately, she tried to restrain him. ¡°Leonel, think about the consequences if you hurt her like this. Mom is still unconscious. I can¡¯t lose another family member. Calm down! Please. Leonel!¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Her voice broke at the end. Lindsey, who hadn¡¯t held back her tears until now, couldn¡¯t help but break into sobs. Leonel¡¯s rage subsided as he heard his sister¡¯s tearful plea. He gently ced his foot down, turned, and embraced her softly. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. It¡¯s all my fault. ¡± He gently rubbed her back and reassured her in a low voice, ¡°You won¡¯t be alone in this world. I¡¯ll be here to support you, and we¡¯ll look after Mom together until she wakes up. ¡± Lindsey, crying, nodded and clung to him. Kendra fought to rise from the floor, her body aching as if her bones were near breaking, her face bearing bruises. Chapter 635 She pointed at Leonel, her voice trembling with anger. ¡°Just wait and see. I¡¯ll call the police to have you arrested!¡± Lindsey released her grip on Leonel and approached Kendra, her gaze icy. ¡°Fine, go ahead and call the police. Exin to them the reason for our altercation today. Leonel might get detained for a few days for assaulting you. Just be cautious not to stir up any more trouble!¡± Kendra cast a chilly nce at Lindsey. Lindsey was cunning and persuasive.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. However, upon hearing her words, Kendra did feel a slight hesitation creeping in. ¡°Humph, let¡¯s wait and see. ¡± Kendra shot a harsh look at Lindsey and limped out of the house. Once Kendra had departed, Lindsey¡¯s attempt to maintain herposure crumbled, and her posture slumped. Thankfully, Leonel was there to catch her and prevent her from falling. ¡°Linds, are you alright?¡± Lindsey shook her head, herplexion drained of color. She wasn¡¯t doing well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Leonel. Let¡¯s head back for now. We should consider the long run in this situation. ¡± ¡°Alright. ¡± Leonel assisted Lindsey into the car and drove towards downtown. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey gazed out at the night sky, clouds hiding the moon, the cold wind entering the car, chilling, but not as much as the coldness within her. Juanita¡¯s apartment had been destroyed by fire, so Leonel had to stay temporarily at his research institute while Lindsey returned to the apartment shared by Domenic and her. She pushed open the door and stepped inside. The interior was shrouded in darkness. It appeared that Domenic wouldn¡¯t be returning tonight. Lindseyy on the bed they once shared, her fingers tracing the covers that held his scent. She fixed her gaze on the ceiling, her emotions carefully concealed. Lindsey spent the whole night wide awake, not falling asleep until dawn broke. By the time she woke, evening had already crept in. Sitting up in bed, she watched the setting sun spill its golden light through the curtains, bathing her in a warm glow. After a long while, Lindsey reached for her phone, whichy tossed aside. With a nk expression, she dialed a number. On the other end was Nancy, busy at the office. ¡°Hey, Linds. How are you holding up?¡± Nancy asked, her tone warm and concerned. She¡¯d been managing all thepany¡¯s business alone, allowing Lindsey to focus on her mother¡¯s situation without additional stress. Lindsey¡¯s voice was raspy, betraying her fatigue. ¡°Nancy, I¡¯m still tied up with everything here. I hate that you¡¯re left to shoulder all the work these days. ¡± Nancy¡¯s reply was lighthearted. ¡°Oh, stop it. We¡¯re not just best friends, but business allies too. It¡¯s no trouble at all. Just remember, I¡¯m expecting an extra-long vacation after all this is over!¡± Chapter 636 Hearing Nancy¡¯s rxed voice brought a sense of warmth to Lindsey¡¯s otherwise chilly heart. ¡°Thanks, Nancy. It¡¯s a relief having you. Just make sure you keep ourpany running smoothly, even in my absence in the future. ¡± ¡°Linds, what¡¯s going on? Don¡¯t talk like that. Where are you? You¡¯re going to be okay! You can get through any tough time. Believe in yourself!¡± Nancy was cheering Lindsey up over the phone. Lindsey, with a slight smile, answered, ¡°Yeah, I guess we can get through anything.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡± After ending the call, Lindsey opened her contacts and went straight to her favorites, where only one name was listed. It was Domenic. She hesitated, then called him. Soon, she heard a familiar ringtone from outside. Pausing briefly, she leaped out of bed, flung open her bedroom door, and hurried out. Just as she thought, there was Domenic, standing in the Living room. Domenic was in a simple white shirt and ck trousers, but his elegant presence was unmistakable. Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, he looked even more charismatic, deepening her attraction to him. Lindsey rushed to him and embraced him tightly, wrapping her arms around his waist. She buried her face in his chest. ¡°When did you get back?¡± Domenic asked, slightly surprised by her appearance. After a brief pause, he gently ced his hands on her back and hugged her close. Noticing that Lindsey hadn¡¯t responded but only held him tighter, Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Is something bothering you?¡± he asked softly, his voice soothing like a luby to Lindsey. In his embrace, Lindsey shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just want to hold on to you a bit longer. I¡¯m scared¡­ Scared that we might not get this chance again. ¡± These words made Domenic¡¯s heart miss a beat. He gently pushed her back to meet his gaze, his eyes searching hers. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Lindsey, looking up at his eyes, suddenlyughed. ¡°I¡¯m just joking. I guess my mom¡¯s situation has me worried about losing you. I fear that any moment could be ourst together. ¡± But Domenic¡¯s gaze dropped. He¡¯d been feeling uneasy these past days. The thought of being helpless on the day of the fire haunted him, and he struggled with how to face Lindsey. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Lindsey asked, noticing the serious look on Domenic¡¯s face and his prolonged silence. It was only then that Domenic snapped back to reality. He gazed deeply into Lindsey¡¯s clear eyes, and she blinked back at him. After a long moment of silence, Domenic said in a serious tone, ¡°Linds, if I were to tell you that maybe I don¡¯t love you as much as I thought, would you¡­ Would you still consider marrying me?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart ached like it was pricked by a needle, and a heavy, painful feeling set in. Chapter 637 She gazed into Domenic¡¯s deep eyes, masking her sorrow with a slight smile. ¡°Why would you say that? Are you tired of me? Don¡¯t you Like me anymore?¡± she asked softly. Domenic, feeling her questioning gaze, swallowed hard, his Adam¡¯s apple moving visibly. He rushed to reassure her, ¡°No, that¡¯s not it at all. I love you, all the time. But¡­¡± He paused, reflecting on the loss of his parents. This tragedy had left him confused about the nature of love, especially the kind that risked everything. He wondered if love was supposed to be like this. Deep down, he feared his love for Lindsey might not measure up to someone like Sumner¡¯s. Even though he went out of his way to treat Lindsey right and make her the happiest woman alive, he doubted if his love was the perfect kind the world expected. Could Lindsey ept him as he was? Domenic started to speak again but then hesitated, choosing his words carefully. Lindsey had sensed something off about Domenictely, as if he were avoiding her. His recent words only added to her suspicions. Maybe he did resent her. But then, she remembered his loving vows in the church.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic, always steady and unwavering, still had that depth in his eyes where Lindsey saw her reflection. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling them closer with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I¡¯m not going anywhere unless you stop loving me. Whether you love me, and how much, I don¡¯t need words to know. I¡¯ll feel it myself. And if one day I can¡¯t feel your love, I¡¯ll leave without a second thought. ¡± ¡°And what do you feel now?¡± Domenic asked gently, looking down at her. He was usually so confident and calm, but in this moment, he seemed to be searching for reassurance. Lindsey answered without words, leaning in to ki*s him. After the ki*s, she looked up at him, smiling. ¡°Does that make it clear enough for you?¡± Suddenly, he reached out, cupping the back of her head, and leaned down to ki*s her lips fiercely. The passion in his ki*s was intense, as if a fire had been lit within him. He poured all the pent-up love from his heart into that ki*s, not giving her a moment to catch her breath. His expression of love was urgent and overwhelming. Lindsey felt weak and limp in his embrace. Without his strong hold, she might have copsed. She managed to push Domenic away, panting for air. Her face was flushed, and her soft voice sent a thrill through him. ¡°I can¡¯t breathe. Could you go gentler?¡± Domenic fought the urge to sweep her off her feet and carry her to the bed. Instead, he took deep breaths, trying to control his desire. ¡°Linds, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± His eyes brimmed with tears, and he looked like a guilty dog seeking forgiveness. He was usually soposed, but now his vulnerability touched Lindsey¡¯s heart. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you apologizing? I don¡¯t understand what you did wrong,¡± she asked, concerned. Domenic, with dry lips, looked directly into her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been ming myself for what happened during the fire. ¡± Lindsey immediately understood why Domenic had been distanttely. He felt guilty for not having been there to help her during the fire. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°I was thinking you cheated or something. And it¡¯s just this?¡± Chapter 638 ¡°It¡¯s not ¡®just this¡¯,¡± Domenic replied, serious and earnest. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to be your protector. When danger struck, even Sumner ran in to help you, but I didn¡¯t. Does that not make me unworthy? How can I im to be your man?¡± His words struck a chord in Lindsey, her expression turning solemn. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why you are the right man for me. ¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Domenic was puzzled. Lindsey smiled as she said, ¡°A man should keep his cool and think things through, not just react without thinking. That¡¯s why waiting for help was the smart move. I¡¯m grateful for Sumner¡¯s willingness to help, but I don¡¯t agree with how he did it. We were lucky to get out of that situation, but what if we hadn¡¯t? I¡¯m still pretty shaken up about it. My mom would want me to be safe and sound. if I had died in that fire, she¡¯d never find peace, even in death. I¡¯ve already been too rash about this. If you were as reckless as me, I¡¯d think we¡¯re not right for each other. Sure, we can throw caution to the wind for love, but what about our family? And if we have kids, should we risk our lives together? Someone has to stay behind and be responsible. That¡¯s what a grown-up does. ¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Domenic looked stunned, his eyes showing a touch of surprise. He thought about his own life. If his dad hadn¡¯t been so hasty, if he had been more thoughtful and responsible, maybe his grandpa¡¯s attitude would have been different. And he wouldn¡¯t have been mistreated by his uncles, and his life wouldn¡¯t have been so tough and guarded. His father¡¯s impulsive choice had altered the course of his entire life. Domenic gazed at Lindsey with a newfound appreciation. Every word she spoke resonated deeply within his heart, touching its most tender part. He had feared her disappointment, but she proved to be more understanding and thoughtful than he had imagined. Her words even brought him somefort regarding his father¡¯s past decisions. Reaching out, Domenic wrapped Lindsey in a warm embrace, pressing his head against her soft hair. In a gentle whisper, he confessed, ¡°Linds, I love you. You¡¯re the only one for me. ¡± Lindsey responded by embracing him tighter, simply saying, ¡°Me too. Looking down thoughtfully, Lindsey added, ¡°So¡­ please forgive my suddenness, okay?¡± Holding her even closer, Domenic assured her, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. ¡± Lindsey shook her head, resting it against his shoulder. ¡°Remember, those who have passed would want their loved ones to live a happy life. Don¡¯t dwell in sorrow, but cherish their memory and live a happy life. ¡± Domenic nodded in agreement. ¡°So, Linds, it¡¯s time for you to move forward. I¡¯m sure your mom wille around. She wouldn¡¯t want to see you down. ¡± ¡°She¡¯s my mother. I¡¯ll take care of her,¡± Lindsey replied, not giving a clear answer. At that moment, Domenic didn¡¯t overthink it. He believed Lindsey was gradually healing from her grief over Juanita. But he was unaware that Lindsey had already made a firm decision. Following that day, Lindsey informed Domenic of her wish to temporarily return and stay with her father. Domenic looked puzzled and asked, ¡°Why do you suddenly want to go back? Didn¡¯t things go bad between you and them?¡± Lindsey responded casually, ¡°After what happened to my mom, I realized there¡¯s no problem that can¡¯t be solved. My dad¡¯s the only parent I have left. I want to spend more time with him. Who knows what might happen tomorrow or if there will even be a tomorrow. I don¡¯t want any regrets. ¡± Domenic nodded in understanding. Benny was her father, after all, and family ties often run deep. Maybe making amends was the right thing to do. Chapter 639 ¡°Just let me know if they give you a hard time, and I¡¯ll be there to back you up,¡± Domenic reminded her. Lindsey chuckled. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t dare mess with me. Remember how I stood up to them? I can handle them just fine. ¡± Domenic thought about it and agreed. He raised an eyebrow and yfully touched her nose. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re my girl. ¡± Lindsey smiled bravely, showing no fear, a look that made Domenic feel a bit uneasy, though he couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. After their farewell, Lindsey packed her things and returned to Benny¡¯s residence. It was the weekend, and Benny was there. He was quite shocked to see Lindsey. He had asked her toe home several times before, but she had always refused. Why the sudden change? Despite his confusion, Benny was thrilled to have Lindsey back. He hadn¡¯t truly severed ties with her. And with Shelia¡¯s criminal record, he couldn¡¯t rely on her anymore. Kendra, too, had be distant, especially after his betrayal. He was anxiously waiting for the birth of Kendra¡¯s baby to see if it was his. If it was, he would stay with Kendra. If not, he nned to make her pay. Benny now valued certainty more than ever. Juanita and Lindsey seemed much more reliable and excellent than Kendra and Shelia. If he could maintain good rtions with Juanita and Lindsey, his future would be secure. Benny had even considered remarrying Juanita, but he realized she didn¡¯t have feelings for him anymore, especially now that she had risen to a high position. One good thing about Benny was his self-awareness; he knew better than to bother her further. ¡®s BunnyBookery Therefore, he still didn¡¯t know about Juanita¡¯s recent ident. When Lindsey walked in, Benny quickly asked Kendra to prepare juice for Lindsey and took Lindsey¡¯s luggage to her room. After returning to the living room, Benny and Lindsey sat together on the sofa. Kendra¡¯s expression soured at the sight of Lindsey. Lindsey had just insulted her, and her sudden return seemed suspicious to her. She suspected Lindsey was up to something. Kendra watched Lindsey closely, determined to stayposed. She had been through a lot and refused to slip up now.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lindsey noticed Kendra serving her juice and said with a smile, ¡°Kendra, you¡¯ve only gotten better at caring for others over the years. It¡¯s no surprise you were once a maid. ¡± Kendra could tell that Lindsey was mocking her. She didn¡¯t show any anger on her face, but smiled faintly. ¡°Everything I do is for this family. ¡± Lindsey sipped her juice and fell silent. ¡°Linds, what made you decide toe back home all of a sudden?¡± Benny asked. Setting down her ss on the table, Lindsey replied cheerfully, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Dad? Aren¡¯t you happy to see me?¡± It had been a long time since Lindsey called Benny ¡®Dad¡¯, which thrilled him. After their numerous past disagreements, he had thought she no longer epted him as her father. Chapter 640 Benny felt a wave of relief wash over him with Lindsey¡¯s change of tone. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy to see you. I know I was wrong in the past. I said some harsh things and upset you. I won¡¯t do that again. Seeing my daughter doing so well now really fills me with pride. ¡± Benny couldn¡¯t help but think about Shelia, who had been a disappointment. She hadn¡¯t brought him any pride, facing potential jail time and tarnishing his reputation. He even worried he might have to support her in the future. He thought Shelia was really worthless. He had to say, Lindsey was much better. Kendra¡¯s expression turned sour upon hearing Benny¡¯s words. She sat down next to him, staying silent. Lindsey nced at Kendra, then turned to Benny and said, ¡°Dad, Mom¡¯s in the hospital. Could you find some time to visit her?¡± Benny was shocked. ¡°What happened to your mom?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face turned sorrowful, on the verge of tears. ¡°There was a fire at her apartment. She¡­ She got trapped inside and is still unconscious. The doctors say she might never wake up. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s sorrow was notpletely disguised. It was a sadness that came from her heart when she mentioned her mother. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me something this serious sooner?¡± Benny got up from the sofa, took a moment to calm himself, then sat back down. ¡°How did the fire start all of a sudden?¡± He asked anxiously. Kendra, sitting beside him, clenched her fists, her heart sinking. She worried Lindsey might be back to expose her to Benny. But Kendra knew she wasn¡¯t easy to defeat. Without solid proof, Lindsey couldn¡¯t just use her of anything. Kendra was taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s response. Lindsey, drying her eyes, said softly, ¡°The police said she identally left the stove on while cooking, which led to the fire. It was just an ident. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t bring up Kendra or Marisa in her exnation. Benny showed a mix of regret and disappointment at Juanita¡¯s mistake. He opened his mouth, struggling to find words, and finally said heavily, ¡°Oh dear. I always told her she was too careless, and she¡¯d argue with me about it. Now, it seems her carelessness has caused a real problem. ¡± Benny shook his head sadly. Despite his ulterior motives in their rtionship, his feelings for Juanita had been genuine. He was a selfish man, but if he truly loved anyone, it was Juanita. Regarding Kendra, he essentially regarded her as a caretaker to ensure hisfort in his old age. ¡°Dad!¡± Lindsey rushed into Benny¡¯s embrace, tears streaming down her face. Benny felt a deep sympathy for Lindsey. He gently patted her back, offering soothing words, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Your mom may be in aa, but she¡¯s still alive. You still have me. You can stay at home now, without worry. If you face any troubles, just tell me. We¡¯re family, we support each other. ¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Chapter 641 Lindsey, still in his arms, nodded and cried, ¡°Dad, I realize my mistakes. I¡¯ll listen to you from now on. ¡± Hearing Lindsey¡¯s acknowledgment of her faults, Benny felt hisst bit of resentment fade away. Especially after Juanita¡¯s ident, he genuinely wanted to care for his daughter. ¡°It¡¯s okay now.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯ste, get some rest. A good night¡¯s sleep will help. Everything will be alright. ¡± Lindsey pulled back and managed a smile. She then nced at Kendra, standing behind Benny with a sullen expression, and asked, ¡°Kendra, aren¡¯t you happy to have me back?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m d to see you. ¡± Kendra forced a smile, though a hint of sorrow lingered on her face. She sighed and said, ¡°I am happy you¡¯re back. But I keep thinking about Shelia still being in the detention center, unable to join us, so I¡­¡± Benny, hearing Kendra, seemed to realize something too. He turned to Lindsey and said, ¡°Linds, yes, Shelia made a mistake, but she¡¯s your sister. It¡¯s good she realizes her mistakes. Try not to be too harsh. If Shelia ends up being convicted, it won¡¯t look good for our family¡¯s name. ¡± Benny¡¯s main concern was always the reputation of the family, not so much Shelia herself. Lindsey sensed Kendra might be trying to use Benny to get her to drop thewsuit. With a faint smile, she nodded to Benny and said, ¡°Dad, you have a point. I¡¯ll give it some thought. ¡± Kendra, while pouring water, paused briefly. When she Looked up, her eyes showed a mix of surprise and disbelief. She was astonished Lindsey would even consider being lenient towards Shelia. What was Lindsey really nning? ¡°Linds, that¡¯s very sensible of you. ¡± Benny gently patted Lindsey¡¯s hand and chuckled. After spending some time with Benny, Lindsey headed back to her room. As she opened the door, memories flooded back. She had spent ten years in this room, yet it now felt somewhat unfamiliar. Lindsey tidied up her room, then sat on her bed, pondering her next move. Lindsey¡¯s return wasn¡¯t about making amends with Benny; it was all for Juanita¡¯s sake. She intended to expose Kendra, the true mastermind of the arson, and bring her to justice. Lindsey believed that only by seeing Kendra face the consequences could she truly avenge her mother. Lindsey kept her n to herself, ready to ept whatever came of it. After much thought, Lindsey changed into her casual clothes and left her room. She roamed around the house, pretending to be just casually looking around. Having lived there for so long, she knew the ce well, so she didn¡¯t spend much time on this. She eventually made her way to Kendra and Benny¡¯s room. Dinner time was approaching. Kendra was busy in the kitchen, while Benny was working in his study. Their room was unlocked, so Lindsey quietly entered. She scrutinized everything and then carefully shut the door as she left. As Lindsey reached the living room downstairs, Kendra¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Linds, could you help me with something?¡± Raising an eyebrow, Lindsey headed to the kitchen. Chapter 642 ¡°What do you need?¡± She paused at the kitchen entrance, observing Kendra. Kendra, d in an apron, was fully engaged in cooking, looking every bit the devoted wife and mother. No wonder Benny chose to keep Kendra around. She really could endure a lot. Even as Mrs. Stewart, she still yed the role of a maid. Lindsey was already on guard against Kendra, suspecting her of plotting something. Kendra, appearing casual, said, ¡°¡°Linds, I¡¯ve made your favorite soup. Could you take it to the dining room for me? I¡¯m still busy cooking. ¡± Lindsey nced at the soup simmering on the stove and gave a nod. Just as Lindsey was about to lift the soup, Kendra reached for the bowl first. At that moment, Lindsey heard footsteps descending the stairs. Benny wasing down. Lindsey quickly realized what was happening and covertly smiled.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. She hastily grabbed the bowl, held it against her chest, and deliberately spilled the soup all over herself. She then let out a loud scream, ¡°Aaaaah!¡± Benny, just reaching the bottom of the stairs, heard the scream and rushed towards the sound. He found Lindsey on the floor, drenched in soup, with her hands visibly burned by the heat. ¡°Kendra, I know you¡¯re upset with me because of what happened to Shelia and don¡¯t want me in this house. But I was trying to help you. How could you deliberately pour such hot soup on me?¡± Lindsey vehemently used Kendra, momentarily rendering her helpless in the face of the confrontation. Kendra had nned to employ this maneuver against Lindsey, but the tables turned, with Lindsey preempting her tactics. ¡°Kendra!¡± Benny sensed the tension and hurried into the kitchen, gently grasping Lindsey¡¯s scalded hand while shooting a disapproving re at Kendra. ¡°Benny, it wasn¡¯t me. Lindsey did it¡­¡± Kendra hastily defended herself. ¡°Shut up!¡± Benny¡¯s stern voice interrupted Kendra. ¡°I overheard you requesting Lindsey for help. Normally, you would handle things alone, but today you suddenly asked her to help you. Do you dare deny doing it intentionally?¡± Fury contorted Kendra¡¯s face as she shot a re at Lindsey. Biting her lower lip, she turned to Benny. ¡°Benny, I didn¡¯t intend for any of this. It was an ident. Please, trust me. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve trusted you countless times,¡± Benny remarked, his gaze lingering pointedly on Kendra¡¯s belly. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me too much. ¡± Sensing Benny¡¯s underlying message, Kendra nced at her belly. He was awaiting the arrival of their baby, so she nned to frame Lindsey for her own miscarriage. Benny helped Lindsey up from the floor and expressed concern, ¡°Linds, how are your hands? Rinse them with cold water to prevent blistering. ¡± Lindsey, though nursing her burning hands, shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright now, Dad. Don¡¯t me Kendra. I understand her emotions. She acted impulsively. I believe she won¡¯t repeat such a mistake. ¡± Chapter 643 As Lindsey spoke, her gaze was fixed on Kendra. Kendra understood from Lindsey¡¯s eyes that if she attempted to smear Lindsey again, Lindsey would fight back just like she did earlier. To her, Lindsey had be quite crafty. She felt a newfound wariness; framing Lindsey next time required careful consideration. After dinner, Benny returned to his study to work. Kendra and Lindsey upied the sofa, sitting upright side by side. Despite the movie ying on the TV in the living room, neither of them paid any attention to it. ¡°Lindsey, what are you trying to achieve?¡± Kendra asked suddenly, fixing her gaze on the TV. Lindsey, without ncing at Kendra, responded casually, ¡°Feeling scared? After all, you¡¯vemitted numerous misdeeds. Who knows when karma might catch up with you?¡± Kendra sneered. ¡°I don¡¯t buy into that. If there were really retribution, the world wouldn¡¯t be filled with so many unjust urrences. I only believe that destiny is always within my control. ¡± With a subtle smile ying on her lips, Lindsey remarked, ¡°Certain things will unfold, whether you believe in them or not. I heard a tale. If someone dies unjustly, their soul roams the world until it locates the person responsible for their death. ¡± Meanwhile, a horror movie yed on the screen. The story revolved around a woman who perished due to deception, and her vengeful spirit returned for retribution. Kendra couldn¡¯t help but quiver slightly. Recollections of Marisa¡¯sst words echoed in Kendra¡¯s mind, ¡°You must save him, or I won¡¯t let you off even if I die. ¡± ¡°Kendra, why do you appear so pallid? Is there a connection of what I said to something on your mind?¡± Lindsey gazed at Kendra with a slight smile. Kendra snapped back to her senses, donning a fake, light smile. ¡°Only fools entertain such notions.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey, you are a smart woman. You shouldn¡¯t believe stories of the supernatural, right? Lindsey nonchntly shrugged and sighed. ¡°True. If ghosts were real, how could someone like you sleep peacefully? Personally, I¡¯m more inclined to believe in the saying that ¡®good people often go unrewarded while evil people seemingly thrive indefinitely. ¡®¡± Kendra clenched her fists, rising from the sofa. ¡°If you think you can rattle me with this, I suggest you save your energy. These are the sorts of stories that can fool naive young girls like you. Enjoy yourself to the movie. I¡¯m retiring to my room. ¡± ¡°By all means,¡± Lindsey responded, still engrossed in the movie. Looking back at the screen, Kendra was startled as a ghost suddenly appeared. Terrified, she quickly took two steps backward. Swiftly turning her gaze away, Kendra hurriedly retreated to her room. Only after Kendra shut her bedroom door did Lindsey spin around, gazing at the door with a light scoff. Lindsey then turned off the television. She had chosen a movie specifically for Kendra to watch. That same night, Kendra was restless in her bed. Lindsey¡¯s words and that ghost from the movie raced across Kendra¡¯s thoughts Like shooting stars. As long as Kendra closed her eyes, that haunting ghost¡¯s visage morphed into Marisa¡¯s. Marisa¡¯sst words reverberated in Kendra¡¯s ears, causing her unease. Eventually, Kendra drifted into a hazy sleep. Chapter 644 She was roused from her slumber by the rhythmic tread of footstepsing and going. Kendra¡¯s eyes snapped open. Her room was shrouded in darkness. Peering out the window, she saw only an overcast sky devoid of moonlight. Right then, Kendra caught the faint sound of footsteps rustling by the door. They were as gentle as a whisper, pacing back and forth. And it had been Lingering just beyond her room. Kendra¡¯s heart raced. She nudged Benny, sleeping beside her, and whispered, ¡°Benny, did you hear that? Footsteps outside?¡± Benny grumbled, ¡°There¡¯s no footsteps. Just sleep. ¡± ¡°But I¡¯m sure there are footsteps. Listen carefully. ¡± Kendra insisted, preventing Benny from returning to sleep, urging him to listen. Yet, after a long while, Benny heard nothing and said, ¡°You¡¯re imagining things. ¡± Then, he fell back into slumber. Seeing that Benny had slipped back into slumber, Kendra refrained from rousing him. Just then, the footsteps outside their room resumed, causing her heart to race. She gingerly slipped out of bed, quietly cracked open the door, and peered outside. Yet, there was absolute silence beyond the room. Kendra returned to bed, filled with suspicion and unable to fall back asleep. On the second morning, sporting deep, tired shadows beneath her eyes, Kendra encountered Lindsey as she stepped out of her room. ¡°Oh, Kendra, what happened to youst night? Your under-eye bags are weighing you down. ¡± Lindsey gazed at Kendra through her bright eyes. Looking at Lindsey, Kendra was suddenly reminded of the previous night¡¯s footsteps. With a firm tone, she used, ¡°Lindsey, was that youst night?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lindsey put on an innocent frown. ¡°You were the one walking near the door to frighten me, right?¡± Kendra, weary from a sleepless night, was desperate to uncover the cause of her unrest. She fixed Lindsey with a piercing stare.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°You had a nightmare, right? I spent the entire night in my room, not setting foot outside. ¡± Afterward, Lindsey descended the stairs, paying no heed to Kendra. Kendra stood frozen. If it wasn¡¯t Lindsey, who could it be? She felt a chill run down her spine. However, Kendra never believed in supernatural phenomena. She suspected Lindsey was up to mischief in the dark. So, she bought several hidden cameras online, intending to covertly install one in Lindsey¡¯s room to verify her honesty. That night, Kendra heard footsteps again, apanied asionally by a kid¡¯sughter. But the moment Benny stirred awake, the noise would abruptly cease. Chapter 645 Kendra ventured out to investigate several times but never found anyone. She kept her eyes wide open until daybreak. The next day, the hidden cameras arrived. Seizing an opportunity, Kendra stealthily entered Lindsey¡¯s room and ced one camera in a concealed spot aimed at Lindsey¡¯s bed. On that night, when the footsteps echoed, Kendra swiftly grabbed her phone to examine the surveince footage. Kendra suspected that it was Lindsey deliberately trying to scare her. However, when Kendra glimpsed her phone¡¯s screen, her eyes widened in terror. She witnessed Lindsey peacefully asleep on her own bed.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Instantly, Kendra felt her hair stand on end. Kendra had not only discreetly installed a camera in Lindsey¡¯s room but had also ced several cameras outside her door and within the living area. Despite this, the security footage revealed nothing. However, the unmistakable sound of footsteps persisted near the door. Kendra, never believing in stories of the supernatural, found herself enveloped in a sudden panic. She instinctively buried her head under the covers, sping her ears in an attempt to block out the unsettling noise. Surely, it was an illusion-a figment triggered by her recent overactive thoughts. Attributing her unease to Lindsey¡¯s return, memories of Marisa and Juanita flooded Kendra¡¯s mind, causing a distracting whirlwind of emotions. Yet, the more she tried to muffle the sound by covering her ears, the more it intensified, echoing as if emerging from the depths of her own mind. The following day found Kendra in a dazed state as she emerged from her room. Concern etched on his face, Benny couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°Are you alright? Why do you look so pale?¡± Hurriedly, Kendra assured him, ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ I just couldn¡¯t sleep well these two nights. ¡± Benny, choosing not to press further, nodded and departed for work. Shortly after his departure, Lindsey emerged from her room, adhering to her recent routine of leaving and returning punctually. Kendra thought Lindsey would work in her agency every day. When Lindsey went out today, she said to Kendra, ¡°Kendra, I¡¯ll be working with the group tonight. I won¡¯t be back. It¡¯ll just be you and my dad for dinner. No need to fuss over my meal. ¡± Acknowledging Lindsey¡¯s ns with a nod, Kendra replied, ¡°I understand. ¡± As Lindsey prepared to leave, she cast a concerned nce back at Kendra. ¡°You¡¯ve been having trouble sleepingtely. Take care and get some rest tonight. ¡± Masking her relief with a feigned smile, Kendra inwardly acknowledged that she might sleep more soundly in Lindsey¡¯s absence. Instead of heading to thepany as expected, Lindsey diverted to the caf¨¦ where she had stayed these two days. Sipping on her coffee, she finalized her ns on theputer. At that moment, her phone rang. Seeing it was Domenic calling, her heart sank. She answered the call, masking her thoughts and softly greeted him. ¡°Linds, how¡¯s the adjustment to being back there?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice, with its maic timbre, resonated, causing Lindsey¡¯s nose to instinctively twitch. Chapter 646 Maybe everything would be over after tonight. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lindsey responded, her disguise impressively fooling even Domenic. ¡°Linds, I met a priest at the church today. Guess what he said to me?¡± Domenic said mysteriously, keeping Lindsey in suspense and sparking her curiosity. ¡°What did he say?¡± With a soft chuckle, Domenic shared, ¡°He said you¡¯d get what you want after today. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the thought of tonight. Mustering a forced smile, she replied, ¡°Really? Then, I hope, I really would. ¡± ¡°If something good indeed happens, I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow to celebrate it,¡± Domenic offered cheerfully. Despite Domenic¡¯s upbeat mood, Lindsey responded casually, ¡°Okay. ¡± After the call ended, Domenic reclined in his leather chair, recalling his subordinate¡¯s recent report: Kendra, Lindsey¡¯s stepmother, was the actual perpetrator behind the arson case. All they needed now was to locate Marisa¡¯s child to incriminate Kendra. Domenic¡¯s men far surpassed the abilities ofw enforcement. Each member possessed specialized training, serving as Domenic¡¯s personal elite guard, adept at ndestine operations, and capable of resolving any arduous task on his behalf. Their expertise allowed Domenic to maintain an unassable stance within the tumultuous business realm, wielding numerouspetitors¡® weaknesses in his grasp. With the child¡¯s location secured, Domenic¡¯s men prepared to retrieve the child swiftly-tonight, precisely. It would be a surprise for Lindsey, orchestrated by Domenic himself. Regrettably, Lindsey remained entirely oblivious to these unfolding events. As dusk settled, Lindsey closed herptop and departed from the tranquil cafe. With a call to Benny, she discovered he had to attend a dinner party that very night. ¡°Dad, could youe to the hospital to visit my mom after the dinner party?¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Benny realized he hadn¡¯t yet visited Juanita at the hospital upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s request. Eager to please his daughter, he promised, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll head there once I¡¯m done. ¡± Arriving at the hospital, Lindsey found her mother had been moved to a regr bed, her condition stabilized. It was Leonel who had been dutifully caring for her during this period. Concerned for Leonel¡¯s well-being, Lindsey urged him to rest for the night, assuring him she would wait for Benny at the hospital. As she tenderly wiped Juanita¡¯s face with a towel, Lindsey leaned in and whispered softly to her mother. ¡°Mom, I have something to tell you, something I¡¯ve been too stubborn to express. Mom, I¡¯m sorry. When I was young, I said too many harsh words to you. I¡¯ve always regretted it deeply. When I met you again, I was overwhelmed with happiness. I wanted to apologize and plead for you never to leave me again. But, that day, I still argued with you. ¡± Her voice quivered slightly as she continued, ¡°I know you did everything for my well-being, but I can make my own decisions now. Chapter 647 You don¡¯t need to worry about me anymore.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Let me repay you for all you¡¯ve done. Mom, I used to believe we had endless time, and that we could make up for lost time. But I didn¡¯t expect¡­ ¡° Ovee with emotion, tears cascaded down Lindsey¡¯s face, falling gently onto the back of Juanita¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, I know you¡¯ll try to convince me otherwise, but sorry, I still have to do that. You know, I¡¯ll feel guilty for the rest of my life if I don¡¯t seek justice for you. I don¡¯t want to live like this. I¡¯ve already regretted it once, and I don¡¯t want to regret it a second time. So, forgive me for my willfulness, please,¡± Lindsey whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. Gazing at her mother¡¯s peacefully sleeping face, Lindsey noticed a single tear slowly trickling down from the corner of Juanita¡¯s eye. Shocked, she gently shook her mother¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Mom, can you hear me? Mom, wake up!¡± Despite Lindsey¡¯s efforts and calls, Juanita remained unresponsive. It seemed the tear was nothing but an illusion. Slumping back in her chair, a bittersweet smile adorned Lindsey¡¯s face. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, a knock echoed on the door. Lindsey opened it, finding Benny standing outside. ¡°Dad,¡± she greeted Benny in a subdued tone. Benny approached Juanita¡¯s bed slowly, step by step. Shey there, peaceful. Overwhelmed by mixed feelings, Benny sat on the edge of the bed, gently patting Juanita¡¯s hand. ¡°Juanita, I¡¯m here to see you. How did you make yourself look Like this?¡± Lindsey nced at her father, then turned back to her mother. Taking a deep breath, she asked, ¡°Dad, can you stay with Mom tonight?¡± Benny looked sideways at Lindsey but remained silent. In a gentle and resonant voice, Lindsey continued, ¡°Mom said she never forgot you. She told me that things might have been different if she had been more gentle in the past. It¡¯s her long regret to have divorced you. ¡± Hearing this, aplicated expression emerged on Benny¡¯s wrinkled face. He nced back at Juanita and sighed deeply. Lindsey couldn¡¯t decipher what was going through her father¡¯s mind, but she feltpelled to share those words to retain Benny. ¡°Dad, the doctor mentioned that Mom would benefit from having a loved one talk to her. Perhaps it will help her recover. So, I was thinking¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay with her tonight. ¡± Benny¡¯s gaze softened with sadness. Despite his lingering selfishness, he couldn¡¯t bear to see the woman he once loved in this fragile state. ¡°Thank you, Dad,¡± Lindsey expressed gently. ¡°I have some work to attend to tonight. Please look after Mom for me. ¡± Chapter 648 ¡°Go ahead with your work. I¡¯ll be here. ¡± Benny nodded in assurance. After Lindsey closed the ward door, the warm smile on her face vanished, reced by a cold and determined expression. Checking her watch, she noted it was ten o¡¯clock in the evening. Since Benny couldn¡¯t make it back for dinner, Kendra had dinner alone at home and then rxed on the sofa, watching TV. She couldn¡¯t figure out why she felt restlesstely. Lack of sleep made her nerves strained. Kendra never wished for Benny to return sooner than she did now. She was even slightly afraid to go to bed alone. She couldn¡¯t help but curse Lindsey under her breath.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Kendra believed that everything that happened was Lindsey¡¯s fault. She med everything on Lindsey, convinced that Lindsey had affected her mood. With Lindsey not returning tonight, Kendra hoped for a peaceful night¡¯s sleep. Mustering courage, Kendra stood up and went to freshen up. After a hot shower and applying skincare products, she prepared for bed. She theny down, closing her eyes. She tossed and turned for a while, not hearing any unusual sounds. Growing increasingly sleepy, she was on the verge of falling asleep. ¡®s BunnyBookery Yet, at that moment, a ghostly voice reached her ears again. The familiar sound of footsteps, the same ones that had kept her awake at night, echoed again. Moreover, a soft cry of a woman apanied the footsteps. Kendra, sleepless for days, teetered on the edge of a breakdown. She decisively lifted the covers and sat up in bed. Feeling frustrated, Kendra got out of bed, opened the door, and walked out. She shouted, ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re a ghost or a human. If you have the courage,e out. I¡¯m not afraid of the living, let alone the dead. ¡± Silence filled the corridor, offering no response. With eyes tinged with red, Kendra scrutinized every corner of the house. Rushing to Lindsey¡¯s room, she kicked the door open and scanned the surroundings, finding no trace of anyone. She expanded her search to other rooms, yet found nothing. Kendra headed to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and then proceeded to the living room, where she switched on the Light. Pressing the light switch repeatedly, the house remained shrouded in darkness. The power was out. Seeing this, Kendra burst into a mad giggle. ¡°Marisa, you¡¯re already dead. Don¡¯t y tricks with me. Do you think you can frighten me with this? I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m not afraid. If you can,e out and kill me. ¡± Chapter 649 ¡°Kendra¡­¡± At that moment, a hauntingly somber voice echoed from the Living room. ¡°Where is my child? Where have you taken him?¡± Clutching the knife tightly, Kendra surveyed the dark living room, finding no one. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°There¡¯s no way of saving your child. All of this was my attempt to help you,¡± Kendra yelled into the empty Living room. ¡°You not only forced me to die but also killed my child, didn¡¯t you?¡± The high-pitched female voice sent shivers through the vacant living room, exuding terror and fierceness. . Kendra chuckled and replied, ¡°Are you joking? I had set aside enough money for you to escape Morcastle. You decided to die on your own. What have I done? I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. ¡± ¡°You urged me to set fire to Juanita¡¯s apartment, promising to help save my child. How could you betray me? How could you be so heartless as to lead him to his death? Now, they all believe I¡¯m the true culprit behind the arson. I took the me for you, yet my child wasn¡¯t saved.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Kendra, I want to drag you down to hell with me. ¡± The woman¡¯s voice, chilling and shrill, conveyed desperation. Kendra¡¯s hand, gripping the knife, trembled involuntarily. ¡°Fine, if you have the power,e forward. Even if I instructed you to start the fire, so what? You¡¯re already dead, and the deceased should keep secrets. It¡¯s your fault entirely. You¡¯re so foolish to sacrifice yourself and take the me for me. I didn¡¯t cause your death. It¡¯s your ownck of judgment. ¡± As Kendra concluded her statement, the woman¡¯s voice fell silent. Kendra¡¯s realization struck like a sudden chill, causing her to scan the living room. Startled, she discovered a figure hiding behind the curtain. She felt d to have finally caught the person responsible for this. A spark of determination ignited in Kendra¡¯s heart as she grasped the knife, ready to confront the intruder. However, her attempt to strike was met with a miss. She drew back the curtain and met the sight of a white dress hanging there. A metallic nging sound diverted Kendra¡¯s attention, prompting her to turn. Behind her, a figure slowly crawled toward the door. Regaining herposure, Kendra, holding the knife, approached that figure. As she neared, her pupils constricted. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and with the subtle moonlight, she could make out that the person on the floor was Lindsey. Advancing, Kendra seized Lindsey¡¯s wrist, turning her over. ¡°So it¡¯s you,¡± Kendra remarked sharply. Chapter 650 Exerting effort, Lindsey attempted to sit up and leaned against the shoe cab by the door. Sweat trickled down her forehead, and her chest rose and fell with difficulty, signaling that she was struggling to breathe. Lindsey grappled with a deep fear of the dark. Driven by the need to extract Kendra¡¯s confession, she exerted all her strength. At this moment, Lindsey sumbed to an illusion. Numerous massive hands seemed to grip her limbs, rendering her immobile. In Lindsey¡¯s imagination, Kendra transformed into a formidable beast with sharp ws extended, poised herself to pounce on her. ¡°I¡¯ve finally understood. ¡± A malicious smile yed on Kendra¡¯s lips as she approached Lindsey. ¡°You orchestrated all of this, didn¡¯t you? I never thought you would try to extract information from me in such a sneaky manner. ¡± Kendra crouched down and started to search through Lindsey. ¡°Tell me, have you recorded it? Where¡¯s the recording device? Hand it over, or I¡¯ll kill you right now. ¡± Leaning against the cab, Lindsey closed her eyes and smiled, relieved. ¡°I can¡¯t escape anyway. I told you. I¡¯ll take you to hell with me. ¡± Despite Kendra sensing Lindsey¡¯s unusual behavior, her mind was chaotic. Unperturbed, Kendra tightened her grip on the sharp knife in her hand. Amid a whirlwind of thoughts, she chose the most ruthless course of action. With her eyes aze, Kendra lifted her knife towards Lindsey, a persistent thought echoing in her mind-she must end Lindsey¡¯s life. If she could sessfully eliminate Lindsey and dispose of the body, the events of tonight would remain a secret. Her actions would be shrouded in secrecy, known only to herself. Kendra regained herposure, her breathing steadying, and a profound calm settled over her heart. She nced at Lindsey with a disdainful snort. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve left me with no choice but to do this. Since you¡¯re determined to make things hard for me, just go to helt. ¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. With resolve, Kendra raised the knife and thrust it toward Lindsey. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Boom!¡± The door was forcefully knocked open from the outside. Kendra was unceremoniously kicked to the floor, and then the knife slipped from her grasp, skidding several meters away. Lindsey struggled to open her eyes, greeted by the captivating sight of Domenic¡¯s face drawing closer. Despite her weakened state, she couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes in astonishment. She couldn¡¯t fathom why he was there. ¡°Dome¡­¡± Lindsey managed to utter before sumbing to unconsciousness in Domenic¡¯s protective embrace. ¡°Linds!¡± Domenic swiftly lifted Lindsey and hurried out. Meanwhile, a cadre of ck-d men emerged from the opposite direction, efficiently subduing Kendra. Facing the sudden turn of events, Kendra felt her mind go nk. Bathed in moonlight, Domenic appeared as if dr@ped in silver armor, carrying Lindsey away. Unwilling to ept defeat, Kendra shouted after him, ¡°Who are you? Who the hell are you?¡± Kendra didn¡¯t receive any response from the man, who continued on as if she were invisible, acting like an emperor above all others. This behavior made Kendra almost certain he wasn¡¯t just some guy. He had to be connected to the prestigious Walsh family. Chapter 651 With a surge of hope, she called out, ¡°You know Rupert, right? You¡¯re part of the Walsh family, aren¡¯t you?¡± Domenic finally paused and turned to look at Kendra. ¡°I¡¯m with Rupert. We have a kid together. You wouldn¡¯t want to get on Rupert¡¯s bad side, would you? We¡¯re both part of the Walsh family. Please, let me go. I swear I won¡¯t be a problem for Lindsey anymore,¡± Kendra pleaded desperately. Domenic stared at her, his eyes icy. He scoffed, ¡°Uncle Rupert really has poor taste, choosing someone like you. ¡± He was Rupert¡¯s nephew? Kendra¡¯s eyes shot wide open.Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. She knew about the secret rivalry between Rupert and his nephew in the Walsh family. Seizing the moment, Kendra blurted out, ¡°I have dirt on Rupert. Let me go, and I can help you beat him. ¡± Kendra was indeed cunning, quickly grasping the core of the situation. Even Domenic had to acknowledge her quick thinking with a raised eyebrow. Kendra¡¯s face lit up with a hopeful smile when she saw Domenic¡¯s expression. But Domenic just stared at her, his eyes cold. ¡°Someone Like you has no right to bargain with me. If it wasn¡¯t for Lindsey, I would have killed you. ¡± He looked down on her as if she were nothing, and Kendra felt that sting deep inside. She had dreamed of mixing with the high and mighty, of being someone they respected. But to them, she was still a nobody. Rupert could ditch her whenever he wanted, and this man could mock her freely. Even Benny treated her Like his personal maid. Overwhelmed, Kendra copsed,ughing bitterly at the irony of her life. Some people have it all from birth, while she, from a simple background, struggled to reach their level, only to find it nearly impossible¡­ Her eyes fixed on Lindsey, secure in Domenic¡¯s arms. Kendra¡¯s heart filled with envy and anger. So, Lindsey¡¯s guy was from the powerful Walsh family. That exined why she always acted so high and mighty. Kendra realized she could never knock Lindsey off her pedestal, not with a guy like that backing her. From the moment Kendra orchestrated Lindsey to lose her virginity, Kendra was already defeated. Chapter 652 But why? Why did everythinge so easily to Lindsey? Kendra couldn¡¯t ept it. Even at death¡¯s door, she wouldn¡¯t ept it Kendra fought back with a curse, ¡°You¡¯ll pay for what you¡¯ve done!¡± The man restraining Kendra found her too loud, and knocked her unconscious. Domenic paid no attention to Kendra and missed her final words. He gently ced Lindsey in the car, rolled down the window, and coldly instructed the leader of the men in ck, ¡°Take the evidence and Kendra to the police. And the kid too. Also, pass a message to the police chief for me. Tell him the police have been too carelesstely. Make sure they won¡¯t link this to me, and ask him to ensure Kendra¡¯s baby is born in prison.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the leader replied, nodding. Domenic rolled up the window and gazed at Lindsey¡¯s pale face, feeling sorry for her. He urgently told Hendrix, ¡°Hurry to the hospital. ¡± ¡°How is she, Dr. Davis?¡± In the hospital ward, Domenic stood alongside the Morcastle Hospital director, anxiously observing Lindsey as shey calmly on the bed, a respiratory mask covering her face. Hector Davis informed Domenic, ¡°Following the oxygen treatment, Miss Stewart¡¯s condition has steadied. This illness is primarily psychological. If she receives timely treatment, she should recover well. However, prolonged dy poses a serious risk. The patient might get trapped in a psychological vicious cycle, triggering a series of stress The patient might get trapped in a psychological vicious cycle, triggering a series of stress responses. Unfortunately, the mostmon oue is death due to hyperventtion. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression soured, a heavy feeling settling in his heart. ¡°Is there a cure?¡± Domenic pressed. Hector sighed. ¡°A mental illness requires mental remedy. Typically, this type of ailment stems from the patient¡¯s unsettling experiences, leading to psychological trauma. Whenever she finds herself in a familiar situation, she¡¯s Likely to experience shbacks to the past, getting trapped in those memories and struggling to move beyond them. Unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± Domenic nced at Hector as a spark of hope gleamed in his eyes. ¡°Unless we rece her troubling memories with positive ones, though this approach is mostly theoretical. There haven¡¯t been many sessful cases using this method thus far. ¡± Mostly, those distressing memories from the past are deeply ingrained, making them challenging to forget and nearly impossible to substitute. ¡± Upon hearing this, Domenic fell silent, appearing lost in contemtion. Meanwhile, Lindsey had a dream where an infinite darkness threatened to consume her. Despite her best efforts to escape, the darkness appeared endless, persisting no matter where she turned. Amid her breakdown and despair, a faint light emerged, challenging the darkness. Against all odds, she moved towards the Light. As Lindsey pursued the light, she abruptly opened her eyes. After some time, she found herself gazing at the familiar ceiling above her. She turned slightly and noticed aforting yellowmp on the bedside. The light from her dream seemed to emanate from it. She cherished the soothing warmth of the yellow hue, finding it both warm and reassuring. So, every night before going to bed, she would switch on a simr light at the head of her bed to chase away the fears in her heart. However, the question lingered in her mind: why did she return? Chapter 653 This was the bedroom in the apartment she rented with Domenic. The familiar scent and the recognizable furnishings provided a sense offort and ease. Recalling, she realized she had seen Domenic just before she cked out. Just then, the door swung open, and Domenic¡¯s tall figure swiftly came into Lindsey¡¯s view. Upon seeing Lindsey waking up, Domenic hurried to her bedside, squatting down and gently sping her hand. ¡°Linds, are you feeling better?¡± A weak nod escaped Lindsey as her gaze met Domenic¡¯s strikingly handsome face, a sight that captivated her. She had resigned herself to the belief that she would nevery eyes on him again. The realization triggered a subtle twitch of Lindsey¡¯s nose. Without hesitation, she threw herself into Domenic¡¯s arms, embracing his neck firmly. Reciprocating the fervor, Domenic cradled Lindsey in his arms as if fearing she might vanish should he release her.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°There, you¡¯re safe now,¡± Domenic whispered, tenderly caressing Lindsey¡¯s back. Lindsey was ovee with emotion and buried her head into his arms, seeking sce in his warmth and rhythmic heartbeat. It was as if this tangible connection affirmed her existence. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you discuss such a crucial matter with me and decide on your own?¡± Despite the undertone of reproach, Domenic¡¯s words maintained their gentleness. Letting go of her hold, Lindsey met Domenic¡¯s stern gaze with tear-filled eyes, resembling a remorseful child. Domenic, pressing her shoulders, spoke with a seriousness that underscored his concern. ¡°Do you realize the peril you ced yourself in tonight? If I had arrived just a secondter, something terrible could have happened to you. The situation was equally risky as the time of the fire broke out. Why do you consistently act by yourself, cing yourself in harm¡¯s way? Have you thought about your safety and my feelings before diving into these situations?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s head hung low as the words escaped her lips. Domenic¡¯s eyes deepened in emotion, and he tenderly pulled her into his arms. His voice, hoarse and resonant, whispered, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine a life without you. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. ¡± Lindsey embraced him tenderly, her words seemingly inadequate for the moment. In truth, Lindsey had contemted the worst oue. Yet, even with that awareness, she feltpelled to proceed with her ns. She never considered herself irreceable. If something were to happen, Domenic might suffer for a while. But with time, he could eventually find happiness again. Yet, Lindsey couldn¡¯t abandon the pursuit of justice for her mother. Failure to take revenge would haunt her with regret and self¡ªhatred forever. It was time for her to settle the score with Kendra. At that moment, Lindsey¡¯s phone rang. She took it up and saw that it was her brother, Leonel, calling. ¡°Answer it. He¡¯s been trying to reach you for a while now,¡± Domenic advised, his eyes fixed on the caller¡¯s name. Lindsey quickly answered the phone, saying, ¡°Hello, Leonel. ¡± ¡°Linds, why haven¡¯t you been picking up? What was the voice message you sent me earlier about?¡± Leonel¡¯s tone carried an undercurrent of anxiety. Chapter 654 During that moment, Lindsey recorded Kendra¡¯s confession through voice message rather than a recorder and sent them to Leonel. Lindsey was prepared to face any consequences, ensuring she didn¡¯t keep the evidence with her. ¡°Leonel, it¡¯s evidence of Kendra¡¯s admission of guilt. You can take it to the police. Combined with our earlier findings, we can ensure Kendra is held ountable,¡± Lindsey exined softly. ¡°I understand that. What I¡¯m concerned about is how you obtained this. Are you in danger? And why did Kendra want to kill you at the end? Please tell me the truth?¡± ncing at Domenic, Lindsey replied with a sheepish smile, ¡°I employed some tactics. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m safe, and I¡¯m still here talking to you. I¡¯m okay. ¡± A sigh of relief escaped Leonel. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay. I¡¯m heading to the police station now to deliver this evidence. Await my good news. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Then, Lindsey ended the call. When she nced up, she found Domenic raising his eyebrows, examining her with discerning eyes. Clearing her throat, she confessed, ¡°Please don¡¯t give me that Look. I¡¯m a bit embarrassed. ¡± Domenic reached up, lightly poking Lindsey on the forehead. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the nerve. Despite your fear of the dark, you resorted to this trick to get Kendra¡¯s confession. ¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey pursed her lips and scratched her head awkwardly. ¡°You seem to know everything¡­¡± Domenic, staring at Lindsey¡¯s phone, remarked, ¡°I can recognize your voice, no matter the disguise. ¡± He was referring to the ghostly voice Lindsey used while conversing with Kendra earlier. Lindsey suddenly felt the potential embarrassment if others were to learn of what she did. She lowered her eyes, unable to meet Domenic¡¯s gaze. ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared at all?¡± Domenic asked. ¡°Scared of what?¡± Domenic studied her. ¡°Why are you so sure this method will work on Kendra? What if she doesn¡¯t believe in the existence of supernatural beings, or what if she recognizes you?¡± Lindsey raised her head, meeting Domenic¡¯s gaze with determination. ¡°Do you think I acted on a whim? In reality, it¡¯s not like that. Before attempting this, I meticulously considered it and delved into psychology literature. When someone experiences guilt, their mind undergoes significant stress, making them more susceptible to subconscious influence. Additionally, ack of sleep can lead to a trance-Like mental state, causing them to gradually lose the ability to think. ¡± After a pause, she continued, ¡°Some individuals employ this technique to manipte those trapped in a pyramid scheme. These individuals utilize subliminal brainwashing, curtailed sleep, and the suppression of independent thought. This process gradually turns them into puppets on strings, capable only of acting as instructed. ¡± Domenic stared at Lindsey as she presented apelling point. Knowing her well, he knew she wasn¡¯t acting impulsively; she must have been thoroughly prepared for this. Chapter 655 Yet, a Lingering doubt persisted. ¡°So, having an onset and being taken to the emergency room was part of your n?¡± Lindsey whispered softly, ¡°This isn¡¯t part of my n. I must admit, your appearance was unexpected. ¡± Raising her clear eyes, she met Domenic¡¯s deep gaze. ¡°I never imagined I could be saved. ¡± A faint smile yed at the corners of her mouth as she continued, ¡°I know myself and Kendra too well. I couldn¡¯t endure long in such darkness. She would find me without fail and she wouldn¡¯t spare me. So, I prepared for the worst from the outset. ¡± That was why Lindsey had meticulously documented evidence of Kendra¡¯s intention to kill her, forwarding it to Leonel. The deliberate act of murder alone would put Kendra behind bars. Never did Lindsey anticipate emerging unscathed. Yet, even at the risk of her life, revenge was imperative. If she could survive, that was God taking pity on her. Domenic¡¯s heart suddenly ached. He gazed at Lindsey, his brows furrowed tightly, an intricate mix of emotions painting his face. Pressing Lindsey gently onto the bed, he braced both hands near her ears, peering deeply into her eyes. Though he had much to express, he spoke hoarsely, ¡°Why do you persist in such recklessness? You can confide in me; I will assist you. ¡± ¡°What can you do about matters beyond even the reach of thew? We¡¯re just ordinary people, limited in our abilities. If the world¡¯s injustice persists despite conventional means, I¡¯ll take an extreme and extraordinary step. Even if it costs me my life, I won¡¯t let the wicked go unpunished. This is my choice. I don¡¯t want you to be involved. Besides, once you know, you¡¯ll definitely try to stop me, won¡¯t you?¡± Determination zed in Lindsey¡¯s eyes, causing Domenic¡¯s heart to miss a beat. ¡°Linds, actually I¡­¡± ¡°What do you want to say?¡± She interrupted, noticing his hesitant expression.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Domenic clenched his fists, longing to reveal his true identity to Lindsey. He had the ability to aid her, and he had already done so. But the potential repercussions of disclosing his identity led him to remain silent. After a moment, he sighed lightly. ¡°You¡¯re right. I will try to stop you. ¡± ¡°But I will do it. ¡± Her gaze met his squarely. As their eyes locked, he was the first to yield. Bending over, he buried his head in Lindsey¡¯s neck, his warm breath brushing against her skin. ¡°It¡¯s itchy,¡± she remarked, adjusting her neck. ¡°Just a moment. ¡± With his head down, Lindsey couldn¡¯t discern his expression, prompting her to wrap her arms around his waist. Chapter 656 The two embraced for a fleeting moment before Lindsey spoke in a gentle tone, ¡°I have a question for you. ¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Meeting her bright, ck eyes, he seemed to encourage her to continue. ¡°Why did you suddenlye to save me?¡± Lindsey blinked, contemting how close she¡¯d been to bing a cold corpse if Domenic hadn¡¯t arrived in time. Yet, she found herself pondering why, each time danger loomed, Domenic appeared at the right moment. His expression remained unchanged as he casually responded, ¡°The day you mentioned returning to your father¡¯s house out of the blue, I felt a tinge of unease. Andst night, during our phone conversation, your tone was off. I worried about you and just feltpelled to check on you. I never anticipated something truly happening to you. ¡± Lindsey pouted beneath him. ¡°Are we genuinely telepathic?¡± Domenic chuckled softly. ¡°I also have a question for you. ¡± Lindsey nodded. ¡°Sure, go ahead. ¡± Speaking in a deep voice, he inquired, ¡°Did you ever consider, before engaging in something so perilous, what I¡¯d do if something happened to you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Yes, I have. ¡± ¡°Oh? Tell me. I¡¯m curious about your thoughts,¡± he probed, raising an eyebrow. After a slight pause, Lindsey pursed her lips and looked away; she couldn¡¯t meet Domenic¡¯s piercing gaze. Under her breath, she whispered, ¡°A lifetime is a long time. It¡¯s easy to forget someone. Maybe you¡¯ll be sad for a few years, but time heals all wounds. There are countless other girls who are better for you than me. You can definitely-¡° Before she could finish her ramble, Domenic silenced her with a domineering ki*s. This time, however, he wasn¡¯t gentle, as this ki*s was a punishment. His passionate ki*sing nearly sucked the breath out of her Lungs. Finally, he gently bit her lip and pulled away from the ki*s. When Lindsey looked up, she saw that his eyes were bloodshot from anger. ¡°I¡­¡± Lindsey averted her gaze timidly. She knew that what she said truly upset him. With knitted brows, Domenic asked in a low voice, ¡°Is our rtionship so shallow in your eyes? And it¡¯d only take me a few years to forget all about it?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Tears welled up in her eyes and a lump formed in her throat. ¡°Then exin!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but raise his voice. ¡°Tell me exactly what¡¯s on your mind. ¡± At this point, Lindsey couldn¡¯t stop her tears from rolling down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough, am I? I won¡¯t be the one and only in your life. ¡± Domenic froze, watching helplessly as she sobbed in his arms. Then he reached out and gently wiped away her tears. When she raised her head to look up at him, he leaned in and ki*sed her again, but this time, he did it gently and lovingly. Chapter 657 Afterwards, he sat up. ¡°Go to sleep. You could use the rest. ¡± Domenic tucked Lindsey in and then turned to leave. But she grabbed him by the sleeve and asked anxiously, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Domenic smiled. Enveloped in the bedsidemp¡¯s warm yellow light, he looked touchingly gentle. ¡°I have to deal with something. I¡¯ll be back soon. ¡± Lindsey finally let go of him. Albeit a little disappointed, she still nodded and let him leave. As soon as the door was closed behind him, Lindsey felt extremely lonely. She knew what she said just now hurt him deeply. Perhaps he even thought of her as a cold-hearted woman. In that case, would he not want to talk to her anymore?Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey pulled the covers over her head and wept softly. Although she was exhausted, she tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep. Domenic¡¯s disappointed expression kept shing through her mind. After a long time, she heard the sound of a spark, as though a circuit broke. Sure enough, the bedsidemp suddenly went out. ALL of a sudden, she was enveloped in pitch ckness. Lindsey was paralyzed in fear. She felt as though she had fallen into a cave of ice, devoid of any light. The feeling of utter powerlessness took hold of her again. ¡°Domenic?¡± Lindsey lifted the covers and got out of bed, sobbing anxiously, ¡°Where are you?¡± She wanted to go out to look for Domenic, but she couldn¡¯t move, as though a pair of hands were holding her down. When she was a child, her father had left her alone at home during a ckout. Now, she was left alone again in the darkness. She was broken, helpless, and alone. This feeling of abandonment suffocated her, and she felt as though she was drowning in a pool of despair. She hugged her knees and cried. She couldn¡¯t help but tremble, and soon, she started to hyperventte¡­ Just then, a glimmer of light suddenly beamed through the window, eliminating the darkness instantly. Lindsey raised her head and ran to the window in surprise. Leaning over the window sill, she looked out and was stunned at the scene below her. Thousands ofnterns outside the window lifted gently from the ground and ascended into the sky. The sight transformed the night, making it enchantingly beautiful. Lindsey had never realized that the night could hold such beauty. Just then, her phone chimed, and a message arrived. Chapter 658 A message arrived from Domenic. It said, ¡°May thenterns keep shining and disperse the darkness of every long night. ¡± A flicker of emotion crossed Lindsey¡¯s face. Bathed in thenterns¡¯ her fears seemed to melt Light, away. Instead, a deep, touching sensation welled up from the depths of her heart at that moment. It was the warmth of being loved deeply. As she nced downward, there stood Domenic. Without hesitation, Lindsey put on her coat, dashed down the stairs, and burst out of her building into Domenic¡¯s weing embrace. Under thentern-lit sky, Domenic enveloped her in a close hug. His voice, both maic and gentle, filled her ears. ¡°In this life and the next, you¡¯re my one and only. ¡± Lindsey rested her head against his chest, nodding continuously as tears flowed down her cheeks. This day, the darkness held no fear for her anymore. For the memories of thesenterns were destined to illuminate her evesting night ahead. The following morning, the gentle sun peeked through the curtains, caressing the girl¡¯s delicate eyshes. She awoke, feeling thefort and peace that had cradled her through the night. For he was there, by her side. In her dream, darkness had vanished, reced by a river of starrynterns. Among the romantic ambiance, they made a lifelong promise to stay together. Lindsey couldn¡¯t resist nting a ki*s on Domenic¡¯s face beside her. Domenic awoke to the sight of Lindsey¡¯s lovely face. He wrapped an arm around her, yfully pinning her beneath him. ¡°I was concerned about your well-beingst night. Now, you¡¯re in high spirits this morning and yfully seducing me. I think you¡¯re up for a little fun with me¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned a soft pink. ¡°But it¡¯s so early, and I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s the best time. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at work?¡± Domenic chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can take a day off. This moment feels more important.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡± Lindsey pouted. ¡°You¡¯re not tending to your responsibilities. ¡± Domenic gave a slight raise of his eyebrows. He leaned in and ki*sed her lips tenderly. Chapter 659 Passionately locked in a ki*s, the two were on the brink of intimacy when the ringing phone disrupted their moment. Lindsey tried to grab her phone, but Domenic gently held onto her wrist. He gazed into her eyes, pleading, ¡°Can it wait a bit?¡± She squinted and remarked, ¡°It¡¯s my brother calling. Could be some news from the police station. ¡± Upon hearing that, Domenic had no option but to sit up, separating from her. He looked at her with a hint of disappointment and said, ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll take a shower. ¡± Lindsey pouted and reluctantly picked up the phone. ¡°Hey, Linds, I handed the evidence to the policest night. They called me first thing today. You won¡¯t believe what happened. ¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Lindsey felt a knot in her stomach. ¡°Marisa¡¯s son¡¯s been located, and the police got Kendra¡¯s prints off him. And that piece of voice message was a confession.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Now the evidence is solid. Kendra¡¯s under arrest; she won¡¯t slip away this time. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lindsey straightened up with excitement. ¡°They found the boy? Where did they find him? How is he now?¡± Leonel sighed over the phone, his voice filled with righteous anger. ¡°He didn¡¯t make it. They found his body in a river, far away from Morcastle. The police say he suffocated. I never thought Kendra could be so heartless, not sparing a three-year-old. ¡± Lindsey felt a heavy sadness. ¡°By the way, Linds, the police mentioned they need you to confirm the statement and asked when you¡¯re free. ¡± Lindsey felt a bit taken aback. If the police wanted her, she should be there without dy. Did they need to consider her schedule first? Without overthinking, she quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll be there right now. ¡± Lindsey got up and dressed swiftly. As she walked out of the bedroom, she spotted Domenic emerging from the bathroom, towel-drying his damp hair. He nced at her from head to toe and asked, ¡°Are you going out?¡± Lindsey gave a nod. ¡°I need to go to the police station with my brother to confirm my statement. ¡± ¡°Wait, I¡¯lle with you. ¡± Domenic retreated to his room and returned wearing a crisp white shirt paired with ck suit pants. His air of sophistication left Lindsey slightly taken aback. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? We should get going. ¡± A slight tap of her forehead caused the corners of his mouth to lift in response. Chapter 660 Together, they made their way to the police station. Upon their arrival in the hall, Leonel, who had been waiting there, quickly approached. He gently gripped Lindsey¡¯s shoulder and couldn¡¯t resist giving her a once-over with his eyes. Only when he confirmed that there were no signs of harm on her body did he finally let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Thank goodness, you are alright. ¡± Lindsey offered a smile to Leonel. Just then, the police chief, Peter Garcia, emerged.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Nice to meet you, Chief Garcia. ¡± Leonel pivoted and exchanged greetings with Peter. Recognizing that this could be the police station¡¯s chief, Lindsey promptly introduced herself, saying, ¡°Hello, Mr. Garcia. I¡¯m Lindsey Stewart. ¡± Peter¡¯s gazended on Lindsey, and then he suddenly felt uneasy under the intensity of someone¡¯s scrutiny. He nced to the side and noticed a remarkable man standing beside her, who was staring at him. Peter was taken aback and had a nagging feeling of familiarity about the man. He couldn¡¯t help but entertain a guess in his mind. The man emitted a powerful presence. Despite his in attire, he exuded an air of nobility. With years of experience in the field, Peter was adept at identifying individuals. The previous night, one of Domenic¡¯s subordinates, who had delivered a message to him, urged him to handle Lindsey¡¯s case with special attention. That person also reminded him that the police had be somewhat rxedtely, and he had received some discreet reprimands. Domenic rarely interfered with police matters. In the past, Peter had been just a cop who had handled the case of Domenic¡¯s parents. Peter suspected that the car ident was no ident but a deliberate act. Unfortunately, there was constant pressure from higher-ups, and the case was ultimately closed as an ident. Back then, Peter was a spirited and determined young man who couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to injustice. Overwhelmed by guilt, he sought out ten-year-old Domenic, sharing his suspicions and the evidence he possessed. He hoped that someday, Domenic would have an opportunity to overturn the verdict for his parents¡¯ sake. It was a chance to alleviate the guilt that weighed on Peter¡¯s heart. This is what forged a sort of bond between Peter and Domenic. A few yearster, when Domenic gained power in the Walsh Group, he swiftly gained a formidable reputation in the business world for his ruthless strategies. In time, Peter climbed the ranks and eventually assumed the role of police chief. The previous chief had hinted that Domenic yed a role in Peter¡¯s promotion. It seemed unlikely for Peter, originally a modest officer from a small town with no influential connections, to ascend to such a high position without help. Peter was well aware of this. Though he hadn¡¯t seen Domenic in years, he vividly remembered the promise made by the ten-year-old boy. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to repay your kindness in the future. ¡± Now, the man standing before Peter struck a chord of familiarity. Peter suspected he might be the influential grandson of the Walsh family, leading the Vitality Group. Peter, now a clever individual, promptly approached Lindsey with enthusiasm. ¡°Miss Stewart, I apologize for calling you here on short notice, as you are the directly affected party. However, certain matters require your in-person confirmation. ¡± Lindsey gazed at the middle-aged police chief with a puzzled expression, wondering why he was showing her such deference. Chapter 661 ¡°This is what I should do. ¡± Peter nodded with a smile and then directed his attention to Domenic. ¡°And who might this be?¡± Lindsey introduced him, ¡°This is my boyfriend. He¡¯s here with me. ¡± Leonel cast a nce at Domenic. His prior indifference towards Domenic stemmed from his mother¡¯s disapproval of Lindsey being with him. Peter¡¯s attention shifted to Domenic, offering a respectful bow. ¡°Sir, you seem familiar. May I have your name?¡± Domenic offered a subtle smile as he nced at Peter. After a pause, Domenic spoke slowly, ¡°You can call me Walsh. ¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. A flicker of surprise briefly crossed Peter¡¯s gaze, but his narrowed eyes concealed it from the others. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Walsh. ¡± Peter¡¯s smile broadened even further. With a slight frown, Lindsey asked Peter in puzzlement, ¡°You¡¯re acquainted with him?¡± Peter looked at Lindsey and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t really know him. He seemed vaguely familiar at first, but when I learned about hisst name, I realized I was mistaken. ¡± While saying this, Peter discreetly observed Domenic from the corner of his eye and noticed the smile on Domenic¡¯s face grow. This assured Peter that he hadn¡¯t misspoken. Since Domenic had maintained a low profile, it seemed he preferred not to reveal his identity publicly. It appeared that Domenic¡¯s decision to apany Lindsey to the police station today was driven by curiosity about the current state of the station overseen by Peter. ¡°Miss Stewart, right this way, please. ¡± Peter courteously guided Lindsey to his office to take her statement. After making her statement, Lindsey said to Peter, ¡°Mr. Garcia, I have a somewhat bold request. ¡± ¡°Please, feel free to ask. ¡± Lindsey hesitated before saying, ¡°I¡¯d like to meet Kendra. ¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Peter found himself in a dilemma. Regtions prohibited Lindsey from seeing the suspect during criminal detention, especially given her role as both intiff and Kendra¡¯s family. ¡°If it¡¯s mot possible, I understand,¡± Lindsey added, sensing the challenge in her request. Peter nced at Domenic, who gave a subtle nod of approval. Smiling, Peter then said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve requested, we can arrange that. ¡± Lindsey was slightly surprised. She had always sensed a unique kindness from Peter towards her, but couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason. Chapter 662 Peter instructed his team to bring Kendra to the interrogation room, then escorted Lindsey to the doorway. After catching a signal from Domenic, he whispered instructions to a nearby officer to apany Lindsey inside. After that, Peter led Domenic and Leonel to the reception area, ensuring they were well looked after. Leonel, observing from the side, noticed the subtle exchange between Peter and Domenic. This left him somewhat puzzled. Once Peter had departed, Leonel, sipping his tea, asked Domenic, ¡°Do you know the police chief?¡± ¡°No,¡± Domenic replied, leaning back on the sofa and focusing on his phone, his tone detached. Leonel looked at Domenic closely and questioned, ¡°So why does he seem to favor you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s actually being considerate towards Lindsey. ¡± ¡°But why is that?¡± Domenic, casually scrolling through his phone, exined casually, ¡°The whole Kendra incident was a blunder for them. They nearly convicted the wrong person and let the actual criminal off. They probably don¡¯t want Lindsey making this public. It would tarnish the police station¡¯s image. As a visiting professor at a research institute, Mr. Lopez, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s obvious?¡± Leonel was rendered speechless. Domenic¡¯s remark subtly suggested that Leonel might be well-versed in academics butcked insight into the ways of the world. Observing Domenic¡¯s side face, Leonel had to acknowledge his good looks. It was clear why Lindsey was captivated by him.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Lindsey had even broken off an arranged engagement their mother had set up to be with Domenic. However, their mother had said that Domenic had nothing but his pretty face, incapable of bringing Lindsey true happiness. In the absence of their parents, Leonel felt it was his duty to step into his sister¡¯s personal life and honor his mother¡¯s wishes. ¡°Tell me, how much money would it take for you to leave my sister?¡± Leonel asked arrogantly, loungingfortably with crossed legs. Only then did Domenic look up from his phone, meeting Leonel¡¯s gaze. ¡°What¡¯s your offer?¡± Leonel snorted. He believed Domenic was indeed a greedy man. ¡°If you agree to end things with Lindsey, I can give you that much money,¡± Leonel said, extending two fingers. ¡°Two million dors, huh?¡± Domenic said with a smile. Leonel looked down on Domenic with disdain. He believed Domenic was impressed. In Leonel¡¯s view, someone like Domenic had never obtained such arge sum. He was sure that Domenic would eagerly take the two million dors and leave Lindsey without hesitation. Chapter 663 Juanita and Lindsey once had a disagreement because of this man. Leonel believed they should have gotten rid of this man sooner. After all, money was a big deal, especially to those struggling in society.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Leonel was feeling quite self-satisfied when he suddenly heard Domenic chuckling. Thatugh was full of mockery and disdain. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Leonel asked, furrowing his brow as he looked at Domenic. Domenic was covering his mouth with his right fist, trying to hold back hisughter. ¡°I find it amusing that you value your sister¡¯s rtionship at just two million dors. What if I offer you double that to cut off your brother-sister rtionship with Lindsey? Would you agree?¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Leonel was visibly upset. He felt deeply insulted and red at Domenic, saying, ¡°You can¡¯t put a price on my rtionship with Lindsey. You don¡¯t have that kind of money. Even if you did, even a hundred million dors wouldn¡¯t make me agree. ¡± Domenic gave a subtle smile and said, ¡°Well, that¡¯s exactly how I feel too. ¡± Leonel was momentarily taken aback, then realized he had been skillfully manipted by Domenic¡¯s words. Reflecting on what Domenic said, Leonel saw him in a different light. But he suspected Domenic¡¯s intentions weren¡¯t just about the money. This man might be eyeing the entire business empire connected to Lindsey¡¯s family. Reminding himself to stay wary of Domenic¡¯s tactics, Leonel knew he had a responsibility. With their mother in aa, as Lindsey¡¯s eldest brother, it was his duty to ensure Lindsey married Sumner, fulfilling their mother¡¯sst wish. In the interrogation room, Lindsey sat calmly across from Kendra. Kendra¡¯s eyes reddened with anger when she saw Lindsey, her teeth clenched in fury. ¡°Did youe here just to mock me?¡± Kendra asked, her fists clenched in defiance, her resolve to kill Lindsey unshaken. Lindsey looked at Kendra, a questioning look in her eyes. ¡°Kendra, that boy is only three, and you¡¯ve been a mother. How could you be so heartless to end his life?¡± Lindsey was referring to Marisa¡¯s child. Kendra let out a cynicalugh and said, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to be kind. I told you long ago, that boy was beyond saving. He was suffering from an incurable illness. I was just putting him out of his misery. ¡± ¡°But you made a promise to Marisa. She sacrificed her life for it. Don¡¯t you have any remorse? How do you value a human Life?¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze was sharp as she looked at Kendra. Now Kendra seemed like a demon to her. Chapter 664 Kendra giggled bitterly and gloomily. ¡°Lindsey, what do you know? You¡¯ve always lived a privileged life as a Stewart. How could you understand my struggles? For the rich people, the world is a yground; but for the poor, it¡¯s a living hell. The lives of the poor mean nothing. Without money or status, they¡¯re easily crushed and disregarded. Feel guilty? Why should I? If life has been so unfair to me, why should I feel any guilt? That¡¯s exactly why Marisa took her own life. She knew her child had no future, but she couldn¡¯t face it. I just helped her along. ¡± Lindsey watched Kendra, who wasughing hysterically. Kendra¡¯s actions made her seem pitiable, yet despicable and hateful. ¡°Did you even hesitate to think when you asked Marisa to set that fire, the one that hurt my mother?¡± Kendra¡¯s eyes turned cruel as she smirked and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who harmed Juanita. It was you and Benny. You both forced me to do that. ¡± Lindsey scoffed.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. She felt foolish for even hoping to hear a hint of remorse from Kendra. Lindsey even held onto thest sliver of hope for Kendra. ¡°Kendra, you are really hopeless. If our family hadn¡¯t weed you and Shelia, you wouldn¡¯t be where you are now. Not only are you ungrateful, but you also schemed to take my family¡¯s assets and tried to kill my mother and me. Even a dog shows loyalty to those who care for it. You¡¯re worse than a dog. ¡± After saying this, Lindsey¡¯s eyes turned cold. She turned and began to walk towards the interrogation room door. Then, she heard Kendra yelling after her, ¡°Lindsey, you only won because you allied with the wealthy and powerful. What right do you have to be proud of? Without that man¡¯s help, you¡¯d be nothing, easily crushed under my feet. I¡¯m not as good as you are at charming men. My only mistake was choosing to be with Benny. ¡± Lindsey frowned and turned back to Kendra. ¡°What did you just say?¡± What was Kendra talking about? Which ¡°man¡±? Lindsey frowned and stared at Kendra in confusion. A mocking, twisted smile took over Kendra¡¯s face, contorting her features. But before Kendra could say anything more, she was interrupted by the policeman beside her. ¡°Time¡¯s up. ¡± As he spoke, the policeman pulled Kendra to her feet and led her out the back door. Seeing this, Lindsey sighed and also left the interrogation room. She, Domenic, and Leonel walked out of the police station together. Then, Lindsey said to Domenic, ¡°I¡¯m going to the hospital. You don¡¯t have toe with me. ¡± ¡°Alright, be safe. ¡± Domenic nodded slightly. ¡°Linds, I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Leonel said a little too eagerly. Then the two hailed a taxi and headed to the hospital. At the Walsh Manor, Jordan was sitting on the luxurious sofa, wearing a gentle smile on his face as he chatted with someone over the phone. Chapter 665 ¡°Carole, what time¡¯s your flight? When will you arrive? I¡¯ll have someone pick you up at the airport. ¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh, something urgent came up at school. I can¡¯t go back until a few days from now. And don¡¯t bother sending someone; I can just take a taxi. ¡± A sweet-Like-honey feminine voice came from the other end of the line. Jordan chuckled lightheartedly.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. You¡¯re my future granddaughter-inw, and I know it wasn¡¯t easy for you toe back after all these years. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let you take a taxi! Please, it¡¯s the least I can do. ¡± The woman smiled and asked softly, ¡°Does Domenic know that I¡¯ll be back soon?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t told him yet. I want to surprise him when youe back. ¡± ¡°Well, I hope it won¡¯t be too much of a shock for him to see me,¡± the woman said half-jokingly. ¡°Of course not! I know Domenic very well. He hasn¡¯t had a girlfriend ever since you left. He¡¯s been waiting for you all these years,¡± Jordan reassured her earnestly. The woman chuckled. ¡°Haha, I see. ¡± Sitting in the taxi with Leonel, Lindsey kept thinking about thest thing Kendra said. Her victory was only because she had aligned with the wealthy and she had received the help of that man? But despite racking her brains for a long time, Lindsey couldn¡¯t think of anyone who was as powerful as Kendra imed. So, who on earth was Kendra referring to? Or could she have misunderstood something? Seeing the tight frown on Lindsey¡¯s face, Leonel asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Linds? You¡¯ve been quiet ever since we left the police station. ¡± ¡°Kendra said that I only defeated her because I hooked up with a rich and powerful man. ¡± Lindsey came to her senses and looked at Leonel earnestly. She had nothing to hide from her brother. ¡°A rich and powerful man?¡± Leonel grinned and teased her, ¡°Lindsey, are you dating two men at the same time?¡± ¡°Leonel!¡± Lindsey gently punched his arm, feeling speechless. ¡°Hey, I was just kidding. ¡± Leonel raised his hands in surrender. ¡°I know my sister¡¯s not that kind of person. Anyway, there¡¯s no need to think about it too much. Gold diggers like Kendra tend to project their own despicable and opportunistic nature onto others. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Lindsey continued earnestly, ¡°I¡¯ve suspected for a while now that someone has been helping me in secret. At first, I thought it was you and Mom, but this time, it¡¯s different. ¡± ¡°Do you think it¡¯s your boyfriend that¡¯s helping you?¡± Leonel thought of the way Peter looked at Domenic at the station. It seemed that Peter respected-and even feared¡ªDomenic. But Lindsey simply burst intoughter. ¡°Leonel, stop teasing me! If it was really him, he¡¯d just tell me. Why would he keep it a secret?¡± ¡°Who knows what goes on in that guy¡¯s head?¡± Leonel muttered crossly. ¡°Leonel, he isn¡¯t who you think he is. He promised me that he wouldn¡¯t hide anything from me. And I trust him. ¡± Leonel didn¡¯t know what to say when he saw the confident, determined look on Lindsey¡¯s face. Chapter 666 In the end, he could only shrug helplessly, thinking that a love-struck woman was really helpless. ¡°By the way, Leonel,¡± Lindsey said, suddenly growing serious, ¡°did the police say how the boy was found?¡± Leonel thought for a while and shook his head. ¡°No. Speaking of which, I actually did ask how the boy was found, but the officers gave me such ambiguous answers before finally changing the subject. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°I can¡¯t help but wonder if he wasn¡¯t found by the police¡­¡± ¡°If not the police, then who?¡± Leonel looked at her in disbelief. Lindsey met his dubious gaze with burning eyes. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s the person who¡¯s secretly been helping me. ¡± Seeing Lindsey and Leonel approaching from the end of the hall, Benny stood up in a hurry, as though he couldn¡¯t wait to Leave. ¡°Linds, thank goodness you¡¯re here. Something came up at work, and I have to go. ¡± As he spoke, Benny hurriedly put on his coat. Lindsey looked at him with a faint smile and proceeded to drop a bombshell on him. ¡°Dad, Kendra was arrested by the police. ¡± Benny stopped in his tracks. He stared at Lindsey in disbelief and asked incredulously, ¡°What? Why?¡± Lindsey walked over to the bedside and looked down at her mother¡¯s sleeping face. There was a touch of sadness in Lindsey¡¯s eyes as she said, ¡°Kendra paid someone to set that fire that left my mom in aa. Then she drowned a three-year-old boy. Even if the judge is merciful enough not to give Kendra the death penalty, she¡¯ll probably spend the rest of her life behind bars. ¡± Benny suddenly shuddered, disbelief written all over his face. ¡°How¡­ How could this be? Did the police make a mistake? Kendra¡¯s still pregnant! How could she do such a thing?! There must be some kind of misunderstanding!¡± Although Benny didn¡¯t Love Kendra deeply, thetter had still served him well for so many years. He refused to believe that the woman he slept next to every night was a murderer and an arsonist. Most importantly, Kendra was pregnant with what he thought was his child. When the child grew up, they¡¯d be ashamed to have Kendra as a mother. And Benny, too, would feel ashamed to have a murder as his wife. Benny¡¯s mind was aplete mess, but as though the blow that had been dealt wasn¡¯t enough, Lindsey¡¯s cold voice came again. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m not lying. If you don¡¯t believe me, go to the station yourself and ask the police what happened. I¡¯ve tried to tell you countless times before that Kendra¡¯s a scheming, cruel woman. I told you to divorce her, but you just wouldn¡¯t listen to me. Now that Kendra¡¯s been arrested, you will be shrouded in shame and humiliation. Dad, how will you face people, knowing that the wife you refused to divorce has been imprisoned for murder and arson?¡± Eyes wide as saucers, Benny stared at Lindsey and shook his head hysterically. ¡°No, this is all wrong. I know Kendra, She¡¯s not that kind of person!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but raise her voice to stop Benny from spiraling into self-delusion. ¡°You don¡¯t know her at all! Yes, she¡¯s pregnant, but the baby isn¡¯t yours! Just wait until the baby¡¯s born and run a paternity test. Maybe then you¡¯ll finally believe me. ¡± Eyes bloodshot, Benny red at Lindsey and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Linds, you were the one who put Kendra behind the bars, weren¡¯t you?¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey sneered. ¡°Yes. Why would I spare the person who nearly had my mother killed?¡± As though all the life was sucked out of him, Benny sat on the edge of the bed, deted. He nced at Juanita, who was lying unconscious in bed, and smiled bitterly. ¡°Juanita, you really have such a good and loyal daughter. ¡± It was indeed a huge scandal that his daughter personally sent his wife and stepdaughter to prison. Chapter 667 Benny felt so utterly humiliated. Knowing what was on his mind, Lindsey said coldly, ¡°Dad, for thest time, I¡¯m telling you the truth. me me all you want, but I don¡¯t regret what I¡¯ve done. ¡± ¡°Benny Stewart, you¡¯re not actually going to plead for that despicable woman, are you?¡± Leonel said angrily.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Leonel had chosen to live with Juanita when their parents split, so Leonel¡¯s love for his father had naturally faded. Moreover, Leonel looked down upon Benny so much that he refused to even call him ¡°Dad¡±. Benny raised his head to take a good look at Leonel. The young man standing before him was now like a stranger to him. Now, his family was torn apart. He questioned how he had failed to such a severe extent. At longst, Benny stood up and shook his head in defeat. ¡°Kendra hasmitted heinous crimes. She doesn¡¯t deserve to be my wife anymore. I¡¯m going to divorce her. ¡± Benny knew that the only way he could salvage his dignity was to divorce Kendra as soon as possible. As for the baby in her belly, Benny decided he¡¯d conduct a paternity test as soon as it was born. If it was his own, he would take it in and raise it himself. Benny still clung to a glimmer of hope that it was his child. Leonel might¡¯ve cut all ties with him, but if Kendra could give birth to a baby boy, then at least he¡¯d still have a son who would look out for him when he grew old and frail. After all, daughters were usually married off. It was the sons who took care of their parents when they could no longer take care of themselves. Just then, Benny¡¯s phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was a call from the police station, asking him to make a statement on record. This phone call served was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back; finally, Benny believed everything Lindsey said. After putting the phone down, Benny shakily walked out the door, his legs threatening to give out at any moment. Lindsey watched him leave; looking at his graying hair and frail body, she felt that he had aged a decade in the span of minutes. She felt sorry for him, but only for a moment. Wasn¡¯t this all his own fault? He brought this upon himself! ¡°Linds, Mom¡¯s condition is stable now, and I¡¯ve found a reliable caregiver for her. You¡¯ve been on leave for a while now, and I know you¡¯ve probably got a ton of work waiting for you at thepany,¡± Leonel said gently. Lindsey nodded. After feeding Juanita some water, Leonel walked Lindsey to the door. However, just as Lindsey opened the door to leave, she saw a group of reporters and cameramen rushing towards her from the end of the corridor. A nurse valiantly hurried forward in an attempt to stop the stampede, but there were just too many people. The crowd swarmed past her and headed straight to Juanita¡¯s ward. Seeing Lindsey by the door, a reporter shoved a microphone in Lindsey¡¯s face and said, ¡°Miss Stewart, is it true that your mother, Juanita, has be a vegetable because of the fire?¡± Lindsey frowned unhappily. Over the past few days, she had done all she could to keep this a secret from the public, but unexpectedly, the media caught wind of it so soon. ¡°You reporters have no morals! This is a hospital. You¡¯re disturbing the patient!¡± Leonel shouted indignantly from behind Lindsey. However, Lindsey raised her hand to stop Leonel from going on a rampage. Then she calmly looked at the sea of reporters and said lightly, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. ¡± Chapter 668 Since she couldn¡¯t hide it, she decided it was best if she just admitted it humbly. If she drove them away forcefully, she¡¯d only be giving people ammunition against her. Stunned by her frank confession, even the reporters couldn¡¯t help but exchange dismayed nces, as though they couldn¡¯t believe their ears. ¡°Miss Stewart, how did the fire happen? What will happen to Cherish if Miss Lopez doesn¡¯t wake up from hera? Will the cooperation between Lindnita Artists Agency and Cherish be dissolved?¡± ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t say for now. ¡± After saying that, Lindsey turned around and left. The reporters tried to follow her, but by then, the hospital¡¯s security guards arrived at the scene and drove them out. Lindsey went straight to herpany, but as soon as she entered the office area, everyone turned to stare at her. Her colleague¡¯s eyes were either sympathetic, worried, or a mix of the both. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re back!¡± Xiomara stood up first and weed Lindsey warmly. The others then followed suit. Lindsey smiled and nodded at everyone before fixing her inquisitve gaze at Xiomara. Xiomara had beenpletely changed; now, she was wearing a Chanel dress, which made her stand out among the crowd. ¡°Xiomara,e here. ¡± Lindsey called Xiomara into her office. She then pulled out a contract from the drawer and handed it to Xiomara. Seeing the stunned expression on the girl¡¯s face, Lindsey smiled and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to be an actress? Well, this is it. I¡¯ve already prepared a contract for you. ¡± Truth be told, Lindsey had wanted to sign the contract with Xiomara a long time ago, but life had been so chaotictely. ¡°Lindsey¡­ Tears welled up in Xiomara¡¯s eyes. She was too moved to say a word and just looked at Lindsey gratefully. Lindsey waved her hand and chuckled. ¡°The sooner we have this contract signed, the better, lest otherpanies try to poach you. From now on, focus on studying acting. Don¡¯t let me down, okay? Oh, and try not to cry so often, or the others will bully you. ¡± Xiomara hurriedly wiped the tears from her face and nodded enthusiastically. ¡°Lindsey, thispany¡¯s like my home. I won¡¯t let you down!¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Anyways, I have work to do. Go to the HR department and go through the transfer formalities as soon as you can. ¡± Right after Xiomara left with a skip in her step, Nancy walked past her and entered Lindsey¡¯s office. ¡°Linds, there you are. I have something important to tell you. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush? Rx, sit down, and talk slowly. ¡± After closing the office door, Lindsey poured Nancy a ss of water and handed it to her. Nancy tilted her head up and downed its contents in a single gulp, mming the ss on the desk with a loud bang. Looking at Lindsey grimly, Nancy said, ¡°Your mother just had an ident and Cherish is nning to cancel our coboration and switch to Gallop Entertainment. Do you know what theizens are saying about you now?¡± Sitting on her side of the desk, Lindsey leisurely took a sip of water and asked, ¡°What¡¯re they saying?¡± Nancy puffed her chest out, eyes shing with righteous indignation. She opened and closed her mouth, unable to say a word, and finally threw the phone in front of Lindsey. ¡°I can¡¯t say it out loud. See for yourself.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡± Chapter 669 Lindsey looked down and found that the top search was ¡°Juanita & Fire. ¡± Frowning, Lindsey checked the rted tweets. The more she read, the tighter she clenched her fist. ¡°Karma¡¯s a bitch. Juanita pulled some strings to get her daughter a chance to cooperate with Cherish and probably did other hical stuff along the way. Now, she got what she deserves. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°I heard that as soon as something happened to Juanita, the vice president of Cherish went to Gallop Entertainment. Just goes to show how Juanita must¡¯ve done some unsavory things when she was in office. ¡± ¡°Lindsey got to where she is today because she¡¯s a ¡®nepo baby¡¯. Now that something has happened to her mom, Lindsey will inevitably fail soon. ¡± One tweet in particr caught Lindsey¡¯s attention. She couldn¡¯t help but ask Nancy, ¡°Kristy¡¯s going to join Gallop Entertainment?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? That¡¯s practically old news. ¡± Nancy looked at Lindsey in surprise. Lindsey shook her head. She had been so busy dealing with Kendra for thest few days that she hadn¡¯t had the time to go through the news. Seeing that Lindsey was genuinely clueless, Nancy exined, ¡°People say that Gallop Entertainment spent a fortune to poach Kristy and are even willing to pay more for the damages. ¡± Lindsey pursed her lips. Ever since Kristy lost to Sh in the audition, although she was still a A-lister, her poprity and reputation had declined somewhat. So why would Gallop Entertainment spend a fortune to poach her? No wonder there was so much hate being slung at Lindsey and her mother on the Inte; Kristy¡¯s fans probably seized this opportunity to bash her relentlessly. After all, if Cherish truly entered into a cooperation with Gallop Entertainment, Kristy might be the spokesperson. ¡°She won¡¯t hesitate, will she?¡± Lindsey asked after a moment¡¯s reflection. Nancy shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. ¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°As you can see, this has been going on for several days, but there¡¯s no word from Kristy. My guess is that Vitality Entertainment refuses to let Kristy leave and is trying their best to keep her on board. Maybe they¡¯ve offered her irresistible resources, which is why she¡¯s hesitating. ¡± Lindsey thought it made sense. She looked at Nancy with a relieved smile and remarked, ¡°Nancy, you¡¯ve grown up. ¡± Raising her head proudly, Nancy beamed at her and said, ¡°I had to! Who else would back you up?¡± Lindsey felt warm in her heart, but she didn¡¯t have the time to get all mushy and sentimental. ¡°How¡¯s the cooperation between Gallop Entertainment and Cherish going?¡± Nancy chuckled and said, ¡°Not so well. ¡± ¡°Why? What happened?¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lindsey figured that Gallop Entertainment would seize this opportunitynd a cooperation with Cherish, so she wasn¡¯t surprised that there were ongoing talks between the twopanies. With Juanita out of the picture, Cherish would probably choose the more famous Gallop Entertainment. Chapter 670 Given such a win-win situation, the two sides should¡¯ve signed the contract without hesitation. ¡°Look at the top searches again,¡± Nancy winked, pointing at the phone in Lindsey¡¯s hand. Lindsey immediately fixed her eyes on the top of the webpage. Sure enough, the second headline exined everything. ¡°Luxury brand Cherish has lost its backbone, and the stock price of LMH Group has plummeted. ¡± Lindsey clicked in and found that after her mother¡¯s ident, Cherish was thrown into disarray. The only reason why the socialite divas were fond of this brand was because of Juanita¡¯s designs, and now that something had happened to Juanita, thosedies began refunding their purchases. As a result, Cherish¡¯s poprity plummeted. Just then, a piece of breaking news caught Lindsey¡¯s attention. She couldn¡¯t help but widen her eyes in shock. ¡°Vitality Group eyes Cherish: will they buy the luxury brand despite its high price?¡± It seemed that the LMH Group was eager to sell the hot potato as soon as possible, so the two bigpanies had been in talkstely. The moment Cherish was bought off by anotherpany, then Juanita would be irrelevant. Cherish was the fruit of Lindsey¡¯s mother¡¯s painstakingbor. Lindsey couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch as it was sold off like a cheap product. Noticing the sullen look on Lindsey¡¯s face, Nancy pursed her lips and debated telling her one more thing.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. But Lindsey saw that Nancy seemed to be in a dilemma, so she took a deep breath and said firmly, ¡°Just tell me what you want to say. ¡± Nancy didn¡¯t hide it anymore and blurted, ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going ontely but I can¡¯t shake the feeling that Gallop Entertainment has been targeting ourpany. ¡± ¡°Why would you think that?¡± Lindsey frowned. Nancy sat up straight and exined, ¡°I¡¯ve already negotiated a cooperation with an advertiser, but on the day we were supposed to sign the contract, they suddenly called and said that they wanted to change the spokesperson. Only after I asked did I realize that Gallop Entertainment had fought hard for this particr advertisement. It¡¯s just amon brand, nothing special about it, but Gallop Entertainment used one of their most popr artists. So that advertiser didn¡¯t even consider the less famous artists at ourpany. ¡± Hearing that, Lindsey¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Are you saying they¡¯re taking resources from us?¡± ¡°At the beginning, I thought it might just be a coincidence, but these days, the same thing has been happening one after another. Whenever we get a good chance, Gallop Entertainment swoops in and sticks its nose into it. In the end, our artists only get unpresentable job offers. If word gets out that this has been happening, people willugh at our artists!¡± Lindsey clenched her fists and wondered if this had anything to do with Shelia. Back then, Gallop Entertainment not only whitewashed Shelia¡¯s misdeeds but even signed a contract with her and gave her limitless resources. Obviously, they thought very highly of Shelia and they weren¡¯t afraid to show it. But Lindsey doubted that Shelia was capable of orchestrating such an borate scheme. However, if the person who had been helping Shelia this whole time was a senior executive at Gallop Entertainment, then all these underhanded ¡°attacks¡± made sense. Since Shelia had been thrown behind bars thanks to Lindsey, Gallop Entertainment suffered huge losses, so this senior executive was likely venting his anger on Lindsey and her agency. ¡°I think I understand what¡¯s going on. ¡± Expression grim, Lindsey stood up and gather her things. ¡°I¡¯ll go to Vitality Group first and figure out how to deal with Gallop Entertainmentter. ¡± Chapter 671 ¡°Why are you going to Vitality Group?¡± Nancy stood up and asked in surprise. Lindsey met Nancy¡¯s inquisitive gaze and said coldly, ¡°I can¡¯t let them buy Cherish. ¡± Soon, Lindsey arrived at Vitality Group¡¯s headquarters by taxi. Looking at the magnificent building in front of her, she couldn¡¯t help but admire it. No wonder it was the number one conglomerate in Morcastle; their building alone was majestic, making people stand in awe of it. It was the first time Lindsey had ever visited their headquarters, so it was only natural that she felt a bit nervous. Rumors circted that the CEO of the Vitality Group wielded substantial influence in Morcastle. Those who dared to cross him mysteriously vanished, never to be seen again. On this particr day, Lindsey had to tread carefully in both her words and actions. A misstep with that influential figure could potentially spell the demise of the small agency she had recently founded. Lindsey took a deep breath, psyched herself up, and strode straight into the magnificent building. As soon as she stepped inside, a gasp nearly escaped Lindsey¡¯s lips. The lobby alone was three times the size of her entirepany. Luxurious andmanding, the d¨¦cor boasted marble-d floors and walls, so immactely polished that her reflection stared back at her. At the heart of the lobby stood a crystal tree, a testament to the impable taste of the Vitality Group. If Lindsey had to choose one word to describe this ce, ¡®spectacr¡¯ would undoubtedly fit the bill. Looking up, she saw that there were so many floors that she couldn¡¯t see the tippy top.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. No wonder Vitality Group was considered a business empire-it was so luxurious! Lindsey felt that she had seen a lot in her life, but she still felt extremely humbled here, as though she was nothing but a mere antpared to those who worked here. Many men and women in corporate attire shuttled through the lobby, each wearing a cold, brisk expression. Needless to say, these people were likely the elites of society. She looked around in awe, wondering what kind of person was at the helm of this meticulously constructed empire. Just who was the CEO of Vitality Group? Taking a deep breath, Lindsey mustered the courage to walk to the front desk. There were more than a dozen receptionists at the front desk alone, some of which were busy answering the phone, while others were entertaining the visitors. Lindsey could only wait her turn at the back of the line. After what felt like an eternity, it was finally Lindsey¡¯s turn. She walked up to the desk and was politely greeted by a receptionist. ¡°Hello, miss. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Hi, may I know who¡¯s in charge of Cherish¡¯s acquisition? I was hoping to make an appointment with them. ¡± ¡°Okay, please wait a moment. ¡± Wearing a professional and polite smile, the receptionist briskly dialed a number. After making a few inquiries, she put the phone down and showed Lindsey an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, but there¡¯s been no news regarding ourpany¡¯s acquisition of Cherish. ¡± Chapter 672 No news? Lindsey frowned slightly. Was it really just a rumor circting the Inte? But the news article seemed legitimate enough. So, what was going on? While Lindsey was deep in thought, she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance. A tall, well-dressed man entered the VIP elevator. Several bodyguards in ck quickly surrounded him like a human wall. Before she could see clearly what he looked like, the elevator doors closed and he disappeared from sight. For some reason, Lindsey felt that the man looked extremely familiar she seemed to share the exact same figure as Domenic. Lindsey shook her head immediately and banished the thought. What on earth was she thinking? Although Domenic was as handsome as whoever that VIP was, they obviously weren¡¯t the same person. After all, how could Domenic show up here with so many bodyguards? Just then, the phone in front of the receptionist rang. She answered it, and after a few seconds, she looked at Lindsey in surprise.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Excuse me, miss. I just received news that the acquisition of Cherish is still in the proposal stage. The CEO himself brought it up with the board, but the other executives haven¡¯t decided on the details yet. Why don¡¯t youe back in a few days?¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression turned grim. She knew that since it was proposed by the CEO of Vitality Group himself, even if she met with the subsequent executive in charge, it¡¯d be useless if she couldn¡¯t talk the CEO out of buying Cherish. But what if¡­ ¡°Would it be possible to set an appointment with the CEO?¡± After all, it¡¯d be more effective to talk directly to the top brass. The receptionist was surprised to hear Lindsey¡¯s request, but she was still a professional at the end of the day. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss,¡± she said with a polite, apologetic smile. ¡°The CEO never meets with guests. ¡± Lindsey found it strange. How could a CEO of a flourishingpany like Vitality Group not see a guest? Or could it be that the receptionist just didn¡¯t want to make an appointment for her because she was a nobody? But Lindsey thought it was reasonable. A boss of such a bigpany must have his own secretary and assistant. The receptionist might not have the right to make an appointment for her, but the reason the receptionist gave her sounded a little too perfunctory. ¡°Then¡­ May I ask how I can meet the CEO?¡± Lindseypromised somewhat, but she was still determined to meet this mysterious boss. But the receptionist only gave Lindsey an ambiguous smile. Before Lindsey could figure out what was in the receptionist¡¯s smile, a familiar feminine voice sounded from behind Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey, is that you?¡± Startled, Lindsey turned around and saw a pretty woman dressed in bright clothes and a pair of big sunsses standing behind her. Kristy? What was she doing here? Although Lindsey had issues with Kristy, the two women liked to pretend as though nothing had happened so that there wouldn¡¯t be aplete falling out. ¡°Miss Chase, what a coincidence. ¡± Lindsey smiled, but her smile was a little stiff. Chapter 673 ¡°What a small world indeed!¡± Kristyughed, her red lips glistening under the dazzling lights. ¡°Are you here to see him?¡± ¡°¡¯Him¡¯2¡å Lindsey wondered if Kristy also knew about the Vitality Group¡¯s n to purchase Cherish. Kristy looked Lindsey up and down. It was evident that Lindsey¡¯s confused look was genuine. Kristy raised one eyebrow and asked tentatively, ¡°Are you also here to see the CEO of Vitality Group?¡± At this, Lindsey was even more confused. ¡°How¡¯d you know? Are you here to see him, too?¡± Instead of answering Lindsey¡¯s question, Kristy asked with great interest, ¡°Do you even know the CEO¡¯s surname?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows knitted in confusion. Seeing Lindsey¡¯s reaction, Kristy understood what was going on and couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. ¡°You dare toe here even though you don¡¯t know his name? Lindsey, I suggest you find out before youe back. ¡± Lindsey frowned and looked at Kristy with displeasure. It wasn¡¯t as though she hadn¡¯t done her research; in fact, Lindsey briefly Looked up the Vitality Group on the Inte before she came, but their CEO was so mysterious that there was almost no personal information about him online. It was also because the brand that Lindsey¡¯s mother had worked so hard to create was going to be acquired that Lindsey was in such a rush that she came here without doing further investigation. Now that she thought about it, Lindsey was able to calm down, realizing that she did have connections that mighte in handy right now. Emilio, the general manager of the Vitality Entertainment, was also the vice president of the Vitality Group. Lindsey didn¡¯t want to waste her breath on Kristy, so she gave her a brief smile and then turned to leave. Being so tantly ignored like this, Kristy was very angry. She raised her voice and yelled, ¡°The CEO¡¯s surname is Walsh! Lindsey, your boyfriend¡¯sst name is also Walsh, right?¡± Lindsey abruptly stopped in her tracks. She turned to look at Kristy from over her shoulder and asked indifferently, ¡°So?¡± Kristy smiled.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that since your boyfriend happens to share the same surname as the CEO of Vitality Group, then maybe he¡¯s rted to the prestigious Walsh family. He must be, right? That¡¯d exin why you, a fledgling agent, have aplished so much in less than a year. Lindsey, your little boyfriend has been supporting you this whole time, right? Why do you pretend to work hard? It¡¯sughable, really. ¡± Kristy thought she had dealt a fatal blow, but it was Lindsey who burst intoughter. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Kristy asked irritably before suddenly turning pale. Was she right? Was Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend actually connected to the Walsh family? It took Lindsey a while to stopughing. ¡°Miss Chase, I¡¯mughing at your wild imagination. There are so many people in this world whosest name is Walsh. Do you think they¡¯re all from Morcastle¡¯s Walsh family? Do you think I¡¯d even be talking to you if I was really connected with this Walsh family? With their power, I¡¯d make sure you¡¯re cklisted from the entertainment circle, let alone let you stand here and mock me like this. ¡± Kristy¡¯s beautiful face darkened and she fixed her eyes on Lindsey, trying to assess thetter. Since Lindsey ridiculed her like this, Kristy started to wonder if she had guessed wrong. On that day, when Kristy met Domenic in Champs Le Bar, she found him strange so she tried every means to have him investigated. As an A-lister, Kristy naturally knew many dignitaries in Morcastle. Chapter 674 But Kristy was shocked by the result of the investigation. There was little to no news about Domenic, but the limousine that drove Domenic away that night was said to be the car of the CEO of Vitality Group, one of the leadingpanies in Morcastle. Kristy couldn¡¯t believe it. She had tried her best to meet this ever elusive CEO and had evene to the headquarters of Vitality Group today to confirm whether Domenic was the CEO of the Vitality Group or not. Unexpectedly, she ran into Lindsey at their headquarters. But Lindsey seemed to bepletely unaware of the situation with her boyfriend, so Kristy began to doubt herself. After all, what Lindsey said just was reasonable. If she was really the girlfriend of this mysterious, powerful CEO, she could get anything she wanted; she wouldn¡¯t have needed to spend so much time working in the entertainment circle. But if Domenic wasn¡¯t the CEO of the Vitality Group, why did he use the CEO¡¯s limousine? And why was he treated so respectfully everywhere he went? It could only mean one thing: that Domenic had to have something to do with the wealthy Walsh family. Kristy narrowed her eyes at Lindsey, her mind running a mile a minute. What if Lindsey had no idea that Domenic was rted to the Walsh family? What if Domenic had hidden this fact from her? If that was the case, then things could get interesting. ALL of a sudden, Kristy broke into a wide grin. It seemed that Domenic was just ying with Lindsey. Perhaps he was just afraid that Lindsey would pester him nonstop if she knew his true identity, so he deliberately kept it a secret from her. Kristy, who often mingled with the upper echelons of society, knew these rich men too well. Sometimes, if they were up to it, they¡¯d y all kinds of tricks on poor, unassuming women. And one thing was for sure: when Domenic grew tired of Lindsey, he¡¯d dump her like a hot potato. In the end, Lindsey might not even know the real identity of her boyfriend! When this thought crossed her mind, Kristy couldn¡¯t help but look at Lindsey with some pity. ¡°Jesus, I was just kidding, Lindsey. Why¡¯d you take me so seriously?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Kristy patted Lindsey¡¯s arm yfully. In Kristy¡¯s eyes, Lindsey was no longer an enemy, but a poor woman who was being yed by a rich man. Kristy didn¡¯t even need to lift a finger; sooner orter, Lindsey would be tossed aside by that big shot like an old toy. And by the time they broke up, Kristy could step in and be Domenic¡¯s woman. With a faint smile, Lindsey said lightly, ¡°Miss Chase, this is the Vitality Group, not Vitality Entertainment. Have youe to the wrong ce? Oh, by the way, I heard that Gallop Entertainment is trying to poach you recently. Why don¡¯t you take their offer? It¡¯s a windfall, isn¡¯t it?¡± While her words sounded innocent on the surface, Lindsey was clearly satirizing Kristy for her decline in fame. But at the end of the day, Kristy was still a popr actress. Who else in Vitality Entertainment couldpare with her? It¡¯d be definitely a huge loss for thepany if she left. Wearing a fake smile, Kristy said, ¡°It¡¯s up to Mr. Walsh whether I should go to Gallop Entertainment or not. ¡± ¡°Why? What¡¯s the rtionship between the two?¡± Lindsey asked in confusion. After shooting Lindsey a meaningful nce, Kristy went straight to the front desk and ordered the receptionist, ¡°I want to see Mr. Walsh. ¡± Chapter 675 When the receptionist saw that it was Kristy, a popr star, she had got a little flustered. ¡°Miss Chase, I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°What? I¡¯m not qualified to see the CEO? Do you know who I am? If you dare dy a meeting between me and the CEO, I¡¯ll tell him to fire you tomorrow. ¡± Kristy¡¯s arrogant and domineering attitude sessfully scared the receptionist into action. After all, Kristy was indeed someone the receptionist couldn¡¯t afford to offend, so she had to bite the bullet and make a call. ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯ll put you through to the CEO¡¯s secretary. ¡± Having witnessed this exchange, Lindsey decided to see how it went before leaving. In the office of Vitality Group¡¯s CEO. Domenic was in the middle of a video conference with a business tycoon from Mubluosia.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Throughout the entire call, he spoke in fluent French. Recently, Arturo had taken over some foreign projects, and progress had been smooth, sessfully hindering Domenic¡¯s uncles¡¯ overseas business. Thanks to Domenic¡¯s sessful business strategy, the business tycoon from Mubluosia grew to trust and appreciate Arturo very much. Arturo then monopolized almost all the big projects there. Once the video call ended, Domenic leaned back in his leather chair. His uncles, especially Rupert, was probably very stressedtely. Humans were more prone to making mistakes when they were in a desperate situation; the second Domenic saw an opportunity, he could defeat all his uncles in one go. Then he¡¯d be able to take over the Walsh Group with ease, and he could finally confess his true identity to Lindsey and marry her. Just thinking about this made Domenic smile faintly. Just then, his secretary knocked on his door and poked her head in. ¡°Mr. Walsh, Miss Kristy Chase is here to see you. ¡± Domenic frowned unhappily. ¡°Do you alwayse in here when there¡¯s an uninvited visitor? What kind of secretary are you?¡± The secretary¡¯s smile froze as a chill ran down her spine. She had worked for Domenic for a long time now, so she knew exactly what he meant. But when she heard that it was Kristy Chase herself seeking a meeting with the CEO, she didn¡¯t want to be med if she didn¡¯t at least inform Domenic¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Walsh. I¡¯ll inform her that you¡¯re busy. ¡± The secretary ducked out the door in a hurry, but before she could get away, Domenic¡¯s deep voice sounded from behind. ¡°Wait. ¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh, is there anything else I can do for you?¡± Sitting up straight, Domenic looked at the secretary and said with a faint smile, ¡°Tell her, I want her to f@ck off. ¡± Meanwhile, in the lobby of Vitality Group headquarters, Some people around recognized Kristy and stared at her subconsciously. Although all the people here were social elites, it was still interesting to see such a big star here. Chapter 676 They all discussed in hushed whispers, wondering what an A-Lister like Kristy Chase was doing here. Kristy, on the other hand, stood at the front desk with her arms crossed, waiting arrogantly for someone to invite her to the CEO¡¯s office. Kristy even cast a disdainful look at Lindsey from time to time. Judging from the way Lindsey behaved just now, her request to meet the CEO must¡¯ve been rejected. In Kristy¡¯s eyes, it made sense that she had been turned away. After all, nobodies like Lindsey didn¡¯t deserve to meet big shots like the CEO of the Vitality Group. ¡°Miss Chase, do you really think Mr. Walsh is going to meet you?¡± Lindsey looked at Kristy dubiously. ¡°Of course!¡± Kristy sneered, rolling her eyes irritably. Lindsey chuckled. ¡°What makes you so confident?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m Kristy Chase, Vitality Entertainment¡¯s top star. Now, anotherpany has been trying to get me to sign a contract with them at a high price. I¡¯m sure that Mr.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Walsh must¡¯ve caught wind of this. So, I came to see him personally. If he wants me to stay, he¡¯ll meet me for the interests of hispany. ¡± What Kristy said was reasonable. Vitality Entertainment had indeed gone to such lengths to persuade Kristy to stay, but she hadn¡¯t made up her mind yet. Today, she came to Vitality Group¡¯s headquarters to see the CEO himself, which meant that she wanted to go above the people at Vitality Entertainment. Although Vitality Entertainment was just a small branch of Vitality Group, losing a popr star like Kristy would definitely cause a great loss. ¡®s BunnyBookery Naturally, no CEO would want to suffer such a loss, right? ALL of a sudden, Lindsey felt that if she stayed any longer, she¡¯d just be encouraging Kristy to ridicule her. Anyway, Lindsey wasn¡¯t allowed to meet the CEO today, so it would be smarter to leave ande up with other solutions. Just as Lindsey was turning to leave, she caught a glimpse of a brisk-Looking woman in corporate attire and high heels strutting towards her. This woman had an authoritative air about her, and she walked with poise and purpose. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but straighten her back as thedy approached. However, the woman walked past her and stopped right in front of Kristy, wearing a business-like smile. ¡°Excuse me, are you Miss Chase?¡± ¡°And you are?¡± Kristy nced at the woman indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m the CEO¡¯s secretary. ¡± As soon as these words left the woman¡¯s lips, the attention of everyone in the room shifted towards them. The prospect of witnessing how things would unfold piqued their curiosity. In apany as substantial as the Vitality Group, the secretary of the CEO held a status higher than the general managers of otherpanies. Getting close to the CEO¡¯s secretary, let alone the CEO, was a rarity. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but frown in dejection. The CEO¡¯s own secretary had personallye down to invite Kristy upstairs, underscoring Kristy¡¯s significance. Observing Kristy¡¯s puffed-out chest and smug smile, it was evident that her vanity was thoroughly satisfied. Lindsey shook her head and sighed wistfully. It turned out that even apany as big as this was also snobby. She¡¯d better not stay here and embarrass herself. Kristy beamed at the CEO¡¯s secretary and asked, ¡°The CEO sent you to escort me personally? Then what¡¯re we waiting for? I want to see him as soon as possible. ¡± Just as Lindsey started to walk away, she heard the CEO¡¯s secretary¡¯s sharp voice from behind her, saying, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve misunderstood. The CEO asked me to tell you to f@ck off. ¡± Chapter 677 Lindsey stopped in her tracks and turned around to see what was going on. Kristy¡¯s smile froze, and for a moment, she appeared bewildered, as if struggling toprehend what the CEO¡¯s secretary had just said. Finally, she asked in a dazed manner, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Miss Chase, I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not pleasant to hear. I¡¯d prefer not to reiterate it out of courtesy. ¡± The president¡¯s secretary maintained aposed smile, handling Kristy¡¯s dignity with care. ¡°However, it was Mr. Walsh who requested me to convey that message. I haven¡¯t altered a single word. ¡± A shadow fell over Kristy¡¯s face. The secretary¡¯s words sparkedughter among the onlookers, their sarcastic tones converging from all directions and finding their way to Kristy¡¯s ears. ¡°What kind of ¡®top star¡¯ does she think she is? She takes herself too seriously. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that only high officials or business magnates can secure an audience with the CEO of the Vitality Group. Even I¡¯ve sought meetings multiple times and been denied. As an actress, why does she presume the CEO will see her?¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh specifically dispatched someone to request her departure. This is the day¡¯s most amusing jest. ¡± Kristy balled her fists, her nails digging into her flesh. Never before had she felt such humiliation. Even if the CEO didn¡¯t wish to see her, there was no need for this public embarrassment. Her anger boiled within, causing her chest to heave violently.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. She red at the secretary and uttered, ¡°Fine, then ry to Mr. Walsh: since heckspassion, he can¡¯t me me for being unkind. If the Vitality Group won¡¯t retain me, I¡¯ll find another ce. ¡± With those words, Kristy turned on her heels and marched out. To her surprise, she crossed paths with Emilio, who had just entered through the gate. ¡°Mr. Howard?¡± Upon seeing Emilio, Kristy struggled to contain some of her anger. ¡°Kristy?¡± It appeared Emilio hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Kristy here. With wide eyes, he inquired, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Kristy felt embarrassed admitting she was here for a meeting with the Vatality Group¡¯s CEO, especially after being asked to leave. She hesitated, Licking her Lips. Yet, even before Kristy spoke, Emilio had already surmised the situation, casting a nce at the CEO¡¯s secretary behind her. He said softly, ¡°Kristy, if there¡¯s something you need to discuss, let¡¯s do it at the office. This is Vitality Group, not Vitality Entertainment. ¡± Having said that, Emilio caught sight of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye. Turning slightly, he spotted Lindsey standing not far away. Meeting Emilio¡¯s gaze, Lindsey greeted him warmly, ¡°Mr. Howard. ¡± Chapter 678 ¡°Mr. Howard¡­¡± Kristy still wanted to say something to Emilio, but she watched as Emilio walked past her, heading toward Lindsey. Wide-eyed, Kristy turned to gaze in Lindsey¡¯s direction. ¡°Lindsey, what brings you here today? Why are you here?¡± Emilio offered a gentle smile. Lindsey perceived Emilio as unchanged-easy-going and considerate toward her. Lindsey was about to exin to Emilio why she hade, but Kristy intervened, ¡°She¡¯s here to see the CEO, but she¡¯s been turned away. Lindsey, don¡¯t you know who you are? Does the CEO meet anyone?¡± Kristy rolled her eyes at Lindsey. Despite being denied entry herself, Kristy had at least caught the attention of the CEO¡¯s secretary. In contrast, Lindsey seemed ineffective. This realization slightly bnced the resentment in Kristy¡¯s heart. ¡°Are you really here to see the CEO?¡± Emilio stared at Lindsey in surprise. ¡°So, you know he¡­¡± Emilio¡¯s subconscious urge almost slipped out¡ª¡±So, you know he is Domenic?¡± Swiftly, he contained thosest few words. If Lindsey indeed knew Domenic¡¯s true identity, how could she failed to see him? She could just give Domenic a call. ¡°Mr. Howard, you said I know him? What do you mean?¡± Lindsey asked, looking puzzled.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Emilio quickly chuckled, ying dumb. ¡°Oh, I meant, you know he¡¯s here today, right? Our CEO usually has a very busy schedule and isn¡¯t often at the office. ¡± Lindsey admitted sheepishly, ¡°No, I was just taking a chance. I¡¯m not familiar with his schedule. ¡± But since both the CEO and Emilio were here today, maybe it would be an opportunity for her? Rushing to convey her intent, Lindsey added, ¡°Mr. Howard, I really hope you can do me a favor. I have something really important to discuss with him. ¡± Emilio grappled with the weight of indecision on this matter. He knew he had to seek Domenic¡¯s permission. ¡°Lindsey, what brings you to see the CEO?¡± he inquired before reaching out to Domenic. He needed to decipher the purpose behind Lindsey¡¯s sudden visit. Lindsey averted her gaze and confessed hurriedly, ¡°Truthfully, I rushed here upon hearing rumors of Vitality Group¡¯s intention to acquire Cherish, my mother¡¯s brand. ¡± Kristy, upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s words, sneered in disbelief. ¡°Lindsey, are you kidding me? Cherish is just a minor acquisition. Do you truly believe Mr. Walsh would entertain this? And requesting an introduction to the CEO from Mr. Howard? Who do you think you are?¡± Although Cherish had made strides in the international luxury brand scene recently, its growth couldn¡¯tpare to the established titans. Despite its global presence, its foundation and stability were leagues behind those ofrger brands. Furthermore, for the expansive business empire of the Vitality Group, Cherish was inconsequential. Ignoring Kristy¡¯s derision, Lindsey turned to Emilio with earnest eyes. Chapter 679 ¡°Mr. Howard, news just arrived that the CEO personally authorized the Cherish purchase and there¡¯s currently no one overseeing it. That¡¯s why I made such a request. Please¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I understand,¡± Emilio interjected kindly. He smiled warmly at Lindsey. ¡°I¡¯ll contact the CEO immediately to discuss this matter further. ¡± ¡°Really? Thank you so much,¡± Lindsey responded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Kristy, positioned at a distance, stood utterly stunned. Her immediate reaction was to confront Emilio. ¡°Mr. Howard, why are you¡­¡± Emilio shot her a piercing re, causing Kristy to shrink back in fear. She bit her lower lip in frustration, puzzled by Emilio¡¯s continued attention toward Lindsey, who had already departed from Vitality Entertainment. However, in Kristy¡¯s mind, considering the CEO¡¯s refusal to meet her, the possibility of him meeting Lindsey seemed imusible. It would indeed be an extraordinary urrence if that were to happen. Stepping away, Emilio withdrew to the side, pulling out his phone to dial Domenic¡¯s number. ¡°I summoned you here. Why this sudden call?¡± came Domenic¡¯s cold voice through the receiver. Emilio spoke softly. ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ve arrived, but guess who I encountered?¡± A brief silence followed. Impatience seeped into Domenic¡¯s breath on the other end of the line.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Realizing he couldn¡¯t toy around any longer, Emilio hastened to exin, ¡°I met Lindsey. ¡± On the other end, there was a discernible pause for a few moments before the voice queried, ¡°Why is she here?¡± Meanwhile, seated in his office, Domenic appeared more amiable. ¡°For the Cherish acquisition,¡± he responded. ¡°I¡¯m hesitant to decide independently, so I¡¯m seeking your counsel,¡± Emilio exined. ¡°Of course I can¡¯t see her. ¡± Although Emilio had expected this result, after getting a certain answer, he nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll refuse her right away. ¡± Emilio¡¯sst sentence, spoken in a normal tone, reached both Kristy¡¯s and Lindsey¡¯s ears. Upon hearing this, Kristy felt a surge of satisfaction. She nced at Lindsey with disdain. ¡°I already warned you. With your status, the CEO won¡¯t entertain you. Even if Mr. Howard personally assists, it¡¯s futile. ¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Domenic¡¯s sudden intervention interrupted Emilio. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Surprised, Emilio paused just before hanging up the phone, holding it back to his ear. Casually, Domenic remarked from the other end, ¡°Let her wait in the reception room for now. ¡± Emilio furrowed his brow in confusion. He couldn¡¯t grasp what was on Domenic¡¯s mind. Wasn¡¯t Domenic concerned about revealing his identity to Lindsey? Why did Domenic suddenly want to meet her? However, as Domenic had given the directive, Emilio feltpelled toply, uttering a resigned, ¡°Okay, I see. ¡± Chapter 680 After ending the call, Emilio approached Lindsey. Kristy, anticipating Lindsey¡¯s rejection and subsequent expulsion from the Vitality Group, awaited the scene eagerly. To her surprise, Emilio¡¯s words veered off her expectations. ¡°Linds, the CEO has requested you to wait in the reception room for a while. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t contain her joy. Moments ago, she had braced herself for rejection. ¡°So, the CEO is willing to see me?¡± ¡°I suppose so. ¡± Emilio chuckled Lightly. ¡®s BunnyBookery Upon hearing this, the onlookers were struck by astonishment. ALL eyes turned towards Lindsey, pondering the enigma of her background and connection. The unexpected permission to meet with the CEO left them in disbelief. They hadn¡¯t anticipated the CEO agreeing to see her. This fueled spection that she held a distinctive status due to her association with the Vitality Group¡¯s CEO. Consequently, they resolved to be more cautious in their future interactions and demeanor whenever they encountered her. Kristy, feeling blindsided, erupted in disbelief. ¡°How is that possible?¡± she eximed, her voice echoing through the lobby. ¡°Why is she allowed to see the CEO?¡± Kristy was in disbelief. Her scream caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°The CEO gave themand, and I just passed on the message. ¡± Emilio couldn¡¯t muster the patience for a lengthy exnation to Kristy; instead, he winked at the CEO¡¯s secretary. The secretary caught on and approached Lindsey with a weing gesture. ¡°Miss Stewart, pleasee this way. ¡± ¡°Mr. Howard, are you sure about this? Mr. Walsh didn¡¯t even meet with me.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Why does he want to see Lindsey?¡± Kristy persisted, following Emilio and voicing her confusion. Emilio halted, giving Kristy a frosty look. ¡°You think I¡¯m unaware of your motives for visiting the CEO? I can tell you¡¯re not a fan of Vitality Entertainment these days. So you wanna expand yourwork within the entire Vitality Group?¡± ¡°But Mr. Howard, that¡¯s not what I¡­¡± Kristy¡¯s imposing demeanor quickly softened. Emilio gazed at Kristy and let out a snort. ¡°Honestly, they want you to stick around at Vitality Entertainment for old time¡¯s sake. Without you, thepany won¡¯t lose anything. We can allocate our resources to other artists. The entertainment industry has no shortage of talent. If you¡¯re ready to move on from Vitality Entertainment, you can explore opportunities with anotherpany. ¡± With that, Emilio walked away, not sparing Kristy another nce. Fresh from the CEO¡¯s disdain, Kristy now faced a direct scolding from her boss. Those around her pointed fingers, and even the mockingughtercked restraint. ¡°Good! Very good!¡± Kristy¡¯s anger red, her face flushing with fury, and her once-beautiful features contorted fiercely. ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, don¡¯t me me for not giving you the chance. ¡± Kristy stormed out of the Vitality Group building and immediately called the agent from Gallop Entertainment. ¡°I¡¯ll join Gallop Entertainment on your terms. ¡± The CEO¡¯s secretary escorted Lindsey to the reception room, and upon stepping inside, Lindsey was taken aback by the luxurious decoration. The room boasted tables and chairs crafted from rich mahogany, adorned with intricate carvings. The carpet, made of pure wool, felt like stepping on clouds. A white porcin tea set sat on the nearby table, indicating its high value. ¡°Miss Stewart, please have a seat. The CEO will join you shortly after he wraps up his work. ¡± The secretary brewed a cup of tea for Lindsey, who responded with a polite nod, ¡°Thank you. ¡± Chapter 681 Lindsey returned the smile to the secretary, who couldn¡¯t help but nce up at Lindsey in front of her. Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled and her face exuded a natural charm. It wasn¡¯t an assertive beauty, but the kind that made people feel genuinely at ease. Lindsey was the woman the CEO wished to meet privately. The secretary couldn¡¯t help but wonder about the connection between Lindsey and her boss. Nheless, the secretary thought she had to be more respectful to Lindsey. ¡°Miss Stewart, you¡¯re most wee. It¡¯s my duty. I¡¯m right outside. If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to give me a shout. ¡± ¡°Okay, thank you. ¡± Lindsey replied with gratitude. Once the CEO¡¯s secretary departed, Lindsey experienced a slight relief, though her inner tension persisted. She pondered how to broach the subject of Cherish with the CEO during their uing meeting. At the same time, Emilio burst into Domenic¡¯s office. Domenic was engrossed in a phone call when Emilio barged in without bothering to knock, earning a furrowed brow from Domenic. Despite everything, Emilio mmed his hand on Domenic¡¯s desk and fixed him with wide-open eyes. ¡°Domenic, do you genuinely want to meet Lindsey?¡± Domenic gave Emilio a quick look and told the person on the other end of the line, ¡°I¡¯ll have to end this call now. ¡± After ending the call, Domenic settled into his chair, regarding Emilio with aposed demeanor. ¡°What¡¯s got you so taken aback?¡± Emilio sensed that he was even more anxious than Domenic. ¡°Weren¡¯t you nning to keep your identity a secret from her? What? You¡¯re not up for pretending anymore? Are you nning to break up with her?¡± Emilio understood that Domenic¡¯s decision to keep his identity hidden wasn¡¯t just for his sake but also to safeguard Lindsey.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Once Domenic¡¯s true identity was revealed, the future became uncertain. If Jordan discovered that an unknown woman had been bothering his grandson, he might use drastic measures to remove Lindsey from the picture. Unless Domenic had grown tired of Lindsey and had no intention of taking responsibility. Otherwise, Emilio couldn¡¯t fathom his decision. Turning his gaze to Emilio, Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he shed a mysterious smile. With nervous anticipation, Lindsey waited approximately thirty minutes until the reception room¡¯s door swung open unexpectedly. The CEO¡¯s secretary stood beside a man, respectfully guiding the way. Lindsey noticed a formidable figure entering the room. Lindsey stood from her seat suddenly, her eyes widening in surprise. ¡°You are¡­ You are Mr. Walsh?¡± Lindsey observed the man who entered closely. He wore a fancy suit, and his every move exuded the sophistication of a seasoned businessman. Yet, he appeared slightly different from Lindsey¡¯s expectations. Suppressing any premature assumptions, Lindsey reminded herself to approach with humility and respect. Acknowledging Lindsey¡¯s presence with a subtle nod and a faint smile, the man settled into a chair, crossing his legs and intertwining his fingers on his knees. ¡°Miss Lindsey Stewart, isn¡¯t it? What brings you here to see me?¡± Chapter 682 Upon hearing the man¡¯s direct question, Lindsey abandoned any evasiveness. Sheposed herself and asked, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve heard that you n to purchase Cherish. Is that correct?¡± Affirming her inquiry, the man responded, ¡°Yes. Is there an issue?¡± Meeting his gaze evenly, Lindsey expressed her request. ¡°I¡¯d like you to reconsider your decision. ¡± A subtle shadow flickered in the man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Give me a reason. ¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. Maintaining herposure, Lindsey exined, ¡°Cherish may be a small brand for the Vitality Group, but for my mother, Juanita, it represents a lifetime of dedication. If Cherish is acquired, it severs any connection my mother has to it. As her daughter, I wish to preserve the legacy of the brand she worked so hard to establish. ¡± The man¡¯s lips curled into a measured smile. ¡°I understand you¡¯re Juanita¡¯s daughter, but do you grasp the future implications for Cherish if we doesn¡¯t proceed with the purchase?¡± Observing the man¡¯sposed demeanor, Lindsey deduced that perhaps he was willing to meet her out of consideration for her mother¡¯s sake. Despite running her ownpany, Lindsey only had hastily acquired some business knowledge at thest minute. She refrained from unting her newfound expertise before a seasoned business leader. In a soft tone, she expressed, ¡°I would appreciate learning more about it. ¡± Leaning against the back of the chair, the man gazed at Lindsey. ¡°Cherish rose above thepetition due to your mother Juanita¡¯s distinctive design style, entering the forefront of the Luxury market. Consumers are drawn not just to the brand, but also to the renowned designer, Anti. With Anti in the hospital, Cherish has lost its main support. When a newly established brand loses its support, it spells disaster for the brand. Furthermore, the business arena is akin to a battlefield. Competitors have been awaiting the opportunity to exploit its weaknesses and destroy it swiftly. Currently, Cherish is susceptible to easy destruction. ¡± Lindsey gazed at the man, his wordsnding like a heavy blow upon her heart. Following the man¡¯s elucidation, Lindsey¡¯s heart plummeted again as though she had fallen into an endless abyss. Was there really no avenue for redemption? Her mother¡¯s tireless efforts-were they all destined to be in vain? Observing Lindsey¡¯s despondent expression, the man offered a faint smile and remarked, ¡°In fact, the reason behind our acquisition of Cherish is to preserve its existence. Within the LMH Group, there exist several Luxury brands, and Cherish, in its current state, poses a dilemma for them. If we don¡¯t step in, Cherish will face two possible oues. First, it will merge with other LMH brands, ceasing to exist as Cherish. The alternative will be selling Cherish to otherpanies at a meager price, allowing them to dissipate its remaining value. ¡± Frowning, Lindsey looked up at the man before her. She inquired, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Vitality Group also acquiring Cherish for its remaining brand value?¡± The man sneered. ¡°Do you think Vitality Group concerns itself with such a negligible residual value?¡± ¡°Then why acquire Cherish? As you mentioned, Cherish has reached this dire state, with even the LMH Group unwilling to salvage it. What, precisely, are you aiming for?¡± Lindsey peered into the man¡¯s eyes, seeking answers in their depths. The man cast a fleeting nce at the camera in the reception room and cleared his throat before offering Lindsey a kind smile. ¡°I admire Juanita and the legacy of Cherish she founded. I firmly believe that Juanita will awaken one day. When that moment arrives, it will mark a new beginning for Cherish. A time when it will once again bask in glory. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened involuntarily. ¡°Are you suggesting¡­¡± The man nodded affirmatively. ¡°Following the acquisition of Cherish, I n to invest substantially in securing top-tier designers from both domestic and international arenas. Our goal is to exert every effort to maintain Cherish¡¯s esteemed position in the realm of luxury brands. Rest assured, Juanita will continue to hold her pivotal roles as the chief designer and general manager of Cherish. Upon her awakening, I will seamlessly transfer the managerial reins of Cherish back to her without altering anything. If you have any doubts, we can formalize ourmitment through a signed agreement. You are wee to stipte the conditions to your satisfaction. ¡± Upon hearing his words, Lindsey was rendered speechless, her astonishment too profound for words. The renowned Vitality Group had willingly taken on the challenges presented by Cherish, signifying theirmitment to safeguarding the brand. The implication was clear: Cherish was acquired not for exploitation but for protection. Once Juanita regained consciousness, the n was to return Cherish to her. Chapter 683 How could Cherish be the recipient of such an unexpected stroke of good fortune? ¡°Are you¡­ are you serious about this? But what advantages will this bring to your Vitality Group?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t believe such a significant decision could be made solely based on_ personal preference, given businessmen¡¯s usual pursuit of profit. Was this CEO not scared of potential losses stemming from the Cherish acquisition? ncing at the camera once more before fixing his gaze on Lindsey, the man responded withposure, ¡°Until your mother Juanita wakes up, Cherish¡¯s losses and gains are all under the umbre of the Vitality Group. Investment is a gamble. I trust my judgment. I am confident that Cherish will emerge victorious. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s initial skepticism evolved into admiration as she absorbed his words. No wonder he was the CEO of Vitality Group. His courage and foresight set him apart from the ordinary. After their conversation, Lindsey felt like she had received a valuable business lesson, more beneficial than any business book she had read. ¡°I understand, Mr. Walsh. ¡± Lindsey rose from her seat and gracefully bowed to him. ¡°I sincerely thank you on behalf of my mother. ¡± The man saw Lindsey¡¯s gesture and quickly stepped forward to hold her arm, saying, ¡°Please, there¡¯s no need. It¡¯s my pleasure. ¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lindsey looked at him quizzically. ¡°Ahem. The man cleared his throat and regained his dignified demeanor, ¡°I mean, you don¡¯t have to be so formal. The Vitality Group never engages in unprofitable ventures. It¡¯s a mutually beneficial arrangement, so there¡¯s no need to thank me. ¡± Despite the man¡¯s words, Lindsey knew that if the Vitality Group hadn¡¯t intervened, Cherish¡¯s future would have been ruined. Contrary to rumors, the CEO of the Vitality Group didn¡¯t seem as cold and ruthless. Lindsey found him quite easy to get along with. Smiling at the man, she remarked, ¡°Iprehend your perspective. There¡¯s no need for a formal agreement. Though this is our first meeting, I believe in you. I¡¯m sure you have a busy schedule, so I¡¯ll leave you to it. ¡± The man nodded approvingly. Once Lindsey left the reception room, the man let out a sigh of relief, wiping sweat from his forehead. Looking at the camera, he wondered whether he handled it well, hoping his boss won¡¯t be displeased! In the CEO¡¯s office, Domenic leaned back, closing hisptop. Emilio, standing behind him, widened his eyes. They had monitored Lindsey¡¯s conversation with the man. ¡°Domenic, I must say, I admire you more each day. ¡± Emilio gave a thumbs up. ¡°Spare me your sarcasm,¡± Domenic retorted, rolling his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Emilio sat across from Domenic, ¡°Letting Wyatt impersonate you, and he didn¡¯t blow it. Tsk tsk.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He¡¯s only good for deceiving Lindsey. ¡± Emilio was talking about Wyatt Cooper, who served as Domenic¡¯s chief bodyguard. Wyatt, a tall and formidable figure, was Domenic¡¯s trusted ally. He had a presence that could easily make children cry out of fear. Domenic narrowed his eyes at Emilio and asked, ¡°If he can¡¯t handle it, can you? Look at you, it would be hard for anyone to believe that you have any connection with Vitality Group. ¡± Chapter 684 ¡°Well, I might act a bit mischievous around you.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. But in public, I¡¯m a powerful businessman. ¡± While talking, Emilio proudly puffed out his chest and gazed at Domenic. ¡°Just tell me, which of your guys isn¡¯t intimidated by me?¡± Domenic shook his head, speechless. Emilio abruptly approached Domenic, Locking eyes with him. ¡°Domenic, you¡¯ve gone all out for Lindsey. Spending 5 billion dors to acquire Cherish and investing more to save it-do you realize the expenses that will follow? If the money is spent and Cherish remains in this half-dead state, you will lose a significant amount! Domenic, now I understand the sacrifices a man would make for the woman he loves. ¡± Domenic nced up at Emilio with a smirk, yet the expression sent a shiver down Emilio¡¯s spine. ¡°Since you have an issue with it, I¡¯ll leave the Cherish acquisition and the subsequent development n in your hands. If you mess up, you know the consequences. ¡± Emilio felt as if a thunderbolt had struck over his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have an issue with it. ¡± With a subtle smile, Domenic inquired, ¡°Do you take issue with my decision?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Emilio understood that Domenic¡¯s decisions were final, so he sighed and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m okay with it. ¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. ¡± With a rxed countenance, Domenic inclined his head, returning to his tasks without sparing Emilio a nce. Today¡¯s purpose for summoning Emilio was to entrust him with Cherish acquisition. During the meeting, the other senior executives expressed reluctance to take on the Cherish project, deeming it a delicate and risky venture. Furthermore, Domenic himself felt uneasy about entrusting Cherish to them. So he made the decision to pass the task over to Emilio. Despite Emilio¡¯s asionalck of decorum in Domenic¡¯s presence, his remarkablepetence earned unwavering recognition from Domenic. When Vitality Entertainment teetered on the brink of copse under its previous management, it was Domenic who disregarded all objections, appointing Emilio as its general manager. Emilio¡¯s single-handed efforts swiftly transformed Vitality Entertainment into the foremost entertainment powerhouse in the industry. Emilio¡¯s subsequent invaluable contributions alongside Domenic on several major projects solidified his position within the Group. Such exceptional performance led to Emilio¡¯s exceptional appointment as the vice president of the Vitality Group. Emilio¡¯s origins were far from good. Without Domenic¡¯s astute recognition of his talents and relentless support, Emilio would never have achieved the heights of sess he enjoyed today. In Emilio¡¯s eyes, Domenic wasn¡¯t merely a mentor but also a benefactor, akin to family. Aware of Domenic¡¯s strategic nature, Emilio anticipated the reason for their meeting today likely centered around the Cherish acquisition. Without further words, Emilio resolved to tackle the project to the best of his ability, a personal rule he adhered to once he took on a task. Straightening his posture, Emilio assured Domenic, ¡°I¡¯ll sessfully fulfill my mission. ¡± Domenic found Emilio¡¯s demeanor almost amusing, responding with a pursed-lipped nod, maintaining his cold facade. Leaving the Vitality Group building, Lindsey felt a sense of relief and rxation. Upon returning to herpany, Lindsey noticed Sh surrounded by a group, engaging them in a gentle conversation. Standing aside, Sumner and Xiomara caught Lindsey¡¯s eye. Sumner made a beeline toward her, causing Xiomara¡¯s steps to halt abruptly. ¡°Lindsey, I heard you¡¯vee back to thepany. How have you been? I¡¯ve visited your mom a few times, but our paths never crossed. ¡± Offering a gentle smile, Lindsey replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry. ¡± Chapter 685 Then, with a nce at Sh behind Sumner, Lindsey called out, ¡°Sh!¡± She gracefully maneuvered past Sumner, heading straight for Sh. In contrast, Sumner¡¯s expression darkened instantly. Turning away, he watched Lindsey¡¯s departure, a sense of unease settling in his heart. Her seeming indifference struck him as unfamiliar, especially after not seeing her for a few days. He pondered whether something he¡¯d said had upset her earlier, even though he was the one who had rescued her from the fire.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Approaching Sh, Lindsey closed the distance between them. Vincent¡¯s movie had recentlymenced shooting, and Sh remained dedicated to the crew, resulting in their prolonged separation. Taking hold of Lindsey¡¯s hand, Sh¡¯s countenance portrayed concern. ¡°Linds, I saw the news about your mother¡¯s ident. What happened? I¡¯ve been swampedtely and couldn¡¯t check on you. Are you okay?¡± Sh¡¯s genuine care warmed Lindsey¡¯s heart. She smiled in response and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my office. ¡± Together, they made their way into Lindsey¡¯s office, closing the door behind them. Meanwhile, Sumner slowly clenched his fists, a sudden tension gripping him. ¡°Sumner, what¡¯s wrong with you? Why do you look so pale all of a sudden?¡± Xiomara asked, her gaze fixed on Sumner, unable to shake off the feeling that something was off. ¡°Nothing,¡± Sumner replied coldly, striding toward the training ssroom. Xiomara pursed her lips and followed him inside. ¡®s BunnyBookery In Lindsey¡¯s office, she briefed Sh on the incident in broad strokes. A flicker of anger shed across Sh¡¯s face upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s ount. ¡°Kendra is so hateful. Thankfully, the police found evidence to convict her. She deserves nothing less than the death penalty. ¡± ¡°Kendra is still pregnant. I doubt she¡¯ll face the death penalty; perhaps a life sentence. ¡± A shadow crossed Lindsey¡¯s face as memories of deep wounds resurfaced. Preferring not to dwell on them, she changed the subject. ¡°Sh, you¡¯re usually busy with the crew. What brings you here today?¡± ¡°I requested two days off from the crew because I wanted to see you, and¡­ my divorce trial with Andrew starts tomorrow,¡± Sh exined. ¡°Tomorrow?¡± Lindsey was taken aback. Recent events had slipped her mind. She hurriedly checked her schedule. ¡°I¡¯ll review tomorrow¡¯s arrangements¡­¡± ¡°Linds, you needn¡¯te if you¡¯re busy. Don¡¯t worry. With Mr. Reece Barton, everything will be fine,¡± Sh reassured her, casting a gentle nce at Lindsey. Reece Barton was an exceptionalwyer whose services weren¡¯t simply bought. With him handling the case, Sh would definitely win. ¡°After the trial, let¡¯s invite Mr. Barton to dinner as a token of our gratitude. ¡± Chapter 686 ¡°Okay, that sounds perfect,¡± Sh said with a smile. After finishing work, Lindsey was heading to the hospital to visit her mom. Just as she left the office, Sumner hurried after her. ¡°Lindsey!¡± he called out. Lindsey stopped and turned around. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Sumner hesitated, then blurted out, ¡°Did my words upset you the other day?¡± Lindsey blinked in confusion. ¡°What did you say?¡± Sumner wasn¡¯t sure if Lindsey had genuinely forgotten or was just ying it cool. He took a deep breath. ¡°About your boyfriend at the hospital¡­ I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have mentioned that. ¡± Lindsey recalled Sumner¡¯s anger towards Domenic for not rescuing her from the fire, and his harsh words. She gave a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know you were just worried about me. Plus, if you hadn¡¯t been there for me, who knows what might have happened! I¡¯m thankful to you. Why would I be upset?¡± Lindsey then gave Sumner a reassuring pat on the shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. I¡¯ve just been swampedtely and really need some rest. ¡± Sumner, feeling a sense of relief, said, ¡°Look after yourself. Oh, and about that arson case you were working on¡­¡± But before he could finish, Lindsey¡¯s phone interrupted.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Sumner gestured for her to take the call. Lindsey¡¯s heart sank when she saw it was Ruby calling. On the phone, Ruby was asking about her mom. Lindsey briefly filled her in and tried to offer somefort. After the call, Lindsey turned to Sumner with a sigh. ¡°Ms. Garcia knows now. She¡¯s heading to see my mom and sounded really upset. I¡¯m worried about her. ¡± ¡°I¡¯lle to the hospital with you,¡± Sumner offered right away. Lindsey nodded, remembering how Ruby seemed to Like Sumner at a dinner. His presence might be helpful. As they drove, Lindsey only mentioned that the culprit behind everything had been caught, but she didn¡¯t bring up anything about how she dealt with Kendra. This news seemed to ease Sumner¡¯s mind. They arrived at the hospital and spent some time in the ward before Ruby showed up. She rushed to Juanita¡¯s bedside, overwhelmed with emotion, holding Juanita¡¯s hand and crying. ¡°Juanita, I¡¯m here. Why did this happen to you? You need to wake up!¡± Ruby pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Behind her, Lindsey couldn¡¯t hold back her own tears. Seeing this, Sumner moved closer and gentlyforted her by stroking her shoulder. Chapter 687 ¡°Ms. Garcia¡­¡± he started softly. Lindsey crouched beside Ruby, trying to find the right words tofort her. Ruby clutched Lindsey¡¯s hand, shaking her head as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve never had kids of my own. The two I cherished most were Everleigh and your mom. They were like daughters to me. But both of them¡­ What did I do wrong? Why couldn¡¯t it have been me instead of them?¡± Ruby¡¯s voice cracked with emotion as she thought about Everleigh¡¯s tragedy, unable to hold back her tears. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn¡¯t realized that Everleigh, the well-known singer, had been one of Ruby¡¯s students. Everleigh¡¯s suicide must have hit Ruby hard. That exined her deep emotion upon seeing Lindsey¡¯s mother. Gently, Lindsey wrapped her arms around Ruby, offering words offort, ¡°Ms. Garcia, this isn¡¯t your fault. My mom¡¯s going to wake up. I just know it. ¡± Ruby nodded, seeming to try to reassure herself. When she looked up, she saw Sumner standing there, his face etched with sorrow. With Lindsey¡¯s help, Ruby stood up. She beckoned Sumner over, and he hurried to her side. Ruby took Lindsey¡¯s hand in one of hers and Sumner¡¯s in the other, then brought their hands together. Lindsey was taken aback and instinctively wanted to pull away, but Ruby held on firmly. Ruby gazed at Sumner and Lindsey, her eyes filled with hope and worry. ¡°You two have to be okay. Don¡¯t end up like your mothers¡­¡± Sumner, looking puzzled, asked, ¡°Ms. Garcia, do you know what happened to my mom?¡± Suddenly, Ruby realized she had said too much. Her lips quivered. She gently touched Sumner¡¯s hand, quickly changing the subject. ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re a real gem. Look after Linds for me, will you?¡± Sumner¡¯s cheeks turned pink. He sneaked a nce at Lindsey, whispering, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Garcia. I¡¯ll always be there for her. ¡± Ruby gave him a relieved nod. However, Ruby¡¯s evasion only made Sumner more curious. After Ruby left, Lindsey and Sumner walked back together. Sumner kept mulling over Ruby¡¯s words. He hesitantly asked, ¡°Lindsey, about those students Ms. Garcia mentioned, was one Juanita? And the other, could it be Everleigh, the famous singer?¡± Lindsey confirmed, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s the first I¡¯ve heard of it from Ms. Garcia.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. It¡¯s such a shame about Everleigh. To think she¡¯d end her life by jumping off a building at the height of her fame. It must¡¯ve been hard for Ms. Garcia. ¡± As she spoke, Lindsey suddenly paused, an idea dawning on her. She turned to Sumner, examining his face intently. She¡¯d never thought about it before, but now, looking closely, she noticed Sumner¡¯s eyes bore a striking resemnce to Everleigh¡¯s. Chapter 688 Sumner, feeling Lindsey¡¯s intense gaze for the first time, couldn¡¯t meet her eyes. He looked away, asking quietly, ¡°Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes flickered with uncertainty. ¡°Sumner, what¡¯s your mother¡¯s maiden name?¡± Sumner was puzzled by her sudden interest in his mother. He shrugged and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. My godparents rarely spoke of her. They just said she died in an ident. I¡¯ve asked them, but they always hesitate, like there¡¯s something they¡¯re not telling me. Sometimes, I wonder if there was more to my mom¡¯s death, and that¡¯s why they¡¯re so secretive. ¡± Sumner¡¯s confirmation left Lindsey¡¯s suspicion hanging in the air. ¡°Why¡¯d you bring this up all of a sudden?¡± Sumner asked, a puzzled look on his face. Lindsey, without hesitation, asked, ¡°Remember what Ms. Garcia said earlier? Is Everleigh Pearson your mom?¡± Sumner stood there, stunned. Ruby had just warned them not to turn out like their mothers, mentioning her past two students. One was Lindsey¡¯s mom, and the other must be¡­ The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. He stared at Lindsey, his thoughts racing. ¡°But¡­ If Everleigh really was my mom, why would they keep it a secret from me?¡± Suddenly, Lindsey wished she could take her words back. If Mr. and Mrs. Lopez and Ms. Garcia hadn¡¯t told Sumner, there had to be reasons they kept it under wraps. Why had she jumped to conclusions? ¡°I¡¯m just guessing. It seems far-fetched. I¡¯ve never heard anything about Everleigh having a kid. Maybe I¡¯m overthinking it. ¡± With that, Lindsey turned and continued on her way. Sumner, however, remained rooted to the spot, unable to shake off the feeling. Once Lindsey was gone, Sumner started digging for information on Everleigh, but nothing substantial came up. It was only a piece of scandalous rumor that grabbed his attention. Rumor had it, Everleigh had taken her life by leaping from a building after being abandoned by a wealthy tycoon. The rumors about Everleigh¡¯s suicide weren¡¯tpletely true, but Sumner needed to uncover the truth. He had to find out if she really was his mother and what had led to her tragic end. Lindsey got homete that night. Domenic was still up, lounging on the sofa with a magazine, waiting for her. Eager to share her day, Lindsey told Domenic about her visit to the Vitality Group to discuss acquiring Cherish. She was curious to hear his thoughts. With a lift of his eyebrows, Domenic replied, ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯m sure the Vitality Group will take good care of Cherish. ¡± Leaning against him, Lindsey said, ¡°I¡¯m d you agree. Oh, I met the CEO of the Vitality Group today. He¡¯s quite different than I expected, but his vision and generosity are impressive. He¡¯s truly made a name for himself in the business world!¡± Wyatt, who had worked with Domenic for years and knew him inside out, was great at impersonating Domenic and recited all the words Domenic told him. What Wyatt said to Lindsey precisely aligned with what Domenic had wanted to express to her. Domenic felt a surge of happiness when Lindsey praised the CEO. ¡°You know, the CEO¡¯sst name is Walsh. Ever heard of the Walsh family, the big deal in Morcastle?¡± Lindsey suddenly mentioned. Domenic¡¯s heart raced.N?velDrama.Org owns this. He answered quietly, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve heard a bit about them. ¡± ¡°Today, I also ran into Kristy there. She thought you were a member of this prestigious family and said all my sess is because of you,¡± Chapter 689 Lindsey continued, snuggling closer with augh. ¡°Imagine, my boyfriend a big shot? How could I not know? It¡¯s so funny. ¡± Domenic tightened his hold on her, his expression turning serious. Domenic didn¡¯t say a single word in response to Lindsey¡¯sments. She lifted her gaze to the man standing before her and said, ¡°Are you paying attention?¡± Domenic snapped out of his trance. With a soft smile, he answered, ¡°Yes, I am. ¡± He looked down at the woman in his embrace and asked with a hint of amusement, ¡°Would it make you happy to find out I¡¯m actually part of the Walsh family?¡± Lindsey sat up, her lips tightly pressed and then she replied, ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t. ¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Domenic frowned. ¡°First, it would mean you¡¯re not being honest with me. You¡¯d just be toying with my feelings. Secondly, marrying into wealthy families can sometimes feel constricting, resembling a sense of imprisonment. How often do women who marry into such families truly find happiness? I cherish my freedom and don¡¯t want to be constrained. If you belong to this wealthy family, then perhaps we¡¯re not right for each other. ¡± After sharing her candid thoughts, Lindsey nestled back into Domenic¡¯s arms, smiling contentedly. ¡°But I know you¡¯re not, so these concerns don¡¯t matter. ¡± Domenic remained silent for a long time after hearing this, his eyes reflecting a touch of sadness. He hadn¡¯t anticipated her perspective. How could he make her understand and ept the truth? Domenic felt troubled. But right now, his priority was to officially take over the Walsh Group. As for Lindsey, he believed he could exin everything to herter. The following day, they received great news from court. Sh¡¯s divorce case, represented by Reece, had been a resounding sess. Andrew received a twenty-year prison sentence, and the court finalized their divorce. Finally, Sh was totally free from her unhappy marriage. By the time Lindsey got to the courthouse after her work, the trial had concluded. Sh and Reece were exiting the courtroom, ready to speak to the media. The reporters quickly noticed Lindsey and swarmed around her. Once they managed to get through the group of reporters, they took a moment to catch their breath. ¡°Mr. Barton, your pro bono defense for Sh was remarkable. Thank you so much. ¡± Lindsey expressed her gratitude to Reece earnestly. This was her first encounter with the famedwyer. He was as amiable as she had imagined, donned in a dark blue suit that entuated his elegance and sophistication. Reece surveyed Lindsey from head to toe. Narrowing his eyes, he said, ¡°You¡¯re wee, Miss Stewart. Your name has been quite prominenttely.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡± Lindsey assumed her frequent media appearances had made her a familiar name to Reece. She replied with a shy smile, ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you. Are you avable tonight? We could have dinner together. ¡± Chapter 690 Reece nced at his watch and said, ¡°Unfortunately, I have ns tonight. I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t make it. ¡± ¡°Is it a date with your girlfriend?¡± Sh chimed in with a smile. After a brief pause, Reece responded with a soft smile, ¡°Not a girlfriend, just a friend who¡¯s a girl. ¡± Lindsey and Sh exchanged a nce with an air of quiet understanding.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°In that case, we won¡¯t intrude on your evening. Perhaps we can have dinner together another time. ¡± Lindsey responded with a smile. ¡°Certainly, that would be fine. ¡± Reece agreed and then took his leave. Sh moved beside Lindsey, watching Reece walk away. ¡°Mr. Barton seems Like an ideal man. I wonder what type of woman would catch his and Lindsey yfully teased Sh, ¡°Oh, look at you. You¡¯ve just gotten out of a marriage and already you¡¯re sizing up the prospects?¡± Sh yfully elbowed Lindsey and said, ¡°Stop it. I¡¯m just curious!¡± ¡°Sh, you have so many good men around you. Arturo, Nics, and now Reece. So you¡¯ve got a lot to choose from!¡± Sh, realizing Lindsey was teasing, approached her and started tickling. ¡°Enough with the teasing!¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll stop!¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile stretched from ear to ear. Sh ceased her tickling, then gazed into the distance, her voice dropping to a whisper, ¡°What¡¯s so great about Arturo, anyway?¡± Meanwhile, Domenic was busy in his office that afternoon. Suddenly, his phone rang. He checked his phone and saw it was his grandpa, Jordan, calling. Jordan seldom called him, which made his heart race. Domenic inquired, ¡°Grandpa, is everything okay?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I call you just to chat?¡± Jordan¡¯s tone was light and cheerful, easing Domenic¡¯s concerns. ¡°Come on, just say it,¡± Domenic said softly. Jordan was straightforward, knowing not to beat around the bush with him, ¡°I¡¯ve invited a friend over for dinner tonight. You should join us. ¡± Domenic nced at his watch, slightly puzzled. ¡°Who is this friend? You haven¡¯t mentioned them before. ¡± ¡°This person is very important. You muste! I don¡¯t care what else you have nned tonight, cancel it. I¡¯ll send you the detailster. ¡± When Jordan gave an instruction, it was not to be questioned. Chapter 691 Domenic massaged his forehead and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there. ¡± After leaving the courthouse, Reece hailed a taxi to the airport. As he made his way to the arrival section, he nced at his wristwatch. He had been waiting for over half an hour, well beyond the ne¡¯s scheduled Landing. Yet, he saw no sign of her. Reece whipped out his phone and punched in a number. Following a few rings, someone answered on the other end. ¡°Hi, Reece. ¡± ¡°Hey Carole, I¡¯m here at the airport waiting to pick you up. Are you out yet? Why didn¡¯t I see you?¡± Reece stretched up on his toes and looked inside. But on the phone, a gentle female voice replied casually, ¡°The nended early. I¡¯m already on my way. ¡± ¡°What?¡± ALL of a sudden, Reece¡¯s hopeful expression disappeared. He gripped his phone tightly and inquired, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me when you got here?¡± ¡°Reece, I said you didn¡¯t have to pick me up. I¡¯ve got some errands to run. You can head back now. ¡± Reece¡¯s gaze turned serious. ¡°What do you say we grab dinner together tonight?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got ns tonight. I¡¯m sorry. ¡± The woman¡¯s voice was gentle, yet her rejection was clear. Reece had something on his mind but found himself at a loss for words. He pressed his lips together and then uttered, ¡°Okay, then. Whenever you¡¯re free¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch when I can. Bye for now. ¡± Before Reece could add anything more, she abruptly ended the call. He heard the beep of the disconnected call and let out a deep sigh. Later that evening, in the private room of Whispering Mist, an exquisite restaurant. Jordan beamed affectionately as he chatted with a woman dressed in a whitece dress seated next to him. Thedy¡¯s long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she carried herself with grace. Her slender figure was poised, her hands neatly ced on her thighs. Clearly, she came from an eminent family and had a refined upbringing. Her makeup was subtle, enhancing her soft, inviting eyes and her friendly smile. She stood out remarkably. Their joyful conversation was interrupted when someone opened the door. The woman lifted her head, and her eyes froze, softening her expression. Domenic, dressed out in a sharp suit with perfectly fitting pants, strolled in through the door, radiating the air of an experienced businessman.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 692 He possessed good looks and carried himself with a quiet charm that could set any woman¡¯s heart aflutter upon seeing him. She was no different. ¡°Domenic, there you are!¡± Jordan gave Domenic a friendly wave, signaling him to join and have a seat. Domenic nced at the woman by Jordan¡¯s side, then chose a seat slightly away from her. ¡°Domenic, meet Ms. Carole Larson, the person I was telling you about earlier. ¡± Jordan was eager to make the introduction between her and Domenic. Upon hearing her name, Domenic¡¯s icy gaze lifted, and he regarded her with astonishment.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. With a warm smile, Carole greeted, ¡°Long time no see, Domenic. ¡± Yes, it had been a long time. Back in the day, when Domenic found himself stuck in the cer, it was Carole who came to his rescue. She used to live nearby butter moved away, and they never crossed paths again. Domenic¡¯s brow creased slightly, puzzled by her sudden appearance and her apparent closeness with his grandpa. Jordan could see the skepticism on Domenic¡¯s face. He exined, ¡°Carole is the lone child of myrade-in-arms. I raised her and set her up in the house next to mine. Later, I sent her abroad for the finest education. No woman can match her in terms of knowledge and character. Domenic, she came back from abroad to marry you. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes widened. He turned to Jordan, his voice low, ¡°Could you repeat that?¡± Witnessing his usuallyposed grandson reveal such a_ surprised expression, Jordan grinned and remarked, ¡°Remember I promised to assist you with the marriage thing? Carole saved your life back then, and I raised her. She¡¯s the perfect wife for you. ¡± In the past, the marriages within the Walsh family primarily revolved around forging alliances. However, Jordan harbored some doubts. He feared people from other families might have evil intentions and didn¡¯t want to entrust the future of the Walsh Group to them. Moreover, the Walsh Group was on the rise, and there was no necessity to partner with another family through marriage. Carole had a spotless history, and he had nurtured her since she was a child, making her akin to an adopted daughter. Hisrade-in-arms had saved his life on the battlefield, and his daughter, in turn, had saved Domenic. Jordan saw this as destiny. Throughout the years, he sent Carole overseas to groom her for marriage to Domenic and to prepare her for leading the Walsh family alongside Domenic. In terms of manners, education, or refinement, Carole outshone all the highborndies of Morcastle. Jordan believed that marrying her to Domenic was the best way to secure the Walsh Group¡¯s future under Domenic¡¯s leadership. Domenic, with a frown, responded in a cold voice, ¡°Grandpa, I have no ns to marry just yet. ¡± Carole pressed her lips together, sensing that Domenic didn¡¯t want to marry her. A faint shadow crossed her eyes. Upon hearing Domenic¡¯s words, a crease formed on Jordan¡¯s forehead as he inquired, ¡°Domenic, it¡¯s been years since you had a girlfriend. Weren¡¯t you holding out for Carole? I still remember you were reluctant to part with her when she left. ¡± Carole once saved Domenic¡¯s life and became his friend. Even though he had a good opinion of her then, marriage was never on his mind. Chapter 693 Jordan¡¯s influence prevented him from dating any woman, fearing they might vanish Like the others who had be close to him. Domenic said coldly, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re reading too much into it. Carole and I were just friends. My attention is on thepany; there¡¯s no room for anything else. ¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°You¡¯re approaching thirty! How can I trust you to take charge of the Walsh Group if you¡¯re not married yet? Do you n to stay single forever?¡± Jordan¡¯s anger escted visibly. Domenic narrowed his eyes, suppressing his emotions. Firmly, he asserted, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m open to your guidance on everything else, but marrying a friend I haven¡¯t seen in years isn¡¯t feasible. I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do it. ¡± ¡°You¡­ you¡­¡± Jordan stammered out of anger. This marked the first time Domenic stood his ground. Carole intervened as Jordan was on the verge of losing his temper and stated, ¡°Mr. Walsh, he¡¯s correct. We haven¡¯t seen each other in years. Getting married suddenly is too much for both of us. It¡¯s understandable that he needs time to process it. ¡± Her words soothed Jordan, swiftly calming his anger. He gazed at Carole with a broad smile and conceded, ¡°You¡¯re correct. You¡¯ve only just returned. It¡¯s important to build a strong rtionship with him first. I acted too hastily. ¡± Carole nodded gracefully, a serene smile gracing her face. Jordan held a strong liking for her. ¡°But marry soon so I can be at ease,¡± Jordan insisted, patting Carole¡¯s hand, then turned a stern gaze toward Domenic. ¡°Get to know Carole better; she¡¯s exceptional, and you¡¯lle to like her. ¡± ¡°Grandpa, does it really matter whether I Like her or not? Have you ever taken my feelings and preferences into consideration?¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Jordan forcefully pounded the table, asserting his authority. Domenic repeatedly confronted him today, leaving him quite displeased. He had meticulously nned Domenic¡¯s marriage for years, and Carole, the girl he found for Domenic, possessed knowledge, beauty, and generosity. How could Domenic fail to appreciate his efforts? Furthermore, Domenic went as far as embarrassing him multiple times in front of Carole. Jordan was on the brink of losing his temper. ¡°Mr. Walsh, perhaps he was too tired today that¡¯s why he is in a bad mood. I¡¯ll have a private conversation with himter. I¡¯ve been on the ne for over ten hours, and I¡¯m feeling famished. ¡± Holding Jordan¡¯s arm, Carole managed to calm his anger with just a few words. Jordan¡¯s face immediately brightened. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s my fault. Waiters, bring in the dishes!¡± Domenic lifted his gaze to meet Carole¡¯s, and she responded with a warm smile. Sumner arranged a dinner in a private room, inviting a group of big shots from the entertainment industry who had some connection with Everleigh around twenty years ago. His intention was to delve into the past and gather information. ¡°Everleigh was an extraordinary talent in the music world, but in the end¡­ such a tragedy! Hearing the name Everleigh, everyone shared a sense of regret, shaking their heads in unison. Chapter 694 Sumner, with apassionate demeanor, delicately poured wine for them. As the discussion about Everleigh unfolded, he casually chimed in, ¡°I came across an online article suggesting that her decision to take her own life was linked to heartbreak. I can¡¯t vouch for its uracy, though. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard this rumor as well. ¡± One of the big shots, slightly drunk, had a flushed face and struggled to articte.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°It¡¯s baseless. I have insider information. Everleigh was rumored to be the mistress of a wealthy man and had allegedly given birth to his child!¡± Sumner¡¯s hand shook slightly as he poured the wine. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Really?¡± Another prominent figure grew curious as well. ¡°It¡¯s just gossip, but in the end, rumors about such matters in the entertainment industry often turn out to be true. Do you remember Everleigh¡¯s prolonged absence from public view before her tragic death? There¡¯s talk that she went abroad for studies, staying there for five months. However, less than a year after her return, shemitted suicide. ¡± ¡°So, her supposed studies were possibly a cover for secretly giving birth to a baby? But if she gave birth to a baby, where is her baby?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not aware of that,¡± responded the big shot. Curious, someone inquired, ¡°Which wealthy man are you alluding to?¡± ¡°It¡¯s believed to be someone from one of the four influential families, but we may never ascertain which one. ¡± After pouring the wine to the guests, Sumner sank into a contemtive state. One of the four esteemed families! If he was Everleigh¡¯s child and his surname came from his father, the only logical conclusion was that the wealthy man was from the Lawson family. The coincidence of sharing surnames with one of the four prominent families was too uncanny. What was the real story? Sumner balled his hands. At the same time, at Jordan¡¯s dinner. The three dined in a posh private room, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery. It was a tradition in the Walsh family not to speak during meals-a part of their family values. Throughout dinner, Carole remained silent while Jordan observed her with contentment. ¡°Mr. Walsh. ¡± Carole set down her fork. ¡°I need to use the restroom. ¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Jordan responded with a gentle expression, casting a meaningful nce at Domenic. ¡°Carole just returned and isn¡¯t familiar with this ce. Could you apany her?¡± Aware of his grandfather¡¯s intent, Domenicplied without protest. With a cold expression, he walked out with Carole, one hand in his pocket. As they walked silently through the corridor, Carole suddenly stopped and called from behind, ¡°Domenic. ¡± Domenic halted and turned around. Chapter 695 Carole asked calmly, ¡°Are you reluctant to marry me?¡± Domenic¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°I¡¯ve always remembered your kindness in saving my life, but Carole, that¡¯s all. ¡± Carole, being an intelligent woman, grasped what Domenic meant. He felt gratitude toward her but harbored no romantic feelings. Feeling a pang, Carole chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve always seen you as a brother. When I saved you, you promised to fulfill a wish for me. Do you remember?¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze turned somber. He did make a promise. Carole had rescued him from the cer when he was nearly at his end. He had promised to repay her and grant her a wish in the future. Reflecting on this, Domenic said in a deep voice, ¡°Yes, I do. ¡± Carole smiled slightly. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided on my wish yet. But when I do, I hope you¡¯ll keep your promise. Regarding your grandpa, I suggest you not oppose him. When I find opportunities to persuade him, perhaps he¡¯ll understand and eventually give up. Marriage should be based on love. I don¡¯t want to be arranged. ¡± Carole spoke with a gentle tone, maintaining a pleasant smile that made her words far from annoying. Domenic¡¯s expression softened as he realized Carole had no interest in marrying him.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. He looked at her tenderly and spoke slowly, saying, ¡°Thank you. ¡± After uttering those words, Domenic turned around and walked away. Yet, Carole¡¯s initially gentle eyes gradually dimmed as she watched his departing figure, slowly clenching her hands. As the dinner ended, Sumner stepped out to settle the bill. AS soon as he walked into the hall, his eyes were drawn to a familiar, towering figure. He spotted Domenic standing outside the restaurant through the revolving ss door. Domenic was d in a finely tailored suit, exuding an air of nobility and sophistication. Beside him stood a woman of exquisite beauty and grace. The woman gracefully tilted her chin, fixing her fiery gaze upon Domenic while addressing him with a sweet, enchanting smile. Sumner¡¯s pupils contracted. He instinctively withdrew his mobile phone and captured a moment of the two figures. Chapter 696 Slipping the phone into his pocket, Sumner approached Domenic, positioning himself squarely before him. Domenic, furrowing his brow, squinted at the man standing before him. Why was he here? Carole saw a handsome man pausing before Domenic, offering a subtle smile. Domenic¡¯s countenance remained stern, and his eyes radiated hostility. Unable to contain her curiosity, Carole inquired, ¡°Domenic, who is he?¡± Pursing his lips, Domenic nced at Sumner and replied, ¡°He is the well-known domestic director Vincent¡¯s godson. We¡¯ve crossed paths a few times, but we¡¯re not acquainted. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner¡¯s name went unmentioned, underscoring Domenic¡¯s indifference. Carole nodded, but she sensed an undeniable tension between them, akin to that of adversaries. Lowering his head, Sumner sneered before meeting Domenic¡¯s piercing gaze. ¡°Does Lindsey know about your dinners alone with another woman?¡± Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Lindsey?¡± Carole was taken aback. It was a woman¡¯s name. What was her connection to Domenic? After a brief pause, Domenic gazed earnestly at Carole¡¯s confused face. He then turned his attention to Sumner, saying coldly, ¡°Who is Lindsey? I apologize, Mr. Lawson, but that name doesn¡¯t sound familiar to me. ¡± Sumner was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting this kind of denial. Sumner had always considered the man before him untrustworthy, a sentiment that solidified when he sensed his dishonesty. ¡°Are you serious? Lindsey is your girlfriend. How can you deny knowing her when there¡¯s another woman around you?¡± Sumner¡¯s anger started to bubble up.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lindsey had suffered for him, defying her mother. Moreover, his indifference during the fire and even pretending not to know her in front of another woman today made it all feel like a cruel joke! It seemed all of Lindsey¡¯s genuine love for Domenic had been for nothing! Despite his usual grace, Sumner red at Carole, visibly shocked, and said, ¡°Just so you know, the man beside you has a girlfriend. You¡¯re essentially the third party in this situation, okay?¡± Carole was left speechless. Could Domenic actually be involved with someone else? She wondered why his grandfather hadn¡¯t informed her. Maybe even his grandfather didn¡¯t know about it. ¡°I have no clue about what you¡¯re trying to say, Mr. Lawson. And I certainly don¡¯t recognize the name you mentioned,¡± Domenic retorted sharply, stepping in to shield Carole. Chapter 697 ¡°Many women are interested in me. Perhaps this Lindsey is one of those annoying women. However, I assure you I don¡¯t know her, nor do I know who she is. Ms. Larson and I are merely acquaintances. Please refrain from making baseless usations, or mywyer will be in touch. ¡± Enraged, Sumner attempted to throw a punch at Domenic, but his arm was swiftly caught and deflected, sending him staggering back. He looked at Carole, d in designer attire, and shot Domenic a furious look. ¡°Lindsey is an annoying woman? You¡¯re nothing but a man relying on a wealthy woman. How can you even suggest such a thing?¡± Relying on a wealthy woman? Carole struggled to associate the dignified and attractive man before her with such descriptions. Was there some sort of misunderstanding here? And who exactly was this Lindsey person? Domenic clenched his hands and faced Sumner, trying to keep his cool. ¡°I get that you got me wrong, but I won¡¯t stand for nder. Keep it up, and I¡¯ll have to involve the authorities!¡± He was aware that today¡¯s debacle would require borate exnationster. And if Lindsey ever got wind of it, she¡¯d be upset, demanding considerable effort to regain her trust. He needed to distance himself from Lindsey in front of Carole, who was chosen by his grandfather. The stakes were too high for any other option. Sumner stood there, seething, unable to utter a word. Pretending that he didn¡¯t want to talk to Sumner anymore, Domenic turned around and said to Carole, ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡± With that, he marched off, Carole in tow, who asked, ¡°Domenic, shouldn¡¯t we wait for your grandpa?¡± Domenic didn¡¯t reply but left the restaurant quickly. Once they were gone, Sumner was left alone, watching their retreating figures. He reached for his phone, contemting sending Lindsey the photo he¡¯d snapped to unveil Domenic¡¯s actions. But would Lindsey even believe him if he sent such a picture out of the blue? During a recent hospital visit, Sumner had badmouthed Domenic, which clearly angered Lindsey. And it was evident she didn¡¯t really heed his warning. Lindsey might suspect he was trying to drive a wedge between her and Domenic. After a moment of indecision, Sumner pocketed his phone, resolved to gather more solid proof to expose Domenic without leaving any room for excuses. When the driver stopped at Jordan¡¯s residence, Jordan and Carole, arm in arm, exuded the warmth of a grandfather and granddaughter and walked towards the house. Domenic, trailing behind, cast a quick nce at his watch. Upon entering the living room, Carole began brewing tea with the poise of someone who belonged there. After the tea was ready, she gracefully offered a cup to Jordan on bended knee. ¡°During my time overseas, many praised my tea-making skills. Mr. Walsh, as a professional, I¡¯d love for you to try it. ¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Jordan beamed with pride at his prospective granddaughter-inw, his smile unwavering. He savored the tea¡¯s delicate aroma and exquisite vor, visibly pleased. ¡°Grandpa, there are pressing matters at the office I must¡­¡± Domenic said, attempting to excuse himself. Before he could finish his words, Jordan was quick to interrupt, ¡°Stay for the night, don¡¯t leave now. The business is always there. Chapter 698 Can¡¯t it manage one evening without you? Carole just got back. Spend some time with her!¡± Feeling cornered, Domenic sought Carole¡¯s support. She caught on and reassured, ¡°Domenic is the CEO of Vitality Group and is often busy. We have plenty of time ahead. He can join me when he¡¯s free. Tonight, I¡¯d like to spend time catching up with you. Please, allow him to leave. ¡± Jordan¡¯s expression softened towards Carole. Just as he was about to respond, a distinctive ringtone cut through the room. Both turned their gaze sharply towards him just as Domenic¡¯s phone buzzed. They observed that this ringtone differed from Domenic¡¯s previous ones. He briefly checked his phone then dismissed the call nonchntly. Jordan asked, ¡°Who was that? Why ignore the call?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Arturo. He¡¯s probably calling to invite me out for drinks thiste,¡± Domenic replied. At the mention of Arturo, Jordan gave Domenic an exasperated look and said, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve been giving Arturo a lot of the international projectstely. He¡¯s the young Yates family heir who made a sensation over some woman. Can you really rely on him? I¡¯ve heard your uncles are abroad these days. Why don¡¯t you consider¡­¡± ¡°Grandpa. Arturo is like a brother to me, and I trust him,¡± Domenic cut in, his voice was calm. ¡°Just because he¡¯s like a brother to you, does that mean your uncles aren¡¯t your family?¡± Jordan stared at his grandson, whose expression had turned stern. It was well-known that Domenic harbored deep resentment towards his uncles, leading to frequent conflicts and confrontations. When he was young, Jordan was sharp and decisive, distinguishing right from wrong with ease. He had once dealt sternly with his sons for harming Domenic andter sought to make amends by bestowing upon Domenic a significant share of the Walsh Group. As he grew old, he often yearned for his family to be united. He was hopeful that Domenic would reconcile with his uncles, dreaming they¡¯d work together to elevate the Walsh Group¡¯s prestige. Yet, Domenic was convinced his uncles would never support him; he believed they wished for his death. Facing Jordan, Domenic said softly, ¡°Grandpa, as I¡¯ve always said, you¡¯re the only family that I have. ¡± ¡°Domenic. ¡± Jordan let out a deep sigh. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, and your uncles are aware of their mistakes. Please, let go of your anger towards them. Forgive them. ¡± Domenic¡¯s face contorted into a mocking sneer, as if he had heard the funniest joke. Forgive? Impossible! They had locked him in a cer, nearly leading to his death. Then, they sent him to a mental institution, from which he narrowly escaped with his life. Even if he could overlook these grievances, he would never forgive them for the death of his parents! Once he returned to Walsh Group, Domenicunched an investigation into his parents¡¯ fatal car crash. Gradually, a shocking truth was uncovered ¨C the vehicle had been sabotaged, causing the tragedy.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Chapter 699 And the mastermind? One of his uncles. Yet, over time, this person had hidden his tracks well, leaving Domenic uncertain of the actual culprit among them. But that was irrelevant. If the guilty party chose to remain hidden, he would eliminate them all to honor his parents. So, Domenic¡¯s primary goal was to inherit the leadership of the Walsh Group. Once in charge, he intended to confront each of his uncles. In doing so, he believed he would bring peace to his parents¡¯ souls. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll manage thepany¡¯s matters on my own. You don¡¯t need to worry. ¡± With a subtle choice of words, Domenic curtly concluded the conversation with Jordan, revealing no further details. Observing his resolved stance, Jordan understood that swaying Domenic would be a challenge. He sighed softly and said, ¡°Alright, proceed with your ns. But, if you find some free time, could you spend some time with Carole? She¡¯s just returned and isn¡¯t ustomed to the recent changes. Perhaps you could familiarize her with the area. And don¡¯t use your busy schedule as an excuse anymore. I¡¯ll ensure someone keeps an eye on you. ¡± In a hushed tone, Domenic murmured, ¡°I see. ¡± Carole cast a discerning nce at Domenic before turning to Jordan. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve been yearning to visit my friends in Morcastle. Allow Domenic to focus on his work. I assure you, I can manage perfectly well on my own. ¡± Before Jordan could interject, Carole gracefully rose, shing a soft smile. ¡°I¡¯ll walk Domenic out. ¡± Stepping forward, she gently linked her arm with Domenic¡¯s. Unustomed to this unexpected closeness, Domenic flinched, but Carole¡¯s wink halted his retreat. Noting Jordan¡¯s satisfied gaze, Domenic suppressed his difort for the moment. After that, Domenic and Carole exited the house together. Once outside, Domenic gently extracted his arm from Carole¡¯s grasp.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Pausing momentarily, she pursed her lips and retracted her arm. ¡°Thank you, Carole,¡± Domenic expressed gratitude for her assistance. Carole smiled knowingly. ¡°Now, do you believe I¡¯m on your side?¡± Domenic halted, turned, and stood before Carole. Tall and striking, he was bathed in the cold moonlight that entuated his allure. Carole couldn¡¯t help but feel her heart quicken as she looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s chilly outside. You should head back. ¡± Domenic didn¡¯t respond to Carole¡¯s question. He remained cautious, unable to trust her. Chapter 700 However, since she had saved his life in the past, he treated her with respect. Despite not receiving a direct answer, Carole nodded obediently, appreciating Domenic¡¯s concern. Carole only snapped back to reality after Domenic got into the car and drove away. She nervously bit her lower lip. Ever since she first met Domenic and rescued him from the cer, she had fallen deeply in love with him. Later, she felt immense joy when Jordan expressed his desire for her to be his granddaughter¡ªinw. Following that, she clung to the hope of bing Domenic¡¯s wife. She endured considerable hardships and made significant sacrifices just to return and marry him. Hence, she was determined to do whatever it took to make him fall in love with her. She had no intention of marrying anyone else; it was the sole purpose she lived for. As she slowly unclenched her fists, Carole reverted to her gentle demeanor, returning to the mansion. Upon spotting Jordan, a sweet smile adorned Carole¡¯s face. She swiftly approached, taking a seat beside him. ¡°Let¡¯s have a chat now!¡± Jordan gazed at her with delight, unable to suppress a sigh. He gently patted Carole¡¯s hand and remarked, ¡°Carole, you¡¯re incredibly understanding and kind. If I were in your shoes, I¡¯d encourage him to stay. It¡¯s not umon for other bold women to try and approach him. You should keep a close watch on your man. ¡± Wearing a subtle smile, Carole ran her fingers through her long hair cascading over her shoulder, casting her gaze downward. ¡°Love can¡¯t be forced. If Domenic doesn¡¯t love me, what¡¯s the point of him staying? Perhaps he already has a girlfriend, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s reluctant to marry me. ¡± Jordan was momentarily taken aback. He shook his head decisively and responded, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. How could I not be aware if he had a girlfriend?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ he might be keeping it a secret from you. ¡± Carole lifted her gaze, that young man¡¯s words still lingering in her mind. Regardless of Lindsey¡¯s intentions-whether she had ill intentions towards Domenic or had a special rtionship with him-Carole felt the need to unravel the truth and ensure Lindsey¡¯s presence would no longer be an obstacle in her rtionship with Domenic. ¡°You mentioned he refrained from having a girlfriend because he was waiting for me all these years. Yet, now that I¡¯m back, he seems indifferent. If he has fallen in love with someone else, I¡¯ll step back. I¡¯ll do anything as long as he¡¯s happy. ¡± Tears welled up in Carole¡¯s eyes, rendering her vulnerable. Carole¡¯s words made Jordan suspicious about Domenic¡¯s rtionship status. It seemed odd that Domenic had been single for so long. Was his grandson keeping a secret from him? ¡°I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this,¡± Jordan dered with a frown. Carole hastily grabbed Jordan¡¯s hand and urged, ¡°Please don¡¯t confront Domenic directly. If he learns I spilled the beans, he¡¯ll hate me. ¡± Jordan gave Carole a reassuring look and said, ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I¡¯ll look into it discretely. ¡± Carole nodded and leaned on Jordan¡¯s shoulder, confessing, ¡°You¡¯re like family to me. I don¡¯t have anyone else. I¡¯ve always considered you my grandfather. Without you, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am today. Whether I end up with Domenic or not, you¡¯ll always be a grandpa to me. ¡± Touched, Jordan patted Carole¡¯s hand and said softly, ¡°You¡¯re my only granddaughter-inw. I¡¯ll make sure Domenic marries you. ¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 701 A contented smile appeared on Carole¡¯s face. Sumner navigated his car through the lively city streets. The evening wind rushed through the window, its chill biting his face. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, his thoughts still anchored to his encounter with Domenic at the restaurant. The sting of Domenic¡¯s dismissive words lingered with him. He wondered how heartbroken Lindsey would feel if she knew the truth. The mere thought pained Sumner¡¯s heart. His thoughts kept circling back to something Paige had mentioned before. ¡°¡±T# you like her, go after her. Can you bear to witness her with someone unsuitable, potentially leading her down a regrettable path and wasting her life? You¡¯re as reticent as your mother!¡± Abruptly, Sumner hit the brakes, pulling over to the roadside. The sudden stop made him lurch forward. He lifted his gaze to the window, finding himself in Lindsey¡¯s neighborhood. Sumner clenched his fists, resolved. He couldn¡¯t stand by and watch the woman he loved fall for someone deceitful. He was ready to act! Meanwhile, after leaving Jordan¡¯s residence, Domenic checked his phone and noticed Lindsey¡¯s missed call. He hesitated to return the call, and his hand stopped. Did Lindsey know about today¡¯s events? How would he exin it to her? After a long pause, Domenic finally dialed her number. ¡°You called? I¡¯m sorry, I was tied up at that time. ¡± He spoke with a deep and gentle tone. He braced for Lindsey¡¯s disapproval, but surprisingly, her voice was calm. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ I just missed you. I was wondering when you¡¯d be back. I know you¡¯re busy. ¡± Domenic¡¯s hold on the phone grew tighter. He longed to let her know he was done with work and on his way back. All he wanted was to embrace Lindsey and bury his face in her flowing hair. The events of the evening had left Domenic troubled. After a brief pause, he said, ¡°Today was hectic at thepany. I don¡¯t think I can make it home. ¡± ¡°Okay, I understand.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s calm and soothing voice provided Domenic with somefort. Sumner hadn¡¯t informed Lindsey about tonight¡¯s happenings. After ending the call, Domenic instructed Hendrix to head to the office. Settling into his spacious office chair, he massaged his eyebrows with his fingers, visibly annoyed. He had always thought defeating his uncles was all it took to inherit the Walsh Group. But Carole¡¯s unexpected involvementplicated matters, making him feel out of his depth. Domenic leaned back in his chair, gazing at the vibrant neon Lights. He pondered deeply for a while. Chapter 702 The following day, when Lindsey arrived at thepany, she nearly collided with Sumner as she walked in. ¡°Sumner, you are quite early today. ¡± Lindsey stepped back, eyeing him curiously. Sumner gazed at her, itching to say something. After a few seconds, he smiled and said, ¡°I got up early, so here I am. Lindsey, how was your night? Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze was puzzled. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°Were you with your boyfriendst night?¡± ¡°No, he had a lot on his te and had to put in some extra hours at work. ¡± Lindsey continued walking as she spoke. Sumner felt a heavy disappointment. Just as he suspected, Domenic had fabricated an excuse to mislead Lindsey. He had been with another womanst night but told Lindsey he was busy with work. And he had imed she was just a friend. Fuming over this, Sumner impulsively moved forward and grabbed Lindsey¡¯s wrist. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Sumner?¡± Lindsey nced back at him, lifting her arm. Sumner caught on and quickly released her wrist, clearing his throat. ¡°Well¡­ My godmother was asking about you. She wants to know if you¡¯re free for dinner tonight. Can you make it?¡± Lindsey paused, recalling how Paige¡¯sst invite to the hot spring resort was actually a sneaky n to pair her up with Sumner. With a slight frown, she replied, ¡°Sorry, Sumner, I¡¯ve already got ns tonight. ¡± ¡°Is it with your boyfriend?¡± Sumner blurted out, a hint of worry in his voice.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No, not really¡­¡± Lindsey lied, noticing Sumner¡¯s furrowed brow. She tilted her head and asked, ¡°Sumner, why do you keep bringing up my boyfriend today?¡± ¡°Just curious,¡± Sumner replied, eyes darting away. ¡°That¡¯s it? I should head in. ¡± Lindsey gave him a small smile, then walked into her office and shut the door, leaving Sumner standing there, looking troubled. At 2 p. m. , Lindsey summoned Xiomara and Sumner to her office. ¡°What¡¯s up, Lindsey?¡± Xiomara asked, standing across from her. Sumner, silent, just frowned. Lindsey observed the attractive pair in front of her and smiled. ¡°You two have been training for a while now. I¡¯m thinking of putting you on the talent show, Star Search. It¡¯s your chance to shine. ¡± ¡°Star Search?¡± Xiomara¡¯s eyes lit up, hands pressed to her chest. Chapter 703 ¡°The big talent show that happens every two years? The one that made Nics Aston famous?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the one. ¡± Lindsey kept smiling softly and said, ¡°It¡¯s the biggest and most popr talent show. I¡¯ve been negotiating with the crew for a month. Today, they finally said yes and agreed to let you two join. You should get ready, the show starts soon. Winning could mean a bright future for you. ¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, Lindsey!¡± Xiomara replied, her face glowing with excitement. This contrasted with Sumner¡¯s distracted look. Lindsey turned to Sumner. ¡°Sumner?¡± she called, but got no answer. She raised her voice, ¡°Sumner !¡± That snapped him back to reality. He looked up at Lindsey. ¡°Were you daydreaming? Did you hear what I just said?¡± Lindsey asked, concerned. Sumner seemed off today. ¡°Yeah, I heard.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. The talent show, right? I¡¯ll be there,¡± Sumner replied, sounding uninterested. Lindsey, frowning, asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to go?¡± ¡°No,¡± Sumner said tly, giving Lindsey a quick nce. ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯m leaving. ¡± Lindsey was taken aback by Sumner¡¯s cold attitude but couldn¡¯t find the words to respond, so she just nodded. Watching Sumner leave, Xiomara turned to Lindsey. ¡°What¡¯s up with him? He didn¡¯t seem happy. Does he¡­ Does he not want to be in the talent show with me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not Like Sumner. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Lindsey reassured her. Xiomara nodded and left the office, leaving Lindsey alone with her thoughts, her expression growing more serious. ¡®s BunnyBookery As Lindsey was about to leave work, she bumped into Sumner. He was slinging a big canvas bag over his shoulder. Spotting Lindsey, he paused. ¡°Hey, Sumner, didn¡¯t you mention this morning that Mrs. Lopez wanted to grab dinner with me? My ns tonight got canceled, so I¡¯m free. You up for dinner instead?¡± Sumner looked away for a moment before replying, ¡°You said you got ns, so she¡¯s already out with a friend tonight. ¡± ¡°How about you? Are you free? My treat,¡± Lindsey offered, giving him a warm smile. Sumner looked up, visibly surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve been a big help to me in the past. I¡¯ve been wanting to thank you,¡± Lindsey continued, still smiling. Sumner hesitated a bit before responding, ¡°I¡­ yeah, I¡¯m free. ¡± Chapter 704 Sumner shifted his gaze away, a smile ying on his lips. Lindsey¡¯s grin widened. They found themselves on the top floor of a mall, where Lindsey¡¯s favorite French restaurant beckoned. She was eager to share its delights with Sumner. As they sat down, Lindsey looked at Sumner curiously. ¡°What¡¯s your take on Xiomara?¡± she asked. ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner hesitated before replying, ¡°Well, I don¡¯t really know her well. We¡¯re just friends. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile was tinged with mischief. ¡°Did it bother you that I paired you up with her for the talent show today?¡± Sumner¡¯s eyes widened, and he took a moment before responding, ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile softened. ¡°So, you were just upset?¡± Sumner found himself at a loss for words, surprised by how easily Lindsey could leave him speechless. He looked down and nibbled on his lip. ¡°The food¡¯s getting cold. Let¡¯s eat,¡± he deflected, starting on his meal without addressing Lindsey¡¯s query. Lindsey didn¡¯t pressure him. She said sincerely, ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re not just an artist at mypany, but a dear friend. If you¡¯re facing troubles, don¡¯t bottle them up. Share them with me. We can work them out together. Xiomara¡¯s a great girl. It¡¯d be good for you to connect with her more, especially in the uing show. Being an outsider in showbiz is tough. She could use your support. And she seems to really care about you. You should¡­¡± Sumner set down his fork, looked straight at Lindsey, and cut her off. ¡°Lindsey, you are my agent.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. I¡¯ll follow your professional directions. But my personal life? That¡¯s not part of the deal. Let¡¯s not talk about this again. ¡± Lindsey was taken aback by his frankness. She realized she¡¯d overstepped, meddling in his private life. She had no reply to that. After a brief silence, she spoke softly, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t bring this up again. But as your friend, I just want you to be happy. Unlike other agencies, I don¡¯t restrict artists¡¯ personal lives. I believe talent, not a fake image, should be what draws fans. So, if there¡¯s someone special, go for it. You have my full support. ¡± Sumner gave a quiet chuckle, as if amused by her words. Lindsey, puzzled, noticed him staring at her with clear, bright eyes. ¡°Do you really not know who I¡¯m interested in, Lindsey, or are you just pretending?¡± he asked. Lindsey was struck, her mind besieged by an inexplicable sense of rm, a voice within warning her of impending seriousness should she persist with her inquiries. So chose to continue to eat. The air between them grew uneasy and awkward. Sumner, noticing the difort, quietly ate. His countenance wasden, almost overwhelming. Post-dinner, they strolled in the mall, engaging in conversation but cautiously avoiding the topic that had just concluded. Chapter 705 t was as if the matter had never been broached. Gazing around, memories flooded back for Lindsey-the first visit with Domenic, their shared purchases andughter. A smile graced her lips involuntarily. In that moment, a memory interrupted her thoughts¡ªa moment when Domenic wielded a fake VIP card from the mall to embarrass her rival, Mary. That incident had led Lindsey to receive a dress worth a whopping 560, 000,pletely free of charge. Lost in recollection, Lindsey found herself a little distracted, unconsciously gravitating towards the entrance of a clothing store. Following her gaze, Sumner offered softly, ¡°Would you like to go in and take a look? I¡¯ll apany you.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Acknowledging the steep prices of the garments, Lindsey decided to enter with Sumner, content with perusing the more affordable styles. Upon entering, her eyes fell on ady stepping out of the fitting room, adorned in an outfit akin to the white evening gown Lindsey had once worn, but with a more casual ir. She poised before a man, her hands delicately sped together. With two gracefully arched eyebrows and clear eyes, she exuded an aura of elegance and sophistication. A subtle flush adorned her cheeks as she inquired, ¡°Domenic, how about this one?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart raced as she peered at the man¡¯s back, her scrutiny turning swiftly to shock. At first nce, he seemed vaguely familiar, but now it dawned on her-it was unmistakably Domenic! How could he be here, in such an upscale clothing store, apanied by such a refined woman? Sumner, too, recognized the duo and squinted, observing the unfolding scene. With Lindsey catching Domenic red-handed, Sumner was absolved of the burden of divulging the truth. A faint smirk graced Sumner¡¯s lips as he eagerly anticipated the drama about to unravel before them. Carole turned her head towards the trio, registering their stares. Her expression froze momentarily. She recognized Sumner, and the girl beside him who was fixedly gazing at Domenic, making her profoundly ufortable. Upon noticing Carole¡¯s altered expression, Domenic pivoted around, meeting Lindsey¡¯s gaze. His pupils contracted suddenly, his usual cold and detached demeanor now firm and unyielding. Lindsey? Why was she here? Domenic¡¯s gaze shifted to Sumner, who stood alongside Lindsey. A puzzled frown creased Domenic¡¯s forehead. Did Sumner bring her here? Did she already know about what had transpiredst night? With furrowed brows, Domenic turned away, feigning ignorance towards Lindsey. However, Carole, astute and perceptive, sensed an air of unease in the situation. Chapter 706 A woman¡¯s intuition hinted that Domenic¡¯s association with this woman was far from simple. ¡°Domenic, who is she?¡± Carole inquired casually, masking her curiosity. Seated with crossed legs, Domenic nonchntly flipped through a magazine, adopting a hushed tone. ¡°Which one?¡± he murmured. Casting a meaningful smile towards the girl fixedly observing them, Carole leaned in and spoke softly. ¡°The girl behind you has been looking at us. Did she fall in love with you? After all¡­ ¡° Carole whispered in his ear, ¡°Considering how handsome you are, it¡¯s no surprise a girl might fall for you. ¡± Their hushed conversation seemed intimate, hinting at a deep connection between them. Lindsey¡¯s heart felt as though it were pricked by a needle, her fists involuntarily clenching as she struggled to contain her emotions. Domenic rose from his seat, slipping one hand into his pocket, his demeanor unchanged. Gazing at the smiling shop assistant who had trailed him, he calmly stated, ¡°This one will do.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Please pack it up. ¡± Moving beside Carole, Domenic murmured softly, ¡°Grandpa¡¯s spies should have departed. I¡¯ve got a matter to attend to at thepany, so I¡¯ll head back first. Where will you beter? I¡¯ll arrange transport for you. ¡± A hint of disappointment flickered across Carole¡¯s face before she adorned a thoughtful, gentle smile. ¡°That¡¯s fine. Go on with your work. Once I return, I¡¯ll inform your grandpa you¡¯ve been with me these past few days. Don¡¯t worry. ¡± Squinting slightly at Carole, Domenic nodded in acknowledgment. Receiving the packaged clothes, he exited through another door with Carole, paying no attention to Lindsey, who stood behind him in a daze. Lindsey¡¯s feet felt as if filled with lead, immobilizing her entirely. Her heart clenched as if caught in a vice, a dense ache consuming her. Domenic had brought a woman here to buy clothes and pretended not to recognize her. What on earth was happening? ¡°Wait!¡± Sumner urgently sought to halt Domenic¡¯s departure, but Lindsey¡¯s hand grasped his arm. ¡°Lindsey?¡± Sumner pivoted, encountering Lindsey¡¯s pallidplexion, her eyes glistening faintly. ¡°You witnessed what just urred. Why did you stop me?¡± Gazing at her somewhat absent-minded expression, Sumner felt a dull ache in his heart. ¡°Aren¡¯t you upset seeing him with another woman? Why don¡¯t you question him?¡± Lindsey lifted her head, meeting Sumner¡¯s gaze with a serene smile. ¡°Even if I catch up and inquire, what¡¯s the point? If he can¡¯t acknowledge me for some reason, speaking to him will only making things worse. If he genuinely favors someone else, why should I persist and invite humiliation?¡± Despite Lindsey¡¯sposed words, her shattered heart pulsed with unbearable pain. She couldn¡¯t fathom the strength it took to voice these thoughts. Sumner¡¯s initial anger dissolved into surprise. Surveying Lindsey¡¯s wan countenance adorned with a forced smile, his distress grew. ¡°Do you really think so? Just let it go?¡± Sumner furrowed his brows deeply, gripping Lindsey¡¯s shoulders to make her face him. ¡°Lindsey, break up with him. Your mom¡¯s right. He¡¯s not someone you can trust. Even if you don¡¯t believe me, trust your mother¡¯s judgment. ¡± Chapter 707 Lindsey slowly clenched her fists and replied, ¡°The breakup decision wille after I uncover the truth. In case¡­ there¡¯s apelling reason. ¡± Sumner sneered, releasing Lindsey and retrieving his phone from his pocket. He disyed the photo of Domenic with the woman in front of Lindsey, his eyes burning with intensity. ¡°Remember when you asked me why I was unhappy? Now I¡¯ll tell you. I saw them together at a restaurantst night. I¡¯ve debated telling you about this. I feared it might hurt you. As you¡¯ve seen today, whether it¡¯s a high-end restaurant or this store, an average person can¡¯t afford such ces. How does Domenic possess so much wealth? It¡¯s all because he relies on someone wealthy. ¡± Lindsey tightened her grip on her fingers, urging, ¡°Sumner, please stop¡­¡± ¡°No, I have to finish it. Lindsey, don¡¯t be so obstinate. There are plenty of good men in this world. Why do you have to¡­¡± ¡°Sumner!¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice surged, halting him in his tracks. Her teary eyes met his, her lips trembling as she spoke. ¡°This is between him and me. It has nothing to do with you. ¡± Sumner felt as though a knife had pierced his heart, his brown eyes widening in shock.N?velDrama.Org owns this. After a moment¡¯s pause, he clenched his fists tightly. ¡°How does this have nothing to do with me? Don¡¯t forget, we have an arranged engagement. I am your fianc¨¦. ¡± Lindsey, eyes trembling, gazed at Sumner in disbelief. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s arranged by our mothers. My mother is gone, and your mother is in aa. As a party, it¡¯s my duty and obligation to marry you as they once arranged. ¡± Sumner¡¯s usually gentle eyes now bore an undeniable toughness. They no longer avoided but pierced her heart like a sharp de. ¡°Sumner, don¡¯t joke about it. The whole marriage thing is ridiculous. We¡¯re just friends. ¡± The word ¡®friends¡¯ from Lindsey ignited Sumner¡¯s anger. He didn¡¯t want to merely be her friend. He wouldn¡¯t ept being just that. Previously, he respected Lindsey¡¯s choices, believing he could stand aside and wish her happiness. He thought he could offerfort when needed, as a friend. But now, he realized he waspletely wrong. He couldn¡¯t stand by and watch her get hurt. He should be the one to bring her happiness. If Lindsey stayed with him, he¡¯d protect her from any hurt. He¡¯d prioritize her happiness for the rest of his life, making her the happiest woman in the world. This time, it wasn¡¯t for himself but for her. He¡¯d never give up on her again. Sumner frowned, seizing Lindsey¡¯s wrist and drawing her in front of him. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips against hers, a gentle yet passionate ki*s. Just then, Domenic came out from around the corner outside the store. He had already arranged for Carole to be taken away and was returning to exin the recent events in the past couple of days to Lindsey. However, as he approached the shop, he was greeted by the sight of Sumner leaning in to ki*s Lindsey. It felt like a bolt from the blue. Domenic, usually calm, was stunned. He stared in disbelief, his mind went nk. Lindsey¡¯s reaction to Sumner¡¯s unexpected move was one of shock. As she registered what was happening, she trembled violently, like she¡¯d been electrocuted, struggling to push Sumner away. Chapter 708 Yet, from the corner of his eye, Sumner noticed Domenic Lingering outside the door. A smile crept onto his face. Sumner¡¯s hold on Lindsey¡¯s wrist was firm, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. With his strength, he easily overpowered Lindsey. Trapped so tightly by him, she had no alternative but to endure it. To Domenic, observing from a distance, it appeared as though Lindsey was facing away from him, deeply engaged in a ki*s with Sumner.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Overwhelmed by anger, Domenic mmed his fist into the wall, causing his hand to bleed profusely. Domenic felt the urge to confront Lindsey but, recalling his recent actions with Carole, he doubted his right to do so. His fists balled in anger, and his eyes zed with a crimson fury. After pausing briefly, he turned around and left. Sumner¡¯s expression darkened as he watched Domenic leave. Then, he let go of Lindsey. Truth be told, Sumner had barely caressed Lindsey¡¯s lips, and for the most part, avoided contact altogether. Aware of her resistance, he consciously refrained from pressing for a deeper ki*s. The instant Sumner rxed his hold, Lindsey shoved him away with force and quickly wiped her lips with the back of her hand, fixing him with a furious re. Noticing the reddened mark on Lindsey¡¯s wrist from his hold, Sumner felt a twinge of remorse. He moved closer, only for Lindsey to step back. ¡°Lindsey¡­ Sumner¡¯s apology was heavy with regret as he saw the fear in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­ I was so angry. I was afraid you¡¯d be deceived and hurt by that scoundrel¡­ I¡¯m truly sorry. I acted without thinking. ¡± Lindsey tried to calm herself down, looking up at Sumner. She felt her heart soften as she saw how helpless and self-critical he was. Although she knew she couldn¡¯t escape from him at the moment. Perhaps he still had some respect for her, which kept him from crossing the line. The way Sumner acted today, however, changed everything for Lindsey. She used to think they could be friends, but now, she felt that was impossible. ¡°Sumner, I need to be alone to settle my thoughts. That¡¯s all for today. I¡¯m leaving. ¡± Lindsey looked down, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. She quickly turned and left. Sumner stopped in his tracks. He clenched his fists tightly, puzzled over why he fell shortpared to Domenic. Why did Lindsey ept Domenic but not him? What made her so averse to him? Sumner couldn¡¯t ept this. The repressed longing he¡¯d held back was erupting, growing stronger and more uncontroble, like a volcano that couldn¡¯t be contained. Once Sumner made up his mind, he was prepared to do whatever it took. At this moment, he was resolved to make Lindsey leave Domenic and choose him. Chapter 709 With this in mind, Sumner pulled out his phone and made a call. Leonel had been immersed in his work at the institute, conducting the final tests for a new drug these past two days. His phone began to ring. He considered ignoring it, but when he saw Sumner¡¯s name, he paused and decided to delegate his tasks to his assistant. Stepping out of theb, Leonel answered the call. ¡°Hello, Sumner. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Leonel, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been thinking over for quite some time. I need to discuss it with you. It¡¯s about Linds. . Leonel¡¯s expression turned serious, sensing the conversation involved Lindsey. Stepping out of the mall, Lindsey felt the early autumn breeze soothe her. She bit her lip and took out her phone to dial Domenic¡¯s number. Meanwhile, Hendrix was driving Domenic toward his office.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. He noticed his boss¡¯s brow furrowed and his expression dark and threatening. Hendrix stayed silent in his seat, worried that any word from him might provoke Domenic¡¯s anger. Then, a unique ringtone pierced the silence of the car. Hendrix recognized it as the tone for Domenic¡¯s priority contacts, likely Lindsey. Hendrix cast a curious look at Domenic through the rearview mirror. To his surprise, Domenic sat there, seemingly oblivious to the ringing phone. The ringtone stopped, and quietness engulfed the car once more. But the phone soon broke the silence again. Domenic continued to stare out the window, ignoring his phone. ¡°Mr. Walsh, have you and Miss Stewart had another disagreement?¡± Hendrix finally blurted out, surprised by his own boldness. Only then did Domenic nce back, his gaze sharp and cutting. ¡°Does it have anything to do with you? One more word, and don¡¯t bother showing up tomorrow. ¡± Hendrix fell silent, his mood sour. ¡°Speak up. ¡± Domenic¡¯s brows were knit together tightly. He stared at Hendrix, seemingly puzzled and searching for an answer. ¡°What¡¯s a woman¡¯s reaction when she catches her boyfriend with anotherdy?¡± Hendrix stole a quick look at Domenic in the rearview mirror, too scared to utter a word. ¡°Are you looking to get fired?¡± Domenic¡¯s expression turned even more gloomy at Hendrix¡¯sck of reply. In a low voice, Hendrix mumbled, ¡°But you told me to keep quiet. Chapter 710 Helpless, Domenic let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Go ahead, I¡¯m listening now. ¡± Hendrix chuckled and said earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to say about this situation, But put yourself in their shoes. If I were in that situation, I¡¯d definitely retaliate. ¡± ¡°Retaliate?¡± With raised eyebrows, Domenic asked curiously, ¡°How would you do that?¡± ¡°I¡¯d simply find someone better than him, just to piss him off. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery At that moment, Domenic¡¯s expression turned grim. Hendrix could feel an intense gaze boring into him, sending shivers down his spine. Yet, Hendrix was only speaking his mind. After all, Domenic wasn¡¯t the type to worry over such things. Why would he be upset? A realization dawned on Hendrix! His eyes widened as he turned to face Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh, don¡¯t tell me¡­ You¡¯re involved with another woman, and Miss Stewart found out? Is this about your time with Ms. Larson earlier?¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Domenic shouted at Hendrix, then slumped back in his seat. He pulled out his phone and saw several missed calls from Lindsey. Massaging his forehead, Domenic pondered. He wondered if Lindsey was with Sumner as a way to retaliate. But why wouldn¡¯t she give him a chance to exin? Why did she have to ki*s Sumner?N?velDrama.Org owns this. The mere thought of that scene fueled a relentless rage in Domenic, leaving him feeling agitated and disturbed. After parking the car, Hendrix nced at Domenic. Just as he was about to inform Domenic of their arrival, he noticed blood on Domenic¡¯s left hand. ¡°Mr. Walsh, is there something wrong with your hand?¡± Hendrix eximed in rm. Domenic nced at his hand, noticing the dried blood. He casually mentioned, ¡°Find someone to wrap this up. I think it¡¯s fractured. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Hendrix¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Who¡¯s responsible for this?¡± ¡°Stay out of what doesn¡¯t concern you,¡± Domenic responded with a slight roll of his eyes, not wanting to admit he¡¯d injured himself by punching a wall in frustration. Hendrix pursed his lips, unable to resist letting his imagination run wild. Had his boss been caught out with Carole and confronted by Lindsey? The mere thought of such a scenario filled him with a mix of concern and curiosity. Meanwhile, Lindsey arrived back home to find no sign of Domenic, who hadn¡¯t been home for several days. Was he still with that other woman? Why wasn¡¯t he answering her calls? Had he fallen for someone else and was nning to leave her? Her mind was filled with a tangled mess of thoughts. Turning on every light, Lindsey couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of coldness enveloping her. Chapter 711 Was everything in the past fake? Was his promise also fake? Are all men this heartless? Had she been let down once more, just like in the past? Yet, deep down, Lindsey refused to believe Domenic was capable of such betrayal. Overwhelmed and heartbroken, she copsed onto the sofa, tears streaming down her face. With tears in her eyes, Lindsey fell asleep. After what seemed like an eternity, she felt herself being lifted gently. Lindsey opened her eyes in a daze, she murmured, ¡°Domenic?¡± Then she smelled a strong smell of alcohol. ¡°Mhm. ¡± Domenic spoke softly, gentlyying Lindsey down on the spacious bedroom bed. He flicked on themp beside the bed. Lindsey gazed up at the man towering over her. He was dressed in just a white shirt, his tie askew, dangling across his chest. His cheeks were flushed, and his dark eyes swirled withplex, hazy emotions. Suddenlying to her senses, Lindsey sat up. Her eyes fixed on Domenic. ¡°How much did you drink?¡± She¡¯d never seen him so drunk; his steps were even a little unsteady. Domenic shrugged off his tie, tossing it aside. He staggered towards her, bracing one knee on the bed¡¯s edge, trapping her with his arms. Lindsey¡¯s eyes brimmed with grievance. She lifted her gaze to meet his, enduring the sharp scent of alcohol without flinching. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin to me?¡± Her voice quivered slightly, tears welling up in her eyes as she fought back her emotions. Domenic knew what she was talking about. ¡°Yes. ¡± His reply was simple. Lindsey stared at him and said, ¡°Just go ahead and tell me, I¡¯m all ears. ¡± Domenic¡¯s lips tightened, the scent of alcohol mingling with his natural scent as he leaned closer. ¡°She¡¯s a distant cousin of mine. She¡¯s close to my Uncle Rupert. You know my uncles aren¡¯t my biggest fans. If they heard of us, they¡¯d make trouble with Grandpa and try to drive a wedge between us. I need to keep our rtionship with her to avoid stirring up any unnecessary drama with my uncle. ¡± His voice was soft but shaky. Lindsey¡¯s brow furrowed in doubt. ¡°Is that the truth?¡± The room was bathed in the warm glow from the bedsidemp. Domenic¡¯s eyes, reflecting the light, gazed solemnly down at her and nodded. Biting her lip, Lindsey¡¯s voice wavered.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°But¡­ How long can we go on like this?¡± Chapter 712 Domenic¡¯s gaze deepened. He brushed her silky hair gently and murmured, ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to deal with this. I¡¯ll get Grandpa to ept you, then reveal everything about us. ¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lindsey stared at him intently, searching his gaze for any trace of truth. He didn¡¯t shy away but met her gaze steadily. After a prolonged stare, Lindsey was the first to break eye contact. She touched his back gently. ¡°I¡¯m choosing to trust you once more. But if you lie to me again, I won¡¯t hesitate to leave. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression turned grim as he gazed at her, a coldness creeping into his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been clear about where I stand. Now, it¡¯s your turn. What¡¯s going on between you and Sumner?¡± ¡°Me and Sumner?¡± Surprise shed across Lindsey¡¯s face before she remembered the forced ki*s from Sumner earlier that day. It was brief, but¡­ ¡°You¡­ You saw that?¡± A flicker of panic shed in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. Even though she wasn¡¯t at fault, such incidents were hard to exin away. ¡°Yes, I saw it,¡± Domenic said through clenched teeth, his fingers tracing her lips. ¡°I saw him embracing you, and you ki*sing him back passionately. ¡± As he spoke, Domenic¡¯s grip on her face tightened. His forehead veins bulged, and his expression was fierce. ¡°Lindsey, do you think he¡¯s better than me? Is this your way to get back at me? Don¡¯t you know there¡¯s nothing more intolerable for a man than being betrayed by his woman? Do you think that I love you so much that you can be forgiven for whatever you do?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She realized the drunken man before her was not in his right mind, enraged by the day¡¯s events. She grabbed Domenic¡¯s wrist and suddenly found that his hand was wrapped in gauze. The sweat on his forehead showed that he was trying his best to endure the pain. Concerned, Lindsey eximed, ¡°Why is your hand injured? Please, let go. Don¡¯t hurt yourself further. ¡± ¡°Just tell me what you really think of me. What am I to you?¡± Domenic, usually not one to get drunk, felt unusually low today. He saw his woman ki*sing another man, and it was something he couldn¡¯te to terms with. After finally finding someone special, it felt like his heart was adrift in solitude once more. He was so heartbroken that he didn¡¯t even notice the pain in his hand. ¡°Will you believe me if I say I didn¡¯t do it?¡± Lindsey, no longer resisting, gazed at Domenic with an icy detachment. After a lingering stare, Domenic released her face, running his big hand through her flowing hair before capturing her lips with a bite. Lindsey gripped his shirt, a frown creasing her face. Although she tried to dodge, Domenic firmly grasped the back of her head, making her unable to doge his bite. With a tender bite followed by a deep ki*s, Domenic exhibited a ferocity akin to a hungry beast, yearning to consume Lindsey entirely. ¡°Lindsey, never forget that you are mine. I cannot bear to see you in the arms of another man. If such a betrayal urs again, I¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s words faltered, his head buried in Lindsey¡¯s fragrant long hair. In this moment, the once proud man discarded his self-esteem, fearing to lose the woman before him more than anything. Chapter 713 In the past, if a woman dared to betray him, he would leave her immediately. Yet now, he couldn¡¯t muster the courage to utter a harsh word. The surprising humility he disyed in Lindsey¡¯s presence was something he had never anticipated. Despite what happened today, he remained unwilling to release Lindsey and push her away. The contemtion of Lindsey¡¯s departure left Domenic¡¯s heart hollow, aching so intensely that he felt a painful pang with every breath. He parted his Lips as if to speak, yet words eluded him. Instead, he held Lindsey tightly in his arms. Lindsey extended her hand and tenderly embraced him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t know how it happened so suddenly, but it¡¯s not what you¡¯re imagining between Sumner and me. It¡¯s only been you that I¡¯ve liked, and you¡¯re the only one in my heart. I¡­ I¡¯ve never considered getting back at you. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn¡¯t resort to this method. Can you trust me?¡± Domenic remained silent, just holding her even more tightly. After a prolonged silence, he remarked, ¡°I feel the same. I¡¯ve liked you from the beginning to now. So, regardless of what happens, please don¡¯t leave me, okay? Even if I ever lie to you one day, it won¡¯t be intentional. Please give me a chance to exin, okay?¡± Lindsey tenderly stroked his hair, coaxing him like a child. ¡°Okay. But you have to promise me that you¡¯ll never betray me. If you ever stop loving me, just be honest and tell me. I value honesty and won¡¯t cling to you. ¡± After enduring the sting of betrayal, Lindsey transformed into a silkworm pupa, delicately enveloping her heart within a thick cocoon. Only when Domenic broke in and dismantled her protective cocoon did Lindsey¡¯s hearty bare. She knew her heart couldn¡¯t endure more pain. With sincerity emanating from his gaze, Domenic lifted his head, locking eyes with Lindsey¡¯s tearful ones. ¡°I promise never to fail you. If I ever betray you, may retribution befall me. Overwhelmed by emotion, Lindsey couldn¡¯t contain her tears, surrendering herself to a tight, affectionate embrace within Domenic¡¯s arms. Amid their embrace, a sudden realization struck Lindsey. Gently pulling away, she held Domenic¡¯s bandaged hand and inquired, ¡°How did you sustain this injury?¡± After a long silence, Domenic admitted that he had furiously punched at the wall after witnessing Lindsey ki*sing Sumner. Lindsey, feeling a mix of pity and frustration, was at a loss for words. She gave him a disapproving look and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s quite immature. Do you think breaking walls makes you look strong? Who were you imagining hitting? Me or Sumner?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyebrows lifted, and a smile finally broke through. ¡°How could I ever wish to hurt you? It was him, of course. I wanted to charge over there and give him a piece of my mind!¡± Domenic said.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Lindsey wrapped her arms around him, pleading, ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t do this again. Let¡¯s talk things out directly, clear up any misunderstanding, alright?¡± Domenic tenderly cradled her face in his hand and promised in a raspy voice, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say. ¡± Lindsey, slightly bemused, gazed up at him. ¡°Why are you agreeing so easily?¡± Domenic gently pushed her back onto the bed, murmuring, ¡°Because my future wife¡¯s wishes are mymands. ¡± He leaned in for a ki*s. Lindsey yfully pushed against his chest, only for her hand to be gently captured by his. With their misunderstanding resolved, Lindsey finally rested peacefully. Upon waking up, she found Domenic had already left for work. Chapter 714 Seeing the breakfastid out in the kitchen filled Lindsey with a sense of warmth. His thoughtfulness and timely gestures of love always touched her. Lindsey, who grew up longing for affection, was easy to please. A Little love shown to her, and she¡¯d return it tenfold, a hundredfold. Just as she set the milk on the table, her phone rang. It was Nancy. Lindsey answered it promptly. The person calling Lindsey spoke hurriedly. Without thinking, she pulled the phone slightly away from her ear. Nancy¡¯s voice came through, urgent. ¡°Linds! Get over to the office! There¡¯s been an incident!! Come quick!¡± A wave of worry washed over Lindsey. Before she could inquire further, her phone shut down on its own. She realized toote she hadn¡¯t charged it the night before. Now wasn¡¯t the time to dwell on that. Grabbing some cash, Lindsey hurried out and took a taxi. ¡®s BunnyBookery Arriving at the office, Lindsey saw Nancy deeply engaged in a tense phone conversation. As soon as Lindsey appeared, Nancy looked visibly relieved and quickly handed her the phone, exining tersely, ¡°The assistant director from Star Search is pulling our artists out of the show!¡± The voice on the line was direct, ¡°Lindsey, after careful consideration, our team has concluded that Xiomara Vance and Sumner Lawson from your agency aren¡¯t suited for our show. We¡¯re formally withdrawing their participation. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s brow creased in confusion as she asked for rification, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? We¡¯ve already reached an agreement, haven¡¯t we? We agreed back then, right? Why are you now saying it¡¯s not suitable?¡± ¡°The two of them are simply too inexperienced for serious consideration. The show¡¯s team has opted for more established participants,¡± the assistant director replied dismissively. Feeling her frustration rise, Lindsey struggled to keep herposure. ¡°But isn¡¯t the point of the show to spotlight emerging talents? Besides, experience is gained through practice. And why would you assume theyck talent? Is it because they¡¯re not popr enough?¡± ¡°Well. That¡¯s just the way it is. No contract was signed. What weight does a verbal agreement hold?¡± the person on the other end replied, sounding disinterested and weary. It was clear he didn¡¯t expect Lindsey to be able to challenge his decision as he ended the call. Nancy couldn¡¯t hold back her frustration, cursing, ¡°Damn it! They make promises then back out!N?velDrama.Org owns this. Doesn¡¯t everyone¡¯s time count just as much? Doesn¡¯t everyone¡¯s effort matter? This is outrageous! Such arrogance! They¡¯re clearly pushing around the new trainees¡­¡± Lindsey, rubbing her forehead, murmured resignedly, ¡°Enough. What¡¯s done is done. Let¡¯s think of a n. We¡¯ll find a way out of this. ¡± She had previously shared the exciting news with Xiomara, who was overjoyed. Xiomara had been working hard to prepare for the program, picking up dance and sticking to a light diet. She¡¯d limit herself to just a few vegetables and pieces of corn every day. Seeing her dedication, Lindsey felt deeply sorry for her. She had reassured her that things would look up once the program began. But now, Lindsey was at a loss for how to break the unfortunate update. Nancy¡¯s anger hadn¡¯t subsided. She paced back and forth, even mmed her hand on the desk, eximing, ¡°We¡¯ve done nothing wrong. We¡¯ve never offended anyone. Who could it be? Who on earth is against us? I just can¡¯t take this anymore. ¡± Her outburst jogged Lindsey¡¯s memory about their recent troubles. Lately, it seemed like their resources were being systematically robbed. It looked increasingly like a deliberate scheme against them. Chapter 715 A suspect came to mind¡ª Gallop Entertainment. Ever since Lindsey triumphed over Shelia, problems had been constant. The only reason behind these events was Gallop Entertainment, the supporter of Shelia. Gallop Entertainment had a formidable presence in the entertainment industry, and its influence couldn¡¯t be underestimated.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Whether it came to power or reputation, it was beyond the reach of a smallpany like Lindsey¡¯s. If Gallop Entertainment decided to go after Lindsey, she¡¯d be powerless to defend herself. Herpany would continually take hits from Gallop Entertainment until it went bankrupt. Lindsey didn¡¯t regret crossing Shelia. In her eyes, Shelia had iting. However, the persistent onught from Gallop Entertainment was a major concern. To stand a chance against it, Lindsey realized she needed other¡¯s help. And thepany capable of going toe to toe with Gallop Entertainment was likely Vitality Entertainment. After some thought, Lindsey decided to reconnect with her former boss, Emilio, hoping he might lend a hand. Returning to the Vitality Entertainment premises stirred a blend of emotions in Lindsey. She approached the front desk with ease. Shortly, the receptionist gave her the green light to Emilio¡¯s office. As soon as she entered the office, she saw that Emilio was sitting at his desk and reading documents. Lindsey kept silent automatically and waited quietly in a chair. It wasn¡¯t until Emilio looked up for a sip of water that he noticed her. ¡°You¡¯re here? Why aren¡¯t you saying a thing? I didn¡¯t even notice your arrival. ¡± With a gentle smile, Lindsey replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt your work. ¡± Emilio set his gold-rimmed sses aside, massaging the indent on his nose, and offered a knowing chuckle. ¡°You wouldn¡¯te to me unless you needed something. So tell me, what brings you here?¡± Lindsey felt a twinge of nervousness. Was her intention that obvious? But then, she realized a man of Emilio¡¯s position would naturally be perceptive. Resolving to be straightforward, she rxed. ¡°Mr. Howard, mypany is being targeted by Gallop Entertainment. They¡¯ve unjustly barred my artists from a talent show we¡¯d secured. I¡¯m here hoping for your help. ¡± She kept it concise. Emilio responded with a smile. ¡°What benefits can I get?¡± Emilio rhythmically tapped the desk, contemting. He said, ¡°You¡¯re not working for me anymore. There¡¯s no obligation for me to help. I¡¯m open to helping, but I expect a fair exchange. What can you offer?¡± Lindsey was stunned by his quick agreement. She¡¯d braced herself for a long struggle, yet here he was, ready to help without much fuss. She was ready to offer Emilio something worthwhile in return. Quickly regaining herposure, Lindsey smiled and offered, ¡°Name your price. If it¡¯s within my power and reasonable, I¡¯ll agree. ¡± ¡°Alright. ¡± Emilio nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it with my team. I¡¯ll definitely help you. Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll let you know my terms soon. ¡± Leaving thepany, Lindsey felt like she was walking on air. Chapter 716 Emilio¡¯s assistance made her feel as though she was¡­ riding on Emilio¡¯s coattails. Watching Lindsey leave, Emilio rxed and made a phone call. He called twice before he got through. The person on the other end sounded exhausted. ¡°You¡¯d better have something important to tell me. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s something big. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll want to hear about it.N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡± Afraid that Domenic would be angry at him, or that Domenic would suddenly hang up the phone, Emilio quickly said, ¡°Lindsey came to me. She¡¯s in trouble and asking for help from Vitality Entertainment. ¡± Domenic paused for a moment. ¡°Why did she chose toe to you?¡± Emilio was momentarily Lost for words. He rolled his eyes and replied, ¡°You have a problem with that? She couldn¡¯t exactly go to you directly, could she?¡± Emilio was really speechless. What a jealous man Domenic was! Domenic massaged his sore temple and asked with concern, ¡°What challenges has herpany encountered? He guessed it was because Lindsey¡¯spany that was in trouble that she needed help from Vitality Entertainment. Emilio, feeling yful, decided to tease Domenic a bit. With a smirk, he said, ¡°It involves Sumner. You¡¯re familiar with him, aren¡¯t you?¡± Emilio remembered that Sumner was Vincent¡¯s godson. There were rumors of Sumner and Lindsey being romantically involved. Emilio had once been tasked by Domenic to look into Sumner. But the identity of Vincent¡¯s godson wasn¡¯t widely known. Upon hearing Sumner¡¯s name, Domenic abruptly ended the call. Emilio, holding the phone, waspletely stunned. Was Domenic really that jealous of Sumner? Unbeknownst to Emilio, Domenic had recently encountered Sumner and Lindsey together, fueling his jealousy. The mere mention of Sumner triggered an immediate, exasperated response from Domenic, who even wished Sumner would vanish from the earth. But Emilio hadn¡¯t even gotten to the main issue. After dialing Domenic¡¯s number four times, just as Emilio began to wonder if the phone was off, the call finally connected. Feeling he might have pushed too far, Emilio quickly got to the point before Domenic lost his temper. He exined, ¡°Lindsey¡¯s business was maliciously targeted by Gallop Entertainment. The crew of Star Search originally gave their consent for the trainees from Lindsey¡¯s agency to take part in the show, but they went back on their words at thest minute. Lindsey suspects Gallop Entertainment was behind it and wants my help. ¡± Domenic, silent for a moment, then asked with a frown, ¡°Does she have a history with Gallop Entertainment? Why are they targeting her?¡± It seemed odd that such argepany wouldpete with a smaller agency over resources. Emilio leaned back, resting his feet on the desk. He shrugged and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But Gallop Entertainment always clings to whatever resources they get. If this continues, Lindsey¡¯spany might just fall apart. Oh, and there¡¯s something else. Kristy Chase, remember? After her meeting request was declined by you, she has now joined Gallop Entertainment. ¡± ¡°Kristy Chase?¡± Domenic¡¯s frown deepened. He pondered if there was a connection between these two situations. Chapter 717 How was Kristy influential enough to persuade a giant like Gallop Entertainment to go to such lengths against Lindsey? Domenic found it hard to believe. As the secretary entered with coffee, she noticed Domenic¡¯s furrowed brow and treaded lightly, wary of upsetting him again. Tapping his fingers on the desk, Domenic instructed, ¡°Handle it as you think best and assist Lindsey in resolving this issue. Also, I¡¯d like you to find out the major shareholders of Gallop Entertainment. ¡± Another thought crossed Domenic¡¯s mind. Lindsey¡¯s stepsister, Shelia, was an artist at Gallop Entertainment. Even though Lindsey had put Shelia in her ce, it was unlikely that Gallop Entertainment would risk its good name for a notorious artist. Unless¡­ A shadow of suspicion crossed Domenic¡¯s face as he pondered. What if his uncle Rupert was involved? Rupert¡¯s beloved daughter was put behind bars. Known for his spiteful nature, he would surely seek vengeance. Domenic had overlooked this point. If that were the case, Rupert¡¯s support for Gallop Entertainment made sense. No wonder Gallop Entertainment had grown so rapidly recently, nearly matching Vitality Entertainment.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Perhaps Rupert had been quietly undermining Vitality Entertainment. Domenic scoffed, realizing his uncle might be orchestrating things from the shadows. At this time, Rupert was sitting in the general manager¡¯s office of Gallop Entertainment. The general manager was a middle-aged man with a big belly. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve done what you asked me to do. But I¡¯m really intrigued. Why target a small agency like that? Even though Cherish was close to partnering with Lindnita Artists Agency, it was Juanita¡¯s influence. Now, with Juanita out of the picture and Lindsey¡¯s firm posing no threat, why bother?¡± Rupert, eyes narrowed, leaned forward with a cryptic smile and said, ¡°Those who oppose me won¡¯t find a good ending. Plus, this will flush out the one I¡¯m really after. When he¡¯s worried, he¡¯ll slip up, revealing himself without me lifting a finger. ¡± The general manager of Gallop Entertainment couldn¡¯t understand Rupert¡¯s cryptic implications. He simply stared at Rupert in silence. Even as the general manager, he knew the true control of Gallop Entertainment alwaysy in Rupert¡¯s hands. Rupert, holding over half the shares, preferred staying out of the public eye, silently steering thepany¡¯s course. His backing was the key to Gallop Entertainment¡¯s rapid growth, positioning it as a formidable rival to Vitality Entertainment. Understanding that Vitality Entertainment fell under therger umbre of the Vitality Group didn¡¯t deter Rupert. This only confirmed the swirling rumors about intense power struggles within the Walsh family. With these thoughts, the general manager¡¯s eyes narrowed, filled with uncertainty. Meanwhile, Lindsey returned to herpany utterly spent, emotionally and physically drained by the recent cascade of troubles. Lindsey wasn¡¯t sure if Emilio would do the favor for her. The uncertainty hung over her like a shadow. Despite her worries, she knew she had to shake it off and keep pushing forward until she got an answer. Chapter 718 In the afternoon, amid a flurry of tasks that made her forget about the talent show, her phone broke the silence. With a weary tone, Lindsey answered, ¡°Hello, this is Lindnita Artists Agency¡­¡± But within seconds, her demeanor shifted as she heard the news, standing abruptly and asking, ¡°Pardon?¡± The voice on the other end repeated, ¡°This is Star Search. We made a mistake with the guest list. What we should cancel is the other guests, not Xiomara and Sumner. We¡¯re sorry and would like to extend a renewed invitation for them to participate in the show. ¡± Lindsey was baffled. They got it wrong? The assistant director was so aggressive before. Now the crew said they got it wrong? Were they taking her for a fool? Trying to control her rising frustration, Lindsey listened as the caller continued, ¡°Additionally, we¡¯d like to invite Ms. Sh Potter from yourpany to be a judge. Her vast experience and talent make her an ideal choice. We believe a partnership would be mutually beneficial. Please consider it. ¡± The caller offered Lindsey a graceful way out, leaving her little room to protest. ¡°Alright, I understand.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. However, I¡¯ll need to discuss it with Sh first and see if she¡¯s interested. I¡¯ll get back to youter, is that okay?¡± ¡°Of course. ¡± Once the call ended, Lindsey¡¯s emotions were a whirlwind, swinging from one extreme to another. Nheless, Lindsey had managed to tackle one issue. Humming cheerfully, she quickly rang up Sh. Sh picked up promptly, herughter echoing at Lindsey¡¯s evident joy. Sh asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Linds? You sound so happy. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve just cleared up a major headache. ¡± Lindsey filled Sh in on every detail before asking, ¡°So, what do you think about being a judge?¡± Sh responded cautiously, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m the right fit?¡± Lindsey could sense Sh¡¯s hesitation. After all, with thepany¡¯s trainees featured in such a significant event, any misstep from Sh could stir controversy and thrust thepany into the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Having recently returned and faced with past public scrutiny, Sh was naturally cautious about re-entering such kind of thing. Yet, the potential benefits were undeniable. ¡°Your recent projects have kept you out of the public eye. Now that yourtest film isplete, joining this show could boost your personal profile and simultaneously elevate thepany¡¯s image. It¡¯s a chance to promote your new film as well. I believe the positives outweigh the negatives. ¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, Lindsey continued, ¡°But still, the choice is yours. ¡± ¡°If it benefits thepany, then I¡¯m in,¡± Sh replied earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m aware we¡¯ve been missing out on program invitationstely. A chance like this doesn¡¯te often, and I want to contribute to yourpany¡¯s sess. ¡± ¡°Sh. . Lindsey was deeply moved. Chapter 719 Sh was consistently kind yet decisive, always considering the bigger picture. ¡°Also, Sh, since you¡¯ve agreed to join the show, there¡¯s something you need to keep in mind. You will be the judge in the talent show, where two of ourpany¡¯s trainees will participate as contestants. To avoid any ims of bias or hidden agendas, you should freely point out any issues. Don¡¯t hesitate to be strict; it¡¯ll help their growth. I¡¯ll let them know to expect candid feedback. Just be bold with your critiques. ¡± Sh responded with a soft smile, ¡°As a judge, I¡¯ll ensure fairness and integrity. I¡¯ll address any shorings and acknowledge their strengths. Don¡¯t worry, I understand my role.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± After a bit more conversation, they ended the call. Lindsey quickly reached out to the Star Search team to confirm Sh¡¯s participation as a judge. Once everything was settled, Lindsey found herself reflecting on how swiftly Emilio had acted. ¡®s BunnyBookery That was undoubtedly too fast! Lindsey had only spoken to Emilio in the morning, yet by the afternoon, everything was resolved. Emilio was really awesome. She realized she should carve out some time to personally thank him for his help. Once Sh¡¯s participation was confirmed, the show¡¯s team moved swiftly. Within just thirty minutes, they announced the judging panel. Alongside Sh and a few industry veterans, Lindsey noticed Kristy¡¯s name. Recalling herst encounter with Kristy at Vitality Group, Lindsey remembered the buzz when Kristy switched alliances to Gallop Entertainment. Numerous fans had expressed relief that Kristy had escaped the alleged constraints of Vitality Entertainment, praising Gallop Entertainment for offering her help. Overall, this situation cast a negative public opinion on Vitality Entertainment¡¯s reputation while shining a favorable light on Gallop Entertainment. Had Lindsey not spent time at Vitality Entertainment, she might have been swayed by the rumors. Vitality Entertainment had given the best resources to Kristy at that time, but now it was stabbed in the back. She was really an ingrate. Lindsey found herself unexpectedlying to Vitality Entertainment¡¯s defense. This time around, Kristy secured a spot as a judge on the show, clearly backed by Gallop Entertainment. Once the list of judges was public, Kristy¡¯s supportersvished praise on Gallop Entertainment while casting shade on Vitality Entertainment. Lindsey was utterly dumbfounded to see Kristy¡¯s post thanking the show¡¯s team for the chance to be a judge. Kristy shared her mix of nerves and excitement about her judging debut, leading some to believe she¡¯d previously been underappreciated at Vitality Entertainment. Shaking her head in wonder, Lindsey reflected on the fickle nature of the showbiz industry. Yet, she felt grateful for her choice to start her own firm, where artists like Sh and Xiomara showed genuine dedication. Thinking of her artists brought a smile to Lindsey¡¯s face. She decided to call Xiomara and Sumner to her office. Xiomara arrived early, bubbling with enthusiasm about the show¡¯s details. However, her excitement turned to shyness when Sumner walked in, and she waited for Lindsey to begin. ¡°Sumner, good you¡¯re here. ¡± Chapter 720 Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but tense up a bit as she remembered yesterday¡¯s incident at the clothing store. However, as Sumner¡¯s agent, she had to discuss work with him. Sumner¡¯s face was unreadable as he asked, ¡°What did you need to talk about?¡±All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Xiomara sensed that something was off and could feel an unspoken tension between the two. She scratched her head, casting several puzzled nces their way. Xiomara was curious about what had happened. After Lindsey finished her brief exnation of the events, Sumner¡¯s reaction was quite neutral. He didn¡¯t seem too keen on getting involved and just nodded to acknowledge he heard her. Lindsey offered some encouraging words. ¡°Head back and get ready. Stay calm and don¡¯t be nervous. The goal is to boost your profiles through this talent show. Don¡¯t worry about your rank, just give it your all. And just so you know, Sh is a judge. But don¡¯t get too thrilled about it. I¡¯ve already warned her to be strict with you. She¡¯ll be upfront and it might sting, but it¡¯s for your own benefits. If Sh¡¯s critique seems harsh, don¡¯t take it to heart. It¡¯s all meant to help you grow. The key is to keep improving. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Got it,¡± Xiomara replied with a nod. Noticing Sumner¡¯s silence, she elbowed him gently, saying, ¡°Sumner. Sumner jolted as if snapping out of a trance. He nced at Lindsey, then looked away. Something felt off between them. Xiomara was now even more convinced of her suspicions. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re done here. Sumner, you can get back to what you were doing. Xiomara, stay here for a moment. I¡¯ve got more to discuss with you. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze was fixed on some papers, so she missed the turmoil in Sumner¡¯s eyes, though Xiomara caught it. Once Sumner had departed, Lindsey shared some wisdom with Xiomara. ¡°When you make your debut on the show, be prepared for all kinds of feedback. Don¡¯t let the praise go to your head, and don¡¯t take criticism to heart. Pay attention to what the judges say. I understand you¡¯ve had insecurities about your appearance, but that¡¯s all behind you now. It¡¯s time to look ahead. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s concern was primarily for Xiomara. She understood that girls often feel more deeply than boys. Once she achieved fame, it was inevitable thatizens would delve into her past. The prospect of facing intentional or unintentional malice from others would undoubtedly cause her anxiety. Lindsey had heard too many stories of mental struggles in the entertainment industry and didn¡¯t want Xiomara to go through that. So, she feltpelled to add a few more words of caution. Lindsey nced up and noticed Xiomara had been daydreaming for quite a while. She felt a mix of annoyance and amusement. With a gentle tap on Xiomara¡¯s forehead, Lindsey yfully scolded, ¡°Hey there! Your mind was wandering, and you missed everything I said. That¡¯s like being miles away. ¡± Xiomara, caught off guard, snapped back to the present. She reached up to her forehead, realizing Lindsey was teasing and not actually upset. In response, she cheekily poked out her tongue and offered a mischievous smile. Lindsey pressed on with a yful tone, ¡°Come on, spill it out. Chapter 721 Who¡¯s on your mind? You got a secret sweetheart? You¡¯re not seeing someone behind my back, are you?¡± Xiomara waved her hands frantically in denial and said, ¡°No way! I¡¯m just starting out and far from famous. How could I even think about dating?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help butugh when she thought of the passionate look in Xiomara¡¯s eyes when Xiomara looked at Sumner. She teased knowingly, ¡°Oh, please. Since when does being in the entertainment industry mean you can¡¯t date? Wouldn¡¯t that mean all celebrities are single?¡± Xiomara¡¯sughter mingled with Lindsey¡¯s. After hesitating for a while, she asked, ¡°So, what happened between you and him?¡± For a brief moment, Lindsey didn¡¯t realize who she was referring to and asked, ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°Sumner¡­¡± Xiomara¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve sensed something off between you two today. Was there an argument? Or¡­¡± Lindsey hesitated, realizing Xiomara¡¯s keen perception. She had thought her feelings were hidden, but Xiomara had noticed. Seeing the inquisitive expression on Xiomara¡¯s face, Lindsey chuckled. She gently squeezed Xiomara¡¯s cheek, which, despite her slim figure, remained plump and pleasant to touch. Lindsey reassured, ¡°Everything¡¯s okay with us. Don¡¯t overthink it, Xiomara. ¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey¡¯s yful pinch contorted Xiomara¡¯s face, drawing her mouth into a smile. She reached out, trying to catch Lindsey¡¯s hand, her words muffled. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. No more worries for me then. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey understood Xiomara¡¯s concerns were elsewhere. Xiomara¡¯s worries weren¡¯t for Lindsey. Observing the affectionate concern on Xiomara¡¯s face, Lindsey couldn¡¯t resist a little tease. ¡°Oh? Looking out for the feelings of a certain someone, are you? Just let me know the date of the wedding, will you?¡± Xiomara was quick to blush, her cheeks turning scarlet in a sh. She stomped her foot and said, ¡°Lindsey! Stop saying that, please. There¡¯s nothing between Sumner and me. If you don¡¯t stop¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll stop talking to you. ¡± Watching Xiomara dash off bashfully, Lindsey burst intoughter. The girl¡¯s fondness for Sumner was written all over her face. Why would she be embarrassed by others noticing? Lindsey had been hoping to see a spark between Xiomara and Sumner, but recent events had cast an awkward atmosphere over her interactions with Sumner. The thought weighed heavily on Lindsey¡¯s heart. Even if Sumner harbored feelings for her, a rtionship was out of the question. She resolved to find time to gently dissuade him from pursuing her. In her eyes, Xiomara was the right person for Sumner. She was confident that with a bit more attention, he¡¯d be drawn to Xiomara¡¯s qualities. Lindsey never truly believed Sumner¡¯s feelings for her were romantic. They had always been just friends, hadn¡¯t they? Perhaps it was their longstanding friendship and the recent talk of an arranged marriage that had stirred confusion in Sumner. Lindsey was convinced that with a little guidance, she could help him sort out his feelings. With this n in mind, Lindsey felt a bit more at ease. As she was wrapping up her day, Lindsey received a message from Leonel. It simply said, ¡°If you¡¯re free tonight, care to join me for dinner?¡± Chapter 722 He included the restaurant¡¯s location. Realizing it had been some time since she¡¯d seen her brother, Lindsey agreed. After work, Lindsey arrived at the restaurant Leonel had mentioned. She was escorted by a waiter to a secluded private room where Leonel was already seated, waiting for her. Taking her seat across from Leonel, Lindsey noticed the spread of dishes before her and shyly inquired, ¡°Did I keep you waiting?¡± Leonel dismissed her concern with a shake of his head, assuring, ¡°We¡¯re family, you don¡¯t need to worry about that. ¡± His expression was gloomy, prompting Lindsey to sense an underlying message but she chose to remain silent. Leonel continued, ¡°As a family, you know Mom and I only want the best for you. Linds, it¡¯s important to follow our advice. We¡¯ve got the experience and mean no harm. With Mom unwell and me as your elder brother, it¡¯s essential that I take good care of you, and it is equally important that you value and heed my guidance. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Feeling uneasy, Lindsey maintained a polite smile and asked, ¡°Leonel, you seem troubled. What¡¯s going on?¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Mom¡¯s condition is dire. She¡¯s practically unresponsive, and you¡¯re my primary concern. Your well-being is the most important in our family, and you should know that. ¡± Pausing to take a deep breath, Leonel locked eyes with Lindsey and said with emphasis, ¡°Linds, listen to my advice. End things with that man. ¡± Leonel had been informed by Sumner about Domenic¡¯s dating with another woman. Sumner had passionately used Domenic of infidelity and deceit. After hearing that, Leonel flew off and he only suppressed his anger under the persuasion of Sumner. After thinking for a night, Leonel decided to make it clear to Lindsey. Determined to protect his sister, Leonel was resolved not to let her suffer at the hands of an asshole. Lindsey felt a heavy weight in her chest, knowing this confrontation was about her rtionship. With a concerned expression, she asked, ¡°Leonel, do you have to force me like this? I¡¯ll be straight with you, I respect your input on most matters. But when ites to my heart, it¡¯s my own to manage. Please, stay out of it. ¡± Leonel¡¯s response was a scornful chuckle, followed by a_ stern deration. ¡°It¡¯s your own to manage? Mom and I disapprove of Domenic. That means you can¡¯t be with him. ¡± Lindsey almost burst intoughter at his audacious attempt to dictate her feelings. Taking a moment topose herself, she responded with a heavy sigh, ¡°Let¡¯s end this conversation here. I¡¯m not leaving him. He¡¯s the one I love. No one else but him. Do you understand that?¡± Leonel was visibly shaken by her deration of love for the man he disdained. ¡°Listen, Lindsey, this isn¡¯t a request. I¡¯m instructing you to end it with him immediately. You hear me?¡± Leonel shouted harshly. The pressure made Lindsey feel Like she was suffocating. Leonel, noticing the shock on her face, realized he might have crossed a line. Softening his tone, he attempted to reason with her, ¡°Linds, you¡¯re not thinking straight. Can¡¯t you see that?¡± ¡°See what?¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t understand what he meant. Chapter 723 ¡°You¡¯re utterly blinded by love. You¡¯re being yed by him. You will do whatever he asks you to do. Are you not scared of being cheated? What if he ends up hurting you?¡± It dawned on Lindsey that Leonel might be basing his harsh judgment on the previous day¡¯s incident, leading him to a grave misinterpretation of Domenic. However, Domenic had already rified everything to her. How could Leonel judge so harshly without all the facts and still push her to leave Domenic? That was something she couldn¡¯t ept. ¡°I¡¯m mature enough to make my own decisions. I think you¡¯ve got the wrong idea about my boyfriend. Let me clear things up¡­¡± But Leonel cut her off with a dismissive sneer and a tone of sorrow, ¡°I think I know what you¡¯re about to say. But hear me out, Lindsey. I¡¯m only trying to protect you. Yourck of experience is making you vulnerable to his deceit. ¡± ¡°He would never deceive me,¡± Lindsey said with a raised voice and unwavering conviction. She alone understood the contentment and joy she felt with Domenic when they were together. The affection and care he showed filled the void left by her absent mother and brother.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Domenic had always been her protector, never causing her harm. In her heart, he was her forever love, deserving of herplete trust. Especially after their heartfelt conversation the night before, Lindsey couldn¡¯t stand to hear a bad word about him from Leonel. With tears brimming in her eyes, she implored Leonel, ¡°You simply don¡¯t understand him. He¡¯s dedicated and works tirelessly. He treats me with kindness. Being with him brings me happiness andfort. Isn¡¯t that what you and Mom wish for me-to be truly happy?¡± Leonel¡¯s anger escted upon seeing Lindsey¡¯s determination. He abruptly grabbed her wrist, intent on dragging her to the hospital. With a cold tone, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. You can tell our mom directly how much you adore this deceitful man, how you¡¯re willing to hand over everything she¡¯s worked for to him. Go on, share your ns with her. Do you think Mom will approve? And while we¡¯re at it, perhaps a visit to the psychiatric department is in order. I¡¯m curious if there¡¯s something off with your way of thinking. ¡± ¡°Leonel, how many more times must I repeat myself before you ept that my boyfriend isn¡¯t the kind of person you make him out to be?¡± The pressure of Leonel¡¯s grip was painful, and Lindsey felt wronged. Tears threatened to spill, but she held them back. Why couldn¡¯t her family trust her judgment? She longed to be with the one she loved, yet the closest and dearest people in her life seemed determined to tear them apart without understanding the situation, all in the name of her well-being. Her brother didn¡¯t even listen to her exnation. He just believed what he thought. Shouldn¡¯t her love and choice be respected and supported by her family? Why must her brother mock her and belittle her rtionship so harshly? In his anger, Leonel had spoken without restraint. But upon seeing Lindsey bow her head and bite her Lip in apparent pain, a twinge of regret washed over him. Once the words were out, Leonel realized he couldn¡¯t take them back. Too proud to apologize, he remained silent for a long time before saying, ¡°Think about what I¡¯ve said. ¡± Chapter 724 He left abruptly, mming the door behind him. Lindsey sat alone, gazing at the uneaten food, her heart heavy with sorrow. Yet, despite everything, she trusted Domenic¡¯s character and felt his love deeply. She was certain there was no need for secrecy or doubt between them and believed their bond would see them through. Her family might not see Domenic¡¯s worth, but she was convinced that their love could ovee any obstacle. Together, they would eventually win everyone¡¯s approval. Her phone rang with a video call from Domenic. Quickly fixing her disheveled hair, she answered, eager to see him. Dressed sharply in a suit, he looked very handsome and was in what seemed to be a conference room. ¡°Are you¡­ in the middle of a meeting with your boss?¡± Lindsey made sure her voice was soft and even. She didn¡¯t want him to sense her distress. Knowing he was very busy, she didn¡¯t want to add to his worries. ¡°Yes, my boss is busy with some paperwork. I¡¯m here representing him for a meeting,¡± Domenic responded casually. His secretary, cing a coffee cup down, couldn¡¯t help but tremble a little, marveling at how effortlessly her boss told Lies. Domenic looked over Lindsey¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°Did you go out for dinner?¡± Lindsey gave a nod, but Domenic¡¯s keen eye detected something amiss. ¡°ALL by yourself? With all those dishes?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m with Nancy. She¡¯s just stepped away to the restroom. ¡± Lindsey told a random lie. Domenic offered a gentle smile and said, ¡°These meals don¡¯t seem as wholesome as the ones I cooked. Once I¡¯m done with work, I¡¯ll cook something nutritious for you. You must be busy with a lot of work at the officetely. Please, don¡¯t overexert yourself. ¡± Lindsey felt aforting warmth, fighting back tears that threatened to spill again.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Her brother and mother had imed to act in her best interest, yet they didn¡¯t truly understand her rtionship with Domenic. They had been absent for so long and when they came back, they forced their will without considering her feelings or desires. It was Domenic who had been her source offort and strength during her toughest times. Just like in this moment, he always seemed to know how to offer her care and affection. How could she even think about Leaving Domenic? How could she endure being apart from him? ¡°Okay, just don¡¯t forget that we nned to shop for groceries and cook together,¡± Lindsey replied with a soft smile, hiding her inner turmoil from Domenic. ¡°I¡¯m a bit tied up at the moment, but let¡¯s make it happen a few dayster. ¡± Even though Domenic mentioned hismitments, the reality was that his grandfather Jordan had been urging him toe home for dinner each night. Jordan imed he wanted more of Domenic¡¯spany, but his true motive was to encourage more interaction between Domenic and Carole. Chapter 725 Domenic had been on the lookout for the right moment to address this issue. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Once the call ended, Lindsey felt a wave of relief wash over her. She gently touched her flushed cheeks. Lately, her responsibilities at work had increased, and she reminded herself to stay focused and diligent. The next day, Lindsey made her way back to Vitality Entertainment. Upon entering Emilio¡¯s office, she was greeted by his weing smile. He inquired eagerly, ¡°Have you resolved the situation?¡± ¡°Mr. Howard, your assistance was invaluable. It¡¯s all taken care of,¡± Lindsey replied, settlingfortably onto the sofa with a rxed smile. ¡°I¡¯m here to fulfill my promise. You¡¯ve been a tremendous help, yet you¡¯ve not mentioned any expectations in return. ¡± Emilio chuckled heartily at her words. Lindsey was earnest in her offer to reciprocate his help, a response not everyone might have had, preferring instead that Emilio forget about any return favors. Emilio leaned forward with a keen look in his eyes, his eyebrows arching as he proposed, ¡°Lindsey, I see great potential in your firm. I¡¯m interested in forging a long-term partnership with yourpany, a strategic alliance. How does that sound?¡± Lindsey was taken aback by his suggestion. ¡°Are you sure¡­ is that truly what you desire in exchange?¡± It appeared herpany stood to benefit from this potential alliance, eager to coborate with an establishedpany like Vitality Entertainment. Emilio confirmed with a decisive nod. ¡°As you¡¯re aware, Gallop Entertainment has been quite aggressivetely. They¡¯re not just taking away resources but also secretly challenging mypany. It¡¯s about time we allied to thwart their overzealous tactics. Lindsey, you¡¯ve been on my radar for a while. I believe you¡¯d make an excellent partner. Would you consider joining forces with me?¡± At Emilio¡¯s proposition, Lindsey swiftly stood up from her seat, approached him, and extended her hand. ¡°Mr. Howard, I have always admired you. It¡¯s my honor to cooperate with you. ¡± Emilio thought that Domenic might feel a bit jealous over this arrangement, but he was merely following Domenic¡¯s private instructions. ¡°Very well, here¡¯s to a sessful partnership,¡± Emilio said with a twinkle in his eye, gently sping her hand. In preparation for the uing show, Lindsey treated Xiomara to a shopping spree, selecting several elegant outfits for her. Xiomara was so touched by the gesture she was nearly moved to tears. Sumner had been holed up in the training room for quite a while. Lindsey paced near the training room¡¯s entrance several times, yet the intangible barrier between her and Sumner kept her from mustering the courage to approach him. Since theirst confrontation, Leonel had vanished from Lindsey¡¯s life as if he¡¯d never existed. Lindsey made several trips to the hospital to check on her mom but never saw Leonel there. Feeling unable to sway Leonel¡¯s thinking, Lindsey chose to keep her distance. She stopped reaching out to him. Chapter 726 The Star Search team began their recording process. Sumner and Xiomara, as contestants, went along with Lindsey, who joined them in her role as an agent. After guiding the two of them to the dressing room, Lindsey stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. The long car ride had left her feeling a bit lightheaded. Just as Lindsey was taking a sip of water, she heard a piercing voice from behind, saying, ¡°Wow, Lindsey, we meet again. ¡± Kristy, unmistakable with hervish, bold makeup, approached Lindsey from behind. Her appearance was dramatic: flowing wavy hair, vibrant red lips, and sharp eyeliner, allplemented by a striking sky-blue fishtail dress. Clearly, she¡¯d prepared a lot for this show. Familiar with Kristy¡¯s ways after numerous encounters, Lindsey had a good idea of what Kristy was about to say. And as expected, Kristy said sarcastically, ¡°So, you¡¯ve brought your insignificant trainees from your small agency to the show? The team really should be more selective about who they let on. It¡¯s unbelievable how they let ordinary people lower the show¡¯s quality. It¡¯s truly disappointing. ¡± Observing Kristy¡¯s self-satisfied air, Lindsey didn¡¯t react with anger but rather with a mocking smile. ¡°Miss Chase, have you so quickly forgotten the shame of being turned away from the Vitality Group¡¯s president¡¯s officest time?¡± Lindsey¡¯s Lips curled into a subtle smile, her sharp words precisely targeting Kristy¡¯s sore spot. Having dealt with Kristy¡¯s type before, Lindsey was well aware of her vanity and dignity. She knew just the right words to piss her off. Upon hearing those words, Kristy quickly adopted an embarrassed expression. She gave Lindsey a stern look and said, ¡°If Vitality Entertainment doesn¡¯t need me, I¡¯ll find somewhere else that wants me. I¡¯m done with them now. ¡± Lindsey replied with a calm smile, ¡°That¡¯s right, you¡¯re with Gallop Entertainment now. I¡¯m curious how manymercials you would have to undertake topensate for the liquidated damages. From what I¡¯ve heard, the word online is that a big-name star didn¡¯t get the boost she expected. Instead, she was kicked out¡­¡± ¡°Huh!¡± Kristy let out a scornfulugh, her anger evident. She realized Lindsey¡¯s words were meant to provoke her. Kristy then stared down at Lindsey with an arrogant sneer. ¡°Lindsey, surely you don¡¯t think your small-timepany can produce any quality artists, do you? I¡¯ll have you know, your artists aren¡¯t even in the same league as Gallop Entertainment¡¯s. Do they actually think appearing on the show is a big deal? Let me clue you in. Every reality show needs its underdogs. Your artists are only there to y that part. Advise them to make their brief appearance and then go home. Spare themselves the humiliation. ¡± Lindsey justughed and decided not to engage further with Kristy. Arguing seemed pointless. On stage, the contestants¡¯ abilities would speak for themselves. They¡¯d all see who the real losers were when the results were in. It wouldn¡¯t change anything even if they tried to argue about it now. Lindsey chose to remain silent, but Kristy persisted. ¡°I¡¯ve heard whispers you begged the production team to make Sh a judge. Looks like youck confidence in your own talent and resorted to a Little behind-the-scenes maneuvering. That¡¯s hardly fair to everyone else¡­¡± Hearing this, Lindsey could not help but frown. Suddenly, Lindsey stepped toward Kristy. Misinterpreting the move, Kristy recoiled in rm, then, seeing Lindsey stand her ground, she calmed herself and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? You seem pretty rattled. ¡± With a steady gaze, Lindsey said deliberately, ¡°Firstly, there were no under-the-table dealings. Sh¡¯s appointment as a judge was a collective decision by the team.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Neither I nor my staff engaged in any hical influence. usations require proof. Secondly, I conduct myself with integrity. I¡¯mmitted to a fair and squarepetition. Yes, having connections is a reality, but it¡¯s not my way of doing things. Don¡¯t make baseless usations. ¡± Kristy, unnerved by Lindsey¡¯s earnest tone, scrambled to cover her difort and mumbled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m just saying. ¡± Lindsey replied with a sneer, ¡°You¡¯re falsely using me. Spread those rumors, and you¡¯ll be hearing from ourwyers, that¡¯s a promise. ¡± Chapter 727 Kristy was frightened by the fierce look in Lindsey¡¯s eyes. She realized her n had failed and she had crossed Lindsey¡¯s line. With a dejected look, Kristy clenched her fists in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m done arguing with you. Time will tell who¡¯s the better. I refuse to believe that Gallop Entertainment can¡¯t beat your tiny agency. Just don¡¯t cry when you¡¯re defeated. ¡± With that, Kristy hurried away in her clicking high heels. Lindsey let out a relieved breath. Though she had been furious, she had forced herself to appear strong. As the head of herpany, it was her duty to defend its honor and that of her artists, as well as her own. Lindsey and Sh had driven here in separate cars. Sh, arriving early, was probably already prepped. Each judge had their own dressing room. Lindsey easily found Sh¡¯s, guided by the signs. She tapped lightly on the door and then opened it at the sound from inside. Sh was seated far back, likely wrapping up with the makeup artists. Sh looked up at Lindsey and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, Linds?¡± Just as Lindsey was about to respond, her eyesnded on a woman applying makeup beside Sh. The woman looked oddly familiar to Lindsey. The woman paused, then smiled knowingly upon seeing Lindsey. Suddenly, it clicked for Lindsey. This woman was Domenic¡¯s ¡°cousin¡±, the one she met at a mall before. The woman was here during the judges¡¯ makeup session. Could she be a judge for Star Search too? ¡®s BunnyBookery It seemed unbelievable that someone so young was already judging alongside the giants of the entertainment world. Just as Lindsey and she were about to speak, Lindsey was called elsewhere. However, the real surprise for Lindsey was still waiting around the corner. The showmenced with the grand introduction of the panel of judges. Lindsey had done her homework on the initial judges ¨C a group of seasoned veterans. However, as the turn of Domenic¡¯s ¡°cousin¡± approached, Lindsey¡¯s curiosity piqued. She was eager to discover her prowess. When Carole¡¯s moment arrived, the host¡¯s voice brimmed with excitement, his smile radiating even brighter. ¡°Next, this beautifuldy is amazing. She¡¯s a specially invited judge for our show. Despite her youth, her experience is unparalleled. ¡± The host tantalized the audience, inviting her to stand and greet everyone. ¡°Miss Larson,e and grace us with your presence.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. They¡¯re all eager to know you. ¡± Amidst thunderous apuse, Carole gracefully rose. Her attire, a touch retro, a white coat entuated by enigmatic ck lines, exuded an air of mystery. Her makeup was wless,plementing her shoulder-length hair. A perpetual, subtle smile graced her lips, adding to her elegance and nobility. Her striking appearance rivaled that of top-tier celebrities. Carole possessed a curvaceous figure and dewy skin, standing at five feet seven inches tall ¡ª a vision of graceful temperament and beauty. Chapter 728 A hush fell over the audience, captivated by her presence. With a poised demeanor, Carole cleared her throat and spoke in a clear, elegant tone. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Carole Larson, delighted to be part of today¡¯s show. ¡± Quick to amplify Carole¡¯s credentials, the host eximed, ¡°Miss Larson is extraordinary. A graduate of the renowned Bonaeli Academy of Music in Mubluosia, she ranks among the school¡¯s distinguished alumni and serves in the esteemed Royal Performance Orchestra. She¡¯s proficient in piano, vocals, and violin. She even imed the first prize with her piece, Moonlight, in the most prestigious violinpetition. ¡± The Bonaeli Academy of Music was a premier international institution in Mubluosia, known for its stringent entrance exams and interviews. Graduating from this academy was an arduous feat, a testament to one¡¯s unparalleled musical aptitude. However, those who emerged as graduates from this revered institution were, without exception, elite and exceptional figures in the realm of music. The Royal Performance Orchestra stood as an unattainable pinnacle for musicians worldwide, renowned as the most formidable and exclusive performing ensemble. Carole, a woman of remarkable talent, not only graduated from the Bonaeli Academy of Music but also held membership in the prestigious Royal Performance Orchestra of Mubluosia. Her profile shone as an outstanding testament to her musical prowess on a global scale. Not only did she possess a perfect body and pretty face, but she also embodied intellect and exceptional talent. Lindsey found herself silently surprised by Carole¡¯s magnificence. Domenic¡¯s ¡°cousin¡± exuded such greatness! Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but contemte Domenic¡¯s enigmaticpany and its mysterious boss, pondering the industry they were involved in. As Carole settled into her seat, she nced back unintentionally, catching sight of a familiar face and raising her eyebrows in recognition. She noticed Lindsey sporting a simple white t-shirt paired with dark blue jeans, whose hair was casually tied into a bun. Her Lightly made-up faceplemented the in ck-framed sses perched on her nose, emitting an air of ssic simplicity.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Though their interaction had been fleeting in the dressing room, Carole vividly remembered Lindsey from their encounter at the mall, where she had cast an odd nce at Domenic. Carole recalled Lindsey seemed to be Sh¡¯s agent, yet she had also heard that Sh had signed with an obscure small agency after she returned to the Limelight. How audacious for an agent from an unknown smallpany to aspire to have Domenic. In Carole¡¯s mind, Lindsey was mismatched with Domenic, unworthy of him. She regarded Lindsey as a woman merely passably attractive. However, Domenic was frequently favored by beautiful women, and Carole had never heard of him favoring anyone. Moreover, Carole believed she surpassed Lindsey in appearance, demeanor, and figure. To her, Lindsey appeared as a pitiable woman fixated on Domenic. A derisive sneer yed her lips. The show¡¯s recording officiallymenced. Taking the stage as the opening guest, Carole graced the audience with a mesmerizing violin piece. Her melody echoed, at times resembling a crisp bird¡¯s song and at others, a rushing spring. Her performance left the audience in awe, establishing her authority as a judge through sheer skill. From her seat in the audience, Lindsey sincerely apuded and showered Carole with praise. Following Carole¡¯s captivating act, Sumner emerged as the first contestant. Adorned in a meticulously tailored high-fashion suit, Sumner¡¯sbed-back hair entuated his angr, handsome face. His appearancemanded an ovation upon entering the stage, even prompting Lindsey to steal a few nces and join in the apuse. Chapter 729 This was the first time Lindsey had seen Sumner showcasing such a striking appearance on stage. He exuded a potent stage presence, effortlessly captivating the attention of everyone present. Sensing Lindsey¡¯s intense gaze, Sumner suddenly raised his head, and their eyes unexpectedly locked in a fleeting moment. In the next second, Lindsey averted her gaze in awkwardness. Unseen on Sumner¡¯s face was the veil of disappointment, quietly cloaked within. From that day forth, the once intimate bond between Sumner and Lindsey slowly eroded. Save for professional interactions, Lindsey¡¯s outreach ceased, a conscious avoidance permeating her daily routine. Sumner yearned to exchange pleasantries with her on several asions, yet each time, she deftly evaded him, disappearing with an excuse in tow. ¡®s BunnyBookery While Sumner¡¯s impulsive act of ki*sing Lindsey lingered as truth, no regret clouded his mind. He didn¡¯t wish for mere friendship; after all, he was the one who should be her fianc¨¦. As for Domenic, the two-timer, he embodied the archetype of a yboy. His achievements were scant, rendering him unworthy of Lindsey¡¯s affection. The host¡¯s throat-clearing snapped Sumner back to reality. ¡°You canmence your performance,¡± he announced. Today, Sumner took center stage with a performance of both instrumental prowess and vocal talent. He chose the chart-topping song, Starlight, once a defining piece for Everleigh. Sumner¡¯s rtionship with the pianomenced at the tender age of three, guided by none other than Theo Tatum, a celebrated pianist. His mastery of the instrument coupled with an emotional depth resonated powerfully through his music. As he yed, the audience spontaneously joined in harmony. Poised on the bench like royalty, Sumner¡¯s elegancemanded attention. The moment his resonant voice filled the space, an audible restlessness rippled through the crowd. ¡°From the moment I knew you, my restless heart calmed down. I want to be with you right now. It¡¯s not a sudden thing to love you. It¡¯s nned for a long time. My love for you is prolonged. Without you, life is meaningless. I want us to be together like the stars and the moon. ¡± While Sumner poured his heart into the verses, his gaze discreetly found its way towards Lindsey, a personal dedicationced within the lines of the song. Selfish motives subtly underpinned his song, tailored specifically for Lindsey.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Chapter 730 The lyrics effortlessly echoed his innermost sentiments. Love, a concept previously elusive, only found definition when he crossed paths with her. In his world, affection was reserved solely for Lindsey; he couldn¡¯t fathom offering it elsewhere. The harmonious blend of the music and his resonant voice lent a distinctiveness to the song, infusing it with a unique allure. After the song, the apusested for a long time. The judges led the ovation, and Sumner, graciously acknowledging their praise, rose and bowed.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Surprisingly explosive, Sumner¡¯s impassioned rendition surpassed Lindsey¡¯s expectations; his emotional rendition nearly rivaled the original singer. Sumner¡¯s rise in rank seemed inevitable. As thementingmenced, Sh, the first judge, provided her insights. ¡°Though not a music expert, I must say your rity and emotional depth were evident. The stage presence is very stunning. ¡± However, her smile belied the underlying critique. ¡°Yet, the transitions between highs and lowsck seamless fluidity. There¡¯s room for improvement in practice; the journey off-stage holds more refinement. ¡± Sh pinpointed other nuances and offered pointed remarks, outlining Sumner¡¯s imperfections and the path toward enhancement. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Potter. I¡¯ll take your words to heart,¡± Sumner responded dutifully. Sh¡¯s critique left the offstage audience stunned into silence. Her unyielding words directed towards their ownpany¡¯s trainee struck as unexpectedly severe. It portrayed the Lindnita Artists Agency as both serious and ountable, alleviating concerns of a potentially biasedpetition. However, it also underscored the show¡¯s fairness and transparency, bolstering its reputation. Kristy made thement next. Lindsey, privy to Kristy¡¯s penchant for official jargon, couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. When Kristy found fault with Sumner, her remarks became inexplicable. ¡°Your performancecks intensity, the essence of unrequited love. But nheless, it holds promise, considering you¡¯re a neer. ¡± Lindsey dismissed Kristy¡¯s critique as neither professional nor fair, refusing to take it seriously. Carole¡¯s critique, in contrast, resonated as more professional, offering constructive feedback on Summer¡¯s singing and stage performance. The other judges followed suit, praising Sumner¡¯s performance in their individual assessments. Eliminating the highest and lowest scores, Sumner emerged with a surprising high score of 9. 3, a result even Lindsey hadn¡¯t anticipated. The electrifying opening set a high bar, leaving the contestants in the wings visibly nervous. The subsequent contestant, a trainee from Gallop Entertainment, graced the stage with an ancient-style dance performance. Perhaps due to Sumner¡¯s outstanding performance, the contestant left the audience underwhelmed with a dance that could only be described as mediocre,cking highlights and excitement. However, (Kristy¡¯s reaction was surprisingly different. Despite previously criticizing Sumner, she now praised the ordinary dance, highlighting the contestant¡¯s unique charm. Kristymended the flexibility and coordination of the contestant¡¯s movements. ording to her, the contestant sessfully conveyed the mood of the dance music. Chapter 731 However, the audience was displeased with Kristy¡¯s tant favoritism towards Gallop Entertainment¡¯s trainee. The discontent among the spectators grew, prompting the host to step in and restore order. The dance, admittedly not exceptional, received briefments from the other judges, significantly diminishing the show¡¯s Lively atmosphere. After removing the highest and lowest scores, the contestant ended up with a modest 7. 9 points. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but smirk, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Sumner was really awesome! The following contestants showcased their talents through dance or song, with the highest score reaching 8. 6. No performance surpassed Sumner¡¯s, easing Lindsey¡¯s initial tension. As time swiftly passed, Xiomara took the stage as the final contestant. ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey knew Xiomara had opted for a performance without tangible objects, making it stand out. It was a unique choice for this stage. Aside from Sh and Kristy, Wendy Benson, a highly acimed veteran actress and esteemed professor at the country¡¯s prestigious film and television academy, brought her expertise to the judging panel. Her seasoned abilities were not to be underestimated. Lindsey harbored concerns for Xiomara, well aware of Wendy¡¯s reputation for delivering cutting remarks on another talk show. Wendy¡¯s eloquence was as sharp as a de, and Lindsey feared Xiomara,cking a background in acting, might struggle to handle any potentially harshments. Stepping onto the stage, Xiomara unveiled her carefully crafted theme-Unrequited Love. Unreciprocated love felt like a personal struggle for Xiomara. Her stage presence was remarkable, dressed in a charming blue and white school uniform with a high ponytail and subtle makeup. The addition of a school bagpleted her ensemble.Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. In her acting, she was on her way to the ssroom. As she nced up, she spotted the person she harbored affection for walking ahead of her. Shyness and excitement danced in her heart, casting a spell over the onlookers, who were now fully immersed in the thematic atmosphere. Every move she made revealed her deep admiration for that person. Xiomara lifted her gaze towards Sumner on the side of the stage. However, he wasn¡¯t looking at her. His eyes were fixed beyond the stage. A subtle pang of loss washed over Xiomara, and fortuitously, this unscripted emotion seamlessly melded into the unfolding scene. This was an unexpected turn that Xiomara hadn¡¯t nned. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but internally apud Xiomara¡¯s spontaneous and impressive ability to react randomly. Lindsey nced at the judges and noticed they were fully engrossed in the on-stage performance. Wendy, in particr, disyed a keen interest in the unfolding performance. Even after the performance concluded, the audience remained captivated by the atmosphere, taking a while to return to reality. Following the apuse, Wendy was the first to pick up the microphone. Squeezing her fingers, Lindsey held her breath, anxiously awaiting Wendy¡¯s remark. Chapter 732 Adjusting the microphone, Wendy gazed at Xiomara on the stage and asked, ¡°Did you study acting? Have you received any formal acting training?¡± Two consecutive questions left Wendy¡¯s emotions unclear, making it impossible for Lindsey to gauge. She couldn¡¯t help but break into a nervous sweat. Xiomara exuded a sense of shyness when not performing. Pausing thoughtfully, she seemed eager to rify, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t have formal training in acting, but I¡¯m diligently studying now. Thepany has even arranged a professional teacher for me. Is there anything wrong with my performance? Please point it out. I¡¯mmitted to improvement. ¡± Wendy, however, found amusement in Xiomara¡¯s hurried demeanor. Turning to Sh, she remarked, ¡°This trainee in yourpany is so adorable. I didn¡¯t say anything, but she appears quite nervous. ¡± Xiomara responded with a sheepish smile, nervously picking at her fingers. A gentle smile graced Sh¡¯s lips as she reassured Xiomara, ¡°No need to be nervous, Xiomara. She¡¯s actually apuding your performance. ¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xiomara¡¯s eyes widened. She had only hoped to avoid criticism, but praise was an unexpected surprise. Wendy gave a nod, her smile warm. ¡°An actor¡¯s greatest sess is to captivate their audience, which is also the most challenging part. You¡¯ve managed that today. You were excellent. ¡± Xiomara, still recalling Lindsey¡¯s ount of Wendy¡¯s stern words, was taken aback by her gentle tone. She was at a loss for words. ¡°You really understood the essence and background of your role, and you chose a theme that resonate deeply,¡± Sh chimed in, adding to the praise. A bit flustered by Wendy and Sh¡¯spliments, Xiomara blushed slightly. Carole, viewing things from the audience¡¯s perspective, offered some constructive feedback. Xiomara humbly epted, keen to improve.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Then, Kristy¡¯s voice cut in, less harmoniously, ¡°It¡¯s truly remarkable. Sh, I think Xiomara¡¯s acting is nearly as impressive as yours. ¡± Lindsey felt a sense of unease and an ominous premonition. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been in the director Vincent Lopez¡¯s movie, Xiomara might have been the female lead. Haha, I¡¯m just joking around. Remember thest audition? Sh, you got that role with a performance without any props. Did Xiomara copy that idea because you coached her secretly? Since Xiomara¡¯s in the samepany as you, you taught her everything, didn¡¯t you? And Sh, being a judge, did you have a sneak peek at the talent show¡¯s detailed ns?¡± Kristy¡¯s words sounded like apliment to Xiomara, but her real intent was to stir the pot. She suggested to everyone that Xiomara had an unfair advantage, thanks to Sh¡¯s help, exining her great performance. The studio fell silent, then filled with murmurs. Everyone thought the act was prepared beforehand. Maybe Sh had leaked the show details to Xiomara. Could Sumner be involved too¡­ Suddenly, the mood changed. The friendly vibe was lost, reced by doubtful, critical looks from the audience. In a decisive moment, Sh casually remarked, ¡°If Kristy is curious about this, I¡¯m sure others are too. So, Wendy, why note up with a new theme right now?¡± Chapter 733 The rest of the judges nodded in agreement. Kristy stayed silent but her raised eyebrows showed clear contempt. Wendy paused for a moment, pondering over a suitable challenge. Finally, she dered, ¡°Let¡¯s go with acting out being cold. ¡± Xiomara briefly bowed her head, then signaled her readiness with an ¡°OK¡± gesture. The host exited, and the impromptu performance started. Such spontaneous acts really test an actress¡¯s quick thinking and skills. Xiomara, not formally trained in acting, initially had Lindsey worried. However, as the act progressed, Lindsey realized her concerns were unfounded.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Through Xiomara¡¯s portrayal, Lindsey could envision a woman treading softly on a chilly winter night. Dressed too lightly, she shivered, asionally breathing warm air onto her hands for temporaryfort. Moreover, Xiomara¡¯s asional slips made the scene convincingly wintry, as if heavy snow nketed everything. Without uttering a word, Xiomara skillfully showcased her natural acting ability. To everyone¡¯s surprise, thest contestant of the show heightened the excitement to its peak. Kristy was taken aback by Xiomara¡¯s talent. She had only known Xiomara as someone who did misceneous jobs at Lindsey¡¯spany. How could she act so well? Biting her lip, Kristy was ready to say more. But Wendy cut her off just in time, ¡°Kristy, do you have any issues with Xiomara¡¯s acting earlier? She¡¯s new, so of course, she¡¯s got a lot to learn. Why don¡¯t you, being more experienced, show her how it¡¯s done? Give her and the other new actors a demo on stage. It¡¯ll be helpful for them. ¡± ¡°Kristy felt cornered and embarrassed. ¡°Exactly! Kristy, you¡¯re an amazing actress and won a lot of prizes. This is a great chance to show the new actors what true acting looks like,¡± Sh chimed in, smiling. Facing their seemingly kind words, Kristy tensed up, her fists clenched out of sight. With everyone watching, she found it hard to say no. Finally, she stood up with a calm demeanor and said, ¡°Alright, since Wendy and Sh suggest it, I¡¯ll perform a bit. ¡± The audience erupted in cheers when they saw Kristy, the famous actress, stepping in to coach the new actors and actresses. Everyone was excited to see her in action. But as Kristy made her way onto the stage, reaching the final step, disaster struck. Her high heels went sideways, and down she went, tumbling across the stage. Her dark blue gown got messed up. Lindsey watched, a smirk ying on her lips. ¡°Typical Kristy,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°Always knows how to steal the spotlight. No need to perform when she can grab attention like that. ¡± Kristy looked genuinely hurt, her face contorted with pain. The production team was quick to rush her to the hospital, and that marked the end of the show. Xiomara did well, scoring a solid 8. 9, but still, she came in second to Sumner. Chapter 734 Both moved up in thepetition. Meanwhile, three contestants from Gallop Entertainment were eliminated, a real blow to thepany. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of triumph. Kristy wasn¡¯t there, and Lindsey was sure she would have been furious if she were. But unexpectedly, Kristy returned during thest chorus session. Struggling onto the stage, despite her pain, she announced, ¡°There¡¯s no big deal. I just sprained my ankle. I can still continue with the filming. ¡± Hermitment left the audience deeply impressed. The show¡¯s filming progressed smoothly. By noon, they were nearly done. The afternoon promised some rest in the lounge, with only a few additional shots needed. Lindsey and Xiomara decided to head backstage. Backstage, they bumped into Kristy, who was amusingly stumbling along. Her real-life clumsiness was far more entertaining than her acting, causing Lindsey to giggle. Kristy noticed Lindsey and blushed. She had intended to embarrass Lindsey¡¯s trainee, but now the tables were turned. Lindsey gave Kristy a scornful nce and said, ¡°Miss Chase, I¡¯m sorry to say, my agency¡¯s so-called insignificant trainees took both the first and second spots. It seems Gallop Entertainment¡¯s performers don¡¯t even match them. Exactly. Why else would Gallop Entertainment invest heavily to secure you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s sarcastic tone only fueled Kristy¡¯s anger. Pointing an using finger at Lindsey, Kristy said, her voice sharp enough to shatter ss, ¡°Don¡¯t get toofortable, Lindsey. This is just the start. The show¡¯s far from over. You think you¡¯ve already nailed it?¡± Lindsey touched her ear, feigning hurt. ¡°I¡¯m only stating facts. Why so fired up, Miss Chase? By the way, isn¡¯t there just one contestant from Gallop Entertainment left? You better look out for them. ¡± Kristy was seething, unable toe up with aeback. Lindsey was right.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Kristy had miscalcted the contestants from Lindsey¡¯spany. But she believed that winning in the show wasn¡¯t just about talent. With a provocative smile, Kristy turned around and left. Back in the agent¡¯s lounge, Lindsey settled down with a sense of satisfaction. A knock at the door interrupted her rxation. Expecting Sumner or Xiomara, she was surprised to find Domenic¡¯s ¡°cousin¡±, Carole, outside the door. Carole¡¯s remarks were quite impartial, leaving Lindsey with a favorable impression of her. Lindsey greeted Carole with a polite smile. ¡°Hello, Miss Larson. Are you looking for someone?¡± In response, Carole offered a graceful smile to Lindsey. ¡°I am looking for you. Yourpany¡¯s contestants have put on an impressive performance. It was quite a surprise. ¡± Lindsey beamed with pride. She stepped aside to make way for Carole and invited, ¡°Take a seat. ¡± ¡°May I know your name?¡± Carole walked in and smiled at Lindsey. ¡°I¡¯m Lindsey Stewart, the founder of Lindnita Artists Agency. I¡¯m also Sumner¡¯s and Xiomara¡¯s agent. Feel free to contact me about any coborations with them. ¡± Lindsey then pulled out a business card from her handbag and handed it to Carole. Chapter 735 Carole¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing the name Lindsey Stewart on the card. She realized Lindsey was the same woman who had attempted to get close to Domenic, a man who didn¡¯t even know Lindsey¡¯s name. Despite feeling more disdain for Lindsey, Carole maintained a polite nod. Carole lifted her gaze and examined Lindsey once more. Then, her eyesnded on Lindsey¡¯s graceful neck, where a radiant red diamond ne dangled, gleaming in the light. The ne¡¯s high-quality diamond and its dark red hueplemented Lindsey¡¯s skin tone. However, the most striking feature was its droplet shape. Wasn¡¯t this the final product at the big auction in Mubluosia? Back then, this ne had billionaires battling for it. Word had it that a mysterious bidder snagged it at a sky-high price of one billion dors in an auction. Ever since the ne disappeared from everyone¡¯s radar. How in the world did it end up hanging around this agent¡¯s neck right now?This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Even though the identity of the mysterious bidder was unknown, Carole had heard that a member of the Walsh family was at the auction. Indeed, only a few had the means and power to make such a purchase. Back then, Carole couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Domenic had purchased the ne with the intention of gifting it to her when they met. And now, with the ne right here, Carole couldn¡¯t shake the connection between these two names and what Sumner had mentioned¡­ Could Domenic have gifted this ne to Lindsey? That seemed unlikely. Domenic had stated he didn¡¯t know such a person. Was Domenic pretending for her benefit? Or was it an act for Jordan? This suspicion began to grow wildly in her mind. But it seemed improbable that Domenic would be attracted to Lindsey and spend a fortune on her. To divert her thoughts, Carolemented on the ne. ¡°Miss Stewart, that¡¯s a beautiful ne. It looks expensive and well-crafted. ¡± Lindsey nced down at the red diamond on her corbone. She casually replied, ¡°It¡¯s a gift from my boyfriend. I¡¯m not sure about the price. ¡± Carole¡¯s expression darkened slightly. She maintained a subtle smile and prodded Lindsey for more information. ¡°Your boyfriend is so rich. ¡± Lindsey looked puzzled. ¡°Why would you say that?¡± Carole exined with a smile. ¡°The fifteen-gram red diamond is exquisitely cut, with a unique teardrop shape and a vibrant color. There are only two such diamonds in the world. One was made into that ne you¡¯re wearing. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened, and she inquired, ¡°And the other one?¡± Carole directed a smile toward Lindsey and shared, ¡°The other one is on the crown of the queen of Mubluosia. ¡± ¡°Oh my!¡± Lindsey was taken aback but quicklyposed herself. ¡°My boyfriend is not the type to buy such an expensive ne. This red diamond may not be the exact rare one as you mentioned. It¡¯s possible that they simply look simr. ¡± Chapter 736 ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Carole said with a smile. ¡°This diamond piece is from an auction; check out the official site if you like. I¡¯ll send you the link. ¡± Lindsey wasn¡¯t particrly interested. Given Domenic¡¯s decent but notvish sry, such a pricey auction item was beyond his means. However, to be polite, she didn¡¯t dismiss Carole outright. With a friendly smile, she said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we swap contact details?¡± Once they exchanged numbers, Carole stood up and left. The more Carole mulled it over, the stranger it seemed. From her childhood, she had a keen eye for luxury, even attending sses about luxury appreciation at university, bolstering her confidence in spotting the genuine from the fake. She was convinced the ne was real, given its wless color and craftsmanship. What kind of man must Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend be tovish such an extravagant gift on her? Could her boyfriend actually be Domenic? Carole was baffled. Then, a figure draped in dark blue in the corner caught her eye. It was Kristy, a fellow judge, seated to her left. She recalled seeing Kristy in conversation with Lindsey when she left the stage. They appeared to know each other. Back in the lounge, Kristy kicked off her high heels without a second thought about her looks and copsed onto the couch, her anger clear for all to see. She jabbed at the cushions with her fingers and gave them a few more hits to let out her irritation. ¡°Who do you think you are to speak to me that way? Do you think you¡¯re anything without others¡¯ help? You pitiful woman. ¡± Kristy said viciously. ¡°You think you can stand against Gallop Entertainment? Just you wait, Lindsey!¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org In the middle of her rant, there was a knock at the door. Thinking it was her assistant, Kristy, too annoyed to get up, called out, ¡°Come in. ¡± As Carole stepped into the room, she noticed the well-known actress sprawled on the couch, her high heels cast aside. Kristy, recognizing Carole, quickly got up and positioned herself on the edge of the sofa. ¡°Miss Larson, how can I help you? Please, have a seat. ¡± Carole offered a courteous smile, eyeing the couch with a touch of disdain, and opted for a chair nearby instead. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Kristy asked. Kristy hadn¡¯t met this woman until today, their first meeting happening during the shoot. Carole greeted her warmly, ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to meet you, Ms. Chase. I¡¯ve enjoyed your performances while abroad. Your talent is captivating. Honestly, I count myself as one of your avid admirers. ¡± Kristy¡¯s face brightened with joy when she heard thepliment. It was quite a boost to have someone so respected and aplished admire her work. This made herugh uncontrobly, and she let her guard down without realizing it. Carole smoothly steered the conversation through various film and TV topics, gradually bringing up the day¡¯s events and, finally, Xiomara. ¡°I never imagined the new firm could polish such a remarkable talent. They¡¯re definitely not to be taken lightly. ¡± Carole pretended to sigh. Chapter 737 As she expected, Kristy¡¯s smile vanished, and she retorted sharply, ¡°You¡¯re talking about the two talents Lindsey introduced? Pure chance, that¡¯s all. ¡± Carole continued, ¡°So, Ms. Chase, you¡¯re acquainted with Lindsey? She seems quite diligent. And that red diamond ne she wears is quite valuable. If it¡¯s a gift from her boyfriend, she¡¯s certainly lucky in love and career. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. Let me break it down for you. Lindsey is just pathetic!¡± Kristy¡¯s voice dripped with disdain. Upon hearing this, Carole¡¯s curiosity was piqued. She quickly asked, ¡°What exactly are you saying?¡± Kristy gestured for her to lean in and murmured, ¡°Lindsey¡¯s secretly entangled with someone from a rich family. ¡± ¡°What?¡± A sudden realization struck Carole. Could she be right in her assumption? Was Domenic defying his grandfather¡¯s wishes by secretly seeing someone? ¡°Ha, Lindsey¡¯spletely clueless, thinking her man¡¯s just a regr, hardworking guy. ¡± Kristy¡¯s voice was dripping with disdain and a touch of gloating. ¡°Serves her right. She¡¯s been duped and hasn¡¯t even caught on. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware of who her boyfriend really is?¡± Carole¡¯s suspicions grew stronger with Kristy¡¯s response. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that he¡¯s the Walsh family¡¯s heir. Wealthy, young, and better looking than any celebrity. ¡± As she mentioned Domenic, a faint blush tinged Kristy¡¯s cheeks. Carole felt a heavy weight in her chest as she listened. The young, attractive, and wealthy Walsh family heir? In her mind, Domenic was the only one who matched that description. Could it really be him? Her hands tightened into fists. With a strained smile, she said, ¡°So, she has such a powerful boyfriend and still works so hard. Quite remarkable. ¡± ¡°I told you Lindsey is a fool. ¡± Kristy boasted with satisfaction, ¡°She¡¯s clueless about her boyfriend¡¯s true identity, or maybe he prefers keeping it a secret. I bet he¡¯s just toying with her and isn¡¯t serious!¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Carole pondered deeply. Had Domenic concealed his true identity from Lindsey? Was he merely toying with her? Yet, despite these doubts, Carole couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Domenic with someone else. She wanted him topletely belong to her alone.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Carole forced herself to stay calm. How could Lindsey darepete with her for his affection? After all, she was supposed to be his fianc¨¦e. She was determined to remove Lindsey from the picturepletely! Later that day, Lindsey reserved a table at an upscale restaurant and even pre-ordered a cake to celebrate with Sumner and Xiomara. The restaurant was quite a distance away, so they drove there. Sumner took the driver¡¯s seat. As Xiomara reached for the back door, Lindsey intervened, ¡°Remember you get motion sick. Take the front seat instead to avoid feeling dizzy. ¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Xiomara was initially puzzled, but a quick wink from Lindsey made her grasp the situation. Was Lindsey trying to avoid sitting too close to Sumner? With understanding, Xiomara turned to Sumner and said, ¡°Can I sit up front with you?¡± Sumner responded without much interest, ¡°Sure. ¡± Right after getting into the car, Lindsey swiftly pulled the curtain that separated the front and back seats, effectively putting Sumner and Xiomara in their own little world. She aimed to give them more opportunities to bond, hoping Sumner might notice Xiomara¡¯s charm and grow to like her. Chapter 738 Settling into her seat, Lindsey casually mentioned, ¡°I¡¯m feeling sleepy. I¡¯ll take a nap. You two go ahead and talk; don¡¯t mind me. ¡± Sumner remained silent, and Xiomara responded with a light ¡°Okay¡±. Sumner was driving a sedan, making the space inside rather tight. Xiomara found herself able to nce over and observe Sumner¡¯s striking features easily. As Sumner focused on the road, Xiomara took the chance to look at him more closely. Sumner had an undeniable charm. His eyebrows were pronounced, his long eyshes resting gently on his eyelids, softening his gaze. His face was well-defined, with strong, attractive features. His lips, now makeup-free from the show, appeared a bit pale.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. At such a close distance, Xiomara could even make out the faintest hint of fuzz on his skin. She was utterly captivated. Suddenly, a voice interrupted her, ¡°Have you seen enough?¡± Suddenly, Xiomara snapped back to reality and realized Sumner was looking right at her. Oh no! It was so embarrassing! Xiomara quickly averted her gaze and stammered out an apology, ¡°I¡¯m really, really sorry. ¡± Sumner seemed taken aback by her reaction. He slightly knitted his brows and asked in a steady tone, ¡°Is everything alright? Do I intimidate you?¡± Xiomara shook her head quickly. ¡°No. Not at all. ¡± Then, silence enveloped them once more. Sumner focused on driving, following the GPS. After her moment of embarrassment, Xiomara tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. The only sound was the voice of the navigation. Xiomara cleared her throat and mustered the courage to start a conversation. ¡°Sumner, your singing today was impressive. ¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Sumner responded, his tone formal and detached, as though he was conversing with aplete stranger. They didn¡¯t know much about each other, did they? Feeling a twinge of disappointment, Xiomara offered a strained smile and asked, ¡°The song was about one-sided love. Sumner, is there someone special in your life?¡± A prolonged, awkward silence followed. Sensing she might have asked something she shouldn¡¯t have, Xiomara hastily added, ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t pry into your personal life. If you¡¯d rather not talk about it, we can just drop it. ¡± Sumner remained quiet. Chapter 739 Just as Xiomara was regretting her forwardness and bracing for Sumner to ignore her, he said softly, ¡°Yes, there¡¯s someone. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Xiomara nced at the handsome man next to her. ¡°I mean it. There¡¯s someone I truly love, but the feelings aren¡¯t mutual. ¡± Sumner¡¯s tone carried a chill of sadness, like a bleak winter breeze, sending a shiver through Xiomara. ¡°She chose someone else over me. ¡± Xiomara fell into silence. So, Sumner harbored deep feelings for someone. Who could she be? Xiomara¡¯s gaze shifted. Could it be Lindsey? She had sensed a difference in how Sumner treated Lindsey but wasn¡¯t certain. And Lindsey had a boyfriend. Xiomara¡¯s fingers tightened around the hem of her dress. Her unspoken affection felt doomed before it began. An indescribable sorrow engulfed her, leaving her wanting to cry. In the back seat, Lindsey overheard their conversation. Sumner¡¯s confession sent waves of panic and unease through her. Was she the one he said that he loved deeply but couldn¡¯t get? But hadn¡¯t he always seen her just as a friend? She had asked this question to him repeatedly, and each time he¡¯d provided a clear response. Yet, suddenly, everything felt different. Lindsey¡¯s thoughts were in a mess. She understood that love couldn¡¯t be forced. Her heart already belonged to Domenic, Leaving no room for anyone else. A future with Sumner was out of the question. She knew she needed to persuade Sumner to let go of any hope for them soon! The rest of the ride passed in silence until they reached their destination. Xiomara was the first to exit the car. Sumner left to find a parking spot, while Lindsey and Xiomara headed in first. After what had happened just now, Xiomara was not in a good mood. She followed Lindsey into the private room. As they picked out a few favorite dishes, Lindsey noticed Xiomara¡¯s continued gloom. She grasped her hand, attempting to Lift her mood with some light-hearted celebrity gossip. Xiomara managed a fleeting smile, but it soon faded away. Lindsey gently pinched her cheek. ¡°Are you down because of Sumner¡¯s words?¡± Xiomara looked up in surprise and said, ¡°You heard all of that?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop, but it was hard to ignore. ¡± Lindsey offered a reassuring smile and added, ¡°Don¡¯t give up on someone just because of a hurdle. He¡¯s clinging to a lost cause because he hasn¡¯t found the right person yet. Get what I¡¯m saying, Xiomara?¡± Xiomara¡¯s lips trembled slightly, tears brimming in her eyes. ¡°Lindsey, do you think Sumner keeps his distance because I used to be fat?¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey softly tapped her on the forehead, reassuring her, ¡°Absolutely not! The past is the past. You¡¯re stunning now. Remember how the audience couldn¡¯t stop talking about your beauty during the show?¡± That brought a slight smile to Xiomara¡¯s face. ¡°I just want to be his friend, but he always keeps me at arm¡¯s length. Is it me? Or maybe it¡¯s my personality?¡± Chapter 740 Lindsey hesitated briefly. Xiomara¡¯s words struck a chord with her, echoing Sumner¡¯s earlier remarks about friendship. Could it be that Sumner had been hiding his true feelings behind the guise of friendship all along? A wave of empathy washed over Lindsey. She assured Xiomara, ¡°You¡¯re wonderful, Xiomara, in every way, and you have such a vibrant personality. Don¡¯t underestimate yourself. As for Sumner¡­ He¡¯s just been a bit offtely. Don¡¯t worry about it too much. From what I¡¯ve seen, he¡¯s not the type to be unkind. ¡± Just as Xiomara was about to respond, the door swung open, and Sumner entered. Xiomara held back her words. As they waited for the food, the cake arrived. Lindsey carefully ced candles on it and lit each one. ¡°Today, we¡¯re toasting to your achievements in the show¡¯s debut,¡± Lindsey said cheerfully. ¡°Sumner, Xiomara, you both really impressed me. I¡¯ve seen how much you¡¯ve grown. Thepany will definitely keep you in mind for future opportunities. ¡± ¡°Thank you, Lindsey. ¡± Xiomara managed a faint smile. Lindsey poured some wine for them.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°You deserve this celebration. Let¡¯s raise a toast to ourselves!¡± They raised their sses in a toast and sipped their drinks. Lindsey grasped Xiomara¡¯s hand, blowing out the candles with her. Then, she sliced the cake. With a meaningful look, she signaled Xiomara to offer a slice to Sumner. Feeling slightly hesitant, Xiomara shyly pushed the cake towards Sumner. ¡°This is for you, Sumner, enjoy the cake. ¡± Sumner epted it graciously, taking a bite. ¡°Remember, even though you¡¯ve been promoted, stay humble. I¡¯vepiled the judges¡¯ feedback and sent it to you. Make sure you listen to it carefully and reflect. Xiomara, you especially need to pay attention to Wendy Benson¡¯s personal coaching. Go over the performance tips she gave you and practice diligently, alright?¡± Lindsey wasmitted to teaching them. Tonight was all about celebrating the two of them. So, after Lindsey shared a few words, they resumed their drinking. Xiomara seemed preupied and kept downing her drinks, not waiting for the others. Lindsey watched her, feeling a mix of sympathy and understanding. She knew Xiomara was trying to dull her emotional pain, so she didn¡¯t intervene. Having had a few sses herself, Lindsey started to feel tipsy. Not wanting to overdo it, she wisely decided to stop while she was still clear-headed. Sumner, on the other hand, only had a couple of drinks. He wasn¡¯t much of a drinker, and with twodies in hispany, he felt it was his duty to ensure their safety. Most of the food and cake went untouched, but the wine bottles were steadily emptied, mainly by Xiomara. Deeply intoxicated, Xiomara clung to Lindsey, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Thank you, Lindsey, for believing in me. Since I was young, everyone ridiculed and underestimated me. But you saw my potential and valued my dreams. You¡¯ve tirelessly supported me and even sought out medication for my obesity. ¡± Lindsey gently stroked Xiomara¡¯s disheveled hair, offering sce. Chapter 741 ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You¡¯ve put in the effort too. I merely showed you the way. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°You¡¯re my guiding light. ¡± Then, Xiomara lifted her ss and took another big sip. ¡°Thank you, truly. ¡± Xiomara had drunk too much and Lindsey couldn¡¯t move Xiomara by herself, so Sumner came to help her. ¡°I¡¯ve got this. ¡± The pleasant scent of Sumner enveloped Xiomara, bringing aforting familiarity. She leaned closer, murmuring in a daze, ¡°Sumner¡­¡± Lindsey, still slightly uneasy around Sumner and also hoping to foster a connection between him and Xiomara, suggested Sumner take Xiomara home. She insisted she could manage a taxi ride on her own. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered a designated driver for you two. Please take her home and make sure she¡¯s safe. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner watched Lindsey turn away without a backward nce. He felt a pang of sadness. Had he made her so ufortable that she felt the need to avoid him constantly? When the designated driver showed up, Xiomara was still drunk. Sumner gently guided her to the car. She wasn¡¯t heavy, but she clung to his neck a little too tightly, murmuring indistinctly. With a slight frown, Sumner secured her in the seat and buckled her in. The driver inquired about their destination. Sumner hesitated, then asked Xiomara, ¡°Where do you live? I¡¯ll take you there. ¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t, don¡¯t want¡­ to go home¡­ No¡­¡± In her drunken state, Xiomara barely managed to open her eyes and questioned, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Sumner. I¡¯m going to take you to your home. What¡¯s your address?¡± Upon hearing his name, Xiomara visibly rxed. His calm, steady voice eased her nerves, and she obediently gave him her address. It took Sumner a few tries to catch what she said clearly. He then ryed the address to the driver. Peering from the rearview mirror, the drivermented, ¡°Young man, your girlfriend seems really ufortable. ¡± ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend,¡± Sumner replied bluntly. To him, Xiomara was just a colleague from work, perhaps a friend at best. He could sense something in her gaze towards him, but his own feelings were reserved for Lindsey. But she didn¡¯t care about him. Sumner¡¯s words shed through Sumner¡¯s heart, leaving it wounded, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes. Not a peep was exchanged during the journey. After navigating the winding roads, it took nearly an hour before they arrived at Xiomara¡¯s neighborhood at midnight. Sumner peered out of the car window at the dpidated neighborhood, devoid of any semnce of affluence. His brow furrowed, and he turned to the driver, questioning, ¡°This is it? We¡¯re here?¡± ¡°ording to the GPS, this is the spot. ¡± Sumner was momentarily speechless, shaking Xiomara awake. ¡°Wake up. Check if this is your ce. ¡± Chapter 742 Xiomara¡¯s eyelids weighed heavy, struggling to open just a sliver as she squinted at the surroundings. She nodded, then promptly went back to sleep. Sumner yanked her out of the car, signaling to the driver not to depart just yet as he could need a rideter. Following Xiomara¡¯s groggy directions, Sumner led her to the basement door of a building. The sight took Sumner by surprise. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Xiomara residing in such a rundown spot, and it left him momentarily frozen. The structure before him seemed ancient at first nce, its white edges tinged with yellow, and slightly askew. It appeared hazardous. She didn¡¯t merely inhabit an ordinary floor; instead, she called the basement home. Opening the basement door unleashed a wave of decay and dampness that hit Sumner like a freight train. He couldn¡¯t help but turn away to retch; the stench was overwhelming. Inside, the walls bore the scars of mold, and the floor felt damp underfoot. Despite the conditions, the owner had put effort into maintaining the ce. A few mismatched pieces of furniture were arranged haphazardly. No television adorned the room, only small boxes on a makeshift stand containing essentials like data cables and adhesive tapes. Xiomara¡¯s living situation, contrary to her perpetually cheerful demeanor at work tugged at Sumner¡¯s sympathy. After tidying up the bed, Sumner settled Xiomara onto it, removing her outerwear and shoes before covering her with a nket.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Turning to leave, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sorrow for the girl before him. Searching for a basin, he fetched water for her to freshen up. The sensation of wetness on her face stirred Xiomara awake. As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself face-to-face with Sumner, who was in the midst of washing her face. Upon realizing she was awake, Sumner, inexplicably embarrassed, cleared his throat. ¡°You¡¯re up. I noticed you seemed ufortable, so I thought a little face wash might help. Now that you¡¯re awake, I¡¯ll leave. Remember to drink some water. ¡± Just as he turned away, Xiomara grabbed onto his cuff from behind. In a soft voice, she confessed, ¡°Sumner, I really like you. I want to be your girlfriend. Can you give us a shot?¡± Time seemed to freeze, and the air turned thick with silence. After a prolonged pause, Sumner finally spoke. ¡°You¡¯re under the influence. ¡± Her heart sank. The courage to unveil her deeply buried affection had only surfaced under the influence of alcohol. The stark reality of rejection, delivered so inly, jolted her awake. ¡°Am I not enough?¡± ¡°You¡¯re more than enough, but we¡¯re not a good fit. ¡± Not a good fit? It was the kind of reasoning one employed when one couldn¡¯t find affection for someone. Xiomara cast a nce at her decrepit surroundings, struggling to hold back tears. Her longshes drooping, she softly asked, ¡°Is it my humble background or am I not up to your standards?¡± ¡°Neither. ¡± Sumner admitted, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I have feelings for someone else. I can¡¯t develop affection for another person. I value your feelings, but you deserve someone better than me. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to you when my heart only belongs to someone else. ¡± Chapter 743 The answer Xiomara anticipated resonated in her heart. Tightening her grip on Sumner¡¯s cuff, she asked, ¡°Is it Lindsey? The one you care for, is it Lindsey?¡± Sumner fell into silence. Witnessing Sumner¡¯s silence, Xiomara understood everything. All along, she had seen the adoration in Sumner¡¯s eyes for Lindsey. Xiomara had always known, yet she fooled herself, pretending not to notice. She reassured herself, believing it was fine since Lindsey had a boyfriend. However, when Sumner finally admitted his feelings for Lindsey, Xiomara couldn¡¯t help but feel a deep ache of helplessness and sorrow. Lindsey was kind to her, and Sumner was the one she had a crush on. Xiomara couldn¡¯t, and wouldn¡¯t,pete with Lindsey for Sumner¡¯s affection. She also believed shecked the ability to do so. She was well aware of Lindsey¡¯s virtues and the depth of Sumner¡¯s love for her. Yet, Xiomara couldn¡¯t let go so easily. Holding back tears, she said, ¡°But Lindsey is already with someone. They seem happy and content together. ¡± At the mention of Domenic, Sumner¡¯s frustration boiled over. ¡°That guy doesn¡¯t truly love her. His actions are disgusting. He¡¯s not deserving of Lindsey¡¯s love!¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Xiomara was shocked by his outburst and opened her mouth without making a sound. Sumner continued, ¡°Lindsey is just blinded by him for now. When his true colors show, she¡¯ll see what kind of person he really is! By then, she¡¯ll know who¡¯s the right person for her!¡± Sumner believed that when the time came, Lindsey would turn to him forfort, understanding his genuine love for her. Xiomara listened, her heart sinking. Was he so fixated on waiting for Lindsey that he wouldn¡¯t consider anyone else? Sumner noticed Xiomara¡¯s disheartened state. Although it pained him to hurt her, he knew he had to be clear to avoid further misunderstandings. ¡°And, Xiomara, even if Lindsey wasn¡¯t in the picture, even if there was no one else in my heart, I wouldn¡¯t be with you. We¡¯re just not right for each other. Do you understand?¡± That was a bit harsh, and Xiomara didn¡¯te back to her senses for a long time. But it would have been much cruel to give her false hope. To wait for something that would never happen was the most painful thing of all. ¡°It¡¯s not about you. You¡¯re a wonderful person. Don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. You¡¯re going to find someone who¡¯s a much better match for you than I could ever be. ¡± Xiomara understood everything with those words. Her grip on his cuff gradually rxed, and a sad smile crossed her face. There was no use in pursuing a connection that was never meant to be. Chapter 744 Sumner walked away without looking back, leaving Xiomara to finally let her tears flow freely. Her confession had been a bold one, fueled by alcohol. Now, in her sober state, she was engulfed in a deep sadness.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Alone in the dark, Xiomara had let her emotions spill over, crying in the tight, crowded space of the basement. Lindsey got homete. The drive had sobered her up somewhat, and she trudged wearily into the bathroom for a quick shower. Freshly showered, with her hair dried, she casually checked her phone and saw a message from Domenic. Lindsey¡¯s heart felt a touch of warmth at being remembered. She had just responded to the message when a video call request popped up. Lindsey answered it immediately. Across the street, lights shone brightly where Domenic sat at his desk, surrounded by paperwork. Lately, he often called on video, as if their limited time together could somehow bepensated this way. ¡°Are you still working at thiste hour?¡± Lindsey nced at the clock, noting it was past midnight, and asked with concern. Domenic replied, ¡°There¡¯s been a lot going on at thepany recently. Did you just get in?¡± ¡°Yeah, the event went well today, so we all went out to celebrate afterward. ¡± ¡°With Sumner?¡± Domenic flipped through the documents in his hands without raising his head, while asking with a faint voice. Lindsey quickly rified, ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on between us. He and Xiomara were just contestants. After the celebration, I suggested Sumner drive Xiomara home because I think they have a spark. ¡± ¡°Why are you so keen on ying Cupid?¡± Domenic replied. She smiled softly, replying, ¡°I don¡¯t want my boyfriend getting jealous, so I need to find Sumner a girlfriend fast!¡± Domenic was moved by her words. He gazed at her, wishing he could embrace her right now. But she seemed unaware of his thoughts. ncing at her watch, she mentioned, ¡°I¡¯m not ready for bed yet. I¡¯ve got stuff to do. How about we not end the video chat?¡± He raised an eyebrow and grinned. ¡°Sounds great to me. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile made it feel like they were close. Suddenly, Domenic turned serious, lost in thought, and fell silent. As their conversation paused, Lindsey started browsing the day¡¯s news. She noticed a notification. It was a friend request from Carole. She was surprised Carole was still awake. Carole messaged her, ¡°You finally epted my friend request. ¡± Chapter 745 Lindsey replied with a sorry emoji, exining she hadn¡¯t been on her phone. Carole responded, ¡°No worries. I¡¯m sending you a link. Check it out when you can. ¡± Although Lindsey wasn¡¯t particrly interested in the topic, she clicked on a link out of boredom. It led to a website hosting a jewelry auction. The main page featured a stunning diamond that caught her eye. To her astonishment, this red diamond was an exact match to the one on her ne. Even the description, ¡°you are the very essence of my heart,¡± echoed what Domenic had once told her. The coincidence sent her heart racing, stirring a mix of excitement and suspicion. As she reached thest page of the website, Lindsey gasped at the astronomical price tag attached to the diamond. It was worth one billion dors! Her gaze then shifted to Domenic, who appeared on her phone¡¯s screen. He was engrossed in reading documents, looking more like a high- powered CEO than a mere assistant. Dressed in a sleek ck suit, he exuded an air of authority, his brow furrowed as if he was tackling someplex issue. Feeling her stare, Domenic suddenly looked up and asked, ¡°Are you sleepy?¡± Trying to maintain herposure, Lindsey nodded slightly. ¡°A bit. ¡± He responded, ¡°Go to sleep. I¡¯ll hang upter. ¡± Her curiosity piqued, she inquired, ¡°When will you be done with your work?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but notice the hefty stack of documents still awaiting his attention. Domenic said casually, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I don¡¯t have to get through all of these. They¡¯re just some trifles. ¡± Yet, these documents, crucial to property development, were indeed significant. Watching him work tirelessly at 1 am, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, she remained silent.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. This distraction made her forget the incident with the ne. Eventually, overwhelmed by fatigue, she drifted off to sleep. In the garden of the Walsh Manor, Jordan was lounging in an armchair, while Carole busied herself making tea. She handed him a cup of tea with both hands, saying politely, ¡°Mr. Walsh, please try this. I¡¯ve been practicing making tea based on your advice. ¡± Jordan tasted the tea and smiled. ¡°This is good. You¡¯ve really improved. Carole, it¡¯s so kind of you to work on your tea-making skills for me. ¡± ¡°I find joy in it. My feelings for you are just as strong as Domenic¡¯s. After all. . ¡± Carole hesitated and stopped mid-sentence. Chapter 746 Jordan, sensing the meaning behind her words, reassured her, ¡°You¡¯re a wonderful person. You and Domenic make a great couple. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll talk to him about marrying you. ¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­¡± Carole looked bashful, though inwardly she was pleased. ¡°What have you been up totely? You¡¯ve been leaving early and returningte. ¡± Jordan made a small talk with her. ¡°You seem to have shed a few pounds again. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve joined a talent show, so I¡¯m on a diettely to look good on camera,¡± Carole replied gently. There was a harmonious atmosphere between them, making them look like a grandparent and her grandchild. ¡°I may be back home, but I can¡¯t always depend on you. ¡± Jordan smiled warmly. ¡°You¡¯re going to be my granddaughter-inw. What¡¯s the harm in relying on me? After you join our family, try to spend more time at home rather than appearing on screen. ¡± Carole smiled faintly. ¡°Understood. ¡± She then steered the conversation back to the talent show. ¡°There are a few talented trainees from Vitality Entertainment. I met a girl named Lindsey Stewart- a recent college graduate who started her agency, Lindnita Artists Agency. Her trainees are impressive, and she manages her business quite effectively. ¡± Jordan let out a disdainful grunt, his expression unimpressed. ¡°That name sounds like it belongs to some low-tierpany. And a woman at that ¨C how can she be so skilled and affluent to run apany? There must be a wealthy patron behind her. I¡¯ve seen plenty of such women in my time. ¡± While sipping tea, Jordan reflected on his experience with businesswomen. He¡¯d encountered many who traded favors for sess and mentally lumped Lindsey in with them. Carole massaged his shoulders, adding, ¡°You¡¯re probably right. Lindsey does seem affluent. She wore a red diamond ne called Blood of the Heart ¨C the highlight of a recent international auction. It¡¯s quite pricey, not something many here could afford¡­¡± Jordan raised an eyebrow. He was familiar with that red diamond, rumored to be worth a billion dors! This only reinforced his belief in Lindsey¡¯s wealthy backer. He reassured Carole, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Domenic to buy one for you too. ¡± ¡°No need. Domenic¡¯s quite upied these days; best not to bother him. ¡± Carole¡¯s considerate response delighted Jordan. He felt only a woman like her deserved Domenic and was fit to marry into the Walsh family. ¡°I also heard that Lindsey had worked at Vitality Entertainment before. ¡± Carole turned to Jordan again, sharing, ¡°I¡¯ve heard she was quite the showstopper back then. The general manager at Vitality Entertainment promoted her almost as soon as she started. Word has it, she had free ess to his office¡­ There are rumors in the circle that she got help from the general manager to start her ownpany. I can¡¯t vouch for the truth, but if it¡¯s urate, it¡¯s quite unsettling. This woman seems capable of anything¡­¡± Jordan knew Emilio, the general manager of Vitality Entertainment, had been promoted by Domenic and also served as the vice president of the Vitality Group.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. If the patron behind Lindsey is Emilio, he must have gifted her that ne. Jordan internally scorned such extravagance. In his eyes, a subordinate of Domenic engaging in such behavior was uneptable. The thought of Emilio possibly being involved in such dealings made Jordan question his suitability for a significant role in the Vitality Group. Such poor character traits didn¡¯t align with leadership responsibilities. Chapter 747 Additionally, that ne came with a hefty price tag. Was it paid for withpany funds? The Walsh Group¡¯s fundamental rule was never to embezzle money from thepany. Jordan¡¯s eyes grew somber, mirroring a chilling intensity reminiscent of Domenic¡¯s. Around three in the morning, Domenic returned home. His recent routine involved dining with his grandpa in the evenings, then returning to the office, citing business preupations. Aware of his grandfather¡¯s watchful eye, Domenic could only slip homete at night. Even though he had moved as quietly as possible, Lindsey emerged from the bedroom just a momentter. Domenic, a bit startled, hastened over. ¡°Did I wake you?¡± ¡°No, I just couldn¡¯t sleep deeply. ¡± Lindsey drifted into a half- slumber, her thoughts weighing on her. ncing at the clock, Domenic suggested, ¡°It¡¯s still quite early. Try to sleep a bit more. ¡± ¡°Are you hungry? I can warm up something for you. ¡± Domenic intercepted Lindsey as she moved towards the kitchen, yfully tapping her nose. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, so don¡¯t fuss. Go back to bed. Otherwise, you¡¯ll struggle to get up in the morning. ¡± He gently took Lindsey¡¯s hand and led her back to the bedroom, but upon noticing her still standing there, lost in thought, he couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Lindsey was restless, unable to sleep without an exnation about the ne. They had made a pact to always be truthful with each other, fueling her curiosity about the ne¡¯s origin. Quietly, she presented him with the auction site, waiting for his response. Domenic was taken aback to see she had discovered the site. Breaking the silence, Lindsey pressed, ¡°Is the diamond in my ne the same as the one on this website?¡± Domenic, caught off guard, asked, ¡°How did youe across this site?¡± Her suspicion grew as he dodged her question, but she calmly replied, ¡°I bumped into your cousin at today¡¯s shoot. She sent me the Link. Is this diamond really worth a billion dors? How did you afford it?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed in surprise, pondering the chance encounter with Carole. He mulled over what Carole might know about Lindsey and him. Lindsey, growing impatient, urged, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Domenic sighed, gently cing his hands on her shoulders. He looked into her eyes and said with sincerity, ¡°Linds, I¡¯m sorry. You know, this diamond is pretty, and I really wanted to give it to you.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The real thing was just too pricey, so. I got a fake one instead. Please don¡¯t be mad. I promise, one day I¡¯ll get you the real deal. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s tension eased upon hearing this. The thought of epting an expensive diamond ne had been overwhelming for her. Chapter 748 Now, she found a hint of humor in the situation and hugged him tightly, resting her head on his chest. ¡°I love it, because it¡¯s from you. Honestly, I¡¯m relieved it¡¯s not real. I couldn¡¯t have epted it otherwise. But you know, this one looks so close to the real thing. It must¡¯ve cost a pretty penny, right?¡± ¡°Twenty-one thousand,¡± he replied casually, trying to assure her of its value. Lindsey was taken aback. ¡°That¡¯s way too much for a fake! Next time, let¡¯s not go overboard with gifts. We¡¯ve got other things to save for, you know. ¡± Domenic pulled her closer and whispered, ¡°I love how you¡¯re thinking about our future budget. It¡¯s like you¡¯re already my wife. And this ne? It looks perfect on you. The price doesn¡¯t matter as long as you¡¯re happy with it. ¡± Lindsey felt a warmth spread through her at his words.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The ne, even though fake, symbolized their love. It was a treasure to her. In a soft tone, Domenic added, ¡°About my cousin, I don¡¯t really know her that well. She¡¯s talented, grew up overseas. We hardly ever talked before. ¡± Lindsey nodded and carefully ced the ne back around her neck, seemingly unaware of theplex emotions in his eyes. He felt a storm of guilt and helplessness inside. He never wanted to deceive her, yet he saw no other option. He promised himself that one day, he¡¯d tell her everything. If she got angry, he¡¯d do whatever it took to earn her forgiveness. Yet, there was something that deeply concerned him. What was Carole¡¯s real intention? Was her encounter with Lindsey a mere coincidence, or was it nned? A chill ran through him as he pondered this. Later, as Lindsey slept, he stood by the window, lighting up a cigarette. The faint glow of the cigarette flickered in the night¡¯s darkness. Once his cigarette was finished, he made a phone call. The call was answered promptly. On the other end, a voice greeted him respectfully, ¡°Boss. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was low and serious, ¡°Keep an eye on Carole. Report everything she does to me. Especially if she¡¯s around Lindsey. Also, reach out to the director of Star Search. Make up a reason to fire Carole. I can¡¯t bear to see her on the show any Longer. ¡± He couldn¡¯t stand the feeling of losing control. To prevent any terrible oue, he decided to sever Lindsey¡¯s any possible connection with Carole. Time passed quickly, and today marked the debut of Star Search. Lindsey couldn¡¯t shake off her nerves. At eight in the evening, after wrapping up her day at the office, Lindsey invited Nancy to watch the show in her office. Once the show aired, it didn¡¯t take long for it to be a hot topic on Twitter¡¯s entertainment section, with catchy headlines popping up followed by these topics: ¡°Sumner¡±, ¡°Starlight¡±, ¡°Sumner: The Male Everleigh¡±, ¡°The Best Cover¡±, ¡°Xiomara¡¯s Virtual Performance¡±, ¡°Xiomara Steals the Show¡±, and ¡°Titbits from Star Search¡±. Both Lindsey and Nancy were ecstatic, nearly jumping with excitement. They hadn¡¯t anticipated such an immediate surge in poprity! Sumner and Xiomara had be overnight sensations. Eagerly, they clicked on the video of the show, watching it attentively. But as the show progressed, Lindsey¡¯s excitement turned to worry. Chapter 749 When she scrolled through thements, she noticed something was amiss. The editing seemed choppy and disjointed, and the judges¡¯ feedback seemed stitched as if they were assembled oddly together, from different moments during filming. Sh only had good things to say about Sumner in herment. She had really toned it down, leaving out any criticism or professional advice she had given. Looking a bit unsure, Lindsey clicked on thements section and read through the discussions about it. ¡°Eeven though thispany did well, Sh¡¯s praise seemed a bit over the top. ¡± ¡°I totally agree! Kristy¡¯s and Carole¡¯sments seemed more bnced.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡± ¡°Why was Sh treating her own team differently? She was all smiles andpliments for the trainees of herpany, but she didn¡¯t hold back when it came to others, not even trying to hide her true feelings. ¡± ¡°Was it for the sake of creating a dramatic effect in the show? We need an exnation!¡± ¡°To me, it looks like Sh¡¯s true colors are showing. Thepany she¡¯s with is riddled with bad vibes. Let me join in and spill the beans!¡± Lindsey was overwhelmed by thesements. They seemed like baseless gossip. The show¡¯s crew had twisted things up. Nancy was so upset after hearing Lindsey¡¯s exnation about the real situation that she was ready to confront the crew for some answers. When Xiomara was performing, they edited out her improvisation leaving only Sh¡¯s supportive words. This might lead viewers to believe that Sh had given Xiomara a heads-up about what to expect on the show, a special treatment. They left out the part where Kristy was embarrassed, instead showing her in a fair and just light. ¡®s BunnyBookery The trend on social media quickly shifted to a flood of harsh criticisms and insults aimed at Sh. Both fans and detractors were constantly shing. ¡°Was Sh getting carried away after securing her role as the female lead in Vincent¡¯s film? How could she openly favor the trainees from herpany on the talent show? Did she think the audience wouldn¡¯t notice?¡± ¡°But what was the issue with Sh? She was only speaking her mind. Sumner and Xiomara did a fantastic job, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°As a judge, shouldn¡¯t she be careful not to raise any doubts? And it¡¯s not like the other contestants were terrible, right? She seemed to be using her status to promote her colleagues. That was really off-putting. ¡± ¡°Honestly, you can criticize Sh. But don¡¯t include Sumner and Xiomara. I can¡¯t wait and see their performance in the next episodes. ¡± Thanks to their remarkable talents, Sumner and Xiomara quickly gained a following, and some people started supporting them. Sh faced ridicule online, even from those who didn¡¯t know the full story. Despite her fans defending her, she became a target for professional trolls stirring up public sentiment against her. Some went as far as to personally attack her and even demanded the show¡¯s crew to strip her of her judging role. Nancy was furious and wanted to post a defense for Sh on Twitter, but Lindsey intervened. ¡°Hold off on that statement for now. We need to understand what exactly happened and why the show¡¯s crew acted this way,¡± Lindsey advised. Chapter 750 Nancy, looking concerned, replied, ¡°So we just let them spread lies online? This isn¡¯t just damaging Sh¡¯s reputation; it¡¯s hurting our entirepany!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m on it,¡± Lindsey reassured her, calming Nancy, who was close to losing her cool. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Sha. You can negotiate with Sumner and Xiomara first. They¡¯ve be the talk of the town, and every brand out there wants a piece of the action. Time to dive into the materials selection pool. Just remember, tread carefully. ¡± Lindsey, ever the picture ofposure, made Nancy nod at her words. Late into the night, when Lindsey attempted to reach out to the show¡¯s crew, silence echoed through the phone. So, she had to wait until tomorrow. However, as the night wore on, the storm didn¡¯t quell; instead, it brewed into a tempest. Thepany¡¯s ount received numerous private messages as people demanded exnations for theirck of response. ¡°Spare us, Sh Potter, from the Star Search stage!¡± ¡°Sh Potter¡¯s image in ruins!¡± The online realm became a battleground withizens and rumormongers attacking every post by Sh. Even her old fans, once loyal, had turned their backs. Lindnita Artists Agency¡¯s partners bombarded them over the phone. After calming the fuming partners, Lindsey called Sh into her office, wearing an apologetic expression. ¡°Sh, I never saw thising. I¡¯m truly sorry. Rest assured, I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this with the show¡¯s crew and prove your innocence. ¡± Though a shade paler, Sh mustered a tired smile, offeringfort.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°No worries. This isn¡¯t on you or thepany. When you told me about the show, a tiny voice in my head said something was off. But why would they do this to us?¡± ¡°Maybe we¡¯re in the way of someone¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened. Sumner and Xiomara basked in the limelight, while three from Gallop Entertainment faced elimination. Gallop Entertainment never warmed up to Lindsey¡¯spany, and now, with her trainees shining brighter, they seemed to have struck a covert alliance with the show¡¯s crew to target herpany. It appeared that Gallop Entertainment had secretly bribed the production team of the show. The revtion left Lindsey sighing internally. She hadn¡¯t anticipated such shady dealings in a supposedly grand talent show. Sh caught on to Lindsey¡¯s line of thought. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, they aren¡¯t after me. Sumner and Xiomara are their targets. Being new to the scene, this show is crucial to them. If they¡¯re hit with this nder, I fear they won¡¯t weather the storm. ¡± Sh gently ced her hand on Lindsey¡¯s, offering a grateful smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been through worse. This is manageable. Don¡¯t worry about me. If you need anything, I¡¯m here anytime. ¡± Chapter 751 ¡°Sh¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze held gratitude and sympathy as she sped Sh¡¯s hand. Sh, once a timid soul sheltering beneath Lindsey¡¯s wings, had evolved into a resilient anchor in times of crisis. Lindsey rejoiced for her, finding sce in Sh¡¯s transformation. With a smile, Sh said, ¡°This is what I should do. I¡¯m part of thepany. Besides, Linds, without you, I might have¡­¡± Brushing aside the somber memories, Sh shook her head. ¡°Let bygones be bygones. But, Linds, your kindness will forever be in my mind¡± Such was Sh-ready to offer the best to those who treated her well. With no need for borate words; the understanding between them was unspoken as reflected in their shared smiles. ¡°Sh, steer clear of the online world for a bit. Ignore the noise. I¡¯m in touch with the show¡¯s crew. ¡± ¡°Sure. I trust you with the business.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Once Sh left, Lindsey finally called the assistant director¡¯s number. Unexpectedly, he said that they intended to revoke Sh¡¯s eligibility as a judge before Lindsey even had the chance to ask him. ¡°Sh¡¯sments weren¡¯t the problem to begin with. The issue lies with how your staff edited this episode. Why did you revoke her role as a judge? And let¡¯s not forget, we have a contract. You can¡¯t just end it like that. ¡± The assistant director gave a mockingugh. ¡°The contract states that if Party B harms the show¡¯s reputation, Party A can end the partnership unconditionally. Remember that?¡± Upon hearing this, Lindsey¡¯s frustration boiled over. She rarely lost her temper with them, but she couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t cut and twisted the footage, would we even be in this mess? You¡¯re fully responsible for this entire situation. I demand that you publicly own up to your mistakes and apologize to Sh Potter!¡± The assistant director scoffed. ¡°Twisted the footage? Those were Sh Potter¡¯s own words, weren¡¯t they?¡± Realizing the assistant director was being unreasonable, Lindsey decided further discussion was pointless. She adopted a cold and serious tone, saying, ¡°If that¡¯s your stance, we¡¯ll have to resolve this in court. The audience who were there can testify to what happened. There are no secrets that can¡¯t be uncovered. Let¡¯s see what the court decides!¡± After a brief two-second silence, the assistant director ended the call. Lindsey tried to call back, only to discover she¡¯d been blocked. She then went through her contact list, calling the director, the editing team, and other staff members. Each time, she found herself blocked. It seemed as if they had all agreed to this beforehand. Left with no other option, Lindsey sent a private message to the show¡¯s Twitter ount. But her message seemed to vanish without a trace, with no responseing. The show¡¯s crew was clearly set on making things difficult for her. Negotiation seemed impossible to solve this. Lindsey clenched her hands in determination. As an agent, it was her duty to stand up for her client who had been wronged. No matter the challenge, she wouldn¡¯t back down! With this in mind, she took a deep breath, slumped into her chair, and started brainstorming solutions. Chapter 752 Later in the day, she got a friend to reach out to a video editing expert and together, they scrutinized the show. The editing was skillful, but in a two-hour show, there were bound to be some slip-ups. With expert advice, Lindsey shared a screenshot from the show that seemed altered. She then wrote a detailed article titled ¡°Star Search¡¯s Deceptive Editing Exposed. A Public Apology Is Needed!¡± and shared it on her personal social media ounts. Lindsey¡¯s social media ount had millions of followers. Soon after posting on Twitter, her tweet became a top trending topic, attracting widespread attention. Despite numerous sarcastic remarks, some thoughtful users started voicing their suspicions. ¡°I re-watched the show. The scenes in Lindsey¡¯s screenshots indeed look unnatural, as if they have been edited. ¡± ¡°As someone who knows editing, I can confidently say there¡¯s something off with these clips!¡± ¡°Why is there sudden support for Sh Potter? Is she paying people to spread rumors?¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Even as these supportivements surfaced, they were quickly drowned out by critics. But Lindsey calmly released an audio recording she had made for Sumner and Xiomara. Initially meant as a reference for their training, it now served as crucial evidence. In the recording, Sh¡¯s words were fair and unbiased,pletely different from what everyone had seen. This shifted the online narrative. Many started demanding exnations from the crew of Star Search on Lindsey¡¯s post. However, a day passed without any response from the show¡¯s crew. Instead, more trouble brewed around Lindsey. ¡®s BunnyBookery Suddenly, the door burst open. Nancy rushed in, phone in hand, urgently showing it to Lindsey. ¡°Linds, look at this!¡± Lindsey narrowed her eyes, but as the content became clear, her head started to buzz. A rumormonger discovered old romantic photo of Sumner and Lindsey,beling them with the sensational headline, ¡°Lindsey Stewart Clings to Vincent Lopez¡¯s Godson. ¡± After a detailed analysis, the man in the photo was identified as Sumner, who appeared on the talent show. The onlinemunity erupted, rushing the topic at the forefront of trending discussions. ¡°No wonder Sh favors Sumner. Can anyone deny there¡¯s some behind-the-scenes maniption?¡± ¡°At the very least, Sh understands the value of gratitude. She¡¯s certainly skilled inworking. ¡± ¡°Could there be a link between Sh Potter and Vincent Lopez too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all just a strategic y. They¡¯re helping each other in business!¡± ¡°ALL the positive impression Sh had built up ispletely shattered! Moreover, Sumner is rted to the famous director and has an ambiguous rtionship with his agent. He¡¯s quite the skilled yer, isn¡¯t he?¡± A video montage of the three eliminated Gallop Entertainment contestants became viral with the title ¡°Behind-the-Scenes y. ¡± ¡°Their performances were decent, too. They¡¯re all trainees of simr skill levels, yet they got eliminated in the first round. If that¡¯s not behind-the-scenes maniption, what is?¡± ¡°Did you notice that the three eliminated are all from Gallop Entertainment? Seems like they¡¯re being targeted. ¡± Chapter 753 ¡°Hahaha, check out Xiomara¡¯s expression, it¡¯s hrious¡­¡± Sumner, who had just gained poprity, was quicklybeled a ¡°backdoor beneficiary¡±. Xiomara had been maliciously photoshopped, and her distorted images were widely shared. Any fans defending Sumner and Xiomara online faced harsh bacsh. The half a million new followers on Sumner¡¯s social ount were mostly detractors, filling hisment section with insults and mockery. There were even ims that Lindsey had seduced a wealthy man to sabotage Gallop Entertainment for her benefit. The absurdity of thements was almostughable to Lindsey. She was initially the target of Gallop Entertainment¡¯s smear campaign, but now the narrative had flipped, portraying her as the aggressor. The lengths bigpanies would go to manipte public opinion were astounding. ALL the gossip came together at this time, thrusting Lindsey back into the spotlight. However, the majority of the remarks were filled with ridicule and scorn. Someizens even spected she had slept her way to support. Witnessing all this, Kristy couldn¡¯t hide her glee. ¡°Lindsey, I warned you can¡¯t beat me or Gallop Entertainment. Let¡¯s see how you retaliate this time!¡± The court of public opinion didn¡¯t always equate to justice. Only the legal system could deliver that. Seeing such a situation, Lindsey resolved to take the talent show¡¯s crew to court. She was determined to stand her ground and not back down. She discreetly began reaching out towyers, and Sh provided her with Reece¡¯s contact. ¡°If you¡¯re struggling to find a goodwyer, consider Mr. Barton. Don¡¯t think about bargaining this time. ¡± Lindsey acknowledged with a nod, ¡°Okay. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. If Reece agreed to take on the case, it would boost the odds of Lindnita Artists Agency emerging victorious. Meanwhile, Emilio was in his office at Vitality Entertainment, scrolling through the trending topics on his phone. He assumed Lindsey would seek his assistance again, but surprisingly, she hadn¡¯t approached him even after two days. This newfound independence in her earned more of his respect. As Domenic¡¯s wife and a partner at Vitality Entertainment, Lindsey¡¯s mistreatment was a matter of concern for Emilio. He decided to intervene on her behalf. Emilio promptly dialed his assistant and instructed them to contact the individual responsible for Star Search to unravel the entire tale. However, by the afternoon, his assistant returned, looking disheartened. ¡°Mr. Howard, the Star Search officials said they won¡¯t discuss Sh Potter. There is no reversal, no matter who intervenes¡­¡± In the entertainment industry, Vitality Entertainment was a known powerhouse. This was the first time Emilio had encountered such tant disregard. He was momentarily taken aback. What kind of backing did the show¡¯s crew have? Chapter 754 It seemed necessary to inform Domenic about this Without dy, Emilio dialed Domenic¡¯s number. Domenic answered promptly, his tone steady, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± In a grave tone, Emilio conveyed, ¡°Domenic, Lindsey¡¯s facing some trouble.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡± After a pregnant pause, Domenic broke the silence, shooting, ¡°Spill the beans, Emilio. Lay it out straight. ¡± Emilio promptly sent a screenshot to him,ying it out, ¡°This seems to be Gallop Entertainment¡¯s handiwork. They¡¯ve teamed up with the Star Search crew, aiming to obliterate Lindsey. They¡¯ve got their ducks in a row this time. I tried reaching out to the show¡¯s crew, but the bigwig in charge imed there was no turnaround. What¡¯s our move?¡± Domenic eased into the sofa, his eyes narrowed like a predator eyeing its prey. Finally, he said with a sneer, ¡°No turnaround, huh? Let¡¯s see if they can walk the talk. ¡± After hanging up, Domenic summoned Hendrix to his office, a frosty edge in his tone. ¡°Get in touch with the boss at Star Search. Tell them Vitality Group has evidence. They need to tell everyone the truth and serve up a public mea culpa to Lindnita Artists Agency. If not, their show is curtains!¡± ¡°Boss, in the name of Vitality Group or your own?¡± Hendrix asked. Giving him a cold stare, Domenic shot back, ¡°What do you reckon?¡± Hendrix hesitated for half a beat, then responded, ¡°Got it. ¡± As the CEO¡¯s right-hand man, he was the face of the CEO of Vitality Group. The person in charge of the talent show would get the memo. The whole nation wouldn¡¯t dare disrespect the CEO of Vitality Group. The next morning, Lindsey strolled into the office, a night of fitful sleep etched on her face. Her mind raced, pondering the next move. She was in dire straits. But as soon as she stepped in, Nancy charged over, her voice carrying through the entire office. ¡°Linds, check Twitter. Star Search publicly apologized!¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey snapped to attention, quickly unlocking her phone. Nancy gushed, ¡°You handled this like a boss. Tell me, how¡¯d you do it?¡± Lindsey was bewildered. Soon, Star Search was buzzing again. ¡°Star Search crew apologizes. ¡± ¡°Sh Potter¡¯s fanbase skyrocketing. ¡± ¡°Sh Potter ¨C a victim of misinterpretation. ¡± ¡°Editing mishap ¨C a big oops. ¡± Chapter 755 What the heck happened? Even Lindsey herself was baffled by this twist of events. That same crew was the epitome of cockiness the previous day! She had intended to speak with Reece about thewsuit today, but she couldn¡¯t understand why the table had turned. As she delved into the apology letter, it became clear ¡ª a me game targeting the editing crew. The program crew imed ignorance as if the editing team alone birthed the whole show. Suddenly, a call interrupted her thoughts ¨C the same crew head who had cklisted her days ago. Lindsey answered. The man on the other end changed his attitude to all politeness. ¡°Miss Stewart, I owe you an apology. Been swampedtely, didn¡¯t catch this mess. On behalf of the editing team and Star Search crew, sincere apologies to you and Lindnita Artists Agency. Truly sorry. We¡¯ve slotted Miss Sh Potter¡¯s name into thetest show list. And we¡¯re willing to pay her mentalpensation and issue a public apology. ¡± She couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. Too swampedtely to catch this mess? A tant excuse. But since an olive branch was extended, Lindsey chose not to spurn it. After all, it was the best oue for now. But she couldn¡¯t shake off the curiosity. What triggered the crew¡¯s about-face? No matter how many times Lindsey asked, the other person always dodged the truth with excuses like misunderstandings, unreliable editors, and various other reasons. Lindsey had to give up. What was more, the show¡¯s crew also unveiled the full video recording of the show promptly at eight o¡¯clock in the evening. The episode ran for a solid six hours without any editing, capturing the true events of the day. Every singlement stood defended Sh. ¡°These people are nothing but bullies! The way they edited it changed what the episode was really about. Who did Sh offend?¡± ¡°Oh, my God! The story is reversed. It¡¯s exciting. ¡± ¡°Xiomara! She¡¯s going to be famous! A rising star! She was so amazing! Even when she made it up as she went along. ¡± ¡°Oh, my God! Sumner is so perfect! He sang live the whole time. ¡± ¡°Hey, who said they weren¡¯t strong? Who said it was all fixed? Why don¡¯t you keep talking?¡± Netizens unanimously rallied behind Lindnita Artists Agency, and their poprity kept soaring. Kristy¡¯s humiliation that day also came to light. ¡°Kristy¡¯s biased, right? She overpraised everyone from Gallop Entertainment. When it was Sumner¡¯s and Xiomara¡¯s turns, she would pick apart all sorts of things. ¡± ¡°She probably faked her ankle twist on purpose. Maybe she¡¯s scared a trainee will outshine her acting skills. What a shame!¡± ¡°That¡¯s too fake!¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 756 Kristy¡¯s ount took a hit, losing two million followers in a single day, while Sh¡¯s, Sumner¡¯s, and Xiomara¡¯s ounts saw a rapid surge in their follower count. Many flooded Kristy¡¯s ount, wondering if she had teamed up with the show¡¯s crew to target Sh. Kristy was fuming as she stared at the news and had a strong urge to throw her phone. ¡°Lindsey Stewart, just wait and see!¡± Kristy clenched.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Wait, what?¡± Kristy¡¯s agent swung the door open, looked over Kristy, and sat on the sofa. ¡°Kirby. ¡± Kristy shed a charming smile as she hurried over to Kirby. ¡°Hey Kirby, what¡¯s our next move? Think we should contact the head office for some rification?¡± Kirby Dous brushed off her hand from his leg. ¡°You messed up and now want thepany to clean it up for you? Forget it. ¡± Kristy suddenly found herself in a state of confusion. Hadn¡¯t thepany approved of these actions? Kirby gave her a quick look and replied, ¡°Even the headpany can¡¯t fix this mess, especially with some mysterious man backing Lindnita Artists Agency. You¡¯re in a tough spot this time, Kristy. Bettery off the negativements about thepany, or you¡¯ll see what happens. ¡± It finally dawned on Kristy that herpany was using her to its advantage. She clenched her fists tightly. In that instant, she had to acknowledge that beneath the morous facade of the name Kristy Chase, she was just a money-making tool and a disposable pawn in thepany¡¯s game. If she were disabled, thepany would have a line of valuable recements ready to take the top spot one after the other. Kristy thought switchingpanies would bring back her glory days. But she quickly saw that Gallop Entertainment didn¡¯t really care about her. They were just using her. Their n was to make her a topic in their dealings with Lindsey. But she ended up losing to Lindsey. Howe Lindsey always managed to slip away from trouble? Was that guy secretly lending her a hand to evade danger? But why would he do that? Kristy looked up again, her eyes reddening. She couldn¡¯t ept this. She was determined to take that man away and ruin Lindsey¡¯s reputation! Kirby felt a twinge of sympathy for her and chose to speak in a more soothing tone. ¡°I get that you¡¯re upset with how things are going, but getting mad won¡¯t help. Concentrate on giving your best in the uing recording and see if you can turn things around. Thepany¡¯s advice can only do so much, so take your time to think it over. ¡± After a long day, Emilio drove home, exhausted. Then, a bright light shed in front of him, making him shield his eyes. Annoyed, he eximed, ¡°Damn it! Can¡¯t you see?¡± The car slowly pulled over the roadside. Emilio opened his eyes and saw men in ck waiting outside. Chapter 757 He was caught off guard but kept his cool. He rolled down the car window and inquired in a cold tone, ¡°Who are you?¡± The leading man replied, ¡°Mr. Howard, Mr. Jordan Walsh wants to see you. Pleasee with us. ¡± Jordan? Emilio¡¯s expression grew somber. He swung the door open and stepped out. The leader extended his hand towards him. ¡°Mr. Howard, we¡¯ll have to hold onto your phone for the time being. ¡± Emilio knew what was happening. He didn¡¯t resist and handed over his phone. Jordan was cutting off his secret ties to Domenic. A bad feeling crept up in Emilio¡¯s heart. The man in ck covered Emilio¡¯s eyes with a ck cloth. He apologized for it, but his hands kept moving. The car sped along the expressway for several minutes before transitioning onto a bumpier road, suggesting they were now crossing a mountainous terrain. Emilio¡¯s nerves began to fray. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder about the sudden, secretive nature of this meeting arranged by Jordan. Eventually, the vehicle came to a halt. The ck cloth was abruptly removed from Emilio¡¯s eyes, revealing a brightly lit, Luxurious vi. ¡®s BunnyBookery The sudden brightness forced Emilio to shield his eyes with his hand. Gradually, as his vision adjusted, he discerned that he was likely at one of the Walsh family¡¯s properties. As Emilio was led towards the entrance, two tall, armed guards blocked his path. Emilio frowned, confused. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we need to conduct a body search before you can enter,¡± the man in ck exined. A sense of foreboding washed over Emilio. The insistence on a search indicated that something was wrong. After handing over all his items, Emilio was granted entry. He stepped through the doorway alone, the door mming shut behind him with a resounding thud. It sent a shiver through Emilio. His heart pounded with apprehension as he thought of whaty ahead. Jordan was seated on a plush leather sofa. He held a sleek, dark cane in his left hand, his right hand resting atop it. His legs were positioned apart in a stance that projected power and dominance. Jordan¡¯s gaze lifted to meet Emilio as soon as he walked in. As Emilio locked eyes with Jordan, he felt an intense, prating aura emanating from the older man that seemed capable of piercing right through a person¡¯s soul. Emilio¡¯s legs began to tremble.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The intensity in Jordan¡¯s eyes bore a striking resemnce to that of Domenic. ¡°Mr. Walsh. ¡± Emilio approached Jordan and greeted him with a mix of caution and respect. ¡°You have been overseeing Vitality Entertainment recently, haven¡¯t you?¡± Jordan¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Emilio as he spoke in a measured tone. Emilio responded with a careful nod. Chapter 758 Jordan¡¯s patience appeared to wane as he cut straight to the chase with a heavy snort. ¡°Tell me about your rtionship with Lindsey Stewart, your former employee from Vitality Entertainment,¡± he said, his tone leaving no room for evasion. Emilio felt a sinking sensation in his chest. Were the day¡¯s events somehow connected to Lindsey?This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did you give her a red diamond ne?¡± Jordan¡¯s questioning grew more intense. ¡°Where did you get so much money? Have you been siphoning offpany funds?¡± Embezzlement was an unforgivable offense in Jordan¡¯s business. Emilio was momentarily taken aback, unsure of what ne Jordan referred to. Thinking of Lindsey, Emilio suspected Domenic¡¯s involvement, though he had not mentioned any ne. After a brief pause, Emilio scrambled to formte his response. ¡°Mr. Walsh, Lindsey was an executive agent at Vitality Entertainment. My dealings with her were purely professional. As for the ne you mentioned, I have no knowledge of it. ¡± However, Emilio¡¯s words rang hollow to Jordan, sounding more like an attempt to hide the truth. ¡°The evidence is right here. ¡± Jordan grabbed a file of transaction records from the table with a sneer and threw them at Emilio. ¡°Are you still going to deny it?¡± The file hit Emilio hard. The sharp paper scratched his skin, resulting in a sharp sting. Emilio instinctively touched his face, his fingersing away with blood. ¡°Look for yourself and see if the diamond ne wasn¡¯t bought under your name, Emilio Howard!¡± Jordan shouted, his eyes burning with suspicion and anger towards Emilio. Bewildered, Emilio picked up the papers and saw his name printed on them. It didn¡¯t take long for him to piece together that Domenic must have made the purchase under his name to conceal his involvement. Emilio felt a throbbing headache as he processed the situation. ¡°Exin to me!¡± Jordan mmed his cane onto the floor, creating a frightening sound. ¡°Where did you get such a huge amount of money?¡± he asked loudly. Jordan had been unable to find evidence of Emilio misusingpany funds. Lacking concrete proof, he resorted to pressuring Emilio into a confession. Emilio remained silent, but internally, he was frantically searching for a usible exnation. How could he possibly justify the expenditure of a billion dors? ¡°If you¡¯re not admitting to buying the diamond yourself, you must have acquired it on someone else¡¯s behalf. Tell me who¡¯s behind this, and I might let you off the hook this time. ¡± Jordan changed his approach, observing Emilio¡¯s silence. Emilio¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Should he expose Domenic? After a moment of hesitation, Emilio made up his mind. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell you¡­¡± Emilio began, clenching his fists and taking a deep breath to gather his courage. That night, in the Walsh Manor, the grand entrance swung open, and Jordan walked in. Despite the support of a cane, his robust aura remained undeniable. As the door revealed Jordan¡¯s entrance, the man lounging on the sofa immediately sprang to his feet, taking purposeful strides to assist him toward the sofa. ¡°Dad. ¡± This man was Rupert Walsh, the second son of Jordan. Casting a nce at Rupert, Jordan inquired, ¡°What brings you here?¡± With a respectful bow apanied by a warm smile, Rupert replied, ¡°I found some free time and wanted to visit you. ¡± Chapter 759 Carole gracefully poured tea for the two. Observing the poised woman, Rupert, with a discerning eye, remarked, ¡°Rumor has it you¡¯ve chosen a fianc¨¦e for Domenic. Could it be this charmingdy?¡± With a gentle smile, Carole greeted him in a gentle and obedient voice. Witnessing this interaction, Jordan¡¯s smile widened as hemented, ¡°She¡¯s Carole Larson. You¡¯ve encountered her when she was a child. ¡± Rupert, concealing his surprise behind a facade of false warmth, quickly regainedposure with a hypocritical smile. He addressed Carole, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Carole.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org I didn¡¯t expect you to grow into such a charmingdy after west met. Dad, you¡¯ve truly made a wise choice. Carole is not only beautiful but also elegant and polite. Domenic is incredibly fortunate to have such an exceptional wife, and, Dad, your taste is impable. ¡± Rupert ttered him, all the while squinting as he attentively observed Carole. A modest smile graced Carole¡¯s face as she responded in a soft, graceful tone, ¡°Domenic is truly a remarkable man. I consider myself fortunate. ¡± Satisfied with Carole on all fronts, Jordan reassured her immediately. ¡°Don¡¯t be concerned. I understand Domenic well. He¡¯s an introvert, and even if he harbors feelings for you, expressing them won¡¯te easily. You¡¯ve been his life savior, and undoubtedly, he must have deep feelings for you. ¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Carole responded docile. ¡°By the way, Carole, the recent show you took part in has stirred quite a bit of trouble. Has it affected you in any way?¡± Rupert feigned casual concern. Carole subtly shook her head in response. Jordan, upon hearing this, furrowed his brow and fixed his gaze on Carole. ¡°What happened with the show you mentioned earlier?¡± Anyone audacious enough to offend his future granddaughter-inw would find themselves vanishing from the city without a trace. As Carole was about to reply, Rupert jumped in, saying, ¡°Dad, let me exin¡­¡± After narrating the entire incident to Rupert, a perplexed expression crossed Jordan¡¯s face as he pondered, ¡°It¡¯s odd. The crew staff started off so adamant, but then out of the blue, they apologized to Lindsey Stewart. She¡¯s quite impressive. ¡± Upon hearing the name Lindsey, Jordan furrowed his brow and repeated, ¡°Lindsey Stewart?¡± Wasn¡¯t she the woman Carole mentioned earlier, who ran an agency with the support of her backer? Rupert, slightly taken aback, asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Dad? Do you know her?¡± Deep in thought, Jordan remained silent. Undeterred, Rupert continued, ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that the reason the crew apologized was due to support and pressure from Vitality Group. ¡± Jordan¡¯s expression darkened further, but Rupert seemed oblivious. Puzzled, he remarked, ¡°I don¡¯t know how she managed to get help from Vitality Group, but it¡¯s rumored to be settled in the name of thepany president. But would Domenic really wade into such matters for a woman? I¡¯m curious about the rtionship between him and Lindsey. ¡± After uttering those words, Rupert shifted his gaze towards Carole and noticed her maintaining a sereneposure, quietly absorbing their conversation with an impassive expression. Chapter 760 Although this woman appeared calm and collected, the subtle clenching of her hands around the hem of her dress betrayed her true sentiments. A faint smile began to y at the corners of Rupert¡¯s mouth. In response to Rupert¡¯s earlierment, Jordan emitted a disdainful snort. ¡°Domenic is a good guy, but he has difficulty evaluating and hiring people. ¡± Rupert, momentarily taken aback, swiftly concealed his surprise. He proceeded to pour a fresh cup of tea for Jordan and inquired, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Enraged, Jordan pounded his cane on the floor. ¡°Domenic personally promoted Emilio, the vice president of Vitality Group. He seemed Like a good person, but in reality, he¡¯s a hypocrite embezzlingpany funds! He engages in a secret rtionship with his employee and misappropriatespany funds tovish gifts on that woman!¡± Emilio¡¯s words still echoed in Jordan¡¯s ears. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell the truth¡­ Yes, it was indeed my doing. I bought the ne, gave it to Lindsey, and used thepany¡¯s cash to pay for it. I yed hero for her once in the past, and did it again under the Vitality Group name during the ident that was on trend. It¡¯s all on me, no one else¡¯s hands are dirty. I¡¯m at your mercy now, Mr. Walsh. ¡± Emilio fell to his knees in front of Jordan and bowed to him on the cold floor as he spoke. Jordan, fuelled by rage, sprang up from the sofa and directly stepped on Emilio¡¯s shoulder, kicking him to the floor. His overzealous retaliation threw him off bnce, crashing back onto the sofa. Emilio was kicked so hard by him that hey down for a long while. Jordan roared, ¡°Get off! Get out of Vitality Group! Now! Don¡¯t make me break your legs and toss you into the sea as fish food!¡± Emilio¡¯s face darkened. There was a lengthy pause before he quietly remarked, ¡°Alright, got it. ¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡®s BunnyBookery Recalling all Emilio¡¯s words, Jordan¡¯s eyes, now resembling rubies, sent shivers down Carole¡¯s spine. ¡°Emilio Howard turned the whole ce upside down for a woman. Is Vitality Group his personal yground? I spared him for Domenic¡¯s sake, or he¡¯d be looking at a one-way ticket to disability!¡± When Rupert heard this, he grimaced. How was that possible? He¡¯d schemed for eons,ying the groundwork to drag Lindsey through the mud. Domenic was bound to jump into the fray. If he dared to lend her a hand using his own name, Rupert aimed to exploit the situation, casting doubt on Domenic and exposing his link with Lindsey! The talent show¡¯s crew danced to Rupert¡¯s tune. His investment and resources made them act tough. He thus utilized a lot of resources and spent a lot of money. But now, Emilio was taking all the responsibility?! Carole listened in silence, shrinking into the background. Hearing this, she was down in the dumps. Emilio was owning up to it all. Was he trying to protect Domenic? Fury flickered in Jordan¡¯s eyes, and his words sliced through the air. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with him for Domenic. Emilio¡¯s been in his shadow for ages. If Domenic can¡¯t handle it himself, I¡¯ll do the dirty work for him!¡± Chapter 761 Rupert felt like he was punching thin air, utterly disheartened. Since Jordan had spoken, it meant he¡¯dunched an inquiry through someone. Plus, Jordan had pampered Domenic from diapers. If Rupert tried to push all the me to Domenic, it¡¯d only stir the pot, raising Jordan¡¯s suspicions. Forced to put on a strained smile, Rupert said, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s still wet behind the ears. You can teach him a thing or two. As his uncle, I might throw in some lessons when the stars align. ¡± Jordan nodded and massaged his temples. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m beat. Carole, escort Rupert out. ¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Carole responded dutifully. Once they stepped out of the manor, Carole¡¯s demeanor turned cold. Rupert felt a storm brewing. He¡¯d hoped to use this opportunity to expose Domenic, but Jordan had callously pushed his trusted aide to the front lines. And Emilio yed his part wlessly, even hoodwinking Jordan. He muttered to himself, ¡°That guy¡¯s certifiable! They should lock him up in the loony bin for good!¡± The two walked in silence until Carole broke it. ¡°Mr. Walsh. ¡± Rupert stopped, ncing back at the woman behind him. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Did you already know it wasn¡¯t Emilio who pulled the strings?¡± She stated this clearly. She had always been perceptive and skilled at reading people¡¯s minds and estimating their sentiments. Rupert raised an eyebrow. ¡°Yep, so what? If Dad¡¯s buying it, no one is going to challenge him. ¡± He scanned Carole from head to toe and adopted a pitiful tone. ¡°Carole, sometimes I can¡¯t help but feel sorry for you. ¡± Carole furrowed her brow. Despite the coldness in her eyes, she maintained herposure. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Think about it.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Who could get Emilio to willingly y the pawn?¡± Rupert looked up at the stars, speaking in a lowered voice. ¡°Or, in the grand arena of Vitality Group, who could most easily control the vice president?¡± Carole caught on quickly. ¡°You¡¯re saying Domenic is the one who helped Lindsey Stewart?¡± ¡°Seems you¡¯ve heard her name more than once. ¡± Rupert lowered his voice further. ¡°I¡¯ve had someone tailing those two. It¡¯s crystal clear Domenic¡¯s not just toying with her. Even a blind bat can see he¡¯s head over heels for her. ¡± ¡°But she doesn¡¯t even know his true identity,¡± Carole blurted out. Realizing she¡¯d divulged too much, she promptly sealed her lips. Rupert sneered. ¡°Carole, you are too naive. Lindsey is now a formidable adversary. Don¡¯t underestimate her. Your status as Domenic¡¯s future wife won¡¯t remain secure as long as Lindsey is in the game. ¡± A cunning glint shed through his eyes. Chapter 762 Carole, confident in her rtionship with Domenic, was shaken.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Her assurance stemmed not only from Domenic¡¯s disinterest in other women but also from the favor of Jordan and the freedom toe and go from the Walsh family¡¯s house. These factors let her guard down, causing her to overlook potential dangers. Lindsey¡¯s sudden appearance jeopardized her ns, threatening to unravel everything. She clenched her fists. Satisfied with Carole¡¯s reaction, Rupert said no more, turning around and Leaving. It seemed he wouldn¡¯t have to confront Domenic directly. The next day, at the headquarters of Vitality Group. As soon as Domenic settled into the chair in front of the desk, he found a white envelope resting on the pile of folders as usual. Two words adorned the envelope: resignation letter. He opened the letter and discovered the signature belonged to Emilio. What happened? He scrutinized the letter carefully, the words expressing Emilio¡¯s sincere desire to part ways with thepany. The tone was firm, leaving no room for refusal. Frowning, he dialed thendline on the desk. A minuteter, Emilio pushed the door open and appeared in front of him. With a Band-Aid on his face, he looked tired and dejected, a stark contrast to his former spirited and vigorous appearance. The weariness in his eyes painted a picture of silent struggles. Seeing hime in, Domenic nced briefly, then continued to check and approve the documents. He asked indifferently, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your face?¡± Emilio struggled to find words, a silent battle evident in his hesitations. He stood opposite Domenic, the air heavy with unspoken tension. Minutes passed in quiet contemtion. ¡°Such audacity, and yet you remain silent in the face of my inquiry?¡± Suddenly, Domenic¡¯s hand, which was approving the documents, stopped. He pressed the golden pen on the desk and raised his eyes to fixate on Emilio. Emilio lowered his head respectfully and spoke with deference. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve submitted my resignation letter and sent an email. I kindly request your approval. ¡± He didn¡¯t even call him by his name, a subtle shift in their usual dynamic. Domenic felt inexplicable anger and said coldly, ¡°Give me a proper exnation. Otherwise, I won¡¯t approve this resignation. ¡± Emilio pursed his lips and replied, ¡°The rationale is detailed in the letter itself¡­¡± Chapter 763 ¡°Liar!¡± Domenic inquired with an insistent tone, his gaze icy and prating. ¡°Tell me, What transpired?¡± Emilio froze, the weight of his decision settling heavily on his shoulders, prompting a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m tired of it. I don¡¯t want to work anymore. I¡¯ve had enough of the pressure in Vitality Group! ¡± Enduring the grievance in his heart, Emilio expressed his sentiments in a sequence of words. Observing him in silence, Domenic crossed his hands on the desk, a portrait ofposure amid the brewing storm. ¡°If the pressure is overwhelming, take a week off. If your sry is unsatisfactory,municate it directly. Abrupt resignation is not your usual approach. What happened? Was there a threat?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic had got to know Emilio for an extensive time; how could he not understand him? Despite the weariness and challenges of the past, Emilio had never uttered aint. He remained aposed and dependable individual, capable of fulfilling any task without aint, a quality that endeared him to Domenic. They had weathered the storms of Vitality Group together, and for Domenic, Emilio was more than a mere subordinate. Their bond transcended professional realms. The abrupt resignation triggered a sense of unease in Domenic. Emilio clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯ve always regarded you as a trusted friend. I¡¯ve never sought favors, but today¡­ Regardless of the reasons behind my resignation, I beg you to approve it. ¡± Domenic¡¯s frown deepened, sensing an underlying issue. Opting to pacify Emilio initially, he picked up the pen to resume dealing with the documents, speaking calmly, ¡°Continue your work for now. I will contemte the situation. ¡± Although Emilio desired to convey more, theck of attention from Domenic prompted him to bow deeply and exit. Once Emilio left, Domenic raised his head, a glint of cold determination in his eyes. He summoned Hendrix, unable to suppress his anger. ¡°Investigate Emilio¡¯s recent whereabouts and acquaintances, and scrutinize his call log. Conduct aprehensive investigation!¡± Hendrix showed Domenic the footage of Emilio getting pulled over by a vehicle yesterday around nightfall. These folks deliberately sidestepped the camera, skillfully dodging the lens without giving a hint of their license te. But the car¡¯s distinctive style snagged Domenic¡¯s attention. He¡¯d seen the car numerous times near his grandpa¡¯s manor. A thought gnawed at him ¨C did Jordan pull some maneuver to push Emilio into leaving? A sinking feeling settled in his chest. If Emilio¡¯s decision to resign was linked to Jordan, Domenic believed it must have had something to do with him as well. He leaned back in his seat, fingers massaging his temples. Over the years, he had heard much of Emilio¡¯s story, but there was no wrongdoing on his part. What could have possibly happened?This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. A sense of disquiet loomed in his heart, prompting him to instruct Hendrix to fetch the car. Once in the car, Lindsey¡¯s call interrupted Domenic¡¯s thoughts. Mustering a smile, he answered it. ¡°Are you still swamped?¡± Her voice was soft and slightly drowsy. Lindsey had been buried in worktely, and today, after wrapping things up, she found herself dozing on the office desk. She intended to nap, but it was slightly dark when she awoke. She phoned him because she was so exhausted and missed him so much. Chapter 764 His heart pounded at her words. He could not contain his smile. ¡°Do you miss me?¡± ¡°Homete or sleeping at the office ¨C you¡¯re barely around. We¡¯ve missed dinner together for ages. Remember thest time you asked what I wanted? Well, today, I¡¯m craving your tomato and beef brisket. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Her gentle, almost intive tone warmed his heart. Being needed by her was a feeling he relished. How he wished he could teleport home and wrap her in a hug right now. ¡°Today¡­¡± Hendrix waited a moment, then looked at him in the front mirror. He appeared to be waiting for him to decide whether to go to the Walsh Manor or get Lindsey. Domenic shook his head, signaling Hendrix to drive on. He knew the priority. ¡°My boss got this colossal project recently. It¡¯s a grind, and I¡¯m clocking overtime daily. ¡± Fearful of letting her down, Domenic continued, ¡°Today¡¯s a maybe. If I wrap up early, I¡¯lle home and whip up that tomato and beef brisket for you!¡± Lindsey¡¯s lips puckered at the other end. She wasn¡¯t the clingy type. When she heard Domenic¡¯s exnation, she yielded without grumbling. Meanwhile, guilt pricked at Domenic for not being there with her. ¡°If you get hungry, don¡¯t wait up. Late dinners can be a gut-wrencher, okay?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart fluttered as if touched by a feather. ¡°Fine. Juste back early when you¡¯re done¡­¡± Domenic agreed, and with a smile, he ended the call. Holding the phone, he stared out the window. If it weren¡¯t for his grandfather¡¯s vignt eye, he¡¯d be with Lindsey every day, all the time. Now, he danced around his grandfather¡¯s expectations, stealing moments to returnte at night. He needed something to dissuade his grandfather from pushing him toward marriage with Carole. As Domenic¡¯s car pulled into Walsh Manor, Jordan seemed prepared for his early return. He upied the living room sofa. Carole, ever caring, fetched a nket from the bedroom. Kneeling beside Jordan, she said quietly, ¡°Cover up. It¡¯s rather cold. Are your legs still acting up?¡± Jordan shook his head, praising her thoughtfulness. Domenic walked into this familial tableau. ¡°Why the early return today, Domenic?¡± Seeing hime in, Carole¡¯s eyes lit up in an instant. With a swift motion, she got up to remove the coat from his arm. However, before she could, Domenic forcefully flung his coat onto the couch, making a loud noise. When Jordan heard the noise, he opened his eyes and looked at Domenic. ¡°You seem to be consumed with anger. ¡± Chapter 765 ¡°Carole, please go upstairs to your room. ¡± Domenic was intent on having a private conversation with Jordan. ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing that Carole can¡¯t hear. She¡¯s your future wife and is entitled to know the truth about everything. ¡± Carole thus remained in the room. Domenic stood still for a few seconds as Jordan locked eyes with him quietly. Domenic no longer insisted that Carole leave the room and took his ce opposite Jordan on the sofa. He crossed his legs and ced his hands over his knees. His curious eyes were prating. ¡°Grandpa, did you see Emilio yesterday?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°As a matter of fact, I did. ¡± ¡°Do you really want him to leave the Vitality Group?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡± Jordan¡¯s blunt and sinct answers angered Domenic. Hot blood surged through his veins and he gripped the armrest tightly. ¡°Grandpa, I have invested one hundred percent of myself in doing whatever you¡¯ve wanted for years! I acquiesced in your n by cing spies around me. Why are you targeting the people close to me now? Do you really want me to be nothing more than a mere puppet? An obedient and useful puppet?¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Jordan flew into a rage. He struck the floor with his cane and pointed an using finger at Domenic. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare lose your temper with me!¡± Domenic stared fearlessly at him. ¡°Emilio is a loyal and devoted subordinate, and he is my good friend. He is extremely helpful and supportive. Why on earth do you want to let him go? Or did he do something to provoke you to take such drastic action?¡± ¡°Okay, let me educate you about what your good friend has done!¡± Jordan mmed a document showing the auction transaction record on the table.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Read it for yourself!¡± When Domenic saw the document, a frown painted his face. Domenic had vaguely guessed that his grandfather¡¯s dissatisfaction had something to do with that document. He picked up the document and perused through it. It was the transaction record of Blood of the Heart that he had bid for and had given to Lindsey in Emilio¡¯s name, ¡°Your so-called ¡®good friend¡¯ shares an inappropriate rtionship with his former employee. He even usedpany funds to purchase that woman an exorbitantly expensive ne!¡± Jordan¡¯s anger index increased as his face turned crimson. ¡°He transgressed so stealthily. Do you still think he is loyal to you?¡± Domenic was shocked that his grandpa had found out about the ne. Carole¡¯s worried look did not escape Domenic. He could not tell if she was involved. It turned out that Emilio was totally innocent and took the me for him. Emilio was prepared to tarnish his reputation in order to save his skin. Domenic tried to calm himself by closing his eyes and drawing a long breath. ¡°Emilio has always been a brilliant worker. Nobody doubts that. No matter what he has done, you cannot fire him. ¡± Jordan snorted. ¡°Although he is skilled at his job, his moralpass is questionable. You know that we have tons of talent in the Vitality Group waiting to be unlocked. You tend to get carried away with your sentimentality and unchecked emotions. No wonder he took advantage of you!¡± Chapter 766 ¡°I know about the ne,¡± said Domenic in a raw voice. ¡°You do?¡± Jordan was astonished. ¡°Emilio didn¡¯t embezzle thepany funds. I loaned him the money. I also knew what the money was earmarked for. ¡± Jordan stared at him in wide-eyed disbelief. ¡°Are you telling me that you lent him the money to chase after a woman?¡± ¡°Grandpa, this is my personal matter. I will take care of it. I know you care about me, but even so you should have discussed it with me in advance!¡± Domenic continued to look at Jordan, unblinking. He added in a determined tone, ¡°I will never dismiss Emilio. I¡¯m sorry, Grandpa. I cannot listen to you. ¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± It never urred to Jordan that his grandson, who had always been obedient to him, would suddenly be so defiant and choose his friend over him. Jordan began to tremble with anger. Carole quickly rubbed his back to settle his trembling and enable him to breathe more steadily. ¡°How dare you? You ungrateful brat!¡± How dare you challenge my decision? You are in charge of the Walsh Group. So you think I have no control over you? Well, think again!¡± Jordan¡¯s blood was boiling, not just from anger but disappointment simmered beneath the surface. Since he took Domenic under his wing, shielding him from his treacherous uncles who would have dly seen him meet an untimely demise, Jordan had yed the role of protector and caretaker. As Domenic matured, a rebellious streak emerged, and he openly defied Jordan. Buried beneath Jordan¡¯s ire was a sense of helplessness, a fear that his ability to control and safeguard Domenic was slipping away. After a brief, tense pause, Domenic managed to rein in his emotions. He realized his earlier words had cut deep into the old man. But as he pondered the kindness his grandfather had bestowed upon him since childhood, a softened demeanor reced his earlier defiance. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ll sort this out once I¡¯m back. Please cancel your order and let Emilio stay,¡± Domenic implored. Jordan furrowed his brow, eyes fixed on Domenic. Then, leaning back, a sly grin yed on his face as if he had an idea. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re dead set on Emilio staying, I¡¯ll be stubborn. But, my boy, I¡¯ve got a condition.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. A simple trade, you might say,¡± Jordan replied. Domenic knew swaying his grandfather wouldn¡¯t be a walk in the park. After a moment¡¯s contemtion, he nodded and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡± ¡°I want you to be engaged to Carole!¡± Jordan said with an air of finality. Domenic squinted, shooting a nce at Carole, who was perched beside his grandfather. Carole, wide-eyed with shock, pursed her lips and lowered her gaze. Trying to keep hisposure, Domenic spoke in a low voice. ¡°Grandpa, Carole and I go way back, but we¡¯ve been on separate paths for years. Rushing into an engagement seems a bit premature. It¡¯s too early for thatmitment. ¡± Carole felt let down. They had been friends since they were Little. She had saved his life, even though they had not seen one other in years. Had Domenic never considered being her partner? Why wouldn¡¯t Domenic agree to marry her? Was it because Lindsey was so much better than her? He refused to even give her a direct nce. Chapter 767 Carole, though disappointed, interjected, ¡°Mr. Walsh, it¡¯s too soon. I just got back, and Domenic and I need time to reconnect. If he finds someone else, I understand. He¡¯s a catch, and many women would be vying for his attention. He has the right to choose his partner. ¡± This only fueled Jordan¡¯s anger. mming his hand on the table, he erupted, ¡°He¡¯s the heir to the Walsh family, my favorite grandson! He can¡¯t choose a woman of questionable character. It¡¯s non-negotiable. Domenic, I will not watch you repeat your father¡¯s blunder; you will marry Carole!¡± It was clear that talking about his deceased firstborn made him sad. There was a faint trembling in his voice. Domenic sighed. ¡°Grandpa, I don¡¯t want to argue with you¡­¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Carole, sensing the tension, stepped in, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t make this a condition. I don¡¯t want to create strife between you and Domenic because of me¡­¡± Looking up at Domenic, she forced a smile. ¡°Domenic, please don¡¯t be mad at your grandpa. If you don¡¯t feel the same way about me, I¡¯ll move out. Your grandpa is lonely, and I just want to spend time with him. ¡± But Jordan was having none of it. mming his hand again, he retorted, ¡°I¡¯ll see who dares to kick you out! This manor is my territory, and I¡¯m the owner!¡± Domenic felt the futility of continuing the discussion. He wearily rubbed his nose. No matter Jordan¡¯s demands or threats, he couldn¡¯tmit to an engagement with Carole. His heart belonged to Lindsey, and that was non-negotiable. As Carole¡¯s considerate words failed to ease the tension, Jordan felt so agitated. He had carefully chosen a woman he deemed suitable for Domenic, who ticked all the right boxes. Yet, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he was pushing Domenic too hard, and it left him perplexed. In his eyes, Domenic was obstinate, blind to the family¡¯s best interests. ¡°You¡¯re turning down such a wonderful girl. She¡¯s understanding, loyal, andpletely devoted to you. What more could you want?¡± Jordan asked firmly. ¡°Think back. As a kid, you were trapped in the cer by your uncles. Without Carole¡¯s rescue, would you even be here today? How can you say you don¡¯t want to engage her?!¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Domenic hesitated, recalling her life-saving act. But saving him didn¡¯t obligate him to marry her! ¡°I¡¯ll always be grateful for her saving my life, but gratitude doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll marry her. I¡¯ll give her anything she asks for, help her in any way, but marrying her is out of the question,¡± Domenic said, his stance clear. Even though Carole had excellent qualities, in his heart, no one could rival Lindsey. Lindsey was intelligent, resilient, kind, and captivating. He admired everything about her and was charmed by her. He longed to care for her, protect her, shower her with the world¡¯s wonders, and be by her side forever. He had never felt this way about anyone else. Chapter 768 Growing up in the Walsh family, Domenic was seen as aplished and capable. But no one knew his inner struggles, his constraints, or that he felt everyone approached him for their gain. Only Lindsey had uttered thoseforting words, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll protect you,¡± when he was vulnerable, allowing him to let down his guard and be himself. It filled him with an unparalleled sense of warmth and sce. He had given her his heart, amitment he couldn¡¯t revoke. If his grandpa could set aside his preconceived notions, he¡¯d develop a fondness for Lindsey. Carole¡¯s face showed a fleeting sadness, yet she managed a smile. ¡°Domenic, I understand. My only wish is for you and your grandpa to be well and happy. My greatest aspiration is for your grandpa to enjoy a long life and for you to find someone you love and lead a joyous existence. ¡°As for me¡­ I¡¯ll manage,¡± Carole replied in a quivering voice. Bowing her head, she added, ¡°Mr. Walsh, please don¡¯t pressure Domenic. Forcing him to marry me won¡¯t make us happy. I implore you. For Domenic¡¯s happiness, I¡¯m ready to step aside and grant his desire!¡± ¡°Carole,¡± Jordan uttered with understanding in his voice. He grasped what was going through Carole¡¯s mind, and her selflessness for his grandson weighed heavily on him. Jordan gently patted Carole¡¯s hand and reassured her, ¡°Rtionships can develop with time. Besides, Domenic isn¡¯t seeing anyone at the moment. In my view, you¡¯re the most suitable match for him. ¡± Carole gazed at Domenic, tears brimming in her eyes. Jordan, sensing something amiss, looked at Domenic. ¡°You¡¯re refusing Carole because there¡¯s someone else you like? If that¡¯s the case, just be straightforward with me. Am I being overly demanding? I won¡¯t do anything to thatdy. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression darkened. Domenic understood that his grandpa was issuing a veiled threat. Despite the mild tone and unchanged expression, he recognized that the moment someone¡¯s name left his lips, his grandpa would ensure that person vanished without a trace. Throughout his childhood and into adulthood, any woman who had even the slightest contact with Domenic or was seen beside him would mysteriously disappear. At first, Domenic dismissed it as mere coincidence, but one day, he identally overheard his grandfather instructing his subordinates to eliminate a female ssmate with whom he had exchanged a few words. Young Domenic had been so frightened at that moment that he had tightly covered his mouth to stifle any scream. Hearing those chilling words from his usually kind-hearted grandpa had left him deeply unsettled. His emotions were a tangled mess, and he was unsure if, one day, he might meet the same fate if he disobeyed his grandfather.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. From that day on, he distanced himself from any interaction with women. It wasn¡¯t due to coldness but rather a desperate effort to prevent any girls from getting killed because of him. He was inherently kind, but kindness held no value in his grandfather¡¯s eyes. So, he resorted to adopting a facade of indifference and ruthlessness, a mask he wore for the sake of self-preservation. That was until Lindsey entered his life. He had been inadvertently drawn to her, approaching, pursuing, and helplessly falling in Love with her. He had contemted marrying her, but that would undoubtedly ignite his grandpa¡¯s wrath. The death of his father had made his grandpa deeply apprehensive of ordinary girls seeking to ascend to the upper echelons. Although Domenic had carved out his own domain in Morcastle, the real power of the Walsh Group still rested firmly in Jordan¡¯s hands. Jordan was domineering and influential, and his capabilities even surpassed Domenic¡¯s. If Jordan decided to confront Lindsey, Domenic wasn¡¯t confident he would be able to protect her. ¡°No,¡± Domenic firmly stated after a brief silence. The best way to protect Lindsey was to keep her existence hidden from them. Chapter 769 Upon hearing this, Jordan smiled and added, ¡°Since you don¡¯t have a girlfriend, you have to marry Carole. You¡¯re both young, and you have plenty of time to nurture your rtionship. Just listen to me, I won¡¯t harm you. ¡± Domenic said nothing in response. ¡°You have to get engaged to Carole. I¡¯m not here to discuss with you; I¡¯m here to inform you,¡± Jordan continued, his threat dripping slowly, Like venom. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t push me. ¡± Domenic raised his head and Looked straight into Jordan¡¯s eyes. His demeanor resembled that of a defiant wolf, and the air crackled with tension between them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll force Emilio to leave the Vitality Group,¡± Jordan sneered. ¡°But that¡¯s not all. I¡¯ll freeze all of his assets and publicly announce his embezzlement of public funds within the businessmunity. I guarantee that nopany will hire him in the future. I¡¯ll make him suffer both physically and mentally, ensuring he¡¯ll live in shame and humiliation!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic¡¯s fists clenched. He knew his grandfather would carry out his threats. Jordan had always been unrelenting. ¡°I¡¯ll give you five seconds to think it over. ¡± Jordan delivered his ultimatum and initiated the countdown. ¡°Five. ¡± In those precious seconds, Domenic recalled every moment he had spent with Lindsey. It was the first time he had experienced the warmth of another person, the sensation of love and being loved, genuine emotions, and the care he had never received before. While Jordan had been kind to him in a material sense, his generosity had beenrgely materialistic. Jordan had never been tightfisted when it came to providing material support and facilitating his education. He allocated millions of dors annually to ensure he received financial education and honed his socialmunication skills. However, Jordan rarely showed concern for his personal feelings. Most of the time, Jordan was preupied, immersed in dealing with documents at his office, handling the misdeeds of his sons, inquiring about Domenic¡¯s academic performance, and attending numerous meetings. Domenic had no one to share his school stories with. Only the maid would bring him Band-Aids when he was hurt. When he failed his exams, his grandfather¡¯s response was criticism and me, even though he himself was already upset and ming himself. But Lindsey cared about him. She took an interest in his workload, the time he returned home in the evening, what he had for Lunch, and whether he ate well. When he came homete at night, she would wake up to heat up the food for him. Lindsey thawed his cold heart, like a ray of sunlight piercing through the darkness. She genuinely cared for him, regardless of his family background. ¡°Four. ¡± At the same time, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but think of Emilio. Though sometimes mischievous, Emilio had never botched any of the tasks he¡¯d assigned him. For many years, Emilio had faithfully worked for him and managed the aftermath of his decisions. With Emilio around, Domenic always felt at ease. Emilio was among his rare true friends. They would unwind together during their off-hours. Now, Emilio had be the target of Jordan¡¯s ire for trying to help him. Of course, Domenic would never let his friend suffer on his behalf. This wasn¡¯t what a true friend would do. ¡°Three. ¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org His brother and his lover¡­ He refused to forsake either of them. ¡°Two. ¡± As for Carole, he had a good impression of her, possibly because she had once saved his Life. Chapter 770 She had told him she disliked the idea of arranged marriages, but it was obvious that she would have to marry him in the future. In that case¡­ ¡°One. ¡± Atst, Jordan finally heard the answer he had been waiting for. ¡°I agree to be engaged to Carole. ¡± ¡°On one condition. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes were cold and they fixed on Jordan with dead-set determination. ¡°Name it. ¡± Jordan narrowed his eyes. ¡°I want fifty percent of the shares of the Walsh Group,¡± Domenic answered, letting each word out slowly.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Jordan thought for a moment. ¡°Okay. But you have to be engaged to Carole first. ¡± ¡°Alright. ¡± There was a deep and indecipherable glint in Domenic¡¯s eyes. Jordan¡¯s demeanor visibly changed upon hearing Domenic¡¯s consent, his face clearing up into something warmer as he beamed with pleasure. ¡°I don¡¯t want to force you into anything, Domenic, but there are things that you have yet to understand. Everything I do is for your own good. You¡¯ll thank me one day for picking a virtuous wife for you. ¡± ¡°Mmmm,¡± Domenic replied nomittally, his face unreadable. ¡°How about next month? I¡¯ll pick a date for you two,¡± Jordan said with a smile. Upon hearing this, Carol¡¯s lips tightened into a stiff line. Frowning, she nced at Domenic, Looking at him with an innocent expression as she gave him a slight nod. Domenic stood up. ¡°I hope you keep your word after the engagement. ¡± Jordan looked up at him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will hand over the Walsh Group to you sooner orter. God knows you¡¯re the best option by far,pared with the rest of your uncles. They can¡¯t be trusted to take over thepany. You, on the other hand, have been trained for the position your whole life. As long as you do exactly as I say, thepany is as good as yours. But before that, I want to see you settle down first. Then, I¡¯ll trust you with the business. ¡± Jordan spoke with sincerity. A moment¡¯s silence passed, and Domenic nodded. The small gesture of eptance effectively eased Jordan¡¯s concerns, putting him in high spirits. He nced at the clock on the wall and called out to the cook in the kitchen, asking her to prepare Domenic¡¯s favorite dishes. Turning back to Domenic, he said, ¡°You came back early today. Let¡¯s spend some quality time and have dinner as a family together. ¡± Hearing the word ¡°family¡± delighted Carole, but she concealed her emotions. In her eyes, only a hint of expectation showed through. ¡°I still have something to deal with in thepany,¡± Domenic answered calmly. ¡°Maybe another time. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re busy all the time! When exactly would you be free?¡± Despite feeling a bit disappointed, Jordan did not insist on Domenic staying. He never interfered when it came to work. On the contrary, Jordan saw it as a good thing if Domenic spent more time on it. Domenic raised his eyes and nced at Carole, a gesture that Jordan caught sight of. Raising his eyebrow, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°Walk him out, Carole. ¡± Chapter 771 He believed Domenic and Carole should be given more time alone to deepen their rtionship. ¡°Okay,¡± Carole answered obediently, picking up Domenic¡¯s suit jacket. Domenic allowed her to assist in putting on and buttoning his coat this time, then softly stated, ¡°Let¡¯s go. ¡± Jordan smiled as he watched the two disappear out the door. In his eyes, the two had grown closer. He had a feeling that Domenic had feelings for Carole and was just refusing to admit it. The thought of Carole¡¯s grandfather came to him. The image of his deceased friend from the army made his eyes cloud with sadness. His old buddyy dying after saving his life and he had gripped his hands, entrusting his granddaughter to him with hisst breath. It was a memory that would forever remain vivid in Jordan¡¯s mind. Carole had not been fortunate with her lot in life. She had lost her parents early, and now she was all alone. Jordan owed his life to her grandfather. The least he could do was fulfill his old buddy¡¯sst wish by arranging for her and Domenic to be married. He had already nned to pass his position to Domenic as the head of thepany before his death. He wanted to make sure Domenic and Carole would leave a carefree life. The bright lights bathed thewn of the Walsh Manor in a warm glow. Domenic walked in the front, with Carole trailing closely behind him. She gazed at him quietly, unable to take her eyes off his tall, strong figure. Her eyes traced the wide slope of his shoulders and the elegant curve of his waist. It was taking a lot from her not to reveal her feelings for him, but all she wanted at that moment was to be enveloped in his arms. Carole told herself to get a grip. She would be his wife soon.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She believed that it would only be a matter of time before Domenic started to take notice of her. If she was patient, she would see his feelings blossom into love. Carole was willing to wait until that day arrived. As her thoughts raced, Domenic suddenly stopped and turned around to look at her. Carole was somewhat nervous, yet she couldn¡¯t let her excitement show. She had already painted a certain picture of herself for Domenic, and any abrupt shift in her demeanor might arouse suspicion. So, Carole adopted a look of distress, took a couple of steps forward, and positioned herself in front of Domenic. He had aforting scent of cedar and an aura that was both sharp and chilly, causing Carole to instinctively step back. Domenic looked down, keeping his silence. Carole stole a quick nce at him and, struggling slightly with her words, said, ¡°Domenic, it was aplete surprise to me when your grandpa mentioned the engagement out of the blue. He never hinted at it to me, and I was just as shocked. I¡¯ve been trying to talk him out of it, but he just won¡¯t listen. I understand you¡¯re not keen on this engagement, and frankly, I¡¯m not thrilled about my marriage being arranged either. We still have some time before the engagement party is supposed to happen, so I¡¯ll attempt to speak with him again. Perhaps he¡¯ll see reason and back down, not wanting to force this on you. I¡¯m sorry, Domenic, for putting you in this spot once more. ¡± Her words came from a ce of honesty, stirring a sense ofpassion. Chapter 772 Domenic held no grudges against her; being a Walsh, he knew all too well that such arranged matches were out of their hands. Yet, he pondered why his grandpa held Carole in such high regard, given her non-elite background. ¡°There¡¯s no need. ¡± Domenic stepped closer, his voice low and rich, oozing with a grown-up charm. Carole felt her cheeks warm, and her heart raced. She listened as he slowly said, ¡°Just so you¡¯re aware, Carole, we might have to proceed with the engagement, despite everything. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Carole¡¯s confusion was noticeable as she lifted her eyes to meet his. The words she had prepared crumbled away-she was utterly captivated by Domenic¡¯s statement and look. Could it be that Domenic had developed feelings for her? Had hee to realize that women like Lindsey were not suitable for him, and she was his true match? Was it possible he had recognized her worth over Lindsey¡¯s, changing his perspective? As these thoughts began to fill her head, Domenic¡¯s following statement abruptly snapped her back to reality. ¡°Once this ordeal is behind us, I¡¯ll make our situation clear. Your innocence and good name will remain intact. ¡± ¡°Once this ordeal is behind us? What do you mean?¡± Carole still hadn¡¯t fully caught on to what was unfolding. ¡°I¡¯ve got a proposition for you. ¡± Domenic fixed her with a steady gaze, his eyespelling but his words felt like a de piercing her heart. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend we¡¯re engaged for my grandpa¡¯s peace of mind. Once he feels secure enough to hand over the shares to me, I¡¯ll make a public announcement to clear your name. After that, you¡¯ll be free to live your life, and we won¡¯t have to bother with him anymore. You¡¯ll be free to find someone you truly love. ¡± Domenic¡¯s tone was earnest, believing Carole would be on board-after all, she had shown no interest in him and had voiced her yearning for freedom, hadn¡¯t she? ¡°Besides, I don¡¯t intend for you toe out of this empty-handed. I¡¯ll provide you with financial help so you¡¯ll have nothing to worry about for the rest of your life. And should any troublee your way in the future, count on me to back you up. ¡± His goal was to gain fifty percent of the Walsh Group¡¯s shares, securing his spot as the top shareholder and, effectively, the next in line to lead the Walsh Group, straight from Jordan. With real authority, he¡¯d be able to confront his uncles, sever ties with Carole gracefully, and eventually, marry Lindsey, granting her the recognition she deserves. Domenic didn¡¯t notice the gradual dimming of Carole¡¯s eyes. So, this had been his n all along; was that why he seemed so agreeable? Was her role and their engagement merely a stepping stone towards securing the Walsh Group¡¯s shares? The realization was like a thousand of needles to Carole¡¯s heart, leaving her mute with sorrow. From a young age, Carole had harbored deep affection for Domenic, admiring his brilliance and charm. To prove herself worthy of him, she pushed herself harder and braved more challenges than anyone else. She wasn¡¯t afraid of exhaustion or challenges; she was ready to face them all for Domenic. What truly scared her was the thought of her love not being reciprocated. Her deepest fear was the possibility of not bing Domenic¡¯s wife. Otherwise, why would she have kept trying for so long? ¡°Carole?¡± Pulled back to reality by the sound of her name, Carole found Domenic looking at her with concern. ¡°Is everything alright? Aren¡¯t you willing to proceed?¡± Carole suddenly snapped back to reality, realizing she had been lost in thought. She quickly dismissed her distraction with a wave. ¡°0h, no.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. I was just caught up in some work stuff. My apologies. ¡± Chapter 773 Domenic¡¯s tone grew more serious. ¡°You¡¯re an incredible woman. There¡¯s someone out there who¡¯s a better match for you, someone who will love you deeply. ¡± Carole fought back the hurt welling up inside. Turning down Domenic¡¯s offer now would only anger him and undo the bond she¡¯d carefully built. So, she chose to ept, for the time being. She was uncertain about his feelings towards Lindsey, and whether he might take drastic steps against Jordan because of Lindsey remained a question. A rift between them would render her efforts pointless. Believing she could make a pretend engagement real, Carole felt confident she could secure the situation in time. Once everything was in ce, Domenic wouldn¡¯t be able to back out. With that n in mind, Carole forced a cheerful response. ¡°Okay, Domenic, let¡¯s go with your n. ¡± Domenic exhaled a sigh of relief, appreciating her agreement. ¡°Thank you, Carole. We¡¯ll need to make our act convincing. Now, you should head back. ¡± Hendrix pulled up with the car, but Carole hesitated to leave. As Domenic was about to climb into the car, Carole called out his name. He paused, expecting her to continue. The evening was cold, particrly on the grassy expanse, and Carole shivered as the wind picked up. Her voice sounded rough to her ears as she asked, ¡°Domenic, is there someone you care for?¡± Domenic remained silent. The chilly breeze lingered between them, and Carole managed a weak smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I won¡¯t mention it to your grandpa. I¡¯m just wondering if someone as remarkable as you has someone special. ¡± Domenic offered a slight, mysterious smile. ¡°Carole, when you find the person you truly love, you¡¯ll know. For me, in this life, she¡¯s the only one who matters. ¡± It was clear, Domenic was deeply in love with someone else. Feeling her heart drop, Carole hugged herself, struggling to keep herposure.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I see, Domenic. I hope you find happiness. ¡± Domenic gave a courteous nod. ¡°And you as well. ¡± As Domenic¡¯s car drove away from the Walsh Manor, Carole remained still for a long time before finally sitting down, hugging her knees to her chest. Eventually, she let her emotions flow freely, crying out. All her efforts over the years seemed futile? Domenic had never truly seen her. She had once fooled herself into thinking he had no interest in romance, but his confession of love for another shattered that illusion. Carole¡¯s heart ached unbearably, the feeling almost too much to bear. Yet, her resolve hardened. Chapter 774 She couldn¡¯t fathom what methods the other woman had used to captivate Domenic sopletely. She must have been utterly unprincipled! In Carole¡¯s eyes, Domenic said as if he would only love Lindsey for his life, oblivious to the fact that Carole had chosen him as her life partner. She was firm in her belief that Domenic was meant to be hers and was ready to fight for him, whatever it took. Back at his office, Domenic wasted no time in contacting Arturo, who was abroad on business. Arturo had been away for weeks, working on expanding thepany¡¯s reach internationally. He greeted Domenic cheerfully upon answering. ¡°Domenic, what¡¯s up? What brings me the pleasure of your call?¡± As Domenic flipped through meeting notes, he asked, ¡°How¡¯s our international expansion going? What¡¯s the current situation?¡± Full of enthusiasm, Arturo couldn¡¯t contain his excitement. ¡°You owe me big time, Domenic. I¡¯ve been on this non-stop, day in, day out. I¡¯m practically running on fumes here¡­¡± Growing impatient, Domenic tapped his desk, urging, ¡°Focus on the oue, Arturo. What¡¯s the verdict?¡± Arturo, though slightly annoyed, couldn¡¯t resist sharing the good news. ¡°We¡¯re making remarkable strides. We¡¯ve secured strategic alliances with several key economies. It¡¯s as if the Vitality Group has nearly cornered the market. ¡± Then, recalling another detail, Arturo chuckled mischievously. ¡°And your uncles? We¡¯vepletely outmaneuvered them. They¡¯re trying to undercut us with a price war, hoping to poach our clients¡­¡± Domenic listened, a rare smile breaking through as Arturo painted a vivid picture of their triumphs. Curious, he mentioned, ¡°Your uncle Rupert has been unusually quiet on the international front. It seems he¡¯s not prioritizing it, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Domenic¡¯sughter had a cold edge. His uncle Rupert was always scheming, and only time would reveal his next move. ying with a golden pen, Domenic pondered. ¡°The fish is on the hook, prepare to reel it in. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s our next move?¡± Arturo asked, signaling his team to get back to work. Domenic spoke in a hushed tone, sharing his ns.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Arturo was taken aback by the severity of his friend¡¯s intentions. ¡°You¡¯re going that hard on your own uncles?¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze turned sharp, his voice chilling. ¡°Remember what they put me through as a kid?¡± Arturo knew all too well. They had grown up together, and he was all too familiar with the contempt, neglect, and outright hostility Domenic had endured when he was young. It was an offhand remark that didn¡¯t take Domenic¡¯s feelings into ount. Realizing his mistake, Arturo quickly made amends. ¡°My bad, my bad. They¡¯ve got iting. ¡± Chapter 775 Domenic wasn¡¯t truly upset and ended the call. With his ns set in motion, Domenic felt a wave of relief. He was close to securing the Walsh Group¡¯s shares to bring his uncles to heel. Then, nothing would stand in the way of his union with Lindsey. A joyful wedding awaited them, with everyone as witnesses. He hoped Lindsey would forgive the secrets and schemes along the way, trusting in her understanding. As Domenic thought about Lindsey waiting for him at home, his heart grew tender. He left Hendrix with a few easy tasks because he wanted to spend time with his girlfriend. Holding the top-notch beef and tomatoes Hendrix had picked out, Domenic walked out of the office, smiling softly. Being around Lindsey, he felt a strong desire to start a family. Herpany brought him to life, letting him fully embrace the joy of being with someone. When he got home, the ce was empty. The light was on in their cozy bedroom, yet Lindsey was nowhere to be seen. Her coats were still there, suggesting she hadn¡¯t gone too far. Even though Domenic guessed Lindsey might have stepped out to grab a delivery, he couldn¡¯t shake off his concern and decided to call her. As soon as she answered, he heard the beep of a mobile payment in the background, then Lindsey¡¯s voice. ¡°You¡¯re home? I¡¯m just at the supermarket nearby, grabbing a few things. I¡¯ll be home in no time!¡± Hearing her voice, Domenicughed, letting go of the stress his grandfather had caused him. He teased, with a yful tone of disappointment, ¡°Weren¡¯t you looking forward to my tomato beef stew tonight? I went out of my way to get beef and tomatoes for it, but it seems someone¡¯s not here to enjoy it¡­¡± ¡°Is that so? And here I was thinking you had ns without me again tonight!¡± Lindsey,den with shopping bags, couldn¡¯t hide her excitement at the news of Domenic¡¯s return. ¡°Did you wrap everything up at work?¡± Domenic felt a rush of warmth. Lindsey was so caring and considerate. Resting against the shoe rack at the entrance, Domenic replied softly, ¡°The boss decided to head out early to be with his wife, and he kindly asked me to do the same. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned pink immediately. She felt as if she was floating on a cloud of marshmallow, overwhelmed by its sweetness. ¡°Last time, you said you¡¯d show me how to cook.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. What about doing that today? You rx, and I¡¯ll run back to buy some extra veggies!¡± With Domenic¡¯s packed schedule, it was hard to say when they¡¯d get another opportunity. Shortly after, the gentle sound of the door announced Lindsey¡¯s return. She stood there, not in a coat, but in a soft yellow pajama top, looking as sweet as a little dessert. ¡°I¡¯ve picked up a bunch of vegetables. You have to share all your cooking tips with me today. That way, I can make dinner for you whenever I finish work early!¡± Domenic felt deeply touched by her gesture. He reached out to embrace Lindsey, but in a sh, she darted towards the kitchen, yfully calling out, ¡°Come on. I¡¯ll start with the veggies. ¡± Chapter 776 Left holding nothing, Domenic just shook his head, amused. Domenic slipped into a light gray, fluffy nightgown Lindsey had just pulled from the dryer today. It still smelled like the fresh scent ofundry soap, a smell that made him feel rxed and right at home. As he entered the kitchen, he found Lindsey had already prepared the beef and had the tomatoes washed and sliced. Seeing him, she turned with a sweet smile and said, ¡°You know, I¡¯ve picked up a few skillstely. I won¡¯t be as clumsy with the cooking as I was before. Seasoning, though, still isn¡¯t my strong suit. Domenic rolled up his sleeves, took the knife from Lindsey¡¯s hand, and set it on the table. Then, gently nudging her aside, he said, ¡°Let me handle the beef. Keep your distance. You don¡¯t want to get cut. ¡± Lindsey made a face and teased, ¡°You said you¡¯d teach me how to cook today. Why are you doing everything yourself again, treating me Like a kid? I did manage to cut the tomatoes, see?¡± Domenic gave the tomatoes a quick look and nodded without much attention. Cutting beef was trickier than slicing tomatoes, and he didn¡¯t want Lindsey to injure herself. In response, Lindsey yfully pinched his waist. Domenic, however, wasn¡¯t about to back down. Using his height and strength, he caught her slender wrists with one hand and tickled her with the other. She squirmed and tried to escape the tickling, eventually taking refuge in his embrace. Seizing the moment, Domenic wrapped his arms around her waist, Leaned in close to her neck, and took in the scent of her skin, letting it fill his senses. Lindsey¡¯s voice trembled as she tried to push him away, her efforts proving futile against his much greater strength. Despite her resistance, he only held her tighter, as if challenging her attempts to escape. Left with no other option, Lindsey ceased her struggles, allowing him to nt kisses from her corbone up to her chin. His fingers, long and cool, brushed her lips tenderly. With a rough voice, he murmured, ¡°I tried to hug you earlier. You darted off so quickly, just like a little rabbit. You¡¯re not getting away now, are you?¡± A flush crept over Lindsey¡¯s cheeks, yet she stood her ground, managing to shove him back. She asserted, ¡°It¡¯s time to start cooking. This isn¡¯t the time to be thinking about such things!¡± Domenic, after a moment of gazing at her flushed face, finally released her from his embrace, though reluctantly. ¡°Fine, have it your way,¡± he said with a hint of disappointment, then turned to slice the beef, making no rush of it. The night was still young, after all! Lindsey followed Domenic¡¯s instructions and put some cold water in the wok. Then, she started adding vegetables as he shared some cooking tips. She listened intently, nodding. Perhaps because it was warm in the kitchen, she loosened a few buttons of her pajamas. This made her figure slightly visible as she moved next to Domenic. It was hard for him not to notice her, and he found himself feeling a bit distracted, swallowing nervously. Doing his best to keep his focus, Domenic bent down to pick out some ingredients. He noticed only tomatoes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention liking potatoes in this? I don¡¯t see any. ¡± Only then did Lindsey remember she had peeled the potatoes before Domenic entered the kitchen. She hadn¡¯t had a chance to chop them. Quickly, she fetched the cleaned potatoes from the sink and said, ¡°Let me handle the chopping.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Holding a potato, Lindsey was eager to try. Domenic watched her with concern and cautioned, ¡°Be careful. ¡± The potato was slippery, and just as Lindsey was about to cut it on the chopping board, she felt Domenic¡¯s warm embrace from behind. Domenic was hesitant to let her cut the potato alone but didn¡¯t want to discourage her. So, he gently wrapped his arms around her and guided her hand holding the knife. ¡°I¡¯ll cut with you. ¡± Chapter 777 His voice, low and close, warmed Lindsey from behind. She felt her body soften in his embrace and murmured, slightly dazed, ¡°Okay. ¡± Hisrge hand providedfort, and the warmth of his breath on her neck sent her heart racing. Together, they carefully chopped the potatoes into pieces. Lindsey quickly stepped out of Domenic¡¯s hold, her cheeks flushed bright red, yet she tried to appearposed as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°We¡¯ve got the ingredients ready. Let¡¯s move on to the next step. ¡± Domenic couldn¡¯t help butugh at her reaction. He then patiently showed her what to do next, adding a verbal exnation to each step.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lindsey paid close attention,mitting his advice to memory. Lindsey arranged all the ingredients herself, confident under Domenic¡¯s watchful eye that she wouldn¡¯t mess up. Once everything was prepared, they only had to wait half an hour for the dish to be ready! After setting the timer, Domenic suddenly spun Lindsey around and backed her up against the wardrobe. ¡°I¡¯ve shared all my culinary secrets with you. Don¡¯t you think you owe me a little something for the lesson?¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed delicately, but she didn¡¯t push back against Domenic¡¯s enthusiastic advances. In response, she blinked her clear eyes, casting a flirtatious nce at him. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring it up earlier? It feels like a form of extortion!¡± ¡°I was worried you might lose interest if I told you early. ¡± Domenic wrapped his arms around her slim waist, his desire burning. Then he kissed her passionately without dy. It had been a while since they had been together for such a prolonged period, and their shared longing couldn¡¯t be restrained any longer. Before long, sumbing to his persistent advances, Lindsey yielded, wrapping her arms around his sturdy neck as they shared a lingering kiss. Maybe ovee by emotion, Domenic¡¯s demeanor transitioned from gentle to slightly assertive. He firmly held her hands, pressing them against the cupboard behind her. Meanwhile, his other hand supported the back of her head to avoid any impact with the cupboard. In the silent room, the sounds of their kisses and deep breaths were unmistakable to Lindsey, deepening the already-present blush on her face. ¡°You missed me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Domenic whispered hoarsely, feeling her body rx and observing her dazed look. He lightly squeezed her waist, asking, ¡°Tell me, did you miss me?¡± ¡°Yes, I missed you terribly. I can¡¯t stop thinking about you when you¡¯re not here,¡± Lindsey confessed in a trembling voice. Her slender legs felt weak. Since she was a head shorter than Domenic, she was lifted off the floor, barely touching it with her toes. He continued to passionately kiss her, leaving Lindsey breathless and surrendering to him, closing her eyes as he deepened the kiss. After an extended kiss, Domenic finally let go of her lips, burying his head on her breasts. His voice took on a seductive tone as he whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t move. ¡± Lindsey obediently stayed still. Her delicate skin blushed in response to Domenic¡¯s gentle bite on her corbone, a faint redness appearing. His hoarse voice dered, ¡°You¡¯re mine, and this is the evidence. ¡± Lindsey felt a slight twinge of pain as he nibbled on her corbone but didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, she held onto Domenic¡¯s shoulders, pulled apart the cor of his pajamas, and bit him in return. Domenic hissed, a bite mark appearing on his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll leave my mark on you as well, so other girls know to keep their distance,¡± Lindsey dered, defiantly meeting his gaze. Chapter 778 Domenic¡¯s eyes darkened as he quickly turned off the gas stove. Before Lindsey could react, he effortlessly scooped her up, holding her horizontally. ¡°The food isn¡¯t ready yet. Perhaps we could wait a little longer. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face was flushed, and her dark eyes timidly met his gaze. Domenic¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he spoke. ¡°With you tempting me Like this, I can¡¯t hold back any longer.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org We¡¯ll have plenty of chances to cook together in the future, but for now, I just want you. ¡± Leaning against him, Lindsey remained silent, her lips pressed together. It had been a while since they had been intimate, and both had reached their breaking points. Observing her flushed and overheated state, Domenic chuckled and lifted Lindsey towards the bedroom. Consequently, Lindsey missed out on tasting Domenic¡¯s tomato beef stew; she was fatigued and drifted into a deep slumber. The following morning, as Lindsey woke up to change clothes, she noticed marks scattered across her body. She swiftly selected an outfit that offered coverage to put on. Upon leaving, she encountered the table adorned with the aromatic tomato beef stew. Domenic must have risen early to prepare it for her before departing for work. Lindsey experienced a blend of disappointment and gratitude. Following breakfast, she departed for the office as well. The full recording of the episode of the show, along with the crew¡¯s apology, swiftly went viral online. The individuals implicated-Sumner, Xiomara, and Sh-gained widespread attention after being absolved of false allegations. Due to Sumner¡¯s and Xiomara¡¯s excellent professional skills and recent incidents, they swiftly attracted many online fans. Their sole appearance on ¡°Star Search¡± also generated substantial interest, making it the most-watched show and dominating the entertainment charts. Sumner, in particr, with his features and heartfelt performances, swiftly attracted a loyal fanbase, sparking the creation of fan clubs. His fame soon matched that of top male celebrities. Many noted Sumner¡¯s resemnce to the beloved singer Everleigh, dubbing him the ¡°Male Version of Everleigh¡±. Thisparison delighted Everleigh¡¯s fans, drawing in admirers from previous generations. Sumner¡¯s poprity soared, winning over fans ranging from middle- ageddies to young teenagers. He even captured the hearts of numerous children. His ount was brimming with praise, and many supportive slogans had surfaced. Given that Sumner was his name, his fans endearingly called to themselves as ¡°Summer¡±. Some fans reached out to his management, urging them to look after him with care. Responding to the buzz, thepany quickly assigned him a personal assistant and a dedicated makeup artist. They held a meeting to strategize his promotion, with Lindsey selecting high-profile brand deals for him. Dedicated fans had been ying his cover song on big screens across various ces, and it was even showcased inmercial squares, leaving people astonished by the financial might of his fan base. Today, the Lawson Group, one of the four major yers with strength just below the Walsh Group, saw its leader, Brady, apanying his wife, Rachel, on a shopping trip to the mall. Despite entering middle age, Brady¡¯s features retained their refinement, still possessing the youthful handsomeness of his earlier years. Consistent workouts kept his physique in shape, radiating a mature man¡¯s distinct charm when he donned a suit. Even the shop assistants couldn¡¯t resist sneaking a few nces his way. Sitting by the fitting room, he disyed a hint of impatience. He reached up to loosen his necktie and checked his wristwatch. Chapter 779 Meanwhile, Rachel was still inside the fitting room trying on clothes, and he didn¡¯t have hisptop. The pile of unfinished work weighed on him, causing a headache. To keep things harmonious on the surface, he had to make regr shopping trips with his wife and apany her to flower arranging sses. Out of the blue, a recognizable tune reached his ears. Brady promptly rose from his seat and began to wander around, tracking down the source of the sound. Finally, his eyes settled on the massive screen on the first floor. A man, head bowed, deeply engrossed in singing-a rendition of Everleigh¡¯s song, her breakthrough hit, ¡°Starlight¡±. ¡°Starlight¡± was the song Everleigh had crafted to express her emotions to him openly. Brady¡¯s heart stirred, and slowly but surely, ripples started to form in his long-dormant heart. The images of that youngdy staying upte to revise lyrics and melodies remained vivid. Out of the blue, the moment she handed him the newly released album yed back before his eyes. Suddenly, the man singing on the screen raised his gaze and those eyes¡­ Those eyes bore a striking resemnce to Everleigh from his memories! Two young girls who happened to walk by took out their phones to snap pictures, with one of them gushing about how handsome Sumner Looked. Brady suddenly realized ¡ª the performer was Sumner. It had been some time since hest saw him, and the resemnce to his mother was growing stronger, including his inherited musical talent. Reflecting on his son, who had grown up away from him, Brady was proud to see that Sumner had not only stayed on amendable path but had also achieved remarkable sess, attributing it to Everleigh¡¯s excellent genes. Emerging from the dressing room to find Brady absent without warning, Rachel was momentarily confused.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. A helpful saleswoman told her Brady was over by the viewing area. As Rachel neared, she too caught the soulful singing. But Brady engrossed in the song, remained unaware of her arrival, which irked her. She couldn¡¯t help but let out a disdainful hum. Snapping back to reality, Brady quickly faced her, his earlier frustration gone, now reced with a warm smile. ¡°Have you finished trying on? This outfit suits you well; it really matches your style. ¡± Met with Rachel¡¯s scornful look as she tossed the garments at him, disregarding his praise, she nced at therge screen and scoffed, ¡°So captivated by Everleigh¡¯s song, are you missing that bitch again? Brady, will you ever let her go?¡± The marriage entered into between the Lawson And Walsh families was strictly a business arrangement. Rachel knew even before marrying Brady that he already had a beloved woman upying a substantial space in his heart. Rachel¡¯s heart eclipsed. Although Everleigh had already passed away, she could not stomach the fact that her husband still nurtured another woman in his heart! Brady was afraid that she would notice the big screen and sense something, so he cleverly maneuvered her in the opposite direction. Then he attempted to shrewdly defend himself. ¡°How could it be? I just came over leisurely for a breath of fresh air. Honestly speaking, if you had not mentioned it, I wouldn¡¯t have noticed it at all. Are you jealous?¡± Brady grasped Rachel¡¯s hand but she shook him off and dered sarcastically, ¡°You can think about whoever you want. As the head of the Lawson Group, you are privileged to have as many affairs outside as you choose. You just taking time to apany me, the aging and fading Mrs. Lawson, is in itselfmendable. ¡± Brady took no offence. He smiled and joked, ¡°You are my one and only legitimate wife! Thedy of the Lawson family. Apart from you, no other woman can catch my eye. ¡± Brady had a unique way of making people feel at ease. After a bit of gentle cajoling, Rachel lost her aloofness and became happier. She allowed the salesperson to take him to the fitting room to try on the suit she had chosen for him. Chapter 780 Once Brady left, the happy smile from Rachel¡¯s face frittered away. She returned to the spot where Brady had stood and looked down at the big screen. The video from earlier was reying. The man on the screen seemed familiar. She recognized those features, those haunting eyes and arched eyebrows. Where had she seen them before? After leaving the mall, Brady took Rachel to a ssy jewelry store and purchased several items of beautiful jewelry for her. This extravagant gesture was enough to cheer Rachel up again. It was already dusk when they left the jewelry store. Rachel Lightly massaged her temples and Brady immediately asked out of genuine concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is that headache nagging you again?¡± Rachel nodded, and Brady promptly started massaging her temples. Rachel¡¯s headaches were a chronic condition exacerbated by long-term insomnia syndrome. Despite Brady¡¯s best efforts to secure the most effective medicines for her, the root cause persisted. ¡°We¡¯re home. Let Dr. Santos take a look at you. Will that make you feel better?¡± Brady¡¯s tone was kind and considerate. Rachel stole a silent nce at Brady. This man was so thoughtful and caring. He always treated her so well. The only fault she could find with him was that his heart still belonged to a woman from his past. That woman remained a thorn in Rachel¡¯s fragile heart. She remembered the insurmountable sorrow in Brady¡¯s eyes when he learned about Everleigh¡¯s suicide. He was inconsble. There was no way that he could hide his pain. Rachel had once caught Brady crying alone on the balcony around midnight. She had never seen him crying before. Even during the most stressful times that the Lawson Group faced, or even when his father died, he didn¡¯t sob so bitterly. But he shed copious tears for that woman. ¡®s BunnyBookery The very thought shot a dull pain through her chest. She was once the proud and pretty Miss Walsh. There was nothing that she was short of. She had everything that her heart could ever desire. But one thing still gued her. She could never be certain about Brady¡¯s feelings for her. Did he love her? Did his love for that woman surpass all his feelings for her? Dr. Santos was already waiting for them at the Lawson residence. Brady helped his wife lie down and the doctor began massaging her head. Brady instructed a maid to light a special calming incense stick for Rachel. It had been solely developed for her by an international hospital to meet her needs. Over the years, she had be highly reliant on this incense stick to help her sleep. The doctor¡¯s skilful massage gradually relieved Rachel¡¯s headache and coupled with the scent from the incense stick, she began to feel sleepy. The doctor issued a few instructions before leaving. Brady had the butler show him out as he wanted to remain with Rachel. Rachel, in a semi-daze, sensed Brady sitting next to her.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. He patted her hand gently and said, ¡°Go to sleep now. You will feel a lot better when you wake up. ¡± Rachel was feeling a little distressed and was ovee by emotion. She held Brady¡¯s hand and said in a choked voice, ¡°Brady. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Brady replied with extra tenderness. ¡°Brady, do you me me? For so many years I haven¡¯t borne a child. I have disappointed you. Brady, what will we do if you have no heirs?¡± Chapter 781 Brady gently stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Rachel. It is not your fault. There is a simple solution. We can adopt a child from a very young age. When the time is right, you can choose a child you like and we will raise the child as our own. Ites to the same thing. Furthermore, the process of giving birth is so painful. We can avoid all that. I can¡¯t bear to see you suffer. ¡± Brady¡¯s words had a soothing effect on her. She was greatly moved. She felt reassured andforted so fell asleep peacefully. Once Rachel fell asleep, Brady stood up and quietly left the room. ¡®s BunnyBookery After closing the door, he dropped his facade. The maid approached him discreetly and informed him that there were not many calming incense sticks left. Brady frowned. ¡°Make a call to the hospital and order more. She¡¯s used to this fragrance; it would be terrible if she is deprived of it. ¡± The maid smiled. ¡°Mrs. Lawson is indeed very fortunate. ¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org The so-called calming incense sticks, in actual fact, their primary purpose was to induce infertility in women. He had no emotional connection with Rachel. He merely used her to get the power and position he wanted. How could he allow a woman he did not love to bear his child? Besides, he already had Sumner. Sumner would be Brady¡¯s only child, destined to be his primary heir in the future. After he defeated the Walsh family and assumed leadership of the four prominent families, unburdened by constraints, he nned to bring Sumner back immediately. A divorce from Rachel would soon follow, absolving Everleigh¡¯s tarnished name. His son would no longer be shackled with the stigma of illegitimacy. He was almost there and just needed a bit more patience. Meanwhile, Jordan was seated at the center of the sofa, with Domenic and Carole nking him on either side. Jordan had a cheerful expression as he consulted an almanac to find an auspicious day for their engagement. After jotting down some dates, Jordan handed the almanac to Domenic, sayin ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ve gone through it. These dates are all propitious for your engagement party. You choose. ¡± ¡°Any date is fine with me. ¡± Despite his words, Domenic took the almanac, nced cursorily, and then casually pointed to a date before passing it on to Carole. Carole smiled as she epted it. Jordan watched them with satisfaction, d to see their strong rapport and the positive evolution of their rtionship. With the engagement party scheduled for a weekter, Jordan¡¯s eyes twinkled with anticipation. He sought their input on the engagement arrangements, including the venue andyout. Carole, feigning shyness, shot Domenic a sidelong nce and said, ¡°Domenic can decide on that. ¡± ¡°Carole and I have talked about it,¡± Domenic said, subtly signaling to Carole with his eyes. She immediately understood and nodded in agreement. ¡°We both think we should keep it low-key, especially since Carole just made her public debut after appearing on a variety show. At this juncture, a high-profile engagement between Carole and myself might attract media attention, which could negatively affect Carole and our family. Had Carole not been privy to the phony engagement between herself and Domenic, she would have thought that he was sincerely considering her situation and the well-being of the Walsh family. But in reality, Domenic was trying to protect his genuine love from harm or distress. Chapter 782 ¡°I think it¡¯s best to keep the engagement party as discreet as possible and hold off on notifying the media for now. ¡± After taking a moment to contemte, Jordan concurred with Domenic¡¯s suggestion and nced sympathetically at Carole. ¡°Apologies for any inconvenience, Carole. ¡± Carole shook her head, disying understanding. ¡°Never mind. I¡¯m fortunate to be marrying a man as wonderful as Domenic. ¡± Jordan¡¯s face lit up with a smile as he reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my dear, this engagement will have to be like this now. But when it¡¯s time for the wedding, I will oversee everything and ensure you have a magnificent ceremony. ¡± Carole forced a smile for Jordan, yet inside, she felt a profound sense of emptiness. She knew that Domenic had never seriously considered marrying her. Lindnita Artists Agency experienced its busiest month since its opening. Job offers for Sumner, Xiomara, and Sh inundated the agency. From early morning, Lindsey and Nancy toiled tirelessly, working non-stop until 2 o¡¯clock in the afternoon. New emails kept flooding in, and Lindsey¡¯s phone rang off the hook, nearly in a perpetual busy tone. Lindsey and Nancy exchanged a weary nce, finally grasping the gratification of being t out. Sh possessed a keen sense of self-assessment. Invitations for various variety shows and movie coborations, deemed suitable by Lindsey, were forwarded directly to her for personal consideration. As for Xiomara, despite enticing offers for lead roles in web dramas and supporting roles in some new movies, Lindsey declined them all after thorough deliberation. Recognizing Xiomara¡¯s recent debut and needing to hone her acting skills, Lindsey prioritized careful progression over hasty sess, which could be counterproductive. Xiomara grasped Lindsey¡¯s intentions and dutifullyplied with her guidance. She devoted herself to preparing for the uingpetition, quietly perfecting her acting skills, and regrly seeking counsel from Sh. Sumner was even more sought after than the others. The majority of the unread emails were rted to him. Numerous recordpanies and advertising agencies reached out, extending offers. At the same time, film and televisionpanies also made contact, expressing keen interest in involving Sumner in their projects. Nancy rubbed her temples, feeling the throbbing pain, and moved her chair next to Lindsey. Her voice sounded worn out as she asked, ¡°How many more do you have left?¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡®s BunnyBookery Equally exhausted, Lindsey nced at the persistent red dots on her screen and sighed deeply. Finally, after dealing with the essential matters, the two retreated to a shopping mall. They shut off the social media app and took the rest of the day off. Lindsey dragged Nancy to the men¡¯s clothing section on the second floor. ¡°The weather¡¯s getting colder, and my boyfriend seems short on warm clothes. You¡¯ve got good taste. Help me pick out a few things for him. ¡± Nancy, tugged along, rolled her eyes and said, ¡°Okay, okay, can we not rub it in for us single people? Just got out of work and now I have to deal with all this mushy stuff. Really?¡± Despite herints, she went ahead and started choosing clothes for Domenic. Lindsey, knowing Nancy was all bark but no bite, simply smiled and kept quiet. Then, her phone buzzed with a new message on her private phone number. Thinking it might be Domenic, she quickly checked her phone. But the name on the screen made Lindsey frown. It was Carole. Carole¡¯s message was brief. ¡°Lindsey, my engagement party is next Tuesday. You¡¯re invited. ¡± Lindsey felt a hint of surprise. Carole was getting married? She wondered who could be a match for such a remarkable woman. Though puzzled by the invitation since their paths had crossed just once, Lindsey feltpelled to go and typed out a heartfelt reply to congratte her and confirm her presence. Chapter 783 Just as she was about to send it, Nancy peered over. ¡°Who¡¯s got you so focused? I¡¯ve been trying to get your attention. ¡± Lindsey showed her the phone screen, and Nancy eximed, reading the name, ¡°Carole Larson¡­ the judge from Star Search?¡± Lindsey nodded in agreement. ¡°Yeah, but we¡¯re not really close; we¡¯ve only had a brief chat or two. ¡± Nancy let out a huff, ¡°Not close, and she still invites you? Sounds like she¡¯s just trying to show off, probably married into money. ¡± Lindsey offered a different perspective. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that about her. She¡¯s always seemed fair and straightforward in her opinions in the show. Plus, she¡¯s rted to Domenic, even if it¡¯s just as a distant rtive. Though, it doesn¡¯t seem like he is all that close to her either. ¡± Nancy, unimpressed, pulled her towards a women¡¯s clothing store. ¡°Let¡¯s get you something fabulous to wear. You¡¯re going to be the highlight of that engagement party!¡± Lindsey was bewildered by Nancy¡¯s leap in logic. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go overboard; it¡¯s her day, not mine. I shouldn¡¯t steal the spotlight. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re missing the point! She¡¯s rted to Domenic; his family will be there. Even if they don¡¯t know you now, you and Domenic are bound to be seen together sooner orter. You have to leave a good impression on them.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Imagine if someone remembers you looking less than your best?¡± Nancy¡¯s argument made Lindsey reconsider. She didn¡¯t want to embarrass herself in front of Domenic¡¯s family. Seeing the sense in Nancy¡¯s argument, Lindsey relented. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s check it out. ¡± The array of clothing in the women¡¯s section was daunting to Lindsey, but Nancy moved through the racks with ease, picking out clothes with a keen eye. ¡°Look at this one, it¡¯s perfect¡­ Hmm¡­ This one would really bring out your skin tone¡­ And you have to try this one, it¡¯ll show off your shape beautifully!¡± After trying on many outfits, Lindsey was exhausted, while Nancy, full of energy, held a bunch of clothes without any sign of fatigue. Lindsey checked her phone. There were no new messages. Nancy noticed Lindsey¡¯s focus on her phone and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to take a break for half the day? Forget about work. We can talk about it tomorrow. ¡± Lindsey let out a sigh. ¡°The production team suddenly apologized. I wanted to thank Mr. Howard from Vitality Entertainment. I tried to see him at his office, but he wasn¡¯t there, and he hasn¡¯t responded to my texts. ¡± Nancy put her arm around Lindsey¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Ourpany is working with Vitality Entertainment right now. It makes sense for him to help us. Plus, he¡¯s the head of a bigpany. This is probably no big deal for him. You¡¯ve done your part by sending the message. He¡¯ll get it eventually. Maybe he¡¯s just too busy to get back to you right now. Don¡¯t worry about it too much. ¡± Lindsey thought about it and felt better right away. In the executive office of the Vitality Group, Emilio built up his courage for a moment before knocking softly on the door and walking in. The office wasrge, with big windows, and Domenic was standing by the window, looking out. Emilio moved closer, slowly. He had sent in his resignation a few days ago but hadn¡¯t heard back. He had been feeling sorry for himself at home until Domenic personally called him to the office today. Emilio stopped a short distance from Domenic and looked down, feeling nervous. Then, he straightened up and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the decision about my resignation?¡± Domenic turned to look at him. After a tense ten seconds, Emilio was on edge. ¡°I know what¡¯s going on,¡± Domenic finally said, making Emilio shiver. Chapter 784 ¡°It¡¯s all settled. You¡¯re staying at thepany; nobody can make you leave unless I say so,¡± Domenic said, ignoring Emilio¡¯s look of surprise and disbelief. ¡°You said you¡¯re feeling overwhelmed, so I¡¯m giving you two days off. Rest up, and then return to work refreshed. ¡± Emilio frowned; solving this issue wasn¡¯t as simple as Domenic had implied. Despite the casual manner, Emilio remained oblivious to the sacrifices Domenic had made behind the scenes. ¡°How did you pull this off?¡± Emilio asked, his voice firm. Domenic chose to keep the details to himself. The fewer people knew, the better it was. ¡°You don¡¯t need all the details; I¡¯ve got my methods. I¡¯m just giving you the heads-up. You¡¯re free to go now. ¡± Emilio hesitated, torn over whether to express his worries. ¡®s BunnyBookery After a brief pause, he finally spoke up. ¡°Domenic, this might be crossing a line¡­ ying with fire may end up getting you burned by it. ¡± Domenic stayed silent, his attention shifting to the view outside the window. Emilio, pushing on, said, ¡°If you genuinely care about Lindsey, you should consider what¡¯s truly best for her. ¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know. You tell me?¡± Domenic¡¯s response was icy, his tone sharp. Emilio felt a coldness in the air but continued, ¡°Just a caution. If your grandpa finds out about Lindsey¡¯s rtionship with you, he won¡¯t let her off easily. We both know what he¡¯s capable of; we won¡¯t be able to protect her!¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. It¡¯s time for you to leave,¡± Domenic dismissed him with a coldmand. Despite his uneasy feeling, Emilio looked at Domenic with worry and defiance and said, ¡°You¡¯re not seriously considering making Lindsey your wife, are you?¡± Domenic slowly replied, ¡°In my eyes, she already is. ¡± Emilio was taken aback, speechless.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Have you considered the consequences for her, an average girl entangled in a wealthy family¡¯s dramas? Without a notable family or connections, how long can she endure if even your grandpa dislikes her?¡± Domenic faced him with a chilling smile, his presencemanding, and said deliberately, ¡°She has me. I am her support. ¡± Acknowledging Domenic¡¯s determination, Emilio stopped arguing. He quietly added, ¡°Just remember, I¡¯m here for you. Whatever you need, just say the word. ¡± Emilio walked away after the conversation. Domenic continued to look out the window, his gaze intense and thoughtful. The following day, a woman exuding elegance and dressed in high-end fashion stepped into the lobby of Lindnita Artists Agency. Her striking features and statuesque figure drew the immediate attention of the busy staff. One employee nudged their colleague and whispered, ¡°Check out who just walked in! She¡¯s got the presence of a top-tier star, doesn¡¯t she?¡± Another employee added, ¡°I always thought Xiomara was a knockout, but thisdy is in a league of her own!¡± A third employee mused, ¡°Who could she be? A famous actress, perhaps? Should I ask for her autograph?¡± Chapter 785 While the staff was buzzing with curiosity about the identity of the morous visitor, Carole, under the gaze of many, made her way to the reception desk. She lightly tapped on the desk, her voice smooth and pleasant, saying, ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m here to see Lindsey Stewart. Is she around?¡± The receptionist directed her to Lindsey¡¯s office, and Carole offered her thanks before moving through the crowd towards Lindsey¡¯s door. Once inside and the door shut behind her, the office became a quiet sanctuary away from the spective whispers. Lindsey, assuming it was Nancying back, didn¡¯t look up from her work. Without a nce, she said, ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Carole smiled softly, walked closer to Lindsey, and said, ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s me. Do you remember? Carole Larson. ¡± Lindsey raised her head and widened her eyes in astonishment. She was not expecting Carole toe up to her. On top of that, in her second close encounter with Carole, she was once again captivated by Carole¡¯s beauty. ¡°Miss Larson, what a surprise! What can I do for you?¡± Lindsey quickly stood up and offered a seat on the couch to Carole whilst trying to pour her a ss of water. Carole, however, stopped her. ¡°Lindsey, It¡¯s okay. I came here with a specific intention. ¡± ¡°Okay, what can I assist you with?¡± Lindsey asked earnestly. Carole smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s not really a big deal. What time do you get off work? Could you apany me to help pick out an engagement ring? I just returned to the country, and I don¡¯t have any friends here. Although we¡¯ve only met a few times, I feel a strong connection with you and would love to be friends. ¡± Carole¡¯s plea sounded so sincere that Lindsey couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse. ¡°Lindsey, I hope you don¡¯t think I¡¯m being too presumptuous. I genuinely want to be friends with you. Will you apany me to the jewelry store?¡± It was a heartfelt invitation from a stunning beauty. No one would be able to resist, and neither could Lindsey. So she agreed without hesitation. ¡°But, Lindsey,¡± Carole leaned forward and whispered, ¡°you have to keep my engagement a secret. You know, it¡¯s my first time participating in a variety show, and if the media gets wind of my engagement, it can be quite a stir. ¡± Lindsey nodded,prehending Carole¡¯s concern, given her prominent background and the passion of the media. She reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. My lips are sealed. ¡± ¡°Even including your boyfriend, okay?¡± Carole emphasized. Lindseyughed. ¡°I won¡¯t tell a soul. I promise. ¡± It wasn¡¯t necessary for Carole to caution her. She was not the kind of person to gossip about another¡¯s private matter. She would keep mum.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Judging by Carole¡¯s cautious demeanor, she guessed maybe Domenic was unaware of her engagement; they probably weren¡¯t too close. Lindsey packed her things away and exited arm-in-arm with Carole. The door had been left slightly ajar, so some of the overzealous employees whose ears were glued to their whispered conversation, watched them leave arm-in-arm. There was great spection surrounding their rtionship. At the same time, Sumner happened to return from outside. He noticed a woman with Lindsey. He looked Carole up and down and recognized her as the woman he had encountered Domenic shopping with a few days earlier. Domenic had denied his rtionship with Lindsey because of this woman. Sumner wondered how Domenic had exined the situation to make Lindsey forgive him so easily. Why was this woman hanging out with Lindsey? Was she nning to harm her? Chapter 786 Although she had be a judge on the showter, Sumner¡¯s hostility toward her had not reduced.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Sumner was very concerned. He quickened his pace and caught up with Lindsey. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind him before she could say anything. He asked Lindsey, ¡°Why are you with her?¡± Lindsey was still trying to fathom out what was going on. She asked, ¡°Why? What¡¯s going on?¡± Sumner didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Carole. Carole smiled amiably at Sumner and said, ¡°Sumner, do you remember me? I¡¯m from the judging panel of Star Search. ¡± Sumner mumbled a disinterested ¡°Hmmm¡±. Lindsey pinched his arm. ¡°Mind your manners. Miss Larson gave you invaluable professional advice. ¡± Sumner asked reluctantly, ¡°What brought you here, Miss Larson?¡± ¡°The shooting for the second episode is about tomence. How are your preparations going? If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I¡¯ll be happy to share my knowledge with you,¡± Carole offered politely. However, Sumner did not reciprocate her kindness. He replied curtly, ¡°No need. ¡± He kept a vignt eye on Carole and strategically positioned himself so as to protect Lindsey. Lindsey tried to lean forward, but Sumner held her firmly. It wasn¡¯t appropriate to struggle in public so she stopped resisting. Carole observed Sumner¡¯s protective stance and seemed to understand something. She smiled and said, ¡°You have a lot of potential. Keep working hard and you are bound to achieve better results in the second episode. Unfortunately, I won¡¯t be participating in the second episode, but next week is my engagement ceremony. Would you and Lindsey like to attend as my special guests?¡± Sumner¡¯s frowned Was this woman about to get engaged? What did this mean for her ties with Domenic? Had he been mistaken all along? ¡°Why did you step down from being a judge? You have an engagement party next Tuesday. It doesn¡¯t ovep with your TV showmitments, does it?¡± Lindsey asked, looking confused. Carole offered a bashful smile, tilting her head down slightly, ¡°My fianc¨¦ prefers me out of the limelight. I¡¯ve promised him that I¡¯ll focus on being a housewife once we¡¯re engaged. ¡± Noticing Carole¡¯s happy look, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°You¡¯re quite the catch. The man who¡¯s convinced you to marry him must be remarkable. I¡¯m eager to see who has captured your affection. ¡± Carole smiled meaningfully. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the timees. ¡± Sumner sensed a deeper meaning behind Carole¡¯s smile. He couldn¡¯t stop watching her, but Lindsey swiftly found an excuse to distract him, allowing them to make their exit. Upon reaching a jewelry store, Lindsey, walking next to Carole, inquired, ¡°Miss Larson, why didn¡¯t your fianc¨¦ apany you to pick out the ring?¡± Carole¡¯s ounts had painted a picture of a couple deeply in love. Wouldn¡¯t they want to share this moment together? Carole answered withposure, ¡°He¡¯s busy with work and seldom gets a break. I¡¯m capable of managing some things by myself. ¡± Lindsey found herself admiring Carole¡¯s independence and thoughtfulness towards her partner, a stark contrast to the stereotypical jealous and clingy girlfriend. This piqued Lindsey¡¯s interest further. What kind of formidable man had persuaded such a woman to willingly leave her job and devote herself to domestic life? Chapter 787 As they marveled at the array of ring designs, Lindsey casually opened the topic of Carole¡¯s preferences. Eyeing the ruby ne Lindsey wore, Carole remarked, ¡°I¡¯m quite fond of the design of your diamond. By the way, did you verify it on the official site? What was the oue?¡± Lindsey, caressing the ne, replied with a soft smile, ¡°I did check. My boyfriend rified he got me a copy from someone. It¡¯s not the one you¡¯re thinking of. He¡¯s just an average guy, not the type to splurge on such luxuries. ¡± Carole, amused by Domenic¡¯s borate scheme yet maintaining herposure, probed further, ¡°How long have you and your boyfriend been together?¡± Do you have any wedding ns?¡± The topic of marriage dimmed Lindsey¡¯s spirits. Everything depended on Domenic¡¯s readiness, though she was prepared for it anytime. ¡°We¡¯re still deciding. We¡¯ll see what will happen. ¡± Lindsey responded. With her characteristic smile, Carole suggested, ¡°Eventually, we all tie the knot. Why not take this moment to pick out your engagement ring? When your boyfriend arrives, he can purchase it and ce it on your finger himself. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s face turned pink at Carole¡¯s suggestion, her eyes drifting to a disy nearby. A particr ring there caught her attention. It was designed like a miniature crown, encrusted with tiny red diamonds encircling arger, brilliantly cut silver diamond at the center, exuding an air of noble elegance. Carole observed Lindsey¡¯s interest and gestured to the sales associate to bring that particr ring. The salesperson, wearing spotless white gloves,id the ring box on the table. ¡°Miss, you have a refined taste. This is the ¡®Heart of True Love¡¯. It features a central round diamond, encased in a halo of red diamonds. Its total weight is about two carats, representing evesting love. It¡¯s ideal for engagements or weddings. ¡± ¡°Would you mind letting her try it?¡± Carole asked, maintaining her politeness. The salesperson slipped the ring onto Lindsey¡¯s finger without dy. The ring seemed as if it were custom-made for Lindsey, fitting her perfectly.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The contrast of the red and white diamonds highlighted her slender, long fingers, enhancing their elegance. Mesmerized, Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the ring on her hand, caressing it softly. Carole, standing behind her, gently held Lindsey¡¯s hand and caught sight of a faint love mark on Lindsey¡¯s neck, peeking through her flowing hair. Carole¡¯s expression turned thoughtful, a sense of tightness gripping her heart. ¡°Miss Larson?¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice snapped Carole out of her thoughts. Carole was still holding Lindsey¡¯s hand, forcing a smile. ¡°This piece is gorgeous, and it looks lovely on you! Do you like it?¡± Lindsey nodded almost reflexively. Carole inquired about the price, and the salesperson revealed a current promotion price of exactly 100, 000 dors. Lindsey¡¯s hand shook slightly, shocked by the price tag. Domenic worked tirelessly, and purchasing this ring would nearly drain his savings. Maybe it wasn¡¯t such a good idea¡­ After a brief pause, Lindsey carefully removed the ring and handed it back to the salesperson. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I think I¡¯ll keep looking. ¡± Carole observed her closely, a knowing smile ying on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s rare to find a ring that truly captures your heart. If you don¡¯t grab it now, it might be ger, and you might regret missing out. ¡± Chapter 788 Lindsey scanned the diamond ring with her eyes over and over again. It was perfect in every way she wanted, but she chose to remove it and ce it back in its box. She let out a deep breath and said, ¡°In that case, that can only mean that it¡¯s destined that I won¡¯t have it. Besides, taking into ount just how hardworking my boyfriend is, I have no desire to dump more pressure on him. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Hearing this, Carole tried hard to suppress herughter. Why on earth would Lindsey think that such a purchase would affect Domenic? His bank ount wouldn¡¯t even feel a pinch if his girlfriend bought this two-carat diamond ring. In fact, what Domenic earned in a single day was more than enough to buy dozens of such diamond rings. Carole wanted to point this out to Lindsey, but she simply chuckled and said nothing. After spending some more time browsing the store, Carole couldn¡¯t find any ring that suited her taste, so she left with Lindsey. As they exited the store, Carole, with a soft voice, apologized to Lindsey, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for not making a purchase, Lindsey. I just wasted your entire afternoon. ¡± Lindsey shook her head and waved her hand. She couldn¡¯t help but smile at Carole, whose intelligence and good manners were higher than that of anyone she had ever met. After today, Lindsey¡¯s appreciation for Carole got a significant boost. ¡°Not at all. If anything, I love that we were able to rx and talk. Besides, your engagement party is still some days away, so there¡¯s enough time for you to go through numerous rings. Remember, this is a once-in-a-lifetime choice, you should settle for nothing but what you feel is the best,¡± Lindsey said. ¡°Your words mean a lot to me, Lindsey. So what about next time? Would you still be willing to apany me?¡± Carole asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Lindsey replied at once. After these two interactions, Lindsey¡¯s view of Carole was totally on the positive side. ¡°Wow, thank you so much, Lindsey. I appreciate it,¡± Carole said affectionately. She linked her arm with Lindsey¡¯s and continued, ¡°From the moment I met you, I¡¯ve known that you would be nothing short of an exceptional and wonderful individual. It¡¯s so nice to be friends with you. Lest I forget, ensure that youe to my engagement party, okay? I¡¯ve prepared a wonderful surprise for you. ¡± Lindsey smiled and replied, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be there. And now that you¡¯ve mentioned it. I¡¯ll make sure to be there early. But why would you choose to surprise me at your engagement party? Wouldn¡¯t it distract you from other things that will require your attention on that day? Can you give me a hint on what the surprise is about?¡± Carole shook her and said, ¡°Sorry I can¡¯t. It has to remain a secret for now. All I can tell you is that you should keep your expectations high. ¡± Lindsey chuckled and decided not to press for more details. ¡°Alright then, that¡¯s settled. I¡¯m pretty sure that you¡¯re tired and hungry. How about I treat you to a meal? But you are going to choose the restaurant, okay? I haven¡¯t explored this area that much,¡± Carole said. Lindsey gave her watch a nce and saw that it was gettingte. Though she was tired, hungry, and done with her work for the day, she reasoned that leaving all of the tasks back at the office for Nancy to do wouldn¡¯t be nice, so she politely declined Carole¡¯s suggestion. Carole simply expressed her hope that they would be able to have dinner together at another time. At that moment, the taxi that Lindsey had ordered arrived. As Lindsey got into the taxi, she exchanged a few more polite words with Carole, who reminded her to be present at her engagement party. Though Lindsey found it a bit strange that Carole was so peculiar about it, Lindsey assured her that she wouldn¡¯t miss it, even if she had something important to do on that day. As the taxi drove away with Lindsey, Carole stared at it, with her red lips slightly curled. Lindsey mustn¡¯t miss the engagement party and by extension, the gift that she had painstakingly prepared for her. Just as the taxi she was in drove past herpany¡¯s entrance, Lindsey, through the car window, saw a familiar figure, which seemed to be Xiomara, near the entrance. Chapter 789 Puzzled, Lindsey squinted her eyes. What was Xiomara doing outside now? The way she silently bent her body, it looked like there was someone else standing opposite her. Realizing that Xiomara might be in trouble, Lindsey promptly requested the driver to stop, opened the car door, and hurried off toward Xiomara. Approaching closer, Lindsey saw that there were actually two people, a man and a woman, near Xiomara. And they were both scolding her loudly, mentioning words like ¡°heartless¡± and ¡°getting too arrogant¡±. Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard, those words signaled trouble. Afraid that something bad might happen to Xiomara, Lindsey quickly called out her name. Xiomara, upon noticing Lindsey, paused briefly, then swiftly ran towards her. She stopped a few steps away from her, nervously pinched the corners of her clothes, and softly uttered, ¡°Lindsey¡­¡± Not bothering to ask what the problem was, Lindsey ced a hand on Xiomara¡¯s shoulder and reassured her, ¡°I¡¯m here, okay? Everything¡¯s going to be all right. ¡± Hearing this, Xiomara¡¯s eyes reddened and she softly nodded. At this point, the two people who had been confronting Xiomara had also approached Lindsey. They were dressed in Linen clothes and their hair was gray and unkempt. Even though they looked to be between forty to fifty years old, they looked quite aggressive and powerful. The look they gave Xiomara was nothing short of pure hostility. ¡°Who the hell is this, Xiomara?¡± the man rudely asked. Lindsey¡¯s simple outfit had made him conclude that she was someone unimportant. Xiomara quickly said, ¡°This is Lindsey, the head of Lindnita Artists Agency and my agent. ¡± ¡°Ah? The boss!¡± Realizing the importance of Lindsey¡¯s position, the woman nudged herpanion, whispering urgently, ¡°She¡¯s a big boss! Act more respectfully. ¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯m sorry,¡± The man immediately shifted to a more fawning demeanor. With a warm smile, the woman said, ¡°Greetings! I¡¯m Xiomara¡¯s aunt, and this gentleman is my wife. We¡¯vee for a visit today. ¡± Lindsey warmly weed the pair, but just as she was about to invite them in for a chat, the woman unexpectedlyunched into a tirade against Xiomara. She criticized her temper, intelligence since childhood, academic performance, and manners before feigning affection toward Lindsey. Xiomara felt a deep sense of embarrassment as her family belittled her in front of Lindsey, causing her morale to go down. Suddenly, she felt a gentle tap and turned to find Lindsey gesturing for her to hold her head high. ¡°Xiomara is incredibly talented and always shows eagerness to learn. Plus, her beauty has won her many admirers online. I, too, am quite fond of her. ¡± Grateful, Xiomara nced at Lindsey, who gave her an encouraging wink before addressing the couple, ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of your visit today? Can I assist with anything?¡± They shared a look and smiled awkwardly. Xiomara quickly interjected, ¡°They were just dropping by to see me, Lindsey. There¡¯s nothing urgent. ¡± Turning to the couple, she added, ¡°I need to get back to work. I¡¯ll make sure to visit you when I can. ¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The man appeared hesitant to leave but was promptly ushered out by his wife, who said, ¡°We¡¯ll head home for now. Don¡¯t forget to visit, alright?¡± Chapter 790 Xiomara responded with little enthusiasm, saying, ¡°Sure, sure,¡± before eventually ushering the couple away. Yet, Lindsey found it puzzling. During Xiomara¡¯s hospitalization, they were hesitant to spend money, even going as far as blocking her phone. So, why did they suddenly show up today? ¡°Xiomara, what was their reason for visiting today?¡± Xiomara hesitated before responding, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Lindsey. They just happened toe to see me. I¡¯ve asked them not toe again. It won¡¯t interfere with thepany¡¯s reputation or my filming in the show. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Although Lindsey felt something was off, she didn¡¯t pry further since Xiomara seemed determined to keep it hidden. Lindsey reassured Xiomara that she could always reach out for help if needed and Xiomara didn¡¯t have to face everything alone. With a forced smile, Xiomara nodded in appreciation, and with aforting pat from Lindsey, they entered the agency together. The filming for the second episode came around fast, featuring a fresh format to ramp up the poprity. This time, participants had to team up in pairs, one male and one female, working together on a joint performance. This innovative format aimed to stir interest and focus attention on these dynamic partnerships, boosting the show¡¯s ratings and elevating its profile. During the selection process on stage, female participants randomly selected their male counterparts by choosing names disyed on arge screen. Xiomara was the first to take the stage for this selection. As the host initiated the process, the screen began to scroll through names. With her eyes shut, Xiomara silently wished to avoid one name in particr¡­ ¡°Stop!¡± A wave of surprise rippled through the audience at that moment. Xiomara¡¯s heart dropped as she opened her eyes to find the name she dreaded most illuminated on the screen-Sumner. Whether this pairing was a deliberate move by the production team or merely a stroke of luck was left hanging in the air. Before that certain event, Xiomara would have eagerly seized the chance, but now she just felt ufortable. Since her drunken confession of love to him, she had kept her distance from him at work. Their interactions turned awkward, and they had scarcely spoken since. When Sumner, after a quick makeup touch-up, saw Xiomara approaching with a nervous look, she hesitantly said, ¡°If pairing up with me isn¡¯t what you want, you can ask Lindsey to speak with the production team on our behalf. ¡± Sumner responded, ¡°Why would I not want to be your partner?¡± Caught off guard and embarrassed, Xiomara looked away, lost for words. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that night. It¡¯s in the past. Now, we¡¯re here to work, and there¡¯s no reason our personal history should interfere. Onstage, we¡¯re bothpetitors and coborators,¡± Sumner said earnestly, as he didn¡¯t believe it had caused much trouble. They just needed to rify things; there was no need for resentment. It was Xiomara who kept distancing herself from him. Observing his serene gaze, Xiomara realized she might have been overacting. She shed an apologetic smile. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on our performance. With your talent, I¡¯m confident we can shine. There¡¯s nothing to fret over,¡± Sumner reassured her. Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows backstage, a woman with perfect makeup overheard their entire exchange, Chapter 791 Kristy, having listened to Xiomara and Sumner¡¯s conversation, emerged from her hiding spot after they departed, a sly smile ying on her Lips. It appeared as though they harbored some hidden secrets. In the end, Sumner and Xiomara agreed on the performance of the stage y segment, with Xiomara doing most of the acting while Sumner mostly singing. As it was an impromptu two-person performance, the two barely had time to practice. Before long, it was time for them toe onstage. Lindsey silently cheered for the two from backstage. ¡°Next, let¡¯s wee Sumner and Xiomara! They¡¯ll be acting out a two -person stage y, ¡®Francesca Quinn¡¯. Both of them arepetent yers, so I¡¯m looking forward to their performance!¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. As soon as the host finished introducing, the audience burst into apuse. It could be seen that more than half of the people present hade only for them. The red velvet curtains on stage lifted, unveiling a pure-Looking Xiomara in a white nightdress. Portraying the heroine, Francesca Quinn, she was now gracefully leaning against the simply constructed windowsill that served as her set. ¡°Francesca Quinn¡± was a tale of love and struggle set in the rustic countryside. The heroine, Francesca, is head over heels in love with a guy from a simple farm, but her parents can¡¯t stand him. This put the couple at odds. Things take a dramatic turn when her parents marry her off to a nobleman without her permission. Stuck in a destiny she didn¡¯t choose, Francesca faces the toughest decision of all-choosing to end her own life to protect the love she holds dear. The cameras were all pointed at Francesca, who was being yed by Xiomara. She stopped in front of a door and began to knock like crazy, panic written all over her face. Francesca hade to seek sce from her boyfriend, the simple farmer boy that was yed by Sumner. But when Sumner opened the door, Xiomara suddenly couldn¡¯t went off-script and threw herself into his arms. She couldn¡¯t say a word and just hugged him tightly, silent tears rolling down her cheeks as he hugged her back. The audience, including Lindsey, all thought that this affectionate gesture was part of the two¡¯s n, and they all watched with bated breath. Only Xiomara knew the truth; that this was her only chance to embrace the love of her life. After all, the moment this performance ended, the two would go their separate ways. Francesca might¡¯ve been hugging her lover, but Xiomara was hugging a man who would never reciprocate her love. Soon, the third act came to the third scene, and only Sumner appeared in the room where they had shared a hug. He stood there, silently reading a thick diary. The pages of the diary was projected on the big screen. At a nce, Lindsey recognized that it was Xiomara¡¯s handwriting, and she quickly realized that Xiomara likely wrote it all herself. Francesca spilled her thoughts and ramblings all over the diary pages. Out of the blue, a boy¡¯s name appeared, gradually taking over until it practically imed the entire pages. The diary¡¯s tone shifted from a tale of beauty to a darker narrative. It chronicled the young girl¡¯s journey, tracing her path from falling in love to grappling with the heartache caused by her parents¡¯ disapproval of her boyfriend. The entries unfolded the tragic twist as her parents orchestrated an arranged marriage with a nobleman, casting a shadow over the once beautiful pages. The words scrawled on the pages grew sadder, until the boy could no longer bear to read them. Finally, he made it to the end. The boy¡¯s fingers started to tremble. Turning thest page seemed to take up all his courage. Finally¡­ Chapter 792 On the pristine white paper, just a handful of words carried an overwhelming weight of sorrow. ¡°Raphael, I will only be yours. See you next life, darling. ¡± At thest of the performance, it ended with a solo sung by Sumner, while Xiomara also danced in the background. Sumner¡¯s mellow, emotional voice gripped the hearts of the audience, while the dance that Xiomara had choreographed added depth to the piece. The two of them, one singing and one dancing, had an unusual tacit understanding, as though they were a couple in real life. Even Lindsey was affected by the two¡¯s moving performance, and she was so proud of them. The audience was so immersed in their act that they didn¡¯te to their senses until Xiomara and Sumner bowed towards them. Thunderous apuse followed. In this round, the program¡¯s crew opted for the group rating mode. Consequently, the two of them exited the stage and had to wait until the other contestants were done performing. But everyone else¡¯s performances paled inparison to theirs. Backstage, Xiomara hesitated for a moment before finally apologizing to Sumner for her little ¡°improvised¡± moment. Sumner shook his head and said with a smile, ¡°What we needed in today¡¯s performance was improvisation, right? That¡¯s exactly what you did, and you did a good job, too. Don¡¯t overthink it. You did well-we both did. ¡± Soon, it was time for the judges to announce their scores. Due to their amazing performance, several judges, including Sh, gave them nothing but praise.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Even Kristy had nothing bad to say, as she was involved in a lot of scandals recently and couldn¡¯t afford to make a scene here. So she also gave a rtively fair score. As expected, Xiomara and Sumner received a score of 9. 5, a remarkable rating significantly surpassing those of the other teams. Lindsey was so excited that tears welled up in her eyes. When the show was broadcast that weekend, the audience rating skyrocketed. After a week of a ¡°t period¡±, Sumner and Xiomara were once again the hottest topic on the Inte. The entertainment scene buzzed with the hottest topic of Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s performance, and their names dominated the top spot on the list. Netizens were going crazy, shipping the two together. A special fan club even spontaneously emerged, on which a forum overflowed with photos of the two, and Twitter was flooded with videos capturing their intriguing chemistry. Countless fans even bombarded Lindsey¡¯s Twitter, begging her to arrange more ¡°cooperation¡± between Sumner and Lindsey. They rmended that the couple audition for a new uing romantic film. Seeing that their fans couldn¡¯t stop shipping the on-screen couple, Lindsey didn¡¯t know whether she should be happy or worried. Xiomara and Sumner used to be really close on the show, and fans loved seeing them together. Buttely, something strange was going on. They seemed to avoid each other when they were around others. Lindsey remembered thest time she saw Xiomara in the office; Xiomara left in a hurry as soon as Sumner walked in. It seemed Like something had happened between them after she had asked Sumner to send Xiomara home from their celebration that day. Chapter 793 Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows twitched as she considered the possibility. Did Sumner hurt Xiomara that night? She hurriedly called Xiomara to her office and gently questioned her about what had happened that night. Xiomara stuttered, saying she couldn¡¯t remember anything because she drank too much that night.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°Xiomara, did Sumner take advantage of you? Just tell me. Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± Lindsey asked seriously. Xiomara shook her head quickly. ¡°No, no, Lindsey, you¡¯re thinking too much. ¡± Then, after a pause, she hesitantly asked, ¡°Lindsey, what do you think of Sumner?¡± Lindsey was confused. ¡°What do I think of him? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡­ It¡¯s nothing. Forget it. I have to go now!¡± As Xiomara dashed out of her office, Lindsey watched her go and suddenly had a thought that Xiomara might be getting the wrong idea about her and Sumner. Sumner and Xiomara always dominated the trending list; the media, with ulterior motives, brought back old rumors about Sumner and Lindsey. That was why the Star Search team reached out to Lindsey for an exclusive interview. Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s on-screen love story was a huge hit, boosting the show¡¯s ratings. And the fans of their showmance were super important for the show. The program team wanted Lindsey to clear things up publicly, regarding her connection with Sumner or whatever had happened between them. Lindsey quickly agreed. It was time to exin things. She didn¡¯t want inte users to get the wrong idea about her, but at the same time, she didn¡¯t want Xiomara to misunderstand her. The exclusive interview was posted online quickly by the program team. Fans shipping Sumner and Xiomara were relieved to hear Lindsey say that she and Sumner had been just friends. An hourter, this topic was on the trending List. Within an hour, the video was watched by hundreds of thousands of viewers and shared almost a million times. The interview went on for fifty-five minutes. Lindsey talked about how she met Sumner and became his agent. She also exined why she was in a photo with him. ¡°Besides, I have a boyfriend. We are in a good rtionship. ¡± Lindsey was filled with happiness when she mentioned Domenic. ¡°So, you¡¯ve got it wrong. Sumner and I are just good friends. The rumors online are baseless. ¡± ¡°Oh, you already have a boyfriend. Miss Steward, your boyfriend must be very excellent! Does he work in the entertainment industry?¡± the host asked quickly. Lindsey smiled warmly and said, ¡°No, but he is the best man I have ever known. ¡± The host grinned. ¡°Wow, you two must be madly in love. Looks like wedding bells might be ringing soon. ¡± Lindsey smiled without saying anything. Those who shipped Sumner with Xiomara were thrilled after Lindsey cleared up the misunderstanding. Those who had insulted Lindsey before apologized sincerely to her in thements section. Chapter 794 Sumner, however, felt a mix of emotions after watching the video. Lindsey nced at the onlinements as she sat in her office. Suddenly, she remembered something important and quickly grabbed her phone to message Domenic. Domenic nced at the message as he settled back into his office after the meeting. It simply said, ¡°Look at the trending hashtag. ¡± As soon as Domenic noticed the trending topics on social media, he knew what Lindsey was talking about. In the video, Lindsey rified her rtionship with Sumner and praised Domenic as the best man ever, which left Domenic surprised, shing a smile. He texted back, saying, ¡°You¡¯re really into me. I¡¯ll have to reward you tonight. ¡± Lindsey blushed when she received the message. She yfully asked, ¡°How will you reward me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you want. I¡¯m the best man you¡¯ve ever known. Tonight, I¡¯ll make sure you feel amazing in bed. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned red. She replied sternly, ¡°Stop it!¡± Yet, a sudden rush of happiness and joy still warmed her heart. Lindsey was taken aback to see the lights on when she arrived home in the evening. As she stepped into the hallway, Domenic caught her off guard by wrapping his arms around her from behind. Domenic, still wrapped in his bathrobe and not bothering to dry off his hair, exuding a pleasant scent. His embrace made Lindsey¡¯s heart racing. ¡°You¡¯re home early today. ¡± She turned around, hugged him tight, and gave him a big smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been stayingte at work too much. There¡¯s not much going on these days. Plus, I figured you deserved a special treat tonight. ¡± Domenic locked eyes with Lindsey, his gaze meeting her shining ones. He had a bit of freedomtely since he¡¯d convinced Jordan he was going to be engaged to Carole, easing off the scrutiny for a while. Lindsey¡¯s cheeks turned pink, her hands lightly pressing against Domenic¡¯s firm chest as she blinked up at him. ¡°You¡¯re really going to treat me? Then let¡¯s find out if your treat will be enough to satisfy me. ¡± Domenic felt a surge of passion. He wrapped his arms around Lindsey¡¯s waist and bent down to press a kiss on her soft Lips. Their breathing quickened. They shared a passionate kiss, gasping for air. Lindsey yfully pulled at Domenic¡¯s tongue and nibbled it lightly. Domenic winced slightly, and Lindsey looked up at him with a satisfied grin. ¡°Is that my treat? It¡¯s not enough to satisfy me. ¡± Domenic raised an eyebrow as he gazed at Lindsey, who seemed to be trying to get a rise out of him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go take a shower first, alright? I promise to make it worth your while tonight,¡± he murmured into her ear with a raspy voice, wrapping his arms around her. Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Despite not being their first intimate moment, she still felt shy about the topic of sex. Chapter 795 And Domenic found this shyness in Lindsey incredibly enticing, something that always sparked his desire. Carole¡¯s questions about her wedding ns at the jewelry store suddenly hit Lindsey. She also remembered how, during an interview earlier today, the host hinted she would be getting married soon. Realizing she and Domenic had never really talked about marriage, she asked, ¡°Domenic, have you ever thought about when we might get married?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Domenic replied instantly, gently holding her chin and peering into her eyes with a slight frown. With a yful smile, he teased, ¡°So, you¡¯re thinking about marrying me, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t worry. Once I sort out some family stuff, I¡¯ll introduce you to my grandfather, okay?¡± Lindsey¡¯s face lit up with a sweet smile upon hearing his words. The promise from Domenicforted her. She had unwavering faith in him, grounded in their mutualmitment to trusting one another. However, a hint of concern flickered in Domenic¡¯s eyes. Tomorrow was Tuesday, the day he was supposed to get engaged to Carole. ¡°What¡¯s on your agenda for tomorrow?¡± Domenic asked, trying to sound casual.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey answered without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯ve been really busytely, and it looks like my day is packed tomorrow. What about you? Got any special ns?¡± Domenic shook his head, saying he was just curious and that he¡¯d be tied up with work as well. ¡°You¡¯re always pushing yourself. You think you can keep that up? We¡¯re young, we can make money anytime. No need to burn yourself out,¡± Lindsey expressed her concern. Domenic had been starting his days early and ending themte, barely getting enough sleep. Wrapping Lindsey in a hug, Domenic cracked a slight smile and joked, ¡°So, you¡¯re going to take care of and provide for me?¡± Lindsey bit her lip, then burst outughing. ¡°Sure, why not? I¡¯m not rolling in cash, but I¡¯ve got enough to cover us both. ¡± After a moment, Domenic caressed Lindsey¡¯s nose gently. ¡°I believe a man should take care of his family. It¡¯s not right expecting a woman to carry that burden. I don¡¯t want to rely on someone else. Plus, I don¡¯t want you overworking yourself. If it gets too much, juste home. I¡¯ll always be here to support and keep you safe. ¡± Lindsey was touched by his heartfelt words and nestled closer into his strong,forting arms. They shared a tender kiss and embraced each other warmly. After some time, Lindsey headed to the bathroom. The sound of running water caught Domenic¡¯s attention, just as his phone started to ring. He frowned, checking to see who was calling. Why was his grandpa calling him at this hour? Irritably, he picked up the call. ¡°Come over now,¡± Jordan demanded. Annoyed, Domenic headed towards the door, replying softly, ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of something. Grandpa, we¡¯ll catch up tomorrow. ¡± He really preferred to stay the night with Lindsey. Nevertheless, Jordan was adamant that Domenic woulde to see him right away. Domenic felt he couldn¡¯t refuse Jordan. He had to agree, knowing Jordan would turn Morcastle upside down to find him if he didn¡¯t. Chapter 796 Lindsey emerged from the bathroom to find Domenic, slipping back into his suit and doing up his tie. ¡°Are you heading out?¡± she asked, pausing her hair drying. Domenic inhaled deeply. Feeling guilty, he said to Lindsey, ¡°Sorry, Linds. My boss needs me back at work immediately. It¡¯s an emergency. ¡± Lindsey felt a twinge of disappointment but understoodpletely. She knew all too well the demands of work. ¡°Then you better get going. And drive safely,¡± she told him. ¡°Wait for me. ¡± He gave her a goodbye kiss, and rushed off. As Domenic walked into the living room of his grandpa¡¯s house, he found Carole in a conversation with his grandpa. ¡°Domenic, here¡¯s the n for your engagement party tomorrow. Have a look. ¡± Jordan offered a piece of paper to Domenic, who didn¡¯t ept it. He responded half-heartedly, ¡°I¡¯ll follow whatever you suggest. ¡± What captured his interest more was the guest list. The list featured his rtives and some of his grandfather¡¯s business associates. On the other hand, Carole had only just returned to the country and she didn¡¯t have many acquaintances in the city. So Domenic guessed that all their guests had nothing to do with Lindsey.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Domenic cast a nce toward Carole, his expression difficult to read. Suddenly, Carole approached him, holding a small box. She said, ¡°Domenic, check out the engagement ring I picked. What¡¯s your opinion?¡± She opened the box to reveal a glittering ring with diamonds, named the ¡°Heart Of True Love¡±, which Lindsey admired greatly at the jewelry store. Domenic briefly replied, ¡°It¡¯s lovely. ¡± Carole stepped closer and whispered, ¡°You have to ce this ring on my finger tomorrow. ¡± After a brief hesitation, she added, ¡°We need to convince your grandfather our engagement is genuine. ¡± Domenic nced at his grandfather, who was looking at them with affection. He then epted the box and agreed as he said, ¡°Okay. ¡± The scene, portraying them as a loving young couple, made Jordan smile contentedly. Seeing Domenic¡¯s agreement and the hint of warmth in his response, Carole couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Unable to contain herself, she chuckled with arrogance, imagining Lindsey¡¯s reaction. Tomorrow, Lindsey would find out she was merely Domenic¡¯s fling and that only Carole could be his true fianc¨¦e. Chapter 797 She hoped Lindsey would see the truth and remove herself from Domenic¡¯s life for good. After Domenic departed, Lindsey drifted off to sleep, worn out from her demanding job. The following day was just as hectic. Nancy was away from the office on a business meeting, leaving her to tackle a morning full of phone calls and discuss Xiomara¡¯s future endeavors with Sh over Lunch. Then, an afternoon guest arrived. It was Sumner, d in a sharp white suit and with his hair styled to perfection, looking every bit the star ready for the red carpet. ¡°Sumner, why so dressed up? Got a special event tonight?¡± Sumner arched an eyebrow and responded, ¡°It¡¯s for Carole¡¯s engagement party. Aren¡¯t youing?¡± After a brief pause, Lindsey eximed, ¡°Oh! I nearly forgot!¡± It was already halfway past five, but there was just enough time to get ready. If not for Sumner¡¯s reminder, she would have missed Carole¡¯s engagement celebration, a thought that troubled her since she had promised to attend. Just then, Nancy walked in, teasing Sumner about looking ready for his own wedding. Sumner replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got to look my best, going to a party with my dear agent. ¡±This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey realized then that Sumner was also invited by Carole. ¡°What party?¡± Nancy asked with a mix of curiosity and intrigue. Recalling Carole¡¯s request for secrecy, Lindsey lied as she said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a gathering hosted by a producer. Sumner¡¯s the guest of honor, and I¡¯m tagging along as his agent. ¡± She then handed off her responsibilities to Nancy and left with Sumner. Nancy, however, couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that there was more to their departure than met the eye. The Emperor Hotel, renowned as the most Luxurious hotel in town, was owned by the Vitality Group. Its top-floor grand banquet hall, adorned in a contemporary and elegant design, shone brightly with immacte crystal chandeliers. The tables were decorated with exquisite Juliet roses, indicating the high caliber of the evening¡¯s elite gathering. The hall buzzed with the country¡¯s leading businessmen mingling in small groups. Among them were Brady, the patriarch of the Lawson family, and his wife, Rachel. ¡°Jordan is quite fond of his grandson. It¡¯s intriguing to see the woman who has won his grandson¡¯s heart and is deemed suitable to join their family. ¡± As wealthy businessmen and their spouses conversed, the entrance of the hall opened, drawing all eyes to it. A youngdy entered gracefully, escorted by a vigorous elderly man. Chapter 798 Her dress, a radiant white adorned with shimmering silver diamonds from the waist down, caught the Light beautifully. A businessman¡¯s wife recognized the gown, inhaling sharply before whispering to herpanion, ¡°That¡¯s a Taylia bridal piece, renowned for its simplicity and exclusivity, easily worth over a million¡­¡± Jordan, standing proudly by Carole, was impably dressed in a ssic suit, his demeanor rxed and friendly. It was stark contrast to his usual presence, showing his approval of his future daughter-inw. The arrival of Jordan and Carole quieted the room, prompting a flock of businessmen to warmly wee Jordan, masking their true feelings with forced smiles. Jordan, in turn, introduced Carole to them. ¡°Carole, this is Mr. Emmitt Palmer broad member of the Glory Group. ¡± ¡°Hello, Mr. Palmer. I¡¯m Carole,¡± she greeted him confidently, offering a firm handshake. The rest of the group surreptitiously nced at Carole, recalling her participation in Star Search. Standing before them, Carole appeared even more appealing with her petite face and subtle makeup. She greeted guests with grace and confidence. Carole¡¯s gentle demeanor and inviting smile left asting impression on the attendees. ¡°Mr. Walsh, your grandson is fortunate to have such a wonderful partner!¡± ¡°Carole, you¡¯re stunning. You could be a celebrity!¡± ¡°Mr. Walsh, you¡¯re blessed. It¡¯s the perfect time for you to retire and enjoy your golden years. ¡± Jordan couldn¡¯t help but smile, fully aware of the superficial nature of theirpliments. At that moment, Rachel approached Jordan, linking arms with Brady. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Dad. ¡± Seeing his daughter, Jordan¡¯s expression softened. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. How¡¯s everything at the Lawson Group?¡± Brady nodded with respect. ¡°ALL is well, thank you for asking. ¡± Jordan responded with a nod. ¡°Brady, your management of the Lawson Group ismendable.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Now, it ranks just behind the Walsh Group. ¡± With humility, Brady replied, ¡°I owe it to you. I may still seek your guidance. ¡± Jordan sighed slightly as he remarked, ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that Rachel hasn¡¯t been able to conceive all these years. I trust you don¡¯t hold it against her. Remember, the Lawson Group can always rely on me for support. We¡¯re family, after all. ¡± Brady understood Jordan¡¯s underlying message, recognizing it as both a test and a veiled warning about his loyalty and seeing how he valued Rachel. Jordan knew full well that the Lawson Group couldn¡¯tpete with the Walsh Group. He had the option to assist Brady, but he also held the power to destroy him. ¡°Rachel is my beloved wife and my only partner. Our bond is strong, and nothing can shake it. Don¡¯t worry. With Rachel¡¯s consent, adopting is always an option for us. ¡± Chapter 799 Rachel¡¯s expression clouded slightly. The topic of adoption hade up before, but she had never embraced the idea, still hopeful about bearing her own child after trying various treatments. Jordan showed his approval with a nod and offered Rachel aforting pat on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re in good hands with Brady. He¡¯s a good man and cares deeply for you. It¡¯s heartwarming to see how much you two care for each other. ¡± Rachel¡¯s face lit up with a smile. Jordan then added in a lower tone, ¡°I¡¯m nearing retirement. You and Brady should offer more support to Domenic. He¡¯s young and has much to learn. ¡± It dawned on Rachel and Brady that Jordan was nning to pass the reins to Domenic. Rachel nced at the clock and her brow furrowed. ¡°Dad, where are my brothers? They should be here by now. ¡± Jordan cynically remarked, ¡°Well, they imed they were busy. Whatever. I couldn¡¯t care less. ¡± Rachel nodded, her anger simmering as she harbored displeasure toward her brothers for their absence from Domenic¡¯s engagement party, an event that Jordan had devoted considerable time to preparing. Amidst their conversation, Carole noticed Lindsey entering alongside Sumner. Lindsey adorned a stunning, backless blue dress thatplemented her figure. The attire showcased her beautiful back, amplifying her allure, while her high heels added a touch of elegance. Her makeup, harmonizing with the outfit, featured rosy cheeks and vibrant red lips, rendering her breathtakingly gorgeous. Unseen beneath Carole¡¯sposed exterior, a tinge of envy arose. She wondered if Lindsey aimed to outshine her with such exquisite attire. Yet, Carole remained confident that Lindsey¡¯s attire paled to the designer dress she adorned, a sentiment she believed Domenic would discern upon his arrival. Suppressing disdain, Carole excused herself to Jordan, stating she needed to greet a friend. Lindsey was standing alone in the hall as Sumner had excused himself to the restroom. The gatheringprised entirely of businessmen who were unfamiliar to Lindsey.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. While searching for Carole, she sensed a gentle tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she was met with Carole¡¯s weing smile. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯ve been anticipating your arrival for quite a while,¡± Carole expressed. Lindsey returned the smile, saying, ¡°Apologies for my tardiness. I hope I haven¡¯t missed anything important. ¡± ¡°You¡¯ve arrived precisely on time. The ceremony is on the verge ofmencing,¡± Carole responded with a mysterious expression on her face. Observing Carole in conversation with Lindsey, a group of intrigued socialites approached, eager to engage with Carole, the prospective spouse of the CEO of Vitality Group. Recognizing the potential benefits for their husbands¡®panies, they sought to initiate a conversation with her. One of themmented, ¡°Your dress must be quite an investment. Your fianc¨¦ must cherish you immensely. ¡± Carole gracefully smiled and responded, ¡°He insisted on me wearing the most exquisite dress for our engagement, considering it the pinnacle moment of my Life. ¡± She lied. In reality, those words were spoken by Jordan, and he was also the one who purchased the dress. Domenic remained oblivious to these details. While Carole reveled in the ttery of the otherdies, Lindsey observed them in silence, her countenance adorned with a gracious smile. Abruptly, Carole turned to Lindsey and remarked, ¡°Lindsey, your dress is also beautiful. It must have cost a fortune. Who is the designer?¡± Lindsey shared, ¡°It¡¯s not a designer dress. Just a charming dress I found on sale at the mall. ¡± Chapter 800 Upon hearing this, the socialites couldn¡¯t conceal their disdain. In their eyes, Lindsey appeared akin to an overlooked ugly duckling. ¡°By the way, which engagement ring did you settle on?¡± Lindsey inquired, recalling Carole¡¯s earlier im that no one assisted her in choosing one. This happened to be the question Carole had been anticipating. She signaled a staff to bring forth the ring. Promptly, the staff approached with a tray in hand. Carole delicately lifted the red velvet box from it, remarking with intention, ¡°Lindsey, you truly have impable taste. Thanks to your assistance, I now possess a ring exquisite and meaningful. ¡± Lindsey was left perplexed by these words. Upon unveiling the box, Lindsey beheld the diamond she had selected that day ¨C the Heart Of True Love. The diamond ring sparkled even more under the light, captivating several women around. Lindsey¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, showing her surprise. She nced at Carole, puzzled. Carole, with a smile, slipped the diamond ring onto her finger. She then spoke louder to ensure everyone nearby could hear. ¡°This ring symbolizes evesting love, right?¡± Without giving it much thought, Lindsey agreed. Then Carole added, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the fact that your boyfriend couldn¡¯t spare a hundred thousand to purchase this ring, I would have saved it for you. After all, you¡¯re so connected to it. Actually, I was going to offer to lend you the money if you really needed it. It¡¯s not a big deal for me. But, don¡¯t sacrifice yourself for a man. It¡¯s just not worth it. ¡± This made the women around look down on Lindsey even more. She couldn¡¯te up with a hundred thousand dors. How poor her family must be! What right did she have to be at this party? How could Jordan¡¯s future granddaughter-inw be friends with someone like her? The curiosity about Lindsey that people had earlier quickly faded. Some even gave her scornful looks and whispered among themselves. Meanwhile, Carole managed to appear as the benevolent figure who doesn¡¯t look down on the less fortunate and always is generous with her friends. However, Lindsey didn¡¯t notice the judgmental stares and Carole¡¯s mocking tone. In her heart, Carole was still the courteous, generous, and kind woman she¡¯d always known. So, she instinctively believed Carole was trying to be helpful.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She smiled and said, ¡°Thanks, Carole, but I really don¡¯t need it. The ring looks stunning on you, and it suits you perfectly. It has truly found its perfect owner. As thedies continued topliment the ring and how well itplemented her, Carole beamed with joy. All she had to say asionally was, ¡°Actually, it would have been nicer on Lindsey, but she didn¡¯t purchase it. I did. I should be thankful to her for letting it go. ¡± Her remarks subtly reminded everyone that Lindsey couldn¡¯t afford even a ring she cherished, cing herself on a higher standing than Lindsey. ¡°My partner will personally ce the ring on my finger during the engagement ceremonyter,¡± Carole said, bursting with pride. She couldn¡¯t help but revel in her triumph. Today was her day to humiliate Lindsey and to shatter her heart. She hoped Lindsey would ¡°enjoy¡± it. With this thought, Carole nearly lost control of her smugness. Domenic was hers! Lindsey was just an outsider who hade between them! Then Carole gently took Lindsey¡¯s hand. She felt victorious, knowing thetter had already lost. ¡°You will give me your blessingter, won¡¯t you?¡± There was a meaningful smile on Carole¡¯s face. Lindsey returned the gesture with a genuine smile and said, ¡°Absolutely. ¡± Carole acted very happily at once. ¡°That means a lot! You¡¯re the first friend I made sinceing back. Your good wishes mean everything to me. ¡± Chapter 801 Despite saying so, she was eager to see the breakdown of Lindsey momentster. ¡°Look at the time, I should go get ready. We¡¯ll catch upter. ¡± With that, Carole softly tapped Lindsey¡¯s hand and left with a cheerful expression.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Once Carole was gone, the other women threw Lindsey a scornful Look before they too dispersed. Lindsey brushed off their disdain. She knew they were worlds apart and unlikely to cross paths in the future. Whatever they thought of her had nothing to do with her. Carole made her way back to Jordan. Jordan nced at his watch and noticed it was already seven o¡¯clock. But Domenic was nowhere to be seen. This made Jordan furrow his brow in concern and turn to the butler, whispering, ¡°Where¡¯s Domenic? Why isn¡¯t he here for his own engagement ceremony? He has no sense of time at all! Try to contact him!¡± The butler responded promptly and reached for his phone to call Domenic. But the moment he dialed, he was informed that Domenic was unavable. Jordan¡¯s concern deepened, apanied by a growing sense of unease. Carole¡¯s hands involuntarily formed tight fists. She pondered whether Domenic would make an appearance. Surely he would, as defying his grandfather so openly seemed unlikely. Besides, he was after his stake in the Walsh Group, so skipping out wasn¡¯t an option for him. Carole kept assuring herself. Suddenly, the banquet hall¡¯s door flew open: Hendrix had arrived. Dressed in a suit, he locked eyes with Lindsey and offered her a smile as he strolled by. Lindsey felt a wave of confusion; she recognized him but couldn¡¯t ce where she had seen him before. With everyone staring in disbelief, Hendrix approached Jordan, gave a polite bow, and respectfully said, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I¡¯m Hendrix, Mr. Domenic Walsh¡¯s assistant. Unfortunately, Mr. Walsh can¡¯t be here tonight due to urgent business. He¡¯s sent me to represent him at the engagement ceremony with Miss Larson. We appreciate your understanding. ¡± Jordan Walsh¡¯s anger was so intense he nearly fainted. He scanned the crowd in the banquet hall, fought to calm his rage, took his cell phone from the butler, and called Domenic once more. Just as Jordan was about to end the call, Domenic answered. With a dark look on his face, Jordan expressed with controlled anger, ¡°Where the hell are you? The engagement ceremony is starting, and you¡¯re not here. You¡¯ve sent your assistant instead? Are you trying to provoke me? Give me an exnation!¡± After a brief silence, Domenic responded in a cool tone, ¡°You¡¯re worrying too much, Grandpa. I¡¯m not trying to upset you. I had cleared my schedule for today, but an unexpected critical meeting came up and needed my presence. We¡¯re deeplymitted to this project¡¯s partner, and I can¡¯t risk any mistakes. It¡¯s an emergency, and I really can¡¯t be there. Please try to understand. ¡± Jordan¡¯s frown deepened. Ignoring the potential judgment of others, he yelled with intense anger, ¡°I don¡¯t care about yourmitments elsewhere. You need to be here for your engagement today! Tell me where you are. Come now, or I¡¯ll send someone to bring you here by force if necessary! Do you understand?!¡± His anger sent a shiver through the crowd, Leaving the hall draped in silence. All eyes turned towards Jordan, united in their intensity. ¡°I¡¯m currently in Mubluosia. If you think it¡¯s worth the effort, feel free to send someone to fetch me. However, even if I catch a flight this instant, it¡¯ll take over ten hours to get back. I won¡¯t make it to the engagement party. But this event is crucial for both you and Carole, so it shouldn¡¯t be postponed. I¡¯ve chosen Hendrix to attend in my stead. He¡¯s a dependable and trusted man who has represented me at many significant events before. Having him there is akin to having me present. ¡± Jordan was extremely frustrated with Domenic¡¯s odd justification. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! How could sending an assistant be the same? He¡¯s just an assistant and can¡¯t take your ce at your own engagement party. Do you realize how many people are here expecting to see you, only to witness you creating such a debacle? An engagement is a seriousmitment, not some casual affair! Are you attempting to make a fool of me by ying such tricks? I¡¯ve invited numerous influential business figures tonight, and do you think it¡¯s appropriate for them to witness this? Do you even understand the gravity of your actions?¡± The crowd was abuzz with whispers and disbelief. ¡°Isn¡¯t it absurd? The CEO of Vitality Group is the one getting engaged, yet he sends an assistant in his stead and doesn¡¯t bother to appear. Does he not value his own engagement?¡± Chapter 802 ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s unheard of for someone to skip their own engagement celebration. It seems he isn¡¯t verymitted to his future bride!¡± ¡°Ha! Thatdy over there was just bragging about how wonderful her fianc¨¦ is, and now he¡¯s not even here. What an embarrassment!¡± All eyes turned to Carole. Some felt sorry for her, others looked down on her, but most were snickering at her predicament. Carole turned a deathly shade of white, struck by disbelief. Could it be true that Domenic wouldn¡¯t make an appearance? That seemed impossible. Hadn¡¯t they agreed on this? Didn¡¯t he promise to follow through since they were supposed to stage this event together? She had put in so much effort to outshine Lindsey at this party and to prove her own stature. Now, with Domenic¡¯s absence, she was the one left in an embarrassing situation. Carole spent her life running from the shadow of pity. Losing her father and being abandoned by her mother left her in the care of those who saw her as a charity case, including Jordan. Though he offered her a roof, his gaze didn¡¯t differ from the rest. It was filled with sympathy. Jordan¡¯s attempt to refine her through studies abroad and etiquette lessons only led to more challenges. Her instructor found every opportunity to criticize her, often for herck of grace or poise. Yet, Carole endured, dreaming of a future with Domenic that would elevate her beyond reach of scorn or pity, into a realm of respect and admiration. But on a day that was supposed to change everything, she found herself drowning in familiar waters of sympathy and mockery. Lifting her gaze, she locked eyes with Lindsey, who watched her with an all-too-familiar look of pity. Biting back frustration, Carole¡¯s hands balled into fists, her nails pressing into her skin as she fought to keep herposure. She refused to show weakness in front of Lindsey. Domenic, detached and unbothered, offered no sce. Speaking coolly on the phone, he exined, ¡°This meeting is critical for Vitality Group, and they insisted on seeing me in person. I hope you can understand. Sending Hendrix in my ce is the only solution I have. Hendrix, I believe, has something to tell Carole. ¡± Hendrix, overhearing Domenic¡¯s words, turned to Carole with a smile as indifferent as the one Domenic often wore. ¡°Miss Larson, Mr. Walsh has asked me to convey that my presence here should be taken as his own. I¡¯ll ce the Heart of True Love on your finger, just as he would. ¡± Carole¡¯s face turned ashen at his words. The guests couldn¡¯t contain their Laughter upon hearing Hendrix. ¡°She really thought her fianc¨¦ would present the ring himself? What a joke!¡± ¡°The Heart of True Love? More like aedy of errors. ¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather take a plunge down a toilet than endure this humiliation. ¡± However, Jordan¡¯s stern look quickly silenced the room. After ensuring Hendrix delivered his message, Domenic smirked, satisfied.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I need to leave for my meeting now, Grandpa. All is as nned. ¡± Then, he disconnected. Jordan tried calling him back, only to find the line busy. On the brink of fury and considering the destruction of his phone, he remembered the crowd around him and restrained himself, preserving his dignity. Allowing Hendrix to rece Domenic at the engagement was unthinkable. The mere idea spreading beyond these walls could turn the Walsh family into the subject of ridicule. Chapter 803 After pondering for a moment, Jordan cleared his throat and turned to the eager audience. ¡°My apologies for the confusion, everyone. My grandson is deeplymitted to his work. He¡¯s just informed me of a crucial meeting regarding a significant coboration. Unfortunately, this means he can¡¯t join us today. I¡¯m going to reschedule the engagement party. However, I invite you all to stay for dinner. Let¡¯s enjoy the evening regardless. ¡± Everyone quickly caught on to the underlying issue. No matter how Jordan spun the narrative, it was clear the fianc¨¦-to-be had dodged the engagement party. ¡°Seems like the CEO is as dedicated to his work as rumored. It¡¯s understandable. The young have boundless energy, and it¡¯smendable that your grandson is somitted to Vitality Group. There¡¯s no need for apologies. We get where he¡¯sing from. ¡± Jordan, finding an escape in these words, muttered some disheartened acknowledgments. The guests, feigning agreement, secretly found amusement in the situation. Witnessing the Walsh family in such a predicament was a first for many. On the fringes, Sumner couldn¡¯t contain hisughter. Lindsey nudged him, cautioning, ¡°Keep it down. It won¡¯t be awkward if Carole catches youughing. ¡± Trying to suppress his amusement, Sumner nced at her and said softly, ¡°I was worried you might be hassled, so I came to keep an eye out.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Didn¡¯t expect to walk into such a drama!¡± He thought to himself, if this fianc¨¦-to-be really chose Carole, who flirted with other¡¯s boyfriend, he¡¯d seriously doubt this man¡¯s judgment and taste. Lindsey looked up, her eyes sparkling, ¡°Worried about me getting bullied? That won¡¯t happen. I never let anyone get the better of me without a fight. ¡± Seeing her fierce independence, Sumner¡¯s heart warmed, and he couldn¡¯t help but look at her with a tender, admiring gaze. Lindsey averted her gaze with a swift motion. With a gracious smile, Jordan announced, ¡°Let the feastmence! Make yourselvesfortable!¡± The guests began mingling in small groups, exchanging pleasantries. Jordan finally exhaled, turning to Carole and gently taking her hand as a gesture offort. ¡°Domenic has always been like this. Today¡¯s situation was unforeseen. Please rest assured that your engagement with him is a sure thing. The ceremony can wait. ¡± Carole nodded understandingly, assuring Jordan, ¡°I understand. Domenic is dedicated to his work. Please don¡¯t worry. I truly am fine. ¡± But beneath herposed facade, Carole¡¯s distress was evident. Herplexion was ashen, and her hands clenched tightly. She appeared lost in turmoil, trembling with a chill that threatened to overwhelm her. The sudden shift in Domenic¡¯s decision, the mocking murmurs echoing from the guests, and the sympathetic gaze cast upon her by Lindsey coalesced, nearly crushing her beneath their weight. Before long, Carole apologized to Jordan, expressing her need to depart due to feeling unwell. Concern etched Jordan¡¯s features as he inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you alright?¡± Carole shook her head weakly. ¡°I fear I am exhausted. I think I should retreat and rest. ¡± Recognizing Carole¡¯s genuine distress, Jordan agreed and arranged for her transportation back home. Noticing Carole¡¯s departure, Lindsey sensed the distress emanating from her pallid form. Ovee with worry, she approached Carole, her toneced with concern. ¡°Are you alright?¡± This inquiry struck a chord deep within Carole. She fought back an explosive reaction, her eyes zing with an intensity that pierced Lindsey to the core. It was a stark departure from Carole¡¯s usual demeanor, leaving Lindsey frozen in confusion. Carole emitted a low hiss through tightly clenched teeth. ¡°You knew this would happen, didn¡¯t you? Your sole purpose here today is to have a goodugh at me, right?¡± Chapter 804 Lindsey was taken aback. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m not sure I understand. Could you rify?¡± With her fists clenched even tighter, Carole was on the verge of shouting in Lindsey¡¯s face that nothing would change the fact that she would soon be wed to Domenic. However, doing so would only make herself aughingstock. Domenicvished so much attention on Lindsey, yet he couldn¡¯t even feign seriousness about their engagement party. Carole couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Lindsey seeing her as a pitiful joke if she voiced such sentiments. The mere image of Lindsey¡¯s smug expression left Carole feeling utterly shattered. ¡®s BunnyBookery Suppressing her resentment and anger, Carole gazed at Lindsey for a while before turning away, choosing to leave without uttering another word. Lindsey furrowed her brow, watching Carole¡¯s retreating figure with profound confusion. After ensuring she was beyond the gaze of the banquet hall, Carole unleashed her pent-up frustration by stomping her heels in a fit of rage. Just as the staff opened the front door for her exit, a swarm of journalists wielding microphones and cameras surged in, blocking her path. The situation was more than just irritating for Carole. She was the one who had reached out to the media, seeking to amplify the excitement surrounding her engagement ceremony. Yet, after what had unfolded, it all felt utterly unnecessary. All she desired now was for this banquet to fade into oblivion, erased from everyone¡¯s memory. Just as Carole attempted to instruct the reporters to depart, one of them thrust a camera in her face. ¡°Miss Larson, do you believe ¡®fianc¨¦ rejected marriage¡¯ urately encapstes what urred at today¡¯s ceremony?¡± ¡°Do you know why your partner failed to appear, Miss Larson? Was the decision to get married yours and your partner¡¯s alone, or was it arranged by Mr. Jordan Walsh?¡± ¡°Miss Larson, rumors are suggesting that your engagement to a Walsh only came about after persistent efforts to ingratiate yourself with Jordan Walsh. Can you offer any rification on this?¡± ¡°Miss Larson, can you confirm if your engagement is still a sure thing? When can we expect your engagement ceremony to take ce?¡± Carole¡¯s head spun with the onught of hostile interview questions. Overwhelmed by the awkward situation, she longed to disappear, to escape the relentless scrutiny. She couldn¡¯tprehend how the journalists had obtained information about the debacle, nor could she grasp the reason behind today¡¯s disaster when she had been so confident that everything was under control. The reporters swarmed Carole, firing off rapid questions at the same time. Carole wobbled on her feet, barely able to keep her control in check. The security guards at the banquet quickly formed a protective circle around her, warding off the relentless journalists, while a staff member discreetly escorted Carole to the back exit.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Despite the chaos, Carole did her best to maintain a dignified air as she left through the back door. In the banquet hall, Lindsey was frowning at the spot Carole had stood a moment earlier. While she was annoyed with the way Carole spoke to her, she couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with Carole. No woman would be pleased to find out that her partner bailed on their engagement ceremony. Regardless, Lindsey was surprised to see such an aplished woman like Carole in such a predicament. Lindsey had only attended this party because of Carole. Now that the engagement ceremony was called off and Carole had left, there was no reason for Lindsey to stay. She turned to ask Sumner if he was ready to leave. At that moment, Brady was engaging in idle chit-chat with Rachel and Jordan. Along with the usual pleasantries were subtle warnings Brady was bored, but he couldn¡¯t afford to show his impatience, so he scanned the room in search of an acquaintance whom he could use as an excuse to leave. His perusal came to an abrupt halt as he stared in shocked silence at a figure not far away. The figure bore such a_ striking resemnce to Everleigh that he could do nothing but gape for several seconds. ¡°Brady? Brady?¡± The displeased voice snapped Brady out of his trance. When he turned to the voice, he found Rachel staring at him with a displeased frown. Chapter 805 ¡°Dad¡¯s talking to you. What¡¯s with the daydreaming?¡± Brady shed a quick smile and apologized. But before either Jordan or Rachel could reply, he announced that he just spotted someone he knew and wanted to go and chat with them for a bit. However, Brady didn¡¯t dare move from his spot until he got a nod of permission from Jordan. Sumner was here solely to keep Lindseypany, so if Lindsey chose to leave, he wouldn¡¯t have any reason to stay either. However, he soon found himself in a predicament as well. With Carole gone, the socialites lost their subject of mockery and aimlessly scoured the hall until their attention was captured by the handsome and extraordinary Sumner, recently famous online. Soon, Sumner found himself surrounded by a group of beautiful women. They were eager to get his contact information, hoping to get to know him. ¡°Hi, Mr. Lawson. Ourpany sponsored the second episode of that talent show. Can I have your numbers so we can get to know each other?¡± A serene beauty in a white dress asked. Almost immediately, a bold woman d in ck retorted, ¡°There are so many sponsors for Star Search, how can anyone remember you? Mr. Lawson, I¡¯m currently studying music. How about we exchange contact info and chat about music sometime?¡± A few other women announced their intent to get Sumner¡¯s contact information as well, and soon, Sumner found himself in the midst of quarreling women. Desperate, he looked to Lindsey for help.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. With a small smile, Lindsey pulled Sumner from the crowd and positioned herself protectively in front of him. ¡°Sorrydies, Sumner is mypany¡¯s artist, and we have strict policies against friending non-professionals. You can friend me instead, and I¡¯ll make sure to pass along any messages,¡± Lindsey politely informed them, shing her QR code. Thedy in ck recognized Lindsey as the woman they scorned earlier. Her face twisted into a condescending snarl and she demanded, ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Sumner¡¯s agent, and I handle all his external affairs. ¡± Lindsey smiled at the women. When thedies heard this, they were all visibly shocked, their eyes going wide. Their attitude changed instantly and the woman in the ck dressughed awkwardly. ¡°Oh, the agent! Well then, how about we be friends?¡± Just as the woman in ck moved her phone closer for a_ scan, Lindsey suddenly pulled her hand back. While her smile didn¡¯t waver, her eyes narrowed on the woman. ¡°Sorry, time waits for no one. ¡± Then she took Sumner by the hand and made her way toward the entrance. ¡®s BunnyBookery The socialites watched them leave in silence, their expressions a mix of anger, irritation and regret. They all wished they hadn¡¯t Looked down on Lindsey with such disdain earlier. Lindsey and Sumner had just gotten to the door when a distinguished-looking middle-aged man suddenly blocked their path. Brady shed a friendly smile and said, ¡°Hello, you must be Sumner, right?¡± Sumner didn¡¯t expect to be that famous for everyone to recognize him instantly. He gave a puzzled look and said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m Sumner, but have we met?¡± Brady gave a slight smile as he noticed Sumner¡¯s confused expression. ¡°I¡¯m Brady Lawson from the Lawson Group. ¡± Brady reached out for a handshake with Sumner. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. ¡± As soon as Sumner caught wind of the ¡°Lawson Group¡±, his eyes dimmed a bit. However, he went ahead and shook the outstretched hand. ¡°So, what¡¯s up? How can I help you?¡± Brady went on to exin how he recognized Sumner after watching the talent show. ¡°I used to be a fan of Everleigh Pearson. The way you nailed her song, even decades after shest performed it¡­ That¡¯s seriously impressive. ¡± Chapter 806 Brady gazed fondly at Sumner¡¯s face, noticing the striking resemnce to Everleigh¡¯s. This young man not only inherited his mother¡¯s calm demeanor but also some impressive vocal skills. Lost in the moment, Brady didn¡¯t realize he looked a bit too much like an overly sentimental father. Sumner nodded humbly. ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit. ¡± Then Brady handed Sumner his card. ¡°I¡¯m your big fan now. If you ever need anything in the future, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out. ¡± ¡°Thanks for the kind words. ¡± Sumner smiled and epted the business card. Brady didn¡¯t notice the woman standing next to Sumner until that moment. The blue dress she had on really brought out her soft, pretty features. ¡°Wait, is she¡­ like, your girlfriend?¡± Sumner was taken aback. Before he could respond, Lindsey swiftly chimed in, ¡°No, I¡¯m his agent. Sumner is still single. ¡± Sumner looked down, letting out a quiet sound of approval. Disappointment settled on his face. Did Lindsey not want to be his girlfriend at all? Why was she in such a rush to clear things up? Brady nodded with a smile. ¡°My bad. Hope you can take good care of him.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. He¡¯s a great guy. ¡± Then, giving Sumner a quick look, Brady turned away and took off. Sumner kept his eyes on Brady until he disappeared, then turned back to Lindsey, and unexpectedly found her giving him a squinty, skeptical look. ¡°Why are you giving me that look?¡± Sumner asked Lindsey, feeling a bit embarrassed. Lindsey clicked her tongue, ncing into his eyes. ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re quite something. The big boss was totally into you just now. ¡± ¡°Guess¡­ I¡¯m just that good, huh?¡± Sumner replied with a joking tone, leaning a bit towards Lindsey. Even if he could make everyone else fall for him, the only person he had real feelings for was someone he could never be with. Sumner shed a cunning grin,ced with self-mocking humor, and casually strolled out after Lindsey. As they strolled through the front door, Lindsey caught wind of some gossip. ¡°Thatdy really went for it, trying to win over the Vitality Group¡¯s CEO, just to be humiliated like that. What a shame. ¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve never even heard of Carole Larson before. Why did Jordan Walsh choose her as his granddaughter-inw? It would¡¯ve been better if he told his grandson to marry someone from an elite family. ¡± Hearing that, Lindsey froze in surprise. Was Carole really engaged to the CEO of Vitality Group? She could still picture how fierce and frightening the CEO of Vitality Group seemed back then. Lindsey gulped, unsure whether to congratte Carole or feel sorry for her. Suddenly, it hit Lindsey that Carole was Domenic¡¯s cousin. The CEO of Vitality Group, turned out, he was also a Walsh. And Carole was about to engage to this CEO¡­ So, who was Domenic exactly? What was his connection to the Vitality Group? Upon Carole¡¯s return to Jordan¡¯s residence, an errant sprinkler on thewn caught her off guard, tripping her and drenching her clothes. Chapter 807 Already seething with irritation, this mishap unleashed her fury. Abandoning herposure, she yelled, ¡°Who¡¯s responsible for this? Can¡¯t you see?¡± The household staff were shocked, and unustomed to witnessing Carole¡¯s temper. After all, she had always embodied elegance and calm, a paragon of gentility to them. But there she was, disheveled and drenched, standing on thewn, her face contorted with anger, seemingly on the brink of a confrontation¡­ Carole rushed back to her room in a flurry, mming the door shut behind her after her outburst. She preferred solitude, not wanting anyone to witness her disarrayed state. Alone in her room, Carole couldn¡¯t contain her trembling. The evening¡¯s events weighed heavily on her, tempting her to unleash her frustration by breaking things. Yet, she held back, aware that it was not the right ce to do so. Overwhelmed by the mounting anger, Carole¡¯s stomach churned, and she hurried to the bathroom, retching into the toilet bowl. Gazing at her reflection, her eyes bloodshot against her ashen face, and she looked like a ghost in her white attire. Carole couldn¡¯t understand why Domenic was treating her like this. Hadn¡¯t she saved his life before? Didn¡¯t their shared history count for anything? They had everything nned out, talked it through, and it was his idea to team up. How could he leave her hanging without a heads-up, catching her off guard and feeling embarrassed? It seemed Like he did it on purpose. With a sudden realization, Carole narrowed her eyes, considering whether Lindsey had ignored her orders and spilled the beans about their engagement ns to Domenic. Did Domenic and Lindsey team up to destroy her n and embarrass her in front of everyone? Recalling Lindsey¡¯s demeanor at the event, she now believed everything clicked. That was why Lindsey hadn¡¯t been stirred by her; that darn Lindsey! Carole was madly puzzled, unable to grasp the sneaky tactics Lindsey might¡¯ve used to sway Domenic to her side. For Lindsey, Domenic went as far as defying his grandpa openly and even giving up his shares in the Walsh Group. Was he willing to give up his position as the heir for Lindsey? Did Lindsey hold such significance for him? Carole pondered her shoringspared to Lindsey. What was it that she was missing? Carole was filled with anger, ming everything on Lindsey. With her hands balled into fists, Carole silentlymitted to a future where Domenic would earnestly seek her hand in marriage. She vowed to reciprocate every bit of humiliation she endured today to Lindsey, ensuring it was paid back in full. Moreover, she resolved to dismantle Lindsey¡¯s life, intent on leaving her ostracized and isted by all. Once Brady had departed, Sumner and Lindsey also decided to leave the hotel. Upon arriving at the gate, Sumner suggested he could drive Lindsey home, an offer she didn¡¯t refuse. After ensuring Lindsey was settledfortably in the vehicle and the door was securely closed, Sumner ignited the engine. He observed Lindsey, clearly weary, reclining and gently rubbing her temples. With a softness typical for him, Sumner ced his jacket over her, advising, ¡°If you feel tired, go ahead and sleep. I¡¯ll let you know once we¡¯re at your ce.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Lindsey was beyond tired. A full day of work and an evening party had drained her. After the unexpected drama that unfolded, all she wanted was to rest. Lindsey mumbled her gratitude but found sleep elusive. Closing her eyes only seemed to heighten her senses. The evening¡¯s bizarre events swirled in her mind, leaving her thoughts tangled and restless, far from calm. As sleep remained elusive, Lindsey¡¯s thoughts drifted to a recent conversation about Sumner and Xiomara. Curiosity getting the better of her, she looked at Sumner and asked, ¡°Sumner, has there been something between you and Xiomarately? You two seem distant. ¡± Chapter 808 Sumner addressed her question straightforwardly, revealing, ¡°Xiomara shared her feelings with me, but I didn¡¯t reciprocate. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart missed a beat when she heard about Xiomara¡¯s confession and was even more taken aback by Sumner¡¯s outright rejection of her. ¡°Why would you reject her?¡± she asked with a hint of disbelief. ¡°Xiomara is such a wonderful person. I thought you two would be perfect together. ¡± As Sumner steered the car, he interrupted her with a calmness in his voice. ¡°It¡¯s because my heart belongs to someone else. I can¡¯t simply set aside my feelings to love another. ¡± He paused for a moment, then nced at Lindsey. ¡°Moreover, the one I care for is right here beside me. ¡± The directness of his affection left Lindsey frozen. Her heart started to beat faster as she teased him, ¡°Sumner, you¡¯re not confusing the jests about engagement from our families as something real, are you? Those were just yful remarks. Your mother would want you to follow your heart. She¡¯d be happy for you. ¡± Sumner couldn¡¯t help but Laugh at her response, unsure if Lindsey was truly confused or just feigning ignorance. He pulled the car to a stop and turned to her, his gaze firm, causing Lindsey to nervously cough and avert her eyes. ¡°Lindsey, it¡¯s you I¡¯ve fallen for.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. My feelings for you grew while I was abroad,¡± he said, his voice earnest and startling. ¡°I hesitated because you were with someone else. But I¡¯vee to see that he doesn¡¯t deserve you. He¡¯s not worthy of your trust. Someday, he¡¯ll only end up breaking your heart. ¡± He gently took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. His eyes were filled with sincere affection. ¡°Be with me, Lindsey. I promise to make you happy. ¡± Lindsey, taken aback, gently removed Sumner¡¯s hands. Her eyes met his, showing no hesitation. ¡°Sumner, he¡¯s my boyfriend, and I know him better than anyone else. I won¡¯t let you speak ill of him. ¡± She let out a soft sigh and added, ¡°I can¡¯t be with you. Besides the fact that I¡¯m in amitted rtionship, have you considered the fans shipping you and Xiomara? Do you really want to give up them? Besides, it¡¯s just not going to work out between us. ¡± Sumner felt a weight tightening around his heart, making it difficult to breathe. ¡°Do you think I care about that? Everything I¡¯ve done, from bing your artist topeting in the show, was for you. To be there for you, to support and protect you. ¡± Lindsey was startled, hearing him express this for the first time. She had always thought his goal of bing a singer and choosing her as his agent was purely about pursuing his dream. But Sumner, noticing Lindsey¡¯s silence, pressed her further, ¡°And when you pushed that narrative of me and Xiomara, linking us together without asking me, did you think about how I would feel? Did you consider the impact it might have on Xiomara and me?¡± Lindsey, caught off guard by his questions, bit her lip and replied, ¡°That was the n of the production team. ¡± ¡°But you yed along, didn¡¯t you?¡± Sumner continued. ¡°You even shared personal stories online to make our connection look stronger. You im to value your privacy, yet for the show, you made an exception, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey understood then that Sumner was talking about her decision to address their rumored rtionship during an interview. ¡°The show¡¯s producers and I agreed. Linking you and Xiomara temporarily increases your visibility and gets you more public attention. Once the show ends, we¡¯ll figure out how to separate you two,¡± she exined. Sumner responded critically, ¡°So you¡¯re saying all this was done for my good, with no self-interest? Or was it your n to pair Xiomara and me, hoping to push me away? You don¡¯t like having me around, so without my input, you chose to pass me off to someone else, is that it? What do I mean to you, Lindsey?¡± By the time Sumner finished speaking, the normally calm guy couldn¡¯t hold back his anger. He took deep breaths, his gaze fixed on the stunned Lindsey, as if he were searching for answers in her eyes. Even though Sumner¡¯s remarks were harsh, Lindsey couldn¡¯t argue because they were undeniably true. She tried to respond but ended up staying silent. Chapter 809 After what seemed Like an eternity, Lindsey¡¯s voice finally broke the silence, saying in a hoarse voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sumner. This mistake was mine. I overlooked how you felt. ¡± Sumner¡¯s voice softened as he responded, looking into her eyes, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m sorry too. I didn¡¯t mean to be harsh. I just really hoped¡­ you¡¯d show a little more consideration for me. ¡± With a bittersweet smile, Lindsey replied, ¡°I¡¯ll stay out of your matters with Xiomara from now on. As your agent, I¡¯ll focus solely on my responsibilities. However, as my client, I hope you¡¯ll consider thepany¡¯s and your own future before making any rash decisions. ¡± Sumner remained silent, then quietly started the car. The drive back to Lindsey¡¯s apartment was enveloped in silence. Meanwhile, in an office situated in a skyscraper in Mubluosia, Arturo rxed with his legs crossed, reclining on a couch. Next to him, a man with an unreadable look was on a call, ss of wine in hand. ¡°Boss, your grandpa changed the engagement celebration to a standard gathering, and Carole left ahead of schedule,¡± Hendrix informed him respectfully. ¡°The reporters you had arranged for in advance all showed up and asked the questions just as you instructed. Miss Larson just evaded their questions and left. ¡± The corners of the man¡¯s mouth lifted into a satisfied grin as he took in the news and then ended the call. Having spent the entire day at Domenic¡¯s side, Arturo was fully aware of his actions. With a lightugh, Arturo said, ¡°Domenic, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going a bit overboard? Embarrassing that woman to such an extent- it seems quite harsh, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Domenic nced at Arturo with a cold look and said, ¡°If you¡¯re so concerned about her, why not marry her and spoil her yourself? I can arrange it with my grandpa tomorrow. ¡± Arturo quickly shook his head and gestured with his hands in denial. ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t mean that, alright?¡± Only then did Domenic back down, his expression growing more intense.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Arturo, with a touch of concern, questioned, ¡°But aren¡¯t you worried this might upset your grandpa? What¡¯s your n for exining this to him when we return?¡± Domenic looked at him, calm and seemingly indifferent. ¡°This engagement was a sham to begin with. If she had cooperated, none of this would have happened. ¡± Because Carole had once saved him, Domenic harbored an inexplicable trust in her. This led him to ept a pretend engagement with her under the pressure from his grandfather, aiming to secure shares of the Walsh Group. However, his informants reported that Carole had sought out Lindsey at her workce and even took her ring shopping for the engagement. And it was clear to Domenic that the ring Carole selected was the one Lindsey had shown interest in. Carole¡¯s actions, getting close to Lindsey and secretly buying the ring she liked, made Domenic question her intentions. Recalling Carole¡¯s revtion to Lindsey about the red diamond, which cast him in a dubious light, Domenic saw that Carole was not as simple and innocent as she seemed. Therefore, he opted to change his approach and just see where things would lead him, eager to uncover the real plot Carole had up her sleeve. Before the party, Domenic got his hands on the list of guests and discreetly ced his informants among them. He made a quick trip to Mubluosia during the night to make sure he wouldn¡¯t be easily found, especially by his grandpa who was known for his keen tracking skills. As soon as Lindsey stepped into the banquet hall, the puzzle of Carole¡¯s n became clear to Domenic. Chapter 810 He had his people keep a tight watch on Lindsey, making note of her every interaction and conversation throughout the evening.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. To humiliate Carole at the engagement party was just a small punishment, a nudge to remind her to keep things straight. It didn¡¯t matter what she knew or her reasons, the fact that she had saved his life once didn¡¯t mean she could act without thinking. Domenic had no patience for women who thought too highly of their own wit, clearly stating that saving his life once didn¡¯t mean she could do whatever she wanted without consequences. Arturo,pletely surprised by how well Domenic had everything nned and how quickly he took action, shook his head in amazement. ¡°What are you nning to do next? After you¡¯ve dealt with your grandpa, are you really going to let your uncles take over the Walsh family¡¯s fortune?¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely not in my ns. ¡± Domenic twirled his ss of red wine as he spoke with purpose. ¡°Skipping out on my engagement party was just one aspect of my trip to Mubluosia. The other was to closely monitor our international projects. The groundwork I¡¯veid, after extensive preparation, is on the verge of yielding significant results. Once my uncles face bankruptcy, I¡¯ll seize their assets and gain control of at least 50% of the Walsh Group¡¯s shares. ¡± Right from the beginning, he had anticipated every possibility. Having reigned supreme in the business realm for so long with his strategic brilliance, it was improbable that he would allow anyone to outmaneuver him. Arturo was fully convinced and finallyprehended why he could never measure up to Domenic. With Domenic¡¯s astuteness and relentlessness in both strategizing and carrying out ns, he surpassed Arturo by leaps and bounds in terms of meticulousness and determination. He was like a cheetah, ever poised to strike at his prey and relentless until the capture was assured. Arturo trembled at the notion, grateful he had aligned himself with Domenic rather than challenged him. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t imagine the extent of his defeat. Domenic leaned over the back of sofa, his eyes partially shut as he made a deliberate deration. ¡°Once we¡¯ve sorted everything out, I¡¯ll entrust you with managing 20% of our international market. ¡± This pledge was hismitment to Arturo. Arturo, rxed with one leg casually crossed over the other, appeared pleased and said, ¡°Thank you. I truly appreciate it. ¡± ¡°Speaking of which, Lindsey mentioned that Sh¡¯s divorce is finalized, and she¡¯s officially single now. You might want to act swiftly before someone else beat you to it,¡± Domenic remarked, raising an eyebrow at Arturo. ¡°Domenic, when did you be so invested in my romantic affairs?¡± Arturo teased, though inwardly he could barely contain his excitement. With the 20% market share promised by Domenic, he would wield considerable influence within his family. He envisioned proudly introducing Sh and her child to his family, ensuring they would never again endure hardship. Following the banquet, Jordan made his way back home. Carole had spent the afternoon regaining control over her emotions. In sync with Jordan¡¯s arrival, she brewed his favorite tea and whipped up some sugar-free treats. Upon his entry, she had the living room meticulously arranged and assisted him in changing out of his formal attire into something more rxing. Currently, Jordan was the sole advocate for Carole and Domenic¡¯s rtionship. He possessed the influence necessary to sway Domenic¡¯s opinion. Carole¡¯s adeptness at gauging the atmosphere and these subtle acts of amodation were precisely what could win Jordan¡¯s favor. ¡°Mr. Walsh, please sample these cookies. Given the doctor¡¯s concern about your elevated blood sugar, I prepared them without sugar. Do inform me if they meet your pte, especially when paired with this tea. ¡± Chapter 811 The cookies boasted richness without excessive sweetness, while the tea was perfectly brewed-refreshing and mild. Jordan savored a profound sense of contentment after a taxing day, and Carole¡¯s dutiful manner further heightened his satisfaction. Taking a sip of tea, he smiled warmly andmended Carole for her considerate and meticulous care. Sensing her apprehension, Jordan offered reassurance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Carole. I won¡¯t overlook the injustices of today. Upon Domenic¡¯s return, I¡¯ll ensure he faces the consequences and personally apologize to you. And don¡¯t even think about stopping me from giving thatd a stern talking-to. ¡± Carole, her gaze lowered, refilled Jordan¡¯s teacup as she expressed, ¡°Please, there¡¯s no need. I¡¯m feeling much better now. It wasn¡¯t a significant issue from the start. Domenic¡¯smitment to his career is reasonable, as is your care for us. There will be future opportunities for the engagement celebration. Let¡¯s forgive and forget. ¡± Carole¡¯spassion deeply touched Jordan, endearing her to him even more. ¡°Carole, despite Domenic¡¯s disregard for your emotions, you continue to advocate for him. A girl like you is a rare gem. He wille to appreciate your value sooner orter,¡± Jordan sighed, then continued, ¡°It¡¯s regrettable that out of these two months, we¡¯ve had only one suitable day. We can¡¯tpromise on quality, so we¡¯ll need to dy the engagement until a more opportune time. Rest assured, I¡¯ll choose a more suitable date for you. ¡± Carole smiled gently. ¡°We¡¯ll adhere to your ns. ¡± ¡°In truth, Iprehend Domenic¡¯s situation. His schedule is packed, leaving us with only a few days together. It¡¯s insufficient time to nurture our rtionship, which is why he appears indifferent toward the engagement. If I could spend every day by his side, I¡¯m confident he wouldn¡¯t seem so distant,¡± Carole sighed softly, her demeanor tinged with eptance. Jordan pondered over Carole¡¯s words for a while and then came to the conclusion that they were nothing but the truth. With how buried Domenic was in his work, he had little to no time for leisure activities. There were hardly any opportunities for the two to spend time together. ¡°You are right. I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Jordan said firmly. Hearing this, a subtle smile appeared on Carole¡¯s face. Bending down, she continued to serve tea to Jordan, satisfied that she had achieved her goal. A little whileter, a new thought shed through her mind. She let out a sad sigh and said, ¡°I wish I knew who leaked the news about the engagement incident to the paparazzi. The way they questioned me when I left was nothing short of an attack on me. Thinking of how they are going to paint today¡¯s engagement in tomorrow¡¯s headlines gives me a headache. ¡± She paused for a moment to observe Jordan¡¯s reaction. Seeing that he was paying attention to her, she continued, ¡°I actually don¡¯t mind being ridiculed, but I fear for the reputation of the Walsh family. It might be damaged alongside that of yours and Domenic¡¯s¡­¡± Jordan raised his hand up and gently rubbed his chin. Indeed, the only exnation for the media¡¯s immediate arrival was that someone leaked information to them. With a scoff, Jordan said, ¡°Anyone who dares to offend me will regret it for the rest of their life. I¡¯ll find whoever spread those rumors and make Morcastle unbearable for them!¡± Hearing this, Carole was frightened a little. After all, she had been the one who secretly fed the media with information. Swallowing hard, she assured herself that her secret would never be revealed. Seeing Carole¡¯s troubled expression, Jordan softened his eyes and tried to reassure her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t let it bother you, Carole. Trust me, I won¡¯t rest until I catch the culprit behind this. ¡± With that, he turned his head sideways and called out the butler. Hearing his name, the butler rushed over to Jordan¡¯s side, who then proceeded to whisper something in his ear. When the next day rolled by, the media acted like they weren¡¯t aware of the previous night¡¯s engagement debacle. And that was because a more sensational piece of gossip had seized their attention. Their headlines were filled with news about another couple. ¡°Sumner and Xiomara: When Love Bes A Scam!¡± ¡°Sumner and Xiomara: Why Did They Deceive Us?¡± ¡°The Love Between Sumner and Xiomara Was All A Lie!¡± ¡°Sumner and Xiomara: The Latest Maniptive Marketing Case!¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Lindnita Artists Agency: An Agency Based On Deception And Greed!¡± Overnight, a very famous paparazzo revealed that the rtionship between Sumner and Xiomara was a total sham. It was a rtionship that was cooked up by Lindnita Artists Agency so as to give both individuals¡¯ poprity a boost by ying with fans¡¯ emotions. To make it all the more interesting, Sumner and Xiomara were actually like enemies in private and never got along with each other. Chapter 812 To back up their im, the paparazzo included two interview audios with greatly altered voices in his reveal. On one of it, Kristy shared what she imed to be a conversation she overheard backstage at the filming site between both supposed lovers, saying, ¡°Xiomara and Sumner were having a conversation that sounded much like a disagreement between enemies. She told her that if he was tired of their team-up, he was free to talk to Lindsey about it. In reply, he told Xiomara they must keep things professional without allowing any sort of personal feelings. To quote him, he said, ¡®We are just colleagues. ¡® He was so indifferent toward her¡­¡± Another clip was released by someone, who imed to be an employee of Lindnita Artists Agency. In it, the person said, ¡°Their rtionship online is a total lie. In fact, these two have nothing inmon and never interact with each other in the office unless they must do so. Their love for each other is simply an act. Every single one of you has been fooled¡­¡± To cap it all off, the paparazzi then dropped a bombshell that shook everyone to the core. Someone had seen both Lindsey and Sumner walk into the Emperor Hotel together, and then leaving together about two hours before daybreak. This bombshell angered Sumner and Xiomara ship¡¯s fans to no end. They bombarded Lindsey¡¯s Twitter with questions, demanding an exnation and using her of being a snake who was the mastermind behind a fake rtionship. Thousands of them questioned repeatedly the nature of her rtionship with Sumner, asking if was more than just that of colleagues. ¡°Wow, this is crazy! Why are Lindsey and Lindnita Artists Agency still quiet up till now? When will theye out and exin what the hell is going on to us? These people take us fans as nothing but fools! Our loyalty means nothing to them!¡± ¡°This is heartbreaking! Why would the agency do this to us ship fans? So, there¡¯s no love between Sumner and Xiomara? It was all an act? By God, those bastards faked it so well! I¡¯m in tears as I type this. They have broken my heart beyond repair¡­¡± ¡°Lindsey has got to be the most shameless human being to have ever walked the surface of the earth! I can¡¯t believe she was into Sumner while acting like all innocent and sweet! Like, where the hell is her conscience?¡± To the anger of millions of fans, some people brazenly shipped Sumner and Lindsey uponing across the leaks. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Well, it turns out you have all been shipping the wrong pair all this while, huh? Lucky for me, I¡¯ve been all for Sumner and Lindsey been together since day one. It is simply the most perfectbo of all time. You have a cool, noble bass-voiced male star and his behind-the-scenes, quiet, supportive, and stunningly beautiful female agent hitting it off. It¡¯s nothing short of beautiful and perfect!¡± Naturally, the response to thisment from others was swift and brutal. Relentlessly, they attacked and insulted thementer until they, apparently unable to bear it anymore, deleted their ount. Meanwhile, in the makeup room, a woman with meticulously applied makeup and bright red nails casually picked up her phone and Logged into her Twitter ount. After going through the trending topics for a while, she smiled softly and nodded satisfactorily. ¡°Great job!¡± Kristy eximed to the phone. ¡°I¡¯ll send the money to your bank card. ¡± ¡°This needs careful handling since it¡¯s your request, correct?¡± The male voice on the other end was casual and crude. ¡°Forget the payment for now. When will youe to hang out with me?¡± Ending the call abruptly, Kristy ced the phone down, her face expressionless. Next to her sat another woman, d in a whitece dress, her hands folded on herp, her smile serene. Kristy faced the woman and asked, ¡°Miss Larson, are you pleased with my efforts?¡± With a soft smile, Carole reflected. She had noticed the tension between Kristy and Lindsey during the filming of the talent show. Curious, she did some research online and found out about their past conflicts. She then informed Kristy about Sumner and Lindsey¡¯s visit to the Emperor Hotel and the presence of journalists there. Kristy got in touch with the paparazzi and found out they had snapped photos of the two. At first, the paparazzi wanted money from Lindsey for the pictures, but Kristy stepped in and prevented that.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Also, Kristy¡¯s awareness of Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s rtionship uncovered even more big news. ¡°I think you and I share amon aim. Carole¡¯s eyes narrowed, her smileden with intent. ¡± Kristy raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°I look forward to our coboration. Surprisingly, Lindsey has crossed you, too. I do respect her ¡®prowess¡¯, though. ¡± With a smile, Carole responded, ¡°Let¡¯s keep this between us. If it gets out, you¡¯ll be in deeper trouble than me. ¡± Chapter 813 ¡°I¡¯ll keep it to myself,¡± Kristy assured. Then, looking directly at Carole, Kristy stated, ¡°You now owe me a favor. ¡± ¡°Sure, if you need anything, give me a call. ¡± Carole stood, took her bag, and departed. Kristy leaned back, taking in Carole¡¯s graceful form. Surprisingly, thisdy seemed elegant and innocent, yet there was a hidden cruelty about her. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve got so many enemies. I wonder how long you canst,¡± she murmured to herself. In the office of Lindnita Artists Agency, Lindsey sat browsing her Twitter, dumbfounded and amused. Previously, the real dynamics of Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s rtionship were unexplored. The masses echoed the broadcasted narrative. Now when it was said there was actually no romantic rtionship between the two, their fans all tried to me and question her¡­ Didn¡¯t today¡¯s inte users have any ability to think for themselves? They just followed the herd and did whatever others did and said. If they shipped Sumner and Xiomara, shouldn¡¯t there be some trust?Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. With a heavy sigh, Lindsey felt overwhelmed. The issues seemed endless, yet she knew she must endure. But based on her talk with Sumner the previous night, she had resolved to steer clear of Sumner and Xiomara. Yet, the paparazzi captured her and Sumner at the engagement event, stirring up a scandal about them being together tillte, causing a headache. Thepany¡¯s phone kept ringing, with many partners calling for rification. If Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s rtionship turned out to be fake, the agency would be responsible for any losses. Most of the cooperation was for both Xiomara and Sumner. Thepany would have to cover any losses if their rtionship turned out to be false. With a worried look, Nancy hurried into Lindsey¡¯s office and leaned on the desk. ¡°What¡¯s our next move? The inte is abuzz with the saga involving Sumner, you, and Xiomara. Do we go public with a rification? Whose side of the story should we address first?¡± Lindsey replied with a shake of her head, ¡°Those are two separate matters. I can¡¯t dictate what happens between Sumner and Xiomara. We can¡¯t pry into the private lives of stars, nor do I have the authority or reason to meddle; my role is to y along with their next steps. If things get worse, our only choices are to offerpensation, give refunds, or end some contracts. ¡± Nancy was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Lindsey¡¯s decision to not intervene. With a hint of reluctance, she mumbled, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to them myself. ¡± But as she turned to leave, Lindsey held her back, saying, ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already discussed it with them, and that¡¯s the end of it. They likely have their perspectives and methods of handling this matter, so it¡¯s not our ce to press them. ¡± Nancy¡¯s brow furrowed in disappointment, yet she understood the finality of Lindsey¡¯s decision. Nheless, she asked, ¡°Then what¡¯s our n for dealing with the photos about you and Sumner? And what was the real purpose behind that party? Perhaps you should rify things. At least to the people on Twitter and the media. ¡± Lindsey, believing in transparency, saw no need to hide anything. Thus, she drafted a brief post about the previous evening¡¯s event: it was a celebration of a friend¡¯s engagement, both to her and Sumner, urging the media to refrain from wild spections. To lend credibility to her exnation, she included photos of the event space she had captured, sharing these details on social media. However, this did Little to quell the spections of those rooting for Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s union. They questioned her silence on the nature of her rtionship with them, implying hidden motives through theirments. ¡°It seems the love between Xiomara and Sumner was all a fake. Lindsey¡¯s silence on their rtionship speaks volumes, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Come on, Lindsey Stewart, stop hiding and give us some answers!¡± Chapter 814 ¡°Lindnita Agency, we¡¯re waiting for a response!¡± And to add insult to injury, misfortune neveres alone. Before nightfall, a video emerged featuring an interview with one of Emperor Hotel¡¯s managers. ording to this manager, things were vastly different from what Lindsey described. ¡°I¡¯m a manager at Emperor Hotel. I can confirm that there was no engagement party heldst night at our hotel, so Miss Stewart must have taken those pictures elsewhere. It would be best for everyone if she stopped fabricating stories while trying to prove her innocence. ¡± The video dealt a heavy blow to Lindsey. Online condemnations of her lie grew even louder. ¡°Climb down from your pedestal, faker! ying innocent while messing around with your talent and trying to cover your tracks?¡± ¡°And Lindsey ims to have a boyfriend? Talk about being yed for a fool. ¡± ¡°I heard Lindsey blew all the money she robbed from Sumner on her little boy toy¡­ Utterly disgraceful!¡± ¡°Ban her!¡± The staff of Star Search also joined in, applying additional pressure. They demanded Lindsey provide aplete exnation publicly or risk Sumner and Xiomara being excluded from the third episode. Any resulting harm would fall squarely on Lindsey¡¯s and her agency¡¯s shoulders. Lindsey could barely handle the chaos unfolding all at once, and a headache kicked in. The interview with the manager of the Emperor Hotel got her so riled up that her hair was nearly ready to jump off her head in protest. It was a tant lie! This video was released obviously to shift all the criticism onto her. She¡¯d never tolerate bullying or let anyone rule over her. If something happened, she wouldn¡¯t ignore it; she¡¯d seek rity until she got it. With this resolve, Lindsey set aside all othermitments and headed straight to the Emperor Hotel. Upon reaching the hotel lobby, she immediately sought to engage the front desk staff in a discussion, aiming for a diplomatic resolution. However, the receptionist seemed disinterested in engaging meaningfully. ¡°I need to speak with the manager who gave that interview. I demand a face-to-face conversation and ess tost night¡¯s surveince footage from the banquet hall on the top floor!¡± Lindsey said insistently, her demeanor unwavering and resolute. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re entitled to see our hotel¡¯s surveince footage? As for this ¡®manager who gave that interview¡¯, I have no clue who you¡¯re referring to. If this is all you came for, I suggest you leave at once. Stirring up trouble will get you nowhere here. Are you unaware of who runs the Emperor Hotel?¡± The receptionist said, her tone dismissive and condescending, clearly showing no intention of assisting Lindsey. She had been instructed to be uncooperative with any woman fitting Lindsey¡¯s description who mighte looking for answers, thus she was merely following orders. Despite Lindsey¡¯s attempts to reason further, the receptionist had already made up her mind. With a scowl, she quickly dialed security, and within moments, a group of guards swarmed in, forcibly removing Lindsey from the premises. ¡°Release me! Unhand me!¡± But the guards were unyielding.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey struggled briefly before being overpowered; she was briskly escorted out of the hotel, only to find herself staring at the closed ss doors. Chapter 815 Alone and ousted to the bustling street, Lindsey¡¯s elegantly tied hair hade undone in the struggle, now haphazardly cascading over her neck. Her face flushed with frustration. Filming nearby at the Emperor Hotel, Kristy spotted a familiar yet disliked figure at the entrance. Seeing Lindsey in her current disheveled state, Kristy almost failed to suppress herughter. Unaware of her surroundings, Lindsey was absorbed in responding to a message from Nancy when she was abruptly interrupted by a sneering voice. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t Lindsey Stewart the famous agent!¡± Lindsey met Kristy¡¯s scornful gaze, and thetter scrutinized her before letting out a derisive snort, covering her mouth theatrically. ¡°Look at you now. How the mighty have fallen. Seems like you¡¯ve been given the boot. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s demeanor turned icy as she encountered Kristy, a highly unwee situation. Running into Kristy now felt like adding insult to injury. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve truly outdone yourself this time. What happened?¡± Kristy feigned, looking around. ¡°Didn¡¯t your boyfriende along? Or did he bail on you because you were unfaithful?¡± Kristy was thoroughly amused as she taunted, ¡°Or perhaps you excel at managing yourpany and talents, capitalizing on their poprity to enhance your fame while engaging in ndestine affairs with your male talent? Lindsey, you certainly seize every opportunity thates your way. ¡± Lindsey reached her limit with Kristy¡¯s mockery. Her gaze narrowed as she spoke firmly, ¡°Miss Chase, I appreciate your interest, but kindly attend to your own matters. My interactions with my talents are not your concern. Perhaps it would be wise for you to address your own issues. I¡¯ve noticed your frequent changes inpanions. It might be prudent to exercise discretion. You wouldn¡¯t want to catch something unpleasant,¡± Lindsey replied, casually adjusting her hair with a subtle smile dancing on her Lips. Kristy was left dumbfounded. Lindsey¡¯s words struck a nerve, leaving her seething with anger and embarrassment. ¡°Don¡¯t talk rubbish. ¡± ¡°Whether I¡¯m talking nonsense or not, you¡¯re well aware of the rumors surrounding your exploits,¡± Lindsey said with a knowing smile, watching as Kristy¡¯s face paled in response. In reality, Lindsey just said those words casually. There had been rumors circting about Kristy¡¯s tumultuous personal life, her frequent changes of partners, and her tendency to gravitate towards wealthy patrons. During her time with Vitality Entertainment, such rumors were swiftly quashed, barely making a ripple. However, since her transition to Gallop Entertainment, Kristy had found herself constantly under the scrutiny of tabloids.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Unlike its predecessor, Gallop Entertainment adopted a more public-facing stance, dismissing the rumors as unfounded and threatening legal action against the media. However, observing Kristy¡¯s reaction, Lindsey couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that where there was smoke, there Likely existed a fire. This led her to contemte the veracity of the allegations and how much truth they heldpared to mere fiction. ¡°What are you talking about? How could I possibly know that?¡± Kristy raised her voice, trying to mask her uncertainty. Lindsey shot her a quick, impassive nce and stated firmly, ¡°Miss Chase, let me offer you some advice. Misdeeds inevitably surface. What goes aroundes around. ¡± Feeling cornered, Kristy clenched her fists in frustration. ¡°Spare me the sanctimony, Lindsey. Who knows what skeletons you¡¯ve hidden in your closet to have so many people deliberately gunning for you? You¡¯re in no position to worry about me when you can barely save yourself? You certainly seem to attract a lot of attention!¡± Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened as she said more intensely, ¡°Are you implying that someone is purposefully singling me out? Tell me what you know. ¡± Realizing she had said too much, Kristy panicked briefly. ¡°It¡¯s all just spection. Rather than fixating on that, you should figure out how to exin your association with that male artist to everyone. ¡± Responding calmly, Lindsey stated, ¡°My rtionship with Sumner is transparent and aboveboard. I¡¯ll gather evidence and set the record straight myself. Can you do the same?¡± Lindsey¡¯s sharpeback left Kristy speechless. To Gallop Entertainment, she was merely a disposable pawn, protected superficially for thepany¡¯s image on minor matters. But they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to discard her when faced with more serious issues that could jeopardize thepany¡¯s interests. Ultimately, her destinyy in the hands of others. Pursing her lips, Kristy red at Lindsey. ¡°Don¡¯t just talk tough. Let¡¯s see how you worm your way out of this scandal!¡± With those words, Kristy spun on her high heels and stormed away. The confidence Lindsey had mustered deted like a burst balloon, and she staggered back a couple of steps. Perplexed, she struggled to understand why she consistently ended up in such frustrating scenarios. As her phone rang, it caught her off guard. Lately, she had grown more attuned to its ring. After seeing Domenic¡¯s name on the screen, she answered the call. Chapter 816 ¡°Domenic, why are you calling at this hour? Are you finished with work already?¡± ¡°I just miss you. ¡± Domenic chuckled softly, his warm tone like a soothing melody in Lindsey¡¯s ears. As Lindsey leaned against the wall, her somber expression softened slightly. She pressed her lips together before asking, ¡°You didn¡¯te homest night. Were you working overtime again?¡± Domenic let out a gentle sigh on the other end. ¡°I was just about to exin. There was a sudden project that needed urgent attention from the boss himself.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. I had to fly out with him overnight. I didn¡¯t get a chance to inform you. We justnded. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart sank. With Domenic being overseas, it meant they would not see each other for a few days. The prospect of returning to an empty room night after night filled Lindsey with a deep sense of loneliness. ¡°Okay,¡± Lindsey managed to reply, her voice tinged with sadness. There was something in Lindsey¡¯s tone that caught Domenic¡¯s attention. He sensed a hint of distress and couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Is everything okay, Linds? Did something happen?¡± After a brief pause, Lindsey decided against burdening Domenic with her problems, especially with his hectic schedule. She didn¡¯t want to add to his worries while he was away. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just a small hup at work. I¡¯ll handle it. Focus on your work. Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± Lindsey tried to inject some cheerfulness into her tone. Knowing Lindsey¡¯s resilient nature and reluctance to admit struggles or seek help, Domenic refrained from pressing further. ¡°Alright, but let me know if you are having any difficulties. We can tackle them together. ¡± When she replied, she heard a soft creak of a door opening from Domenic¡¯s end. ¡°Linds, I have to attend a meeting with the boss. Wait for me at home. I¡¯ll try to be back as soon as possible,¡± he said. ¡°Okay, but one more thing!¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice suddenly rose. Domenic asked gently, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Lindsey remembered the gossip from the engagement party about the CEO of the Vitality Group and Carole. She was itching to ask Domenic about the real story between them. However, she realized that such aplex conversation couldn¡¯t be rushed over a quick call, especially while he was abroad. She decided to ask him when he was back. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ I just wanted to remind you to take care of yourself amidst your busy schedule,¡± Lindsey redirected the conversation with care. With a delighted chuckle, Domenic responded, ¡°Got it. ¡± After hanging up, Lindsey¡¯s spirits sank again. The rollercoaster of recent events had left her utterly drained, and Domenic¡¯s absence only intensified her loneliness. Lindsey was used to bottling up her frustrations and never let her vulnerable side show to anyone. Whether it was friends or colleagues, she always projected an unbreakable facade. Her thoughts drifted to her mother, Juanita, the epitome of tenderness and love. If there was anyone who could truly understand her pain, it was her mother. When her mother was in good health, nothing rivaled the silent embrace and the gentle touch of her mother¡¯s hand on her back for sce. Moreover, Juanita was a woman of strength and self-sufficiency forged through years of facing life¡¯s hardships alone. She knew the rough terrain of adversity all too well. With empathy and wisdom, she could guide Lindsey through any storm. Chapter 817 Suddenly missing her mother terribly, Lindsey found sce in the knowledge that even in her current state, confined to a hospital bed, Juanita remained her sanctuary. A simple visit, a chance to converse, held immeasurable value. Upon reaching the hospital, Lindsey approached her mother¡¯s private room, only to catch the murmur of a man¡¯s voice from within. Since the door was slightly ajar, Lindsey positioned herself to the side, allowing the voices to filter through distinctly. Despite the tension knotting in her stomach, Lindsey resisted the impulse to retreat. Summoning her resolve, she knew she had to face this. Sensing the hesitant presence at the door and glimpsing a familiar garment, Leonel knew it was Lindsey immediately. It had been some time since their paths had crossed. He remained silent and waited until she gathered the courage to enter. When Lindsey walked in, Leonel paused briefly before breaking the silence. ¡°You decided to meet us after all? I half-expected you to turn tail and run. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here to check on Mom. Why are you thinking like that?¡± Lindsey replied to her brother in a low voice. She then strolled right up to Juanita¡¯s bedside, not backing down at all. After theirst fight, the siblings fell silent for a bit. Later, Leonel didn¡¯t take any steps to ease the situation. Lindsey, worried about another argument over her rtionship with Domenic, decided to leave things be and never contacting Leonel again. After a long quiet moment, Leonel finally spoke, his words still carrying a bit of an edge. He nced at Lindsey, mockingly asking, ¡°Just here for Mom, huh? I thought you were too busy with your love life to swing by the hospital. Why are you alone? Why didn¡¯t your boyfriende with you? Aren¡¯t you two deeply in Love?¡± Lindsey frowned at Leonel¡¯s words. But today, she just didn¡¯t have the energy or the desire to argue with him. She simply wanted to have a peaceful moment with their mother. ¡°I¡¯ve been crazy busy with worktely, and my boyfriend too. He took off on a business trip abroadst night,¡± Lindsey exined, trying to stay calm. Then, almost pleadingly, she said, ¡°Leonel, can you not do this to me? I¡¯m just here for Mom. If you don¡¯t want me around, I¡¯ll just leave. ¡± As Lindsey tried to leave, Leonel grabbed her arm from behind. His voice sounded stern this time. ¡°If you¡¯re here for Mom, then just stay. I¡¯ll be the one to leave. Don¡¯t make it seem like I¡¯m the one kicking you out. ¡± Lindsey stayed quiet, standing there as Leonel left the room and shut the door behind him. Lindsey took a moment to gather herself, then went to the bathroom to grab a basin and fill it with water. She was nning to give her mom a sponge bath. After tweaking the water temperature a few times to get it right, Lindsey picked up a couple of soft towels. Carrying the basin to Juanita¡¯s bedside, she plunked it on the nightstand. Then, she dunked the towels and squeezed them out until they were just damp enough. Juanita was wearing the hospital¡¯s patient gown, and Lindsey was using a towel to gently wipe her bare skin. ¡°Hey Mom,¡± Lindsey murmured, her voice cracking with emotion, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m here now. Work¡¯s been driving me insane, and it¡¯s been so long since west saw each other. Did you miss me, Mom?¡± Her mom stayed quiet, but Lindsey kept going. ¡°I really miss you. When are you going to wake up? There¡¯s so much I want to share with you. ¡± Recently, things have been a bit tense between Leonel and me¡­ I just can¡¯t seem to find the right way to talk to him anymore. I get it, Mom. I know you guys aren¡¯t thrilled about me being with my boyfriend, but¡­ But I love him. It¡¯s not simple to just let go of someone you love, you know? It¡¯s kind of like when you finally walked away from Dad, dealing with all that disappointment and feeling let down.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Mom, Domenic isn¡¯t like the rest. Sure, he¡¯s good- looking and ambitious. He¡¯s also a hard worker, putting in thosete hours at the office every single day. He treats me so well, and I¡¯m honestly happy with him. I really hope you and Leonel can give us your blessing. I¡¯m sure once you get to know him better, you¡¯ll truly understand why I want to stay with him. Mom, I really wish I could assure you not to worry about me, that I¡¯m doing great, but¡­ I can¡¯t lie to you. I¡¯ve been dealing with some really tough situationstely, and it¡¯s been a bit of a struggle. If you were here now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯d have some advice for me in this situation. Chapter 818 Lindsey poured her heart out to the empty room, letting out what she¡¯d been holding in for too long. ¡°Mom, starting a business is seriously tough. I¡¯m so worn out. I just wish I could snuggle up in your arms for a bit. Just having a Little time would bring me so much peace and rxation. Please, wake up soon¡­¡± The room went silent for a while, and then there was this quiet click at the door. Lindsey nced up and spotted Leonel standing there again, his eyes all soft and focused on Juanita. After leaving the ward for a bit, Leonel had cooled down quite a bit. Now, both siblings just sat quietly beside their mom, enjoying a moment of peace. ¡°Hey, do you know if Xiomara Vance has been freetely?¡± Leonel just suddenly asked Lindsey, giving her a quick nce. Caught off guard, Lindsey looked up at him, saying, ¡°Why do you ask? Do you need her for any personal matters?¡± Leonel shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m about tounch this new medication for obesity I¡¯ve developed, and I¡¯m thinking of asking her to endorse it. ¡± Lindsey was confused. Leonel could easily hire a bigger celebrity, someone with more poprity or arger fan base. Why was he thinking about Xiomara? Yeah, Xiomara had her brief moment of high fame recently, but it kind of seemed like a passing trendpared to the famous stars. Moreover, with all the negative rumors swirling around Xiomara and her fake rtionship scandal online, didn¡¯t Leonel know anything about them? Lindsey pondered silently. Leonel sensed what was on Lindsey¡¯s mind and took the lead to rify, ¡°I believe Xiomara being the first to benefit from this drug and seeding sets a strong precedent. Having her as a promotional ambassador, sharing her personal experience, would surely convince others. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. After giving it some thought, Lindsey found herself in agreement. Xiomara wasn¡¯t just well-regarded; she fit the criteria perfectly, making her an ideal choice. Under normal circumstances, Lindsey would have been very thrilled about such an opportunity for Xiomara, but recent controversies made her wary. The drug¡¯sunch was sure to grab headlines nationwide. With Xiomara and the Lindnita Artists Agency already under scrutiny, and Xiomara being a fresh face, they risked drawing negative attention and criticism. Jealousy from others was inevitable, as was criticism from the ever- opinionated online crowd. Despite the partnership seeming nearly perfect, putting Xiomara, a neer, at the forefront could incite jealousy from the fanbases of more established celebrities, possibly turning them against her. Unaware of Lindsey¡¯s concerns, Leonel interpreted her pause as a reluctance to cooperate. He asked sarcastically, ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Linds? Has thepany be too proud, to the point where not even your own brother can secure an artist from it?¡± This remark annoyed Lindsey, who had no intention of saying no from the start. She couldn¡¯t understand why he always chose tomunicate with such sarcasm. Yet, given the situation, Lindsey realized saying no could Lead to misunderstandings and potentially harm their rtionship. So, she answered with some hesitation, ¡°I can consider it, but I need to discuss it with Xiomara herself. She¡¯s under my management, but the decision isn¡¯t mine alone to make. ¡± This time, Leonel didn¡¯t press the issue, a response Lindsey found quite unusual. Upon visiting her mother, Lindsey made her way back to the office. Right when she stepped out of her car at the entrance, she found herself swamped by a crowd of reporters, who formed a tight circle around her. She noticed that the main entrance was blocked too,plicating entry for anyone. The reporters, having waited for Lindsey, swarmed her immediately. The drama surrounding Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s fake rtionship had blown up online, disrupting thepany¡¯s daily operations. These reporters were eager to hear the truth straight from Lindsey. ¡°Miss Lindsey Stewart, rumors are swirling that Sumner Lawson and Xiomara Vance¡¯s supposed rtionship is just a marketing strategy devised by your agency for them. Some argue they¡¯ve been forced into maintaining this facade. Which perspective do you think is closer to the truth?¡± Chapter 819 ¡°Miss Stewart, could you rify the rumors about you and Sumner¡¯s cozy night at the Emperor Hotel? Are you two in a rtionship?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve previously denied any romantic ties with him and mentioned having a boyfriend. Is it possible you¡¯re dating two men? Our audience is dying to know, could you give an exnation?¡± ¡°Is the fake rtionship between Sumner and Xiomara a cover for your secret rtionship with someone from thepany? Was your statement about having a boyfriendst time the truth? Could we get a direct response from you?¡± The onught of sharp questions didn¡¯t even give Lindsey a moment to catch her breath, let alone figure out an answer.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. With a thoughtful frown, she mulled over her next words, contemting how to lessen the blowback. It seemed like the perfect moment to rify things about Sumner and Xiomara, to take the chance to straighten things out. Caught in her hesitation, uncertain about how to address the reporters¡¯ questions, a van pulled up beside the throng of reporters. The doors swung open, unveiling the two people at the center of all the gossip for everyone to see. Sumner was the first toe out, then courteously offered his hand towards the van¡¯s door. A pale and delicate arm epted his offer, lightly touching Sumner¡¯s hand. As they shared a nce, Xiomara epted his hand and stepped down from the van, their movements exuding a close familiarity, akin to that of a couple truly in love. Sumner turned to her, hanging on her every word, while Xiomara, with a lowered head, blushed as if ovee by shyness. This surprising development instantly captivated the reporters, drawing their attention away from Lindsey as they flocked towards the new center of interest, surrounding Sumner and Xiomara in a dense circle. Lindsey stood by, watching in a mix of amazement and disbelief, her eyes wide as she took in the scene before her. ¡°Sumner, there¡¯s quite a buzz online about your rtionship between you and Xiomara. Is this really a scam?¡± A reporter eagerly approached Sumner, thrusting the microphone closer to his lips. Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd as all eyes and ears turned towards Sumner, eagerly anticipating his response to the burning question lingering in everyone¡¯s mind. Sumner¡¯s voice projected clearly through the microphone, reaching everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°I¡¯ve read the rumors circting online. I can¡¯t say who initiated the notion that we¡¯re at odds in private, putting on a false front. What I can assert is don¡¯t readily ept everything you hear. Seeing, truly observing, is the key. Let¡¯s refrain from spreading rumors. ¡± The crowd hummed with mixed reactions, some nodding in agreement while others exchanged uncertain nces. Sumner¡¯s resolve was unmistakable amidst the buzz. However, undeterred by his statement, a persistent reporter pressed, ¡°Insiders allege that you and Xiomara seldom engage in private conversations. Can you address these ims?¡± ¡°Our lives are busy, consumed by our careers. Naturally, private conversations might be sparse,¡± Sumner responded, his gaze unwavering as he looked directly into the camera. ¡°Regarding the origins of these assertions about our private interactions, I suggest you seek rification directly from those making such ims. ¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s the nature of your rtionship now?¡± another reporter prodded. ¡°We¡¯re good friends,¡± Sumner replied, his smile imbued with a subtle sense of depth. ¡°How good?¡± pressed the reporter, seeking rity. Sumner¡¯s eyes briefly met Xiomara¡¯s before returning to the crowd. His smirk held a teasing allure as he responded, ¡°That¡¯s open to interpretation. ¡± The reporters were left perplexed as the interaction they witnessed didn¡¯t align with the leaked reports. The rtionship between the two appeared just as enigmatic, if not more intense, than the portrayal on the show, challenging the rumors of their supposed ¡°strained rtionship¡±. Redirecting the conversation, a keen reporter revisited a previous inquiry, ¡°Could you shed some light on why you and your agent, Lindsey, were spotted leaving the Emperor Hotelte at night a few days ago? Are you exploring new opportunities?¡± Sumner furrowed his brows briefly, exchanging a nce with Xiomara before addressing the reporter with a firm tone, ¡°I¡¯d appreciate a bit more respect in your approach. ¡± This statement, coupled with Sumner¡¯s protective demeanor towards Xiomara, led the press pack to specte that he was instinctively defending her, further shrouding the rumors in ambiguity. Chapter 820 ¡°Miss Stewart and I were invited to Miss Carole Larson¡¯s engagement party. Since we identally happened to be at the office that day, we decided to attend together, just like that. ¡± With a nonchnt expression, Sumner stole nces at Xiomara several times, subtly emphasizing the words ¡°just like that¡± and ¡°happened to¡±, as if to underline a particr point. Xiomara felt her heart miss a beat-Sumner seemed genuinely concerned for her feelings, stirring a mixture of emotions within her. When Carole was mentioned, a reporter swiftly caught on. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the judge from the first episode of ¡®Star Search¡¯? A seasoned professional with a formidable background who graduated from a prestigious international music college. Why did she depart after the inaugural episodes? Rumors suggest she returned to Mubluosia to pursue teaching. And, if memory serves, she did get engaged, correct? And the engagement party was at the Emperor Hotel, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Lindsey¡¯s exnation aligned with Sumner¡¯s, yet the manager of the Emperor Hotel refuted any knowledge of an engagement party taking ce therest night. What was going on? Were Lindsey and Sumner fabricating a lie to quash the rumors on purpose? The reporter wondered, sensing a discrepancy in the information provided. Sensing what the reporters were thinking, Sumner arched an eyebrow. ¡°There was an unfortunate incident at her engagement partyst night. To my understanding, her boyfriend is the CEO of the Vitality Group, which oversees the Emperor Hotel. So, regarding why the hotel would deny hosting the eventst night¡­¡± Sumner shrugged casually. ¡°I suggest you stake out the entrance of the Emperor Hotel and inquire directly!¡± After delivering his statement, Sumner signaled, prompting the security team to intervene and manage the bustling crowd. Taking Xiomara¡¯s hand in his own, Sumner enveloped her protectively as they made their way into thepany premises, surrounded by the clicking of cameras. It was inevitable that this scene would soon dominate the trending searches. ¡®s BunnyBookery The reporters exchanged meaningful nces, sensing that Sumner had just dropped a bombshell of a story. Carole¡¯s ascent to marrying the CEO of the Vitality Group marked a significant transformation, propelling her from a variety show judge to the soon-to-be wife of a prominent CEO. So what exactly transpiredst night that prompted the Emperor Hotel to remain so tight-lipped, burying the incident without a hint of it leaking out to the public? The media always had a way of spreading information. In just an hour, Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s interview lit up the inte and their names were among the trending topics again. ¡°Sumner¡¯s rification!¡± ¡°Vibe Between Sumner and Xiomara. ¡± ¡°Sumner and Xiomara Holding Hands. ¡± ¡°Sumner and Xiomara Are Friends. ¡± Online, supporters of Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s rtionship unleashed their excitement in a flurry ofments. ¡°OMG, I knew it! There must be sparks between Sumner and Xiomara!¡± ¡°Haters? You still there? Anyhing y¡¯all wanna say about this interview? ANYTHING? The stage is yours!¡± ¡°Can you believe it? They¡¯re practically confirming everything! My ship is sailing high! This is gold! I wish I could share this with everyone!¡± ¡°This ship is the best!¡± But amid the cheers, there were dissenting voices. ¡°Let¡¯s be real. It¡¯s all an act. Their management is just trying to keep the money rolling, so they¡¯re ying nice for the cameras. ¡± ¡°Exactly! Have you ever seen other celebs getting that cozy during interviews? It¡¯s totally fake!¡± As she scanned the array of opinions online, Lindsey¡¯s face twisted in concern, Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding Carole¡¯s engagement to the mysterious CEO of Vitality Group reached its peak.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Spection about this elusive figure was rampant, given his rare public appearances. Chapter 821 The inte didn¡¯t provide much detail about him either. He was known as the heir of the Walsh family, a significant name in Morcastle, and the CEO of Vitality Group. His decisions went unchallenged, wielding immense influence over various industries and the entire city. Moreover, he had been sessful in expanding his business ventures overseas in recent years. His identity remained a mystery, with all traces of him seemingly erased from social media and the press. And now, Carole¡¯s sudden connection to him raised questions. What about her background made this possible? How had she caught the eye of such a powerful CEO? How did she even meet him, to begin with? ¡°Hey, remember that pic of the CEO I saw years back? He had this intense vibe. Can¡¯t find it now, but just giving you a heads-up. ¡± ¡°Yeah, what does Carole offer besides her looks? No famous family or business sess. What¡¯s he seeing in her? Is there something besides the looks?¡± ¡°But Carole is gorgeous, isn¡¯t she? Does it matter if he¡¯s not as attractive?¡± ¡°No way she¡¯ll turn him down! Think of the wealth tied to Vitality Group. She¡¯ll be set for life! No more work or public appearances. She¡¯ll retire in a heartbeat!¡± Online, a storm of opinions and gossip flooded the digital realm. People pried into every detail of Carole¡¯s life, stirring up envy, disdain, and judgment. Amidst the chaos, a juicy revtion emerged. An anonymous user shared a video showcasing avish engagement party. Viewers quickly identified the luxurious venue as the top-floor banquet hall of the Emperor Hotel. In the video¡¯s final moments, a brief glimpse of Carole sparked further curiosity. The mysterious uploader spilled more details about the event: it was indeed Carole¡¯s engagement party, but the CEO was notably absent. Instead, he sent an assistant in his ce, much to the chagrin of the head of the Walsh family, who allegedly hushed up the media with hush money. However, attendees of the banquet remained tight-lipped about the true story. Thus, the events of that might were exposed with rity and credibility, tarnishing Carole Larson¡¯s reputation in an instant. ¡°Why do I feel Like this CEO was pressured into this? He seems so unenthusiastic about his own engagement, lol. ¡± ¡°Could Carole have some dirt on him? Is she ckmailing him into marriage?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Carole just a shallow facade? Can¡¯t she see it herself? The CEO deserves better than this embodiment of superficiality!¡± Basking in the tranquil atmosphere of Walsh Manor, Carole soaked up the sun¡¯s warmth, her fingers trembling with anger as she scrolled through Twitter. The onught of hatefulments ignited a surge of frustration within her, until she couldn¡¯t contain it any longer.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. With a fierce gesture, she flung her new phone to the ground, the impact shattering it into pieces with a resounding ng. ¡°What the hell! Who do you all think you are, talking about Domenic and me like that! Just because I might not be good enough for him, that doesn¡¯t mean any of you are!¡± In her mind, she was the only one worthy of Domenic¡¯s love! Meanwhile, Jordan had assured her that he had handled the situation and kept any mention of the ceremony under wraps. So, who had spilled the beans? Who had the audacity to openly oppose the formidable Walsh family? Chapter 822 Carole¡¯s eyes widened as she stumbled upon Sumner¡¯s interview online. She concluded it had to be Lindsey¡¯s doing! Lindsey had taken her man, embarrassed her publicly, and even had her celebrity client spread rumors about her! Feeling a rush of anger, Carole stood and stormed off after quickly wiping away a tear. Jordan was leisurely reading a newspaper in the living room when Carole burst in. ¡°Mr. Walsh¡­¡± As soon as Carole stepped into the room, she rushed towards Jordan. Her eyes were swollen and filled with tears, which tugged at his heartstrings. ¡°Mr. Walsh, I¡¯m theughingstock on the inte. I fear I can no longer be Domenic¡¯s wife without subjecting him to ridicule. He¡¯s deserving of someone far better,¡± Carole said, her voice filled with a mix of fragility and sadness. Then, she ended up kneeling before Jordan and said, ¡°Thank you for all you¡¯ve done for me. I¡¯ll always remember your generosity and kindness. I¡¯ve made up my mind; I¡¯m going back to Mubluosia. I can¡¯t remain here or continue caring for you. Please look after yourself. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll evere back here. I¡¯m just too embarrassed. ¡± Jordan, puzzled by the sudden turn of events, furrowed his brow and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Carole? Share with me what¡¯s troubling you. Remember, I¡¯m here for you, no matter what. ¡± Carole, seekingfort, wiped her eyes and cried, ¡°Someone shared details about the engagement party online, iming I¡¯m unworthy of Domenic. Theybel me a gold digger, suggesting Domenic¡¯s absence that night indicates his disdain for me. They believe he was coerced into our engagement. ¡± Jordan¡¯s concern deepened at her words, and she let out a bitter smile. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, Mr. Walsh. I¡¯m ustomed to such treatment. But I refuse to be a burden on Domenic or your family¡­¡± Upon hearing that, Jordan immediately set aside his newspaper, signaling for the butler. The butler was urged to recount the events in precise detail. Jordan immediately became agitated and demanded, ¡°Weren¡¯t you in charge of the ceremony and everything it involved? How did someone manage to ¡­?¡± Carole sneered in her heart. How could Lindsey keep on irritating Jordan like that? She was clearly asking for trouble. It was like challenging a Lion in its own den! Even if Lindsey wished to scheme against her, she believed Lindsey stood no chance against her. Until now, nobody had dared to challenge Jordan so boldly, especially someone like Lindsey, who only owned an agency. Jordan pointed directly at the butler and ordered. ¡°I don¡¯t want Lindsey or her agency anywhere near the entertainment scene. Make sure she disappears from the industry along with that Sumner! They¡¯ll regret their foolishness and disrespect. You know what needs to be done!¡± Carole smirked, feeling relieved. With Lindsey having made Jordan furious at her, there was no way she could escape trouble, not even with a miracle. Whatever her capabilities, she wouldn¡¯t be able to save her reputation. The butler quickly caught on and hurried away. Jordan turned to Carole, speaking gently, ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself, Carole. You¡¯re not at fault here. Domenic¡¯s the one at fault here. Just don¡¯t go anywhere. I¡¯ll make sure Domenic issues an apology as soon as he returns!¡± Even though Carole felt satisfied inside, she kept a straight face. Her eyes remained red and endearingly helpless. ¡°Mr. Walsh, does Domenic not care for me? Does he not want to marry me? That¡¯s alright; I wouldn¡¯t want to pressure anyone. Perhaps it¡¯s best if the engagement is called off, allowing him to find true happiness with someone else. My only wish is for you and him to be happy. ¡± Jordan¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°How could he dare refuse me? You can rx, Carole, because you¡¯re the only one meant to be Domenic¡¯s wife. ¡± ¡°But he¡¯s avoiding me at the moment. I know he respects your opinion. ¡± But since I can¡¯t even talk to him now, it seems¡­ Carole deliberately furrowed her brow and let out a sigh. She was hinting that she wished to bond with Domenic, but the issue was she couldn¡¯t even speak to him face-to-face. So, Carole was hoping Jordan coulde up with a solution. ¡°Leave it to me; I have a n,¡± Jordan assured her. ¡°I¡¯ve ced you in Vitality Group as Domenic¡¯s personal secretary, and you two will have time for each other every day, which will surely benefit your rtionship. And don¡¯t fret over your rtionship; he¡¯lle around. ¡± This was precisely what Carole aimed for. ¡°I trust your judgment and am grateful for your support. ¡± What a great day for Carole! Not only did she persuade Jordan to deal with Lindsey, her biggest concern, but she also secured an opportunity to interact with Domenic daily. She couldn¡¯t ask for anything better! Carole could barely contain her happiness and almost let her smile show. Meanwhile, in a clubhouse that was supposedly closed for a day, two men engaged in a serious conversation in a private upper-floor room. One had a remarkable presence, while the other had a round belly. ¡°Did I give you the right information, Mr.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lawson?¡± With a smile, the general manager of Gallop Entertainment rose from his seat and poured a cup of coffee for Brady. ¡°What can I do for you this time?¡± Brady brought the cup to his lips and blew gently, remaining silent. The man before him had provided the information about the intense infighting within the Walsh family. Brady followed up with an investigation and received confirmation: the Walshes were indeed engaged in fiercepetition for a piece of the foreign market. It¡¯s a universal truth that when two people argue, the third one often benefits from it. Brady took a sip of his coffee, a deep smile spreading across his Lips. ¡°Domenic Walsh is out of the country, and without his decision-making across various aspects of their business, the Vitality Group is Like a ship without a captain. The only one worth considering now in theirpany is Emilio Howard,¡± Brady said calmly. ¡°To keep Emilio upied, I want Gallop Entertainment to stir up more trouble for Vitality Group. ¡± When Emilio got overwhelmed with anxiety, Lawson Group could step in and grab the crucial projects that Vitality Group had been working on. Reflecting on the intense dislike Jordan harbored for him, Brady felt his fists tighten with resentment and disgust. Jordan had always kept a close watch on him. He knew Jordan had eyes and ears everywhere, but he had to y dumb and let thetter think he had the upper hand. Thinking of his son, Sumner, being an excellent individual, never embracing the warmth of his biological parents, Brady could no longer contain his desire to bring down the Walsh family. He yearned to destroy the Walsh Group and bring Sumner home rightfully. He was done with being under the control of the Walsh family, and he couldn¡¯t bear to see his son endure the same fate. ¡°I guarantee that once this is over, you¡¯ll secure your spot as the number one at Gallop Entertainment. ¡± Brady dered, his gaze piercing the general manager. The general manager nodded and smiled, then promptly left the room. Brady¡¯s eyes lost their spark; he clenched his fists tightly, and his cup crashed to the floor with a ng, shattering the silence once more. His expression turned grim and impassive. ¡°Damn you, Walsh Group¡­¡± Chapter 823 Lindnita Artists Agency was buzzing with more than just work. Its employees, neck-deep in tasks, often worked overtime. This setting was perfect for sharing rumors overte dinners about Sumner and Xiomara, whose rtionship was as mysterious to them as it was to the online world. ¡°Hey, have you noticed anything odd about Sumner and Xiomara? They used to keep their distance, buttely, they¡¯ve seemed pretty close. What¡¯s up with that?¡± one employee pondered aloud. ¡°Shh-¡± Another quickly signaled for silence and lowered her voice. ¡°Be quiet. Just this morning, I was mentioning their recent closeness, and Lindsey overheard. She was not pleased, reminding us sharply that gossip was off-limits at work. ¡± She lightly tapped her colleague, who agreed with a nod. ¡°What does Lindsey¡¯s reaction mean? Could she possibly be interested in Sumner? But doesn¡¯t she already have a boyfriend?¡± another chimed in, puzzled. ¡°You know what? Maybe Sumner is her backup option,¡± someone spected, sparking a wave ofughter. However, theughter halted abruptly when Xiomara walked by. Someone from the group, trying to recover the awkward silence, offered, ¡°Haven¡¯t had dinner yet? You¡¯re wee to join us. ¡± Xiomara offered a smile, just as Sumner appeared beside her, extending a dinner invitation with a charm that caught everyone off guard. ¡°Would you like to join me for dinner? I¡¯ve reserved a spot at your favorite restaurant. You didn¡¯t eat much at lunch, so I thought this might make up for it. Should I fetch the car?¡± Xiomara blushed and the office erupted in softughter. ¡°Oh, Sumner, you¡¯ve been keeping a close eye on her. When do you two n to make it official?¡± teased another. Sumner responded with a nonmittalugh, then draped his zer over Xiomara¡¯s shoulders. ¡°A new season is upon us. Be mindful of the changing weather and stay warm. ¡± Xiomara responded with a contemtive nod, linked Sumner¡¯s arm, and they departed together. This left their colleagues exchanging looks of sheer surprise. ¡°Wow, did you see that? Do you think they¡¯re really into each other?¡± one whispered in amazement. ¡°It looked pretty genuine to me. Things just got very real, didn¡¯t they?¡± another added, still in disbelief. The following morning, Sumner¡¯s and Xiomara¡¯s names were the buzz online once more. Photos from their date the previous night were everywhere, showcasing their undeniable connection. Sumner was seen carefully preparing prawns for Xiomara, gently offering them to her, while she was spotted slicing his steak and cing it before him. Moreover, their shared nces full of intimate and grateful smiles spoke volumes. Faced with such heartfelt disys, the whispers of discord between them quickly fell apart. ¡°See that? It¡¯s the real deal! We¡¯ve got solid, irrefutable proof right here. Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s sparks are the real thing, all the way! So, to all the doubters out there, better find something else to do with your time!¡± a fan exulted online. ¡°Sumner¡¯s the greatest of all time! A man of integrity and honesty. May your love endure forever! Xiomara, together with you, embodies the dream couple previously only found in fiction. Please, treat each other well. ¡± another supporter dered enthusiastically. ¡°OH MY GOD! They are so in love! Feeding each other and everything!!! THEIR LOVE IS CONFIRMED!¡± a fan practically screamed in text form. The inte¡¯s mood can shift like the wind, and this time, it had shifted in favor of celebrating Sumner and Xiomara¡¯s love. As Lindsey sifted through thements, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions stirring within.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She was well aware that Sumner¡¯s actions were a form of protection. Chapter 824 He didn¡¯t want herbeled as ¡°the other woman¡± nor did he wish for her agency to suffer any bacsh. Thus, he and Xiomara orchestrated a spectacle for the online audience. Despite the sting of Sumner¡¯s harsh words, Lindsey recognized his good intentions. He had a generous heart and couldn¡¯t bear seeing her downcast. Yet, with each favor Sumner extended, Lindsey¡¯s difort grew. She feared umting a debt of gratitude too vast to ever repay. ncing at her watch, she noted thete hour. After a long stretch and a rub of her aching shoulder, she collected her thoughts and left the office. Outside, standing by the roadside, Lindsey hoped to hail a taxi when a familiar sedan pulled up. The window rolled down, revealing Sumner. Surprised, she instinctively stepped back. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re burning the midnight oil. I was just passing through and figured I¡¯d drop you off at your ce. Hop in,¡± Sumner offered with a friendly smile. Lindsey bit her lip. Their homes were in opposite directions. His offer didn¡¯t make any logistical sense. Attempting to politely decline, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll catch a taxi. That¡¯ll be just fine. ¡± Sumner¡¯s response caught her off guard. ¡°What? After all I¡¯ve done, you¡¯re going to decline my offer without so much as a thank you?¡± Lindsey hesitated. ¡°So, about the news of you having dinner with Xiomarast night¡­¡± ¡°It was a publicity stunt,¡± Sumner admitted. ¡°I requested photographers. ¡± It was just as she had expected. Emboldened, Lindsey cut to the chase. ¡°How can I repay you?¡± Sumner nced at his watch. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m famished. Care to grab a supper?¡± ¡°Just a supper?¡± Lindsey raised an eyebrow. ¡°Would you rather marry me?¡± Sumner chuckled. Lindsey fell silent, a little worried. Chatting by the roadside during a media frenzy wasn¡¯t ideal. But if they were caught having a supper together? That was a recipe for disaster. ¡°Rx,¡± Sumner soothed, noticing her hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s no paparazzi. I already checked. ¡± Refusing again would be awkward. He had been a huge help, and yet she was hesitating. With a sigh, Lindsey climbed into Sumner¡¯s car. The sedan zipped off into the night. Momentster, an unassuming taxi parked nearby flicked on its headlights. The driver, d in ck, removed his mask and lit a cigarette. His eyes glowed in the faint light. He dialed a number. ¡°They¡¯re on their way,¡± he rasped, his voice devoid of emotion. ¡°Both of them. ¡±Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 825 A chuckle came from the receiver. ¡°Excellent. Get rid of them together. ¡± Inside the car, an awkward silence hung heavy. Lindsey, feeling the tension, decided to break the ice. ¡°What are you craving?¡± Sumner pondered for a moment, then grinned. ¡°Grilled food feel great right now. I know a ce, perfect for ate-night run. It¡¯s a bit of a drive, though, it might take a while to get there. Up for it Lindsey chuckled. ¡°Honestly, if you hadn¡¯t stepped in with that whole Xiomara charade, I¡¯d be lost. ¡± She appreciated Sumner¡¯s willingness to y along, despite his obviousck of tender feelings for Xiomara. ¡°Sure,¡± Lindsey dered with a warm smile. ¡°Tonight¡¯s my treat. Choose whatever you like, and I¡¯m happy to join you. ¡± Sumner offered a small, knowing smile before elerating onto the highway. After an hour and a half, they arrived at a remote outdoor grill. Despite the secluded location, the grill boasted a romantic atmosphere, perched atop a hill with breathtaking views. The vast night sky stretched overhead like a canvas of twinkling stars. Sumner led Lindsey along a starlit path, past several tents, finally reaching a luxurious tent bathed in a warm glow. The interior was breathtaking. Glistening light strips adorned the white ceiling, while soft candlelight and fragrantvender illuminated a nearby table. Soothing saxophone music emanated from a speaker,pleting the ambiance. Sumner, having spent the day meticulously designing and decorating the space, stole nces at Lindsey¡¯s reaction. He feigned indifference, but his gaze kept drifting in her direction. Lindsey waspletely captivated by the beautiful scenery. Her Lips inexplicably curled into a charming smile.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°This is incredible, Sumner! Where did you find this ce?¡± she eximed. ¡°It was a lucky discovery,¡± Sumner replied, his voice unusually soft. They¡¯d reached the outdoor grill at exactly ten. Lindsey found it odd that they were the only patrons around. Were they too early? Or too Late? Or perhaps the food wasn¡¯t that good? Even slow businesses usually have some returning patrons. Gazing at the vacantwn, Lindsey whispered to Sumner, ¡°Why is there no patron? It¡¯s just us. Do you think it¡¯s any good?¡± Sumner responded with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s actually nice that it¡¯s not crowded. This way, we won¡¯t have to worry about being spotted and ending up all over the inte thanks to the paparazzi. ¡± Lindsey nodded in agreement and settled into a chair next to Sumner. Sumner took off his jacket and set it down. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back; I¡¯m heading to the restroom. Feel free to start on the food once it arrives. ¡± Lindsey made a sound in acknowledgment. Once Sumner was gone, Lindsey leaned back in the chair, stretched out, and closed her eyes, savoring a peaceful moment. Feeling both physically and mentally worn out, this break was a wee relief. She must say Sumner did show his thoughtful side now and then. Before Sumner came back, the owner arrived to bring out the food. Chapter 826 Lindsey offered a friendly smile. ¡°Want to give it a try?¡± The middle-aged owner handed her a skewer of meat, encouraging her to have a taste. Lindsey epted the skewer, noting that it didn¡¯t seem spicy.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She took a cautious bite. It had cooled down and was rather salty, as though it had been overly seasoned and was slightly undercooked. When she noticed the eager look in the owner¡¯s eyes, Lindsey managed to muster apliment. She wondered if people actually frequented this ce. ¡°How¡¯s the business going here?¡± Lindsey asked with genuine interest. ¡°It¡¯s usually booming. Often, patrons need to book a spot well ahead of time,¡± the owner replied with a hint of pride. Looking around, puzzled, Lindsey took another bite of the meat and couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Why¡¯s it so empty today, then?¡± With a knowing smile, the owner answered in a distinct ent that Lindsey struggled to understand, ¡°Today, the entire ce was booked by someone! Didn¡¯t you notice the gentleman who was just here? He seems to really care about you, going to great lengths to book the entire ce just for you!¡± Lindsey was taken aback. She had assumed Sumner¡¯s ns for the evening were put together at thest moment, but now it appeared everything was carefully nned. ¡°The gentleman prepared these skewers for you. He spent the morning learning how to grill food from me, wanting you to try his handiwork. What do you think? I taught him myself. Pretty good, right?¡± the owner said with a smile. Lindsey found herself at a loss for words. Her lips barely curved as she sipped her water, managing a smile that seemed too forced to be genuine. ¡°Indeed¡­ it¡¯s good. ¡± After a moment, Sumner leaned back. Seeing a smudge of ck charcoal on his finger, Lindsey passed him a tissue. ¡°Thanks a lot, Sumner,¡± she said. ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner cleaned his finger with the tissue, grabbed a skewer, and began eating. He didn¡¯t look at Lindsey directly, but she could feel his intense gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve always said I got into the entertainment world to support and protect you. You don¡¯t owe me anything. I just do everything I want to do for you,¡± Sumner dered. Feeling overwhelmed by Sumner¡¯s deration, Lindsey just lowered her head and ate in silence. The air around them grew quiet. When she finally looked up, she found Sumner¡¯s eyes warm with care as he reached to wipe something from her face. Instinctively, she turned away. Sumner¡¯s hand froze in mid-air, his face reflecting a deep sense of loneliness. ¡°I wish you¡¯d find someone who makes you happy, someone worthy of your effort. I¡¯m not that person,¡± Lindsey whispered. ¡°It¡¯s mealtime. Let¡¯s not get into that now. Let¡¯s just eat in peace,¡± Sumner cut in. Lindsey paused, realizing her words weren¡¯t getting through to Sumner. They finished their food in silence. Then, Sumner nced at his watch and announced, ¡°It¡¯s time. ¡± ¡°Time for what?¡± Lindsey asked, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m taking you somewhere,¡± Sumner replied, standing and taking her hand. Chapter 827 Just as Lindsey was about to speak up, Sumner yanked her away to start running. They sprinted all the way to the edge of the hill. It was almost midnight. The sky was glittering with stars, and it was so quiet around them. A chill breeze swept through from time to time, ruffling their hair and giving them a nice, refreshing vibe. In the grass, heaps of fireflies flew up together. The sky was all lit up, and the night Looked amazing. ¡°Wow, this is absolutely beautiful,¡± Lindsey said, her smile stretching from ear to ear. After sighing deeply, Lindsey nced at Sumner and asked, ¡°So, why do you bring me here? Just for the view?¡± Sumner grinned mysteriously, keeping her curious. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough. Now just take a seat. ¡± Then he pulled Lindsey down, and they both plopped down on the ground. The gentle breeze tousled Lindsey¡¯s hair, bringing an incredibly calm feeling. But as soon as thoughts of thepany and her mom popped into her head, rxation flew out the window. She let out a helpless sigh. Sumner kept watching Lindsey. When he heard her sigh, he could tell she had been feeling downtely. With a concerned look, he asked, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? The thing with me and Xiomara has been sorted out already. Is there something else bothering you?¡± Lindsey had been silent for a while. It could have been because the scene in front of her was just so calming, or maybe it was because she had been feeling down for ages and had no one to talk to. She said slowly, ¡°So much has been going on at thepanytely. It¡¯s been really tough to handle for me. Sometimes I even doubt if I¡¯ve got what it takes to manage apany. But hey, I know I¡¯m in this position now. I have to hold on, no matter what happens. It¡¯s my responsibility, and my original goal, but¡­ I¡¯m just so worn out. ¡± Lindsey hardly ever let her guard down in front of others. Sumner felt a pang in his heart seeing her like this. He had never seen her so vulnerable. She used to hide her feelings well, like she was wrapped in a tough shell. Most people could only see that tough side of her. He reached out to tidy her wind-blown hair and said gently, ¡°Whatever you decide, I¡¯ve got your back. I¡¯ll support you no matter what and I¡¯m here to help with anything you need. If you ever need it, my shoulder is always here for you to lean on. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t respond to his sweet words.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. After a bit of silence, she curled up her legs, wrapped her arms around them, and buried her head in her arms. ¡°Besides all thepany issues, my mom has been in aa for so long. I don¡¯t know when or even if she¡¯ll wake up. Even the doctor isn¡¯t sure if she can wake up again. ¡± Sumner gave her aforting pat on the back. ¡°Hey, as long as she¡¯s still here, there¡¯s hope she¡¯ll wake up. Miracles can happen, you know. ¡± ¡°And then there¡¯s my brother¡­¡± Lindsey sighed deeply again as she brought it up. ¡°Anyway, everything is just going wrong around me. It feels like the whole world is against me. ¡± Sumner understood that the reason Leonel had a rough rtionship with Lindsey was because of Domenic. Thinking about Domenic¡¯s kiness, Sumner silently despised him deep down in his heart. He was worried that Lindsey might end up getting hurt. Getting cheated out of money wasn¡¯t the end of the world, but she had put so much trust and emotion into Domenic. How devastated would she be if she found out one day that the guy she loved had betrayed her? ¡°Hey, that¡¯s not true,¡± Sumner said, his eyes sparkling in the starlight. He locked eyes with her and smiled. ¡°At least I¡¯ll always have your back, alright?¡± Lindsey was a bit shocked. ALL of a sudden, a meteor shot across the sky. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the stunning scene. She quickly turned her head and shouted in surprise and excitement, ¡°Hey, look! It¡¯s a meteor! Can you believe it? I just spotted a meteor!¡± Sumner couldn¡¯t help but smile as he caught sight of her beaming face. It was like she had this superpower to sync up their moods. When she was down, he felt it too. And whenever she was on cloud nine, he was right there with her, riding the wave of happiness. Lindsey lifted her pretty face to the sky. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, swaying along with her. It was like a few shooting stars were getting ready for the big show. Before long, the meteor shower came pouring down in full force. The sky was suddenly filled with shimmering meteors, lighting up the darkness all around. Chapter 828 Lindsey was blown away by the sight, her mouth hanging open slightly. ¡°Whoa! No way! It¡¯s a meteor shower. I¡¯ve never seen one before!¡± she shouted in amazement. Then it hit Lindsey, and she hurriedly sped her hands together in front of her chest, silently making a wish. Sumner also settled in next to her. Then, a few secondster, they both opened their eyes together and gave each other a gentle smile. ncing at Lindsey intensely, Sumner leaned in and whispered, ¡°So, what was your wish?¡± Lindsey propped her hands on the grass, gazing up at the stunning sky with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°I wished for my mom to wake up soon. ¡± Sumner¡¯s heart felt heavy, but he swiftlyforted her, saying, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll wake up soon, I¡¯m sure. ¡± Lindsey nodded. She perked up a bit and turned to him, asking, ¡°So, what about you? What was your wish?¡± Lindsey immediately regretted her question upon noticing the tenderness and affection in Sumner¡¯s eyes. Before he could formte a response, she interjected, ¡°You¡¯d better not say it. ¡± ¡°Why not?¡± he asked, confused. ¡°I¡¯m worried that if your wish is rted to me, I may not be able to fulfill it. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze was transparent as she revealed her thoughts. The light in Sumner¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed. His heart sank like a ship caught in a storm upon hearing her candid words. Yet, he managed a wry smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I haven¡¯t made any wishes. I don¡¯t believe in such concepts. I¡¯m a practical man who only cares about what I can grasp with my hands. ¡± As Sumner spoke, he gently ced his hands on Lindsey¡¯s shoulders, locking eyes with her. ¡°Lindsey, I brought you here today to make it clear that I will openly pursue you,¡± he said, his smile radiating sincerity. Lindsey was caught off guard by his straightforwardness. It seemed her previous attempts to dissuade him had been in vain, leaving her with nothing but a headache. ¡°Sumner, I¡¯ve already told you I have a boyfriend. My heart belongs to him alone,¡± Lindsey said in a firm tone. ¡°But he¡¯s just a boyfriend, right? You aren¡¯t married yet, so technically, I still have a chance,¡± Sumner responded stubbornly, tightening his grip on her shoulders. ¡°Why not let uspete on our merits? That seems fair, doesn¡¯t it?¡± After a pause, Sumner¡¯s voice softened into a near plea. ¡°I¡¯m willing to wait for you to choose me. Lindsey, I really want to be with you. Won¡¯t you at least consider giving me a fair chance?¡± Lindsey found herself at a loss for words. After a moment, she gently broke free from his grasp and stepped back. ¡°Thank you for today, but that¡¯ll be all. It¡¯s gettingte. I should head home. ¡± She then turned to leave. ¡°Has he ever taken you to see the meteor shower?¡± Sumner asked loudly with a hint of desperation. Lindsey stopped in her tracks and turned to face Sumner with a serene expression. ¡°He has shown me something far more beautiful. No matter how breathtaking a meteor shower may be, it can¡¯tpare to what I¡¯ve experienced with him,¡± she said calmly. Sumner stood frozen as the meticulously nned romantic gesture he had been nning for so long was suddenly rejected. Chapter 829 ¡°Something more beautiful¡­¡± Sumner¡¯s scoff carried a tinge of self -mockery. ¡°Lindsey, what is it that he has that Ick? I can take you to the ces he has, and offer you things greater than he ever could. Why can¡¯t you give me a chance?¡± ¡°Tell me, why won¡¯t you give Xiomara a chance?¡± Lindsey retorted with a smile. ¡°Because¡­¡± Sumner¡¯s voice trailed off. He knew he didn¡¯t have feelings for Xiomara. At that moment, he understood that Lindsey had given him a definitive answer. He felt a deep pain in his heart. He couldn¡¯t understand why Lindsey couldn¡¯t even give him a little hope. She kept saying no to him, leaving him to question his worth. ¡°The meteor shower is beautiful, but you should watch it with someone else, not me,¡± Lindsey said softly upon seeing his dejected expression. She then turned to leave, but Sumner quickly grabbed her wrist. As a result, she lost her bnce and was pulled into his arms. The subtle fragrance of flowers filled Sumner¡¯s nose as the distance between them closed. ¡°Remember you asked about my wish? I wished for you to be happy, always. ¡± Sumner¡¯s raspy voice echoed in Lindsey¡¯s ear, making her heart thump uncontrobly. After a pause, he added, ¡°Even if you can¡¯t love or ept me, please don¡¯t push me away. I¡¯ll always be here, waiting. When you¡¯re hurt or tired and needfort, you¡¯ll find me right here if you look back. ¡± His words were full of affection and longing. Lindsey felt an overwhelming sense of confinement and suffocation in his embrace. ¡°Sumner, can you please not be so kind to me? I¡¯m scared I¡¯ll never be able to pay back what I owe you,¡± Lindsey said, pulling away from Sumner¡¯s embrace. Her eyes, filled with tears, looked earnestly at the man whose generosity overwhelmed her. Yet, Sumner offered her a soft smile. ¡°You owe me nothing. My happiness lies in protecting the one I cherish. It¡¯s my choice. There¡¯s no need for stress on your part. ¡± ¡°But Sumner, Love isn¡¯t meant to be this self-effacing. It¡¯s about reciprocity, a mutual endeavor. You ought to let go of this fixation and find someone who¡¯s a better match. ¡± ¡°If you¡¯re aware of my infatuation, then you¡¯ll understand it¡¯s not easily discarded. Lindsey, you¡¯re my salvation in this life. ¡± Sumner¡¯s gaze was so intense that Lindsey couldn¡¯t bear to meet his eyes. ¡°You called me self-effacing. True love, however, inspires one to lower oneself to the very dust, and you alone canpel me to such humility. ¡± Lindsey found herself at a loss for words, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts she couldn¡¯t organize. She was at a loss on how to respond to such devotion. The clock had neared one in the morning by the time they headed back. Sumner drove in silence while Lindsey, seated beside him, remained quiet. They exchanged no words. The moment the car started, Sumner¡¯s phone, resting by his side, lit up. He unlocked it to find a photo sent by the grill¡¯s owner. Sumner offered a faint smile, ncing over at Lindsey. He then dismissed the message from his screen. As they reached the hill roads, Lindsey¡¯s eyelids grew heavy. The events ofte had drained her, and she found it impossible to resist the pull of sleep. Resting her elbow beneath her chin, she prepared to doze off. But the sound of something amiss woke her up. She nced at Sumner to see him frantically pumping the brakes.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 830 With a look of utter concern etched on his face, Lindsey, bewildered, asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Sumner, hisplexion ashen, lips pressed firmly together and beads of sweat dotting his forehead, trembled as he spoke. ¡°The brakes are gone. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes flew open, her heart pounding furiously. Right after Sumner¡¯s admission, a truck appeared out of nowhere, barreling towards them through the darkness, its approach sinister, as if propelled by malice. In a desperate maneuver, Sumner wrenched the steering wheel aside, causing the car to skid on the loose gravel. The sudden shift flung Lindsey against the car window, her body striking it with such force she thought every bone might shatter. The air inside the car grew thick with dread. Sumner¡¯s eyes widened in horror as he realized the inevitable. Without brakes, and carried by momentum, the car skidded uncontrobly and tumbled off the road. The ghastly sound of the car¡¯s descent echoed in the silent night. Lindsey¡¯s head spun, her body felt weightless, and then, engulfed by intense pain, she sumbed to unconsciousness. ¡°Lindsey! Lindsey!¡± Amidst her hazy consciousness, Lindsey faintly heard her name being called. The voice, at times distant, at times near, seemed both tangible and elusive, likely Sumner¡¯s. Barely managing to open her eyes, she saw Sumner, bloodied, desperately gripping her hand, trying to pull her from the wreckage. Lindsey slightly furrowed her brow. ¡°Lindsey! Stay with me. I¡¯m getting you out of here. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery She heard him, but her body wouldn¡¯t respond. Pain engulfed her, so intense she felt near death, her bones seemingly crushed, blood flowing from her wounds. Her thoughts wandered to Domenic. Would she ever see him again? When was heing back? Doubt crept in. She feared she might notst until his return. And with that, darkness imed her once more, as she slipped back into unconsciousness. In Mubluosia, waves of change swept through the businessndscape. Dominic¡¯s long game reached its final move. He had nudged Arturo into igniting a price war, goading his uncles into pouring their resources into several grand business ventures abroad. Then, under the radar, he covertly arranged for the acquisition of raw materials from those ventures. In reality, he himself was the mastermind behind a chain of raw material suppliers.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. For a decade, Dominic wove this intricate web for just such a crippling strike. A scarcity of materials shot their value sky-high-prices soared tenfold, overwhelming the nned budgets. His uncles bore the brunt, hemorrhaging funds, halting production, teetering on the brink of financial ruin with the specter of bankruptcy Looming. In an office, Dominic lounged on a couch, eyes shut, savoring a moment of respite after days of intense focus. The strategy he had been steering was now at a standstill. The office door swung open. Dominic¡¯s brow furrowed in slight annoyance as he opened his eyes to see who dared interrupt his brief interlude. Arturo approached Dominic with a few hurried steps, his face bearing signs of distress. ¡°Dominic, your Uncle Kent has taken his own life. ¡± Dominic paused briefly before responding, ¡°What happened?¡± Chapter 831 ¡°Kent Walsh was all-in, taking the biggest hits in the price war and securing enormous projects. He¡¯s lost everything. His firm was bleeding money for ages, camouging its woes from the world. He meant to use this chance to pivot, not foreseeing he¡¯d be drowning in hundreds of billions worth of debt. They found him at his home today. He¡¯d taken his life. It seems the burden was too great to shoulder,¡± Arturo conveyed the grim analysis. Dominic¡¯s expression darkened, a wry smile briefly crossing his Lips. His uncle Kent, Jordan¡¯s youngest, was no stranger to opulence and arrogance, shielded by family influence. A smooth sailor all his life, this tempest was more than he could weather. Dominic lit a cigarette, the ember¡¯s glow veiling his face. As he contemted the swirling smoke, his voice broke the silence again. ¡°Did he sign the share transfer agreement?¡± Arturo gave a confirming nod. Handling the minutiae was never beneath him. He retrieved the share transfer document from his briefcase, cing it before Dominic. The stark red of a fingerprint marred its surface, causing a visible shiver to pass through Arturo at the sight. The memory alone made his hands clench instinctively, his whole frame quaking slightly. Arturo had been to Kent¡¯s opulent home with the intention of discussing the agreement. What met them was a scene of despair¡ªKent had ended his life. The sheer shock of it had Arturo recoiling, retreating several paces from the threshold. Dominic¡¯s crew, unmoved by the grim tableau, efficiently detached the body from its suspension, their actions mechanical. In a chilling act of practicality, they had forced Kent¡¯s lifeless hand to mark the document. Now, looking over at Dominic, who reclined unperturbed, Arturo¡¯s respect mingled with unease. There sat a man unfazed, hisposure as steadfast as his victory seemed certain. For Arturo, this was an initiation into the harsh realm of corporate battles. Though he bore the title of leader within the Yates family, the true matriarch had always been his mother, Miranda. The family¡¯s internal struggles had scarred her, both metaphorically and physically-a fact Arturo had never fully grasped until now.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He had ascended to his position on the coattails of his mother¡¯s triumphs, wielding power with what he believed was a just hand, yet guilt crept in upon reflection. ¡®s BunnyBookery Dominic shared Miranda¡¯s resilience. Both seemed to have an inexorable will, unyielding and daunting. Dominic¡¯s reaction to the tragic news of his uncle¡¯s death was proof enough-a stoic demeanor, solely focused on thepletion of the share transfer, devoid of warmth. Once he had meticulously reviewed the document and found it in order, Dominic inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the status of my uncle Herbert?¡± Arturo responded, ¡°I¡¯ve put someone on him. Now, what¡¯s the next step? Are you nning to take him down or-¡° As Dominic released a final stream of smoke, he extinguished his cigarette with a deliberate tap against the desk, leaving a searing mark upon the wood-a silent testament to the day¡¯s events. Arturo understood the unspoken message. He looked up once more to find Dominic already on his feet, donning his coat. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with him myself,¡± dered Dominic. In a solitary ward within a hospital, a soft glow cast upon the girl¡¯s pallid, bloodless countenance. As though blinded by the light, her longshes quivered involuntarily, and soon, her eyes fluttered open a fraction. Lindsey had been ensnared in aa for an eternity it seemed. When she suddenly roused, agony coursed through every fiber of her being. It felt as though her joints had weathered a battering, with a myriad of needles relentlessly piercing her skull. Her mind swirled in a dizzying whirlwind. Desiring movement, Lindsey attempted to shift, only to discover her hand tethered to an IV drip. Raising her hand, she felt the gauze around her forehead. Casting a sidelong nce, she caught sight of Nancy slumped over the bed¡¯s edge. Though seemingly asleep, Nancy¡¯s rest was fitful, her brow knitted with worry. ¡°Nancy, Nancy¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice was gentle. Chapter 832 Having devoted the entire day to Lindsey¡¯s care, Nancy had sumbed to exhaustion and drifted into an uneasy slumber. Stirred by the soft voice, her eyes snapped open, instantly alert. ¡°Linds! You¡¯re awake atst. ¡± Nancy¡¯s joy was palpable as she enveloped Lindsey in a tight embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks. As though struck by a sudden realization, she released Lindsey, her words tumbling out in a jumble. ¡°How are you feeling? Are you still in pain? You had me so worried. I can¡¯t even begin to describe¡­¡± Nancy said with tears streaming down her face. Lindsey offered aforting pat on Nancy¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m okay. Please don¡¯t cry. Really, I¡¯m fine. ¡± Sniffling, Nancy wiped away her tears. ¡°I was just terrified that you wouldn¡¯t wake up, Like your mom. I don¡¯t know what I would have done¡­¡± ¡°No, that can¡¯t happen. I¡¯m lucky. See? I¡¯m alive and kicking!¡± Lindsey managed a faint smile, though her pallor only entuated her fragility. ¡°How long have I been out?¡± ¡°One day,¡± Nancy replied. Something struck Lindsey like a bolt. In the realm of business, a day could usher in monumental changes. ¡°How are things at thepany?¡± she inquired anxiously. There was a momentary pause, during which Nancy avoided Lindsey¡¯s gaze. But swiftly, Nancy masked her expression with a reassuring smile. ¡°Right now, your priority is to rest and recuperate. Let me handle thepany for the time being. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it under control. ¡± Lindsey felt a twinge of reassurance at her words. She trusted her implicitly. However, a nagging thought crept into Lindsey¡¯s mind. Leaning forward eagerly, she asked, ¡°And Sumner? How is he faring? He was with me in the car. I vaguely recall him calling out to me after the ident. Is he badly injured?¡± Nancy bit her lip, ready to say something, but she paused on second thought. ¡°Nancy, what happened? Tell me. ¡± When Lindsey saw Nancy¡¯s reaction, she started to be nervous. She took Nancy¡¯s hand, even though hers was still on the drip, and asked her pointedly. Nancy sighed and gently shook her head. ¡°Sumner¡¯s condition is more critical than yours. He¡¯s still in the ICU, yet to regain consciousness. ¡± Lindsey was dumbstruck, a sense of foreboding settling over her heart. ¡°What happened to him? Where was he injured? What did the doctors say?¡± Nancy bit her lip, deliberating her words carefully. ¡°He was the one who contacted the authorities when he could barely hang on.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. He lost consciousness after providing a rough location to the police. When the rescue team found you, your car had taken quite a hit. Sumner shielded you, but both of you were ensnared beneath sharp rocks, and one of his legs was trapped under a massive one. He was bleeding profusely when they freed him. ¡± Recalling the harrowing scene, tears welled in Nancy¡¯s eyes. Sniffling, she continued, ¡°The rescue team mentioned your car careening off the cliff during andslide. In an attempt to protect you, Sumner¡­¡± Unable to articte the grim reality, Nancy faltered. ¡°The doctor said that there was no other problem, but his leg¡­¡± ¡°What happened to his leg?¡± Lindsey held Nancy¡¯s hand tightly. Nancy also took a firm hold of Lindsey¡¯s hand. She feared Lindsey would not be able to handle it. She then inhaled deeply before speaking. ¡°His leg is severely fractured. The doctors operated on it, but the damage was beyond serious. There¡¯s uncertainty about his recovery. He may never¡­¡± ¡°To walk again?¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice quivered with disbelief, her eyes widening in shock. Nancy nodded solemnly. ¡°The doctors are uncertain. Even if he does regain mobility, it may not be in the way we hope for. ¡± Chapter 833 Upon hearing Nancy¡¯s words, Lindsey was stricken with disbelief. She remained stunned, tears streaming down her face uncontrobly. ¡°How could this happen? It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± The memory of Sumner¡¯s heroic act, saving her and her mother from the mes that engulfed her mother¡¯s apartment, shed vividly in her mind. Without him, she would¡¯ve been consumed by the fire. Now, in his valiant effort to save her once more, Sumnery grievously wounded, possibly facing a lifetime of disability. Lindsey felt like a heavy stone had lodged itself in her chest, suffocating her with eachbored breath. She owed Sumner more than a mere life debt. The weight of her indebtedness felt insurmountable. With a worried gaze, Nancy tenderly brushed Lindsey¡¯s hair, offering sce. ¡°Linds, please don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. The doctor emphasized rest for your recovery. No one could have foreseen this. It¡¯s not your fault. Just lie down and focus on healing. ¡± But how could Lindsey rest when it was because of her that Sumner found himself in his current state? How could she face him, let alone repay his selfless kindness? Self-loathing consumed her. If only she had insisted on staying in today, perhaps this dreadful ident could have been avoided. She found herself at a loss, unsure of how to confront Sumner or even begin to repay him. Nancy gently guided the dazed Lindsey to lie down,forting her like a nurturing guardian. ¡°Linds, try to rest. Things will look brighter when you wake up. Trust me, everything will be alright. ¡± Meanwhile, in Mubluosia, a line of sleek ck cars came to a halt outside Herbert¡¯s private vi.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. A line of bodyguards dressed in ck attire disembarked from the cars, each exuding an air of professionalism. One of them approached thest car with deference, stooping respectfully to open the door. Two young men of exceptional demeanor emerged from the car. Arturo casually adjusted his sunsses, his gaze fixed on the vi before him. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. ¡± Following a subtle cue from Domenic, someone promptly dashed forward to ring the doorbell. Yet there was no response even after a prolonged wait. Domenic¡¯s voice, deep and resonant, carried a note of uncertainty as he inquired, ¡°Are you certain he¡¯s inside?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Arturo nodded in confirmation. ¡°The ce has been under constant surveince, just as you instructed. It¡¯s undeniable that your Uncle Herbert hasn¡¯t left the premises since his arrival yesterday. ¡± Domenic raised his hand, issuing amanding gesture to the bodyguards positioned behind him. ¡°Break down the door. ¡± They promptly advanced, swiftly dismantling the door within seconds. Domenic wasted no time; as he entered, a glint of cold light caught his attention. Reacting instinctively, his eyes narrowed, and his reflexes kicked in. With a swift movement, he bent down, narrowly evading the ambush. Seeing Domenic¡¯s deft evasion only fueled Herbert¡¯s fury. With a fierce wave of his dagger, heunched a reckless onught, stabbing indiscriminately at Domenic¡¯s body. Despite Herbert¡¯s attempts, it was evident that he stood no chance against Domenic¡¯s well-prepared men. Swiftly, they subdued Herbert, forcefully pinning him to the ground. Domenic himself intervened, swiftly kicking away the dagger from Herbert¡¯s grasp. Despite Herbert¡¯s vigorous struggles, he remained firmly held down by Domenic¡¯s men, his body pressed hard against the floor. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Arturo nced over at Domenic, who shook his head in response. With Herbert now firmly under control, Domenicposedly positioned himself in front of him, lowering himself halfway to meet Herbert¡¯s gaze. His expression remained impassive. ¡°Uncle Herbert, your tactics have sunk to new lows. What¡¯s this? Are you trying to kill me, your nephew?¡± Herbert spat in anger, his scarlet eyes zing with fury as he directed a re at Domenic, cursing, ¡°Domenic, you wretched bastard! You¡¯re cruel and merciless! You¡¯re even plotting against your uncle! And here you are, spouting nonsense. I curse you to never find peace in death and to rot in hell!¡± Chapter 834 With a faint smile ying at the corners of his mouth, Domenic extended his hand and rested it on Herbert¡¯s hair, now marred with dust. With deceptive gentleness, he began to stroke it, only to swiftly yank it back with force. The sudden agony elicited a grimace and a piercing scream from Herbert. ¡°Domenic! Are you out of your mind? I¡¯m your uncle. ¡± ¡°My uncle?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice rang out, cutting through Herbert¡¯s protests Like a knife through the silence. His demeanor remained icy, devoid of warmth. ¡°When you condemned me to starve in that cer, did it ever cross your mind that you were my supposed ¡®uncle¡¯?¡± Herbert¡¯s re met Domenic¡¯s gaze, but Domenic remained impassive as he released his grip. Taking a tissue offered by Arturo, he methodically wiped his hands clean. His downcast eyes revealed no hint of emotion as he spoke. ¡°When ites to scheming against family, I pale inparison to my uncles. You conspired to orchestrate the car ident, aiming to eliminate the heir, my father, at the time. Am I right?¡± Even though Domenic already knew it, speaking those words directly still hurt his heart. His own family members, driven by power and greed, had murdered his parents. Domenic couldn¡¯t understand. Were power, wealth, and status truly worth such betrayal? Did they value these things more than their own flesh and blood? These rtives were heartless and only cared about themselves and they treated each other just as poorly. Domenic finally had a chance to stand up for himself because they had turned against each other after getting rid of his father.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. None of them truly cared about what would benefit the Walsh Group. They just wanted to be the next leader of the Walsh Group and gain real control over it. This was their shared dream. They acted friendly on the surface but felt distant inside, which Domenic used to his advantage. They were unaware of this. Domenic could rise above those who came before him not just because he was skilled, but also because Jordan favored him. Of course, Domenic also had to thank his uncles¡¯ ¡°encouragement¡±. For years, Domenic endured humiliation and carried burdens, all with one goal: to avenge his parents someday. When Herbert heard Domenic speak the truth, he was instantly shocked and trembled. ¡°How do you know that?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was cold as he said, ¡°Uncle Herbert, if you don¡¯t want anyone finding out, then don¡¯t do it. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery As Domenic gazed at the frightened man before him, he couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°You know, I never really intended to harm any of you. Uncle Herbert, I¡¯m giving you a chance now. Whether you take it or not is up to you. ¡± Herbert shook uncontrobly, yet he maintained a mask ofposure. ¡°Domenic, what the hell are you nning?¡± Domenic¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Here¡¯s what I need from you: sign the share transfer agreement, hand over all your shares in the Walsh Group to me, and reveal who was behind my parents¡¯ death. In return, I¡¯ll help wipe out your debt and provide you with enough money for the rest of your days. ¡± Herbert chuckled as if he found something amusing. ¡°Domenic, it must have been tough for you, pretending to be the obedient grandson all these years beside my father. Are you finally going to drop the act? Think about it, my debt is just ten billion dors. Do you really think my father would refuse to help me and stand by while you Lead me to my downfall?¡± Domenic¡¯s smile sent shivers down the spine. ¡°You¡¯re right. But what¡¯s the oue? Even if Grandpa bails you out now, you¡¯ll lose his trust in the long run. Do you really think he¡¯ll hand you crucial projects in the future? By then, you¡¯ll be irrelevant at the Walsh Group, and your voice won¡¯t matter anymore. Have you ever considered who¡¯ll emerge victorious after all your years of internal conflict?¡± Herbert felt a sinking sensation in his chest at those simple words. His face twisted in a frown, and he gritted his teeth involuntarily. With Kent out of the picture, only Rupert stood aspetition against Domenic. If Jordan lost faith in Herbert, the entire Walsh Group would slip into Rupert¡¯s control. As Domenic observed Herbert¡¯s expression, a smirk formed on his lips as he added fuel to the fire. ¡°Why do you think Uncle Rupert didn¡¯t join in those business ventures this time? Doesn¡¯t that strike you as odd?¡± Herbert, who was easily irritated, couldn¡¯t stand Domenic¡¯s provocations. His anger boiled as he clenched his teeth and demanded, ¡°Did Rupert know everything all along? Is he using you to get rid of us and take control of the Walsh Group?¡± Chapter 835 Domenic raised his eyebrows. ¡°You¡¯re notpletely clueless. You figured it out? Uncle Rupert is the sneakiest and trickiest of them all. You guys should be in this together, but he¡¯s always had his eyes on controlling the Walsh Group by himself. He¡¯s just using me to push you guys out.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Even if I hadn¡¯te up with this n, he wouldn¡¯t let you off the hook easily, would he?¡± Herbert¡¯s eyes zed with anger, and hatred surged within him uncontrobly. With a snort, he red at Domenic and spat out maliciously, ¡°You don¡¯t need to stir up trouble here anymore. Plotting against your own family shows what kind of person you are. ¡± Despite his words, Herbert¡¯s mental defenses crumbled. He was defeated. Now, he had to choose between siding with Domenic or Rupert. Herbert was well aware of Rupert¡¯s deceptive appearance. Although he seemed gentle, Rupert harbored the most deceitful and cruel intentions. Rupert didn¡¯t even flinch when he killed his older brother, let alone deal with Herbert. Herbert wrestled with his emotions while Domenic remained calm, simply observing him in silence. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ll spare me if I follow your orders?¡± Herbert asked, looking up. Domenic shrugged casually. ¡°If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll end up like Uncle Kent. ¡± Herbert gulped nervously. He had no other option. Domenic could easily dispose of him without anyone noticing. If Domenic wanted him dead, there was no need to go through so much trouble. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll talk. You probably should¡¯ve figured out who was behind your parents¡¯ death. It¡¯s your Uncle Rupert. He¡¯s the one who orchestrated everything, stirring us up and arranging to sabotage your father¡¯s car. And he¡¯s the one who ordered to scatter your mother¡¯s ashester on. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes shed dangerously, a crimson hue staining the whites, a silent rm that made Arturo instinctively recoil. Though Domenic had pieced together much of the story, the unveiled truth intensified his anger, waves upon waves crashing within. Rupert¡¯s betrayal was stark-to take the life of his own kin, to target Domenic¡¯s innocent mother caught in the wealthy¡¯s crossfire-it was unthinkable. Not content with just her death, Rupert went further, desecrating her remains. Such cruelty tightened Domenic¡¯s hands, his knuckles whitening from the strain. Herbert¡¯s resolve faltered under the intensity of Domenic¡¯s re. ¡®s BunnyBookery ¡°Back then, after your father passed, you were taken to your grandpa¡¯s house. From the moment you arrived, Rupert would fill our heads with notions, urging us to eliminate you as we had your parents. He warned of endlessplications should you remain. ¡± Recalling the shadowed past, Herbert¡¯s voice carried a weight of regret. ¡°We exploited your grandpa¡¯s frailty, trapping you in the cer,¡± Herbert confessed, his tone somber. ¡°Rupert convinced us to im innocence if questioned, suggesting you¡¯d wandered in there without knowing any better. To the world, you were lost to us, leaving us free to end your life in secret. ¡± That memory, raw and tender, lingered in Domenic¡¯s soul. His gaze grew distant with the retelling. The cold, suffocating dark of the cer where he had spent that endless night threatened to swallow him whole once more. The oxygen scarce, his young self had taken shallow breaths, bracing for a quiet end as the air thinned to nothing. Back then, his mind, still childlike, grappled with the stark contrast between the daytime warmth of his uncles¡¯ smiles and the night¡¯s chilling betrayal, unable toprehend their cruel turnaround. Kent¡¯s words had echoed hollowly. ¡°Will the butler hear him with those screams?¡± Silence soon enveloped Domenic, and with it, a piercing chill and suffocating darkness. Ten days and nights had passed in an agony that brought him to death¡¯s threshold. In that ck void, time had slipped from his grasp, yet his will clung tenaciously to life. He found sce in the damp walls, his tongue seeking moisture from a crack-his lips chapped, on the brink of no return. Curled in the cer¡¯s embrace, his voice raspy from cries, he felt the chill of death creep over his weakening body. Breath became a luxury, tears refused to fall, and he yearned for the embrace of his lost family. Chapter 836 But then, an ethereal glow pierced the gloom. He looked up, his heart skipping a beat, envisioning his mother¡¯s outstretched arms. A tender voice reached him. ¡°Hello, are you okay?¡± He blinked against the light to see a girl standing before him, her presence like a soothing balm. She was a peer in age, yet her simple beauty, framed by the morning¡¯s golden hues, seemed otherworldly. She was warmth incarnate, a seraph in the dim cer. Domenic¡¯s consciousness was ebbing as he gazed emptily at the girl. Her reassuring words, ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to get you out,¡± barely registered before she disappeared. Left alone, despair closed in once more, but not for long. The girl returned, extending a long stick towards him. ¡°Grab this, and I¡¯ll hoist you out,¡± she promised. ¡®s BunnyBookery Clutching what felt like his only hope, Domenic held fast as the girl pulled with surprising strength, freeing him from his dark prison. Once out, the sun¡¯s embrace felt like a rebirth to Domenic. Carole surveyed Domenic, who remained quiet. The boy had an air of quiet handsomeness, but was not one for many words. At the moment, however, he was a sight-dust clung to him, hair tousled, and a stale odor surrounded him. Hisplexion was hidden beneathyers of filth. Breathless and ashen, Domenic seemed on the verge of copse. Concern etched into Carole¡¯s features as she urged, ¡°Come on, we need to get you to your grandpa. ¡± Domenic watched her lead the way, her hair catching the wind, her presence a beacon of hope. Her scent-a hint of fruit in the breeze¡ªbrought a subtlefort. In his heart, he knew without Carole, he might have perished in the cer¡¯s chill, the chance for justice for his parents lost. With that thought, Domenic¡¯s eyes drifted shut, his mind affirming an eternal debt to Carole. A pang of regret struck Domenic as he reflected on his harshness towards Carole during the engagement party. The day¡¯s events had stirred memories, softening his resolve. From a young age, his mother instilled in him the virtue of gratitude. She was a woman of grace and kindness, imparting lessons of warmth throughout his childhood. Herbert, prone on the floor, caught the change in Domenic¡¯s expression, eyes wide with a mix of fear and hope. ¡°Listen, you gave me your word,¡± he implored, voiceced with urgency. ¡°You¡¯re aware, I have no love for the cutthroat nature of our line of work. My delights are simple, fleeting pleasures with no ambition to challenge you. Provide me with the means to lead a modest life, free of this strife, and I assure you, my loyalty is yours. My presence in the Walsh Group will be nothing more than a shadow. It was Herbert¡¯s plea that snapped Domenic back to reality. A slight smile yed on his lips. ¡°Absolutely,¡± he responded. With a deliberate motion, Domenic peeled off his gloves and epted the share transfer documents from an aide. Crouching before Herbert, he presented the papers. ¡°Sign this. ¡± Herbert¡¯s hesitation was brief. He met Domenic¡¯s gaze, seeking assurance. To ease Herbert¡¯s mind, Domenic quickly penned a check and gestured with it towards the anxious figure on the floor. Herbert sealed the agreement with a decisive mark, his jaw set firm.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The check fluttered from Domenic¡¯s hand, brushing Herbert¡¯s face as the guards released their grip. Herbert looked up to see Domenic¡¯s retreating figure heading for the exit. Chapter 837 Then, mustering every ounce of strength, Herbert¡¯s voice boomed through the room. ¡°Domenic!¡± Domenic halted but remained facing forward. With a voice worn and heavy with regret, Herbert confessed, ¡°I¡¯ve failed you as an uncle. I remember holding you, a small child, years ago. How time slips by. Yes, I¡¯ve been lured away by greed, yet I am your kin. You¡¯ve spared me today. In turn, allow me an uncle¡¯s counsel. Despite your strength and independence, I must urge you-do not cross your grandfather. ¡± Rumors of Domenic¡¯s abrupt departure from his own engagement ceremony had indeed reached Herbert. He couldn¡¯t help but quietly admire the courage Domenic disyed, a courage he and his siblingscked. ¡°The decision to scatter your mother¡¯s remains wasn¡¯t made lightly. It had your grandfather¡¯s silent endorsement. He never did approve of your father marrying beneath his station, a decision that didn¡¯t advance his ambitions.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Be wary. Challenging your grandfather¡¯s authority has a single end-death. His fondness for you will not change this harsh truth. ¡± A tremor went through Domenic, Lindsey¡¯s image weaving into his thoughts. In the quiet that followed, Domenic¡¯s voice was devoid of warmth. ¡°Thanks for the warning, Uncle Herbert. ¡± With those final words, Domenic turned away, exiting with measured steps, his ck coat catching the breeze. Back in the sanctuary of his car, he reclined and shut his eyes, his features unreadable, a fortress of ice. Arturo, ncing at Domenic¡¯s profile, ventured cautiously after a pause, ¡°Domenic, you showed up to offer Herbert a chance at life, didn¡¯t you? You spared him because you still hold some lingering sympathy for him, right? After all, it seems less effort now to simply eliminate him. ¡± Without a nce, Domenic¡¯s fatigue was palpable. His reply was soft but clear. ¡°You¡¯re quite the chatterbox, aren¡¯t you?¡± His eyes remained closed, a barrier against the world. Arturo remained silent, recognizing the necessity behind Domenic¡¯s actions. Though Domenic might have been wrestling with his conscience, his stoic facade never cracked. Back at his desk, Arturo dove back into work, seeing through the endgame of their scheme. Domenic, in solitude, sprawled on the office sofa as dusk crept in, the dying light casting a golden halo around him. A profound sigh escaped him. Exhaustion weighed heavily, an unfamiliar burden. Suppressed bitterness and bygone pain threatened to rise once more. In the quiet of the office, hecked a vent for these brewing storms. Lindsey¡¯s absence was palpable. She was the sce to his unrest, the balm to his turmoil. With Lindsey on his mind, Domenic reached for his phone, her contact illuminating the screen. His thumb hovered over the call button, warring with indecision. Domenic guessed Lindsey must have gone to bed. She worked hard every day, always tired. Domenic didn¡¯t want to disturb her rest now. So he put the phone back in his pocket after a while. Close to bing the Walsh Group¡¯s top shareholder, Domenic was almost there. When he took over, his grandpa would officially retire, leaving no room for trouble. At that time, he could marry Lindsey and introduce her to his grandfather. Even when exhausted or in pain, just thinking of Lindsey and their future filled Domenic¡¯s heart with warmth, He wasn¡¯t alone anymore. Lindsey was there. In the ward, Lindsey wasn¡¯t fully recovered, still weak. Nancyforted her until she fell into a deep sleep. Watching Lindsey sleep peacefully, Nancy found herself wide awake. Chapter 838 She moistened a cotton swab and gently brushed it across Lindsey¡¯s lips. Finally, she let out a long, relieved sigh. All of a sudden, Nancy¡¯s phone broke the silence in the calm ward. Surprised, Nancy quickly silenced it and nced at Lindsey¡¯s bed. Seeing that Lindsey only frowned but didn¡¯t wake up, she felt relieved. She tiptoed out of the ward with her phone, being careful not to disturb Lindsey. Seeing the missed call, Nancy hesitated before calling back. Soon, the phone connected, and the background was bustling with noise. A middle-aged man yelled, ¡°Miss Schultz, it¡¯ste, and we¡¯ve been waiting for you. Time¡¯s ticking.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. We¡¯ll leave if you don¡¯te. ¡± With a flirtatious tone, Nancy hurriedly tried to charm her way out, saying, ¡°Sorry, got caught up in urgent stuff. I¡¯m on my way. ¡± She couldn¡¯t tell if the man was sober, but he chuckled crudely and remarked, ¡°Laters must drink as punishment. ¡± Nancy forced a smile and said, ¡°Sure, no problem. ¡± After ending the call, she quietly entered the ward and approached Lindsey¡¯s bedside. She tucked Lindsey in, gazing at her for a moment. Then, with a gentle touch, she smoothed Lindsey¡¯s hair and whispered, ¡°Rest easy. I¡¯ll manage thepany¡¯s affairs somehow. ¡± On the day Lindsey had her ident, it was like all thepany partners had joined forces. They rang one by one, each with their own absurd excuse to cancel the contract with Lindnita Artists Agency. Their determination was strong, some even threw around threats of legal action. The agency was in the midst of its toughest challenge ever since it began. Lindsey had just woken up from a terrible ident. Nancy couldn¡¯t bear to burden her with bad news, so she resolved to handle it herself. She didn¡¯t want Lindsey to worry while she focused on getting better. After the incident, Nancy hustled to make connections. It wasn¡¯t easy, but she eventually convinced the presidents of a few cooperatingpanies to gather in the evening and talk things out in person. Nancy washed her face in the bathroom, clearing her thoughts. Once she feltposed, she shut the door behind her and left the ward. Following the directions from the man, she drove the car to the front of a fancy club. A staff member guided her upstairs to a private karaoke room. Standing by the door, she took a deep breath, gathering her courage. After psyching herself up, she gently pushed the door open. Suddenly, the loud, lively singing pierced through the silence, startling her. As she nced around the private room, she noticed several hefty, sweaty middle-aged men singing an old tune with gusto. The overpowering scent of smoke and alcohol made her scrunch up her nose in difort. Chapter 839 The moment Nancy swung the door open, she shed a practiced smile and apologized, ¡°Sorry for beingte. I¡¯ll make up for it by drinking three sses of wine. ¡± Next, she headed straight to the table, grabbed a ss, poured herself some wine, and downed it in three quick gulps. Then, she held up the empty ss to show them. The men present were taken aback by the appearance of the delicate-looking woman, and they regarded her with newfound interest. Before arriving, Nancy took care to change into a white blouse and a fitted dress. She exuded confidence and allure in her sleek attire, captivating the attention of several men who couldn¡¯t help but stare. Then, they were stunned by her bold and direct approach. Their gazes unintentionally shifted, revealing a mix of surprise and curiosity. After downing three sses of wine, Nancy¡¯s cheeks became rosy, and she started feeling a bit woozy. With her cute red lips, she dove into business talk. ¡°Hey everyone, thanks for joining me today. I¡¯m here to ask for a favor. I really hope you¡¯ll reconsider backing out of the contract. If there are any issues yourpanies are facing,y them on me. Lindnita Artists Agency has got your back, we¡¯ll figure it all out. ¡± Those men nced around at each other. In the dimly lit room, they could all sense the same desire in each other¡¯s eyes. They grinned, and one of them spoke up. ¡°You know, there¡¯s still some flexibility here. We¡¯re not trying to be difficult.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. If you hang out and have a few drinks with us tonight, we might just do you a favor and reconsider our coboration with Lindnita Artists Agency. ¡± Hearing his words, Nancy got it. They were just looking for a reason to mess with her. With the ill Lindsey on her mind, Nancy steeled herself. She shook her head firmly, raised her ss, and toasted to each of the men one by one. But they kept trying to push her to drink more,ing up with all sorts of excuses. Even though Nancy could handle her liquor pretty well, she couldn¡¯t handle the toasts from all those guys. After a few rounds, she just felt her stomach sloshing with wine and her body burning up. With a smile on her face, she managed to stand up and said, ¡°Excuse me. I need to go to the restroom. ¡± Then she hurried off to the restroom. She leaned on the sink and started puking her guts out. Before she knew it, the whole restroom stank of vomit. ¡®s BunnyBookery During the day, she was busy running around for thepany and taking care of Lindsey, so she didn¡¯t have time to eat. So, all she had in her stomach was some wine. After puking for a bit, she only felt her stomach burning even more. She lifted her head and checked herself out in the mirror. Her eyes were all red and puffy, and her hair was a mess. She looked like a wreck. She grabbed some water with her hands and sshed it on her face to try to sober up. With Lindsey injured and in the hospital, Nancy believed she had to step up and hold thepany together. She couldn¡¯t afford to fall apart now. After Nancy left the room, those men dropped the act and all shed creepy smiles. One of them spat on the floor and smirked. ¡°Damn, this woman is smoking hot. She¡¯s super sexy, with her slim waist, full breasts, and plump booty. She¡¯s absolutely stunning. ¡± Another man lounged on the sofa, asking in a rxed manner, ¡°What¡¯s the story with this woman¡¯s background?¡± Can we mess with her a bit more?¡± One of them chuckled, wearing a sly grin. ¡°No worries. I did a little digging before showing up. Turns out, she¡¯s just the daughter of some nobody. She doesn¡¯t have much of a background, and she¡¯s just a newbie with no major connections. So, let¡¯s just chill and have some naughty fun. ¡± ¡°Seems like she¡¯s itching to have some fun with us, asking us out like that. And even if something goes wrong, she won¡¯t stir up any trouble. Moreover, Lindnita Artists Agency is on thin ice with the Walsh Group anyway. It¡¯s bound to be shut down sooner orter. This silly girl really thinks we¡¯ll lend her a hand? It¡¯s ridiculous. Who would be dumb enough to go against the Walsh Group?¡± They burst into sinisterughter once more. ¡°Let¡¯s just have some fun with her while we can. This one seems Like she¡¯ll be worth it. Save me a spot in line. I¡¯m going to taste her first,¡± another man said with a sleazy tone. ¡°Why should you go first? I was the one who agreed toe here first. I¡¯m going first,¡± another man protested in a crude tone. Then they burst into wildughter and spoke in a disturbing and lewd manner, expressing their twisted desire to touch Nancy. Chapter 840 Nancy, the main character they were gossiping about, had no clue about the trouble heading her way. At the end of the corridor on the club¡¯s second floor, a window was half-open, letting in a gust of wind. A young man leaned against the window, holding a cigarette between his fingers that was about to burn out. Mercer came to the club to hang out tonight. He ended up drinking a bit too much wine and got a headache from some arguments with his business partners. So, he ditched the crowd and stepped outside alone to get some fresh air while puffing on a cigarette. After finishing his cigarette, Mercer rubbed his temple with his cold fingers. Just as he was about to head back to the private room, he spotted a familiar figure stepping out of the restroom. It was Nancy. Without catching sight of Mercer, Nancy took a few steps forward. Then she turned around, pulled open the door, and headed into the private room at the end of the corridor. Mercer frowned as he nced at his watch, seeing it was nearly midnight. He couldn¡¯t shake the thought of what Nancy might be doing here at thiste hour. Feeling a bit nosy, he started to head out but hesitated for a moment. After a few seconds, Mercer cursed under his breath, ¡°This woman is such a troublemaker. ¡± Mercer couldn¡¯t stay uninvolved. It waste, and he was clueless about Nancy¡¯s activities at this ce. The danger was palpable.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Moreover, he noticed Nancy¡¯s walk was unsteady; she was clearly intoxicated. Mercer quickly called over a passing waitress and handed him a tip without hesitation. ¡°Please check the innermost room and report back what you find, will you?¡± Mercer, a renowned stream singer, was known for his good Looks and soothing voice. The waitress, new to the job, was almost captivated by Mercer¡¯s presence. Blushing, she nodded eagerly and dashed off. Meanwhile, Mercer paced outside anxiously, smoking two cigarettes before the waitress returned with news. ¡°A group of men is forcing a woman to drink, and they¡¯re all somewhat intoxicated. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Mercer¡¯s expression darkened as he inquired, ¡°Is the woman there alone?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± A wave of concern washed over Mercer. Discarding his cigarette, he quickly headed to the room where Nancy was. Inside, three men were pressuring Nancy to drink, while others whispered among themselves. ¡°We misjudged her. This woman is tougher than we thought. I¡¯m feeling the effects of the alcohol, yet she¡¯s barely flushed. ¡± ¡°See that? She can even outdrink Alfred. ¡± The man named Alfred was slumped over the table,pletely unconscious. Chapter 841 The men were taken aback by her boldness and high tolerance for wine. It appeared that the woman who had the guts to invite them out alone was truly something. Nancy struggled to hold her ground, refusing to sumb to the effects of alcohol. Despite feeling dizzy, she dared not copse. The private room was filled with men with ill intentions, and she knew all too well what awaited her if she lost consciousness. At this juncture, a man seized the bottle and thrust it into Nancy¡¯s hand, abandoning any facade andpelling her to consume its contents. ¡°Drink it up. ¡± Nancy¡¯splexion paled. Her stomach churned, and although she had managed a brief escape to the restroom earlier, they had since denied her further reprieves. Now, her abdomen felt bloated, and a foul taste lingered in her mouth. She hesitated, pleading for mercy. ¡°Mr. Foster, I¡­¡± The man¡¯s impatience red as he scolded, ¡°What? You obey their orders but hesitate with me? Are you trying to embarrass me? Or perhaps you prefer theirpany over mine?¡± His words carried a clear threat. He had long been affiliated with the Lindnita Artists Agency, holding the esteemed position of Lindsey¡¯s most valued client. If Lindsey caught wind of any rift in their partnership, it would spell trouble.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Nancy hesitated once more, torn betweenpliance and her physical limits. Unsure of what to do, she found herself with no other option as he grew increasingly impatient, revealing his true intentions. With a twisted smile, he dered, ¡°Very well. If you won¡¯t drink it willingly, I¡¯ll make sure you do. ¡± The man seized Nancy¡¯s arms and forced her onto the sofa. Other men joined in, pinning her down. One of them grabbed a bottle and, prying her mouth open, poured the liquid directly down her throat. Nancy was engulfed by an intense wave of fear. She fought desperately, but they had a firm grip on her hands and feet, rendering her immobile. The wine forcefully entered her mouth, streaming down her throat and into her stomach without restraint. The man poured it with brute force, causing some of the wine to spill out from her nose. She felt incredibly ufortable, longing to cough, yet she was forbidden to do so. All she could manage was a helpless whimper, her mouth unable to form coherent words. Tears flowed as fear and hopelessness took hold. With her eyes shut tight, Nancy wished for an escape from her ordeal. Amidst the chaos, the room¡¯s door was forcefully kicked open. The men, annoyed, turned to confront the intruder, ready tosh out. But their tone changed instantly upon recognizing the figure in the doorway. Mercer, d in a sharp silver-gray suit and striking red shoes, stood against the hallway¡¯s bright light. His appearance, refined andmanding, immediately captured the room¡¯s attention. Advancing into the room, Mercer¡¯s stern nce swept across the group. The executives, taken aback by his authoritative presence, released Nancy. They attempted to mask their guilt with forced smiles, awkwardly greeting him, ¡°Mr. Aston, what brings you here? Such an unexpected surprise. ¡± Chapter 842 Mercer cast a disapproving nce at Nancy sprawled on the sofa, drenched in sticky liquor. Her flushed face and disheveled hair hinted at her inebriated state. Now soaked in wine, her pristine white blouse clung to her skin, translucent from the wine, entuating her curves. The sight stirred a reaction within him, darkening his expression as he frowned. Taking note of the many wine bottles cluttering the table, Mercer sneered and spoke with measured disdain. ¡°You seem to be enjoying yourself too much. It¡¯s hardly gentlemanly of you guys to drink a woman under the table. If such news were to circte, it might not bode well for your reputation. ¡± The men appeared ufortable and uncertain, their expressions reflecting their confusion as they tried to understand Mercer¡¯s intentions. Mercer then proposed, ¡°Since we¡¯ve crossed paths, why don¡¯t I join you for a drink? Perhaps you could show some mercy and release this woman?¡± Nancy had been drifting in and out of consciousness, vaguely aware of someone speaking. Struggling to focus, she squinted and beheld a young, handsome man before her. Through her haze, she thought he bore a striking resemnce to Mercer. Attempting to clear her foggy mind, Nancy squinted, straining to observe him. Could it indeed be Mercer? What was he doing here? Despite feeling taken aback by his presence, her strength waned, and she was unable to utter a word, leaving her slumped against the sofa, drained. The men exchanged bewildered nces, perplexed by Mercer¡¯s sudden intervention. They nced at Nancy, specting whether Mercer intended to y the hero or if there was a deeper connection between him and Nancy. Despite Mercer¡¯s status as a famous singer rather than a businessman, his parents significantly influenced political circles, granting him a formidable family background. Since Mercer requested a drink with them, the businessmen feltpelled to show him respect. Roger Foster, who had just coerced Nancy to drink, felt the need to defuse the tension. He stepped forward to extend an olive branch. ¡°Mr. Aston, you¡¯re absolutely right. Since we¡¯ve crossed paths, let¡¯s share a drink together. ¡± However, twenty minutester, Roger realized he had bitten off more than he could chew. He was filled with regret for his hasty invitation. The entire private room resembled a scene from aedy, with Mercer as the lone sober figure amidst a sea of drunken men sprawled on the sofa. He toyed with his empty wine ss with a smug grin at the corner of his lips.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Mercer was clearly a league apart from Nancy andmanded a different respect. None dared pressure him into drinking. Moreover, for every drink Mercer consumed, they had to down three. Surveying the inebriated businessmen, Mercer lightly touched Nancy¡¯s cheek with his chilly fingertips. ¡°Come on, wake up. Unless you intend to spend the night here?¡± Nancy, in her unconscious state, let out a faint moan. Instinctively, she clutched Mercer¡¯s fingers as if grasping for a lifeline. Mercer sighed, his expression turning somber. Reluctantly, he scooped Nancy up and exited the private room, adhering to his principle of seeing things through. With Nancy in his arms, Mercer climbed into the waiting car. Through the rearview mirror, the driver observed Mercer with a woman again but refrained from asking questions. Mercer¡¯s reputation as a notorious womanizer was well-known, so the driver was unfazed. In a low voice, the driver asked, ¡°Mr. Aston, where are we headed?¡± Gazing down at Nancy¡¯s limp figure in hisp, Mercer replied in a deep voice, ¡°Home. ¡± The driver pulled up outside the building of Mercer¡¯s apartment. After confirming that Mercer didn¡¯t require further assistance, the driver departed. As Mercer carried Nancy into his apartment, she felt Light and pliant in his arms. However, when he was about to ce her on the bed, she began thrashing about inexplicably. Nancy managed to open her eyes, only to find Mercer¡¯s handsome face distorted and magnified, Looming over her. His expression was a mix of yfulness and disgust, which infuriated her. In a sudden burst of anger, she struggled to break free from him, twisting and resisting with all her might. ¡°Mercer! Let go of me. What gives you the right to touch me? I was conducting business. Why did you have to interfere and ruin everything? I know you don¡¯t like me, but do you want me to lose my job? Why are you so cruel? I despise you. Let go of me,¡± she shouted, her voice trembling with fury. Chapter 843 Mercer¡¯s gaze hardened as he gritted his teeth and set Nancy down. Without a word, he gripped her wrist and marched her directly to the bathroom. With a stoic expression, he thrust her beneath the shower head. The shock of the frigid water hitting her head was akin to a sudden plunge into an icy river, a stark contrast to the warmth of intoxication. Mercer turned the knob to its maximum flow, making it impossible for her to open her eyes against the relentless downpour. The cold water quickly snapped her out of her drunken stupor, sharpening her senses. Nancy gasped, arching her back as she fumbled with a trembling hand to find the knob and stop the icy flow. Once she turned off the water, she wiped her face and saw Mercer¡¯s disapproving expression. Nancy¡¯s face zed with anger, her cheeks flushed crimson. ¡°Mercer, seriously? Are you trying to turn me into an icicle? It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t like me, but freezing me out like this?¡± With a sneer, Mercer¡¯s voice dripped with coldness. Each word he uttered felt like a stab to Nancy¡¯s heart. ¡°Miss Schultz, you¡¯re quite the actress, ying innocent,¡± Mercer sneered. ¡°Remember how you used to cringe away from me? The moment I touched you, you even puked on me. So why the sudden change? Why no disgust for men today? There were plenty of men hassling you, pushing you to drink and getting touchy. I thought you were enjoying the attention. Is that it? You¡¯re itching to hop into their beds?¡± Trembling by humiliation, Nancy hit Mercer across the cheek. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± she snapped, her voice edged with frustration. ¡°I was talking business. Who gave you the right to make such usations?¡± Stunned by the p, Mercer staggered backward, his hand flying to his reddening cheek. Never before had he been on the receiving end of such defiance. Today, Nancy set a record that left him reeling. As Mercer snapped back to reality, a bitterugh escaped his lips. His fingers tentatively grazed the stinging spot on his cheek, his face darkening with the pain. He couldn¡¯t believe the force behind Nancy¡¯s p. Why didn¡¯t she just fight off those men instead? ¡°Business, huh? What kind of business requires getting cozy with a man? Do you even realize those jerks were about to take advantage of you? If I hadn¡¯t shown up, who knows what could have happened when you passed out drunk?¡± With each word, Mercer¡¯s frustration bubbled to the surface. How could Nancy be so clueless about her own safety? Who would go out alone to a club without a care in the world? ¡°Miss Schultz, ever heard of being safe? You probably would have thanked those men after they had had their way with you. ¡± Nancy stood there, momentarily speechless. The events of the night came rushing back, sending shivers down her spine.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. The fear of being coerced into drinking again made her tremble involuntarily. But she refused to back down, especially not in front of Mercer. Chin held high, she retorted defiantly, ¡°This is my business, not yours. Who are you to tell me what to do? Even if they had their way with me, it¡¯s still none of your concern. ¡± With a loud thud, Mercer punched the wall just inches from Nancy¡¯s ear. Pressed firmly against the wall, she gasped in shock, her heart racing. When she finally met his intense gaze, a twinge of guilt washed over her inexplicably. She wanted to look away, but his grip on her chin was unyielding, forcing her to meet his eyes. Mercer¡¯s fingers tightened around her delicate chin as he cornered her against the wall, his frustration mounting at her self-deprecating remarks. ¡°Who am I to you?¡± Mercer¡¯s voice was low and threatening, dredging up Nancy¡¯s shameful past. ¡°Your first time was with me, and that¡¯s a bond thatsts a lifetime. ¡± Chapter 844 Nancy red up, her hand twitching as if to p him again, but he stopped her. His frown deepened as he seized her wrist, his tone icy. ¡°Do you have a thing for pping me?¡± With a swift move, he pinned both her wrists against the wall, his lips capturing hers in a soft kiss. Wide-eyed, Nancy instinctively recoiled, a surge of nausea threatening to overwhelm her. She pushed against him, but their bodies remained intertwined, the struggle futile. Mercer¡¯s bite on her lip was firm, his eyes gleaming with provocation. Without a word, he dared her to resist, taunting her silently. It was as if he challenged her to fight back, even if it meant risking something as humiliating as vomiting in his mouth. ¡®s BunnyBookery Nancy winced as his teeth grazed her lip, but she refused to back down, meeting his kiss with equal intensity. A strange impulse surged within her, almost wishing she could just throw up right now. Their kiss became a battle of wills, neither willing to give in, each holding their ground. For a moment, the world around them fell into a hushed stillness, the only sound the smacking of their lips. With each passing moment, Nancy felt the weight in her heart slowly lift, reced by an unexpected sense of ease and a hint of longing. Mercer¡¯s face loomed close, his features strangely captivating to her eyes. Lost in the kiss, Nancy was absentminded. Catching her distraction, Mercer smirked, his fingers yfully pinching her waist. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t turn you on as those men did?¡± Tears brimmed in her eyes, a sudden ache throbbing within her. She couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brow, her cheeks flushed with desire. The fabric of her shirt clung to her blouse, soaked through and transparent, leaving her utterly exposed. Mercer¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his body betraying his resolve. Despite himself, he found himself drawn to this woman, easily aroused by her allure. Nancy¡¯s luscious fingers traced aimlessly along his back, igniting a fiery heat within him. With his gaze smoldering, he fought to contain his desire, gritting his teeth. Seeing she was about to faint again in his arms, he held her close, his grip firm as he whispered into her ear, ¡°You can¡¯t just leave me hanging after getting me all turned on. ¡± A pounding headache clouded Nancy¡¯s mind as his voice droned on. Annoyed by the noise, she pressed her hand over his mouth, silencing him. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but the intimate contact between them failed to stir any nausea within her. Instead, a subtle pleasure washed over her. Her gentle touch ignited a spark between them. Smoothly, Mercer loosened his tie, his hand encircling her waist as he effortlessly lifted her. With practiced ease, he unbuttoned her blouse, discarding the wet garment, and carried her towards the bedroom, each step heavy with anticipation. Nancy stirred awake, her body protesting with a dull ache that had roused her from her slumber. The sun had ascended to its zenith and flooded the room with a radiant, golden glow streaming through the window. Gingerly, she sat up in bed, her eyes immediately drawn to the unexpected marks marring her skin. She stared at them in stunned silence. Though she couldn¡¯t recall the specifics of how good the sex wasst night, she didn¡¯t harbor any resentment in her heart. The only pain she felt was the dull throbbing in her body, a reminder of whatever had transpired. Could it be that her condition had improved? The thought filled her with hope and excitement. If she regained her health, she could live an everyday life again.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Chapter 845 As Nancy¡¯s gaze shifted towards Mercer, she saw him still fast asleep, his features softened in repose. A faint shadow adorned his straight, well-defined nose, a subtle detail that embodied the same allure that had ensnared the hearts of millions of fans. To her discerning eye, his face appeared virtually wless. Despite her heart fluttering at the sight of him, she couldn¡¯t shake the vulnerability that his presence evoked within her. However, her reverie was shattered as memories of him nked by two women in a previous encounter flooded her mind. Once believing him to be a gentleman as his appearance suggested, the revtion of his yboy reputation left her disheartened, dispelling the unconscious smile that had graced her lips. How many women had he slept with since he took her virginity? Nancy sighed as she pondered, her gaze fixed on Mercer¡¯s handsome face. The bitterness she harbored had long been buried in her heart, breeding a deep-seated mistrust of men. ¡®s BunnyBookery Yet, despite it all, she couldn¡¯t deny her lingering affection for him. He was the man who had both saved and wounded her deeply, though he seemed to have forgotten her entirely. He effortlessly moved on, reveling in thepany of other women. As Nancy¡¯s thoughts became increasingly bitter, she felt anger simmering within her. Ignoring the pain coursing through her body, she carefully crawled out of bed. She slipped on her underwear before heading to the bathroom to gather her clothes. Nancy moved past therge mirror in the bathroom and caught a glimpse of her reflection. The sight of the purple hickeys and bruises that adorned her body served as a stark reminder of Mercer¡¯s callousness. Her skin was tender, and she absentmindedly ran her fingers over the bruised areas. A wave of disappointment and frustration washed over her as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her expression turned somber, and she clenched her jaw, questioning Mercer¡¯s sense of decency. While she had no issue with him sleeping with her, it was his roughness that left her feeling let down. Fully dressed, Nancy tiptoed towards the bedside table, moving with quiet deliberation to avoid disturbing Mercer¡¯s slumber. She gently opened the drawer and retrieved a notebook, scribbling a note before considering her next move. After a moment, Nancy reached into her purse and pulled out two hundred dors, cing it on top of the note before setting it down on the bedside table. She took a final nce at Mercer before turning to leave. Mercer awoke feeling more rested than he had in ages. He stretchedzily, basking in the rejuvenation that washed over him. With a contented sigh, he reached across to embrace the woman who had shared his bed, but his hand met only the chill of empty sheets. The realization that she was no longer there hit him like a bucket of ice water, jolting him awake with a start. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up abruptly, his thoughts turning to the previous night¡¯s encounter. As he reflected on their passionate encounter, Mercer felt physically and mentally content. Any Lingering doubts about his virility had evaporated the moment he¡¯d risen to the asion. It was a validation he sorely needed. The experience left him feeling more confident and self-assured than ever before. He was amazed by Nancy¡¯s transformation in the bedroom. During the day, she was sharp-tongued and difficult to deal with, but she had been incredible once they were in bed together. Her obedience and eagerness to fulfill his requests surprised and impressed him. The contrast was baffling yet exhrating, fueling his desire to tease and please her repeatedly. Brimming with a sense of tion from the previous night, Mercer¡¯s desire for Nancy surged once more as he awoke with a lingering arousal.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Craving her presence and their intimacy, he yearned to be with her again. However, his eagerness turned to confusion as he scanned the empty room, wondering where she had vanished. Mercer¡¯s eyes fell upon two crisp hundred-dor bills on the bedside table. He retrieved the money and found a note beneath it with several hastily scrawled lines. ¡°You¡¯re still as bad as before, but at least you¡¯re putting in the effort. This two hundred dors is my token of appreciation for you. Keep it. ¡± Momentarily stunned, Mercer was unable to process the message on the note. It slowly dawned on him that Nancy had treated him as a male prostitute, leaving him a payment for his services. This revtion ignited a surge of anger within him. How dare she leave such a message, implying that he was not good in bed? The humiliation of the two hundred dors only added fuel to his fury. Recalling their encounter fromst night, Mercer¡¯s frustration grew. Nancy was begging for mercy. He had taken pity on her, letting her off because he couldn¡¯t bear to torture the little drunkard. And now she had the audacity to criticize him, saying he wasn¡¯t good in bed. After crumpling the note and tossing it aside, Mercer reached for his phone and dialed Nancy¡¯s number. But she hung up on him before he could even utter a word. Undeterred, Mercer tried calling her repeatedly, only to be met with the same result each time. Frustration mounted within him as he realized that she was avoiding him. Determined to confront her, he began dressing, his movements fueled by a growing sense of anger. He was not about to let her get away with what she had done. Chapter 846 In the ICU, it had been a while since Lindsey regained consciousness. The doctor came in to check on her and noted her stable condition. After jotting down observations in her medical record and capping his pen, he reassured her, ¡°Your health is looking good. You should be ready for discharge in a few days after a follow-up examination. ¡± ¡°How is Sumner Lawson, the man who was admitted at the same time as me, doing?¡± Lindsey asked anxiously after thanking the doctor. Sumner¡¯s case had left a significant impression on the doctor. The severity of his injuries had prompted the hospital¡¯s vice director to personally assist in an all-night operation. Though Sumner¡¯s leg could not be salvaged, his life was spared. ¡°We managed to stabilize him through the night. ¡± Unaware of the connection between Lindsey and Sumner, the doctor paused to choose his words carefully.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°He has since been moved to a VIP ward. I rmend you focus on your recovery for now. ¡± With a nod of appreciation for the doctor¡¯s tactful response, Lindsey watched him exit the room. The urge to see Sumner, however, made her restless. Despite her weakened state, she attempted to rise from her bed, driven by apelling need to see him. After slipping into her slippers, Lindsey stood still for a bit to maintain her bnce. She felt too weak to walk. With cautious steps, she leaned against the wall for support and inched toward the door. As she neared her door, it suddenly swung open to reveal Xiomara, who seemed to be in a state of emotional turmoil. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and she had dark circles under them. Without makeup, her face looked pale, and her Lips were dry. She seemed exhausted. ¡°Why are you out of bed, Lindsey?¡± Xiomara¡¯s voice wasced with concern as she guided Lindsey back to the bed. ¡°Tell me what you need, and I¡¯ll take care of it. Please, go lie down. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m alright now. I just want to see how Sumner is doing,¡± Lindsey responded helplessly. Hearing Sumner¡¯s name made Xiomara almost lose herposure. ¡°From what I¡¯ve heard, he¡¯s doing fine,¡± she said, sniffling. ¡°You¡¯ll be able to visit him once you¡¯ve recovered. If you¡¯re really worried, I could check on him for you. Please, rest for now. ¡± But Lindsey was adamant. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to rest until I see with my own eyes that he¡¯s alright,¡± she insisted. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can walk to his ward. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Xiomara couldn¡¯t convince Lindsey to stay put, and deep down, she wanted to see Sumner, too. She was afraid of feeling embarrassed if she went alone, so she reluctantly agreed with Lindsey. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll help you. Let¡¯s take small steps. ¡± Lindsey and Xiomara made their way slowly toward Sumner¡¯s VIP ward, arriving after what felt like an eternity. The door was ajar, and the sound of Vincent and Paige conversing inside made Lindsey stop. A wave of nervousness washed over her. She didn¡¯t think twice about seeing Sumner, but now, hearing the familiar voices of Vincent and Paige made her wonder how she¡¯d face them. Although Sumner was not the biological son of Vincent and Paige, he was dearly loved by them. Lindsey, feeling responsible for Sumner¡¯s current state, was consumed by guilt. She feared they would me her, yet, paradoxically, feared their forgiveness just as much. Uncertain, she lingered outside the ward, unable to decide her next move. Just then, Xiomara boldly knocked on the door, drawing the attention of Vincent and Paige. Suddenly feeling their eyes on her, Lindsey¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Realizing there was no turning back, she gathered her courage and stepped inside. Upon entering, Lindsey¡¯s gaze was immediately drawn to Sumner¡¯s bed. Seeing him unconscious, wrapped in gauze, with one leg elevated, pierced her heart with a deep ache. Chapter 847 Paige quickly wiped away her tears and greeted Lindsey with a strained smile, offering support so she could sit next to her. She also motioned for Xiomara to join them.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°How are you feeling? When did you wake up?¡± Paige asked worriedly, taking Lindsey¡¯s hand and gently rubbing it. ¡°I woke upst night. The doctor assured me it¡¯s nothing serious, and I should be discharged in a few days,¡± Lindsey responded truthfully. Paige nodded before her gaze shifted to Sumner, her eyes brimming with tears. ¡°I don¡¯t know when Sumner will wake up. It¡¯s been two days. This situation is really tearing us apart¡­¡± she said, sobbing. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, I¡¯m really sorry¡­¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but apologize as she felt a surge of guilt. ¡°This is all my fault¡­¡± She paused, gathering the courage to confess, ¡°Sumner was hurt while trying to protect me¡­¡± ¡°No, dear, you¡¯re not to me,¡± Paige responded with a sad smile, dismissing Lindsey¡¯s self-me. ¡°¡°Sumner¡¯s life has been challenging from the start. His mother left after he was born, and his father disowned him. He never once visited and chose another family over him. Although we¡¯ve adopted Sumner, we can¡¯t fill the void left by his biological parents. Despite his cheerfulness, he is deeply sensitive and fears losing those close to him. He¡¯s incredibly loyal to those he cares about¡­¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery As Paige spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks once more. Lindsey¡¯s heart got heavier with sorrow. She nced at the man lying unconsciously on the bed, and guilt overwhelmed her once again. She attempted tofort Paige by wiping her tears with a tissue, but Paige took the tissue from her hand and continued, ¡°Sumner¡¯s still so young, just beginning his journey in the workforce, but now¡­ his leg. What if he never walks again? Vincent and I can take care of him now, but what about the future? After we¡¯re gone, who will be there for him?¡± Paige¡¯s voice caught in her throat as she spoke, and it brought tears to everyone in the room. Xiomara listened quietly. Her eyes were turning red as tears welled up in them too. She was dying to tell them that she could totally take care of Sumner. She was willing to do it for as long as they needed, even if it meant for a lifetime. She couldn¡¯t even recall when she started having such a big crush on Sumner. Maybe it was from the very first time they met. Or perhaps it was when he didn¡¯t judge her for her weight, but instead swiftly carried her to the car and drove her to the hospital when she fainted from taking the wrong drugs. It might¡¯ve been when he paid her medical bills and then took care of her patiently. In her whole life, no man had ever treated her as nicely as Sumner did. It was surprising how liking someone could feel both tough and simple at the same time. No matter if Sumner could walk or not in his lifetime, she just wanted to be with him in any way possible. Moreover, when she found out Sumner had hurt his leg badly, she felt kind of weirdly happy inside, thinking she finally had the chance to take care of him. The next moment, Xiomara got totally freaked out by her own crazy thought. She also realized that her crush on Sumner was getting pretty intense. Maybe she couldn¡¯t love anyone else in her life except Sumner anymore. But it seemed she didn¡¯t have much of a say in this situation. She softly bit her lip, unsure if she should speak her mind. Suddenly, a voice cut in. Lindsey was the first to break the silence. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Lopez, don¡¯t worry. ¡± It looked like Lindsey had finally made up her mind. She stood up from her chair and promised Vincent and Paige in a serious tone, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Sumner until he can walk again. ¡± Xiomara¡¯s heart skipped a beat out of the blue. She lifted her head and nced at Lindsey in shock. Didn¡¯t Lindsey have a boyfriend? Weren¡¯t they getting married soon? How could her boyfriend be okay with her taking care of Sumner? Another thing that concerned Xiomara was Sumner¡¯s crush on Lindsey. What if spending a lot of time together while Looking after him made them develop feelings for each other? Xiomara¡¯s mind was in turmoil, pondering the possibilities. When Paige heard this, she gently patted Lindsey¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re a kind person, but you have a boyfriend now. Even if he¡¯s okay with it for mow, you¡¯ll eventually get married. After marriage, will your husband still be okay with you taking care of another man?¡± Lindsey was unsure what to say for a moment. Paige really got it right. Would Domenic be okay with Sumner being part of their Lives? No man could be okay with his wife always taking care of another man. Chapter 848 It was hard to say if Sumner¡¯s leg could fully heal soon. Maybe he would start walking again soon, or maybe he wouldn¡¯t in his lifetime. But Lindsey had to pay back Sumner¡¯s favor this time, no matter what. His leg was broken by a boulder because he tried to save her. If it weren¡¯t for him, she would be the one in the hospital bed. Or it would have been uncertain if she could pull through the ident. With the whole fire ident still fresh in her mind, Lindsey was already feeling indebted to Sumner.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. And on top of that, he was always there, doing her tons of favors without making a big fuss. He had this quiet way of looking out for her from the shadows. Lindsey wasn¡¯t heartless. She was fully aware of everything Sumner had done for her. She couldn¡¯t simply brush it off like it didn¡¯t matter to her. Her conscience wouldn¡¯t allow it, no matter what. ¡®s BunnyBookery But how would Domenic feel about it? Was it really fair to him? Noticing Lindsey¡¯s frown and hesitation, Paige grasped the situation and sighed. ¡°Lindsey, don¡¯t worry about it. Your idea isn¡¯t really practical. I¡¯ll find another way. I¡¯ll reach out to my friends overseas, see if they know anything that could help Summer¡¯s leg. I don¡¯t want this burden on you. . ¡± Paige¡¯s words stirred a sense of shame within Lindsey¡¯s mind. She realized that Sumner was profoundly hurt while trying to rescue her, yet Paige continued to put her needs first. The less they med her, the more difficult it became for her to find peace of mind. If her mom were here, maybe she would likely think her was being way too irresponsible. But Lindsey didn¡¯t care about that. She made up her mind in an instant. She grabbed Paige¡¯s hand and gave her a determined look. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve decided to take care of Sumner. If his leg never heals, I won¡¯t get married. ¡± The three people there werepletely stunned by what Lindsey said. Vincent, who had been quiet the whole time, frowned and blurted out, ¡°What are you even saying?¡± Paige sped Lindsey¡¯s hand and spoke gently. ¡°How are we going to make this work, sweetheart?¡± I know you¡¯re worried too, but Vince and I can¡¯t ruin your marriage for Sumner. You¡¯re just as important to us as he is. We see you both as our own kids. ¡± Lindsey shook her head softly and spoke with a choked voice. ¡°I owe him this, I¡¯ve got to pay him back. I¡¯ve already decided. You don¡¯t need to try to change my mind anymore. ¡± Seeing how determined Lindsey was, Paige nced at her husband and decided to leave it on her. As Xiomara helped Lindsey back to the ward, she had something on her mind but ended up holding back. Lindsey waited for Xiomara to speak for a while, but thetter stayed quiet. Lindsey put on a smile and asked, ¡°Hey Xiomara, is there something you want to say?¡± After hesitating for a while, Xiomara bit her lip and finally mustered the courage to speak. ¡°Lindsey, are you truly prepared to care for Sumner for the rest of your life? If he remains unable to stand for the rest of his days, will you still stand by him?¡± She paused, gathering her thoughts. ¡°If it proves too burdensome for you, I could step in. I¡¯m more than willing to take on the responsibility. After all, I¡¯m on my own. It would be easier for me to look after him, and I have no other concerns to weigh me down. ¡± These were the thoughts Xiomara had struggled to voice until now. ¡± Lindsey, understanding the turmoil within Xiomara, managed to keep her expression solemn. ¡°Xiomara, I recognize your affection for Sumner, yet these are separate matters. It¡¯s me who owes Sumner a great deal. How could I possibly shift this burden onto you and ask you to settle my debts?¡± Xiomara, visibly distressed, was on the verge of saying more when Lindsey gently cut her off. ¡°Xiomara, consider this. Despite your long-standing love for him, has he ever reciprocated your feelings?¡± she asked with a tone of genuine concern, holding Xiomara¡¯s hands. She carefully avoided bringing up Xiomara¡¯s unreciprocated confession. Chapter 849 Thest thing she wanted was to embarrass her, so she had pretended to be unaware. Xiomara hesitated before responding in a subdued voice, ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m well aware he doesn¡¯t see me in the same Light, but¡­ but my feelings for him remain. I can¡¯t help it. ¡± Lindsey empathized deeply with her. It pained her to see Xiomara caught in the throes of unrequited love, steadfast in her devotion. She didn¡¯t want her to endure such heartache, especially given Sumner¡¯s current state. After all, Xiomara was still young, with a promising future ahead. If she could only release herself from this fixation, surely happiness would find her. Lindsey took a moment before speaking, ¡°Xiomara, you¡¯re bound to cross paths with many people in your Life. There mighte a day when you meet someone who reciprocates your feelings. That¡¯s when you¡¯ll truly understand love. Moreover, Sumner¡¯s recovery is still a question mark. You¡¯re young, and he doesn¡¯t share your feelings. Why spend your youth waiting for him? There¡¯s someone out there who¡¯s a better match for you. ¡± Xiomara wouldn¡¯t meet Lindsey¡¯s gaze as she responded, ¡°You don¡¯t need to convince me to let go. I¡¯m aware of what I¡¯m doing. Let¡¯s not talk about me anymore. Didn¡¯t you mentionst time that you might get married soon? What if your boyfriend learns you¡¯re hesitating over the wedding to care for another man?¡± Lindsey offered a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ll have a chat with him. You should think about your situation. Don¡¯t fret over mine. ¡± Acknowledging Lindsey¡¯s assurance, Xiomara decided not to press further.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Upon their return to the ward, Xiomara fetched a ss of water for Lindsey. As Lindsey rested in bed, she invited Xiomara to take a seat beside her. ¡°By the way, do you recall my brother, Leonel? He recently mentioned that the obesity medication he¡¯s been working on is nearly ready for market. He was hoping you¡¯d consider bing the face of their campaign. I haven¡¯t given my consent yet. I wanted to get your thoughts first. ¡± Hearing this, Xiomara paused, her mind racing back to the day she first met Leonel. Aside from Lindsey, Leonel had significantly influenced her life¡¯s direction. After a moment¡¯s thought, she nodded. ¡°If you believe it¡¯s a good idea, then I¡¯m on board with it. ¡± Lindseyid out the pros and cons for Xiomara, bing the face of the product was a significant decision, and she stressed that the choice was ultimately Xiomara¡¯s to make. ¡°It¡¯s entirely up to you,¡± she said. ¡°Neither I nor thepany will sway your decision. ¡± Lindsey had always seen Xiomara as someone delicate, perhaps because she knew of her past struggles and moments of emotional vulnerability. However, Xiomara was stronger than Lindsey gave her credit for. Having grown up in the homes of others, where she often faced harsh treatment, Xiomara had developed a resilience that Lindsey had yet to fully acknowledge. ¡°Thanks for considering me. And please extend my gratitude to your brother. I¡¯ll take the opportunity,¡± Xiomara responded with genuine enthusiasm. Lindsey was relieved to hear Xiomara¡¯s eager eptance, half- jokingly dreading how Leonel might tease her if the answer had been no. ¡°I¡¯ll be staying in the hospital for a bit longer,¡± Lindsey said. ¡°I¡¯ll have Leonel discuss the specifics with you directly. If everything seems right to you, you can go ahead and finalize the agreement with him. ¡± Xiomara nodded in agreement. It seemed more fitting for her to discuss the contract with Leonel directly. Given the sibling dynamics between Leonel and Lindsey, especially with their recent tensions, it was probably for the best to keep business and personal matters separate to avoid any unnecessary conflicts. Once they wrapped up their conversation, Lindsey felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Still on the mend, she soon drifted off to sleep after lying down for a short while. Meanwhile, in Sumner¡¯s ward, the atmosphere turned tense shortly after Lindsey and Xiomara departed. Vincent, standing firm, confronted his wife with a grave tone. ¡°Were those words intentional? What are you trying to achieve? Do you aim to burden Lindsey with guilt, keeping her tied to Leonel? Isn¡¯t that incredibly selfish?¡± Paige¡¯s frustration boiled over, and she couldn¡¯t help but raise her voice. ¡°Am I being selfish? All I want is for someone to take proper care of Sumner in the future. How is that wrong?¡± ¡°We all wish the best for him, but why does it fall on Lindsey to sacrifice? I just can¡¯t grasp your logic. Is it fair to sacrifice another¡¯s daughter for our son?¡± Vincent retorted, then turned away with a heavy sigh. Chapter 850 ¡°Truth is, Lindsey feels inextricably linked to Sumner¡¯s ident,¡± Paige countered sharply. ¡°Sumner adores her. What¡¯s so wrong about them being together? Besides, Lindsey herself said she feels indebted to Sumner. As long as she remains unmarried, Sumner stands a chance,¡± she argued with increasing conviction. ¡°Once she ends things with her boyfriend, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to unite her with Sumner. She is the only person I trust to care for our son. ¡± Vincent shook his head, unable to see eye to eye with his wife. ¡°Forcing a rtionship rarely ends well. Have you forgotten what happened to Everleigh? It¡¯s a dangerous path. ¡± Paige was adamant. ¡°I¡¯m doing this to spare Sumner from his mother¡¯s fate! And who says love can¡¯t be nurtured? There are countless cases to prove otherwise! You may not feel as strongly because Sumner isn¡¯t your biological son, but I¡¯vee to love him as my own.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. I refuse to see him sad. ¡± ¡°You are too stubborn!¡± Vincent¡¯s exasperation was evident, but realizing he couldn¡¯t sway his wife, he let out a sigh and chose silence. After leaving Mercer¡¯s ce, Nancy was aware that Xiomara was with Lindsey, prompting her to rush back to thepany to address urgent business matters. The cascade of termination notices from variouspanies left Nancy feeling overwhelmed. The negotiation attempt the previous night had failed miserably, with Mercer¡¯s interruption only adding fuel to the fire. The following day, thosepanies had sent over termination contracts, demanding an end to their agreements with force. Nancy massaged her throbbing forehead, feeling the weight of these challenges bearing down on her. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder who they had managed to upset so soon after theirpany¡¯s inception, causing them trouble repeatedly. Could it be Gallop Entertainment again stirring the pot? How had they managed to convince so manypanies to take a unified stand against them? Then there was Vitality Entertainment, a giantpared to Gallop, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Emilio from Vitality had previously extended a helping hand to Lindsey¡­ Lost in her thoughts, Nancy was suddenly pulled back to reality by amotion outside, followed by a series of muffled yet distinct screams from the crowd. ¡°Is that Mercer Aston? Could it really be him? Oh my God! It¡¯s actually Mercer!¡± ¡°Wow, he¡¯s incredibly handsome! How can someone be that good-looking?¡± He outshines even the most popr celebrities known for their looks. ¡°You¡¯ve got to snap a photo of me with Mercer. I¡¯m going to brag about this. To think I¡¯d get this close to the nation¡¯s heartthrob singer! This is such a moment for me!¡± ¡°And once you¡¯re done, take one of me too! Is my makeup okay? I need to get his autograph. I¡¯m a huge fan!¡± As the office buzzed with excited chatter and the name she recognized, Nancy swiftly opened her door to see what was happening outside. And there he was, causing her eyelids to twitch in disbelief. Mercer had arrived, donning sunsses, trying to blend in yet standing out amidst a swarm of employees eager for autographs and pictures. Catching the sharp look from Nancy, he nced her way and arched an eyebrow. Realizing the impendingmotion his presence was causing, yet it was toote to shut the door, Nancy watched as he made his way through the crowd towards her. He stopped, lowered his sunsses, and fixed her with an impassive gaze. With curious eyes all around them, Nancy knew she had to keep things professional, despite her frustration. She mustered a forced smile, clenched her teeth, and weed him. ¡°Mr. Aston, to what do we owe this surprise? Lindsey isn¡¯t here at the moment, but I¡¯m here to listen and pass on any message you might have for her. ¡± Mercer¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile as he spoke inly. ¡°No, my visit is specifically for you, to address some personal matters. ¡± Nancy¡¯s polite smile faltered, her expression turning stern. Noticing the curious nces from her employees, she managed to hold onto herposure. With a gesture of her hand, she invited Mercer into her office. Chapter 851 Mercer gave her a brief look, then stepped into the office. The moment the door closed behind them, the office outside, previously hushed in anticipation, erupted into quiet murmurs. ¡°He mentioned personal matters? I¡¯m so curious about the details. ¡± ¡°Nancy¡¯s really something, isn¡¯t she? Always so low-key, yet she¡¯s caught the eye of a star singer. Imagine that. And who knows? With Mercer¡¯s influence, perhaps the firm has a fighting chance to rebound. ¡± ¡°Juliet, what¡¯s your game?¡± A female employee Juliet was creeping closer to Nancy¡¯s office, silencing her colleagues with a finger to her lips. ¡°Quiet! I¡¯m trying to catch what they¡¯re discussing!¡± Once the door was shut, Mercer cornered Nancy against the wall, his anger evident.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Nancy, have you lost your senses? What were you thinking, doing that to me?¡± Nancy faced his intense look, aware of Mercer¡¯s outrage over her previous actions, yet surprised by his direct approach. There seemed to be a rustle at the door, likely eavesdroppers. Nancy seized Mercer¡¯s tie, pulled him closer, and retorted softly, ¡°Apologies, but I say what I think. Is a tantrum necessary? Oh, did I upset you? My apologies. ¡± ¡°Still defiant, I see?¡± Mercer¡¯s voice was low and tense. ¡°So, you slept with me then brushed me off? You seemed eager enoughst night. Have you forgotten? And I¡¯m bad in bed, you say?¡± Nancy maintained herposure, her face warming slightly. ¡°I was intoxicated. I couldn¡¯t help it. ¡± Adopting a mature stance, she folded her arms. ¡°Let¡¯s move on. Erasest night from memory. No resentments. ¡± Mercer, taken aback, managed to say, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got work to do. Unless there¡¯s official business, I¡¯d ask you to leave. ¡± Nancy held his gaze calmly. Mercer, smirking, remembered the previous night¡¯s events, feeling a twinge of bitterness. ¡°Going to meet another man? Here¡¯s an offer: I¡¯ll outbid them. Just spend time with me. ¡± Mercer acted like he didn¡¯t care, reaching out to lift Nancy¡¯s chin. Nancy was left speechless, feeling demeaned. Did he really see her that way? She wanted to p him, yet he caught her hand, drawing his face close to hers. Their proximity made her pulse quicken. As he moved as if to kiss her, she tensed, eyes tightly shut. But the anticipated kiss never came. Confused, she was about to look when she heard his taunting whisper. ¡°No flinching this time? Looks Like you¡¯re set for a kiss. Nancy, let¡¯s be real, you had funst night, didn¡¯t you?¡± Nancy¡¯s cheeks burned with anger, her pride forgotten, she eximed, ¡°Mercer Aston!¡± The listeners outside were taken aback by her loud voice. What was happening inside? They had been eavesdropping and heard only her sharp exmation. They were baffled. Did Nancy justsh out at Mercer? So, their spections were off the mark? Wasn¡¯t Mercer there to assist her? With theirpany facing challenges and Nancy as the acting leader, could she afford to alienate this star singer? They looked at each other, wondering if they should start job-hunting. Regaining herposure, Nancy¡¯s voice softened, ¡°Mercer, what do you really want?¡± With a smirk, Mercer leaned in and said inly, ¡°I¡¯ve been clear, I want you to spent time with me. ¡± Just as Nancy was about to react, her phone rang. Meeting her re, he stepped back. Nancy took the call, addressing another request to end a contract. Despite her turmoil, she remainedposed. ¡°Mr. Mosby, canceling a contract just because another firm is interested doesn¡¯t align with our agreement. Our contract is specific¡­ If there¡¯s something you¡¯re unhappy with, let us know. We¡¯re open to discussions as long as it¡¯s feasible¡­¡± Hearing her humble words, Mercer couldn¡¯t help frown. Chapter 852 Nancy let out a sigh as she put the phone down. ¡°Did you hang out with those bossesst night just for this matter?¡± Mercer asked. Nancy shot him a quick look and replied with a hint of annoyance, ¡°Why should that matter to you?¡± Seeing the seriousness in the situation, Mercer dropped the jokes and said, ¡°I know a few people in the entertainment industry. What went down? I might be able to help. ¡± Curious, Nancy raised an eyebrow and questioned, ¡°And why would you do that?¡± With a casual smirk, Mercer responded, ¡°I¡¯ve slept with youst night, haven¡¯t I? Consider this me paying you back. ¡± Nancy went quiet for a moment. Though she felt like giving him a piece of her mind, she realized after cooling off that Mercer might actually be of some assistance. Reluctantly, she shared the entire ordeal with him.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Mercer¡¯s expression turned serious as he asked, ¡°Have you guys rubbed someone the wrong waytely? They seem pretty set on making things hard for your agency. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure¡­ But you just jogged my memory about a time when Summer Lawson from ourpany identally leaked that Carole and the CEO of Vitality Group were engaged. It looks like the news was intentionally kept under wraps, but that interview blew it up into a hot topic. ¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. ¡°Is that how we ended up on the bad side of Vitality Group¡¯s CEO. ¡± Mercer found her leap to conclusions baffling. ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± ¡°The CEO of Vitality Group,¡± Nancy rified. Mercer was puzzled. It didn¡¯t add up. He knew Domenic had quietly helped Lindsey numerous times without her knowing. Domenic wouldn¡¯t turn against Lindsey. Yet, only Emilio and he were privy to their bond. Now, Mercer understood Nancy¡¯s mistaken belief. ¡°Let me handle it. Just wait for my update, and remember to thank meter,¡± Mercer said with a nonchnt tone. Nancy¡¯s eyebrows twitched, and she blurted out without thinking, ¡°How? Offering you another night with me?¡± That wasn¡¯t what Mercer had in mind. He paused for a beat, then cracked a smile. ¡°That¡¯s if you¡¯re brave enough to take it. ¡± With that, Mercer donned his sunsses, opened the door, and strutted out. Chaos reigned outside. Nancy stood frozen, whispering to herself, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be brave enough¡­¡± Suddenly, she had an epiphany and yelled in the direction Mercer had gone, ¡°Wait, you¡¯re missing the point!¡± What really bothered her was his intent to take advantage of her once more. Nancy was itching to chase after him and give him a piece of her mind, but the chaos outside made her reconsider. Once Mercer left, he hopped into his car and dialed Domenic¡¯s number. Chapter 853 The phone seemed to ring forever before finally being answered by a voice that was unusually rough and tired. ¡°You better have a good reason for calling me at this hour. ¡± Mercer paused, momentarily caught off guard, then quickly apologized, ¡°My bad. I forgot about the time difference. I was just curious about something. Did you break up with Lindsey? Why threw her agency into a mess?¡± Domenic was swampedtely. With everything that had been going on, he was losing sleep. He had just managed to fall asleep when Mercer¡¯s call jolted him awake with its unexpected content, causing him to snap. Annoyed, he responded sharply, ¡°Keep up this nonsense, and I¡¯ll have you cut off for good!¡± Mercer was at a loss for words but went on to convey Nancy¡¯s concerns about her agency. ¡°She thinks she¡¯s been targeted by the CEO of Vitality Group, likely due to that interview. That¡¯s why I¡¯m checking with you. ¡± Domenic had been preupied with dealing with his uncles abroad and hadn¡¯t kept up with domestic issues, unintentionally overlooking Lindsey. It had been two days since theirst conversation. The only one who could bypass Domenic and directly issue orders to the Emperor Hotel was Jordan. Jordan had nned to keep the engagement party under wraps, but Sumner had carelessly leaked it, causing his family public embarrassment. That was why Jordan was determined to reprimand Sumner for this. Considering Sumner worked for Lindnita Artists Agency, Domenic wondered if his grandfather was actually targeting Lindsey¡¯s business. Feeling anxious, he realized that something was definitely amiss. After ending the call, Domenic instructed his team to arrange the earliest possible flight. He then informed Arturo about handling the ongoing matters abroad. ¡°What¡¯s the rush to return?¡± Domenic appeared troubled. ¡°I¡¯m concerned my grandpa might target Lindsey. She¡¯s vulnerable without my support. ¡± During theirst phone call, Domenic felt something off about her tone. Now, he realized she¡¯d been dealing with a lot on her own since then, but he didn¡¯t do anything to help. He¡¯d been wrapped up in dealing with his uncles for quite some time, too busy to be there for her. He hadn¡¯t given her the attention she deserved. He felt terribly guilty. With Lindsey¡¯spany under attack, he guessed she probably wished he was there with her. He realized that even if he couldn¡¯t do much, offering emotional support would be helpful. Lindsey understood him so well and was so thoughtful that she never had to ask for such a thing before. The more Domenic thought about it, the more guilty he felt.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Nothing seemed as important as helping Lindsey. He only wished he wasn¡¯t so far from her. He just wanted to hop on a ne and be by her side immediately. ¡°Has your grandpa caught on to your connection with Lindsey?¡± Arturo asked, visibly taken aback. ¡°I doubt it. It¡¯s an artist under herpany that inadvertently crossed my grandpa. I fear he might seek retribution. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s harsh,¡± Arturo said, aware of Jordan¡¯s ruthless reputation. ¡°I need to head back. ¡± After ending the call, Domenic called Hendrix to check on Lindsey and the Lindnita Artists Agency. Then, he rubbed his forehead and hopped on a ne that night. The next morning, Lindsey woke up early and went to Sumner¡¯s hospital room. She convinced Vincent and Paige to head home and take a rest. Then, she grabbed the cotton swab that Paige had left and gently moistened the dry Lips of Sumner with water. Sumner was still asleep, relying on IV fluids to stay stable. Feeling responsible for his condition, Lindsey was consumed by guilt. The sight of Sumner¡¯s stered leg was a painful reminder to Lindsey of the debt she owed him. Sumner slowly began to wake up. He sensed the coolness and dampness on his lips. With great effort, he managed to open his eyes, his eyshes flutter slightly. It took him a moment to focus on what was before him. Chapter 854 In the hospital room, ady wearing a matching gown sat next to the bed. Noticing his awakening, Lindsey asked, both gentle and surprised, ¡°You¡¯re up? How¡¯s the pain?¡± Sumner, emerging from days of unconsciousness, replied with a raspy voice, ¡°How about you? Are you okay? Are you unharmed? Did you suffer any injuries?¡± After a brief silence, Lindsey couldn¡¯t shake the sadness and bitterness. When Sumner woke up, his first concern was for her. Mixed emotions swirled within her-gratitude mingled with guilt. She reassured him, saying, ¡°I¡¯m okay. Focus on your recovery and don¡¯t fret about me. Are you feeling hungry or thirsty? I¡¯ll get a doctor to examine you in a moment.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Just hang tight. ¡± Lindsey swiftly stood to fetch the doctor, but Sumner¡¯s gentle grip halted her. His hold was feeble, so she sat back down, not wanting to resist. ¡°Let¡¯s not call the doctor just yet. I want to talk with you Sumner said softly, ¡°When I woke up and saw you next to me, I thought I was still dreaming. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart was heavy, and her emotions were tangled. She picked up a banana from the fruit basket, trying to divert the conversation. ¡°You must be starving after all that rest. Why not start with some fruit? Here, have this. ¡± Sumner noticed her evasion and offered a bitter smile, dismissing the offer. ¡°I¡¯m just a bit stiff from lying down too long. I feel Like stretching a bit. ¡± Before Lindsey could intervene, Sumner moved to rise, only to freeze in shock. Howe he couldn¡¯t feel his leg anymore? Sumner paused, then lifted his head, a sense of unease creeping in. After a while, he finally asked, ¡°What happened to my leg?¡± Lindsey struggled to find words; the weight of the truth was too heavy to bear. She wished she could take on his pain instead of exposing him to such harsh realities. Noticing her silence, Sumner prepared to get out of bed. But Lindsey quickly intervened, saying, ¡°Stay put! I¡¯ll exin. It¡¯s about your leg¡­ A big stone fell on your leg. Even though you¡¯ve had surgery, it¡¯ll take time for you to heal¡­¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Her bitter smile and avoiding gaze showed she didn¡¯t believe her own words. ¡°You¡¯re the one I trust the most. Please, just tell me the truth What¡¯s wrong with my leg?¡± Sumner looked directly at her. When Lindsey heard Summer¡¯s words, she couldn¡¯t keep the truth from him any longer. She bit her lip, feeling her heart heavy with sorrow. After a moment, she mustered the courage to say, ¡°The doctor mentioned¡­ there¡¯s a chance you might not walk like you used to. ¡± Sumner¡¯s face fell, a wave of despair washing over him. ¡°Does¡­ this means I¡¯m disabled now?¡± Lindsey quickly interjected. ¡°It¡¯s not definitive. The doctor said there¡¯s a possibility, not a certainty. With proper rehabilitation, there¡¯s hope for recovery!¡± Sumner offered a faint smile, sensing Lindsey was trying to console him. The room fell silent, the moment feeling endlessly long. Chapter 855 Suddenly, Sumner¡¯s emotions overcame him. He grasped his head, striking the bed in frustration, and attempted to rise. Lindsey caught off guard, watched as he tumbled to the floor. Sumner felt his hands shake, realizing his leg wouldn¡¯t respond, feeling as lifeless as prosthetics ¨C the reality of his situation setting in. As Lindsey rushed to assist him, Sumner, overwhelmed with emotion, shoved her away, yelling, ¡°I won¡¯t trouble you anymore! Now that I¡¯m like this, I¡¯ve no right to hold you back. I can¡¯t make you happy. Just go, the farther, the better!¡± But Lindsey couldn¡¯t just walk away. She moved closer, sping his hand firmly. ¡°Please, Sumner, don¡¯t lose hope. The doctor¡¯s words aren¡¯t set in stone. Let¡¯s not give up, alright?¡± Tears were rare for men, but in that moment, Sumner couldn¡¯t contain his sorrow. After a brief pause, he drew Lindsey into an embrace. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Lindsey. I wasn¡¯t truthful. I don¡¯t want you to go, but I¡¯m scared. If you stay, it¡¯ll hurt more if you leave meter. It might be easier to bear a short-term pain than prolonged suffering. If you want to leave, do it now. ¡± Sumner had always been seen as fortunate, with a bright future ahead. But the devastating news hit him harder emotionally than physically, a pain he found unbearable. He had always kept aposed, distant demeanor with everyone but Lindsey. He had lowered his guard, and reached out for her affection, and now, he faced this cruel twist of fate. Lindsey¡¯s heart ached as if pierced by a knife. She shook her head firmly. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. I¡¯ll stay by your side, help you heal until you¡¯re back on your feet. I choose to do this. Don¡¯t overthink, please. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Sumner struggled with the idea of keeping Lindsey by his side. She was spirited, like a free-flying bird, known for her courage and independence. The thought of her being tied down, caring for him, seemed unfair. He didn¡¯t want to be a burden or fall out of favor with someone he cherished. He was about to express this when a phone call interrupted his thoughts. Lindsey nced at her phone, noticing Domenic¡¯s name shing on the screen, causing her heart to flutter. Her phone was on the bedside table. Sumner caught a glimpse of the caller ID and felt a shadow over his heart. He nearly forgot that Lindsey wasn¡¯t alone in her life. She had a boyfriend, making Sumner¡¯s wish for her to stay even more impractical. Was she expected to look after him alongside Domenic forever? The idea seemed absurd. Lindsey didn¡¯t rush to answer the call. She assisted Sumner back onto the bed and made sure he wasfortable. With one final look at him, she exited the room and gently closed the door behind her. Domenic had been eager to reach Lindsey right after his flight Landed, but she hadn¡¯t picked up. He was worried that his grandfather might have caused great trouble for her. Just as he was about to seek information from Hendrix, Lindsey¡¯s call came through. Domenic answered hurriedly, ¡°Linds, are you alright? Where are you?¡± Domenic¡¯s urgency was umon, and Lindsey was momentarily taken aback.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. She nced back at the ward door, a sense of guilt washing over her. She fibbed, ¡°I¡¯m at the office. There¡¯s a lot to sort out today. I might even need to stayte¡­ Have you returned?¡± Domenic felt somewhat relieved hearing she was at the office. Chapter 856 He regained hisposure and replied with a gentle tone, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve just arrived. Why are you still at work? Is everything okay there?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m swamped with numerous projects right now. ¡± Lindsey swiftly concocted a reason. Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed a bit. He had heard from Mercer that herpany was facing challenges, with partners pulling out. This contrasted with what Lindsey was telling him. ¡°Are you feeling hungry? I could bring you something to eat. What about your favorite grill?¡± Despite his concerns, Domenic kept his doubts to himself, waiting for Hendrix¡¯s investigation for rity. Lindsey answered quickly, ¡°Actually, I just remembered I need to go out with my team soon. Xiomara is overwhelmed with tasks and quite confused about several matters. As her agent, I need to be there with her. ¡± Her statement shifted from stayingte at the office to going out with the team. Domenic, always observant, noticed the inconsistency and questioned, ¡°Linds, is everything alright? It seems like you¡¯re avoiding telling me something. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Hearing Domenic¡¯s words, Lindsey was taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect him to see through her lies. She tried to keep her voice steady. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m so d you¡¯re back. If I could, I¡¯d fly right over to you. But I¡¯m worried about Xiomara. It¡¯s my duty to Look after her. You understand, right?¡± In truth, Lindsey had promised Paige she would look after Sumner today. And with Sumner being emotional unstable, leaving him didn¡¯t feel right to her. Still, she was reluctant toy all this out for Domenic over the phone. Misunderstandings could arise if she didn¡¯t exin herself clearly, and sorting those out would be a headache. To sidestep potential issues, she chose to stretch the truth. Domenic listened to Lindsey¡¯s words and decided not to probe. He trusted hermitment to her responsibilities. If she said she was okay, that reassured him. ¡°Understood. Just take care of what you need to. I¡¯m here, waiting for your return. ¡± Detecting a hint of sadness in Domenic¡¯s tone, Lindsey uttered more gently, ¡°I¡¯m tied up with work for a few days. When I¡¯m done, I promise to make it up to you. Then, you can have your heart¡¯s desire. ¡± Her voice faded, and Domenic¡¯s response, filled with a charming depth, made her cheeks warm. ¡°You do know what I want, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Feeling her cheeks redden, Lindsey replied softly, ¡°You¡¯re so naughty. ¡± Domenic¡¯sughter came through the phone, ¡°I meant I want to see you. What were you thinking? But your voice¡­ it sounded like you were expectant?¡± Teased by him, Lindsey felt a mix of irritation and embarrassment. ¡°Stop it¡­ I¡¯m hanging up now!¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop. Just be careful, rest well, and call me if you need anything¡­¡± ¡°I know. I¡¯m grown up. I can look after myself,¡± Lindsey said, feigning irritation before ending the call. The quiet returned, and Lindsey squatted down, deep in thought. She had never lied to Domenic before. They had vowed honesty to each other, yet here she was, deceiving him. She wondered how to exin Sumner¡¯s situation to Domenic and what his reaction would be. Would they argue, or would this lead to a breakup? The thought squeezed Lindsey¡¯s heart, causing difort. She took deep breaths, trying to steady herself. Chapter 857 She knew a serious conversation with Domenic was due. She hoped he would understand her stance. After regaining herposure, she stood and entered Sumner¡¯s room. He looked up, anticipating her return, and asked, ¡°Did he call?¡± She nodded, signaling she didn¡¯t want to delve into it. ¡°Are you hungry? What do you feel like eating? I¡¯ll go get it. ¡± ¡°Did he want you toe back?¡± Sumner¡¯s voice was neutral. ¡°No, he was just checking in. I¡¯m staying here today to look after you. ¡± ¡°And what about tomorrow?¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying for a few days,¡± said Lindsey, scrolling on her phone for food ces, keeping her tone light and distant. Sumner¡¯s expression showed his concern. ¡°You were in an ident. Isn¡¯t it odd he hasn¡¯t visited?¡± Lindsey avoided eye contact, dismissing the concern. ¡°He¡¯s swamped at work. ¡± Sumner felt a surge of frustration. This man seemed as neglectful now as he had been when Lindsey needed him during a past fire crisis. He felt sure this man didn¡¯t cherish Lindsey the way she deserved, convinced no real love was there. Yet, Sumner paused to consider his own situation. How could he, in his current state, offer Lindsey happiness? He felt like a burden, especiallypared to her boyfriend. Overwhelmed by these thoughts, Sumner¡¯s frustration turned physical. He struck his leg, which didn¡¯t respond, his face a portrait of pain and frustration. Lindsey was quick to intervene, her voice urgent. ¡°Stop that! What are you doing? Calm down, please!¡± Sumner sealed his lips shut and stayed silent. Then, as heid back, he shut his eyes and gave Lindsey the silent treatment.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Lindsey knew what was on his mind. She let out a small sigh. ¡°I get it, it all came out of the blue, and it¡¯s tough to ept the harsh reality. But hey, we¡¯ve got to keep moving forward. Sumner, don¡¯t lose hope. We¡¯re in this together. I know you can recover and stand up just Like before. And as for thepany stuff, don¡¯t worry about anything. Nancy has got it handled. The media is clueless for now. We¡¯ll spill the beans when the time is right. ¡± Even with his eyes shut, Sumner listened intently to her words, his mind buzzing with thoughts. He knew he couldn¡¯t afford to sink into despair. Not just for himself, but for Lindsey¡¯s sake, he had to find a way to lift his spirits. He just couldn¡¯t let her boyfriend win like that! Sumner squeezed his fists tightly. Right after hanging up with Lindsey, as Domenic was about to dial Hendrix, his phone buzzed. It was Emilio calling. When Domenic answered, he heard Emilio¡¯s anxious voice. ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ve got some bad news!¡± Chapter 858 ¡°What¡¯s up? Take a breath and tell me,¡± Domenic replied, a deep frown etched on his face. Emilio swallowed hard, then shifted his tone and said, ¡°Hey, uh, remember those big projects we¡¯ve been tracking? Well¡­ Someone snagged them from us!¡± I¡¯m worried the Vitality Group is going to lose billions of dors! ¡°Who dared to do it?¡± Domenic asked in a grim voice. ¡°Well, it was¡­ the Lawson Group.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡± ¡°What? Damn!¡± Domenic never imagined the Lawson Group would be the ones going against him. The Lawson Group and Walsh Group had been on good terms ever since Domenic¡¯s aunt Rachel married into the Lawson family. How could they suddenly show up to challenge him for the projects? And how was he going to break the news of such a huge loss to his grandfather at such a crucial moment? Domenic was beyond annoyed. ¡°Emilio, I trusted you to watch over these projects while I was away for just a few days. And now, this huge mess! What¡¯s going on with you?!¡± Without exining much, Emilio muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault. But here¡¯s the thing¡­ You¡¯re not aware that recently, Gallop Entertainment has been going all out against Vitality Entertainment, causing its stock price to drop. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been focusing on Vitality Entertainment. Who knows there is a bigger mess with the Vitality Group¡­¡± Gallop Entertainment? Domenic scrunched up his face in irritation. That was his uncle Rupert¡¯spany. How could they be so arrogant? Was Rupert teaming up with the Lawson Group behind his back? ¡°I¡¯m heading back to thepany. Send me those project materials and tell everyone to gather for a meeting immediately. ¡± ¡°Alright. ¡± As soon as Domenic got back to the office, he jumped right into a meeting to tackle thepany¡¯s project loss, totally putting aside Lindsey¡¯s situation. Meanwhile, Hendrix dropped the investigation results on his desk, but he didn¡¯t have a moment to nce at them. Domenic didn¡¯t get back to his office until eight in the evening. Just as he was about to check the investigation results, his phone rang again. It was from Jordan. ¡°Are you back in your office yet?¡± Domenic didn¡¯t expect his grandpa to know his schedule so quickly. After a quick pause, he said, ¡°yes, Grandpa. ¡± ¡°Come to my ce right now. I¡¯ve got something to ask you. ¡± ¡°But Grandpa¡­¡± Before he could even say no, Jordan ended the call. Sensing something ominous, Domenic knew he couldn¡¯t avoid going, no matter how much he wanted to. So, he rushed out the door. Chapter 859 Hendrix had been swamped with all sorts of stuff these past couple of days, so he didn¡¯t show up. He handed off the driving duties to someone else for the time being. The Walsh Manor had a gloomy atmosphere all around. The moment Domenic stepped inside, he spotted an unexpected visitor lounging on the sofa. Rupert was d in dark attire, sporting a kind smile on his face.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. However, his crooked eyebrows betrayed a hint of cunning and malice. When he caught sight of Domenic¡¯s arrival, he raised his head and eximed, ¡°Well, well, well! If it isn¡¯t the ever-busy Domenic gracing us with his presence. ¡± Ignoring Rupert¡¯s sarcastic remarks, Domenic headed straight for Jordan and greeted him respectfully, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m back. ¡± At the sound of his voice, Carole poked her head out from the second floor. Spotting Domenic, she quicklyposed herself, rushed downstairs with a beaming smile, and eximed, ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re finally home!¡± Domenic nodded subtly. Seated on the sofa, Jordan appeared rather grim. He let out a heavy snort and barked, ¡°How dare you show your face to me! Your actions have brought shame upon me!¡± Sensing Jordan¡¯s impending outburst, Carole hurriedly dropped to her knees in front of him, massaging his legs and soothing him. ¡°Please let bygones be bygones. And don¡¯t me Domenic any longer. He¡¯s been swamped with work. I understand¡­ Please don¡¯t get upset, it¡¯s bad for your health. ¡± Rupert sneered, his words dripping with scorn. ¡°My nephew is lucky to have such a thoughtful fianc¨¦e. ¡± But he¡¯s been absent for days, showing no concern for anyone. I¡¯m curious, what could possibly be so important that it kept him away from his own engagement party?¡± Domenic knew better than to engage with Rupert¡¯s veiled usations. His priority now was to appease his grandfather. ¡°Grandpa, I sincerely apologize for my thoughtlessness regarding the engagement party. ¡± Domenic offered a heartfelt apology to Jordan, and thetter¡¯s countenance softened. Turning to Carole, Domenic asked, ¡°Carole, do you hold any grudge against me?¡± Surprise flickered across Carole¡¯s face. A warmth bloomed in her chest. She thought perhaps there was still a spark of care beneath Domenic¡¯s stoic exterior. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I know you¡¯re busy and dedicated to your career. I bear no grudge. I¡¯ll take good care of your grandpa on your behalf. ¡± With just a few words, Domenic regained control of the situation. Rupert raised an eyebrow and offered an insincere smile. ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s devoted to his career. Though he didn¡¯t get engaged this time, his trip abroad wasn¡¯t in vain. He aplished something significant, even neglecting his closest kin. ¡± As he spoke, he pped mockingly and continued, ¡°I must say, I¡¯m impressed. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression grew grave upon hearing this. He knew that Rupert was maligning him in front of his grandpa. Jordan, too, sensed the underlying message in Rupert¡¯s words. He cast a nce at Carole and instructed, ¡°Carole, go back to your room for now. ¡± Observing the growing seriousness of the situation, Carole nced at the three of them, then fixed her gaze on Domenic. She was perceptive enough not to pry any further. Nodding in acknowledgment, she replied and made her way upstairs. Chapter 860 Domenic¡¯s heart sank as he watched his grandfather dismiss Carole, the outsider. It was clear Jordan knew something, and the questioning was about to begin. As expected, the moment Carole disappeared upstairs, a dark cloud settled over Jordan¡¯s face. He fixed Domenic with a piercing stare. ¡°Rupert informed me that Herbert and Kent¡¯s overseas project went belly up,¡± he stated. ¡°Not only did theirpanies go bankrupt, but they¡¯re also drowning in debt. Are you familiar with this situation?¡± Domenic fell silent for a moment, unsure of how much his grandpa knew about his overseas escapades. However, he had no intention of hiding anything. His grandpa was an astute man with vast sources of information, and sooner orter, the truth would be revealed. ¡°I know,¡± Domenic replied candidly. ¡°And did you have a hand in it?¡± Jordan¡¯s voice wasced with ice. He was clearly searching for answers. Casting a nce at Rupert, who sat cozily beside Jordan, Domenic knew that Rupert must have spilled everything to his grandpa, Leading to this intense line of questioning. ¡°Grandpa, since you¡¯re already aware, why ask me again?¡± Domenic locked eyes with Jordan. Being seen through by Domenic, Jordan grew agitated and rose to his feet. He pounded his cane against the floor, his tone icy, revealing his deep anger. ¡°Humph! How dare you turn everything I¡¯ve taught you over the years against your uncles. You have audacity!¡± Rupert had been keeping a close eye on events abroad through his spies. They had thoroughly briefed him on the situation. He knew that Herbert and Kent had suddenly gone bankrupt, but he couldn¡¯t reach them. He felt strongly that something was amiss. They had disappeared mysteriously without seeking his help. Rupert nced at Domenic, his nephew, whom he hadn¡¯t quite figured out in recent years. Was Domenic so ruthless now? Rupert narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin thoughtfully. ¡°Domenic is young and arrogant. Dad, try not to be too harsh. But honestly, Herbert and Kent must be upset with Domenic. They haven¡¯t reached out in days.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. You need to mend their rtionships. Maybe you can call them to your ce. Let¡¯s talk things over. It¡¯s the only way to keep the family together. ¡± Domenic wanted to keep his uncle Kent¡¯s death a secret, thinking it best unknown to spare his grandfather the pain, especially since he believed his grandfather would be devastated. Back then, Domenic hadn¡¯t anticipated that Kent would take his own life. Hearing what Rupert said, Jordan immediately called the butler to get in touch with Herbert and Kent. Once it became clear that something was unusual, secrecy was no longer an option. If it couldn¡¯t be hidden, it was pointless to try. ¡°There¡¯s no need to reach out to them. I know where they are,¡± Domenic interjected, stopping the butler. He looked at the two people sitting upright before him, his expression showing no emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve settled the ten billion dors Uncle Herbert owed. He told me he no longer wanted to run thepany. He took some money and left for a vacation in Bali. ¡± After a brief pause, he continued slowly, ¡°As for Uncle Kent¡­ He was impulsive. When he lost all his wealth and owed tens of billions of dors, he couldn¡¯t handle such a severe loss and took his own life at home. I was toote when I got there. ¡± ¡°What? Hemitted suicide?¡± Chapter 861 Hearing the bad news, Jordan¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and his grip on his cane began to shake. Many years ago, he had lost his eldest son in an ident. The pain still lingered whenever he thought about it. The death of his eldest son had always been a deep, hidden wound in his heart. He had suspicions that his son¡¯s death was not an ident but never dared to investigate it fully, fearing he couldn¡¯t handle the truth. He never imagined facing such a tragedy again after all these years. If his eldest son was the one he had painstakingly raised, then Kent was the son he had adored from a young age. Kent was his youngest son, whom he had always treated gently. Yet, Kent¡¯s impulsive nature led to his tragic end. Thinking about this, Jordan could barely keep himself upright. When Domenic tried to help, Jordan pushed him away. With a mocking smile, Rupert stood up from the sofa, approached Domenic, and said coldly and sharply, ¡°Domenic, in that business war, you¡¯ve confused and misled Herbert and Kent with your schemes. Kent ended up bankrupt and in debt, leading him to take his own life. You¡¯re essentially responsible for his death! As your uncles, we have obstructed your way to inheriting the Walsh Group, so you n to kill us all, correct?¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery After a pause, he added, ¡°Domenic, I really don¡¯t want to me you. But, to deal with your uncles, you¡¯ve invested a lot of time and effort in setting a trap overseas, neglecting the Vitality Group. Consequently, Vitality Group lost several major projects topetitors. The great loss is all because of your actions. ¡± Rupert reprimanded him, looking distressed. ¡°Your schemes drove your two uncles to bankruptcy and even led to Kent¡¯s death. How could you so coldly disregard our family ties?¡± Rupert, who was usually gentle, now revealed his stern side and used Domenic of various offenses. He was quite cunning. He didn¡¯t engage in the overseas business war this time because he suspected it was a trap by Domenic. He discreetly had someone monitor the situation. When he learned that Herbert¡¯s and Kent¡¯spanies had suddenly gone bankrupt and both were missing, he deduced it was Domenic¡¯s doing. If Herbert and Kent were out of the picture, he was likely Domenic¡¯s next target. He couldn¡¯t just sit back and wait to be struck, so he took action. He met with Jordan and shared what Domenic had done, hoping to sway Jordan¡¯s opinion against Domenic and curb his influence. But he hadn¡¯t anticipated Domenic¡¯s ruthlessness. Domenic had driven Kent to suicide and deprived Herbert of all his power. Even Rupert, ustomed to the cutthroat nature of business, was taken aback by the ferocity. He was uncertain how much Domenic knew about his own Maneuvers against Domenic and his parents.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. If Domenic was aware, Rupert knew his own downfall was imminent once Domenic took over the Walsh Group. Unable to take that risk, Rupert felt he had no choice but to eliminate Domenic. Upon hearing Rupert¡¯s usations, Jordan stared at Domenic in shock and pointed at him, trembling. ¡°Is what Rupert said true? Did you really do all this?¡± Domenic met Jordan¡¯s angry, questioning stare with a calm one of his own. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Vitality Group¡¯s problems,¡± he said calmly. ¡°But I disagree with what Uncle Rupert said. In business, there are victories and setbacks. Uncle Herbert and Uncle Kent entered my industry aggressively, sparking a business rivalry. I retaliated, but I never anticipated their substantial investment, leading to their significant losses in the end. Uncle Herbert and Uncle Kent, intent on destroying me, have risked all to sabotage me. Thus, who has forsaken the bonds of family, them or me?¡± Domenic¡¯s intense gaze fixed on Rupert as he spoke, his eyes seeming bottomless, making others uneasy to meet them. ¡°Uncle Rupert, if you don¡¯t mind, I have a question for you. Considering you¡¯ve been aware of this situation from the start, why didn¡¯t you intervene to discourage my two uncles? Instead, you chose to stay hidden, observing our conflict. Are you waiting for us both to weaken before making a move?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use me falsely!¡± Rupert eximed, his anger reaching its peak when Domenic suddenly med him for avoiding responsibility. In a moment of shock and anger, he pointed his finger directly at Domenic¡¯s nose, his calm attitude breaking as he shouted the usation. ¡°You are aware that I do not fabricate usations. ¡± Calmly, Domenic stated, his lips quirking slightly. ¡°Your n is to use me of causing Uncle Kent¡¯s death, intending to sow discord between Grandpa and me and gain advantages. A truly cunning scheme. ¡± ¡°Domenic, how dare you!¡± Rupert¡¯s face reddened, eager to speak further, but Jordan¡¯s sudden shout silenced him abruptly. Chapter 862 ¡°Both of you, be quiet!¡± Leaning on his cane, filled with both anger and sadness, Jordan stood between the two, shaking his head helplessly. ¡°You guys are family, yet each bent on destroying the other. How did I raise such callous monsters? I can¡¯t believe this is who you¡¯ve be. Family bond? It¡¯s a total failure!¡± Jordan¡¯s fury ignited a bout of violent coughing. His voice, already hoarse, now rasped like the sound of sawing wood, his entire body quivering with rage. ¡°You¡­ You are¡­¡± Beforepleting his sentence, he suddenly copsed to the floor. ¡°Grandpa!¡± ¡°Dad!¡± Later that night, at Morcastle Hospital. After a long while, the red light of the emergency room went out. The hospital director emerged, pushing the door wide open. Domenic, who had been waiting anxiously outside the door, hurriedly approached the hospital director to ask about Jordan¡¯s condition. The hospital director looked at Domenic, then shifted his gaze to Rupert standing behind him, shaking his head and letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°The patient, dealing with hypertension and heart disease, must steer clear of stress. Luckily, we managed to revive him this time, but ignoring his health in the future could have deadly consequences. As his son and grandson, it¡¯s important for both of you to try to keep him calm, so he doesn¡¯t get more upset. ¡± Domenic felt his heart sink with guilt. He asked again, ¡°Is my grandpa awake yet?¡± The hospital director answered, ¡°He¡¯s still unconscious, but we¡¯re hopeful he¡¯ll wake up soon. For now, he¡¯s out of danger, so please be patient with us. ¡± After hearing this, Domenic let out a sigh of relief and thanked him. Rupert, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, chimed in, ¡°You are really something. Back for just a few hours and you¡¯ve got Grandpa hospitalized. Quite the talent you¡¯ve got there. ¡± Domenic gave Rupert a cold re, his expression icy as he said sharply, ¡°Wasn¡¯t this what you wanted all along?¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Rupert was left fuming after hearing his words. Carole hurried to the hospital when she heard about Jordan¡¯s copse. Seeing the tension, she stepped in to calm things down. ¡°Mr. Walsh is going to need some time to recover. I¡¯ll stay here, so you two can head back to what you were doing. I¡¯ll call you when he wakes up. ¡± Carole¡¯s timely arrival gave Rupert an easy way out. Without wasting any time, he quickly gave Carole somest-minute instructions, then shot Domenic a stern look before storming out. Seeing Domenic standing still, Carole secretly wished he would stay with her, but she kept a calm manner. ¡°You¡¯ve only juste back, Domenic. You must be tired. Go on, take a rest. ¡±Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. With some projects gone, Domenic had a lot to do. He looked at Carole and whispered, ¡°Take care of my grandpa. Let me know if anything happens. ¡± Chapter 863 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will,¡± Carole assured with a smile. Domenic nodded slightly and was about to leave when something seemed to ur to him, making him stop. He turned back, looking at Carole with a thoughtful gaze. ¡°Domenic, do you need anything else?¡± Carole¡¯s heart raced as she spoke softly, her fingers fidgeting nervously. Staring at her with a cold gaze, Domenic asked, ¡°I heard there were two unexpected guests at the engagement party. Did you know them?¡± Caught off guard for a moment, Carole¡¯s response showed a hint of panic as she hurried to answer, ¡°Um, no. I mean¡­ I¡¯m not really sure about that. ¡± Upon hearing that, Domenic raised an eyebrow, and a smirk yed at his lips. ¡°Good to know. Grandpa and I both dislike unnecessary fuss. ¡± With that, he left. Watching Domenic¡¯s figure disappear down the corridor, Carole clenched her fists tightly at her sides. She could tell that Domenic was giving her a warning. She guessed Lindsey must have been the one who talked to Domenic, causing him to purposely bring it up. That damned Lindsey again! Just as she was about to let out her anger, her phone rang unexpectedly. When she saw the caller ID, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Hey, guess what? Got some hot news for you,¡± Kristy saidzily over the phone. ¡°Lindsey¡¯s littlepany has been having a rough time since they lost almost all contracts. They¡¯re basically on the brink of going broke. And guess what? Lindsey, the head of thepany, hasn¡¯t even been aroundtely. Nancy is running thepany alone. ¡± Carole grinned. She never thought Jordan would¡¯ve jumped on Lindsey so fast. After all, only the Walsh family could pull strings like this. So, why didn¡¯t Lindsey show up at thepany? Did Jordan chew her out? Carole was pumped at the idea, shaking off her sadness. She felt like Lindsey seriously crossed her line by making a move on Domenic. In Carole¡¯s mind, Domenic was hers and hers alone. Anyone who dared to steal him away would regret it just like Lindsey did.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. On top of that, it seemed Jordan had a real dislike for Lindsey. No matter how much Domenic liked her, it wouldn¡¯t count for much if Jordan said no. After all, Domenic always followed Jordan¡¯s lead, especially given that Jordan was still in charge of thepany. Carole believed if she could just win Jordan over, ying the perfect wife to Domenic, he would surely end up marrying her one day. But she soon calmed down a bit because she was still stressed about something else. Jordan wasn¡¯t in great health. He had just been admitted to the hospital. If something suddenly happened to him, all her hard work would be pointless. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t sure how Domenic felt about her or if he had any clue about her actions. The only thing she could count on was Jordan¡¯s power. This totally freaked her out. Carole took a deep breath and headed back to the ward, where she found Jordan awake and sitting up in bed. She rushed over to him, looking really worried. ¡°Mr. Walsh! Thank goodness you¡¯re okay! Let me help you get back down. How are you feeling now? Do you want me to call the doctor?¡± Chapter 864 Jordan felt relieved to see how much Carole cared about his health. He smiled, shaking his head a little, and gestured to the chair next to the bed. ¡°Take a seat. No need to call the doctor. I¡¯m okay. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Jordan said with a smile. ¡°But the doctor said that your health¡­¡± Carole mumbled, her brow furrowing slightly. Jordan¡¯s once pale lips had now regained their color,. ¡°Ah, it was all just a little act for Domenic, even what the doctor said,¡± Jordan said in his usual calm tone. Carole was taken aback by his words. What did Jordan mean? Wait¡­ Did he fake being sick? But why? Jordan could tell Carole was caught off guard by his words. He sighed and opened up. ¡°Domenic is really got it together, you know? Strategic and all. Honestly, he¡¯s like a younger version of me, maybe even sharper in some ways. Skill-wise, it¡¯s high time he stepped up to lead the Walsh Group, but¡­¡± Jordan paused, then spoke again in a serious tone. ¡°But now he¡¯s grown, with his own vision. Sooner orter, I won¡¯t be able to keep him in check. ¡± Turns out, Jordan had a solid handle on the whole situation. Carole paid close attention as he spoke. ¡°You know, I¡¯m aware of what Domenic has done abroad, but he hasn¡¯t been wise enough. If he were truly ruthless, Herbert wouldn¡¯t still be alive, posing a threat to him. And as for Kent, well, he brought about his own demise with his stupidity and arrogance. He couldn¡¯t escape his fate. In the end, he ended up joining histe brother. Karma is a bitch; he had to pay for his sins with his life. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Jordan¡¯s words gave Carole goosebumps. Even though Jordan¡¯s own son had passed away, Jordan stayed ice-cold, acting like it didn¡¯t faze him at all. He even said that Domenic was not bold and ruthless enough. Plus, it seemed that he was pretty let down that Domenic hadn¡¯t killed Herbert yet. In actuality, Carole was unaware of the much harsher realities Jordan had faced when he was young. Once upon a time, the wealthiest family in Morcastle wasn¡¯t the Walshes, but the Geller family. Jordan¡¯s wife was a member of the Geller family. Jordan was once under their thumb. He started from the ground up and eventually created the Walsh Group, making his family the second most powerful in Morcastle. And then, he tore down his wife¡¯s family all on his own. Consequently, the Walsh family seized all the assets of the Geller family, rising as the most formidable force in Morcastle. To this day, no one could rival them. Jordan¡¯s own humble beginnings made him especially wary of kids from ordinary families. They might seem all honest and friendly on the surface, but deep down, they were often hiding some seriously ambitious and shady intentions. Actually, Jordan wasn¡¯t too happy with his four sons. But his grandson Domenic inherited all his strengths, except for one thing. He was tender-hearted and overcautious, traits he got from his father, and Jordan disliked them the most. If Jordan were in Domenic¡¯s shoes, Herbert would have been killed. He was well aware of Domenic¡¯s weakness. Despite Domenic¡¯s facade of coldness and ruthlessness, he was actually soft inside. That was why Jordan feigned his illness. This tactic led Domenic topromise and obediently heed his orders. Jordan had everything arranged before Domenic returned home. Even the conversation with Rupert was part of his n. Jordan underwent a yearly physical examination and was in good health. Carole was totally surprised by how clever Jordan was, and at the same time, she was happy to hear that he was in good health. Now, she could breathe easy with no worries. With tears welling up, Carole hugged Jordan tightly. Her face looked so sad as she said in a shaky, teary voice, ¡°Please give me a heads up next time before you do something like that. It really scared me this time. I¡¯m relieved that you¡¯re okay. And you have no idea how worried Domenic was when you passed out¡­¡± Chapter 865 This time, she dropped apliment about Domenic for a reason. After all, if Jordan wasn¡¯t pleased with him, Domenic wouldn¡¯t have the chance to take over Walsh Group. But Luckily, Jordan wasn¡¯t really disappointed with him. He just wanted to test and keep him in line. While holding Carole¡¯s hand, Jordan spoke softly. ¡°I didn¡¯t share this with anyone. I trust you, so I¡¯m telling you. Keep it between us, especially from Domenic. You know if he follows my lead, he¡¯ll marry you. ¡± Carole got it, of course. She also knew Jordan spilled the beans because he was confident she wouldn¡¯t spill them to anyone else. ncing at Jordan, she quickly made the cross my heart gesture and promised, ¡°No worries, I won¡¯t spill the beans! Let¡¯s keep it as our little secret!¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Carole¡¯s thoughtfulness pleased Jordan greatly. He nodded with a smile. Then, she helped him lie down and said, ¡°You better get some good rest. I¡¯ll make some soup for you at home. You can have it when you wake up. Sound good?¡± Jordan just nodded, feeling pretty pleased with Carole¡¯s consideration. He could totally trust a woman like her to be Domenic¡¯s wife. Once Domenic got back to thepany, he wasted no time in checking Hendrix¡¯s investigation. Just like Mercer had mentioned, Lindnita Artists Agency was in big trouble as all the partners wanted out of the contract. The agency was in a real tight spot. ALL of this went down after Domenic went abroad, but during that time, Lindsey never brought up anything about the troubles facing her agency to him. When he mentioned it with doubt, she had still acted like nothing had happened and insisted that everything was fine. Was it because Lindsey saw him as too unreliable that she would rather deal with it on her own than ask him for help? Domenic seemed pretty down. If his grandpa was behind it, he couldn¡¯t just openly help Lindsey. He was in a tough situation. Just then, Hendrix called him and said abruptly, ¡°Mr. Walsh, I just got some urgent news! Lindsey and Sumner got into a car ident when they¡­¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± Before Hendrix could finish his words, Domenic cut in abruptly.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did Lindsey get into a car ident? How is she doing? Where is she?¡± Hendrix took a deep breath, the weight of his words heavy in the air. ¡°There is nothing dire with Lindsey. She should soon be discharged from the hospital. However, Sumner¡¯s condition is bleak. His leg has been permanently disabled. Besides, it¡¯s just¡­¡± He hesitated, sensing the tension in the room. Domenic¡¯s voice cut through the silence, demanding, ¡°Speak!¡± Hendrix swallowed his hesitation. ¡°On the day of the ident, Lindsey and Sumner had met at an grill, known for its romantic atmosphere set atop the hill. ¡± The word ¡°romantic¡± hung awkwardly in the air, the difort palpable. Hendrix went on, ¡°Sumner had reserved an entire grill for the asion. They spent the evening together, watching the meteor shower. The grill owner noted their intimacy, mistaking them for a couple. ¡± Domenic¡¯s grip tightened around the phone, tension coursing through his veins. After a pregnant pause, he spoke in a low, cold tone. ¡°Where is Lindsey now?¡± ¡°In Morcastle General Hospital. ¡± Domenic leaned back, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°You said Lindsey is well enough for discharge. Are you certain?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Hendrix affirmed. Despite her recovery, Lindsey hadn¡¯t returned home. She imed to be busy and unable toe home for a few days. Was she staying at the hospital to care for Sumner? Chapter 866 Domenic¡¯s heart sank, agitation stirring within him. Noticing his boss¡¯s somber silence, Hendrix cautiously inquired, ¡°Sir, how do we go about this?¡± Domenic¡¯s response was terse but decisive. ¡°I understand. Investigate the true cause of the ident. Additionally, ensure stability among Lindsey¡¯s business partners. Maintain their alliances discreetly. My involvement should remain undisclosed. ¡± With that, Domenic ended the call abruptly, leaving Hendrix stunned. His boss had changed since meeting Lindsey. Even amidst her alleged betrayal, Domenic remained remarkablyposed, considering her welfare. There were truths Hendrix wrestled with, truths he wasn¡¯t sure he should voice. Yet, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Domenic needed to know more. Deliberately, he sought information at the hospital, only to uncover something extraordinary. The hospital¡¯s nurses said that Lindsey had been caring for Sumner nicelytely, in a kind and meticulous manner. Sumner¡¯s doctor and nurses assumed they were a young couple and took her as a wonderful girlfriend who would never leave her lover. He had just mentioned that Lindsey was already freed from the hospital to hint at her unusual closeness with Sumner. His suspicion increased as he gave it more thought. Had she cheated on Domenic? Was his boss about to get dumped? Hendrix¡¯s eyes grew wide. Could a woman ever have the audacity to dump his boss? How dare she! But why wasn¡¯t Domenic furious? Why was he prioritizing Lindsey¡¯s business affairs? Did he not grasp the severity of the situation, or did he simply not care? Hendrix sighed, realizing his role was to follow orders, not interfere in matters of the heart. The next day, Xiomara hailed a taxi to a medical research and development center. As she gazed up at the imposing white edifice before her, she took a steadying breath, her nerves fluttering Like leaves in a gentle breeze. This marked her first time negotiating a coboration since embarking on her professional journey. Despite the connection with Lindsey¡¯s brother, a twinge of apprehension crept over her, a fear of missteps haunting her thoughts. Upon arriving, Xiomara approached the front desk, where the receptionist cast a curious nce at the appointment schedule before bestowing her with an inquisitive look. Perplexed, Xiomara inquired, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing of course! Professor Leonel Lopez¡¯s office awaits you at the far end of the third floor. ¡± Clearly, Xiomara¡¯s presence held significance, evidenced by Leonel¡¯s departure from his usual morning research and development engagements to amodate her visit. Withdrawing her perceptive and questioning gaze, the receptionist marked the schedule of appointments. With the receptionist¡¯s directions in mind, Xiomara found herself standing before the door to Leonel¡¯s office. Mentally preparing herself, she rapped gently against the door. ¡°Come in, please.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡± A calm response came from inside the door. As she stepped inside, her eyes fell on Leonel, seated upright behind his desk, absorbed in his work. Leonel donned a pristine white medical coat, its top buttons undone, offering a glimpse of his cor. Adorned with semi-rimless spectacles resting on his prominent nose, his eyes, beneath the lenses, emanated an air of sophistication tinged with authority. Seeing Xiomara, Leonel¡¯s countenance softened, prompting him to rise and approach her. ¡°Miss Vance, please, take a seat,¡± he invited courteously. As Xiomara settled onto the adjacent sofa, Leonel gracefully ced a steaming cup of tea before her. ¡°Please, enjoy,¡± he offered. Chapter 867 ¡°Thank you,¡± Xiomara replied graciously. d in a simple white blouse and denim shorts, Xiomara exuded an understated elegance. Though Leonel¡¯s demeanor remainedposed, his gaze wandered towards her, momentarily fixating on her slender legs. After a beat, he withdrew his gaze, returning to his seat. ¡°This coboration aims to promote a specific medication forbating obesity. In the event of potential online disturbances, ourpany pledges to issue a statement and extend public rtions support when needed. ¡± Leonel exhibited consideration in every aspect, elucidating his thoughts to Xiomara with meticulous detail. Thepensation offered far surpassed any previous propositions Xiomara had received. Listening attentively for an extended duration, Xiomara found her meticulously crafted ns obsolete. Rather than detecting any ws, she felt honored by the proposition. sping her fists, she pondered for a moment before finally speaking. ¡°Given my current standing, I¡¯m uncertain if such a _ generous remuneration is within reach. Are you certain this is a coborative contract with me, Mr. Lopez?¡± Leonel nodded warmly, affirming to Xiomara. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the oue of our discussion. Rest assured, I hold you in high regard. As the first individual to undergo sessful weight loss with our medicine and being affiliated with Lindsey, you¡¯re uniquely positioned for this coboration. You truly deserve this remuneration. ¡± Moved by his words, Xiomara rose from her seat and bowed to Leonel, expressing her gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your trust, Mr. Lopez. ¡± ¡°Since we¡¯re embarking on a future coboration, there¡¯s no need for such formality. You may call me Leonel,¡± Leonel remarked, extending his hand. Gazing at Xiomara, he added, ¡°Here¡¯s to a fruitful partnership. ¡± With a radiant smile, Xiomara shook his hand and replied, ¡°Agreed, Leonel. Here¡¯s to a sessful coboration!¡± As Leonel presented the contract, Xiomara perused it briefly, employing techniques she learned from Lindsey. Finding no issues, she promptly signed it, expressing her gratitude before departing with a contented heart. Observing Xiomara¡¯s graceful departure, Leonel couldn¡¯t help but smile and chuckle softly. Meanwhile, in Morcastle General Hospital¡¯s small garden, Lindsey tenderly wheeled Sumner into the sunlight. From time to time, she leaned in and checked on Sumner, asking if he was okay, if he needed water, or if he was feeling too hot. The doctor emphasized that since this was Sumner¡¯s first outing after the operation, he required extra care. If Sumner felt any difort, he should return to his ward promptly. Unbeknownst to them, a figure lurked in the shadows of a nearby tree. Sumner unintentionally turned around and locked eyes with Domenic, who stood in the shadows. A shadow seemed to pass over Sumner¡¯s eyes, his eyebrows Lifting slightly in surprise. He then rubbed his temples with a furrowed brow. Observing Sumner¡¯s reaction, Lindsey quickly squatted in front of him, expressing concern. ¡°Is something wrong? Are you feeling ufortable? Should we head back to the ward?¡± Sumner stifled a cough with his hand before speaking weakly.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°I have a headache, Lindsey. Could you please ask the doctor for some medication? I¡¯d like to stay in the sun a bit longer. ¡± Lindsey gently patted Sumner¡¯s back to soothe him. Concern evident in her voice, she asked, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s alright for you to stay here alone?¡± Intentionally, Sumner ced his hand over Lindsey¡¯s and offered a reassuring smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine. ¡± After a brief moment of hesitation, Lindsey noticed Sumner¡¯s pained expression and relented, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon. Just wait for me here. ¡± Chapter 868 Sumner nodded with a gentle smile, and Lindsey walked away, leaving him to bask in the sunlight alone. As Sumner watched Lindsey disappear out of his sight, the smile on his face vanished. ncing at the tree, he turned the wheelchair and wheeled it towards Domenic. Aware that Sumner had spotted him, Domenic emerged from the shadows with a stern expression etched across his face. Sumner halted just a short distance from Domenic, and the two men locked eyes in a tense standoff. The atmosphere crackled with palpable tension as they stood face to face, neither breaking the intense gaze. Despite being seated in a wheelchair, Sumner exuded an unyielding aura as he scrutinized Domenic from head to toe. A contemptuous smirk yed at the corners of his mouth as he spoke with dripping sarcasm. ¡°Well, well. Have you finally remembered you have a girlfriend in the hospital?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes bore into Sumner¡¯s with a depth of meaning, yet he remained silent. Sumner let out a disdainful snort, reclining back in his wheelchair triumphantly. His lips curled into a deliberate smirk as he spoke, each word dripping with satisfaction. ¡°You took your sweet time showing up after all these days since the ident. But you¡¯re toote. You saw what just happened. Lindsey has promised to be with me. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyebrows drew together suddenly as he nced at Sumner¡¯s legs and said coldly, ¡°Is it because of your leg?¡± Sumner was surprised, not expecting Domenic to be so sharp and direct. Domenic¡¯s words felt like a stab to Sumner¡¯s heart, making him clutch the wheelchair¡¯s armrests tightly. Yet he kept his face calm and collected, pretending to be unfazed. ¡°Of course not. Linds agreed to be with me way before the ident. ¡± ¡®s BunnyBookery Domenic gave a slight, dismissive smile, looking down on Sumner. ¡°If that¡¯s true, why didn¡¯t she tell me directly? Why did you send her away with an excuse? Was it because you all got tangled up with your broken leg, mixing reality with daydreams? Did Lindsey just look after you for a few days, and you¡¯ve already built castles in the air?¡± Sumner¡¯s cheeks turned a deep red with rage at his words. He couldn¡¯t stand Domenic acting superior.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Feeling both humiliated and furious, Sumner scowled deeply, pulled out his phone, and thrust it at Domenic. ¡°You doubt me? Take a look at this. ¡± The photo showed Lindsey and Sumner in a tight embrace under a sky filled with shooting stars. Sumner had asked the grill owner to take this picture and send it to him secretly. Lindsey didn¡¯t know about it. Sumner had always valued honesty, never ying games with love. He just wanted Lindsey to see his true feelings and choose him freely. But as he watched her fall deeper under Domenic¡¯s spell, no matter what he tried, he couldn¡¯t intervene. He thought, if being honest couldn¡¯tpete with Domenic¡¯s smooth talk, he¡¯d have to y rough too. Sumner believed that eventually Lindsey would realize Domenic¡¯s deception on her own and return to him, being thankful in the end. When Domenic saw the photo, his cool demeanor instantly turned frosty. He had vowed to trust Lindsey, remaining calm despite Sumner¡¯s previous attempts to sway him, waiting for Lindsey¡¯s exnation. Chapter 869 But when Sumner showed off that photo, it really got him angry. Remembering what Hendrix had told him about their camping trip and watching shooting stars together, Domenic¡¯s anger overflowed. The toughest pill to swallow was realizing Lindsey was lying to him for another man. She was obviously with Sumner, yet she had told him she was overwhelmed with work, a story she stuck to even today. Could it be that she really betrayed him and chose Sumner over him? Sumner felt victorious as he looked at Domenic¡¯s cold face. ¡°You¡¯re not even worthy of Lindsey. Why would she choose you when there are better choices out there? Who do you think you are? You can¡¯t provide Lindsey with a good life, and worst of all, you don¡¯t truly care about her! I¡¯m the one who has always been there for her, not you! What have you ever done for her? Spent your time shopping with another woman?¡± Hearing this, Domenic clenched his fists. But instead of getting angry, he burst into Laughter. With a look of scorn, Domenic stared at Sumner as if he were a delusional fool. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re in a better position than me, with your severe disability?¡± Sumner turned pale, realizing he was no match for the confident and imposing Domenic given his health conditon now. Despite being in a wheelchair and having to look up at Domenic, Sumner stood his ground. He snapped fiercely, ¡°I came from a more prestigious background and have more talent and capabilities than a man like you! All you could do was sweet talk and live off women. My leg will get better, and even if it doesn¡¯t, I¡¯m still better off than living your kind of life forever!¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Domenicughed dismissively, moved closer to Sumner, and challenged, ¡°Do you really think you can match up to me? What makes you so confident?¡± Leaning in, he whispered harshly in Sumner¡¯s ear, ¡°You¡¯re not even in my league. ¡± ¡°You!¡± Sumner overheard this and was immediately filled with rage. Sumner gripped the wheelchair¡¯s armrests, his futile attempt to rise met with frustration. No matter how hard he strained, his body refused to budge. He shot Domenic a re filled with venomous hatred, unable to hide his seething rage. Domenic had been watching him with pity, but now he straightened up, casting onest disdainful look at Sumner, a mix of warning and pity. Silently, he left Sumner to simmer in his anger. Sumner¡¯s fists clenched as he struggled with his inability to move. Amidst the park¡¯s bustling crowd, he bit back the curses bubbling inside him. Finally, defeated, he pounded his useless leg with frustration, slumping back into the wheelchair¡¯s embrace. His gaze turned skyward, but the sun¡¯s re only aggravated his already sore eyes. Could he ever stand again? Had he truly be disabled? Sumner gritted his teeth, refusing to surrender. Even if he was confined to a wheelchair, he¡¯d never allow Lindsey to be with that man. Never! Lindsey hurried back after fetching medicine for Sumner. From a distance, she spotted Sumner seemingly engaged in conversation. But as she drew closer, the figure she had glimpsed vanished around a corner. Squinting after the distance, she asked Sumner casually, ¡°Who were you talking to? He looked familiar. ¡± Caught up in his anger, Sumner hesitated before replying, ¡°Just someone asking for directions. I didn¡¯t recognize him. I¡¯m feeling a bit under the weather. Let¡¯s head back so I can rest. ¡± Chapter 870 Lindsey shot a skeptical nce in the direction Domenic had disappeared, then nodded gently. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll push you back, and you can take your medicine. ¡± Domenic had just returned from abroad, setting aside his work to make time for Lindsey amidst his busy schedule. The frustrating encounter earlier wasn¡¯t what he had anticipated. His frustration simmered as he stormed back to thepany, bursting into the conference room. The room was filled with people waiting for Domenic to start the morning meeting. The lively discussion that had filled the air came to an abrupt halt the moment Domenic entered, feeling the tension he brought with him. They all nced at each other with uneasy looks. Throughout the meeting, Domenic¡¯s expression remained stern and unreadable. No one dared to speak out of turn or even breathe too loudly. Domenic¡¯s irritation only grew in the stifling silence. pping documents onto the table, he rubbed his temples wearily. ¡°Are wecking ideas here? Did Vitality Group hire a bunch of ckers?¡± he snapped impatiently. No one dared to challenge him, until Emilio tentatively spoke up. I have an idea¡­¡± After Emilioid out his n, Domenic didn¡¯t even bother to open his eyes. Emilio instantly regretted speaking up, feeling like he¡¯d just painted a target on his back. This n was more of a concept, ast-resort idea he blurted out in the heat of the moment. Sure enough, Domenic¡¯s response was like a punch to the gut. ¡°Emilio, are you fresh off the intern boat? Do you honestly think this is doable? Have you even looked at the budget? Do you know anything about ourpetitors? This isn¡¯t child¡¯s y, man!¡± Emilio was used to Domenic¡¯s sharp tongue, but being scolded in front of everyone still stung. Watching Domenic¡¯s agitation, Emilio couldn¡¯t help but recall thest time he¡¯d lost his cool, storming out of a meeting. Back then, it was all because of rumors about Lindsey and Sumner going to a hot spring resort together.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. But today seemed even more intense. As Domenic¡¯s words hung heavy in the air, no one dared to speak up. The tension in the room was palpable. Domenic had been back for a while now. Lindsey couldn¡¯t keep using work as an excuse to stay away from home. And truth be told, she missed him. So shepleted the discharge formalities around noon on that day. Bringing lunch for Sumner, Lindsey returned to find Paige already there. After exchanging pleasantries, Lindsey set the food down and met Sumner¡¯s gaze. ¡°Are you leaving me already?¡± Sumner asked with a hint of sadness. Paige, always the tease, looked at the two and chimed in, ¡°Oh, Sumner, are you afraid to let her go? Lindsey¡¯s been running around for you non-stop. She is worn out already! I practically had to twist her arm to get her to leave today. It¡¯s time to cut the cord!¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t respond to Paige¡¯s teasing, just offering a small smile. Sumner also felt that he had been relying on Lindsey too much these days. He pressed his lips with embarrassment and said, ¡°Well, go back and get some good rest. ¡± Seeing Sumner¡¯s mood, Lindsey sat beside him with a gentle smile. ¡°I have to get back to work; I can¡¯t leave Nancy drowning in paperwork. ALL you need to do is focus on healing. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll keep my promise. I¡¯ll swing by whenever I can. ¡± They both knew quite well what the promise involved. With a nod of understanding, Sumner said, ¡°Go handle your own business. I¡¯m not a concern. I¡¯ll do my recovery exercises. Simply drop by once in a while when you have some free time. ¡± Lindsey offered a few more words offort before saying goodbye to Paige. Chapter 871 Knowing Lindsey was being discharged from the hospital, Nancy arrived to pick her up. Anticipating Lindsey might not have eaten well during her stay, Nancy decided to treat her to a French restaurant that served all of Lindsey¡¯s favorite dishes. ¡°Come on, it¡¯s on me today. Order whatever you Like!¡± Nancy dered generously, handing the menu to Lindsey. Lindsey selected a few dishes and handed the menu back to the waiter. After the door of the exclusive dining room closed, Nancy scrutinized Lindsey, whoughed and yfully tapped Nancy¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯m fine now, no need to worry!¡± Nancy rubbed her forehead and then settled back into her seat with relief. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay. I was genuinely concerned this time. ¡± Lindsey felt warmth flood her heart at her best friend¡¯s care. They chatted about gossip and entertainment news, enjoying a rxed and cozy atmosphere. Lindsey casually asked, ¡°By the way, how¡¯s work beentely?¡± Nancy¡¯s rxed demeanor suddenly stiffened, and she seemed to deflect the topic, stuttering, ¡°Oh, you know, everything¡¯s fine at thepany. You just got out of the hospital. Why rush back to thinking about work? You must be exhausted. Take it easy and rest for a while. As the interim head of thepany, I¡¯m giving you some time off. No need to hurry back. ¡± Lindsey sensed Nancy¡¯s attempt to steer the conversation away. She hesitated and asked, ¡°Are you sure everything is alright?¡± Nancy patted Lindsey¡¯s shoulder, exuding confidence. ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry! With me there, it¡¯s under control. You can rx. I¡¯ve got it handled. ¡± With Lindsey just discharged from the hospital, Nancy wanted to shield her from any business worries. It was also curious that thepanies pressing for contract terminations had suddenly backed off, granting her a breather. Nancy rubbed her nose, suspecting Mercer had lent a hand behind the scenes. Yet, out of pride, she hadn¡¯t expressed gratitude to him yet. ¡®s BunnyBookery She believed there would be plenty of time for thatter. Lindsey seemed reassured by Nancy¡¯s words and didn¡¯t press further. Nancy wasn¡¯t one to joke about business matters. If she said it was fine, then it must be. Lindsey smiled gently and said, ¡°Alright, if there¡¯s any trouble, don¡¯t hesitate to share with me. ¡± Nancy nodded slightly, focusing on her food. After dinner, Nancy drove Lindsey home. Before leaving, Nancy reminded Lindsey to rest well and assured her to call anytime if needed. Lindsey nodded with a smile, watching Nancy depart before turning and heading upstairs. As Lindsey opened her door, the entrance light automatically switched on in response to the noise. She felt a warm rush of emotion-Domenic had arranged for this voice-activated light after learning about her fear of the dark. Now, whenever she returned home, the light would greet her. Standing in the illuminated hallway, Lindsey¡¯s heart swelled with memories of Domenic. Domenic had promised to wait for her at home. Would he be there now? In that moment, Lindsey yearned to see him without dy. Her heart raced as she peered into the dark living room. It appeared empty. Indeed, this time of day was typically busy for Domenic, and today was Likely no exception. Perhaps it was just an offhandment of his. Why had she allowed her hopes to soar so high?This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 872 Though Lindsey acknowledged the reality, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of disappointment. She lowered her head and stepped further into the room. As she moved forward, the bathroom door suddenly swung open.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Arge hand emerged from the darkness, grabbed Lindsey, and pulled her inside. Lindsey let out a scream, toppling backward and losing her bnce. Her mind raced with questions. Was it a thief? Her thoughts whirled as she struggled against the grip, but the man¡¯s strength was overwhelming, pinning her to the bathroom wall. Then, the lights flicked on, flooding the room with brightness. Lindsey squinted against the sudden re, only to find Domenic standing before her. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s relief was palpable, but she couldn¡¯t hide her reproach. ¡°You scared me half to death. ¡± Domenic didn¡¯t respond, his expression unreadable. It was then that Lindsey noticed his drenched appearance. His white shirt clung to him, revealing more than she expected, and drops of water from his hair fell onto her skin. With a hand against the wall by her ear, Domenic stared at her intensely, an enigmatic gleam in his deep eyes. Lindsey tentatively reached out, touching his wet hair, then his cold arm, her concern evident. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened? You¡¯re soaked through, and it¡¯s not raining outside. ¡± ¡°I needed to cool off. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was low, filled with restraint. It sounded as though he was holding something back from himself. Confusion knitted Lindsey¡¯s brows. ¡°Cool off? What do you mean?¡± Meeting her gaze with a mixture of emotions, Domenic reached out, lifting her chin to hold her eyes captive. His question hung heavy in the air. ¡°Why did you lie to me, Lindsey?¡± Her heart pounded. Did he know about her fib about workingte? Lindsey gently pushed his hand away, flustered. ¡°Let me exin. You¡¯re¡­ hurting me. ¡± Domenic¡¯s realization came toote. He released her, stepping back, allowing her space. ¡°Exin, then. I¡¯m listening. ¡± But Lindsey hesitated, grappling for words. Finally, she confessed softly, ¡°Sumner and I were in a car ident a few days ago. He got injured saving me. Now one of his leg is disabled. Sumner is the artist under mypany. As her agent and friend, I must take care of him, so I spent a few days caring for him in the hospital. I was worried you would take me the wrong way. I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you. ¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze bore into her. who was avoiding eye contact. He sneered, his expression almost eerie. ¡°So, you snuck off to a hilltop grill with Sumner in the dead of night for a little rendezvous, huh? Watching meteor showers and making wishes together? You two had quite the time while I was away, didn¡¯t you?¡± His words were tinged with barely restrained anger, almost growling as he spoke. Then, he grabbed Lindsey¡¯s wrists, pinning them above her head with a force that bordered on brutality. With his other hand, he began tearing at her clothes like a raging animal. Lindsey, startled and flustered, struggled against his grip. ¡°Domenic, what on earth are you doing?!¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes shed with fury, his voice thick with usation. ¡°I need to check your body. I need to know if you¡¯ve cheated on me and kept me in the dark!¡± Domenic had never been so unreasonable and furious. Seeing that he meant his words, Lindsey struggled desperately and said, ¡°Domenic, are you crazy?!¡± Chapter 873 Turning a deaf ear to her words, he didn¡¯t stop and continued taking off her clothes. Seeing that her clothes were about to be torn by him, Lindsey couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and pped hard on his face, shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Instantly, the narrow bathroom quieted down, and only their breaths could be heard. With his head tilted to one side, Domenic stood still silently, frozen. Lindsey¡¯s eyes were red with anger. She slumped back, feeling totally drained. The wall was freezing, making her shiver, but honestly, it couldn¡¯t match the icy feeling in her heart right now. It really hurt to be so misunderstood by Domenic. She figured he would blow up or get mad, but she never saw iting that his first thought would be¡­ that she would betray him¡­. She fought to keep her tears at bay as she turned to face Domenic. Even though she tried to sound steady, her voice still wavered. ¡°Fine. You want to get me checked out? Sure, Go ahead. But don¡¯te saying to me if you regret itter. ¡± Domenic didn¡¯t even bother to nce her way or utter a word. So, Lindsey just went ahead and started stripping off her clothes, starting with her coat, then her shirt, and finally her underwear. She took her sweet time, but Domenic remained as silent as ever, not lifting a finger to stop her or even casting a single nce her way. It wasn¡¯t until Lindsey stood therepletely naked, tears streaming down her face, that she finally burst out, ¡°Come on, look at me! Look closely! Do you see any other man¡¯s marks on me? Have I betrayed you?¡± Finally, Domenic snapped out of it and looked up at Lindsey right in front of him. Her skin looked so smooth and wless, not even a hickey. She was shaking a bit, and her face had gone pale. She used to be fearless, handling whatever came her way with ease. But now, tears streamed down her face as she stared at Domenic. The sight of her tears hit him like a ton of bricks, snapping him back to reality in an instant. What had he done? He had justshed out with some pretty nasty words. Now, he noticed the red mark on her slender wrist from where he had grabbed her. Instant regret flooded through Domenic. But in the heat of the moment, he had beenpletely out of control, as if some kind of wild beast roaring inside him. Lindsey must¡¯ve been terrified of him acting so ruthlessly. ¡®s BunnyBookery She clutched her trembling body like a scared rabbit, her tear-filled eyes brimming with disappointment. Domenic felt a sharp pang in his heart, like a knife jabbing into it. Hurriedly, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Lindsey¡¯s body. Then, he pulled her into a tight hug and kept saying sorry with regret in his voice. He wanted to exin that he hadn¡¯t meant to hurt her earlier. But now, it felt like nothing could undo the damage. Lindsey remained silent, Like a lifeless puppet, allowing Domenic to hold her.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. After a few moments, she seemed to snap out of it and pushed Domenic away forcefully. Her voice was t, yet tinged with a hint of sadness. ¡°Why did you do that to me, huh? Instead of caring about me after my car ident, why did you think I was with another man?¡± Lindsey fought to get the words out, almost stumbling, ¡°How do you know all about that night? Are you investigating me? You knew about my ident and still didn¡¯t trust me like before. You don¡¯t really care about me. You¡¯re just selfish and possessive. It¡¯s all about you!¡± Domenic rushed to exin, ¡°No, I¡¯m not! I really care about you. I rushed back because I was worried something bad might happen to you. ¡± Noticing something off in his words, Lindsey frowned and gave him a careful look. ¡°Why would you think I would be in an ident? Do you think it was nned?¡± Chapter 874 Feeling desperate, Domenic had a slip of the tone. Swallowing hard, he exined, ¡°The entertainment industry is a battlefield. Yourpany has been in a messtely. I¡¯m just worried about you. ¡± Lindsey scoffed, finding it ridiculous. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me? Your idea of worrying is to grill me the moment youe back? And what gives you the right to question me? Have you seriously never lied to me?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes clouded, and his heart sank. He had hidden his true identity from Lindsey after all. Who was he to question her? There had been a question burning in Lindsey¡¯s mind for a while. But with Domenic away on business, she kept it to herself. Now, with everything out in the open, there was no need to hold back. So she just blurted it out. Locking eyes with Domenic, who seemed to be dodging the question, Lindsey pressed on, ¡°I found out at Carole Larson¡¯s engagement party that her fianc¨¦ is the CEO of Vitality Group. You mentioned Carole is your cousin, and it struck me that both you and the CEO have the samest name, Walsh. So, what¡¯s the connection between you two? What exactly have you been keeping from me?¡± Domenic felt a jolt of shock and hesitated. Should he reveal his true identity to Lindsey? Yet, he quickly dismissed the thought. Lately, his family had be a battleground. Rupert was always on the lookout, ready to pounce at any sign of weakness.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. The Vitality Group was also in turmoil, having just lost quite a few major projects. To make matters worse, his grandfather was ill and couldn¡¯t take any additional stress. Bringing Lindsey into this chaos seemed like a terrible idea. Domenic feared it might worsen his grandfather¡¯s condition or, worse, that Lindsey might suffer somehow. And then there was Carole. What would Lindsey think if she discovered his supposed engagement to Carole? The mere thought made Domenic shudder. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing Lindsey and feltpelled to shield her from anything that could cause her pain. After much deliberation, he concluded that involving her before resolving these issues was out of the question. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about Carole¡¯s engagement. I hardly know her. We only met briefly when she returned, and you saw us together that day. After that, I got wrapped up in work and haven¡¯t seen her since. And as for any ties to the Walsh family, it¡¯s purely coincidental. There are so many people with the Walsh surname. ¡± Lindsey eyed Domenic with a hint of suspicion. She used to take his word as truth, but today, there was a flicker of evasion in his gaze that she had never noticed before. When too many coincidences pile up, could they truly still be considered coincidences? Lindsey stayed quiet. She wasn¡¯t concerned with her mother¡¯s or brother¡¯s disapproval, nor was she swayed by Sumner¡¯s usations and spections. All she wanted was to be open and truthful with the person she loved, without holding anything back. She med herself for not being upfront with Domenic, but she wondered if he had been entirely truthful with her. Seeing the doubt in Lindsey¡¯s eyes, Domenic pulled her close, kissing her hair and whispering, ¡°A lot has happened in my family recently. An uncle of mine passed away, and my grandfather fell ill because of the blow. I¡¯m just too scared. I can¡¯t lose you. ¡± He had managed to remain stoic through his family¡¯s tragedies because he had buried his pain deep within himself. To the outside world, he could appear cold and ruthless, but with Lindsey, he allowed his defenses to fall, revealing his vulnerability. Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, not realizing the extent of the turmoil Domenic had faced in such a short time. She didn¡¯t know the finer details of his family struggles, but from the bits he shared, it was clear he grew up in a harsh environment, devoid of care and love. His parents had died early, and his rtives were hostile. His grandfather was the only family who cared about him, albeit strict and rigid. This helped her understand why Domenic had been hesitant to bring her home or introduce her to his family. After enduring such significant personal upheaval, it made sense that Domenic had sought herpany. But when he needed her most, she had lied to him about her whereabouts, choosing instead to stay with Sumner. Now she could understand why he was so upset. Reflecting on this, Lindsey¡¯s feelings of guilt surged. She resolved to let go of her anger and stop dwelling on Domenic¡¯s discreet inquiries into her activities. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his broad shoulder, and whispered gently, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Domenic. I didn¡¯t know about these things. Actually, Sumner helped me that day, so I agreed to treat him to dinner as a thank you. He took me to that grill, and there happened to be a meteor shower. I never expected it to unfold like that. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice was tinged with a sullen tone as he asked, ¡°Then why were you hugging him?¡± Caught off guard, Lindsey paused, trying to piece together her response. Finally, she murmured, ¡°It was aplicated moment, but it wasn¡¯t what you think. Can you trust me, please?¡± Chapter 875 Domenic pulled her closer, his voice low in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I promised I wouldn¡¯t be jealous of Sumner, but I just can¡¯t help it. Every time I see you with him, I lose control. I wish he would just vanish from this world and never cross your path again. ¡± He buried his face in her neck and pleaded, ¡°Linds, can you please stop seeing him?¡± Lindsey felt torn. Biting her lip awkwardly, she replied, ¡°He¡¯s my artist. I¡¯ll always have to see him, and¡­¡± She struggled to exin hermitment to take care of Sumner without adding more tension. As she wrestled with her thoughts, Domenic¡¯s voice softened in her ear. ¡°Once we¡¯re married, you won¡¯t have to be so stretched thin. You can manage the artists through other agents and take the lead from behind the scenes. ¡± The mention of marriage stirred a mix of emotions in Lindsey, leaving her heart aching with confusion and concern. In the past, Lindsey would have been overjoyed to hear what Domenic was saying. But now, things were different. She hesitated briefly and then gently pushed him away. She no longer wanted to keep secrets from him, so she decided it was time to reveal everything. With her lips turning pale, she struggled to speak. ¡°On the day of the car ident, a huge stone crushed one of Sumner¡¯s legs while he was saving me. If it weren¡¯t for him, I¡¯d be the one in the hospital bed right now¡­ I couldn¡¯t just go on with my life and ignore what happened, so I promised to take care of him until he can walk on his own again. ¡± She paused, nced at Domenic, and clenched her hands. ¡°Also, I promised him I wouldn¡¯t marry until he¡¯s recovered.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He stared at her, unable to speak for a moment, before finally stammering, ¡°What are you telling me?¡± Lindsey looked down, her voice soft but firm. ¡°When there was a fire at my mother¡¯s apartment, Sumner didn¡¯t hesitate to rush in and save us. I owe him my life. Not once, but twice. I need to repay him, or I¡¯ll never be at peace. ¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯d rather stay single to take care of him?¡± Domenic thought it was unfair, feeling his anger rise again. Grabbing Lindsey¡¯s shoulders, he shouted in desperation, ¡°What about me? What about us? Do you care about me less than you care about Sumner¡¯s leg? Do you really think that way?¡± Lindsey bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. She looked at him and said softly, ¡°But being together doesn¡¯t mean we have to get married, right? Marriage is just a formality. As long as we love each other, anywhere can be our home, can¡¯t it?¡± Domenic¡¯sughter was bitter, filled with disbelief. He had fought for the family inheritance, shed in business battles, and even stood up against his own grandfather. He did all this not just to avenge his parents, but to marry Lindsey, to dere to the world that she was his wife. They would have adorable children and a joyful family life. He had envisioned their future together, but Lindsey¡¯s decision made it all seem like a cruel joke. Suddenly, Domenic felt a hollow emptiness inside, as if he had turned back to a life of endless destruction, empty and alone. It was true. Sumner had risked her life for her twice. But he himself? He had only stood by during the fire, watching her face danger. It made sense for her to choose Sumner, didn¡¯t it? Domenic felt like there was a heavy stone weighing on his heart, making his eyes sting. He released his hold on Lindsey and stepped back, forcing a bitter smile. Both Lindsey and Domenic shared a simr pain. Lindsey understood how hard this was for Domenic. She knew her words were hurtful, but she felt she had no other option. Her focus now was to help Sumner heal as quickly as possible. ¡°You understand where I¡¯ming from, right?¡± Tears welled in Lindsey¡¯s eyes as she looked at the depressed man before her. ¡°If that little girl who once saved you from the cer was in trouble, you wouldn¡¯t just stand by, would you? My mother taught me to repay kindness from a young age. These are life debts, and while I can¡¯t repay them with my life, I can only do this. ¡± Chapter 876 Lindsey sniffed and lowered her head. ¡°Domenic, if you can¡¯t ept this or understand, if all you want is a wife, then I¡­¡± A wave of sadness overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face. Despite her efforts to appear unaffected, her heart felt like it was being pierced by a knife as she spoke. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. With a hoarse voice strained by emotion, she said, ¡°I won¡¯t stand in your way. You are free to leave me anytime. ¡± After expressing her sentiments, Lindsey leaned gently against the wall, grappling with the ache in her heart, yet striving to maintainposure. With a delicate effort, she lifted her gaze to meet Domenic¡¯s, summoning a semnce of a smile. ¡°Domenic, I mean what I say. I won¡¯t press you further. Your choice will be respected,¡± she assured him. Domenic was taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s unwavering determination. Could it be true? Did she truly intend to end their rtionship for Sumner¡¯s sake? Was Sumner¡¯s im actually urate? Had Lindsey genuinely decided to be with him? At that moment, Domenic experienced a searing pain in his chest as though a sharp de had pierced his heart, making it difficult for him to draw a steady breath. His chest heaved with the weight of his emotions, and the brightness in his eyes dulled, leaving them listless. ¡°He saved your life, so you decide to repay him¡­¡± With a bitter smile ying on his lips, Domenic repeated this sentence several times. Raising his head, he fixed Lindsey with a gaze filled with anguish as he questioned, ¡°Lindsey, have you made up your mind?¡± Domenic believed in repaying those who saved lives, but he never imagined it would mean sacrificing happiness to be with them. As a result, he had never considered marrying Carole or abandoning Lindsey for Carole¡¯s sake. However, Lindsey¡¯s willingness to be with Sumner to repay him for saving her life made him feel like he was being ungrateful. Upon being questioned by Domenic, Lindseypsed into a contemtive silence, her head bowed. After a pause, she nodded and softly uttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. ¡± Upon hearing this, Domenic felt a wave of instability threatened to overwhelm him, his features contorting into a bitter sneer. He understood the challenge of changing Lindsey¡¯s mind once she had reached a decision, yet he harbored a flicker of hope that she might reconsider for his sake, which prompted his inquiry about her decision. But Lindsey extinguished his final glimmer of hope. With a heavy heart, Domenic retreated into his reserved and aloof demeanor, his voice barely above a whisper as he conceded, ¡°Okay, I understand. ¡± With a heavy heart, he turned on his heel and silently exited the bathroom. While Domenic walked out, Lindsey felt a surge of panic wash over her. In an impulse, she called out to him, ¡°Domenic!¡± Despite Lindsey¡¯s call, Domenic continued to walk away with measured steps, his back exuding an air of loneliness and distress. Lindsey hastened after him. As Domenic neared the door, Lindsey¡¯s desperation grew, prompting her to call out again, ¡°Domenic!¡± This time, Domenic halted in his tracks, but he didn¡¯t turn to face Lindsey. His voice, cold and distant, cut through the air as if they were mere acquaintances. ¡°I understand your message. Please, leave me be. ¡± As he swung open the door, a gust of cold wind caught the corner of the bath towel draped around Lindsey¡¯s body. With a sharp m, the door shut behind Domenic, leaving Lindsey shivering from the sudden chill that enveloped her. He left her! Would he ever return? Clutching the bath towel tightly around her, Lindsey stood motionless, lost in a haze of disbelief, until the reality of Domenic¡¯s departure washed over her like a tidal wave. A flood of sorrow and anguish consumed her. With trembling limbs, she sank to the floor, her arms wrapped protectively around her trembling form. Tears streamed down her cheeks, each droplet a painful reminder of the memories they had shared in that very room. As Domenic walked alone through the streets, memories flooded back with vivid rity. The image of him and Lindsey strolling in that ce shed before his eyes.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Before Lindsey¡¯s return home, Domenic sought sce by locking himself in the bathroom, immersing himself in a cold bath to quell the tumult within, the cold water cascading over him in a soothing embrace. Now, his damp clothes clung to his skin, the chill of the night wind sending shivers down his spine, its icy touch seeping into his bones. Yet, despite the biting chill that enveloped him, the physical coldness Domenic endured paled to the icy emptiness gnawing at his heart. The intensity of his anguish only served to sharpen the rity of his memories, each word that Lindsey had ever spoken echoing relentlessly in his mind. ¡°Domenic, I will protect you. ¡± Chapter 878 Domenic¡¯s expression darkened at the resignation in Jordan¡¯s voice. The brief touch caused Carole¡¯s cheeks to redden. She stepped back, stealing nces at Domenic. His handsome features, with his chiseled jawline, stirred something inside her. It was the first time she felt such a strong attraction to someone. But then she noticed his damp shirt and unruly hair. ¡°Domenic, were you caught in the rain? You¡¯re soaked! You should change and take care not to catch a cold. ¡± Carole expressed concern, reaching out to touch his arm. Before Domenic could respond, Jordan¡¯s expression soured, his displeasure evident as he nced at Domenic. ¡°What happened to you? You¡¯re a mess and smell of alcohol. ¡± Realizing his current state was less than dignified, Domenic pursed his lips and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m alright. ¡± Jordan sighed heavily, his disappointment evident. ¡°I understand yourpany¡¯s situation is challenging, but only when you¡¯re sober can you tackle the issues effectively. It¡¯s with a clear mind that you can navigate these troubles without feeling overwhelmed. Look at yourself now, you don¡¯t resemble the CEO of thepany; you appear more like a disheveled drunkard. How can I entrust the Walsh Group to you in this state?¡± Jordan remained convinced that Domenic¡¯s drinking was a coping mechanism for his troubles at work. He had always enforced a strict demeanor on Domenic. No matter the circumstance, Domenic was forbidden from disying any hint of sadness or attempting to shed tears. If he wanted to lead the Walsh Group, he had to learn to be emotionally resilient. Lately, however, Jordan was frequently let down by Domenic. Not only did Domenic constantly defy Jordan, but he also seemed increasingly disheartened and erratic. It reminded Jordan of a time when Domenic, merely ten years old, had aplete breakdown after the ashes of his mother were scattered. His eyes had turned bloodshot, and he had red at everyone present as if he wanted to consume them whole. In his frenzy, Domenic had destroyed everything in the room, even resorting to biting Kent, which provided Rupert with an opportunity. iming that Domenic suffered from mental health issues, Rupert had sought to have himmitted to a mental institution. Seeing this as a chance to toughen Domenic up, Jordan had pretended to be ill and refrained from intervening. Jordan couldn¡¯t fathom how Domenic had endured life in the mental institution. Yet, to Jordan¡¯s surprise, Domenic didn¡¯t disappoint him. Within just a month, Domenic had managed to escape from the institution. When he reappeared before Jordan, he seemed transformed, like apletely different person. Since his escape from the mental institution, Domenic had shed all traces of fear or panic. He adopted a calm and indifferent attitude toward everything. Once he fixed his sights on a goal, he would be ruthless and relentless. This quality, reminiscent of Jordan¡¯s own demeanor in his youth, was what Jordan admired most about him. Therefore, Jordan decided to hand over control of the Walsh family business to Domenic. Over the years, Jordan¡¯s strictness towards Domenic aimed to ensure that he would never lose control and be consumed by emotions for anyone, not even for his mother, and certainly not for Jordan himself. Only by possessing such qualities could Domenic truly lead the Walsh Group. With these traits, he could navigate the harsh realities of the world, ensuring the continued growth and influence of the Walsh family for generations toe. If anyone dared to challenge Domenic¡¯s resolve, they would swiftly meet a grim fate, vanishing from existence without a trace. Upon hearing Jordan¡¯s words, Domenic lowered his gaze and replied, ¡°I understand, Grandpa. I¡¯ll have Hendrix bring me some clothes now. ¡± ¡°Well, go and change your clothes. We can¡¯t have you catching a cold again. Carole, why don¡¯t you go with him?¡± Jordan gestured towards Carole. Carole nodded, turning to Domenic. ¡°Domenic, let¡¯s go. ¡± Although Domenic didn¡¯t want Carole to apany him, he couldn¡¯t risk upsetting his grandpa who was still ill in bed.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Without a word, he left the room. Carole trailed behind him. ¡°Domenic, there¡¯s a dressing room on this floor. You should take off your wet clothes, and I¡¯ll get them dry- cleaned,¡± Carole suggested. Chapter 879 Domenic entered the dressing room without responding and shut the door behind him. Carole remained outside the door, waiting patiently. Before long, Hendrix came rushing towards her, breathless, carrying arge bag of clothes.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hello, Miss Larson,¡± Hendrix greeted. ¡°I¡¯ve brought my boss¡¯ clothes. ¡± ¡°I got this, Hendrix,¡± Carole interjected, stopping him just before he knocked on the door. Carole grabbed the bag from Hendrix before he could respond. ¡°Leave it to me, you can get back to your other tasks,¡± Carole said with a smile. ¡°But¡­¡± Hendrix hesitated, ncing towards the dressing room. He knew Domenic wasn¡¯t keen on Carole, so he was reluctant to let her handle it alone. He was worried that Domenic would be mad at him if he allowed Carole to enter the room without his approval. Carole sensed Hendrix¡¯s hesitation, which upset her. So, she adopted a softer tone and said, ¡°Hendrix, you know what? Domenic¡¯s grandpa has asked me to assist Domenic with changing his clothes. We all have to follow his instructions, don¡¯t we?¡± Carole subtly reminded Hendrix of Jordan¡¯s authority. Hendrix, realizing the implications, reluctantly agreed. He figured Jordan might still be interested in pairing Domenic with Carole. If he interfered, he would have been kicked out of Morcastle the next day. ¡°Of course, Miss Larson! Thank you very much. I¡¯ll leave now,¡± Hendrix said nervously. Carole smiled as she watched Hendrix Leave. Suppressing her excitement, she turned around and knocked on the door of the dressing room. Thinking it was Hendrix, Domenic answered loudly, inviting him in. Carole couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly. She tried to maintain a serious expression as she pushed the door open. A white screen separated her from Domenic, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling intrigued by the silhouette of a tall, good-shaped man on the other side. ¡°Just put them there,¡± Domenic instructed. He tossed his wet clothes out and said, ¡°Take them for dry-cleaning. ¡± There was a moment of silence, which made him wonder. He couldn¡¯t figure out why Hendrix was still standing outside. Turning around in frustration, he pulled aside the screen before him. Much to his surprise, it wasn¡¯t Hendrix standing there; it was Carole. Carole was taken aback by the sight of the half-naked Domenic. His muscr chest and broad shoulders formed an impressive silhouette. Below his defined abs was a sturdy waist, cinched by a belt. She found herself attracted to his strong physique. Avoiding eye contact, she kept her gaze low to hide her flushed cheeks. Chapter 880 But then, to her surprise, she noticed that his belt was of a random brand, worn-out and of low quality. ¡°What brings you here?¡± Domenic inquired. As soon as he spotted her, he swiftly drew the screen between them. He frowned, his impatience palpable. Carole regained herposure. ¡°I just brought you some clothes,¡± she said gently, wearing a friendly expression. ¡°Where¡¯s Hendrix?¡± Domenic inquired. His dissatisfaction was evident. Carole cleared her throat and exined, ¡°Hendrix¡­ Well¡­ He had some other matters to attend to. ¡± Domenic¡¯s face twisted in frustration, clearly unhappy with Hendrix¡¯s actions. Did Hendrix want to be fired? His frustration grew as he red at Carole lingering by the door. ¡°Just leave the clothes on the chair and go,¡± Domenic instructed, pinching his eyebrows. ¡°sure,¡± Carole murmured, cing the clothes down gently. As she looked up at the man behind the screen, she felt a pang of uncertainty about speaking up, pausing to reconsider her words. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice rumbled with impatience. ¡°Um, Domenic¡­¡± Carole said, her voice uncertain as she bit her Lip. After a brief pause, she continued softly, ¡°Do you remember your promise to me?¡± Domenic¡¯s expression shifted slightly, sensing the weight behind her words. He recalled the promise he had made to her, but he didn¡¯t understand why she suddenly brought it up? ¡°Sure,¡± Domenic replied. His tone is indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind about my wish,¡± Carole dered. Standing tall, she gazed at the silhouette of Domenic through the screen. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯ll grant it,¡± she added with uncertainty. ¡°I¡¯ll uphold my promise as long as it¡¯s within legal and ethical bounds. You can trust me on that,¡± Domenic assured calmly. ¡°Absolutely, Carole responded with a smile. Then, she continued, ¡°My wish is quite simple. That is¡­ I wish you¡¯ll marry me. ¡± Domenic arched his eyebrows, flipping open the screen to meet Carole¡¯s gaze. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Carole met his eyes head-on, her demeanor gentle yet resolute.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Domenic, I have been doing a lot of thinkingtely. I know I have been vocal about not wanting this marriage, but your grandfather¡¯s dearest wish is for us to tie the knot. He means the world to me, Domenic, like a second grandfather. And now that he has fallen seriously ill, I don¡¯t want him worrying over our marriage anymore, or worse, feeling hurt because of it. So, please, even if it¡¯s only a charade, marry me. Let¡¯s spare his heart any more anguish, please. ¡± As he peered at the concerned woman before him, Domenic lowered his eyes and said firmly, ¡°Carole, I would give you my word on anything else, but not this. ¡± ¡°Why not? It¡¯s not hical or illegal. Why can¡¯t you agree? You promised, you said you would fulfill any wish of mine. It¡¯s your vow!¡± Carole¡¯s anxiety bubbled, causing her typically gentle tone to take on a hint of aggressiveness. Turning away, Domenic fixed his gaze on the autumn leaves falling outside the window. Chapter 881 ¡°Carole, in this lifetime, I¡¯ll only marry the woman I love. No one else. ¡± His tone was unwavering. ¡°I can pledge anything else to you, but not this. This one is non-negotiable. ¡± Carole had hoped to use Jordan¡¯s illness to sway Domenic¡¯s decision. She had assumed that perhaps under the pressure of his grandfather¡¯s condition, he would agree to marry her and he wouldn¡¯t risk his grandpa¡¯s well-being for a woman. However, she was taken aback by Domenic¡¯s unwavering response.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Clutching her fists, Carole bit her Lower lip, her eyes clouding over. She stared at Domenic, inhaling deeply before finally mustering the courage to ask, ¡°Is Lindsey the woman you love?¡± Domenic¡¯s shock rippled through him as Carole¡¯s words sank in. Turning around, he adopted an air of extreme vignce, his voice dropping to a cold, chilling tone. ¡°So, it was you who asked Lindsey toe to our engagement party?¡± Trying to maintainposure, Carole met his gaze, her attempt at calmness evident. ¡°Domenic, you must understand that your grandfather is vehemently opposed to your rtionship with Lindsey. I acted in your best interests. With so many eligible women from affluent families, why must you defy him and choose someone of lower standing?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the right to talk about her!¡± Domenic¡¯s movement was swift as he advanced, seizing Carole¡¯s wrist and pinning it against the door behind her. The impact caused Carole to wince in pain, her brows furrowing. ¡°How did you find out about this?¡± ¡°It was your uncle Rupert told me. ¡± Carole¡¯s expression twisted in pain, tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Please, Domenic. Believe me. I haven¡¯t breathed a word to anyone, not even your grandfather. I¡¯m on your side. I have only ever had your best interests at heart. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp. Why was it Rupert again? Had Rupert forgotten about the evidence he possessed? How dare Rupert disclose his connection with Lindsey to Carole? Did Rupert attempt to harm Lindsey by involving Carole? But Domenic couldn¡¯t allow Rupert¡¯s scheme to seed. Releasing Carole, he stepped back, putting some distance between them, and looked at her with a cold stare. . . Library Carole rubbed her wrist, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at Domenic. ¡°You must understand what your grandfather will do if he discovers your love for someone outside our social circle. I have seen Lindsey. She is a kind-hearted girl, straightforward and sincere. She deserves a simple, happy life of her own. She should not be involved in your family¡¯s conflicts. Being born into wealth is Like being trapped in a gilded cage, forced into roles we didn¡¯t choose. In the days I have taken care of your grandfather, I have witnessed and endured so much. I havee to ept that I can¡¯t escape this life. You must ept your fate, Domenic. Let go of yourself, and let go of Lindsey, for both your sakes. ¡± Domenic¡¯s fingertips quivered as he clenched his fists, his heart heavy with despair. Seeing his silence, Carole continued, ¡°You know how ill your grandpa is. Why don¡¯t we bring him some joy in his remaining years? Then, if you still wish to pursue your love after he is gone, I won¡¯t stand in your way. All I ask is that we make him happy now. You are his favorite grandson; you wouldn¡¯t want to upset him further, would you? Domenic¡­¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Domenic cut her off, his voice strained. Gathering up the dry clothes, he retreated into the privacy of the room, pulling the screen shut behind him. ¡°You should head back. I need some time alone. ¡± Since Domenic didn¡¯t reject her directly, Carole fell silent. She swallowed her frustration and said softly, ¡°Well, I suppose your grandpa needs attending to. I¡¯ll head back now. ¡± Carole exited the room, her expression transforming from concern to cold resolve the moment the door shut behind her. Her worries dissipated instantly. With a calcted smile, she made her way toward Jordan¡¯s ward. Chapter 882 After getting dressed, Domenic stood by the window, mesmerized by the leaves falling from the trees. The autumn chill filled the air, casting a mncholic gloom over the world outside. He reached out to catch a falling leaf, but just as itnded on his palm, a gust of wind swept it away. Domenic gazed at his empty hand, smiled wistfully, and gently curled his fingers inward. Then, with a quiet sigh, he turned away from the leaves and walked out of the room. Inside the hospital, the dim lighting cast a somber tone along the silent corridor. At this hour, the nurses were tucked away in the on -call room, resting. The corridor stretched out, utterly deserted. As Domenic approached Jordan¡¯s room, a melodious ringtone pierced the silence, shattering the stillness. He pulled out his phone and saw Hendrix¡¯s name on the screen. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y He didn¡¯t hold it against Hendrix for giving his clothes to Carole, and said in a cool, neutral tone, ¡°Hello. ¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve discovered the reason behind Lindsey¡¯s car ident. ¡± Domenic¡¯s face clouded, his eyes narrowing slightly as Hendrix¡¯s words hung in the air. ¡°It was your grandpa who was responsible for it. ¡± Hendrix finally revealed the truth, a revtion that had taken him a long time and immense effort to uncover. But when he finally pieced it together, the knowledge sent a chilling shiver down his spine. ¡°Why?¡± Domenic asked coldly. Hendrix exined, ¡°Sumner revealed details of the engagement party to the media, infuriating your grandpa. Heshed out at Lindsey because she¡¯s Sumner¡¯s agent and he couldn¡¯t confront Sumner directly. ¡± ¡°He¡¯s still in the dark about your rtionship with her, but¡­¡± ¡°Say it,¡± Domenic said stolidly. Hendrix paused, his expression somber, and said, ¡°But I fear we can¡¯t keep this under wraps for much longer. Besides, he¡¯s been keeping tabs on Lindsey, and he¡¯s already nned to eliminate her over a trivial matter. If he discovers your rtionship¡­¡± He abruptly fell silent, realizing he had said too much, his words trailing off in a sudden, uneasy halt. Domenic¡¯s gaze drifted toward the ward where Jordan was recovering, his expression darkening with a mix of concern and understanding. He knew exactly what Hendrix¡¯s words implied, and he was all too familiar with his grandfather¡¯s cunning tactics and cruelness. ¡°I see. ¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Domenic then hung up and made his way to the ward. He halted at the half-ajar door, a warm glow spilling out into the dim corridor. In the stillness, Jordan¡¯s voice drifted out. ¡°I fear my time is running out, and my only worry now is for you and Domenic. You saved his life, and I believe he¡¯s been waiting for you all these years. That¡¯s why I sent you abroad to study from a young age. I hope you can support him in the future and keep a watchful eye on the Walsh Group for me. Only when he marries you can I finally rest in peace. Otherwise, I¡­ I¡¯ll die with a heavy heart, consumed by regret!¡± Jordan¡¯s voice cracked with anguish, a heartbroken tone that pierced Chapter 883 Domenic¡¯s soul like a dagger. It was a pain he knew all too well, having lost his parents at a young age. His grandfather had been his sole family, his rock, his protector. His grandpa had saved him countless times from his uncles¡¯ deadly schemes, guided him, and shaped him into the person he was today. To Domenic, nothing surpassed the debt he owed his grandpa for raising him. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of his grandpa passing away with unresolved regrets, especially if it was because of him. He clenched his fists, his legs feeling like leaden weights, as he stood frozen outside the door, unable to move or enter. Carole¡¯s voice, strained and trembling, came from behind the door. ¡°Please don¡¯t say that! You¡¯re going to live a long, happy life, I promise! If Domenic doesn¡¯t want to marry me, please don¡¯t force him. There must be someone far better suited for him out there. I¡¯ll give up. ¡± ¡°Carole, I¡¯ve lived through many trials and tribtions. I know all too well the kind of woman a man should marry to bring prosperity and happiness to his family.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. There are countless girls in the world, but few are as uniquely suited for Domenic as you are. He¡¯s never been in a rtionship before, and I fear he¡¯s vulnerable to being swept off his feet by someone with ulterior motives. I¡¯ve made up my mind, Carole. If Domenic refuses to marry you, he¡¯ll forfeit his chance to be the chairman of Walsh Group. Though Domenic had outmaneuvered both Herbert and Kent to secure a majority stake in Walsh Group, that final one percent remains elusive. As long as I withhold my consent, Domenic will nevery im to thatst bit of ownership. ¡± Domenic¡¯s heart sank like a rock as Jordan¡¯s words hit him hard. It turned out his grandpa had orchestrated everything in advance. Domenic now understood why his grandpa had consented to bestow him with fifty percent of the shares upon his engagement and had even turned a blind eye when he dealt with his uncles Herbert and Kent. No matter how hard he tried, he was still under his grandpa¡¯s control. Whenever he crossed his grandpa, he never came out ahead. AngsLibrary Domenic suddenly recalled Hendrix¡¯s words. His grandfather had attempted to harm Lindsey over one of her artists. If his grandfather were to find out that Lindsey was his girlfriend, he would undoubtedly never let her go. If his mother never married his father, she could have lived a normal, peaceful life. She wouldn¡¯t have perished due to the power struggle within the family. To make matters worse, not even her ashes were left intact. Maybe loving someone wasn¡¯t about possessing them but about letting them go. After all, there were better matches for Lindsey. What justification did he have to hold her back? Domenic closed his eyes, a pained frown creasing his forehead. After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, collected himself, and pushed the door open. ¡°Grandpa. ¡± When Carole heard Domenic¡¯s voice, she quickly wiped away her tears, stood up, and turned around to greet him with a warm smile. ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re back. ¡± Jordan nced at Domenic, then rested his head against the bed¡¯s headboard and closed his eyes without a word. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve made a decision. ¡± Domenic stood before Jordan, looking down at the frail old man in the bed, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the Vitality Group, and I¡¯ve decided to marry Carole. Just focus on getting better and leave everything else to me. ¡± At that, Jordan¡¯s eyes snapped open, staring at Domenic in surprise. Carole¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy, and she fought to contain her smile. She had to admit that Jordan was quite clever. Upon hearing Domenic¡¯s footsteps, he had orchestrated a performance with her to subtly pressure Domenic into making concessions. ¡°Really?¡± Jordan sat up excitedly, grabbed Domenic¡¯s hand, and eximed, ¡°It¡¯s great that you can figure it out. ¡± While talking, he gestured to Carole. She walked over obediently and ced her hand in Jordan¡¯s. Chapter 884 He then joined Carole¡¯s and Domenic¡¯s hands, looked at Domenic with satisfaction, and dered, ¡°You know, everything I¡¯ve done is for you. Carole will definitely make a good wife. And to help you two get to know each other better, I¡¯ve decided Carole will be your private secretary starting tomorrow. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes sparkled subtly, but his expression remained unchanged. He appeared calm and replied, ¡°I understand, Grandpa. I¡¯ll take care of it, as long as it makes you happy. I have things to handle at thepany, so I need to head back. Carole, please look after my grandpa. ¡± ¡°Sure, go handle your business.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Don¡¯t worry about your grandpa,¡± Carole responded. As Domenic turned away, Carole noticed he seemed even more distant than before, almost unreachable. Despite this, she had achieved what she desired. She believed that time was on her side and that one day, she would win Domenic¡¯s heart. After giving Carole a slight nod, Domenic turned and walked away. Watching his retreating figure, Jordan let out a sigh of relief, relieved that the situation had finally calmed down. Hendrix was waiting in the car parked at the hospital¡¯s entrance. When he saw Domenic approaching in the dim light of the night, he quickly stepped out and opened the door for him. As Hendrix caught sight of Domenic¡¯s face, a shock passed through him. He had never seen Domenic look so drained and pale, almost as if he was seriously ill. ¡°Sir, are you okay?¡± Hendrix stepped forward, his voiceced with concern. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Domenic shook his head and continued towards the car. Hendrix opened the door quickly, but as Domenic bent to get in, his body swayed. He reached out to grab the door to steady himself. ¡°Sir!¡± Hendrix eximed, rushing to help him. ¡°You look really pale,¡± Hendrix continued, worried. ¡°We¡¯re at the hospital. I can get a doctor for you. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. ¡± Domenic insisted, his face paler than before. He gently pushed Hendrix aside and climbed into the car. Observing this, Hendrix felt uneasy but refrained from furtherments. He eased back into the driver¡¯s seat and stole a nce at Domenic through the rearview mirror. Domenic was slouched against the back seat, his eyes shut, hisplexion pallid, and his brows creased in a frown. ¡°Sir, where would you like to go?¡± Hendrix asked cautiously. Domenic slowly opened his eyes and gazed out the window. Usually, he would simply say ¡°home¡±. But now, what was home without Lindsey? ¡°Let¡¯s head back to thepany,¡± he replied softly, then closed his eyes again. Lindsey hadn¡¯t drifted off to sleep until dawn. When she eventually opened her eyes, Domenic had yet to return home. Chapter 885 She reached out, touching the chilling emptiness next to her. Was Domenic really noting back? Was he about to end things with her? Lindsey had considered many oues when she made her decision. She respected Domenic¡¯s choices, yet she held onto hope that it wasn¡¯t all over, that he would eventually understand her. To her, nothing mattered more than being together. However, she knew she couldn¡¯t be selfish. Domenic had his own life, his ambitions, and the future he envisioned. Why should he abandon that for her? If he chose to leave, she would force a smile and wish him happiness¡­ Bunny Bookery Despite only a few hours of sleep, Lindsey wasn¡¯t tired. A deep sadness hung over her like a dense fog, enveloping her heart. She sped her chest, trying to quell the ache. It was only then she noticed tears had soaked her covers, the damp stains spreading out in a cruel mimicry of her efforts to seem carefree.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. The harder she tried to appear unbothered, the more broken she felt. The more she thought about him, the deeper the pain. Lindsey felt she needed to keep busy to distract herself from her pain. She got up, dressed slowly, and then applied light makeup in front of the mirror. Giving herself a brave smile in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and left. However, as soon as she turned away, her smile vanished, leaving her eyes reflecting nothing but emptiness. When Lindsey reached her office, it was still early, and only Juliet White from the publicity department was there. It had been a while since Lindsey¡¯sst day at work, so she cheerfully called out to her colleague. ¡°Juliet. ¡± Juliet, who was organizing papers on her desk, jumped at Lindsey¡¯s unexpected voice. When she looked up, she saw Lindsey¡¯s pale face and the dark circles under her eyes. ¡°Lindsey?¡± Juliet was taken aback, as if Lindsey had just returned from some ordeal. ¡°Why are you looking at me like I¡¯m a ghost?¡± Lindsey tried to smile, but to Juliet, it only made her look more ghastly. ¡°Lindsey, you haven¡¯t been to thepany for a few days. Are you okay?¡± Juliet asked tentatively. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Lindsey replied in a gentle voice. She nced around the office and asked casually, ¡°Is everything okay here?¡± Juliet sighed and said, ¡°Not at all. ¡± Startled, Lindsey turned to Juliet and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Juliet had just graduated from university and was quite simple and straightforward. She spilled everything that had happened recently. ¡°In the past few days, the partners who worked with us suddenly wanted to end their contracts! Everyone panicked when they heard the news. They¡¯re afraid they might lose their jobs if thepany goes under one day. ¡± Suddenly, Juliet realized what she had said and covered her mouth. She looked up at Lindsey timidly. Chapter 886 Lindsey frowned, her expression growing more troubled. Juliet worried she had upset her boss with her words and quickly tried to make amends.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lindsey¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to say that. ¡± Lindsey regarded Juliet for a moment, her expression softening, a faint smile ying at the corners of her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Thanks for being upfront with me. Don¡¯t stress. Thepany won¡¯t go under. I¡¯ll take care of it. Just focus on your tasks. ¡± Juliet felt a wave of relief wash over her. Indeed, Lindsey had that kind of influence. With Lindsey in charge, she seemed to navigate any challenge with ease. ¡°I will, Lindsey!¡± Juliet nodded, reassured. Once Lindsey was back in her office, she reached out to Nancy. Nancy had just arrived at the office and immediately answered her phone. But she was caught off guard by Lindsey¡¯s unusually somber tone. ¡°Nancy,e to my office. ¡± Nancy¡¯s hand stiffened around the phone. ncing up, she noticed the closed door to Lindsey¡¯s office. Was Lindsey already here? Looking over at Juliet, Nancy pieced things together. Juliet was not one to keep secrets, and she likely had shared recent events with Lindsey. With a nervous gulp, Nancy steeled herself and walked in. Upon entering, she found Lindsey behind her desk, deep in thought, her brow furrowed in concentration. Nancy couldn¡¯t keep any secrets buried anymore. She dashed forward, yelling out, ¡°Linds, I owe you an apology for keeping thepany¡¯s matters under wraps. But I did it for your sake, to ensure you got some proper rest. You¡¯re a real workhorse, you know. Knowing about all these partners wanting to scrap the deals would¡¯ve surely sent you into a tailspin, even in your sickbed. I was afraid it¡¯d be too much for you to bear, so I¡­¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y ¡°I get it. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s response, oddlyposed, caught Nancy off guard for a moment . Lindsey lifted her head. Her pallid face and lifeless eyes spoke volumes. There was no trace of reproach in her voice. Instead, she was rather serene. ¡°Round up all the previous contracts. If they¡¯re keen on scrapping, we¡¯ll put up a fight. ¡± Lindsey rose from her chair and stood at eye level with Nancy. But at that moment, Nancy felt like Lindsey towered over her. She gazed at Lindsey wide-eyed. ¡°Linds, you mean¡­¡± ¡°Ourpany might be fresh off the block, but that doesn¡¯t mean we roll over. ording to the contract terms, if they want out and it¡¯s not our fault, they cough up an extra termination fee, no less than what they signed on for. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve mentioned that,¡± Nancy said. ¡°But their excuses run the gamut. Some im our artists aren¡¯t up to snuff, others say there¡¯s too much negativity swirling, and there are even whispers about your conduct. They have aundry list of reasons. ¡± At Nancy¡¯s words, Lindsey¡¯s lips curled, a hint of a sneer forming. ¡°Fine! Add defamation to the list. ¡± Then she met Nancy¡¯s gaze and dered, ¡°Let them know. They should expect a letter from our legal team. ¡± Chapter 887 Nancy hadn¡¯t anticipated Lindsey¡¯s steely resolve. She had grown weary of these people long ago, but for Lindsey and thepany¡¯s sake, she hoped to settle things amicably. Now, witnessing Lindsey¡¯s unwavering determination to take them head -on, Nancy¡¯s resolve ignited.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She straightened up, snapped to reality, and replied briskly, ¡°Right away!¡± Once Nancy departed, Lindsey retrieved her phone and looked for Reece¡¯s number, thewyer who had helped Sh before. Sh had passed his number along, though Lindsey hadn¡¯t had cause to use it since their previous matter was resolved. But now, only Reece could help her. She dialed the number. It took some time before someone answered. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Mr. Barton, it¡¯s Lindsey Stewart. ¡± ¡°Lindsey? Still groggy from sleep, Reece perked up at the name, sitting up in bed. Sensing he could have been too eager, he quickly amended. ¡°Oh, Miss Stewart. Why the early call?¡± ¡°Mr. Barton, you helped Sh win her casest time. I¡¯ve been meaning to invite you to dinner. Are you avable tonight?¡± Her tone, gentle and polite, made it difficult to decline. Bunny Bookery Reece happened to have a free evening and after a moment¡¯s thought, he replied, ¡°Sure, I have no ns tonight. ¡± ¡°Perfect. Let¡¯s meet at Whispering Mist at 7 pm. ¡± After ending the call, Lindsey leaned back. This was her distraction, piling on tasks to drown out thoughts of Domenic, if only temporarily¡­ Under Jordan¡¯s direction, Carole arrived at the Vitality Group for her first day. Domenic instructed his chief secretary, Emilee Lambert, to assist her and find her a spot in the office. Carole had hoped being around Domenic would afford her more opportunities to interact with him. But all morning, he was in the conference room, only reaching out to Hendrix if necessary. His office remained quiet throughout the morning. Despite spending the entire morning there, Carole hadn¡¯t crossed paths with Domenic once. Nheless, she kept herself busy, asking Emilee questions and searching for chances. It wasn¡¯t until noon that Domenic returned to his office from the meeting. Learning of this, Emilee brewed him a coffee, as was the routine after meetings. Seeing Emilee with the coffee, Carole rose from her seat and approached her swiftly, murmuring, ¡°Is that coffee for Dom¡­ Mr. Walsh?¡± The secretary nodded with a smile. ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°Let me take it. I have nothing to do here. Trust me with this. ¡± Emilee hesitated. ¡°Miss Larson, as Mr. Walsh¡¯s fianc¨¦e, I can¡¯t let you do that. He¡¯s instructed me to look after you. ¡± Chapter 888 ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I should do it,¡± Carole emphasized, giving Emilee a significant look. Understanding Carole¡¯s intent, Emilee relented. ¡°Thank you. ¡± She then handed over the coffee without another word. With the cup in hand, Carole approached Domenic¡¯s office, knocked, and walked in. Domenic focused on the screen of hisputer, his fingers typing at an incredible speed. Emilee always brought him coffee at this time so he hadn¡¯t been expecting anything special. Carole entered the room and silently ced the coffee beside Domenic. She didn¡¯t bother hiding her fascination with his working mode; she found it rather attractive. Domenic¡¯s fingers stopped typing as he sensed something unusual. He tore his eyes away from his screen and found Carole. Her eyes widened slightly before she broke eye contact. Her cheeks flushed with pinkish hues. Domenic¡¯s brows furrowed and frowned at the sight before him. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Domenic asked, shifting his focus back to hisputer. ¡°I brought you coffee. ¡± Carole smiled and batted her eyshes, pointing to the cup of coffee on his desk and gently nudging it forward with her finger.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°You¡¯ve been working nonstop since morning. Coffee will re-energize you. I can also massage your shoulders if you feel tired. I know a few tricks up my sleeve! My skills even got your grandpa¡¯s credit¡­¡± Domenic¡¯s face remained cold. He pulled his hands away from the keyboard and reached for his phone, then made a call. ¡°Do you want your job or not?¡± Domenic spoke irritably, gripping the phone tightly. ¡°Did you take my orders for nothing?! Were you not told Miss Larson is a distinguished guest of our chairman? How idiotic of you to make her run errands. You disrespected the chairman! Make sure it doesn¡¯t happen again. Another mistake like that and you¡¯re fired!¡± Domenic yelled. Despite his harsh words, he wasn¡¯t having a tantrum because of Emilee. He just wanted Carole to leave him alone. Carole gasped at Domenic¡¯s actions. She took one step forward to console him. ¡°Domenic, I came here myself. Don¡¯t me Emilee. ¡± Domenic mmed the phone on his desk and immersed himself in work, ignoring Carole. Before she could speak, he cut in. ¡°Carole, Grandpa didn¡¯t arrange all this for you to run errands. Go explore the area. Do whatever it is you want to do. The employees will handle their tasks, so you don¡¯t need to be here. Now that¡¯s settled, I have a meetingter. You¡¯re free to go. ¡± AngsLibrary Aggrieved by Domenic¡¯s words, Carole pursed her Lips, on the verge of tears. She understood that Domenic was intentionally distancing himself from her, indirectly opposing Jordan¡¯s arrangement, and emphasizing that there would be no chance of intimacy between them, despite working in the samepany. But Domenic had promised to marry her. Why was he acting so cold? Was his resentment toward her so great that he couldn¡¯t even bear to look at her? Carole refused to believe that Domenic had no feelings for her. Her brows twitched. She knew why he was acting this way. She was convinced that he was simply enchanted by that Lindsey. Carole straightened her back and held her chin high. She believed that he would eventually see her true worth and realize that she was the one for him. ¡°Okay, Domenic. ¡± Carole nodded, her hands clenched into fists, her nails dug into her skin. Taking a deep breath, Carole silently walked out of Domenic¡¯s office, closing the door behind her before exhaling the breath she had been holding. She shut her eyes and walked to a quiet corner. She reached for her phone and called Jordan. ¡°Carole? How¡¯s your first day at work? Any luck with Domenic?¡± Jordan asked on the phone. Carole let out a weakugh. She smiled and slumped her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m alright. But¡­¡± She hesitated. Chapter 889 Jordan asked immediately, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Just say the word, Carole. If Domenic is picking on you, I¡¯ll be at your beck and call. ¡± Jordan¡¯s voice was nothing but calming for Carole. To hear him say those words made her rx. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Domenic is very nice to me. I¡¯m just a little worried about him. He¡¯s been drowning with meetings since this morning, and even skipped lunch. Whispering Mist¡¯s food is quite delicious, you know? I even invited him for dinner there, but he said that he was too busy and would skip that too. People need food to function properly. For all I know, he might copse if he keeps skipping meals. But he never listens to me. So I think¡­¡± Jordan couldn¡¯t stop himself from smiling. He was pleased with Carole¡¯s progress. Although, he didn¡¯t care much about Domenic¡¯s health, he knew he could rely on Carole to keep him informed about Domenic¡¯s situation in a timely manner. ¡°I see, Carole, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll tell him that. ¡± Carole pouted at Jordan¡¯s words. ¡°But if Domenic knew I told you about this, he¡¯d definitely hate me more. I¡¯d even dare to think he¡¯d drive me away. . ¡± Jordan got what she meant. ¡°No need to worry. I know Domenic. And, you have my word. I won¡¯t expose you. Carole, Domenic lost his mother at a young age. He¡¯s been living alone all his life, and the idea of someone caring about his basic needs is new to him. I owe him a lot. Please help me take good care of him. And, don¡¯t hesitate to tell me if he¡¯s choosing his work over his health again. I¡¯ll make sure to lecture him. ¡± Carole grinned at Jordan¡¯s words. ¡°I will take good care of him. You can trust me. ¡± After hanging up, Carole walked out with a smug smile. In thete afternoon, just after finishing a meeting, Domenic received a call from Jordan.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Rubbing his forehead, he answered. ¡°Grandpa, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ve made a reservation at Whispering Mist for tonight. Take Carole there for a nice meal once you¡¯re done with work. You should be more attentive to her; she is your future wife, after all. Don¡¯t be so distant. ¡± Recognizing Jordan¡¯s attempt to create yet another opportunity for him and Carole, Domenic felt a wave of irritation. Agreeing to marry Carole didn¡¯t mean he had epted her. ¡°But I still have work to finish. I¡¯m not sure if¡­¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Jordan cut him off sharply, ¡°Are you really so busy that you can¡¯t spare time for a meal? I¡¯ve noticed you¡¯ve lost some weight recently, probably because you¡¯re skipping meals due to work. That¡¯s why I arranged this, to ensure you take a break and eat well. But it seems I¡¯ve done it all in vain. ¡± Jordan¡¯s voice turned into a fit of violent coughing. Remembering the doctor¡¯s warning that Jordan¡¯s illness couldn¡¯t handle stress, Domenic sighed in resignation. ¡°Alright, Grandpa. Once I¡¯m done with work, I¡¯ll take Carole to dinner. ¡± Satisfied with Domenic¡¯s promise, Jordan straightened his back, leaning leisurely against the headboard. With a feigned weak voice, he said, ¡°That¡¯s my good boy. I won¡¯t trouble you any longer. Go on with your work. ¡± That evening, Lindsey arrived at Whispering Mist ahead of time. It was the most upscale restaurant in town, boasting an elegant and stylish ambiance. She had fond memories of this ce, as it was where she had been reunited with her mother. She had chosen this venue specifically to invite Reece for dinner, hoping to convey her genuine interest in cooperation. Soon, a gentleman in a white suit entered the restaurant. Spotting Reece, she waved to him eagerly. Chapter 890 As he took a seat opposite Lindsey by the window, Reece nced around appreciatively and said with a smile, ¡°This restaurant is lovely. You¡¯ve been very thoughtful. ¡± Then, noticing the space beside Lindsey, he inquired, ¡°Is it just the two of us?¡± Lindsey knew Reece was curious about Sh¡¯s absence. After all, the dinner invitation was initially for Sh¡¯s benefit. It made sense for Reece to expect her to be present. As Lindsey poured water into Reece¡¯s ss, she said, ¡°¡°Sh¡¯s been swamped with worktely. I¡¯ll thank you on her behalf. She mentioned she would treat you to a meal once she¡¯s free. ¡± Reece raised his eyebrows,prehending Lindsey¡¯s underlying message. ¡°Miss Stewart, your invitation today isn¡¯t solely about Sh, is it?¡± Lindsey settled back into her seat, her clear eyes meeting Reece¡¯s. With a smile, she replied, ¡°You¡¯re a perceptivewyer, Mr. Barton. I appreciate conversing with sharp minds like yours.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡± Reece, rubbing the ss with his slender fingers, said, ¡°I prefer straightforwardness. If you have something to say, please do. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile remained gentle. ¡°No rush. Let¡¯s discuss it while eating. ¡± As the dishes were ced on the table, Reece wasted no time, diving into the meal while asionally ncing at Lindsey, anticipating her to reveal her true intentions. . . Library Finding it easier to engage with Reece than she had anticipated, Lindsey felt a wave of relief. She then opened up about herpany¡¯s struggles, expressing her hope that Reece could be theirwyer and help win the cases. Reece listened intently without interruption. When Lindsey finished, she nervously added, ¡°Mr. Barton, please name your fee. As long as it¡¯s within my means, I won¡¯t hesitate to pay. ¡± Only then did Reece set down his fork and look up at her. With a slight smile, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not a significant issue. But there¡¯s a question I¡¯ve always wanted to ask you. Would you mind answering it?¡± Lindsey felt a wave of confusion wash over her. ¡°What¡¯s your question?¡± Reece leaned back in his chair, dabbing his mouth with a napkin, and scrutinized Lindsey intently. ¡°Do you know Domenic Walsh?¡± The mention of Domenic¡¯s name made Lindsey¡¯s eyes narrow and her heart ache inexplicably. Why would Reece bring up Domenic? Did they know each other? With a stiff expression, Lindsey frowned at Reece. ¡°Mr. Barton, do you know him?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question yet!¡± Reece persisted, waiting for Lindsey¡¯s response. There was no reason for Lindsey to hide the truth from Reece. She answered candidly, ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°And what is your rtionship with him?¡± Chapter 891 Reece leaned forward, his chin resting on his hands, determined to get to the bottom of the matter. It seemed he wouldn¡¯t assist Lindsey unless she answered honestly. Taking a deep breath, Lindsey confessed, ¡°He¡­ he is my boyfriend, but ¡± But they might be on the verge of breaking up. Lindsey didn¡¯t finish her sentence, lowering her gaze in gloom.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Reece¡¯s eyes shed with surprise, yet he began to piece things together. When Domenic had asked him to defend Sh for free, Reece suspected it was for someone else¡¯s sake. Emilio had told him it wasn¡¯t for Sh. Later, Reece discovered that the person most closely linked to the matter, besides Sh, was Lindsey. Reece had always been curious about who could warrant such a significant favor from Domenic. Now he had his answer. Bunny Bookery But he was puzzled. Wasn¡¯t Domenic engaged to Carole? How could he also be Lindsey¡¯s boyfriend? Lindsey noticed Reece frowning and lost in thought. Curious, she asked, ¡°Mr. Barton, you surely know Domenic, right?¡± Reece came back to the moment and offered Lindsey a smile. ¡°Yes, I do know him. ¡± ¡°And how did you two meet?¡± Lindsey straightened up, her gaze sharpening with curiosity. It was unexpected for her that Domenic, whom she had known for months, was connected to Reece, a renownedwyer. She wondered if he had anything to do with the divorce case of Sh¡­ Reece began, ¡°He and I¡­ actually¡­¡± But he stopped mid-sentence, his eyes suddenly widening as he Looked over Lindsey¡¯s shoulder. Following his gaze, Lindsey turned around and gasped in surprise. There stood Domenic and Carole, also looking startled, just a short distance away. Domenic regained hisposure quickly. ¡°It¡¯s too crowded here. Let¡¯s try a different restaurant. ¡± Carole nced quickly at Lindsey, her lips pursing in disapproval. ¡°But this ce was reserved by your grandfather especially for you. Wouldn¡¯t it upset him if we left?¡± Upon hearing that, Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. Before he could respond, Reece stood and waved energetically. Noticing this, Carole tugged at Domenic¡¯s sleeve and, with a gentle smile, led him towards Reece. Taking a deep breath, Domenic reluctantly followed. ¡°Reece!¡± Feigning ignorance of Lindsey¡¯s presence, Carole warmly greeted Reece, ¡°It¡¯s great to see you here!¡± Reece, with a gentle expression, nodded toward Lindsey, who was seated opposite him. ¡°Miss Stewart invited me,¡± he exined. Carole¡¯s eyes narrowed into a subtle, mocking smile as she turned to face Lindsey. Chapter 892 ¡°Lindsey, what a surprise to see you here. ¡± Lindsey returned the greeting with a polite smile. ¡°Miss Larson, it¡¯s been a while. ¡± ¡°You two know each other as well?¡± Reece asked, surprised. Carole, still smiling, replied, ¡°I met her once on the show of ¡®Star Search¡¯. ¡± Bunny Bookery Lindsey cast a quick nce her way. Carole had mentioned they¡¯d only met once, clearly avoiding the fact that she¡¯d invited her to her engagement party and even enlisted her help in picking out a ring. Lindsey remained silent. Reece scratched his head and admitted, ¡°I see. I¡¯ve seen all your shows, yet somehow I managed to forget that. ¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You are so forgetful,¡± Carole teased. ¡°By the way, you and Lindsey are¡­¡± she trailed off, giving them a once-over. Domenic, standing just behind her, narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°I represent Miss Stewart¡¯spany legally. I¡¯ve assisted her with awsuit before. She¡¯s here today to express her gratitude for the previous victory in court,¡± Reece exined, hoping to offer Carole a full picture. It seemed he had no reservations about sharing details with Carole. As he wrapped up his exnation, a soft cough sounded from behind Carole. Only then did Reece realize Domenic had been standing there all along. He looked a bit anxious, concerned he might have inadvertently ignored Domenic by focusing so much on Carole. ¡°Why are you standing all the way over there, Domenic? Come join us,¡± Reece called out, gesturing for him toe closer. In a move to seat Carole next to Domenic, Reece stood and took the seat beside Lindsey. Out of the corner of his eye, Domenic had been stealing nces at Lindsey. Since his arrival, she hadn¡¯t once met his gaze directly, as though she was a stranger to him. ¡°Domenic, why don¡¯t we share a table?¡± Domenic remained motionless, prompting Reece to give him a warm, reassuring smile. Turning to Carole, Domenic exined, ¡°The table my grandpa reserved isn¡¯t here. We should probably move on. ¡± Yet, Carole, catching sight of Lindsey seated quietly, offered a slight smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve seen Reece. We¡¯re all here by chance; why not sit together and catch up?¡± Reece and Domenic had been childhood neighbors in the same luxurious vi district. Reece often visited Domenic, and during those visits, he became acquainted with Carole. Chapter 893 Back then, Domenic was a boy of few words, always trailing silently behind them. He would lean against the wall, watching silently, lost in his thoughts. Even then, Reece could never quite grasp what went through Domenic¡¯s mind, much less now. Seeing Domenic still hadn¡¯t budged, Carole addressed Lindsey directly,Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°Miss Stewart, you wouldn¡¯t mind us joining you, would you?¡± Caught off guard, Lindsey looked up to find Domenic¡¯s eyes fixed on her. Their eyes met briefly before both quickly looked away. Lindsey responded to Carole with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t mind at all. But I¡¯m not sure if this gentleman would befortable sitting with me. ¡± Her words clearly had an underlying meaning, causing both Carole and Reece to nce instinctively at Domenic. Domenic¡¯s jaw clenched tight. Without a word, he swept past Lindsey, his face stormy. He stalked to the opposite side of the table and sank into a chair, crossing his long legs and folding his arms in a defensive posture. His chin jutted out, radiating a frosty disapproval that seemed to chill the air. Lindsey stole a nce at him, then quickly looked away, fiddling nervously with her ss. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Domenic had reacted so intensely to her earlierment. Perhaps Domenic wanted to keep their rtionship a secret from Carole, his cousin, to avoid arousing suspicion. In that case, A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Lindsey decided to remain silent. Reece¡¯s gaze darted between Lindsey and Carole. One woman was Domenic¡¯s supposed girlfriend, the other his fianc¨¦e. This tangled web of rtionships was mind-boggling! He felt trapped in a social minefield, unsure of what to say. Needing to break the suffocating silence, Reece cleared his throat a little too loudly. ¡°Joining Domenic for dinner, Carole?¡± The question tumbled out, and Reece instantly regretted it. It was painfully obvious, making him feel like a social oaf. Carole met his gaze, a sweet smile gracing her lips. ¡°Yes,¡± she confirmed, her eyes flickering to the handsome, stoic man beside her and his head leaning on his shoulder. ¡°Domenic knows I adore this restaurant¡¯s signature dish, so he brought me here for a treat. ¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but steal another look, a frown creasing her brow. Hadn¡¯t Domenic mentioned they weren¡¯t close, mere distant rtives? The intimacy they disyed now was confusing. Even if Carole was just his cousin, the sight of her leaning so possessively against Domenic rankled Lindsey. Domenic, however, reacted with a frown of his own. He gently nudged Carole away, retrieving his arm and pushing the menu towards her with a hint of disdain. Chapter 894 ¡°That¡¯s new to me,¡± he said, a cold sneer twisting his lips. ¡°Since you enjoy it so much, order as much as you please. ¡± The warmth drained from Carole¡¯s face. Was Domenic¡¯s coldness towards her because of Lindsey? But the more he acted that way, the stronger Carole¡¯spetitive spirit red. She stayed determined to show Lindsey that she was the one meant for Domenic! Childhood friends, could someone like Lindsey trulypare? ¡°Remember how much you loved caviar as a kid, Domenic?¡± she countered, her voiceced with forced cheer as she flipped through the menu. ¡°We used to sneak it from the kitchen together. They have it here, so I¡¯ll order some for you. ¡± Lindsey outwardly remained calm, but beneath the table, her fingers tightened into fists. Why didn¡¯t Domenic¡¯s story about Carole match what she was seeing now? Domenic mmed his hand down on the menu, pinning it shut. ¡°Wrong memory, Carole. Caviar isn¡¯t my thing. You only lived next door for a few years when we were little. You moved away when you were eight, and we haven¡¯t seen each other until recently. ¡± His words, though directed at Carole, were clearly meant for AngsLibrary Lindsey¡¯s ears. A sigh of relief escaped Lindsey¡¯s lips. Carole¡¯s smile became a thin, strained line.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Caviar was his childhood favorite. He was obviously drawing a clear line, making it known he wasn¡¯t close to her. Was it to avoid any misunderstanding with Lindsey? His heart belonged elsewhere, and he wasn¡¯t afraid to publicly contradict and humiliate her, his fianc¨¦e. A surge of anger and jealousy bubbled within Carole. Reece, sensing Carole¡¯s distress, attempted to lighten the mood by taking the menu from her. ¡°The dishes we ordered before were excellent. Perhaps you¡¯d like to try them as well?¡± After cing their orders, an ufortable silence settled around the table. None of them dared to break it. ¡°Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,¡± Lindsey announced abruptly, rising from her chair. Reece quickly stood aside to let her pass. ¡°Take your time. ¡± As a seasoned attorney, he possessed a keen understanding of social etiquette. However, his gentlemanly gesture piqued Carole¡¯s curiosity. With narrowed eyes, she studied Reece after Lindsey¡¯s departure. ¡°Speaking of Miss Stewart, is there something more going on between you two?¡± she inquired. ¡°No! Absolutely not!¡± Reece interrupted her vehemently, his eyes darting nervously towards Domenic. Chapter 895 Not only did he harbor no romantic feelings for Lindsey, but even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t dare challenge Domenic for her affections. Besides, if he truly had feelings for Domenic¡¯s woman, he wouldn¡¯t have stood idly by while Carole became Domenic¡¯s fianc¨¦e. A flicker of sadness crossed his face. Carole, taken aback by his forceful denial, shot him a wounded look. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y ¡°I was just asking. No need to get so defensive. ¡± Meanwhile, Domenic kept his gaze fixed on Reece, his expression unfriendly.N?velDrama.Org owns this. Reece forced a smile and quickly exined, ¡°Miss Stewart and I have a purely professional rtionship tied to legal services. She invited me here today to express gratitude for a previous case and discuss anotherwsuit for which she seeks my assistance. ¡± ¡°Another Lawsuit? What is it about?¡± Carole¡¯s curiosity was piqued. Just as Reece was about to speak, Domenic interjected coldly, halting whatever Reece intended to say next. ¡°It¡¯s not fitting for a distinguishedwyer like yourself to reveal a client¡¯s confidentiality,¡± Domenic remarked. Reece was momentarily surprised but swiftly grasped the situation. He smiled at the others and remarked, ¡°Domenic is correct. Carole, let¡¯s not delve into this topic. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m simply curious,¡± Carole admitted, her lips quirking slightly as she nced at Domenic from the corner of her eye. Her grip on the water ss tightened gradually. Domenic had been prioritizing Lindsey¡¯s needs, tantly disregarding her, his fianc¨¦e. It was as if he had deliberately chosen to overlook her! Was he truly so preupied with that Lindsey? Despite Carole¡¯s efforts to secure Domenic¡¯smitment, she abruptly realized that, as long as Lindsey remained in the picture, she couldn¡¯t fully possess Domenic¡¯s heart. As long as Domenic remained unable to let go of Lindsey, Carole¡¯s status as his wife was uncertain. She needed to im Domenic¡¯s body and soul entirely as her own, which meant eliminating Lindsey from the equation. While Carole¡¯s thoughts raced, Domenic rose from his seat and casually announced, ¡°I¡¯ll step outside to make a phone call. ¡± Carole watched him depart, her lips bitten tightly. He must be using the excuse to seek out Lindsey! As she prepared to rise and follow, Reece intervened. ¡°I don¡¯t think Domenic appreciates being followed when he makes calls, Carole. ¡± Reece¡¯s remark immediately pacified Carole¡¯s agitated heart, prompting her to sit back down and regard Reece. ¡°Holding onto a man too tightly can have unintended consequences,¡± Chapter 896 Reece remarked with a gentle smile, refilling Carole¡¯s ss of water. Carole understood that Reece was cautioning her against following Domenic, regardless of his actions. ¡°Did Lindsey talk to you because herpany¡¯s partners terminated their coboration, Reece?¡± Carole inquired, fixing her gaze on . . Library Reece. ¡°You¡¯re aware?¡± Reece¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. ¡°She wants you to represent her and assist in suing those partners, correct?¡± Carole discerned the situation Lindsey was in, allowing her to deduce this aspect. Recognizing her uracy, Reece no longer avoided the topic. He nodded in affirmation. ¡°Have you agreed to assist her?¡± Carole inquired with a hint of eagerness. Reece reflected on his recent discussion with Lindsey. Initially, he had intended to agree but was interrupted by Domenic and Carole¡¯s sudden arrival. ¡°Not at the moment. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t help her!¡± Carole suddenly raised her voice. Her reaction startled Reece. ¡°Carole, between you and Lindsey, is there a¡­?¡± Reece hesitated to delve further. Carole fixed her gaze on the ss before her, her eyes gradually gleaming with shrewdness, then slowly parted her red Lips. ¡°No, you should agree to her request,¡± she dered, looking up atText property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Reece. Her eyes held a scheming glint, which unsettled Reece slightly. Frowning, he questioned, ¡°Carole, what¡¯s going on? First, you advised me against agreeing, and now you¡¯re urging me to agree. What¡¯s your perspective on this?¡± Carole¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°I believe, for someone of your expertise, discreetly losing awsuit should be a simple feat, don¡¯t you think?¡± Shock flickered in Reece¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you suggesting Ipromise professional ethics and intentionally lose the case? I cannot do that. ¡± Having spoken, Reece lifted the water ss from the table, taking a substantial sip. Reece always held Carole in his heart as a symbol of gentleness and kindness. During a business trip to Mubluosia, he had coincidentally encountered her at a concert. During that moment, she was holding a violin at the stage¡¯s center, and produced a melodious flow from her slender fingertips, akin to enchanting music from heaven. Reece had cherished numerous joyful moments with Carole during his stay in Mubluosia. Carole possessed not just beauty but also gentleness, courtesy, and knowledge. Under her exterior attributes, Carole harbored a free-spirited heart, much Like Reece. Chapter 897 Together, they had engaged in thrilling activities like bungee jumping, parachuting, and admiring the aurora in the northern regions, fulfilling Reece¡¯s unspoken desires. However, as Reece prepared to confess his feelings, a major case required his return to the country. Subsequently, he became engrossed in Sh¡¯s case, keeping him upied. In due course, Reece discovered that Carole had returned to their home country. Shortly after, online sources unveiled her engagement to the CEO of Vitality Group. Reece came to realize that Carole was, in fact, Domenic¡¯s fianc¨¦e. He could only keep his love for Carole hidden deep within his heart for eternity. Carole remained a symbol of purity and beauty in Reece¡¯s heart. However, encountering Carole again today stirred unfamiliar emotions within Reece. Upon setting down the water ss, Reece felt the soft touch of something against the back of his hand. It was Carole, gently holding his hand. Bunny Bookery When Carole lifted her face again, her eyes gleamed with tears, like a hurt puppy pleading forfort. ¡°Reece, I can¡¯t keep it from you any longer. You¡¯ve heard of my engagement with Domenic, haven¡¯t you? But that Lindsey had been up to no good. She flirted with Domenic behind my back. And on our engagement party, he agreed toe, only to bail at the Last minute because of Lindsey, embarrassing me in front of everyone. And now, his grandpa is in the hospital because of her. She may look harmless, but she¡¯s a schemer. She acted like my friend, got close to me, pried out details about Domenic and me, and then wrecked it all. She even got an artist she was managing to tell the press that Domenic skipped the party, and the whole inte came after me. It was brutal!¡± Carole wiped away her tears. ¡°She¡¯s put me through hell. I just want to make her pay. And Domenic¡¯s grandpa personally orchestrated the partnership termination thing. If you take Lindsey¡¯s side, you¡¯ll be going against him. Think about it. ¡± Reece¡¯s eyes widened in shock at Carole¡¯s story. In his view, Lindsey seemed so nice. Was this who she really was? But if Jordan was behind all this, he couldn¡¯t afford to mess with him. ¡°Carole, I could turn down her case,¡± Reece said. But Carole didn¡¯t stop there, tenderly grasping his hand and tracing soothing circles with her fingertips. ¡°But she¡¯ll just find someone else. Reece, for our friendship¡¯s sake, please consider helping me this once.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. It¡¯s also what Jordan Walsh needs. Please?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Reece felt momentarily swayed by her touch, yet his professional ethics as awyer held him back. ¡°Reece, you¡¯ve always been there for me. If you help me now, I¡¯LL make it up to youter. You wouldn¡¯t want to see Lindsey walk all over me without a fight, would you?¡± Carole¡¯s voice was like a gentle melody, softening Reece¡¯s resolve. Meeting her gaze, Reece couldn¡¯t resist the appeal of her captivating face. He couldn¡¯t bear to see his beloved woman being hurt. For Carole¡¯s sake, he could make an exception, just this once. ¡°Alright, I¡¯LL do it,¡± he said, and a warm smile spread across his face. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m so lucky to be your friend,¡± she said, withdrawing her hand but maintaining her smile. Reece dropped his gaze, pretending to be engrossed in sipping water, attempting to conceal his racing heart. When she noticed his shyness, Carole¡¯s Lips curved into a soft smile. Chapter 898 She had fostered her connection with Reece back in Mubluosia for this exact moment, Knowing she could manipte him. She¡¯d long been aware of his feelings for her, so manipting him was a breeze. Meanwhile, Lindsey faced her reflection in the bathroom mirror, her heart squeezing ufortably in her chest. She dreaded the uing encounter with Domenic upon her return. With her patience wearing thin, she had a flurry of unanswered questions, though they seemed increasingly futile. Though tempted to Leave, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to leave abruptly. She hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath before finally turning the doorknob. As she stepped out, she collided with a solid chest.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. AngsLibrary Her eyes lifted to meet Domenic¡¯s handsome face looming before her. Lindsey jumped back in surprise, her heel catching on the door sill, sending her stumbling backward. In an instant, a strong arm steadied her from falling. ¡°What were you thinking?¡± Domenic drew her closer, his expression a mix of surprise and concern. Scrambling to her feet, Lindsey met his gaze with a hint of unease. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I need to talk to you,¡± Domenic said firmly, taking her wrist and leading her away. Beside the bathroom was a small door leading to the restaurant¡¯s garden. Domenic guided Lindsey to the pavilion, surrounded by the quiet of the evening, the only sound the chirping of insects and birds. ¡°What. What do you want to talk to me about?¡± Lindsey¡¯s fingers fidgeted nervously, hesitant to meet Domenic¡¯s eyes. Suddenly, Domenic reached out, gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze. Their eyes locked, Lindsey¡¯s heart quickening with a familiar rush. She couldn¡¯t resist the maic pull of the man before her, his eyes aze with emotion, reflecting her own. ¡°Domenic¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice was tender, filled with warmth. Her eyes, deep and clear, stirred protective instincts within Domenic. He yearned to shield her from harm, to preserve her innocence always. But¡­ Furrowing his brow, Domenic hesitated briefly before closing his eyes, leaning in to capture Lindsey¡¯s soft, pink lips in an impulsive, heartfelt kiss. Chapter 899 Lindsey was taken aback by the unexpected kiss. She instinctively tried to push Domenic away from her, but he was like an unyielding fortress. He pulled her further into his arms, seeking to kiss her again. Lindsey just couldn¡¯t put up any reasonable struggle. All she could do was to clutch Domenic¡¯s shirt desperately as her lips were being forced toply with his wishes. His kiss was fierce and urgent, with no restraint whatsoever.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. Lindsey had never seen him act like this before. After what seemed like a long time, Domenic reluctantly ended the kiss. Looking at the woman in his arms, he could see that the only reason she was standing on her feet was because he was holding her up. His deep eyes, which reflected the bright moonlight, seemed particrly sad and lonely. ¡°Domenic, what¡­ what¡¯s wrong?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t help but ask. It was clear to her that Domenic was not as he usually was. But Domenic didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he simply let go of her and took a step back to create some distance between them. Lindsey remained in the same spot, looking puzzled by his strange behavior. Domenic looked at her for a while before finally speaking. ¡°Lindsey, we¡¯d better break up,¡± he said without any preamble. Lindsey¡¯s jaw dropped and she just stood there, staring at him in shock, unable to say a single word. Even though she had been prepared for what he was going to say, hearing the actual words felt like a sharp knife cutting through her heart, making her almost suffocate from the pain. After a prolonged silence, she forced a smile to her face and asked him, ¡°Have you¡­ have you made up your mind?¡± His hands were quivering slightly, but he closed his eyes and nodded in the affirmative. Bunny Bookery ¡°So, this kiss¡­ it was a farewell kiss?¡± Lindsey chuckled bitterly. The lights in Domenic¡¯s eyes went dim and his lips remained closed. Lindsey stared at him quietly, trying to see through him to his heart, but all she could see was his cold facial expression. This felt very strange. ¡°Okay,¡± she finally said. Even though tears had welled up in her eyes, she still forced a smile to her face. ¡°I promised never to hold you back. Since you¡¯ve made up your mind, then I¡­ I wish you nothing but joy and happiness. ¡± ¡°Do you really mean that?¡± Domenic asked, looking intently at her face. Lindsey quickly avoided his gaze and replied with a smile, ¡°Of course, I do. You¡¯ll definitely find a girl who loves you. You guys will get married and have many children, and live happily ever after. ¡± At this point, Lindsey¡¯s throat tightened, and she quickly stopped speaking. She knew that if she continued, she would surely burst into tears. She really hoped Domenic would be happy, but knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be the one to live happily with him made her heart feel like it had been plunged into an icy abyss, thereby freezing her to the core. ¡°Sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Domenic apologized after a prolonged silence. Chapter 900 Then he turned around so that he wouldn¡¯t see Lindsey¡¯s lonely and sad expression. He was scared that it would instantly undermine his determination to go through with what he had just dered. But just as he was about to walk away, he was suddenly embraced from behind. Two arms tightly gripped his waist, the warmth of the embrace making him freeze in ce. Lindsey¡¯s choked voice came from behind, ¡°Domenic, I take it back. I was lying when I told you that I didn¡¯t want to hold you back. I want to be with you, I want to marry you and be your wife, I want to have babies with you. I consulted a doctor recently. If Sumner can persist in his rehabilitation training, it will take him three to five years at most, to stand up and walk on his own. Since he saved my life twice, I just want to repay his kindness. I don¡¯t really love him. The only person I love¡­ is you! Wait for me, Domenic, okay?¡± She was all but begging him. This stirred Domenic¡¯s heart. Despite being known for being usually calm andposed, he now had red eyes. He put his hand over Lindsey¡¯s, with the intention of holding her tightly, but he quickly checked himself. He desperately wanted to tell her that the reason for the breakup wasn¡¯t because he was impatient. In fact, he could wait for her to repay her debt of gratitude, be it a year, ten or even twenty years. He could even wait for her all his life. But what he feared most was that being with him would cause Lindsey harm. In order to ensure her safety and happiness in life, he had no other choice but to leave her. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Ever since his parents died, his life had been only filled with darkness, but that was until Lindsey appeared in his world. Just when he thought he had finally caught that ray of light again, it turned out to be fleeting. Lindsey was intelligent, determined, and independent. She also had a man Like Sumner who was willing to risk his life for her. Domenic knew that it was very possible for her to live a stable and fulfilling life without him and without being exposed to the hidden dangers of his family. Remembering his mother¡¯s fate, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but feel as if his heart was being torn apart. Unfortunately, history could easily repeat itself. But Lindsey¡¯s life was very important to him. He would never expose it to any danger. Hence, he had to let her go so that she would be safe forever. The pain he was feeling was only temporary. He was sure that it would soon dissipate. Perhaps, she too would forget about him before long. With this thought in mind, Domenic forced a smile to his face and unwound Lindsey¡¯s hand from around his waist. Struggling greatly to suppress his inner emotions, he said in a cold tone, ¡°Lindsey, I can¡¯t wait for you for such a long time. Let¡¯s go our separate ways.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡± Lindsey clung to Domenic from behind, her embrace tightening with each sob that escaped her. His heart ached at the sound of her sorrow. ¡°No, I won¡¯t let you go,¡± she insisted, her voice trembling. ¡°Not unless you tell me you don¡¯t love me anymore!¡± Domenic took a deep breath. The thought of saying he didn¡¯t love her was more agonizing than the breakup itself. But he had no other choice. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, and through gritted teeth, he forced out the words, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t love you anymore. ¡± Lindsey stood frozen in shock. ¡°What did you say?¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. ¡°I don¡¯t love you anymore,¡± Domenic repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. Yet, it seemed to drain all the strength he had left. Although shocked, Lindsey¡¯s arms instinctively tightened around him. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡± she eximed, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. ¡°And why¡­¡± she continued, her gaze shifting to his wrist, ¡°why are you still wearing the bracelet I gave you if you don¡¯t love me?¡± Chapter 901 Domenic raised his wrist, the moonlight casting a somber glow on the rosewood bracelet, a silent witness to their unraveling love story. With a heavy heart, he removed the bracelet, his fingers exerting just enough force to snap the delicate string, causing the beads to scatter at Lindsey¡¯s feet. ¡°Do you believe it now?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice emerged from the shadows, cold and devoid of warmth as he turned away, hiding his face from her gaze. Lindsey¡¯s gaze fell upon the beads strewn across the ground, each one a symbol of her prayers, her hopes, and her love for Domenic. For a month, she had visited the church, beseeching God to bless the bracelet, to protect Domenic, and to ensure their happiness together. Now, seeing it destroyed and discarded by his own hand, she felt a numbness settle over her as if the pain had rendered her incapable of feeling anything at all. She observed the beads, once so carefully strung together, now bouncing and rolling away, disappearing into the grass, lost forever. Lindsey¡¯s smile was tinged with self-mockery as she slowly released her grip. ¡°I see,¡± she murmured, her voice carrying a sense of solitude that seemed to dissipate in the air. With a gentle, almost mncholicugh, she continued, ¡°I¡­ I now let you go. ¡± Bunny Bookery She let him go? Domenic¡¯s heart skipped a beat at her words. With eyes tightly shut, he stood frozen, his hand that had broken the bracelet trembling ever so slightly in the still air. He dared not turn back. Fear gripped his heart, afraid that if he glimpsed her sorrowful and disappointed expression, he would crumble under the weight of his own guilt.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought that all he had brought her was pain and harm. And so, burdened with a heavy heart, Domenic departed without uttering another single word. Lindsey remained motionless, her form resembling a sculpture carved from stone, as she pinched her fingers until they stung. When Domenic vanished from her sight, she crumpled against the pir of the pavilion, her strength giving way to the weight of her grief. The scattered beads on the ground seemed to mock her, their presence a painful reminder of shattered dreams. Unable to contain her anguish any longer, she trembled violently, tears cascading down her cheeks and onto the ground of the pavilion, as if her sorrow were watering the very earth beneath her feet. The moon, once a symbol of serene beauty, mow seemed cloaked in sorrow, its gentle glow overshadowed by the weight of heartache that hung heavy in the air. Domenic retreated to his seat, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions, each step a burdened reminder of the pain he had caused. Carole nced behind him, expecting to see Lindsey, but her absence only deepened the chilling coldness etched upon Domenic¡¯s face. ¡°What happened, Domenic?¡± Carole¡¯s voice carried a note of concern, reflecting the unease in the air. Domenic nced at his watch, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke. ¡°I have something to attend to at thepany. If you¡¯re done with dinner, let¡¯s head out. I¡¯ll drive you home. ¡± Carole exchanged a nce with Reece before her gaze shifted towards the bathroom. ¡°But Miss Stewart hasn¡¯t returned yet. . Her concern lingered in the air, a subtle undercurrent beneath her words. ¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± Domenic¡¯s words cut through the air with coldness and harshness, his gaze unwavering as he met Carole¡¯s eyes. Reece hastened to assist Carole. ¡°In that case, you can head off. I¡¯ll stay and wait for her here. ¡± Observing the impatience and irritation etched across Domenic¡¯s face, Carole wisely chose not to press further. Sensing that something was amiss, she held her tongue, her silence speaking volumes in the tense atmosphere. With a forced smile, Carole rose from her seat. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go,¡± she said, masking her unease as she prepared to depart. Together, Carole and Domenic left the restaurant, each burdened with their own thoughts. Chapter 902 Reece nced at his phone, leaning back against the seat, his gaze fixed on the screen as he waited patiently for Lindsey¡¯s return. Raising his eyes from his phone, Reece¡¯s heart sank at the sight of Lindsey¡¯s paleplexion and swollen eyes, evidence of recent tears shed in solitude. Reece, a bit startled, asked, ¡°Miss Stewart, are you alright?¡± Bunny Bookery Lindsey shook her head weakly, eyes hollow. She nced at the empty seat before Reece and sat down opposite him. ¡°Domenic and Carole just left. They asked me to let you know,¡± Reece said. Lindsey nodded, then looked up and asked, ¡°Mr. Barton, have you decided about our earlier discussion?¡± Reece felt his heart skip a beat. Lindsey¡¯s question brought back Carole¡¯s words to him. Reece grabbed the ss of water before him and took a sip, needing a moment to gather his thoughts. Finally, he answered, ¡°I can help you. ¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. I feel much more at ease knowing you¡¯re helping. ¡± Lindsey attempted a smile, but it came out more as a grimace. Avoiding her gaze, Reece cleared his throat and said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s wrap up for today. You can send me the details when you¡¯re ready. ¡± ¡°Okay. ¡± Lindsey stood, then hesitated. ¡°About the legal fees. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that now. We¡¯ll discuss itter. ¡± Reece put on his coat, and Lindsey did the same. They walked out together. Reece kept ncing at Lindsey. Her face was deathly pale, and she remained silent. Reece had always thought highly of Lindsey. Could she really be the maniptive person Carole described? As they reached the entrance, Lindsey suddenly felt weak and almost toppled over. Reece instinctively caught her by the side. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Lindsey felt a severe headacheing on. Her vision blurred, and she felt herself fading. ¡°Take me to¡­ the hospital¡­¡± Before she could finish, she slumped into Reece¡¯s arms. When Lindsey opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed under observation. Chapter 904 But what if Carole had misunderstood the situation? Reece was born into wealth and had worked diligently over the years, gaining considerable insight. He knew he needed to solve this puzzle. ¡°What are your ns for the future?¡± He asked, looking at Lindsey.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I hope you can win my cases. By then, I¡¯llmit to running the business with all my heart, and¡­¡± Lindsey stood there, lost for words. Once, her dreams for tomorrow revolved around Domenic. But now, things seemed a bit jumbled up in her mind. ¡°I¡¯m not busy recently, so I can devote more attention to your cases. Are you avable tomorrow? We could meet and discuss them in detail. ¡± Reece hoped to stay connected with Lindsey through the cases and understand her true intentions. ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡± Reece noticed her hesitation, raised an eyebrow, and said, ¡°We can pick another day if tomorrow isn¡¯t good for you. ¡± Lindsey hurriedly said, ¡°Tomorrow is actually my mother¡¯s birthday, but that shouldn¡¯t be a problem. The business needs can¡¯t wait. I¡¯LL make time to meet with you. ¡± Reece looked at her and said, ¡°Alright, I should get going now. ¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y He slipped on his coat and headed out. But just as he reached the ward¡¯s door, he halted abruptly. Swiveling back, he fixed his gaze on her and asked, ¡°Do you know about the rtionship between Domenic and Carole?¡± After a brief pause, Lindsey said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Carole¡­ his cousin? What could possibly be between them?¡± ¡°Cousin?¡± Reece furrowed his brow, puzzled. Since when was Carole Domenic¡¯s cousin? ¡°Domenic once mentioned that Carole is a distant cousin of his. I don¡¯t know much beyond that,¡± Lindsey borated. ¡°How dare he say that¡­¡± Reece muttered quietly, his lips twitching. ¡°What was that?¡± Lindsey asked, puzzled. ¡°Nothing,¡± Reece said, looking at Lindsey with an awkward smile. ¡°Then, you must be aware that Carole is engaged, right?¡± ¡°Yes. ¡± Reece smiled slightly and asked, ¡°Do you know who she¡¯s engaged to?¡± Lindsey nodded and said, ¡°The president of Vitality Group. It¡¯s all over the inte. It¡¯s not something kept under wraps, right?¡± Narrowing his eyes, Reece pondered why Lindsey seemed soposed discussing the president of Vitality Group, as if he was a stranger to her. Based on what Carole mentioned, Lindsey should¡¯ve known who Domenic was quite some time ago. But why did she act like she didn¡¯t know anything? Chapter 905 It was clear that Domenic had wanted to keep his identity hidden when Domenic asked him to help Sh back then. That was why Reece had never brought up Domenic¡¯s name in front of Lindsey and Sh. He had long been curious about this. Today, he simply wanted to uncover who could influence Domenic, but he hadn¡¯t expected to learn so much. Remembering that mysterious president, Lindsey said, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve met him once. He seemed a bit intimidating, but his ideas and mindset are truly extraordinary. Miss Larson and he make a perfect match. ¡± ¡°Intimidating? Lindsey, have you really met the president of Vitality Group?¡± Reece looked at her in disbelief. Lindsey nodded confidently. Reece felt more confused, but he knew it wasn¡¯t the right moment to speak up much. He understood Domenic¡¯s personality well; he despised being talked about behind his back.N?velDrama.Org owns this. So, Reece forced a smile and said, ¡°Oh, it was just a casual question. I should go now. Bye. ¡± He then opened the door and left. Sitting on the bed, Lindsey sensed something odd about Reece¡¯s reaction. Was there anything wrong with the president of Vitality Group? Domenic¡¯s Limousine was parked outside Walsh Manor. Carole opened the door and nced back at him. Domenic folded his arms over his chest, his eyes closed,pletely ignoring her. Carole bit her lip and paused. Then she asked, ¡°Domenic, about you and Lindsey¡­ Did you¡­¡± She was curious about what had happened between Domenic and Lindsey tonight, but struggled to find the right words. AngsLibrary ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Domenic said in a hushed tone. ¡°I have nothing to do with her anymore. ¡± Carole stared at Domenic with wide open eyes, unable to understand what he meant. ¡°You¡¯re my future wife, Carole,¡± Domenic dered. ¡°It¡¯s only you. There won¡¯t be any more women in my life except you in the future. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes were shut, his face calm and emotionless. He didn¡¯t even bother to turn his head in Carole¡¯s direction. Despite his indifference, Carole felt her heart jumping out of her chest. No matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t conceal the surprise on her face. She bit her inner cheek to refrain from smiling. ¡°Domenic,¡± Carole said, cing her hand on her chest and pretending to be considerate, ¡°I just hope your grandpa lives happily in hisst days. If you have your eyes set on another woman, I¡¯ll dly keep it a secret. Your grandpa will not suspect a thing. . Domenic slightly opened his eyes and looked at Carole beside him. His eyes glinted unpredictably under the light. In a cold voice, he said, ¡°She¡¯s just a fling, a toy to pass the time. Did you think it was serious?¡± Carole felt her shoulders rx and let out a sigh of relief. Biting her lower Lip, she managed to suppress her smile. ¡°ALL right. I¡¯LL go back. Take care of yourself, okay? Don¡¯t overexert yourself. ¡± Chapter 906 Domenic¡¯s gaze softened as he withdrew it, closing his eyes once more. ¡°Okay,¡± he simply replied. The engine roared to life as Hendrix drove Domenic away. He recalled the conversation he had overheard between his boss and Carole. He couldn¡¯t tell whether he should be happy or worried. Then, he nced at Domenic via the rearview mirror. Just as he suspected, Domenic¡¯s face was etched with deep frown Lines, his face gloomy-a total contradiction to his im of his rtionship with Lindsey. When Carole walked into the building, she was overjoyed. She chuckled, realizing she had once seen Lindsey as a formidable enemy, only to discover Lindsey was no match for her. Reflecting on this, she found it reasonable. As the future heir of the Walsh family, Domenic¡¯s noble status made the idea of him falling in love with an ordinary girl like Lindsey seem farfetched. It was just a fling. As Carole relished the happiness she felt with her thoughts, her phone rang. It was Jordan. Carole picked up the phone, her cheeks aching from her smile. ¡°Hello. ¡±This is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Carole,¡± Jordan greeted her, ¡°how was your dinner today? Did Domenic ignore you?¡± ¡°No,¡± Carole said, leaning against the sofa leisurely. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from giggling like a little schoolgirl. ¡°Domenic is very considerate and treats me well. Don¡¯t worry, Jordan. ¡± Bunny Bookery On the other end of the phone, Jordan¡¯s heart swelled at the news. From Carole¡¯s tone, he could tell things were going fine. She and Domenic were getting along well. It was just as he expected; he simply needed to give them more opportunities to bond. He was confident that once Domenic saw how good of a woman Carole was, everything would fall into ce. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Jordan hummed with satisfaction. ¡°In a few days, Walsh Group will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. I¡¯ve organized a grand banquet and invited top business elites from across the country and even the world. You and Domenic will be there. I¡¯ll introduce you as his fianc¨¦e and the future matriarch of the Walsh family. Prepare yourself, Carole, and don¡¯t disappoint me. ¡± Carole felt her mouth go dry. This was a significant event. Attending the banquet with Domenic would undoubtedly be important and honorable. Carole recalled Domenic¡¯s absence from their engagement party. The mere thought made her chest tighten. Sarcastic articles and doubtful remarks had been flooding the inte since then. That was why Jordan intended to take this opportunity to tell everyone Carole was Domenic¡¯s future wife. This event was far more important than their engagement party. As long as Domenic could marry Carole, Jordan would be more than happy to hand over the Walsh Group to him. Carole held her chin high, delighted by Jordan¡¯s words. Clenching the phone tightly, she took a deep breath. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll ensure everything runs smoothly. You can trust me. I won¡¯t disappoint you. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. ¡± Jordan nodded with satisfaction and hung up the phone. Carole closed her eyes and leaned back against the sofa, releasing a long sigh of relief. Unable to contain herughter, she savored the moment-finally, she was going to get what she wanted. Chapter 907 Carole shook her head with amusement at the thought of Lindsey. She had believed Lindsey would be her biggest opponent but never expected her to be defeated so miserably. Lindsey seemed to be weaker than she had imagined. To preempt future issues, Carole resolved to seek Reece¡¯s assistance as nned. She aimed to tarnish Lindsey¡¯s reputation so that Lindsey could never rival her again. With a chuckle, Carole went back to her room to get some sleep. The next day, upon Lindsey¡¯s return to thepany, Nancy informed her, ¡°Several partners backed down from termination threats after learning about thewsuit, However, a few are still stubborn. ¡± Lindsey responded coolly, ¡°Mr. Reece Barton agreed to act as ourwyer. ¡± Nancy shot up in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! With him on board, we are guaranteed to win those cases!¡± AngsLibrary Lindsey offered a gentle smile. ¡°Nancy, I need you to manage things here today. I have to visit my mom, then I have a meeting with Mr. Barton this afternoon. ¡± ¡°Sure, go ahead,¡± Nancy agreed cheerfully. Confident with Nancy at the helm, Lindsey tackled some basic tasks before rushing to the hospital. On her way, she picked up the pre-ordered birthday cake. It was her mother¡¯s favorite. It was Juanita¡¯s first birthday since their long separation. Despite her mother¡¯s unconscious state, Lindsey refused to let the day pass unmarked. Entering the ward, she saw Leonel sitting beside Juanita¡¯s bed. He turned at the door opening, then withdrew his gaze. His voice remained cold. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to remember Mom¡¯s birthday. ¡± Lindsey approached and ced the cake on the table. ¡°I remember yours too, Leonel,¡± she said, looking at him.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Leonel¡¯s hardened expression softened slightly. He didn¡¯t challenge her. With a sigh, he stood, looked at the cake, and opened the box. He inserted candles, grabbed a stool, ced the cake on it, and nudged it closer to Juanita. ¡°Let¡¯s sing Mom ¡®Happy Birthday¡¯. Maybe she can hear us. ¡± Leonel lit the candles and met Lindsey¡¯s gaze. ¡°Alright. ¡± Sitting on the bed¡¯s edge, Lindsey held Juanita¡¯s hand and began singing softly, ¡°Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you¡­¡± Tears welled up as she sang, but she blinked them away. It was Juanita¡¯s birthday; she wouldn¡¯t cry today. She forced a smile. After the song, Leonel blew out the candles. He dipped a fork in the frosting and touched it to Juanita¡¯s lips, mimicking a taste. Lindsey sniffed and tucked her mother¡¯s hand back under the covers. Her eyes caught a flicker of movement in Juanita¡¯s pinky finger. Chapter 908 Lindsey¡¯s gaze locked on it. Realization dawned. She shot up from the bedside, gripped Juanita¡¯s shoulders, and called out, ¡°Mom, are you awake? Did you hear our song? Wake up! Please wake up!¡± Leonel, startled by her outburst, mistook it for agitation. He quickly reached for her arm. ¡°Linds, calm down. Mom is still unconscious. ¡± ¡°No, I saw it with my own eyes! Her finger twitched, Leonel. Mom¡¯s waking up!¡± Lindsey cried, tears welling up again. Leonel nced between the sleeping Juanita and Lindsey. After a silent beat, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll get the doctor. ¡± He hurried out, leaving Lindsey clutching Juanita¡¯s hand to her cheek. ¡°Mom, I only have you and Leonel now. Please wake up¡­¡± A doctor soon arrived, stethoscope in hand. After examining Juanita, he turned to the anxiously waiting pair. ¡°There are signs of awakening, but I can¡¯t predict when. Keep talking and spending time with her. ¡± Joy flooded their faces. They exchanged a tearful nce. The doctor left. Lindsey cleaned Juanita, then spoke softly to her. Stealing a nce at her watch, she realized it waste. ¡°Leonel, I have important work calls this afternoon. Can you stay with Mom? I¡¯LL be back as soon as possible. ¡±Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Leonel met her gaze. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll be here. ¡± Lindsey had a prearranged meeting with Reece at 2 pm. She couldn¡¯t break her appointment. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon. Call me when necessary. ¡± Leonel nced at her, remaining silent. At Reece¡¯s firm that afternoon, Lindsey handed over relevant documents. Reece absorbed details about her partners and her agency. Bunny Bookery Afterward, Reece walked Lindsey out. On their way, they encountered a distressed middle-aged couple exiting another office. Seeing Reece, they rushed over. ¡°Mr. Barton, can¡¯t you take my daughter¡¯s case?¡± the woman pleaded. Reece replied with a polite smile, ¡°Your currentwyer is also highly skilled. They¡¯ll fight for your victory. ¡± ¡°But we trust you more,¡± the man insisted. Then, the woman saw Lindsey beside Reece. She was stunned for a second, and then tears welled up in her eyes. Confused, Lindsey nced at the weeping middle-aged woman and silently appealed to Reece for assistance. Reece sighed and borated, ¡°You resemble their daughter in both age and appearance. I believe you reminded her of her own daughter. ¡± The middle-aged woman dried her tears and recounted, ¡°My daughter has a difficult life. She fell for a yboy who, despite being wealthy, was already engaged. He toyed with her feelings, but she couldn¡¯t move on. Consequently¡­¡± Unable to continue, the woman broke down into more tears. Chapter 909 ¡°As a consequence, on the day that man wed, it was too much for her to bear. She suffered a mental breakdown and was sent to an asylum. ¡± Reece nced at Lindsey before addressing the couple, ¡°Don¡¯t despair excessively.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. I understand your desire for justice for your daughter. Rest assured, we¡¯ll do our utmost to pursue what¡¯s best for you. ¡± The couple expressed their gratitude to Reece and then advised Lindsey, ¡°Remember, don¡¯t let yourself be deceived by a man. ¡± Lindsey approached the woman with a smile and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t fret. If any man tries to y with me, I¡¯ll make sure that scoundrel faces the consequences. ¡± The woman nodded sadly and remarked, ¡°I wish my daughter had your mindset. ¡± With a bowed back, she turned away and departed with her husband. Lindsey¡¯s final words unsettled Reece. What actions would she take if she discovered Domenic was already engaged? If Carole¡¯s words held truth, perhaps Lindsey would try to sabotage their rtionship at any cost. He couldn¡¯t shake off his concern for Domenic as he regarded Lindsey with apprehension. ¡°Mr. Barton, thank you for handling the case at mypany. I have other matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave. Then she nced at Reece, who forced a smile and observed her departure from thew firm. ¡± Upon her return to the hospital, it was already six o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Pushing open the door, she froze after she called out Leonel¡¯s name. Observing Juanita lying on the bed, Lindsey noticed her gentle gaze towards Leonel. Juanita¡¯s eyes brightened upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s voice, and she turned towards the door. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y ¡°Mom¡­¡± After a brief moment of astonishment, Lindsey hurried over and embraced Juanita tightly. Tears welled up in her eyes as she eximed, ¡°Mom, is this a dream? Are you really awake?¡± Leonel gently separated Lindsey from Juanita, cautioning her, ¡°Linds, Mom has just regained consciousness. She¡¯s still very fragile. Please be gentler. ¡± It was only at that moment that Lindsey realized her overreaction and promptly released her embrace. She then turned to Leonel, her expression reproachful, and questioned ¡°Leonel, why didn¡¯t you inform me when Mom regained consciousness?¡± Juanita exined in a weak voice, ¡°Leonel mentioned you were upied with work. So I asked him to not interrupt you. ¡± ¡°Regardless of how upied I am with work, nothing is more important than you. ¡± Lindsey sat beside Juanita on the bed, sping her hand. Although overwhelmed with emotion earlier, tears now flowed quietly as the reality of her mother waking up sank in. Juanita tenderly wiped away Lindsey¡¯s tears, wearing apassionate expression as she spoke softly, ¡°Why are tears streaming down your face?¡± ¡°I¡¯m overwhelmed with joy. ¡± Lindsey attempted to wipe away the tears from her face as best she could. Chapter 910 ¡°During mya, were you mistreated?¡± Juanita gazed at Lindsey with pity, gently stroking her face.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You seem thinner. . Reflecting on recent events and Domenic¡¯s decision to end their rtionship, Lindsey experienced a blend of happiness and sorrow, leading to uncontroble tears. Despite this, she shook her head and reassured herself, ¡°No, everything is fine. I¡¯m alright. ¡± ¡°Truly?¡± Leonel stepped back with crossed arms, snorting in disbelief. He couldn¡¯t contain his frustration, eximing, ¡°You¡¯ve be foolish because of an unreliable man, haven¡¯t you?¡± Juanita furrowed her brow and began, ¡°Linds, you¡­¡± Lowering her gaze, Lindsey smiled ruefully and stated, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Domenic and I have ended our rtionship. ¡± Leonel¡¯s eyes widened with surprise as he looked at her. ¡°You mean¡­ well, Domenic. ¡± Juanita attempted to recall what had urred earlier. Perhaps it was due to her prolonged sleep that her mind was somewhat disoriented, but she quickly remembered that the findings of the investigation she hadmissioned had greatly surprised her. Juanita had called Lindsey home that day to tell her about the findings, but the fire broke out unexpectedly, which led to her bing unconscious. Lindsey¡¯s eyes were focused on the floor, because she did not want her mother to see how she felt. ¡°Did you really break up with him?¡± Juanita asked in surprise. ¡°Yes, I did,¡± Lindsey said with a forced smile on her face. ¡°You guys don¡¯t have to worry about me anymore. ¡± ¡°Linds. . ¡± Juanita wanted to say something, but she quickly changed her mind. She had wanted to tell Lindsey the result of her investigation, but since Lindsey had already broken up with Domenic, she felt there was no need to tell her. AngsLibrary If she were to reveal it to Lindsey right now, it might be too much for her daughter to handle. Besides, the results of the investigation were mostly made up of mere spections. ¡°Let bygones be bygones, my dear,¡± Juanita saidfortingly after a brief silence. ¡°Frankly, Sumner is the one who really suits you. ¡± The mention of Sumner brought a sharp pain to Lindsey¡¯s heart. She looked at Juanita for a moment, but she just couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell her that Sumner had be disabled. Juanita had just woken up; She certainly wouldn¡¯t be able to bear such news. ¡°Okay, Mom,¡± Lindsey finally said in a gentle tone. Juanita was relieved to see that Lindsey didn¡¯t argue with her. She leaned back and closed her eyes since she was already feeling a little tired. Before long, Juanita fell asleep and the hospital room became silent. Lindsey and Leonel just sat there quietly together. But after a while, Leonel looked sideways at Lindsey and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Why did you guys break up?¡± Chapter 911 ¡°We were ipatible, so we decided to go our separate ways,¡± Lindsey replied. She didn¡¯t want to talk too much about it. The mere thought of it caused her so much pain. ¡°Did he cheat on you?¡± Leonel pressed. He was still furious about that quarrel he and Lindsey had because of Domenic. But Lindsey was shocked by this unexpected question, and she promptly scolded him, ¡°Leonel, stop making baseless assumptions. Domenic is not that kind of person at all!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve broken up with him, why are you still defending him?¡± Leonel sneered. ¡°How exactly did he bewitch you so much that you can¡¯t forget about him?¡± ¡°Those are two different things,¡± Lindsey retorted. ¡°Breaking up with him is one thing, but that doesn¡¯t make him a bad person. I know what kind of man he is. But you don¡¯t, so you have no right to judge him. To be honest, the breakup was partly a fault of mine. ¡± Lindsey really did believe that the reason she and Domenic had broken up was mostly because of Sumner. She felt that Domenic was not able to ept the fact that Sumner was the reason why she had refused to get married. The thought of it filled her with guilt and sadness. Seeing her like this, Leonel said with a sneer, ¡°I really hope for your sake that you really know him. Don¡¯t let him y with you.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Lindsey didn¡¯t bother to respond. She just sat there quietly. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Leonel nced at her and decided to change the topic. ¡°Mom is conscious now. How should I tell her about Cherish?¡± he asked after taking a quick nce at Juanita. His question immediately reminded Lindsey about this issue. When Cherish was purchased by Vitality Group, the CEO had promised her that once Juanita regained consciousness, he would promptly return Cherish to her. Now that Juanita was conscious, it was time for that promise to be fulfilled. ¡°I¡¯LL go to Vitality Group tomorrow,¡± Lindsey said aloud in a firm tone. The next morning, Lindsey left for the headquarters of Vitality Group before Juanita woke up. Feeling more confident this time, she went straight to the front desk. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Lindsey Stewart from Lindnita Artists Agency,¡± she said politely. ¡°I met your CEO thest time I was here. Can you please inform him that I have something important to discuss? Is he around?¡± The receptionist remembered Lindsey¡¯s previous meeting with the CEO. In fact, she and other members of staff even discussed about it in private, wondering to themselves who exactly Lindsey was for her to get the CEO to agree to meet her. Apparently, Lindsey must be no ordinary woman. So, the receptionist made sure not to offend her in any way. ¡°Sure. Please wait a moment. I¡¯LL connect you to his chief secretary,¡± she said with a polite smile. Then she grabbed her inte and made an internal call. Almost immediately, she got the reply she needed and she promptly ryed it back to Lindsey, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Stewart, but the CEO is not in thepany at the moment. Could you please leave your contact information? We¡¯ll get in touch with you once he¡¯s back. ¡± Lindsey nodded in agreement and gave her number. After that, she turned around to leave. But just then, she saw a group of bodyguardsing in with a man. Could it be the CEO of Chapter 912 Vitality Group? Lindsey stopped to look, but the bodyguards were so tall that she could only see the side of their boss¡¯ face. But why did he look so much like Domenic? Eager to clear her confusion, Lindsey took a few steps forward in order to see his face more clearly, but she was not fast enough. The entourage quickly got into the VIP elevator and the doors slid shut right in front of her.All content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. Who was that man? Lindsey kept asking herself. Well, it couldn¡¯t be Domenic. He had nothing to do with Vitality Group. Besides, the CEO she met before was a fierce-looking man, not the handsome man she had just seen. So, if this was not the CEO, who could be so important as to warrant such a grand entourage in Vitality Group? And why did the side of the person¡¯s face look so much Like Domenic¡¯s? While she was still lost in thought, she suddenly heard a familiar voice nearby. ¡°Lindsey?¡± Lindsey quickly turned around and she saw Carole standing not far away, dressed in a sharp business suit. Carole leisurely strode towards Lindsey, ncing at the elevator doors Domenic had just disappeared behind. A faint smile tugged at the corners of her Lips. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y ¡°Miss Larson, what¡¯re you doing here?¡± Lindsey asked with one eyebrow raised, surprised to see Carole here. Carole¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I work here now. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers. However, on the second thought, it made sense; after all, Carole was the fianc¨¦e of Vitality Group¡¯s CEO, so she didn¡¯t question her further. ¡°What about you, Miss Stewart? What brings you here today?¡± Carole asked politely. It suddenly urred to Lindsey that it would be easier to reach the CEO through Carole, so she put on a big smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to see the CEO, but the receptionist said that he isn¡¯t here, and I don¡¯t know when he¡¯ll be back. Miss Larson, if it¡¯s not too much to ask, could you tell him that I have something urgent to tell him?¡± Staring at Lindsey, Carole couldn¡¯t help but smile incredulously. This woman still didn¡¯t know that the CEO of the Vitality Group was none other than Domenic. How stupid Lindsey was! ¡°No problem. ¡± With a wink, Carole fished out her phone from her pocket. Initially, Lindsey was just trying her luck, since she wasn¡¯t close to Carole. But unexpectedly, Carole actually turned out to be quite helpful. Chapter 913 ¡°Thank you,¡± Lindsey said gratefully. Carole shed her a smirk as she dialed a number on her phone. When the call connected, she cast Lindsey a sidelong nce and said, ¡°Mr. Walsh, Miss Lindsey Stewart wants to see you. Are you free now?¡± Domenic was already sitting in the meeting room, preparing for his next engagement when he suddenly received Carole¡¯s call. At the mention of Lindsey¡¯s name, he frowned. Clearly, Carole was testing him, but he wasn¡¯t about to let her glimpse into his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m busy. ¡± With that, he hung up the phone. Eyebrows furrowed, Carole put away her phone and turned around to look at Lindsey. ¡°Miss Larson, what did he say? Did he mention when he can see me?¡± Lindsey asked, wringing her hands anxiously. Carole put on an embarrassed expression and said hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. He said that he doesn¡¯t want to see you. ¡± ¡°What?¡± Lindsey was stunned. With a frown, she rified, ¡°Do you mean he¡¯s too busy to see me now? Because I can alwayse back¡ª¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what he meant. He said that he doesn¡¯t want to see you,¡± Carole said apologetically, emphasizing her words. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to see me?¡± Lindsey blinked at her in confusion. It took a while before Carole¡¯s words finally sank in. ¡°You¡¯re saying that he¡¯ll never see me again?¡± Carole nodded gravely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t any help. I might be his fianc¨¦e, but I have no say in thepany affairs. ¡± Lindsey was troubled. The CEO had promised her that when her mother woke up from hera, he¡¯d return Cherish to her. But now, he refused to even see her. Did he regret making that promise? Or did he want to take Cherish from the very beginning, so what he said to her back then was just a false promise to get her to agree? A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y The more Lindsey thought about it, the more she felt that her theory was true. At that time, she trusted him, so she didn¡¯t sign the agreement. Of course, she didn¡¯t expect that she¡¯d be cheated by the CEO of such a bigpany. Did he have no integrity? What a despicable tactic! As these thoughts whirled around in her mind, she clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palms. ncing at Lindsey¡¯s clenched fists, Carole snorted to herself. ¡°Miss Larson, is there any other way I can see him¡± Lindsey took a deep breath and looked at Carole seriously. Carole pretended to think for a moment, and then her eyes lit up as if she had remembered something. ¡°We¡¯ll be celebrating the Walsh Group¡¯s 5@th anniversary in a few days. The CEO will definitely be there. However, only local and foreign business tycoons are invited. I¡¯m not sure how you¡¯d be able to get in¡­¡± Hearing this, Lindsey pursed her lips and racked her brains for a solution. If this was the only way she could meet the CEO, then she had no choice but to try.Content is property ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Thanks, Miss Larson. ¡± Afterwards, Lindsey excused herself and left the Vitality Group. Carole watched her leave with her hands crossed over her chest, trying her best to stifle herughter. ¡°Lindsey, let¡¯s see what you¡¯ll do this time around¡­¡± Chapter 914 Then she strutted towards the front desk, her high heels clicking against the marble floors. The receptionist raised her head and met Carole¡¯s arrogant eyes. ¡°Er, good day, Miss Larson. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Just now, a woman named Lindsey said she wanted to see the CEO. Please delete her from your records. The CEO himself said that he didn¡¯t want to see her. ¡± ¡°Understood. ¡± As Lindsey made her way back to the hospital, her mind raced through potential connections she could leverage. However, none of them had any ties to the Walsh Group, except for Emilio. He was the vice president of the Vitality Group. But she doubted whether he would help her. Absorbed in thought, Lindsey collided with Leonel exiting the ward. ¡°Lindsey? Hey. I was just about to call you. Mom¡¯s finally drifted to sleep and business calling me again,¡± Leonel told Lindsey. ¡°Leonel, are there any chances you could snag me an invite to the Walsh Group¡¯s 50th anniversary celebration?¡± Lindsey met his gaze and asked Leonel directly. Leonel furrowed his brows. ¡°What do you need that for?¡± Lindsey took one step forward. ¡°I have to be there, Leonel. It¡¯s crucial for Cherish¡¯s future!¡± Leonel¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°How is Cherish involved in this?¡± Lindsey gnawed on her lower lip, a sigh escaping her lips. She led Leonel to a secluded corner. There, Lindsey spilled everything-the Vitality Group¡¯s acquisition, the CEO¡¯s promise, and the ordeals she¡¯d faced that day. AngsLibrary Leonel had heard about the CEO of Vitality Group was ruthlessness, but he hadn¡¯t expected this new low. ¡°ALL right. Our director has ties with the Walsh Group. He might know someone on the board who could pull a few strings,¡± Leonel offered. ¡°Really? That¡¯d be amazing!¡± Lindsey grabbed his arm. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from jumping.N?velDrama.Org owns this. A smug smile formed on Leonel¡¯s lips as he lifted his chin. ¡°Took you long enough to realize just how good I am. ¡± Lindsey giggled at his remark. ¡°I never doubted you. You¡¯ve always had my back. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough sweet talk. I have to get going,¡± Leonel said patting Lindsey¡¯s shoulder. As he started to walk away, a sudden realization struck him. Snapping his fingers, he turned back to Lindsey. ¡°Almost forgot! The drugunches next week. Make sure Xiomara¡¯s free, okay? We¡¯ve got promotions and interviews Lined up. ¡± ¡°Next week. Lindsey frowned and rubbed her temples. ¡°What about ¡®Star Search¡¯ shooting?¡± ¡°I¡¯LL make sure they don¡¯t sh. ¡± Leonel gave her a reassuring nod. He waved goodbye to Lindsey and left. Landing the ambassador deal for the new drugunch was expensive, but it eased the problems for herpany. Lindsey owed it to her ever-reliable brother. As Leonel walked away, Lindsey felt a wave of warmth wash over her. In the ward again, Lindsey settled beside her mother. The doctor¡¯s words echoed in her mind. Her mother just woke up and needed her family¡¯s apany. Chapter 915 The sun finally disappeared, and Leonel came back. He walked slowly into the room, tired, and plopped down in the closest chair. Lindsey could tell he was defeated by the look on his face. Lindsey turned to Leonel, rising from her chair. ¡°Any news on that invite, Leonel?¡± Leonel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. ¡°I hit a wall, Lindsey. Walsh Group keeps things tight. Invite only, heavy security. I¡¯m sorry. ¡± Lindsey squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip worriedly. Discouraged, she slumped into her chair. She nced at her mom, and guilt flooded her. She worried her mother would me her if she found out Cherish was lost because of a bad choice. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. She had to pull herself together. She stood up and said, ¡°Leonel, stay here with Mom. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle this¡± Leonel¡¯s mouth opened, then closed tight. No words could express his desire to help. So, he simply nodded at Lindsey. At the office, Lindsey scoured her contacts and partners¡¯ information, but found no connection to the Walsh Group. A wave of despair washed over Lindsey. The gap between her and the Walsh Group stretched wider than ever, a bridge she could never cross. What should she do now? She felt as if she were climbing a mountain with no air, leaving her gasping for breath. She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling utterly helpless. Domenic¡¯s breakup and losing Cherish were crushing her. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Her phone rang then, breaking the heavy silence. Paige¡¯s name shed on the screen. Taking a deep breath, she answered the phone. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Lopez. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Lindsey, Sumner¡¯s missing!¡± Upon reaching Sumner¡¯s ward, Lindsey heard Paige¡¯s sobs, weighing heavily on her and filling her with anxiety. As Lindsey entered, Paige rose and grasped her hand. ¡°Lindsey, you have to know where Sumner is. He trusts and confides in you. He wouldn¡¯t just disappear!¡± Paige¡¯s voice cracked with emotion, tears brimming in her eyes. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, please don¡¯t panic. Tell me what happened. ¡± Lindsey reassured Paige. ¡°Lately, Sumner has been wheeling himself to the garden to enjoy the sun. Today, he mentioned wanting some alone time outdoors. I didn¡¯t dwell on it, and I let him be. But he never returned. I¡¯ve searched everywhere in the hospital with no luck. Given his condition, where could he have gone?¡± Paige¡¯s anxiety escted as she recounted the situation. Finally, she gripped Lindsey¡¯s hand tightly, trembling uncontrobly. Seeking to soothe Paige, Lindsey reciprocated the handhold. ¡°Did he mention anything unusual or act differently before he left?¡± ¡°He¡­ he¡­¡± In the height of her panic, Paige¡¯s mind was too consumed to consider details. Suddenly, a crucial detail emerged from the fog of distress. ¡°Yes,¡± she eximed, her thoughts clearing, ¡°he was fixated on a photo this afternoon!¡±N?velDrama.Org owns this. ¡°What photo?¡± Lindsey inquired promptly, sensing a lead. Paige struggled to remember. ¡°He tried to hide it, but I caught a glimpse of a photo rted to the meteor shower. ¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 916 ¡°Meteor shower¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°I know where he went!¡± Lindsey instructed Paige to stay put in the ward, assuring her that she¡¯d retrieve Sumner. After over an hour of driving, Lindsey finally arrived at the nighttime outdoor grill. As she reached the hill¡¯s peak, where she and Sumner had once admired the meteor shower, she spotted a slender figure sitting at the cliff¡¯s edge, gazing silently at the sky. Nearby, a wheelchairy overturned. Lindsey chose not to disturb him, opting to approach quietly and sit beside him on the ground. ¡°Is there a meteor shower tonight?¡± Lindsey gazed at Sumner¡¯s profile, his eyes mirroring the starry night sky. Sumner remainedposed upon hearing Lindsey¡¯s voice, showing no signs of astonishment. ¡°No, not really,¡± he replied nonchntly. Intrigued, Lindsey probed further, asking, ¡°What brought you here?¡± Bunny Bookery Sumner¡¯s eyes lowered in introspection, a thoughtful silence filling the air before he lifted his gaze to meet Lindsey¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve been reflecting on something,¡± he confessed. Curious, Lindsey delved deeper, asking, ¡°What is on your mind?¡± Sumner¡¯s gaze shifted to the starlit sky, a tinge of sadness evident in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been contemting my ce in this world,¡± he disclosed with a touch of sorrow. ¡°If I¡¯m only causing trouble for others, maybe it¡¯s best not to be here. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that way, Sumner,¡± Lindsey intervened, conveying both concern and encouragement. ¡°While there¡¯s life, there¡¯s always a chance. Your wishes cane true. ¡±T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey grappled with the uncertainty of whether her recent busyness had caused her absence from Sumner, potentially contributing to his current state of mind. This internal questioning brought a sense of apprehension, especially as his words carried weight, stirring a deep-seated fear within her. Sumner nced at Lindsey, curious. ¡°Truly?¡± Lindsey nodded. ¡°Yes, my wish upon a shooting star came true. My mother woke up. ¡± Sumner¡¯s eyes, once dull, brightened with astonishment. ¡°Seriously? Your mother woke up. When did this happen?¡± ¡°Just yesterday. ¡± Lindsey regarded Sumner with kindness. ¡°A lot has transpired recently. I apologize for not being able to visit you. ¡± Sumner harbored a hint of guilt. He missed her daily and longed for her presence. She had promised to be there, yet days had passed without a word. Sumnercked the courage to seek her out, consumed by the fear of burdening Lindsey while yearning for her presence. He dreaded bing a burden to her, yet he yearned for herpanionship. This inner conflict came to a head today. For some inexplicable reason, he found himself at the hilltop where they had once shared a moment watching the meteor shower. Sumner suddenly realized just how busy Lindsey truly was. It wasn¡¯t just about work; her mom had woken up, needing her care too. He felt bad for being too caught up in his feelings. The guilt hit him Like a ton of bricks. ¡°I apologize, Lindsey. ¡± Sumner, akin to a child admitting fault, bowed his head and apologized to Lindsey. Lindsey deemed it unnecessary before lightly chuckling and asking, ¡°Why the apology?¡± Chapter 917 ¡°It¡¯s my fault for causing you worry and for being so immature,¡± Sumner murmured. Patting him on the shoulder, Lindseyforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself. You¡¯ve shown remarkable strength. If I were in your shoes, I doubt I could have handled it as well as you have. But promise me, regardless of what lies ahead or where you wish to go, you¡¯ll always keep me informed. Don¡¯t ever feel like a burden. I vowed to stand by you, and I intend to keep that promise. ¡± Tears welled up in Sumner¡¯s eyes. Since the car ident, he had grown especially sensitive and fragile. He was relying on Lindsey more than ever. He yearned to regain his ability to walk, yet feared Lindsey might depart if he seeded. He longed for her eternal presence in his life. What actions could he take to ensure her continued presence in his life? Sumner gazed at Lindsey¡¯s delicate silhouette against the night sky, his heart-stirring. Meanwhile, Lindsey admired the stars, captivated by their beauty. ¡°If only there were a meteor shower tonight. ¡± She said to herself. ¡°What wishes would you make?¡± Sumner inquired. Lindsey sighed wistfully. ¡°If only a shooting star could grant me an invitation to the Walsh Group¡¯s event. ¡± ¡°The Walsh Group¡¯s event? Why do you want to go there?¡± Sumner questioned, his brow furrowing. Lindsey nodded gently, exining her intention to secure an invitation to meet the CEO of Vitality Entertainment at the Walsh Group¡¯s event. Bunny Bookery ¡°I must obtain the invitation for my mother, no matter the cost. ¡± Lindsey dered resolutely, rising to her feet as she fixed her determined gaze on the sky. Meanwhile, Sumner remained seated on the ground, observing her. Suddenly struck by an idea, Sumner spoke up. ¡°Hey, I might have a solution. ¡± Surprised, Lindsey turned to him. Sumner grinned and continued, ¡°Have you forgotten about Brady Lawson, the CEO of the Lawson Group?¡± Lindsey recalled, ¡°The one who handed you his business card at Carole¡¯s engagement party and imed to be your admirer?¡± ¡°Yeah. ¡± Sumner nodded in agreement. ¡°Exactly. The Lawson family holds significant sway, almost on par with the Walsh family. I recall his wife is also a Walsh. Obtaining an invitation should be quite feasible for him. Upon hearing Sumner¡¯s words, Lindsey¡¯s excitement bubbled up, nearly prompting her to leap with joy. ¡°If only he could assist! But¡­¡± After a moment of hesitation, she inquired, ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll agree to help me?¡±All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°He explicitly mentioned that if I ever required assistance, I could turn to him. It¡¯s worth a shot. ¡± Sumner responded softly, looking up at Lindsey. Lindsey nodded and settled back down beside Sumner, a relieved smile gracing her features. ¡°Thank you, Sumner. Thank you for being there for me. ¡± Observing the smile on Lindsey¡¯s face, Sumner felt a sense of contentment wash over him. He reached out and affectionately tousled her hair, his gaze filled with warmth. ¡°There¡¯s no need for thanks. ¡± Chapter 918 Lindsey was momentarily taken aback by the tenderness in Sumner¡¯s gesture, causing her to avert her gaze swiftly. His disys of affection always caught her off guard, making it difficult to maintain herposure. Unable to reciprocate his love, she pretended as though nothing out of the ordinary had urred. They remained seated at the hilltop for a while longer, soaking in the tranquility of the moment. Eventually, Lindsey gently assisted Sumner back into his wheelchair, and together they made their way down the hillside. Paige remained anxiously waiting in the ward. As the door was pushed open from the outside, she promptly rose to her feet. Upon witnessing Lindsey wheel the unscathed Sumner inside, she finally let out a sigh of relief, her tension dissipating. ¡°Sumner, where were you? Why didn¡¯t you inform me? I¡¯ve been beside myself with worry!¡± Sumner began to apologize, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I-¡° ¡°Sumner just needed some fresh air. We wandered a bit far and lost track of time,¡± Lindsey interjected, smoothing over the situation. Bunny Bookery Sumner averted his gaze, lips pressed tightly together. Grateful that Lindsey was already looking out for Sumner, Paige felt a wave of relief wash over her. With Sumner safe and sound, her anxiety lessened. She regarded them both, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Since Lindsey is here, she can stay with you. I¡¯ve been fretting all night, and now I¡¯m feeling tired. I need to return and rest. ¡± In truth, she hoped to leave them alone for a while. ¡°Mrs. Lopez, please go and get some rest.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stay with him. ¡± Lindsey assured her. With Leonel by Juanita¡¯s side, there was no pressing need for her to stay. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave,¡± Paige announced, casting a significant nce at Sumner before briskly exiting the ward. Once Paige had departed, Sumner turned his attention to Lindsey. ¡°Lindsey, could you check the inner pocket of my coat for the business card?¡± ¡°Let me assist you to bed first. ¡± After settling Sumnerfortably, Lindsey retrieved his coat and swiftly located the business card in the inner pocket. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you kept it so close. ¡± Lindsey remarked as she handed the card to Sumner. Sumner smiled gratefully as he epted the card. Gazing at the name ¡°Brady Lawson¡± on the business card, his expression grew somber. After a moment¡¯s contemtion, he retrieved his phone and dialed the number printed on the card. Brady immediately picked up the phone, and upon hearing Sumner¡¯s voice, he sprang to his feet, startled. Casting a quick nce behind him, he spotted Rachel dozing off in the room and let out a quiet sigh of relief. ¡°Mr. Lawson, I apologize for thete call,¡± Sumner said with formality. ¡°If you¡¯re reaching out at this hour, it must be important,¡± Brady responded, his voice hushed as he settled back into the couch. Chapter 919 ¡°Indeed,¡± Sumner replied evenly. ¡°Are you aware of the Walsh Group¡¯s uing celebration?¡± ¡°I am. What¡¯s the issue?¡± Brady¡¯s brow furrowed. Why was Sumner mentioning the Walsh Group now? It could spell trouble if they found out Sumner was his son. ¡°A close friend of mine is keen to attend butcks an invitation. Could you assist?¡± Sumner asked straightforwardly. ¡°How many invitations do you need?¡± Brady inquired. Sumner cast a nce at Lindsey before answering, ¡°Just one. ¡± If it were in the past, he would have apanied her, but given his current circumstances, that was no longer possible.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g ¡°Alright, I¡¯Ll keep you updated,¡± Brady agreed promptly. ¡°Thank you,¡± Sumner replied, maintaining hisposure. AngsLibrary Just as he was about to end the call, Brady interjected, ¡°Wait. ¡± Sumner paused. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I need to remind you, or perhaps more precisely, your friend. ¡± Brady¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°The celebration is the most critical event in Walsh Group¡¯s history. Avoid any disturbances, or no one will be able to protect your friend. ¡± Sumner fell silent for a moment, then turned to Lindsey with a soft voice. ¡°I understand. ¡± He hung up shortly after. ¡°Well, did he agree to help?¡± Lindsey asked, her voice tinged with anticipation as Sumner set the phone aside. He nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s on board. ¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s wonderful! I wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d be so easy-going. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s excitement was palpable. However, Sumner¡¯s expression darkened slightly, which didn¡¯t go unnoticed. ¡°Sumner, what¡¯s troubling you?¡± she inquired, feeling a shift in his mood. He shook his head dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s nothing major, just dwelling on his final words. ¡± ¡°And what were those?¡± Lindsey pressed, looking intently at him. ¡°He warned us not to stir any trouble there, or we might face serious repercussions,¡± Sumner ryed with a serious tone. Lindsey looked serious. She intended to talk to the CEO at the event, not to cause a scene. Chapter 920 She nced at Sumner and gave a reassuring nod. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sumner. I won¡¯t cause any trouble. ¡± ¡°Are you sure you should go by yourself?¡± Sumner¡¯s voice trembled slightly, his eyebrows knitted with concern. He wished he had thought to request two invitations so he could apany her and ensure her safety. His gaze dropped to his legs, and he grimaced. Given his condition, how could he possibly protect her? He felt more like a hindrance than a help, and a heavy sadness weighed on his heart. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R YT¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯LL be alright,¡± Lindsey reassured him, noting the worry etched across his face. She gently touched his shoulder. ¡°You know I don¡¯t take unnecessary risks and I can read the room. ¡± Sumner thought her words made sense. She had a history of maintainingposure under pressure and she could handle human rtionships too well. Perhaps he was worrying unnecessarily. Sumner pressed his lips together, choosing to remain silent. ¡°By the way¡­¡± Lindsey suddenly remembered something. ¡°Next week is the final episode of Star Search. Do you¡­ still want to participate?¡± A shadow passed over Sumner¡¯s face. It had been so long since the ident that he had nearly forgotten about the show. He replied softly, ¡°With my current state, do you think I can still do it?¡± Lindsey sat down next to him, her voice earnest. ¡°Sumner, don¡¯t let this setback define you. There are countless stories of individuals oveing physical challenges through sheer determination. If you¡¯re up for it, you can still be the star you were destined to be. I¡¯m your agent, and I¡¯ll support you every step of the way. ¡± Sumner looked into Lindsey¡¯s eyes, alight with unwavering determination. She had a unique ability to Lift him from his deepest despair. He replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll do it. I won¡¯t disappoint you. ¡± Lindsey returned the smile. ¡°Not for me, but for yourself. ¡± But everything he did was for her¡­ His lips parted slightly, but he ultimately held back his words. After ending the phone call, Brady stood and entered Rachel¡¯s room. Inside her drawer, he found an invitation to the Walsh Group¡¯s event. ¡°Brady. . Rachel had just woke up. Lately, she felt constantly exhausted and weak, with her headaches growing more severe by the day. ¡± Despite daily massages prescribed by her doctor, her condition showed little improvement. Brady approached and sat at the edge of the bed. He gently helped Rachel sit up and lean against him, grasping her cold hand. ¡°You¡¯re awake. How are you feeling?¡± Rachel, with her eyes unfocused, shook her head slightly. ¡°It¡¯s the same. Every morning I wake up with a headache, and I¡¯m afraid to go back to sleep¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± Brady¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°I had a terrible dream just now. ¡± Rachel¡¯s eyes filled with tears as she moved closer to him. ¡°In the dream, I was paralyzed, aware but falling endlessly into a dark abyss, never waking up. It felt like¡­ death. ¡± Brady¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his expression tightened almost imperceptibly. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 921 ¡°That was only a dream.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Dreams don¡¯t be reality. You will have a long life. ¡± Brady assured her, stroking her hand gently. His eyes were downcast, masking his true feelings. Suddenly, Rachel clung to Brady more tightly and began to sob. ¡°But it felt so real. Brady, am I dying? I don¡¯t want to leave you! Let¡¯s consult the director of Baywell Hospital. He¡¯s highly skilled and a friend of Grandpa¡¯s. He must be able to help!¡± Brady¡¯s expression darkened as he looked down at Rachel, unseen by her. ¡°Don¡¯t think like that,¡± he said softly,forting her by rubbing her shoulder. ¡°Dr. Hughes Benton is a top specialist I brought in from overseas. If he can¡¯t help you, no one can. Besides, it¡¯s just amon headache. I¡¯ll have Dr. Benton visit you more frequently, and you¡¯ll start to feel better soon. Jordan is getting old. Let¡¯s not worry him. ¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Rachel looked up at him, her gaze lingering on his strong jawline. She began to speak but he gently cut her off. ¡°By the way, did you receive the invitation to the Walsh Group¡¯s celebration?¡± Brady helped Rachel sit up morefortably and asked. ¡°Yes. ¡± Rachel avoided making eye contact as she spoke. ¡°Jordan doesn¡¯t invite me, does he?¡± Brady knew Rachel too well. From her demeanor, he understood everything. Rachel leaned against the headboard, looking at him with a hint ofint. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t taken the big project away from Domenic¡¯spany, my father wouldn¡¯t be so upset with you. He wouldn¡¯t have barred you from the event and allowed only me to attend alone. ¡± Upon hearing this, Brady scoffed, stood up from the bed, and looked down at her. ¡°In business, you earn what you win. The Walsh Group is dealing with internal conflicts abroad, and the Vitality Group is poorly managed. Our partners chose to work with me because they were worried about instability in the Walsh Group. In the past, the Lawson Group often passed good projects to the Walsh Group out of respect for your grandfather. But as CEO of the Lawson Group, I must look out for our family andpany. Rachel, as my wife, you should appreciate the effort I put in. These projects might affect the Vitality Group, but they mean little to the entire Walsh Group. Yet, Jordan has chosen not to invite me to the banquet but only sends you the invitation. Clearly, he intends to disgrace me. If you attend, I¡¯ll be disrespected by the entire businessmunity!¡± Seeing Brady¡¯s irritation, Rachel realized he was right. The Lawson Group had always been overshadowed by the Walsh Group, so his frustration was understandable. As the darling of the Walsh family, she should have brought more advantages to the Lawson Group after their marriage. However, she detested business conflicts and refrained from getting involved. That was why she hadn¡¯t contributed much to the Lawson Group. But Brady had been patient all these years and had never demanded more from her. . . Library Her father had crossed the line this time. They were family and should face challenges together, yet he had silently stripped Brady of his right to attend the event, aiming to undermine him. As his wife, she knew he ought to support him. ¡°Brady, don¡¯t be upset. ¡± Rachel tugged at his sleeve and said soothingly, ¡°I¡¯LL talk to Dad again. If he won¡¯t allow you to attend, then I won¡¯t go either!¡± Brady narrowed his eyes and responded, ¡°No one can overturn your father¡¯s decision. You don¡¯t need to beg him, as if I made you do it. I¡¯ve decided not to go this time. ¡± ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t go either!¡± Rachel bit her lip and leaned back. ¡°This is outrageous! Domenic is his grandson, but aren¡¯t we his family too? We¡¯ve tolerated his unequal treatment for years, but this is pure revenge. We can¡¯t just ept it!¡± Brady smiled faintly at Rachel¡¯s deration. Sitting closer, he gently squeezed her shoulder. ¡°Thank you, Rachel. I¡¯m sorry you¡¯ve had to endure this. ¡± Rachel leaned into him. ¡°Since our wedding day, you¡¯ve had my whole heart. No one loves you more. Promise you¡¯ll never leave or betray me. ¡± Brady¡¯s brown eyes narrowed slightly. His voice was cryptic. ¡°Of course¡­ I won¡¯t. ¡± His gaze drifted to the drawer containing the invitation. Two dayster, Brady ryed the invitation to Sumner, who then forwarded Lindsey¡¯s contact information. But he had kept the truth about his leg injury hidden during his interactions with Brady. Chapter 922 Upon receiving the invitation, Lindsey enlisted Leonel¡¯s help to conceal the situation from their mother. She promised to exin everything, sess or failure, once resolved. In her heart, though, she vowed to make the CEO of Vitality Group return Cherish to her mother. A sense of calm settled and soon the big day arrived. This was the most significant day in the Walsh Group¡¯s history. Jordan had spared no expense, booking the nation¡¯s most luxurious cruise ship for a day of extravagant indulgence. The guest list included all senior Walsh Group executives and the world¡¯s top business tycoons. It was an unprecedented business gathering. Their goals extended beyond attending the event. It was an opportunity to forge lucrative partnerships. Deals struck at such events could be worth hundreds of billions. Jordan also aimed to support Domenic. Even though Domenic had lost the previous project, this event could open new doors. Dressed in a white gown, Lindsey exuded elegance and grace. She arrived at the port on time, greeted by the sight of a massive cruise ship resembling a floating pce. As night fell, the ship shimmered with dazzling, dreamlike colors. Lighted windows resembled stars illuminating the night sky. She was awestruck by the sight. This was her first time seeing such a luxurious vessel. The extravagance of the wealthy world was overwhelming. She felt excited and a little suffocated by the grandiosity. Just as she reached the gangway, a familiar voice startled her. . . Library ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Lindsey?¡± Lindsey turned, her eyes slightly widening. Kristy stood before her, arm in arm with an older gentleman in a high-end suit. What was she doing here? The man¡¯s opulence made it clear Kristy had snagged a wealthy catch. ¡°Miss Chase, it¡¯s a surprise seeing you here,¡± Lindsey greeted politely. Kristy twisted her lips in scorn. ¡°What are you doing here? Sightseeing to broaden your horizons?¡± Lindsey¡¯s smile remained unfazed. ¡°Sightseeing is a bonus, but I¡¯m actually a guest. ¡± Kristy¡¯s frown deepened. A harshugh barked out a momentter. ¡°An invited guest? You? Come on, what makes you think you deserve an invite to the business world¡¯s A-list party?¡± Lindsey held her ground, calm despite Kristy¡¯s outburst.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Miss Chase, we¡¯re both in entertainment, aren¡¯t we? If I¡¯m not qualified, wouldn¡¯t that apply to you too?¡± ¡°Damn!¡± Kristy sputtered, taken aback. She silently vowed not to be embarrassed by Lindsey this time. Chapter 923 Leaning into her date with a sugary smile, she said, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m Mr. Becker Finch¡¯s plus one. You might¡¯ve heard of him. He¡¯s a construction tycoon. The Walsh Group¡¯s infrastructure projects wouldn¡¯t have been possible without his partnership. ¡± One guest per attendee was the rule for the event. But Jordan had simply shut Brady out. ¡°I see. ¡± Lindsey acknowledged with a nod towards Becker. Turning back to Kristy, she added, ¡°Without climbing the socialdder through Mr. Finch, I highly doubt you would even be gracing this ship with your presence. ¡± Heat flushed Kristy¡¯s face. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Yeah, I climbed the socialdder with my own capability. But you¡­¡± Her eyes scanned Lindsey from head to toe, followed by a sudden burst ofughter. Lindsey furrowed her brow, bewildered. What was so funny? Kristy finally stopped, a smirk ying on her Lips. ¡°Even if you fantasize about ascending the social hierarchy, you are bound to be used and discarded. Worse yet, men may prefer to keep your rtionship under wraps to evade your incessant pestering!¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Chase, why is everything you¡¯re saying so confusing?¡± Lindsey asked, her face scrunched up in bewilderment as she looked at Kristy. Kristy let go of Becker¡¯s arm and sauntered over to her. She leaned in close and whispered into Lindsey¡¯s ear, ¡°Your boyfriend might make an appearance tonight. When he does, you¡¯ll understand. ¡± Then she pulled back and gave her a smug look. ¡°But that all depends on whether you can even get in. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s brow furrowed. Was Kristy talking about Domenic? What could he possibly have to do with this event? Bunny Bookery She nced again at the enormous, opulent cruise ship. A wave of unease washed over her. Domenic¡¯sst name was also Walsh, but he had always insisted it was just a coincidence, unrted to the powerful Walsh family. He wouldn¡¯t Lie to her. Would he? She¡¯d never believe that Domenic would show up here tonight. Shaking off her doubts, she fixed her eyes on Kristy. ¡°Miss Chase, stop with the riddles and speak inly. ¡± Kristy just shrugged and turned back to Becker, linking her arm with his again. Her voice dripped with false sweetness. ¡°Mr. Finch, I was merely giving her a friendly heads-up, but she seems ungrateful. ¡± ¡°Some people just don¡¯t recognize kindness when they see it,¡± Becker added with a haughty air. He had been a titan in the business world for years and had never seen Lindsey before tonight. Seeing her arrive alone, he had already written her off as insignificant. ¡°Miss, please show me your invitation. ¡± The security guard¡¯s impatience seeped into his tone as he addressed Lindsey. He was standing there the whole time. When he heard Kristy¡¯s mockingment, he confirmed Lindsey was bluffing. ¡°Do you really think I don¡¯t have an invitation?¡± Lindsey retorted, her gaze locking onto Kristy¡¯s with a hint of a smirk. Without breaking eye contact, she reached into her purse and produced a golden-ted invitation, handing it to the guard with a flourish. The guard¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment as he examined the invitation. These exclusive golden invitations were reserved for the most prestigious guests-either close rtives of the Walsh family or world-renowned figures. But he had no idea who exactly Lindsey was. ¡°What the¡­ How on earth does she have that?¡± Becker muttered to himself, his expression mirroring the guard¡¯s shock. His earlier contempt for Lindsey was now reced with fear, perhaps even regret. ¡°Miss Stewart, you are an honored guest. Please,e in!¡± the guard remarked enthusiastically, bowing deeply and stepping aside to let her pass. Unaware of the significance of her invitation, Lindsey stepped forward. Just then, Kristy lunged forward, snatching the invitation from the guard¡¯s hand. ¡°This can¡¯t be real! She couldn¡¯t possibly have this kind of invitation!¡± she eximed. Her eyes darted to the name printed on the card-Lindsey Stewart. It was even embossed in elegant script. She gasped, her face turning pale white. Chapter 924 Her eyes flicked back to Lindsey, her pupils dting with shock. Her mind was racing. Could Domenic have given her this invitation? Wasn¡¯t he risking exposing his identity? Or had he already revealed everything to her? Kristy felt like a fool. She had always seen herself as the star of the show, but now, she realized she was the biggest joke of all. Still, she refused to back down. Fixing Lindsey with a steely gaze, she snapped, ¡°Lindsey, did you forge that invitation? Or you stole it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Lindsey chuckled at the absurdity. She crossed her arms and tilted her head. ¡°Oh, sweetie, these invitations have anti-counterfeiting marks.Material ? N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s obvious if they¡¯re real or fake. Plus, my name is right there, can¡¯t you read? Personalized, remember? If I had stolen it, why would my name be on it?¡± The truth was, Rachel¡¯s invitation didn¡¯t have a name. As Jordan¡¯s daughter, the invitation was just a formality. Brady had added the name himself. ¡°Well¡­¡± Kristy stammered, at a loss for words. Becker, who had been watching the exchange, stepped in and grabbed her arm. ¡°Stop it, Kristy,¡± he hissed. ¡°Acting like a snob here is the worst thing you can do here! She is a VIP of the Walsh Group. We can¡¯t afford to offend her. Keep quiet, or you¡¯ll have to leave!¡± Despite Kristy¡¯s efforts to win Becker¡¯s favor recently, he was a businessman first. Profit would alwayse before personal rtionships. He wasn¡¯t going to jeopardize his connections with the Walsh Group for her sake. ¡°Mr. Finch, please, don¡¯t do this to me. I¡­ I¡¯m¡­¡± Kristy stammered, tears welling up in her eyes, her voice breaking. She couldn¡¯t believe she was the one being scolded like this. She felt utterly humiliated. When Becker mentioned snobbery, wasn¡¯t he guilty of the same? How did Lindsey be a distinguished guest of the Walsh Group while she had to cling to this old man¡¯s whims? Kristy fumed internally. But she needed the man; she depended on him. So, despite her anger, she clung to Becker¡¯s arm and chose to stay silent, biting her Lip to keep from saying more. AngsLibrary Lindsey, seeing this, smirked. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you,¡± she said sweetly, then turned and confidently strode onto the cruise ship. Kristy¡¯s eyes burned with rage. She swore today was not the day that Lindsey would get away with this! Lindsey stepped onto the cruise ship and was instantly dazzled by the opulent interior. Crystal chandeliers adorned the pathway to the banquet hall as if they were strewn about with carefree abandon. The vibrant Lights illuminated the space as though it were midday, and the ss mirrors reflected Lindsey¡¯s slender silhouette. As Lindsey gazed at her reflection, she felt a sense of disorientation. Here she was, where wealth and power converged in their most concentrated forms. She felt overwhelmingly insignificant, acutely aware that she might never truly belong to such a privileged circle. How would she ever manage to negotiate with the haughty CEO of Vitality Groupter on? Facing the mirrored ss, she rehearsed her words before mustering the courage to enter the banquet hall. The hall itself was even more astonishing. Gold, crystal, diamonds¡ª every symbol of the world¡¯s utmost Luxury was on disy. Even the wine sses were crafted from gold. Waiters in tuxedos glided through the hall, carrying fine wines. Every detail exuded extravagance and opulence. Chapter 925 Lindsey took a deep breath, striving to maintain herposure and not appear as if she were out of her depth. The banquet hall was teeming with guests. People clustered in groups, chatting and exchanging pleasantries, most of them simply basking in the grandeur. Lindsey felt out of ce. No one seemed to notice her. Not inclined to socialize, she retreated to a corner. She found an empty seat, sat down, and began scanning the room for any sign of the CEO. Meanwhile, Kristy made a call to Carole. ¡°Miss Larson, why is Lindsey at today¡¯s event?¡± It was through Carole that Kristy learned about the Walsh Group¡¯s celebration. Without this insider information, Kristy would have been entirely unaware of the event, given her social standing. By a stroke of luck, she had encountered Becker at a cocktail party. Among all her connections, Becker held the highest status. Knowing that Becker was qualified to attend the Walsh Group¡¯s event, she had persistently persuaded him to bring her along. Given the opportunity to attend such an exclusive event, Kristy¡¯s eyes naturally gravitated towards the more distinguished young men, particrly Domenic, who modestly concealed his brilliance.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! She knew she couldn¡¯t be an actress forever; her ultimate ambition was to marry a wealthy man. She had nned to use this event to get close to Domenic, but encountering Lindsey there was an unexpected and infuriating twist. Hearing Kristy¡¯s words, Carole was taken aback and said, ¡°Did you say Lindsey is here?¡± ¡°Yes. Somehow, she got hold of a gold-ted invitation. She humiliated me outside just now, and I¡¯m furious. ¡± Kristy was on the verge of cursing but restrained herself in the presence of so many influential people. Carole smiled. ¡°A gold-ted invitation, huh? I didn¡¯t expect her to have such connections. I was the one who tipped her off about this event. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure she leaves in tears tonight. ¡± Kristy was momentarily stunned and then asked, ¡°You mean you lured Lindsey here just to embarrass her?¡± Carole just smiled, offering no response. Kristy immediately grasped Carole¡¯s meaning and felt a surge of relief. The anger that had been simmering in her heart dissipated. Bunny Bookery ¡°I see. Then I won¡¯t worry. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing Lindsey suffer. ¡± ¡°I have other matters to attend to. I must go now,¡± Carole said, ready to hang up. But Kristy called out loudly, ¡°Wait a moment, Miss Larson. I wanted to ask you about someone. ¡± ¡°Who?¡± Carole asked, frowning impatiently. With a blush coloring her cheeks, Kristy said, ¡°Do you happen to know Domenic Walsh?¡± Carole¡¯s eyes widened instantly. Gripping the phone tighter, she asked, ¡°Why do you want to know about him?¡± ¡°To be honest, Domenic is Lindsey¡¯s ex-boyfriend. I know he¡¯s from the Walsh family, but I¡¯m not sure of his position within the Walsh Group. And, well, the reason I asked is because I have a crush on him,¡± Kristy admitted confidently. Unbeknownst to Kristy, a shadow fell across Carole¡¯s face as she listened on the other end of the line. Kristy had feelings for Domenic? This revtion caught Carole off guard, casting a sudden chill over her demeanor. Little did Kristy realize that her words had pierced Carole¡¯s heart like an unexpected arrow. Carole had assumed that by removing Lindsey from the equation, Domenic would remain firmly within her grasp. She never imagined a would-be rival lurking so close, coveting her beloved fianc¨¦. Carole simmered with a mixture of surprise and indignation, a tempest brewing beneath her calm exterior. Yet, she maintained her poise, masking her turmoil behind a facade of cool indifference. With a measured tone, she responded, ¡°I¡¯m acquainted with him. You¡¯ll have the chance to see him soon enough. ¡± ¡°Is he here today as well?¡± Kristy¡¯s excitement bubbled over, unaware of the storm brewing on the other end of the line. With a chilling smile, Carole replied, ¡°Indeed, he¡¯s present today, and it will be a delightful surprise for you. Patience, my dear. ¡± Chapter 926 Kristy tried to speak again, but Carole had already disconnected the call. What was this ¡®surprise¡¯ Carole mentioned? Anticipation fluttered in Kristy¡¯s heart. Considering Lindsey¡¯s presence, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what would happen when Lindsey saw Domenic. The thought alone made Kristy bristle with anticipation for the drama that was sure to unfold. In the corner, Lindsey sat isted, her gaze scanning the room fruitlessly for the CEO.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Eventually, she rose, deciding to take a more active approach in her search. As she did, a sudden tap on her shoulder made her turn. Carole stood there, her smile wide and inviting. ¡°Lindsey,¡± said Carole. The sight of a familiar face brought a surge of warmth to Lindsey. Carole¡¯s smile was tinged with intrigue. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to actually show up. ¡± ¡°The effort was significant, but necessary,¡± Lindsey replied, her gaze sweeping the room. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Walsh apanying you?¡± she queried. ¡°He¡¯s handling some urgent business at the office. He¡¯ll join uster,¡± Carole replied with a gentle shake of her head. ¡°Got it. ¡± With the CEO yet to arrive, Lindsey decided to stay put and wait. Carole¡¯s eyes roamed over Lindsey, who, dressed in a pristine white gown, glowed with an almost celestial purity. A twinge of envy colored Carole¡¯s perception. ¡°Miss Stewart, please take a seat. I have other matters to attend to, so I can¡¯t stay with you,¡± Carole stated, her tone courteous yet distant. . . Library After bidding Lindsey a polite farewell, Carole drifted towards the center of the banquet hall, where she quietly confided in Kristy. Their shared secretive smiles hinted at the scheming beneath their innocent exteriors. With their plot in motion, Kristy signaled a waiter and ordered a cup of ck coffee. Kristy approached Lindsey with a coffee cup in hand. Lindsey was bent over the table, checking her phone, when she heard Kristy¡¯s voice behind her. ¡°Lindsey. ¡± Choosing to ignore her, Lindsey acted as though she hadn¡¯t heard Kristy at all. ¡°Lindsey!¡± Frustrated by Lindsey¡¯s apparent disregard, Kristy reached out and firmly grasped Lindsey¡¯s arm, attempting to pull her to her feet. Lindsey quickly shrugged off Kristy¡¯s grip, stood up, and turned to confront her. Just as she was about to speak, Kristy doused the ck coffee over Lindsey¡¯s pristine white dress. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Miss Stewart. It was an ident,¡± Kristy said, immediately putting on an innocent look. Chapter 927 Lindsey gave a coldugh. Kristy had deliberately spilled coffee on her, yet she imed it was idental. Who was she trying to fool? Now stained, Lindsey¡¯s white dress was ruined, making it impossible for her to face anyone at the event. Kristy, arms crossed over her chest, seemed to relish Lindsey¡¯s difort and the mockery it invited. However, Lindsey was far from the flustered, angry mess Kristy had anticipated. Calmly, she picked up a ss of red wine from the table and without a second thought, flung it across Kristy¡¯s face. . . LibraryConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Caught off guard, Kristy stood frozen, her face and hair sticky with wine, which dribbled down her cheeks and stained her red dress. ¡°Lindsey! What are you doing?¡± Kristy erupted in anger. ¡°You give me coffee, so I¡¯ll toast you with a ss of wine. Courtesy demands reciprocity,¡± Lindsey retorted, standing her ground with aposed indifference that sharply contrasted Kristy¡¯s furious demeanor. Kristy¡¯s loud outburst captured the attention of everyone in the hall. All eyes turned to Kristy, her head and face drenched in wine. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the famous actress? Why does she look like a drowned mouse?¡± ¡°I just saw her douse that woman opposite her with coffee. And that woman, she¡¯s tough too-she retaliated with a ss of wine right on the actress. Incredible. ¡± ¡°Who is the woman opposite her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure who she is, but she seems familiar. ¡± Kristy wished for a ce to disappear. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Lindsey¡¯s bold response. She had aimed to humiliate Lindsey, yet she ended up the most humiliated. At that moment, a figure approached the two calmly. It was Carole. She looked at them with concern. ¡°What happened here? Your outfits are ruined. How will you attend the event now? Look, I have some spare clothes here. Why don¡¯t you change into them?¡± Soaked and miserable, Kristy clenched her fists. She shot Lindsey a re, then turned to Carole and muttered, ¡°Alright. ¡± Carole signaled a staff member, who then escorted Kristy to the dressing room. Turning to Lindsey, Carole said, ¡°Lindsey, that dress won¡¯t do anymore. I have one that will fit you perfectly. Follow me. ¡± Aware she couldn¡¯t wander around in her stained dress, Lindsey nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you so much. ¡± Carole led Lindsey into her room and pulled a finely tailored pink dress from the closet. Adorned with pearls, the dress radiated a gentle yet morous aura. She held it out to Lindsey with a smile. ¡°Feel free to change into this if you like,¡± Carole offered. Lindsey, unaware of any underlying issues, epted the dress, her brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit toovish?¡± Chapter 928 Carole¡¯s smile widened subtly. ¡°Actually, this is one of the more understated pieces in my collection. ¡± Lindsey nodded, piecing things together. Given that Carole was engaged to the CEO of Vitality Group, it stood to reason that her wardrobe was filled with custom pieces from high-end designers. By those standards, this dress was indeed rtively simple. ¡°Thank you, Miss Larson. I¡¯ll be sure to clean it and return it to you after the event,¡± Lindsey said, appreciative. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about returning it. It¡¯s yours to keep. I have many others,¡± Carole responded with a soft, reassuring smile. As she prepared to leave, Carole added, ¡°The celebration will start soon. I¡¯ll head down first. Please, change quickly and join us. ¡± ¡°Will do,¡± Lindsey replied, nodding. Once Carole stepped out and the door clicked shut behind her, the corners of her mouth curled into a sly, almost sinister smile. AngsLibrary Lindsey slipped into the pink dress and examined her reflection. The dress hugged her perfectly. She stored her old clothes away, opened the door, and stepped out. Meanwhile, the banquet hall buzzed with activity as Jordan arrived on the scene. The guests had all found their seats. Jordan nced at the wall clock and was about to ask Carole why Domenic waste, but just then, the door swung open. Domenic made his entrance in a ck, bespoke suit, his dark red tie adorned with a delicate gold filigree pattern. His shoes were ck leather with striking red soles. He moved with an unhurried grace, his presencemanding and regal, capturing the attention of everyone in the room. His features were sharp and pronounced, his lips a thin line of cool detachment. As he walked by, he exuded the undeniable aura of a king. At the far end of the hall, Kristy caught sight of Domenic instantly. A surge of excitement nearly propelled her from her seat, but she remained seated, mindful of Becker beside her. Yet, her eyes remained fixed on Domenic, unable to look away. The guests murmured, specting about the identity of this enigmatic, affluent figure until he reached Jordan¡¯s side. ¡°Grandpa,¡± Domenic greeted him in a subdued tone. Jordan¡¯s initial annoyance faded as he noted Domenic¡¯s timely arrival, his irritation swiftly melting away. Jordan rose from his chair, casting a nce over the gathered crowd. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, today marks the 5@th anniversary of the Walsh Group. It¡¯s my honor to introduce a special guest,¡± he announced, his voice filling the room. ¡°This is my grandson, the CEO of Vitality Group, Domenic Walsh. ¡± A murmur swept through the assembly as it dawned on everyone that Domenic was not only Jordan¡¯s favored grandson but also the elusive, legendary CEO of Vitality Group whose face few had seen. The room fell into a brief, awestruck silence. Despite many in the crowd having dealings with Vitality Group, quite a few business magnates were seeing its CEO for the first time.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g! They marveled at Domenic¡¯s remarkableposure and enviable fortune. How did he get so lucky to be born into such a prestigious family? They wondered. Domenic wasn¡¯t just privileged; he was also hardworking and skilled, earning Jordan¡¯s endorsement. Young, sessful, and strikingly handsome, he seemed to personify life¡¯s unfair blessings. The thought of their own families¡¯ less impressive heirs prompted a silent, collective shake of the head and sighs of dismay. Chapter 929 Carole stood motionless, captivated. Domenic¡¯s striking appearance had caught the eye of several prominent young women in the room. Sneaking nces at him, her heart raced. Jealousy red within her as she noticed other women¡¯s covetous looks, her poised demeanor nearly cracking under the strain. She was determined. He would be hers. Kristy, too, was taken aback. Did she hear it wrong? Domenic, the very CEO of Vitality Group, was ted to be Carole¡¯s fianc¨¦. As she observed Carole gazing adoringly at Domenic, her head felt like it might burst. The realization that she had unknowingly been coborating closely with her main romantic rival felt horrible. Leaning against the wall, Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, his lips sealed in silence. He understood that Jordan had his reasons for every action; discussions or solicitations of his opinion were off the table. Domenic¡¯s role was merely toply. ¡°There¡¯s someone else I want to introduce to you guys,¡± Jordan announced. AngsLibrary Seizing Carole¡¯s hand, he ced it firmly into Domenic¡¯s. Domenic instinctively tried to pull back, but Jordan pressed down on his hand, fixing him with a stern re. Annoyance washed over Domenic. ¡°This is Domenic¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Carole Larson. ¡± No sooner had Jordan spoken these words than the hall door creaked open loudly. The noise sliced through the silence of the hall. Every head turned toward the entrance. Lindsey entered, adorned in a pink dress that mirrored Carole¡¯s. The room gasped in surprise, eyes wide with astonishment. Why was she dressed exactly like Carole?Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The hall was deathly quiet. Jordan couldn¡¯t help but gape at the woman who¡¯d just entered. A frown creased his brow. Domenic, beside him, remained impassive, though his free hand clenched subtly into a fist. That was Lindsey? This event was an exclusive affair. Entry without an invitation was impossible. So how had she gotten in? Domenic stole a nce at Carole beside him. Her elegant smile remained unfazed by Lindsey¡¯s arrival. A realization dawned on him, furrowing his brow further. His eyes narrowed. Lindsey slipped into the hall, noticing the ongoing speech on stage. She ducked low to avoid disrupting the speaker. Muttering apologies, she scanned for her seat, following the designated number row by row. As she navigated towards the front, the entire hall turned to stare. Chapter 930 Lindsey was mortified. The invitation Brady had given her ced her right in the VIP section, and her tardiness for only amplified her embarrassment. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she muttered, navigating through the crowd to her seat. Sinking into it, she released a shaky breath. Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, she straightened her posture, feigningposure as she gazed ahead. Then, in a split second, she froze. A familiar, tall, and handsome figure amidst the crowd caught her eye. At first, she dismissed it as a trick of the light. She rubbed her dry eyes and refocused. Her pupils dted, and her face drained of color. . . Library There was no mistaking him. Domenic, with his signature aura of nobility and coldness. It couldn¡¯t be anyone else. But why? Why was he here? Why was he standing next to Carole, their hands intertwined? Lindsey felt like a vise was mping around her heart, momentarily stealing her breath. Stuck in a daze, she stared at Domenic, a horrifying thought blooming in her mind. Could it be¡­ ¡°Who is that?¡± Jordan demanded, spotting Lindsey upying the VIP seat originally reserved for Rachel. ¡°Lindsey? Why is she here?¡± Carole¡¯s feigned surprise was evident in her muttered response, instantly picked up by Jordan.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Lindsey Stewart?¡± A dark cloud settled over Jordan¡¯s face, his good mood evaporating. ¡°What is she doing here? And why is she wearing the same dress as Carole? Is this some kind of sick joke?¡± Domenic, witnessing Jordan¡¯s rising anger culminating in a mmed cane, narrowed his eyes and summoned Hendrix with a raised hand. ¡°That woman must be lost. Escort her out. ¡± Hendrix¡¯s heart hammered in his chest as he approached Lindsey. He took a deep breath,posing himself before reaching her side. Leaning in, he whispered, ¡°Miss Stewart, pleasee with me. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s gaze flicked to Hendrix. A flicker of recognition sparked in her mind ¡ª he was the assistant who¡¯d represented the Vitality Group CEO at Carole¡¯s engagement party. Seeing Domenic dispatch Hendrix confirmed her suspicions. A shard of ice pierced her heart, stealing her breath. ¡°Miss Stewart, are you alright?¡± Hendrix¡¯s concern was evident as he observed her pained expression and clutched chest. ¡°Let¡¯s step outside. I can exin this. ¡± When Lindsey met his gaze again, her eyes zed a fiery red. She swiveled her head to steal a silent nce at Domenic. A sardonic sneer twisted her lips. She¡¯d believed she knew Domenic inside and out. Now, a stark realization dawned ¡ª she¡¯d been utterly clueless. The urge to confront Domenic was overwhelming, but a sliver of sanity prevailed. She was there for a purpose ¡ª to meet the Vitality Group CEO and reim her mother¡¯spany. She wouldn¡¯t let her personal turmoil derail her mission. Especially considering Sumner¡¯s warning against causing a scene. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 931 So, she dug her nails into her palms, swallowing the pain without a whimper. Rising slowly from her seat, Lindsey remained silent. Following Hendrix, she steeled herself for a tactical retreat. Just then, a harsh voice cut through the air, halting them in their tracks. ¡°Wait!¡± Hendrix immediately froze. Recognizing Jordan¡¯s voice, he stopped in his tracks, too cautious to move. . . Library Lindsey turned to face Jordan¡¯s grim expression. ¡°Miss, you are not invited. How did you manage to get in?¡± Jordan¡¯s tone was heavy, almost suffocating. His question sparked murmurs throughout the hall. ¡°It¡¯s shocking that someone managed to crash the Walsh family¡¯s banquet. Who is this woman? How did she pull it off? And she¡¯s even dressed like Jordan Walsh¡¯s future granddaughter-inw. Clearly, she¡¯s here to cause a scene. ¡± ¡°What right does she have to be here? Compared to Miss Larson, shecks manners. She¡¯s only embarrassing herself by being here. ¡± ¡°Do you think she has some secret rtionship with the CEO of the Vitality Group?¡± ¡°He has such a graceful and gentle fianc¨¦e. Why even look elsewhere? In my view, it seems this woman has gone to great lengths to win him over. Trust me, that type of determination can be quite intimidating. ¡± ¡°She¡¯s utterly shameless¡­¡± Carole listened to the gossip with a smirk, trying hard to keep her delight from showing too openly. Lindsey heard everything.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. She nced at Domenic, who stood aloof, and Carole, who appeared dignified and graceful beside him. They looked perfect together, while she felt like a fool. It felt as though her heart was being ripped apart. He was Carole¡¯s fianc¨¦? and the CEO of the Vitality Group? So that was the reality? That was the truth? Lindsey bit her lip so hard that a drop of blood formed. Domenic had told her Carole was just his cousin, that he had no connections with the Walsh Group, and that he was merely an ordinary man. Lindsey had believed every word, but he had trampled on her trust and her feelings, crushing thempletely. Only now did she see that he hadn¡¯t told her a single truth. Everything he said was a lie. Had he broken up with her because he was tired of the game? Lindsey felt she was close to copsing. She clung to thest shred of herposure to keep from breaking down here. She was determined not to let him see her broken and defeated. Then Lindsey turned to Carole, noticing they were dressed identically. At that moment, she grasped all of Carole¡¯s motives. When Carole was getting ready for her engagement party, Carole had insisted that she join her. Carole had even convinced her to go ring shopping together, making it seem like a special outing. Little did she know; Carole knew about her rtionship with Domenic long ago. It was all part of a n against her. She now realized that Carole had aimed to humiliate her by telling her Domenic was her man. Moreover, Carole had intentionally given her a dress identical to hers, exposing her to ridicule and disdainful nces. After all, in the eyes of everyone, how could she everpare to Domenic¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Chapter 932 What a scheming woman! Lindsey snorted and secretly clenched her fists. They were eager to see her embarrass herself, but she was determined not to give them that satisfaction. Finally, Lindsey¡¯s gaze settled on Jordan, the old man with amanding air, clearly the esteemed leader of the Walsh Group. Taking a deep breath, Lindsey spoke firmly yet respectfully. ¡°I didn¡¯t sneak in. I walked in with an official invitation. ¡± ¡°An invitation?¡± Jordan scowled and demanded authoritatively, ¡°Why do you have an invitation? Tell me, who invited you?¡± ¡°Grandpa,¡± Domenic cut in. ¡°Today is a significant day. Let¡¯s not ruin the mood over someone who doesn¡¯t matter. ¡± He then nced sternly at Hendrix. ¡°Hendrix, please escort thisdy out. We can address any issues after the event. ¡± As Domenic spoke, his eyes flickered coldly toward Lindsey. Lindsey couldn¡¯t take her eyes off Domenic. The longer she watched him, the deeper her sadness grew.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Someone who doesn¡¯t matter?¡± Jordan scoffed, giving Lindsey a sharp look. ¡°She has repeatedly opposed the Walsh Group and even provoked us openly, What is she implying by wearing the same dress as Carole? Is she trying to steal your attention and be your wife?¡± ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s merely a coincidence. Don¡¯t overthink it,¡± Domenic responded, his patience wearing thin. Concerned that Lindsey¡¯s continued presence might cause further issues, he urgently needed to ensure her safety, so he called out sternly, ¡°Hendri: ¡°Miss Stewart, pleasee with me. ¡± Hendrix promptly took action, grabbing Lindsey¡¯s wrist. His main responsibility was to follow Domenic¡¯smands. Now he got the final instruction from Domenic. That was to escort Lindsey out. Lindsey stood firm and shrugged off Hendrix¡¯s grasp. She smiled and turned to Jordan. ¡°You asked who invited me, right?¡± Slowly, she raised her arm and pointed at Domenic. ¡°He did. Domenic Walsh invited me. ¡± Instantly, the room erupted in shock. ¡°Holy shit! What a shocking news. ¡± ¡°Could she be the woman Domenic has been seeing secretly?¡± ¡°Poor Miss Larson¡­¡± Jordan¡¯s frown deepened, his eyes darkening. ¡°Ridiculous! How could Domenic have invited you?¡± ¡°You might want to ask him why he invited me and why he got involved with someone like me,¡± Lindsey retorted with a serene smile. ¡°And perhaps you should ask Miss Larson why she insisted I wear the same dress as hers. What is she afraid of?¡± Lindsey stood tall, her hands clenched, worried she might copse if she moved. Chapter 933 Murmurs spread through the hall. ¡°Yes, she wore a different dress when she arrived.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡± ¡°I saw it too. It was Carole who took her to change. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange¡­ Why would Miss Larson do that?¡± Initially, Carole hoped to see Lindsey break down or flee in humiliation, but instead, Lindsey stoodposed and unshaken. With a few pointed remarks, Lindsey directed all suspicions toward Carole and Domenic. Carole became nervous. ¡°Lindsey, don¡¯t talk nonsense. I noticed your outfit was a bit messy earlier, so I suggested we go to my room for you to change. It was a surprise when you picked out the same dress as mine. You¡¯re the one with ulterior motives. ¡± Jordan, however, sided with Carole, convinced that Lindsey was just making excuses. In his eyes, this woman was known for her cunning and strategic maneuvers. . . Library Yet, her statements caused him to turn his attention to Domenic. He asked, ¡°Domenic, what¡¯s all this about?¡± Jordan needed to hear it straight from Domenic to put his mind at ease. Domenic looked down, remaining silent. Before he could speak, Carole interjected, ¡°If Domenic doesn¡¯t want to discuss it, please don¡¯t press him. I¡¯m sure he has his reasons. Perhaps their interaction was strictly business and nothing more. ¡± Carole¡¯s words seemed to defend Lindsey and Domenic, but actually they deepened the suspicions about their rtionship. Jordan instantly became furious. ¡°Am I pressing him? I just want to know what¡¯s happening today. Domenic, did you invite her? What is your rtionship with this woman? If you don¡¯t rify things, you can forget about inheriting the Walsh Group. ¡± It was inappropriate for Jordan to speak so bluntly in front of all the guests, but he was already quite dissatisfied with Lindsey. He had previously arranged for someone to get rid of Lindsey, but not only did she appear unscathed, but she openly caused a scene at such an important event. It was clear that she didn¡¯t respect his authority. Jordan was no fool. He knew that if Lindsey could act boldly, she must have powerful support. And the only person bold enough to defy him was Domenic. He always thought highly of Domenic and nned to entrust him with thepany¡¯s future. But now, Domenic kept a woman secretly and even allowed her to disrupt the celebration. Moreover, wasn¡¯t this woman previously involved with Emilio? What was her connection to Domenic now? For the first time, Jordan felt overwhelmed when things were out of control. The anxiety and frustration were too much for him. He hadn¡¯t felt genuinely angry for a long time; usually, his anger was just for show. But today, he was truly enraged. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, instinctively clutching it and staggering backward. Seeing this, both Carole and Domenic were rmed and moved to assist Jordan. However, Jordan brushed aside Domenic¡¯s offered hand and steadied himself by grabbing Carole¡¯s arm. ¡°Domenic, your grandpa is sick and shouldn¡¯t be upset. Speak up and calm him down,¡± Carole urged Domenic urgently, signaling for him to defuse the situation. Chapter 934 Watching his grandpa¡¯s distress, Domenic clenched his fists.Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. At that moment, Rupert, seated in the VIP area, stood up and looked at Domenic earnestly. ¡°Domenic, stop pissing off Dad and rify things now. What exactly is your connection with this Miss Stewart? Is she your secret lover? And is she the reason you missed the engagement party before? Did you have her wear the same dress as Carole just to humiliate Carole? Domenic, don¡¯t forget Carole is your fianc¨¦e. You may not be fond of her, but you shouldn¡¯t treat her this way. ¡± After Rupert intentionally asked these questions, Jordan¡¯s expression grew even more grim. Jordan fixed his gaze on Domenic, as if he had never known his grandson at all. ¡°Domenic, speak up. rify this now. ¡± Jordan pointed usingly at Domenic, his breathing bing heavy. Domenic¡¯s gaze moved from Rupert to Carole, finally settling firmly on Jordan, who was still standing there upright, with sharp and deep eyes, like a king who looked down upon everything. Domenic responded calmly, ¡°Grandpa, today marks a significant asion for the Walsh Group. I¡¯ll discuss these matters with you after the celebration. ¡± At those words, Jordan felt a sudden stab of pain in his chest. Domenic¡¯s decision to postpone the discussion almost seemed to confirm suspicions of his involvement with Lindsey. Otherwise, why wouldn¡¯t he clear the air immediately instead of waiting until the event concluded? Jordan attempted to steady his breathing. As the chairman of the Walsh Group, he had weathered many challenges. Years ago, Domenic¡¯s father had defied him by secretly marrying Domenic¡¯s mother and renouncing his inheritance to lead a simpler life with her. He had borne those trials. He kept telling himself there was little he couldn¡¯t withstand. But he was determined not to let Domenic repeat his father¡¯s mistakes. Wasn¡¯t the inheritance of the Walsh Group what Domenic always wanted? He had intended to make a crucial announcement today, but now, he reconsidered. With Carole¡¯s support, Jordan approached Domenic and fixed him with a gaze, his murky, shrewd eyes brimming with hostility. Jordan¡¯s voice was cold as he gestured towards Lindsey, who stood nearby and said to Domenic, ¡°Today, I need a clear answer from you. Do you choose her or the inheritance of the Walsh Group?¡± The question caused a stir among the onlookers, who exchanged bewildered nces. The choice seemed obvious¡ªhow could anyone choose a woman over the Walsh Group? After all, it was well-known that the CEO of the Vitality Group had dedicated years to building his business empire just to vie for the position of the Walsh Group heir. Would he give up such an inheritance for a woman, especially one with humble background? It seemed impossible. Meanwhile, Kristy, seated in the back, watched eagerly with arms folded and a smirk ying on her lips. She was ready for the drama to unfold, certain that Domenic would decisively discard Lindsey. Domenic met Jordan¡¯s gaze but remained silent. Jordan¡¯s frown deepened as he continued, ¡°If you choose the Walsh Group I¡¯ll grant you that one percent of the shares you need right now. You¡¯ll be thergest shareholder and the next chairman. ¡± As soon as these words came out of Jordan¡¯s mouth, Rupert stood up from his seat in a hurry. He had hoped to use the situation with Lindsey to suppress Domenic and turn Jordan against Domenic. He hadn¡¯t anticipated Jordan turning this into an opportunity for Domenic to make a choice. How could Domenic possibly give up the inheritance? Rupert was agitated. After striving for years to secure his ce as the heir to the Walsh Group, he couldn¡¯t just watch Jordan offer it to Domenic. ¡°Dad, just because Domenic might choose the Walsh Group outwardly doesn¡¯t guarantee he won¡¯t keep seeing this woman secretly. Don¡¯t let him deceive you. He¡¯s been keeping too much from you. ¡± Jordan gave a derisive snort, fixed his gaze on Domenic, and said cruel words in the calmest tone, ¡°If you choose the Walsh Group, I will ensure Miss Stewart is relocated far from here, never to cross your path again. But if you choose her, you are effectively giving up your right to inherit the Walsh Group. I will seek another suitable sessor within our family. You will lose all ims to the inheritance. Have you made up your mind?¡± Chapter 935 Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened, a mix of fear and surprise flickering across her face. Lindsey had heard plenty about the fate of mistresses entangled in the conflicts of affluent and influential families. Though Jordan didn¡¯t explicitly state it, she sensed that his mention of sending her far away held grave implications. It could potentially shatter her entire life. She attended this event solely to reim her mother¡¯spany. She never anticipated stumbling upon Domenic¡¯s true identity, unwittingly bing entangled in the power struggle of his family. She gazed up at Domenic¡¯s handsome profile, only to find him still indifferent, not even sparing her a nce. Lindsey¡¯s heart plummeted, sinking as though trapped beneath the icy surface of a winterke, losing warmth with each descent. Domenic had shown no inclination to divulge his true identity, leaving her to grapple with the realization that she had been naively yed all along. How could he ever choose her now? The heirs of affluent and influential ns were renowned for their coldness and ruthlessness. Lindsey harbored no illusions¡ªDomenic would undoubtedly forsake her to attain the power and wealth he coveted. Tears welled in Lindsey¡¯s eyes as she recollected the counsel of her mother, brother, and Sumner.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. They had all discerned something amiss with Domenic, but she had remained steadfast in her belief in him and alienated those closest to her. The promises she once held dear, the vows she once believed in¡ªthey were all deceitful, all a facade. She felt like the greatest fool alive. Clutching her chest, she tasted blood in her mouth. The agony coursing through her surpassed even the betrayal inflicted by Chayce and Kendra¡¯s affair. It gnawed at her bones and pierced her heart with relentless arrows, leaving her writhing in anguish. Theposure and resolve she had struggled to maintain teetered on the brink of copse. Her gaze remained fixed on Domenic, the man who had captured her heart, the demon poised to cast her into the abyss. If he chose to abandon her, she swore she would not passively await her fate. AngsLibrary She resolved to kill herself rather than allow them to inflict further pain upon her. In her mind, she braced herself for the worst. Domenic¡¯s frigid gaze darkened, a faint frown creasing his brow. The prolonged silence cast a pall of tension over the hall, each attendee holding their breath in anticipation of Domenic¡¯s decision. ¡°Domenic, what are you hesitating about? Isn¡¯t inheriting the Walsh Group what you¡¯ve always desired?¡± Observing the impassive expression on Domenic¡¯s face, Carole nced at Lindsey. With a resigned sigh, she bit her lip, then, summoning her resolve, she seized Jordan¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Walsh, if Domenic and Miss Stewart truly care for each other, I am willing to step aside. Please don¡¯t pressure him any further. I am unworthy of wearing the dress you selected for me. ¡± As Carole moved to remove her dress, Jordan intervened hastily, his heart hardened. He motioned for the butler to approach and whispered something in his ear. Soon, his butler produced a share transfer agreement, prepared in advance by Jordan. Jordan had meticulously arranged this agreement beforehand, intending to transfer the stake to Domenic during the announcement of his marriage to Caroleter that evening. Jordan¡¯s seal was prominently embossed upon it. With a forceful gesture, Jordan tossed the agreement before Domenic, delivering an ultimatum. ¡°Sign this, and the Walsh Group is yours. Domenic, do not disappoint me. ¡± Chapter 936 ¡°Dad, your decision is rash. Can¡¯t we discuss it after the event?¡± Rupert interjected. ¡°Shut up!¡± Jordan¡¯s rebuke was sharp and unforgiving. Matters had reached a critical juncture. If Domenic failed to dere his stance, Jordan felt his reputation would suffer. Both he and the Walsh Group would be objects of ridicule in the business world. Jordan never anticipated Domenic¡¯s choice of Lindsey. He had meticulously cleared all obstacles for Domenic, intending to hand over the Walsh Group to him. All he required was for Domenic to assert his intentions publicly. Yet, as Domenic beheld the share transfer agreement he had long envisioned, he remained motionless, refusing to make a move. The assembled guests exchanged puzzled nces, their confusion palpable. What was happening? Why hadn¡¯t Domenic seized the share transfer agreement? What could be causing his hesitation? As spection buzzed throughout the room, Domenic extended his hand and retrieved the share transfer agreement. Whispers snaked through the throng again. ¡°See, I told you! He can¡¯t possibly refuse, can he?¡±Property ? 2024 N0(v)elDrama.Org. ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a nobody. How could she possibly hold a candle to the Walsh Group? There are plenty of single women in this world. He could always keep his options open. ¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, then. We should move on from this mess, I guess?¡± A sly smile yed on Carole¡¯s lips as the whispers reached her ears. Domenic had finally given up on Lindsey. From now on, she¡¯d marry Domenic while Lindsey was just a passing fancy of his, a discarded pawn after use. Lindsey could never win her again. Carole basked in the illusion of a secure future. Jordan let out a satisfied sigh, his features softening. ¡°Domenic,¡± he began, ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t disappoint¡­¡± His words were cut short as Domenic, eyes squeezed shut, murmured, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m sorry. ¡± Jordan¡¯s gaze snapped to Domenic, a mix of disbelief and confusion clouding his face. Carole, too, was caught off guard, her eyes widening in bewilderment. ¡°Domenic, what are you on about?¡± she demanded. Domenic¡¯s eyes, when he opened them, glittered with a steely determination. He snatched the share agreement and, with a dramatic flourish, tore it to shreds. The paper scraps fluttered down like mournful snowkes. A stunned silence descended upon the room. All eyes were glued to the scene unfolding before them. Chapter 937 Domenic strode towards Lindsey, stopping before her. He met her gaze, captivated by the subtle tremor of her delicate features. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he spoke in that familiar, maic voice that had sent shivers down her spine countless times. ¡°Linds,¡± he murmured, ¡°as long as my heart beats, I¡¯ll be your shield. ¡± His hand gently enveloped hers, his touch reverent, as if cradling a precious treasure. ¡°Forgive me,¡± he whispered. ¡°I lied. But one thing has never been a lie ¨C my love for you. ¡± Lindsey, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, stared at him, her mind a whirlwind. ¡°But when you ended things,¡± she stammered, ¡°you said you didn¡¯t love me anymore. ¡± Domenic chuckled softly. ¡°Forgive me again,¡± he said. ¡°Seems I lied about that too. A terrible man, I am. He gazed at her intently, his voiceced with vulnerability. ¡°So, will you¡­¡± AngsLibrary His voice trailed off, the question hanging in the air. ¡°Will you trust me again?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Uncertainty gnawed at Lindsey¡¯s heart. This was a turn of events she hadn¡¯t anticipated. Domenic had chosen her. But why? He¡¯d lied, toyed with her emotions for so long. Was this just another cruel game? For a moment, her mind went nk. She felt utterly bewildered, adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Could she trust him again? Part of her yearned to believe, but the scars of his past deceit ran deep. Yet, here he stood, the heir to the Walsh empire, throwing it all away for her. Her mind reeled, caught in a maelstrom of conflicting emotions. The room erupted in heated murmurs. Kristy, seated towards the back, gaped in astonishment, her jaw nearly hitting the floor. Carole, her face contorted in disbelief, stumbled back, narrowly avoiding a fall. Domenic¡¯s choice ¡ª it was simply unthinkable! How could he? How dare he? Carole, the epitome of grace and elegance, felt her carefully crafted facade crumble.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Grief surged through her. Domenic valued Lindsey more than any power or wealth. He¡¯d relinquished the Walsh Group to protect her. The dream of bing his wife was shattered. And she had reduced to a mere shadowpared to Lindsey. Carole was furious and couldn¡¯t understand why he would made such a choice. She, his childhood savior, the one who had endured unimaginable pain for him, who had transformed herself into the woman Jordan appreciated ¡ª all for Domenic. How could she be overshadowed by Lindsey? Carole, all her grace and poise dissolving, lurched forward and grasped Domenic¡¯s arm, her voice thick with tears. ¡°Domenic,¡± she sobbed, ¡°you¡¯re lying! How could you choose her? All you ever wanted was the Walsh Group, right?¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze turned icy as he met Carole¡¯s desperate eyes. With a firm movement, he dislodged her hand. ¡°Domenic Walsh! You promised me!¡± Tears choked her voice as she clenched her fists. ¡°I saved your life! You swore to grant me one wish! My only desire is to be your wife!¡± ¡°Carole,¡± he said, his voice devoid of warmth, ¡°you seem to be forgetting something. I said I¡¯d do anything for you, except for this. ¡± Carole¡¯s eyes, bloodshot and wild, fixated on Domenic. A chillingugh escaped her lips. ¡°Except for this one thing, huh? Fine then. ¡± Chapter 938 She shifted her gaze to Domenic and Lindsey, a cruel glint in her eyes. ¡°Then I want you to never marry Lindsey. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes shed cold. He frowned at Carole, his voice tight. ¡°What did you say?¡± Carole dug her nails into her palms. Her eyes, red-rimmed and vengeful, met Domenic¡¯s unblinking stare. ¡°I said you can refuse me to marry me,¡± she repeated. ¡°But you won¡¯t marry Lindsey either. Domenic, don¡¯t forget I once saved your life and you¡¯ve made your promose. You can¡¯t deny it!¡± Domenic¡¯s voice dropped, barely a growl. ¡°Why must you be so unreasonable?¡± A loud thud jolted them both. Jordan mmed his cane onto the floor. Witnessing Domenic rip apart the equity transfer agreement had left him frozen in disbelief. It took a long time for him to process what he¡¯d seen. Domenic had chosen Lindsey? The revtion felt like a mental explosion, worse than when his son married amoner and abandoned the Walsh Group. This was a betrayal that fueled both anger and deep pain. Years of meticulously grooming his sessor had gone to waste. Why would both Domenic and his father sacrifice their futures and thepany for women? They were both crazy! ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re out of line! What do you mean you love her?!¡± Jordan¡¯s voice trembled. He pointed a finger at Lindsey, confusion etched on his face. . . Library ¡°Wasn¡¯t she with Emi¡­? What the hell is going on here?!¡± Domenic stepped forward, shielding Lindsey. He met his grandfather¡¯s scrutiny head-on. ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯ve never considered my feelings. Only your own thoughts and judgments. I never dared tell you because since childhood, any girl who approached me was ruthlessly pushed away. I kept it all hidden, just to protect the woman I love. Emilio said that he bought that ne but he did that to help me. It was my gift for Lindsey. She¡¯s irreceable. Like the red diamond symbolizes, she has my heart.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡± Domenic¡¯s voice, though light, held unwavering strength and determination. Jordan stared at him, bewildered. His grandson felt like a stranger. He believed everything he¡¯d done was for Domenic¡¯s sake to prevent him from repeating his father¡¯s tragic fate. He¡¯d assumed Domenic understood his efforts. Had he been wrong all along? ¡°Ridiculous. This is absurd!¡± Jordan stumbled back, a mix of anger and sadness clouding his face. His butler hurried to his side, offering support. Jordan jabbed a finger at Domenic¡¯s nose. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember how your father died? If he¡¯d listened to me and hadn¡¯t married your mother, he wouldn¡¯t have died young! Do you want to follow in his footsteps?!¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes turned icy as Jordan mentioned his parents. His gaze drifted to the vacant-eyed Rupert standing nearby. A cold sneer crept across his face. His voice wasced with icy pressure. ¡°Grandpa, you know the truth about my parents¡¯ death better than anyone. Do you really want me to air it out in front of everyone? Can you handle the world¡¯s judgment?¡± Following Domenic¡¯s gaze, Jordan saw his second son, Rupert. The car ident all those years ago. . it had been his sons¡¯ doing. He knew. Domenic had every reason to hate his uncles. He always believed the business world was ruthless. Brothers turned against each other; it was unavoidable. Being born into a powerful family was like living with an ax hanging overhead. You could never rx. Domenic¡¯s father, however, seemed to have forgotten this. He¡¯d forgotten the lessons Jordan had instilled. Consumed by a desire for an ordinary life, he failed to realize his very existence threatened others. With better awareness, how could he have been so easily killed by his own brothers? Chapter 939 The truth was, Domenic¡¯s parents paid a harsh price for their naivety. Jordan, though heartbroken, felt more disappointment in his eldest son and hatred towards Domenic¡¯s mother. This was why he¡¯d spent years guarding Domenic from gold-digging social climbers. Now, just like his father, Domenic was a huge letdown to Jordan. This disappointment spilled over onto Lindsey¡ªbut as hatred. Jordan wouldn¡¯t let history repeat. He wished he could get rid of the woman behind Domenic. In his mind, she was the source of Domenic¡¯s failings. Domenic gaze turned cold. ¡°Grandpa, yourst hospitalization, it was just another act, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes flickered. ¡°How did you know?¡± Jordan looked at Domenic, confusion clouding his features. That hospital¡¯s director was a close friend of his. He couldn¡¯t believe the director would spill anything to Domenic.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°I guessed,¡± Domenic said with a chuckle, his voice tinged with both sarcasm and seriousness. ¡°Grandpa, I never thought you¡¯d make light of your own health. You always taught me that to earn respect, you must first respect yourself. Yet here you are, showing no respect for yourself or me. You imed to be disappointed in me, but did you ever consider how disappointed I¡¯d be in your actions?¡± . . Library Domenic had been observing Jordan¡¯s condition closely. If Jordan were truly so ill, he wouldn¡¯t have had the energy to threaten him so vigorously. Domenic¡¯s casual probing had caused Jordan to lose hisposure and reveal the truth. ¡°I¡­ I just¡­¡± Jordan stammered, at a loss for words under Domenic¡¯s sharp retort. ¡°Sir, now is not the time for this. Please reconsider,¡± Jordan¡¯s butler interjected softly. He had never seen Jordan so rattled and tried to calm him down. Jordan, seething with barely contained anger, nced at the opulent banquet hall. The room was filled with influential business leaders from around the globe. The Walsh Group¡¯s reputation was already on thin ice tonight; continuing this dispute could lead to greater, uncontroble consequences. As chairman, he couldn¡¯t let that happen. With great effort, Jordan suppressed his fury and addressed Domenic in a desperate tone. ¡°If you¡¯ve chosen her, then leave. Once you walk out that door, you¡¯re no longer my grandson. ¡± Domenic frowned, his voice a mix of frustration and sorrow. ¡°Grandpa, do you have to be so ruthless? Why can¡¯t I be with the girl I love? Why must I follow your dictates? There¡¯s no reason for these things to be mutually exclusive. Why turn them into an all-or-nothing ultimatum? Does this make you happy?¡± Jordan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his wrinkles deepening. ¡°Yes. In my view, she can¡¯t coexist with the Walsh Group in your life. Either you don¡¯t have me as a grandfather, or you give her up today. Domenic, I¡¯ll give you onest chance to choose. Don¡¯t be foolish. ¡± The ultimatum was unreasonable. Domenic clenched his fists, his eyes clouded with gloom and sadness. Slowly, he stepped forward, standing directly in front of Jordan. ¡°Grandpa, I will make you change your mind,¡± he dered firmly. Chapter 940 After saying that, he turned around and walked to Lindsey. In her bewilderment, he took her hand and gently smiled at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go home. ¡± Everything happened so suddenly. The confrontation between Jordan and Domenic left Lindsey in a daze, frozen and silent. Ignoring the murmurs and stares, Domenic held Lindsey¡¯s hand tightly and led her out of the banquet hall. They walked away under the gaze of the stunned crowd until they vanished from sight. A heavy silence fell over the room. No one dared to speak, fearing they might provoke Jordan¡¯s wrath. Their shock and surprise were conveyed only through nces. After Domenic left, Jordan copsed into his seat, unable to hold on any longer. He gripped the butler¡¯s arm and whispered hoarsely, ¡°You preside over the banquet. Go ahead. ¡± ¡°Dad, let me handle it. ¡± Rupert volunteered, stepping forward eagerly. AngsLibrary Jordan nced at his second son, the only one he felt he could still rely on within the Walsh Group. A wave of sadness washed over him. Holding Rupert¡¯s hand, Jordan sighed deeply. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave it to you. I¡¯m tired. I need to rest. ¡± The butler helped Jordan up from his seat, and they slowly exited through the side door. Carole, meanwhile, hadpletely broken down. She sat limply, staring nkly ahead like a puppet whose strings had been cut. Rupert paid no attention to Carole. Seeing his opportunity to rise, he knew he had to perform well. Today was crucial for the Walsh Group. If he made a favorable impression on the business tycoons present, they would back him, paving his way to bing the chairman of the Walsh Group. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen,¡± he began, ¡°I¡¯m Rupert Walsh, the CEO of the Vanguard Group under the Walsh Group, and also the second son of Jordan.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. I apologize for the awkward scene you just witnessed. My nephew has shown himself to be irresponsible and unprepared for such responsibilities. My father is not feeling well, so I¡¯ll be hosting today¡¯s event on his behalf. Please enjoy yourself today. ¡± Rupert¡¯s words ofposure were well-received, earning nods and murmurs of approval from the audience. He basked in their appreciation, feeling a surge of self-satisfaction. Meanwhile, Domenic and Lindsey walked in tense silence after leaving the banquet hall, making their way through the ship. Finally, in a deserted corridor, Lindsey stopped abruptly and shook off Domenic¡¯s hand. ¡°Domenic, you still haven¡¯t exined what¡¯s going on. ¡± She stood her ground, refusing to move until she got answers. ¡°This isn¡¯t the ce for that,¡± he said, ncing around nervously, wary of eavesdroppers. ¡°The ship is at sea. Where can we go?¡± Lindsey bit her lip, her frustration evident. Domenic gave a reassuring smile. ¡°We won¡¯t make it back to shore tonight. Come to my room and stay for the night. We¡¯ll disembark first thing in the morning. ¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to your room,¡± Lindsey retorted, her voice sharp with defiance. ¡°If you have something to say, say it right here. ¡± Domenic sighed, recognizing her anger. He gently took her wrist, his touch firm but not forceful, and began to lead her away. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 941 Lindsey¡¯s voice trembled as she was briskly pulled by Domenic across the cruise ship to the deck. The grand banquet hall hosted all the guests, leaving the deck deserted but beautifully lit with twinkling lights that yed with the night¡¯s charm. A cool breeze flirted with their clothes, adding to the scene¡¯s surreal quality. Domenic, gripping the railing, stood silhouetted against the vast ocean. His stature seemed to meld with the horizon, creating a mesmerizing effect. Lindsey, standing a few steps behind, gazed at the man who felt both familiar and mysterious. Her emotions were a tangled web. ¡°Do you remember the sea was also your backdrop when Chayce kidnapped you?¡± Domenic¡¯s tone was casual, as if discussing everyday matters. ¡°I searched high and low for you in Morcastle, even utilizing military resources to pinpoint your location. ¡± His words, meant to be reassuring, instead sent a shiver down her spine. The thought of him mobilizing the army to find her was both touching and terrifying. Domenic turned to face her, leaning back against the rail with a tender look in his eyes. Her hair danced in the wind, and he seemed content just to have her near. ¡°Why?¡± Lindsey asked, her voice a mixture of wonder and confusion. She bowed her head and sped her hands tightly, as though she were speaking to herself. Upon hearing her, Domenic looked puzzled and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why did you go through all this trouble to save me?¡± Lindsey looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, giving her a pitiful appearance. ¡°What do you think?¡± Domenic smiled gently, took a step forward, and his towering presence enveloped her. ¡°You¡¯re the CEO of the Vitality Group. You could have any woman you want. Why focus on me? Why conceal your true identity? And why went to such lengths to rescue me?¡± As Lindsey spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. If Domenic didn¡¯t truly care for her, he could easily ignore her safety. If it weren¡¯t for his repeated rescues, she would have left without a second thought and never looked back. But now, reflecting on their history together, she felt a mix of pain and warmth in her heart. She couldn¡¯t shake off these feelings. She believed in love because she had experienced his love so many times. How could she dismiss it all as a lie? Seeing her cry so bitterly, Domenic reached out and tenderly wiped her tears away. His eyes radiatedpassion. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Linds. I¡¯m sorry. ¡± At that moment, all he could muster was a muttered apology. He was profoundly remorseful, but how could a simple ¡°sorry¡± mend anything? After a prolonged silence, Domenic¡¯s voice broke the quiet, barely above a whisper. ¡°Do you want to hear my story?¡± Slowly lifting her head, Lindsey wiped away a tear. Gazing into his somber, handsome face, she nodded. With a rueful smile, Domenic turned to face the sea, gripping the handrail as his thoughts drifted to the past. ¡°It all began in my childhood¡­¡± he started. Back then, his parents were just ordinary folks. They shared a modest apartment. His mother, once a jewelry designer, had embraced life as a full-time mom following his birth. His father was the family¡¯s breadwinner, leaving early each morning and returningte into the night. Chapter 942 Life was simple, yet filled with happiness and warmth. But one day, everything changed for Domenic. That year, Domenic turned nine, just months away from celebrating his tenth birthday. One day, his beloved aunt Rachel made an unexpected visit. She had been in touch with his family for as long as he could remember, unlike his uncles. He always knew he had a charming aunt but was unaware of her identity and background. She visited often, always bringing delicious treats and fun toys, which made him adore her. He always asked her to stay and y with him every time she visited. Back then, it had been half a year since herst visit. So, when he saw Rachel, he was so thrilled that he grabbed her hand and clung to her. Rachel squatted down gently in front of him, stroked his hair, and said, ¡°I need to talk to your parents. Why don¡¯t you take the new toy I brought and y in your room? I¡¯ll join you shortly. ¡± He only frowned slightly but agreed to go to his room with his new toy. After much time had passed, the door to his room finally swung open. At that very moment, his aunt and father stood before him. ¡°Domenic, it¡¯s time to head home,¡± Bruce Walsh, his father, said gently, looking at him with affection. Upon hearing this, Domenic paused and, with a blink, asked, ¡°Go home? Isn¡¯t this my home?¡± Rachel exchanged a nce with Domenic¡¯s father and offered a smile. ¡°Silly boy, we are going to your real family, the Walshes¡¯ family home!¡± She moved closer to Domenic, patted his head, and beamed at him. Only at that moment did Domenic realize his origins were far from ordinary. His father was the designated sessor to the most prominentpany in Morcastle, making him the distinguished and remarkable grandson of the Walsh family. Filled with excitement, Domenic quickly gathered his belongings, eager to reunite with his other family members. He discovered he had a grandfather and three uncles. He wondered if they were as caring as his aunt, spoiling him with tasty treats and entertaining toys. Back then, he innocently believed this to be true. Soon after, he was holding hands with his parents as they stepped into his aunt¡¯s Luxurious car. It was his first encounter with such avish vehicle. He gazed around with wide-eyed wonder, curious about everything inside. Lucy Walsh, his mother, wrapped her arms around him tightly. Her voice was so soft and soothing that it put others at ease. ¡°Domenic, stay still. We¡¯re almost there.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡± The car then rolled towards a grand manor nestled on a hill. Domenic gazed out the window at the breathtakingndscape and was utterly amazed. Chapter 943 He had never seen such an enchanting ce, which seemed straight out of a fairy tale. He thought to himself that only angels could reside in such a heavenly ce, and they must be both mighty and kind! At that moment, he couldn¡¯t imagine that this stunning location would turn into his worst nightmare. Once the car halted, Domenic eagerly jumped out.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. He inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet freshness of the manor¡¯s air. His mother grasped his hand and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s vast inside. Keep a tight hold of my hand so you don¡¯t get lost. ¡± ¡°Mom, have you been to this ce before?¡± he asked while following his mother inside. Lucy shook her head, saying, ¡°This is my first time here too. ¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t seem excited at all. ¡± Domenic made a face. He was skeptical of his mother¡¯s words. He suspected she might have visited previously with his father, but hadn¡¯t included him! Lucy paused, crouched down in front of him with a tender smile, and gently said, ¡°Wealth and status are merely external. Don¡¯t focus too much on them. What¡¯s truly important is to follow your heart and choose your own path, without letting these things make you lose your way. ¡± At that moment, Domenic nodded, though he was still a bit puzzled. He then continued into the grand manor with his mother. Inside, his grandfather and three uncles were waiting on the sofa. Upon seeing them, Domenic felt a shiver and instinctively hid behind his mother. . . Library ¡°Finally back home?¡± Jordan nced at them and snorted. Domenic¡¯s three uncles exchanged looks, got up, and warmly invited them to sit down. ¡°It¡¯s great to see you guys back!¡± Rupert said and waved at Domenic. Witnessing the scene, Lucy gently nudged Domenic from behind. He then walked forward, feeling a bit embarrassed, and stood before Rupert. Rupert, his kind eyes twinkling and a gentle smile lighting up his face, cheerfully said to Domenic, ¡°You are truly a handsome and talented young man. You¡¯re wee to live here from now on. Whatever your heart desires, just let me know. Even if you want the stars from the sky, I¡¯ll find a way to get them for you!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes widened in innocent curiosity. Unable to fully grasp the adults¡¯ words, he asked, ¡°Can the stars really be taken off?¡± His question elicited a chorus ofughter from everyone present. Even Jordan¡¯s usually stern expression softened as his gaze settled on Domenic. Back then, Domenic thought he was blessed with a kind-hearted family. Although his grandfather was a bit strict, his uncles were all incredibly kind, especially Uncle Rupert, whom he adored the most. Reflecting on this, Domenic closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. ¡°In that case, why did they¡­¡± Lindsey pondered, unable to fathom why Domenic¡¯s uncles wouldtermit such cruel acts against him. And what had happened to his parents? Lindsey was desperate to unravel the mystery behind Domenic¡¯s tragic past. ¡°Later¡­¡± Domenic looked up at the twinkling stars, a bitter smile curving his lips. ¡°Later, I learned that the human heart can be deceitful. Those smiling faces were mere masks concealing their cruelty. They had already decided to get rid of us when my parents and I returned. On my tenth birthday, Uncle Rupert and several other uncles tampered with my father¡¯s car. It lost control on the highway, resulting in a catastrophic ident. My mother was trapped in the car, while my father and I were pulled out. Despite knowing the car was on the verge of exploding, my father chose to rush back to save my mother. Both of them perished in the explosion. I can¡¯t fathom why my father would abandon me, why he would return to a certain death¡­¡± Domenic narrated his tale with a calm exterior, yet listening to it was enough to make Lindsey feel as if a giant hand was squeezing her heart, making it hard to breathe. Chapter 944 ¡°That¡¯s why you stopped me when my mother¡¯s apartment was on fire, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lindsey asked softly, recalling that incident. Feeling a tightening in his chest, Domenic nodded slightly and said, ¡°That fire reminded me of the day of that car ident, of the moment my parents died. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of you meeting the same fate. ¡± Suddenly, Lindsey understood. Domenic had been carrying this heavy burden all along, which was why he had stopped her back then and why he hadn¡¯t followed her into the mes. He must have been wrestling with immense psychological barriers, an insurmountable wall of fear and trauma. ¡°Have you ever pondered that¡­¡± Lindsey lifted her gaze and looked into Domenic¡¯s deep eyes, speaking softly. ¡°Maybe your father didn¡¯t abandon you. Perhaps he believed there was still hope, that he didn¡¯t want you to lose your mom. He just¡­ wanted to protect you both. That¡¯s why he rushed over regardless. Just as I did that day, I will persevere, clinging to even the faintest glimmer of hope for my dearest family. ¡± Her words made Domenic pause abruptly.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. He had never considered it from that perspective before. At the time, everyone had been warning them to stay away from the car, fearing it was about to explode and to wait for rescue. Later, it became the consensus that his father had made the ultimate sacrifice out of love, forsaking himself and leaving Domenic behind. Until now, he had steadfastly held onto that belief. Reflecting on that moment now, he recalled how he had been engulfed in tears and cries for his mother. As his father made that decisive choice and nced back at him, he noticed his father¡¯s lips moving, as if he had uttered something. Yet, amidst his own loud sobs, he hadn¡¯t caught a single word. His father¡¯s exact words remain a mystery, lost in the chaos of that harrowing moment. A sharp, piercing painnced through Domenic¡¯s head as though it were on the verge of exploding. ¡°I don¡¯t know I truly don¡¯t know¡­ ¡± Domenic clutched the railing tightly, feeling Lindsey¡¯s words churning his typicallyposed and steady heart. It made heart ache, leaving him bewildered and adrift. ¡°What unfolded afterward?¡± Aware that the tale of Domenic¡¯s past had only justmenced, Lindsey inquired with genuine curiosity. Struggling to regainposure, Domenic spoke deliberately. ¡°Following my grandpa¡¯s discovery of the car ident and the death of my parents, he was devastated and fell gravely ill. I remained by my parents¡¯ tombstones, where their remains were meticulously recovered from the wreckage by forensic experts. However, during my grandpa¡¯s illness, I was deceived by my uncles and confined to the basement for a grueling ten days. My aunt was also present during the time I was locked up. ¡± ¡°Your aunt? Wasn¡¯t she exceptionally kind to you? Why didn¡¯t shee to your rescue?¡± Lindsey asked, her voiceced with disbelief. Lindsey had heard Domenic mention it before, but still found it unbelievable. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y How cold-blooded his uncles were to plot their nephew¡¯s murder, and in such a ruthless way? Knowing Rachel was there only deepened Lindsey¡¯s confusion. ¡°She did that for her husband,¡± Domenic said, a touch of self-mockery in his voice. ¡°At that time, I heard my uncle Rupert threaten her. He said if she dared to reveal it or help me, he¡¯d crush Brady Lawson¡¯spany. Back then, Brady hadn¡¯t taken over the Lawson Group yet, but his ownpany was flourishing thanks to the Walsh Group. Uncle Rupert was the most powerful figure in the Walsh Group at the time; During my grandpa¡¯s illness, he had all the authority to effortlessly crush Brady. ¡± ¡°So, for her husband, she¡­ gave up on you?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart ached as the words left her lips. Domenic offered a bitter smile. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m always the one left behind. My dad chose my mom, my aunt chose her husband, and you¡­¡± He trailed off, his gaze fixed on the moonlit distance. ¡°You chose Sumner, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Lindsey wanted to deny it, but the words wouldn¡¯te. She didn¡¯t fully trust Domenic yet. Domenic didn¡¯t press the issue. He simply stared at the moonlight and spoke softly. ¡°She left, and didn¡¯t return for a long time. I don¡¯t hate her. I understand and respect her decision, but¡­ a rift once formed is hard to mend. Since then, all I could offer her was the bare minimum of respect. ¡± ¡°You said the girl next door found and saved you,¡± Lindsey said softly. Domenic nodded. ¡°Yes, that girl was Carole. ¡± Chapter 945 Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Back when Carole imed to have saved his life, Lindsey was too overwhelmed to consider the possibility. Now, with Domenic¡¯s confirmation, she couldn¡¯t help but gasp.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Carole was his savior. The kindness Carole had shown him far surpassed anything Sumner had shown Lindsey. A simr sense of obligation washed over her, mingling with the bitterness and grief. Despite everything, Lindsey craved the whole truth. Domenic figured she had likely pieced it together. She was sharp, after all. ¡°Since she saved my life,¡± he began, ¡°I promised to fulfill a wish for her. Anything, as long as it¡¯s moral and legal. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart lurched. It all clicked. Carole¡¯s frantic outburst, her fierce opposition to their marriage¡ªit was all tied to Domenic¡¯s promise. She clenched her fists. ¡°When I returned home after being rescued,¡± Domenic began, his voice tight with suppressed anger. ¡°I found my mom¡¯s ashes¡­ were poured into the sewer. ¡± ¡°Who did that?¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Respect for the dead was a cornerstone belief. Tomit such a vicious act¡­ ¡°It was Rupert. He med my mom for leading my dad down a destructive path. Back then, my dad was the heir to the Walsh Group, while my mom came from a simple background. The vast social gap made their rtionship a scandal. But my dad wanted to be with her, more than he wanted the Walsh Group. He was willing to throw it all away. ¡± Domenic locked eyes with Lindsey, who found herself drawn into the depths of his gaze. ¡°After my dad¡¯s death, my grandpa¡¯s anger turned on my mom. So Rupert took it upon himself to destroy my mom¡¯s ashes. He did it to appease my grandpa as a ploy to climb the ranks. Hearing this from the servants, I copsed. In a fit of rage, I threw everything I could find at Rupert, demanding he return my mom¡¯s ashes. I lunged, aiming to bite him as hard as I could. I genuinely wanted to tear him apart. This outburst, however, became his excuse. He had memitted to a mental hospital citing I had mental issues. There, I endured the darkest, most helpless moments of my life. I even contemted suicide at the time¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. Domenic had always been the epitome of calm andposure. It was beyond herprehension to think of the profound despair he must have faced to even contemte ending his life. Domenic gazed into the far-off sky. The epassing darkness of the night stirred up memories of the dreadful past he kept buried deep within his heart-memories he loathed to speak of. Back to that day, the sky was overcast, and the rain poured relentlessly. Domenic had been gagged, bound, and thrown into a car by Rupert¡¯s men. The vehicle sped towards the terrifying asylum in Morcastle. It symbolized a ce of utter despair, akin to a living hell. From what Domenic could recall, on the day he was taken to that hospital, Rupert had told the hospital director with a smile, ¡°Take good ¡®care¡¯ of him. Do not release him until he is fully recovered. ¡± Rupert had insinuated, ¡°If he never recovers, I will cover all his expenses for life. And of course, the bonus will be very generous. ¡± At just ten years old, Domenic couldn¡¯t fully understand the deeper meanings behind their words. He simply red at Rupert with intense hatred, as if his fiery gaze could somehow destroy him. After his talk with the director, Rupert approached Domenic and crouched down in front of him. Staring at Domenic¡¯s fierce expression, he patted his head lightly, though the gesture carried an underlying threat. ¡°Well, Domenic, since you are ill, you should remain here. Don¡¯t waste your energy struggling. The more you fight, the more it proves how severe your illness is,¡± Rupert said, smiling, but the smile was filled with malice and cunning. ¡°I¡¯m not sick! I¡¯m not!¡± Domenic desperately tried to free himself from their grasp. But being only a ten-year-old child, he couldn¡¯t overpower the two adults holding him. All he could do was re at Rupert. At that moment, he felt utterly powerless. ¡°You are indeed mentally ill,¡± said Rupert, a mocking smile ying on his lips. He pinched Domenic¡¯s cold cheek and sneered, ¡°How can any sane person believe that someone can take the stars off the sky? It¡¯s just a childish lie, yet you take it seriously. I believe you are truly crazy. ¡± Seeing that smile, a sense of dread washed over Domenic. His hands clenched into tight fists, and it felt as if the blood in his veins had turned to ice. Chapter 946 What had been a child¡¯s innocent fantasy had now be evidence of his alleged mental instability. Domenic stared at Rupert in disbelief, feeling his innocence shatter into pieces. Rupert straightened up to his full height and looked down at Domenic. Ignoring the boy¡¯s defiant re, he narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°If you can¡¯t endure this, you can join your parents. They are waiting for you in the depths of hell. ¡± With those words, Rupert turned and walked away. Domenic would never forget the cruelty of that departing figure. The ck woolen coat he wore seemed like a devil¡¯s cloak on that despised figure. Rupert vanished from sight. A man then appeared before Domenic. Domenic looked up and saw it was the director, who said with a malicious look, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Master Walsh. Here, you are just another patient with an incurable disease. ¡± Incurable disease? Staring at the director¡¯s cold face, Domenic felt as if he had already been handed a death sentence.Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Thus, Rupert¡¯s true intention was to ensure Domenic never left this ce. The director led Domenic to the most terrifying special ward. Inside, all the patients had severe mental illnesses. Even the doctors and nurses were afraid to go near them. They were like vicious specters haunting this world. Seeing a young boy enter, they all grinned maliciously at him. Domenic trembled with fear. But in this ce, no one cared about his terror, and no one could rescue him. On his very first day in the ward, he endured horrific abuse. He was dragged out of the room by several extremely manic patients. They punched and kicked him, yanked his hair, smashed his head against the wall, and finally dragged him around like a ragdoll. Blood sttered across the floor of the ward, creating a terrifying trail. The other patients stood by, pping and cheering. Some delusional patients shouted, ¡°Look, a dead pig! Chop it and eat it!¡± Domenic even thought he was going to die at that asylum. As he was nearing hisst breath, a security guard intervened and halted the ordeal. After receiving basic first aid and getting bandaged, Domenic was roughly ced back in his bed. That night, his body was feverishly hot, and he suffered from a fever throughout the night. In his feverish state, he envisioned his parents beside him, caressing his cheeks, kissing his forehead, and whispering, ¡°It¡¯ste now, baby. Time to sleep. ¡± This was how his mother would lull him to sleep each night. Back then, he never appreciated how joyful those moments were, but when he was sick, reflecting, those were the happiest times of his life. After a stretch of unconsciousness, Domenic gradually opened his eyes. He hoped desperately that all he had endured was merely a horrific dream. He longed to wake up in hisfortable bed at home, with his mother cooking in the kitchen and his father reading the newspaper on the sofa. He imagined himself walking out groggily to find his mother cing a table of his favorite dishes on the table. As tears streamed down his face, Domenic stared at the strange ceiling, overwhelmed by the oppressive smell of blood. It was clear to him that this was no dream; he was still trapped in this nightmare. Before he could gather his thoughts, the doctor entered and announced that it was time for treatment. Domenic was forcibly taken to the treatment room again. This time, upon seeing the daunting instruments, he panicked like a terrified deer, screaming in agony and frantically attempting to escape. Chapter 947 ¡°He¡¯s losing control! Grab him!¡± A team of doctors and nurses restrained him in a chair in the therapy room. ¡°Hurry up, tranquilizer!¡± Domenic felt a sharp sting in his arm, which made his limbs gradually stiffen, leaving him mentally nk. ¡°Electric shock treatment. ¡± The doctor positioned an electric pole against Domenic¡¯s temple. His muscles began to contract violently, and his body shook uncontrobly while a nurse held him steady. Domenic¡¯s face turned pale, and he began to foam at the mouth. ¡°Oh, no! His heart stopped. ¡± ¡°We can¡¯t let him die. Use CPR!¡± In this way, Domenic was pulled back from the brink of death once more. He was then left back on the cold bed. It became apparent that their intent was not to kill him but to push him to desire death. They subjected him to brutal torture, hoping he would end his own life. After all, as a part of the Walsh family, his death in the hospital would lead to inquiries and me. However, if hemitted suicide, they could avoid responsibility. This was also what Rupert had informed the director. Thus, after enduring half a month of torture and mistreatment, Domenic became increasingly withdrawn, isted, and distant¡­ less and less like himself. During this ordeal, the urge to end it all was strong, but his resentment towards Rupert and other Walshes fueled his determination. He resolved not to die under these circumstances. He was determined to survive and make those who wronged him and his parents face the consequences. One day, after Domenic was returned from the therapy room, he was tossed back into his ward. Hisplexion was ghostly pale, and his breathing wasbored. The ward door burst open, and a fierce-looking man walked in. Domenic thought this man was yet another lunatic intent on hurting him, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. He nced at the man briefly, then closed his eyes, resigning himself to what he believed was his impending demise. But to his surprise, the man just stopped in front of him and remained silent. Then, he said nonchntly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you tost this long. ¡± It was only then that Domenic reopened his eyes to take another look at the man standing before him. He had a severe, daunting look, with a scar trailing down his jaw. In the past, such a fearsome appearance would have reduced Domenic to tears. Now, however, he merely squinted a little, viewing the man as if he were just another ordinary person. ¡°Good, you¡¯re the first to dare meet my gaze straight away. I like that. ¡± The man pulled up a chair and sat down across from Domenic, smiling at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been pondering how deep the hatred must be for that man to send a ten -year-old to such a ce. I figured you¡¯d be broken within a week, but Iter realized they don¡¯t want you dead. They want you to end it yourself. Yet, you¡¯re so tough. You¡¯ve held out this long. I¡¯m impressed. ¡± Chapter 948 ¡°Who are you?¡± Domenic asked, his tone icy as he stared nkly at the intimidating stranger before him.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The man curved his lips and said, ¡°You might think I¡¯m just another patient here, but I¡¯m really just a regr person like you. In this ce, many were perfectly sane when they arrived but were pushed to madness through relentless torture. Quite a few couldn¡¯t bear the agony and ended their own lives. This ce is like hell. It¡¯s designed to punish those who¡¯ve supposedly made huge mistakes. ¡± ¡°People who¡¯ve made huge mistakes¡­¡± Domenic murmured with a low smile. What was his error? And what had his parents done wrong? He clenched his teeth, his eyes brimming with bitterness. Noticing the shift in Domenic¡¯s demeanor and his fists tightening, the man smiled, crossed his arms, and continued, ¡°Whether or not you made mistakes, and the nature of your mistakes, is for them to decide. If theybel you as wrong, then even if you¡¯re right, you¡¯re still wrong in their eyes. If they say you¡¯re ill, no matter how sane you are, you¡¯re considered sick. Do you understand why?¡± Domenic gave the man a look, eager for an answer. The man grinned and exined, ¡°Because they wield ultimate power. This asylum is just a smaller reflection of society. The director ys God, and his word isw. I bet the person who sent you here has power beyond ordinary individuals, right?¡± ¡°Power¡­¡± The light faded from Domenic¡¯s eyes. He thought of Rupert, who currently held sway over the entire Walsh Group. Indeed, if Rupert dered Domenic ill, then he would be, regardless of themon knowledge of why Domenic had unraveled. No one would dare speak up for him. Rupert had conspired with the asylum director to cut off all of hiss avenues of escape. They sought to y God with his life. No, that couldn¡¯t be. A fierce determination zed in Domenic¡¯s eyes. He resembled a wolf cornered in a fight for survival. Once he broke free, he would rise, a sovereign among wolves. Seeing this transformation, the man¡¯s lips curled up, and he said, ¡°Only with supreme power can you do as you please and make others ept your truth as reality. ¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Domenic asked sharply. The man was clearly pleased with Domenic¡¯s keenness. ¡°What I¡¯m saying is¡­¡± The man¡¯s smile broadened. ¡°Do you want to take control of your destiny and break free from here?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes widened. He had indeed considered escaping and had even made attempts. However, the security system was incredibly tight, and the guards were sharp and vignt. They could easily thwart his efforts. Each failed attempt resulted in increasingly harsh ¡°treatments. ¡± Seeing Domenic¡¯s look of shock and disbelief, the man chuckled lightly. ¡°I can help you. ¡± ¡°Why?¡± Domenic was no longer the naive child he once was. His gaze was now even more piercing than that of an adult. ¡°We¡¯ve never met before. You wouldn¡¯t help me without a reason. What do you want from me?¡± The man appeared slightly taken aback, thenughed. ¡°You truly are the person I had hoped you¡¯d be. I won¡¯t keep you guessing. I¡¯ve heard your surname mentioned as Walsh. I know the Walsh family is a prominent name in Morcastle. Only someone with considerable power could have youmitted to this asylum, so I figured you must be a Walsh. To be treated so harshly at such a young age¡­ If I¡¯m right, you must be either the son or the grandson of Jordan Walsh, correct?¡± Facing the stern man who proved to be so astute, Domenic couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of respect for him. ¡°You guessed correctly. My grandfather is the chairman of the Walsh Group,¡± Domenic replied candidly, given his current predicament, leaving little room for secrets. With a confident nod, the man¡¯s expression turned grave. He looked directly at Domenic and proposed, ¡°If I help you escape, you only need to agree to one thing. ¡± ¡°What is that?¡± Chapter 949 ¡°Use your influence in the Walsh Group to clear my name and secure my release. I believe you have the means to do it. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression was chilled. ¡°So, who exactly are you?¡± The man gave a mysterious smile, stood up, and looked down at Domenic. ¡°I¡¯m just someone persistently avoided by fate, living in the shadows, yearning for a normal life. ¡±This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°And how do you n to help me?¡± Domenic didn¡¯t press further. He believed if the man chose to reveal more, he would. For now, Domenic needed to know if the n was viable and if this man could genuinely aid his escape. The man grinned and instructed, ¡°Meet me in the backyard at two o¡¯clock in the morning. Make sure no one sees you. I¡¯ll share the details of my n then. ¡± That evening, as nned, Domenic met with the man in the backyard. The man shared with Domenic a weak spot in the asylum. It was the ce for training fierce dogs, and the man had once stumbled into theirpound by mistake. There, he discovered a narrow crack in the furthest wall¡ªa gap just wide enough for a little boy to squeeze through. Domenic shuddered at the mention of these dogs. During one of his earlier attempts to flee, he had evaded the guards and dashed towards freedom, only to be ambushed and subdued by a released attack dog. The encounter ended with bites. The arriving security personnel also assaulted him, followed by dragging him back for even more barbaric ¡°treatments¡±. He had nearly lost his life that day. The hospital, intent on keeping him alive, snatched him back from the brink of death. These dogs were instrumental in maintaining order within the mental hospital, thwarting any escape attempts. The guards and medical staff steered clear of the hardened criminals, relying solely on the dogs to bring them to heel. Domenic had once witnessed a patient mauled fatally by these dogs and his face was left grotesquely mutted and unrecognizable. That ghastly image had burned itself into Domenic¡¯s memory. Haunted by recurring nightmares, he spent days in a dazed state, tormented by visions of the deceased patient who seemed to appear before him, whispering grimly that there was no escape from the asylum. Domenic was uncertain about how the staff had managed to erase the incident, or whether someone had been specifically assigned to handle it. He only knew that since that time, the very patient seemed to have vanished, never to be mentioned again. Perhaps deaths weremonce there. The staff were detached and ruthless, never smiling, their expressions as lifeless as those of the walking dead. As the days passed, Domenic found himself forgetting what joy felt like, and even his sense of fear began to fade. His emotions were slowly encased in ice, leaving a perpetual chill in his gaze. This marked a profound shift in his personality. He grew distant and aloof, yet the barks of dogs still made his heart leap into his throat involuntarily. ¡°There¡¯s only one guard at the facility. I might be able to distract him, but it¡¯s the dogs that are the real problem. ¡± The man facing Domenic smiled slowly, his lips curling at the corners. ¡°I have some techniques for handling those dogs; I can teach you, no strings attached. But I wonder, do you have the courage to run past those ferocious beasts?¡± At this, Domenic¡¯s pupils narrowed. Although he had be ustomed to suppressing his fear, or perhaps forgetting it entirely, a trace of trepidation flickered within him at the thought of facing such a challenge. During his brief fortnight stay at the mental hospital, Domenic hade to realize that any chance of survival, however slim, needed to be seized with both hands. If he didn¡¯t fight back, his fate was sealed. Such was the unforgiving rule of survival in this merciless world. As this realization dawned on him, a determined gleam ignited in Domenic¡¯s eyes, reminiscent of how a lone spark can ignite an entire prairie. Chapter 950 Domenic trusted his instincts. He figured a few days of training with the man would be enough to determine if he possessed any genuine skill. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll train with you.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. If I manage to break free, I¡¯ll ensure your wish is fulfilled. ¡± The man observed the boy before him, his fists clenched and his face resolute, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. He was rarely mistaken in his judgment of others. From then on, Domenic would stealthily make his way to the backyard in the early hours to train inbat with the man. Once Domenic confirmed that the man was indeed skilled and had not deceived him, his dedication to learning intensified. Despite the pain racking his body and the weakness in his feet, Domenic pressed on without pause. He had made remarkable strides, diligently pushing forward over the past two weeks. ¡°Even though your efforts werest-minute, they should suffice to handle those fierce dogs,¡± the man said, reassured by Domenic¡¯s incremental growth. ¡°The forecast calls for heavy rain tomorrow. This is a rare and perfect chance. I¡¯ll stir up some trouble to draw the guard away from the base. After that, it¡¯s all on you. ¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y A stir of determination unsettled Domenic¡¯s usually calm heart. Clenching his teeth, he realized this might be hisst chance. On the day Domenic fled, a storm raged just as it had on the day he was taken to the mental hospital. Rain streamed down Domenic¡¯s body from his head to his toes, yet he stood steadfast like a pine in the relentless downpour, eyes peeled for the right moment. The man swiftly distracted the guard, enabling Domenic to enter the base without any trouble. As soon as the free-range fierce dogs caught the scent of an intruder, they unleashed furious barks and lunged at Domenic. Agile as a cheetah, Domenic tightened his fists, small yet solid, and floored the attacking dogs one by one. His clothes were ripped apart, revealing scratches and bite wounds across his body, yet he didn¡¯t back down. In the rain, his dark eyes grew wilder. The storm muffled the dogs¡¯ barks within the asylum, keeping Domenic¡¯s struggle unnoticed. By the time Domenic squeezed through a jagged crack in the wall, his clothes were barely hanging on. Blood trickled down his cheeks, neck, arms, and fingertips. Despite the rain, he stood tall and let out a low, hauntingugh into the night. Hisughter echoed like that of a specter rising from the abyss. ¡°After my escape, I learned that my grandpa had recovered and taken back control of the Walsh Group. So I stationed myself on the route he always took, and finally, I saw him again. Under his wing, I returned home. He was my protector, mentor, and supporter. I cherish him for that, but during that time, I uncovered something horrifying¡­¡± As he reached this point in his story, Domenic turned to face Lindsey, whose expression was one of utter shock. He had never shared the full extent of his past with Lindsey, but even the bits he mentioned were enough to terrify her. Lindsey had never imagined that Domenic, who was only ten years old at the time, still a boy in need of care and protection, had endured such extremes of cruelty in the world. It felt as though someone was squeezing her heart, the pain more intense than any physical injury she¡¯d suffered. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 951 But a momentter, she steeled herself. After being deceived by Domenic for so long, it wasn¡¯t easy for her to trust him again. ¡°What did you find?¡± Lindsey asked, her voice steady and cool. Domenic¡¯s gaze darkened as he looked at her. ¡°I started noticing that all the girls close to me began vanishing without a trace. Eventually, I discovered it was my grandpa¡¯s doing; he was the one behind their disappearances. He removed those girls out of my life. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes widened once more as she eximed, ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°He despises any woman who reminds him of my mother,¡± Domenic exined, his voice heavy with resignation. ¡°He¡¯s burdened me with all his regrets and expectations. He controls everything about me, even deciding who I should marry. He won¡¯t be satisfied until he¡¯s made that choice himself. If he learns about you, he¡¯ll treat you just like those girls who vanished. I know all too well how ruthless he can be and the brutal infighting of power within my family. I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll get dragged into this. I can¡¯t say for certain that I can protect you effectively. ¡± As he spoke, Domenic¡¯s hand tensed, and a shadow passed over his deep-set eyes, which he then cast downward toward Lindsey. Observing the loneliness etched across Domenic¡¯s face, Lindsey bit her lip gently. Before, she would have trusted him without a second thought. But after what happened that night, her certainty wavered. He seemed like a stranger, yet the most familiar one. She wanted to believe him, yet she doubted whether she should. ¡°You¡¯ve lied to me a lot. How can I be sure you¡¯re telling the truth this time? Maybe it¡¯s just another one of your lies. ¡± Domenic knew it was too much to expect Lindsey toe to terms with everything right away. He didn¡¯t anticipate her forgiveness immediately but understood there was a long journey ahead to regain her trust. Speaking softly, he confided, ¡°You¡¯re the first to hear about my past, the things that happened, things not even my grandpa knows about from the asylum days. I¡¯m not telling you this expecting forgiveness now. I¡¯ve shared the darkest parts of my life with you to show that from here on out, there will be no secrets between us. I¡¯mmitted to full transparency, and I¡¯ll prove through my actions that I¡¯m sincere, without any deceit. I will mend the heart I¡¯ve broken, no matter the obstacles or the time it takes. I won¡¯t give up because I love you. Married or not, you are the one I love. ¡± Tears welled up in Lindsey¡¯s eyes as she listened to him. She was touched, yet she fought the impulse to trust blindly once more. Over and over, she reminded herself not to fall for his tricks again. His lies had been so skillful that she had fallen for it time and again. The idea that he could charm his way back into her favor with mere words wasughable! With fists tightly clenched, Lindsey peered into his eyes, searching for any sign of sincerity in his gaze. . . Library However, his eyes were like dark whirlpools, pulling her in effortlessly, and she quickly averted her gaze. ¡°I won¡¯t fall for your lies again,¡± Lindsey dered.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. ¡°I understand,¡± Domenic replied. He then looked at her tenderly and said with resolve, ¡°You might choose not to trust me, but I am determined to earn your trust back. ¡± Lindsey avoided his gaze, fearing she might sumb to his allure once more. ¡°You can stay in my room tonight. Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t do anything you¡¯re notfortable with until you trust me again,¡± Domenic proposed earnestly. Noting the uncertainty still present in Lindsey¡¯s eyes, he continued, ¡°I¡¯m doing this to protect you. You might distrust me, but can you let me protect you? You know my grandpa¡­¡± Interrupting him, Lindsey looked up and said, ¡°I can stay in your room, but I don¡¯t want to share a bed with you. ¡± Realizing she had agreed, Domenic¡¯s relief was palpable. He smiled warmly and replied, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll do it your way. ¡± As the night grew colder, Domenic took off his suit jacket and draped it over Lindsey¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s head back,¡± he suggested. Lindsey nodded, her head bowed. Meanwhile, in his deluxe suite, Jordan paced restlessly while his butler stood by, pressing his earphones closer to listen intently. After a moment, the butler said, ¡°I understand. ¡± He then turned to Jordan and reported, ¡°Sir, Domenic has taken Lindsey Stewart to his room. ¡± Chapter 952 Jordan¡¯s anger boiled over. He hurled his cane to the floor and stumbled over to the sofa. ¡°That ungrateful brat!¡± he fumed, his face turning red and his Lips trembling. ¡°Domenic gave up the Walsh Group for a woman. After all these years I¡¯ve spent raising him, it¡¯s all for nothing. Just Like his father. I should¡¯ve known better than to expect anything different from him. ¡±Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The butler, standing next to Jordan, sighed and said, ¡°It¡¯s not entirely Domenic¡¯s fault. He hasn¡¯t been around many girls since he was a kid, so he¡¯s easily swayed by women whoe on strong. ¡± Jordan squinted, looking grim. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s all Lindsey¡¯s fault. I don¡¯t know what she did to make Domenic lose his mind, but I can¡¯t stand it. I must get rid of her. We can¡¯t wait any longer. Make a move tonight. ¡± ¡°If we make a move now, Domenic will definitely know it was you, and he¡¯ll hate you for it,¡± the butler said, leaning in closer with a cunning glint in his eye. ¡°I think the best way to make him give up on her is to show him that she is untrustworthy and doesn¡¯t deserve his love. ¡± ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Let¡¯s pretend to support his rtionship with Lindsey. I can set things up at tonight¡¯s cruise party. When Domenic wakes up tomorrow and finds Lindsey in another man¡¯s bed, imagine his reaction¡­¡± Jordan looked at his butler in surprise, his expression softening. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s better for Domenic to see her true colors and dump her himself. Who knows, maybe he¡¯ll be the one to end things with her without me lifting a finger. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it now,¡± the butler said respectfully before heading out of the suite. Jordan lifted the corners of his lips in a tight smile, his gaze fixed grimly on the moon outside the window. ¡°Domenic, someday you will understand the lengths I¡¯ve gone to. ¡± Jordan murmured. Meanwhile, Domenic opened the door to the deluxe suite and politely gestured for Lindsey to enter. Lindsey pursed her Lips and walked past him, feeling an undeniable sense of distance between them. It was Lindsey¡¯s first time seeing a deluxe suite on the cruise, and she was taken aback by the opulence of the decoration. The suite was enormous. Stepping through the ss doorway, she entered the spacious living room. Lilies adorned the coffee table in a crystal vase, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air. Lindsey wandered around for a bit and noticed that even though the suite was fancy, it only had one bedroom. ¡°Why¡¯s there only one bedroom?¡± she muttered. ¡°That¡¯s just how this suite is. ¡± A low, maic voice chimed in from behind her. Startled, Lindsey spun around, only to find herself identally bumping into Domenic¡¯s chest. She took a step back without thinking, her gaze drifting to the sofa in the living room. Just as she was about to tell Domenic that she would sleep on the sofa for the night, she heard him say, ¡°You take the bedroom. I¡¯ll sleep on the sofa. ¡± ¡°This is your room, after all. Let me take the sofa,¡± Lindsey insisted. With that settled, she made her way over to the sofa. Chapter 953 Domenic grabbed her wrist from behind and chuckled softly. ¡°This is my room, so you have to follow my lead. ¡± With that, he pulled her into the bedroom without any objections from her.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Lindsey resisted a bit, and he spoke up. ¡°I can¡¯t rx until I¡¯m out there keeping an eye on you. This isn¡¯t my territory, after all. ¡± Lindsey felt touched, so she stopped resisting and allowed Domenic to lead her into the bedroom. She sat down on the edge of the bed as he half squatted in front of her, reaching out to take off her high heels. Her red feet were exposed, and she instinctively pulled them back. But Domenic grabbed her ankle and held it firmly. He got up and grabbed slippers from the bedside table. Coming back to Lindsey, he squatted down to slip the slippers onto her feet. Watching his gentle and caring gesture, Lindsey clenched her teeth and reminded herself that it might just be an act, and she wouldn¡¯t fall for it anymore. ¡°Thanks. ¡± She murmured softly. Domenic nced up at her, and when their eyes met, she quickly looked away. ¡°You must be very tired from wearing those heels for so long. I¡¯ll go get you some warm water to soak your feet. ¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± Lindsey said hastily, grabbing her clothes. ¡°You¡¯re the CEO of the Vitality Group. You shouldn¡¯t be doing this. I can handle it myself. ¡± After hearing her, Domenic stopped in his tracks, turned around, and gently took her hand. He gave her a small smile and said, ¡°To you, I¡¯ll always be the caring Domenic. ¡± His words hit her hard, making her clench her fists instinctively. Just then, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Domenic frowned and said to Lindsey softly, ¡°Hold on a sec. ¡± Domenic approached the suite¡¯s door and swung it open. Standing there, with a mild smile, was his grandpa¡¯s butler Franklin. ¡°Sir,¡± Franklin began, ¡°your grandpa has sent me to extend an invitation to you for the cruise party. ¡± A shadow passed over Domenic¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not keen on attending. I just had a falling out with my grandpa. My presence might just ruin his evening further. ¡± Franklin nced past Domenic into the room, his smile unwavering. ¡°Actually, he specifically wants you toe along with Miss Stewart. ¡± Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. His grandpa had just tried to send them packing, yet now he had sent his butler to personally invite him and Lindsey to the party. What was he really up to? ¡°He was quite upset earlier and may have spoken harshly. He¡¯s had time to reflect and now feels some remorse,¡± Franklin exined calmly. ¡°He believes that one shouldn¡¯t force feelings. He mentioned that since you hold Miss Stewart in high regard, you should introduce her formally, allowing him to see her virtues for himself. He is also eager to learn more about her. ¡± ¡°Did he really say all that?¡± Domenic asked, his gaze sharp and probing. Chapter 954 Franklin stated, ¡°He is your grandfather, after all. He believed you were too young back then and worried about the wrong sort of people leading you astray, so he might have been overly controlling. Regarding the missing girls you mentioned, he simply relocated them out of Morcastle and ensured they were settled in other cities. He¡¯s not the monster you imagine him to be. If you doubt this, I have the records of their new locations right here for you to verify. ¡± Domenic¡¯s dark eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Was Franklin suggesting that Jordan hadn¡¯t harmed the girls, merely sent them away to protect him? Franklin met Domenic¡¯s gaze, his expression thoughtful. He Licked his dry lips and continued, ¡°Things are different now. Over the years, you¡¯ve demonstrated your capabilities to your grandpa. He had intended to pass the leadership of the Walsh Group to you, trusting in your judgment of people. Moreover, he always believed that Miss Larson was meant to be with you. Despite her noting from a prominent family, he sent her abroad for training, hoping to prepare her to stand by your side. If he truly valued family background above all, why would he choose Carole for you? Doesn¡¯t that tell you something? He was trying to show his affection in his way, but unfortunately, it led to misunderstandings. If you had only spoken to him sooner about your feelings for Miss Stewart, or if you hadmunicated more with him, perhaps things wouldn¡¯t have escted to this point. ¡± Franklin¡¯s tone was calm and persuasive, brooking no argument. After Dominic left that asylum, his personality underwent a significant transformation. He became reticent, maintaining a distance from others and adopting an indifferent demeanor. Dominic dedicated himself fervently to his studies, aspiring to be regarded as a schr-lord. Leveraging his talents, he secured a significant role in the Walsh Group at an early age. Subsequently, he founded the Vitality Group, pouring all his efforts into its sess. Consequently, his interactions with Jordan were sparse. Though Dominic and Jordan appeared to be the closest family, there was always a palpable tension between them. ¡°Your grandpa has led the Walsh Group for many years, and it has taken a toll on him. It¡¯s time for him to step back a bit.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. That¡¯s what he meant. ¡± Dominic, his face clouded with a frown, did not respond. Observing this, Franklin sighed and went on, ¡°Truth be told, your grandpa carries a burden of guilt towards your parents, particrly your mother. He once confided in me that if he could turn back time, he would prevent certain events from ever happening. As one ages, the desire for arge family grows. Your grandpa had always wished for harmony among you and your uncles. However, given past events, he knew it was unattainable, which only deepened his sense of guilt¡­¡± . . Library These words stirred something deep in Domenic. He harbored a longstanding resentment towards his grandfather for allowing Rupert to scatter his mother¡¯s ashes. It was a wound he couldn¡¯t seem to heal. Domenic found himself wondering if his grandfather ever harbored regrets or guilt. Even a hint of remorse from his grandfather would have offered Domenic some sce. Yet, as the years rolled by, the incident remained unspoken. Domenic viewed Jordan as someone who made arbitrary decisions, someone who never showed any sign of guilt, as if everything from the past was justified. Now, as Franklin¡¯s words reached him, a twinge of pain seared through Domenic¡¯s heart, which had just begun to heal. He started to question if he had misjudged his grandfather. Was it possible that he had been wrong all this time? Could his grandpa actually feel regret, guilt, and a sense of indebtedness towards his parents? Was his grandpa capable of setting aside his pride and epting Lindsey? Domenic cast a nce back into the bedroom, pausing in silence before turning to Franklin with a softer look in his eyes. ¡°ALL right. I see,¡± he said, his voice gentle. When Domenic finally agreed, Franklin let out a sigh of relief; his persistence had paid off. So he made his way out. As the door clicked shut, Lindsey emerged from the bedroom. Domenic met her eyes and asked, ¡°Linds, would you like to join me at the party?¡± Aware that she might have heard his conversation with Franklin, Domenic decided to address it directly. Lindsey fiddled with her fingers in silence. Domenic approached her, his voice low and gentle. ¡°I had promised to introduce you to my grandpa under different circumstances. I didn¡¯t expect it would be tonight. Can we give it another try, and let me introduce you properly? Would that be alright?¡± He posed the question carefully, his regard for Lindsey¡¯s feelings evident. He was deeply concerned about causing her any more distress. Lindsey lifted her gaze to his, her heart a turmoil of emotions. She had always wanted to be a real part of his life and to meet his family, especially the grandpa he so often spoke of. She had yearned for his grandpa¡¯s approval. Yet now, faced with the chance, she felt uncertain. She was painfully aware of the gulf between her life and Domenic¡¯s world. She hadn¡¯t aimed to marry into wealth. What she valued was their simple life together-shopping for groceries, lounging on the couch watching TV, dreaming of their future, and riding the bus, where she could rest her head on his shoulder and revel in their ordinary, yetforting, existence. She had never been fond of the distinguished and esteemed heir to the Walsh Group. The recent events felt like a dream, almost unreal, and deep down, she felt a stirring of reluctance. Chapter 955 Had she not been confined to the sea, she might have found a way to flee. But escape was not an option here. ¡°Is it necessary?¡± Lindsey asked, her voice tinged with self¡ªderision. Her words pierced Domenic¡¯s heart like a dagger. He licked his parched Lips and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got nowhere else to be, and I worry about leaving you here by yourself. If you¡¯d rather not go, I¡¯ll stay. ¡± As he reached for his phone to call Hendrix, Lindsey stopped him. ¡°I¡¯ll go,¡± she said quietly. She was determined not to let her presence sour the rtionship between Domenic and his grandfather. After all, she was now confined in the same suite with Domenic and this situation left her feeling somewhat at a loss. Inrger groups, it was simpler for her to mask her emotions. Domenic¡¯s eyes briefly registered shock, but he quickly regained hisposure and murmured, ¡°Okay. ¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Then, turning to Lindsey in her pink dress, she suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go change your outfit. ¡± The reason was clear. Lindsey¡¯s outfit had caused quite a stir earlier, as it was identical to Carole¡¯s. A change was necessary. Lindsey nodded in agreement, remaining silent.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . On the cruise ship¡¯s top deck, the open-air pool shimmered under the vibrant lights. Following the banquet, all the attendees were invited to an upscale party here. Bikini-d women moved rhythmically to the thumping beats, their movements stirring the quiet sea with vibrant energy. Servers dressed in sharp tuxedos weaved through the crowd with elegance, connecting the sprawling outdoor deck to the opulent indoor hall. Guests clinked sses and mingled, immersed in the undeniable splendor of the gathering. Jordan¡¯s arrival injected even more life into the already spirited scene. The crowd, champagne in hand, converged around him. He epted a ss from a server and raised it in a toast to the assembly. Shortly after, his face settled back into the reserved expression typical of seasoned leaders. As the celebration continued, the hall doors burst open. The arrival of a mew guest captured everyone¡¯s attention, and the crowd parted ways, drawn to the neers presence. Lindsey was d in a diamond-studded ck long dress, her hair cascading over her shoulders. Her makeup was bold yet tasteful, and she exuded charm and dignity. Linking her arm with Domenic¡¯s, they made their way toward where Jordan stood. The mood shifted subtly. Whispers filled the air. ¡°Why do I feel Lindsey suits Domenic better than Carole?¡± ¡°I agree. She is stealing the show with that dress. She¡¯s outshining every beauty here. ¡± ¡°Them showing up like this, are we in for some drama?¡± ¡°Grandpa. ¡± Upon reaching Jordan, Domenic spoke first, then guided Lindsey closer, introducing her with a serious tone. ¡°Linds, this is my grandpa Jordan. Grandpa, this is Lindsey, the girl I¡¯ve always admired. ¡± Chapter 956 Jordan let out a brief chuckle, assessing Lindsey. He marveled at how her transformation belied her earlier simplicity; her ensemble was every bit as stunning as Carole¡¯s. He had expected Lindsey, a simple girl from the streets, to gawk at the opulent setting like a deer in headlights. Instead, she disyed a poise and graciousness that took him by surprise. As the onlookers anticipated a spectacle, Jordan smiled slightly, took Lindsey¡¯s gloved hand in his, and patted it gently. ¡°No wonder Dominic is taken with you.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material. You¡¯re not only beautiful but gracious as well. ¡± This unexpected shift in his demeanor left the crowd exchanging Looks of surprise. Everyone was in disbelief, their eyes fixed on the unexpected scene unfolding before them. Could it be that something happened just now when they weren¡¯t looking that made Jordan ept Lindsey? Jordan¡¯s attitude toward Lindsey seemed to have changed in the blink of an eye. Lindsey braced herself for a reprimand from Jordan, but was taken aback by his warm and weing manner. He was nothing Like the man who had tried to throw her out at the banquet hall just moments earlier. She was at a loss for words and could only respond with a nod and a smile. Jordan masked the disdain in his eyes, adopting a kind and gentle facade as he examined Lindsey from head to toe, nodding with feigned approval. ¡°Can I call you Lindsey? I was too hasty earlier and I misunderstood the situation. It¡¯s all Domenic¡¯s fault. I¡¯ve always told him to bring any girl he likes to meet me. Yet, he said nothing about this. He even kept your rtionship a secret, which led to my matchmaking between him and Carole. Can you forgive me?¡± Jordan¡¯s words painted him as meless, suggesting that Domenic had purposely kept things from him, and that Domenic had been reluctant to acknowledge his connection with her or introduce her to him. With a frown, Domenic turned toward Lindsey. Just as he was about to speak, Lindsey smiled, her eyes lighting up as she responded with grace and politeness, ¡°Of course. He didn¡¯t tell you because he didn¡¯t want to upset you. ¡± Seeing Lindsey¡¯s nonchnt yet protective tone, Domenic exhaled a deep sigh of relief, feeling aforting and delightful warmth spread through his heart. Jordan¡¯s calcting gaze dimmed slightly, noting his attempts to stir trouble between Domenic and Lindsey were futile. ¡°I¡¯m d he has found someone he loves,¡± Jordan said with a smile, masking his motives. ¡°I must say, he has quite the discerning taste. Lindsey, this is the first time we¡¯ve met. I don¡¯t know much about you and your family. What do you do?¡± The others were equally intrigued by Lindsey. Their gazes were glued to her, eager to learn more. Although they initially suspected Lindsey was merely a secret lover, Domenic¡¯s open deration of her as his girlfriend shifted their perceptions. If Lindsey had captured Domenic¡¯s affection and attention, they guessed she would probably hold a notable position. Jordan, well aware of Lindsey¡¯s background, intentionally brought it up in front of arge crowd, aiming to embarrass her. After all, despite recognizing the stark differences between herself and Domenic, she had boldly attempted to win his affection, a feat that seemed overly ambitious. From the corner of her eye, Lindsey noticed the gathering crowd. With aposed smile, she gracefully responded without missing a beat, ¡°I manage a small agency and work as an agent. My family is just like any other-nothing out of the ordinary. ¡± Her words immediately sparked a flurry of whispers among the onlookers. ¡°What? She¡¯s merely a small agency owner. How did she manage to connect with Domenic Walsh?¡± ¡°Why would he be interested in her?¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s her charm in private matters. It seems he ispletely smitten¡­¡± ¡°No wonder his grandpa is against their rtionship. If he were my son, I¡¯d be furious too. ¡± Chapter 957 For the powerful ns, a person¡¯s identity and status were paramount. This was particrly crucial when selecting spouses for their descendants; they sought partners from families of simr stature, preferably forming alliances through marriage for business reasons. Even though the wealthy could choose their lovers casually, when it came to selecting wives, they exclusively targeted women from affluent families. The greatest taboo for these ns was associating with those at the societal bottom, as it was considered a stain on their prestigious lineage.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . The story of Domenic¡¯s parents had always been shrouded in secrecy by Jordan. Revealing that his firstborn had married a woman of humble origins would have brought shame upon the Walsh family. Thus, Jordan had obscured the truth about Domenic¡¯s mother, attributing the couple¡¯s death to an unfortunate ident. This secret eventually turned into gossip among the elite. . . Library Lindsey, observing these discussions, maintained a stoic exterior, yet inside, resentment brewed. Despite their shy appearance, these rich folks were surprisingly arrogant and ill-mannered. To those with wealth, she was insignificant, criticized and Looked down upon for her lower status. Yet, she realized that there were plenty of ordinary people like her, whose hard work was fundamental for the opulent lives of the affluent. These rich guys exploited the working ss, profiting off their backs while looking down upon them with disdain. As Lindsey clenched her fists, a surge of defiance grew within her. She vowed never to yield to these elitists. One day, she would rise to the top and make them rue the day they mocked her. Jordan was quite pleased with everyone¡¯s reaction. He nced at Domenic and muttered under his breath, ¡°See? I¡¯m not being unreasonable. It¡¯s just that the woman you¡¯ve chosen is too modest to win everyone¡¯s approval. ¡± Domenic¡¯s expression remainedposed, yet his eyes harbored a depth and darkness akin to the sky on the eve of a storm. Gently, Domenic ced his arm around Lindsey¡¯s shoulders. She looked up at him, slightly startled, and noticed how he sternly surveyed the crowd around them. His voice was deep and authoritative, tinged with a frosty edge. ¡°If anyone has something to say, step forward and say it openly. Judging others behind their backs, I feel like I¡¯m standing before hypocritical snobs, not honest folk. ¡± His words, veiled in satire, targeted the influential nobles and tycoons, leaving them embarrassed and their mouths sealed shut. The crowd fell into a hushed silence. Nestled in Domenic¡¯s embrace, Lindsey gazed up at his strong jawline. Hismanding presence radiated a charisma that seemed to belong only to those in the highest echelons, causing her heart to race. At the crowd¡¯s edge, Kristy observed Domenic¡¯s cold yet captivating regal demeanor. A sense of possessiveness surged within her. Such a man should belong to her. What right does Lindsey be with him? Afterying eyes on Domenic, no other man could catch Kristy¡¯s interest. She was determined not to give up on him easily; she had to make him hers. Sensing the tension in the air, Jordan cleared his throat gently and shed a friendly smile to ease the mood. He turned to Lindsey and inquired with curiosity, ¡°So, how did you first meet Domenic?¡± The question piqued everyone¡¯s interest; they too were eager to learn about Lindsey¡¯s connection with Domenic. However, the memory of her initial encounter with Domenic caused Lindsey¡¯s cheeks to flush with embarrassment. She couldn¡¯t possibly reveal to Jordan that their first meeting had been a one-night stand, a result of her being drugged. Chapter 958 ¡°Grandpa, I can share that story with youter, once we¡¯re back home. Discussing such private matters in front of so many guests might not be appropriate. ¡± Domenic¡¯s response was chilly. Catching Domenic¡¯s icy tone, Jordan gave him a sheepish look, worried his probing might have been too transparent. ¡°Right, I got a bit carried away there,¡± Jordan admitted. ¡°Tell you what, after we disembark tomorrow, why don¡¯t you and Lindseye over, and you can fill me in on everything?¡± Turning to the gathered guests, Jordan then announced, ¡°Guys, thank you for joining the celebration tonight.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. I¡¯ve arranged for some of the finest wine for us to enjoy. Let¡¯s make the most of it and celebrate the night away!¡± With the prospects of juicy details dashed, the guests returned to their revelry, ready to indulge in the evening¡¯s festivities. Holding Lindsey¡¯s hand, Jordan greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Lindsey, you have to try the exquisite wine I¡¯ve selected for today. It¡¯s something you can¡¯t find just anywhere. ¡± Lindsey nodded, offering a polite smile in return. ¡°Thank you. I will enjoy it. ¡± Jordan gave Lindsey¡¯s hand a reassuring pat and turned to Franklin, who stood by his side. ¡°Please ensure Lindsey experiences the renowned hospitality. ¡± Franklin bowed slightly, his voice earnest. ¡°Rest assured, I will take good care of Miss Stewart. ¡± He then straightened up and extended a weing gesture toward Lindsey. In that moment, Lindsey found herself reevaluating her initial impression of Jordan, which had been tainted by Domenic¡¯s descriptions. He seemed more approachable than she had anticipated. She nced up at Domenic, who was standing close behind her, his hand resting protectively on her shoulder. While his presence offered a sense of security, it also stirred an ufortable feeling inside her. The resentments that lingered in her heart made it hard for her to trust him fully. Domenic had deceived her in the past, and she was still grappling with how to navigate their strained rtionship. Feeling the need to create some physical distance, she subtly stepped away, slipping out from under his hand. Domenic¡¯s hand, momentarily suspended in the air, eventually fell as the glint in his gaze dimmed. They followed Franklin into the gathering. Once out of Jordan¡¯s view, Domenic turned to Franklin and suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll take Linds around. You can go about your business. ¡± Franklin nced between Domenic and Lindsey, then nodded with respect, saying, ¡°Of course. ¡± Het then slowly walked away. Domenic led Lindsey to a table and picked up a bottle of red wine. He poured two sses, offering one to Lindsey. ¡°My grandpa really did pick some good wine. This is La Romanee-Conti. You missed itst time at Jacob¡¯s; you should try it now. ¡± Lindsey recalled thest encounter at Jacob¡¯s when Jacob taunted her and Domenic about the La Romance-Conti red wine, only for Domenic to reveal that Jacob¡¯s bottle was a counterfeit. Back then, she had been curious about Domenic¡¯s detailed knowledge, which he brushed off with a vague excuse that she naively epted. Reflecting on that moment, she felt foolish. With a wry smile, Lindsey epted the ss from Domenic and met his gaze. Her eyes held no warmth, only a detached coolness. ¡°Mr. Walsh,¡± she began, her tone more formal. ¡°I didn¡¯te here today to disrupt the celebration. I have something important to discuss with you. ¡± Chapter 959 Domenic¡¯s brow furrowed. Lindsey¡¯s use of ¡°Mr. Walsh¡± instead of ¡°Domenic¡± sent a pang of difort through him. It highlighted the strain in their rtionship. ¡°Linds¡­¡± Lindsey¡¯s cold voice cut him off. ¡°Do you still remember that you promised me to return Cherish to my mother when she woke up? Although the CEO I met at that time wasn¡¯t you, I believe it was your order. ¡± Lindsey now was certain that the CEO she¡¯d met was an imposter arranged by Domenic to conceal his true identity. He really had gone to great lengths to deceive her. ¡°Of course, I remember,¡± Domenic replied, his heart aching as he spoke. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Lindsey looked up at him. ¡°She¡¯s awake now. ¡± ¡°Your mother is awake?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°When?¡± ¡°A few days ago,¡± she said. ¡°I went to Vitality Group to find you, but you didn¡¯t see me. ¡± Suddenly, it dawned on Domenic that Carole had called about Lindsey¡¯s visit. He had dismissed it as a test and hadn¡¯t taken it seriously. Later, the receptionist confirmed there was no record. So, she did visit¡­ ¡°That was actually¡­¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Lindsey interrupted, her eyes distant. ¡°Since I couldn¡¯t see you, I came here. Will you honor your promise?¡± Domenic, seeing her determination, took out his phone and dialed a number, putting it on speaker. A familiar voice filled the room. ¡°Domenic, what¡¯s wrong?¡± It was Emilio. Lindsey nced at Domenic, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. Domenic¡¯s gaze lingered on Lindsey. He spoke into the phone. ¡°Emilio, Lindsey¡¯s mother is awake.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡± ¡°Wow! That¡¯s fantastic!¡± Emilio¡¯s response surprised Lindsey. ¡°You don¡¯t know how much effort I¡¯ve put in to maintain Cherish¡¯s status in the industry,¡± Emilio continued, a mix ofint and pride in his voice. ¡°I secured a few top designers, barely keeping the brand afloat. Thestunch wasn¡¯t a runaway sess, but it held some ground. The market still has faith in Cherish. ¡± He wasn¡¯t just doing this for Domenic; he also wanted to help Lindsey keep her mother¡¯s legacy. ¡°But let¡¯s be honest,¡± Emilio conceded, ¡°these designers can¡¯t hold a candle to Juanita. Cherish has a foothold in luxury, but it¡¯s a shadow of its former self. Now that Juanita¡¯s awake, Cherish can finally reim its brilliance. The chairperson¡¯s position has always been hers. She can return anytime and take full control. ¡± ¡°Alright then. Thank you for your hard work, Emilio. ¡± Chapter 960 ¡°Loosen up a bit. Formality feels strangeing from you. ¡± ¡°Then get used to it. I have other matters to attend to. Later. ¡± A smile yed on Domenic¡¯s lips as he hung up the phone. No further exnation was needed. His actions had spoken for him, answering Lindsey¡¯s question definitively. Lindsey¡¯s eyes were still shaking. Domenic hadn¡¯t lied. He¡¯d kept his promise, safeguarding Juanita¡¯s position and securing Cherish¡¯s ce in the luxury market. She now realized Carole was behind the scenes when Domenic refused to meet her, causing a misunderstanding on her part. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over Lindsey. She felt deep gratitude towards Domenic and Emilio but was still a bit resentful. Domenic was the CEO of Vitality Group all along, and he¡¯d kept this crucial detail hidden for so long. If not for tonight, she might have remained oblivious. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Pushing aside her personal feelings, Lindsey simply said, ¡°Thank you. ¡± Domenic offered a gentle smile and raised his ss. ¡°May you join me for a drink?¡± Lindsey met his gaze briefly before looking away. She nodded slightly. Then, in one swift motion, she drained her ss. Meanwhile, Franklin watched from the shadows. Domenic staying close to Lindsey hampered his ns. He needed a distraction; something to draw Domenic away. A sly grin spread across his face as an idea sparked in his mind. Franklin approached Domenic and Lindsey, a nod of acknowledgment given to Lindsey before turning to Domenic with a friendly smile. ¡°Sir, your presence is urgently requested by your grandpa,¡± he conveyed. Curiosity sparked in Domenic¡¯s eyes as he inquired, ¡°What seems to be the matter?¡± With a solemn expression, Franklin replied, ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you arrive. He only mentioned it was urgent.Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. It¡¯s best if you go alone. ¡± Domenic hesitated, his concern for Lindsey evident. Despite his grandfather¡¯s warming attitude toward her, he couldn¡¯t shake the unease of leaving her alone. Noticing his hesitation, Franklin offered, ¡°If Miss Stewart is your concern, I can ensure she returns to your room to rest. ¡± Domenic nced briefly at Franklin, a hint of hesitation coloring his expression, but before he could voice his concerns, Lindsey interjected smoothly, ¡°Given the urgency of your grandpa¡¯s request, you should attend to it promptly. I¡¯m feeling a bit fatigued and could use some rest. ¡± The party atmosphere failed to lift Lindsey¡¯s spirits. Remaining here only exacerbated her feelings of despondency. Her sole desire was to disembark from the ship at the earliest opportunitye tomorrow. epting her words, Domenic swiftly dialed Hendrix¡¯s number. ¡°I¡¯ll have Hendrix escort you back. If you¡¯re tired, please rest. He¡¯ll stand guard, and I¡¯ll return shortly,¡± he assured Lindsey. Domenic¡¯s protective instincts kicked in, and he entrusted only his closest confidant with her safety, seeking sce in that decision. Observing Domenic¡¯s caution, Franklin¡¯s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 961 However, his countenance soon morphed into a wicked grin, hinting at a sinister motive. In due time, Hendrix arrived and escorted Lindsey to Domenic¡¯s suite. After exchanging pleasantries with several guests, Domenic departed with Franklin, his mind now at ease. As the door to the lounge swung open, Domenic was met with the sight of Jordan reclining on the armchair, surrounded by towering bodyguards. With a nod from Jordan, the guards discreetly exited the room. Franklin gently closed the door, leaving only Domenic and Jordan in the room. ¡°Grandpa, how may I assist you?¡± Domenic stepped forward, his piercing gaze fixed on Jordan. ¡°Domenic, I know your heart has strayed to that Lindsey, but you cannot forsake Carole!¡± Jordan turned to Domenic, meeting his eyes with a heavy heart. Domenic furrowed his brow and inquired, ¡°What has happened to her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s locked herself in her room and refuses to see anyone, not even me. I¡¯m worried something terrible might happen to her, which is why I summoned you here. ¡± Jordan sighed heavily, expressing, ¡°Domenic, Iprehend that you¡¯ve matured and developed your own beliefs. You¡¯re capable of independence. I¡¯ve always treated you as a child, perhaps interfering more than I should have. I¡¯ve neglected to consider your perspective. Now that you¡¯ve found someone you care for, as long as she is virtuous and genuinely loves you, I won¡¯t stand in your way anymore. However, Carole once saved your life. Our Walsh family remains forever indebted to her, so it would be unjust to disregard this debt. Moreover, her current predicament is partly a consequence of my actions. Now that circumstances have reached this juncture, you cannot simply ignore her plight. ¡± Reflecting on the time when he was confined in the cer, teetering on the brink of death, it was Carole who had illuminated his path and lifted him from despair. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t overlook her kindness. After a brief pause, Domenic murmured, ¡°I understand.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. I¡¯ll go check on her. ¡± Observing Domenic¡¯s agreement, Jordan feigned relief, though a subtle hint of satisfaction yed upon his lips. As he approached the door, Domenic halted abruptly, turning to face Jordan with a searching gaze. ¡°Grandpa, do you truly ept Lindsey and promise not to cause her any harm?¡± Jordan was caught off guard by the question, attempting to conceal his calcting gaze behind a mask of warmth. With a gentle smile, he reassured, ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ve promised you that as long as Lindsey possesses integrity and loves you genuinely, I wholeheartedly support your rtionship. ¡± Domenic pursed his lips, feeling a sense of unease. Jordan¡¯s sudden change seemed too swift, leaving him puzzled. Yet, in that fleeting moment, he couldn¡¯t pinpoint any evident ws. Could he have misjudged his grandpa? Was it possible that his grandpa didn¡¯t harbor disdain for ordinary girls after all? Could it be that he wasn¡¯t as cruel and merciless as he had believed Could it be that he had actually seen through everything after all these years? With a furrowed brow and a myriad of thoughts swirling in his mind, Domenic nodded at Jordan before exiting the lounge. As soon as the door clicked shut, Jordan¡¯s demeanor swiftly shifted from amiable to malevolent and ruthless. With a cold snort, Jordan directed his disdain toward the direction Domenic had left. ¡°I¡¯ll never ept that lowly woman for as long as I live! Domenic, remember, wisdomes with age. If you dare to challenge me, you¡¯ll need more experience. I¡¯ll make sure you see for yourself just how deceitful the woman you¡¯ve chosen truly is. She doesn¡¯t Love you and isn¡¯t worthy of you in the slightest. Till then, I fear you¡¯ll be more desperate to rid yourself of her than I am!¡± Jordan murmured to himself. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction and leaned back in his chair, lifted his cup of tea, and took a contented sip. Lindsey and Hendrix walked in silence along the corridor to Domenic¡¯s suite. Hendrix kept stealing nces at Lindsey as they walked side by side. After some hesitation, he could not stay quiet any longer. ¡°Miss Stewart, actually my boss¡­ I mean, Domenic, he did not intend to deceive you. Everything he did was to protect you. ¡± Chapter 962 Hendrix knew more than anyone about Domenic¡¯s love for Lindsey. He saw the growing distance between them and feltpelled to defend his boss. Lindsey stayed quiet. Noticing Lindsey¡¯s unchanging expression, Hendrix blurted out, ¡°The problems you and yourpany faced were all resolved by my boss. Without him, you¡­¡± Lindsey stopped abruptly and turned to face Hendrix, her Lips curling with a touch of coldness. ¡°Even if he did help me, that does not change the fact that he lied. He could have been honest from the beginning if he trusted me. We could have faced everything together. But he chose to hide things. Was not that because he was afraid I would act out of line once I knew who he really was? Maybe cling to him, try to attach to the Walsh Group, or even expose our rtionship andplicate things for him?¡± Hendrix found himself at a loss for words. Domenic never shared his deepest thoughts, so Hendrix could not confirm whether Domenic had the same intentions Lindsey described. Yet, from Domenic¡¯s viewpoint, he likely opted for the safest route to avoid potential issues. By hiding his true identity from Lindsey, he managed to keep her apart from the Walsh Group¡¯splications, which was his cautious way of protecting her.N?velDrama.Org exclusive content. ¡°Miss Stewart, I believe¡­¡± Before Hendrix could finish, Lindsey interrupted him, raising her voice. ¡°Mr. Coleman, as his trusted assistant, your words do not have much persuasiveness with me. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s remark left Hendrix momentarily speechless, making him realize just how sharp-tongued she was, always leaving him speechless. . . Library He was just a nobody; his role was to perform his duties and follow the boss¡¯s orders. It wasn¡¯t his ce to meddle in their personal affairs. With this realization, Hendrix chose not to continue. He gave Lindsey a gentle nod and said, ¡°Sorry, I have spoken too much. ¡± They reached the door of the suite. Hendrix opened it and respectfully told Lindsey, ¡°I will stay at the door until my boss returns. If you need anything, please just let me know. ¡± After a brief nce at him, Lindsey nodded and entered the suite. Once inside, Lindsey shut the door, leaned back against it, slid slowly to the floor, and sat down. The night¡¯s revtions had thrown her thoughts into confusion. She needed time to think everything through. Yet, every time her mind reyed Domenic¡¯s past deceptions and her own naive trust, she found it impossible to settle down, feeling as though he had been ying games with her. Even though he might have had reasons to protect her, why couldn¡¯t he trust that she could handle the risks and pressures alongside him? Why did he choose deceit and lies as the foundation of their rtionship? She longed for his transparency and truthfulness, yet he never considered giving that to her. Each promise he made now proved false, and each gesture of sincerity was just an act tofort her. This was a kind of arrogance unique to those in power. She believed he just wanted to dominate everything, and it led him to fabricate everything. He had carefully nned everything from the beginning, manipting and ying with her at his leisure. The profound pain ripped through Lindsey¡¯s heart. She felt an urge to drown her sorrows in alcohol. She rose and walked to the living room, fetched a bottle of wine from the cab, and poured herself a ss. She gulped it quickly. One after another, she emptied the bottle. Lying on the sofa, she reyed every interaction with Domenic in her mind: his gentle touches, his thoughtfulness, his concern, his warm hugs, his tender embraces, his alluring thin lips¡­ Chapter 963 Lindsey pped her forehead, urging herself to remain rational. How genuine were his acts of kindness toward her? After being deceived and betrayed repeatedly, Lindsey doubted her own judgment. She felt she could no longer tell right from wrong. She built a thick shell around herself to avoid further pain. She had once let her guard down for Domenic, but now, because of him, her defenses were even stronger. Lindsey was not much of a drinker. After finishing the bottle of the wine, she initially felt fine, but soon dizziness set in, making the room spin before her eyes. At that moment, a waiter approached the room door with a tray in his hands. Seeing Hendrix standing guard outside, he bowed slightly and said, ¡°Sir, this is the honeyed water prepared for each guest. It is a really good hangover solution. It¡¯s my job to deliver it to every room. ¡± Hendrix looked at the kettle on the tray. This Luxury cruise usually provided honeyed water usually served to tipsy guests after the party. Having just seen Lindsey with an empty ss, indicating she had been drinking. Hendrix turned and pressed the doorbell of Lindsey¡¯s room to see if she needed some tea, but got no response.This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He rang it a couple more times, still with no answer. Lindsey had only just entered the room. She could not have fallen asleep that quickly. Even if she were asleep, the doorbell should have woken her. Recalling the night¡¯s events and Domenic¡¯s instructions, Hendrix suddenly felt an ominous premonition. Fortunately, he still had the room key Domenic had given him. Concerned for Lindsey¡¯s well-being, he couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He unlocked the door and rushed inside! After leaving Jordan¡¯s room, Domenic walked to Carole¡¯s room. He rang the doorbell, and soon the door opened a crack. Carole peeked out, her eyes red and puffy, giving the impression she had been crying. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Domenic said coldly. Seeing Domenic, a wave of joy surged through Carole. Jordan had called her earlier, informing her he would send Domenic over. This was a golden opportunity, and she resolved to do everything she could to keep Domenic, no matter the cost. She had intentionally wept, making her eyes appear pitifully red and swollen. Tearfully, she asked, ¡°Are you here to mock me?¡± Instead of opening the door wider, she sniffled and remained partially hidden, her eyes bing even redder. Domenic frowned and said in a detached tone, ¡°Grandpa mentioned you¡¯ve been secluding yourself in your room, avoiding everyone. He was concerned you might do something drastic, so he sent me to check on you. ¡± His distant words cut deeply, stinging Carole. She bit her lip, ready to speak, but Domenic continued, ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, I¡¯ll be Leaving now. ¡± He turned to leave without a second thought. Panicking, Carole flung the door open and ran after him, shouting, ¡°Domenic, stop right there!¡± Domenic halted but didn¡¯t turn around. Carole clenched her hands, her voice quivering with a mix of bitterness and resentment. Chapter 964 ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your grandpa, you wouldn¡¯t care if I lived or died, would you?¡± she said, her voice hoarse with emotion. Domenic slowly turned to face Carole, his gaze icy and indifferent, cutting through her heart like a dagger. ¡°Yes,¡± he admitted bluntly. That single word shattered Carole¡¯s hopepletely. Her eyes zed a furious shade of red as she stared unblinkingly at Domenic. ¡°Domenic, don¡¯t forget that I saved your life. I pulled you out of that cold, damp cer. I sacrificed everything to rescue you, and I still bear the scar!¡± Carole shouted, extending her hand. A deep scar traversed her palm, a stark and haunting sight. . . Library Domenic¡¯s brow knit tightly, a glimmer of astonishment thawing the frost in his usually icy eyes. ¡°Have you forgotten so soon? I made numerous attempts to hoist you up, yet my efforts were futile, for you were but a boy and I, merely a young girl. Eventually, I found a sturdy stick and tethered myself to a pir with a rope, summoning every ounce of my strength to rescue you. This scar, a testament to our shared history, bears witness to the lengths I went to, though I kept silent, sparing you from unnecessary remorse. ¡± As Carole spoke, tears cascaded down her cheeks like raindrops. She lowered her head, attempting to suppress her sobs, her shoulders quivering with emotion. Domenic did recall the incident vividly. He remembered how she had clenched her right hand tightly afterward, though he hadn¡¯t given it much thought back then. ¡°People speak of a scar on the palm as an ill omen. Perhaps that¡¯s why fate dealt me such a harsh hand-why my parents perished, why I¡¯ve endured ridicule and scorn, why life has been an uphill battle, and why betrayal has shadowed me despite my every effort. All because of this scar!¡± Domenic¡¯s somber eyes shimmered with a rare emotion as he beheld the scar Carole had carried for his sake, a pang of guilt piercing his heart. ¡°I¡¯m utterly exhausted.N?velDrama.Org: owner of this content. ¡± Retreating her scared hand and huddling behind her, Carole lifted her eyes wearily, meeting Domenic¡¯s gaze. ¡°In any case, you don¡¯t hold any concern for me, and my existence feels pointless. You may depart now. Just allow me to fade away. If tomorrow¡¯s tide bears my lifeless form, don¡¯t be taken aback. Such is my fate, bearing no weight upon you. ¡± With that, Carole pivoted to retreat indoors. Domenic¡¯s gaze clouded over, and he trailed after her, entering the room. As she caught the sound of his footsteps, Carole couldn¡¯t suppress a smile, swiftly concealing her relief. She pivoted towards him and inquired, ¡°Weren¡¯t you on your way out? What are you still doing here?¡± Domenic cast a nce her way before making his way to the Living room. He retrieved his phone, dialed a number, and settled onto the sofa, his demeanor inscrutable. ¡°I won¡¯t depart until I¡¯m certain you¡¯re calm and rational,¡± He uttered coldly, engrossed in scrolling through his phone. Carole¡¯s face bloomed with joy. Domenic had chosen to stay with her! Perhaps, she guessed, deep down, he did care after all! Carole curled her right hand. The scar on it was not from the time she had rescued him. Back then, her hand had merely been scratched by thorny sticks, leaving superficial wounds that had long healed. She hadn¡¯t shown him her hand at that time, partly because the injuries were minor and partly because she felt it was too unsightly, a matter of pride. The scar was actually self-inflicted with a toothpick before she returned to the country. She had preserved it as her trump card, clinging to the hope of winning Domenic¡¯s heart easily. Yet, tonight, in front of numerous business magnates, Domenic had chosen Lindsey, crushing her dignity underfoot. Carole felt utterly humiliated. Chapter 965 For the first time, she experienced true despair. Jordan had dered this her final opportunity. If she failed to retain Domenic, he would no longer support her. Realizing she was backed into a corner, she was prepared to use her scar as leverage over Domenic, despite the drastic measure. She was certain Lindsey couldn¡¯t stand a chance against her. ¡°Why do you stay now, when you implied you wouldn¡¯t give a damn about me?¡± Carole inquired, her tone sweet yet sly, as she gazed at Domenic lounging on the sofa, his legs elegantly crossed. Domenic didn¡¯t even nce up, his voice calm and firm. ¡°You saved my life. Consider this me saving yours. Now, we are even. ¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Carole¡¯s smile, which had been one of triumph, froze. What did he mean by that? ¡°What do you mean by ¡®even¡¯? You think you can call it even so easily?¡± she retorted sharply, her voice thick with resentment. Domenic switched off his phone and finally met her eyes, his expression icy. ¡°Today, I¡¯ve settled the debt for saving my life. From this moment forward, I owe you nothing-not even the wish you once asked me to grant. ¡± Carole was shocked into silence. She had never suspected that Domenic had remained with her solely for this purpose. She was previously humiliated by him, and he was now severing their agreement! It was all because of that fucking bitch, Lindsey. Domenic would go to any lengths for her! He wanted to marry Lindsey? Dream on! Carole clenched her fists so tightly that her nails pierced her skin, drawing blood. However, her surprise was far from over. Just then, several bodyguards d in ck suits entered the room, standing solemnly before Domenic. Carole watched them and then Domenic¡¯s emotionless face as he rose to address the bodyguards, ¡°Remain here and ensure Miss Larson¡¯s safety. Keep her out of harm¡¯s way until she disembarks tomorrow. ¡± Carole felt as though her world was crumbling. Domenic¡¯s show of concern for her safety aboard the ship was merely to avoid any scandals that could mar the Walsh Group¡¯s name. Once she was off the ship, her fate was irrelevant to them. He wasn¡¯t really repaying her; he was safeguarding his family¡¯s image and his own interests! Reeling from the revtion, Carole staggered backward, staring at the man she had once loved, her heart shattering. Had he never cared for her at all? Was he really that heartless? It all came down to that bitch. Why was Lindsey deemed superior to her? Why had her life-saving act been met with nothing but cruelty and indifference? After enduring years of sacrifice and humiliation, why was the title of Mrs. Walsh still out of her reach? Jordan Walsh had sworn she would marry Domenic. All those promises were nothing but lies. Her entire life had been dedicated to bing Domenic¡¯s wife, and she was determined not to let that dream slip away-no matter the cost. ¡°Domenic, you¡¯re going to regret this!¡± Carole dered through clenched teeth as she eyed the balcony. Without waiting for a response, she dashed towards it. Domenic¡¯s face turned grim. ¡°Stop her!¡± he shouted. However, it was already toote. The bodyguards only reached the balcony as Carole climbed over the railing, perching precariously at the edge of the yacht. The night breeze teased the hem of her pink gown, and under the moonlight, her face, ghostly pale, was etched with a menacing grin. The bodyguards paused, wary of upsetting her further. ¡°Carole, what are you thinking?¡± Domenic called out, his voice strained with tension. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 966 The dark sea loomed ominously behind her, promising a cold, watery embrace with any misstep. With a wildugh, Carole saw the concern in Domenic¡¯s eyes and seized it. ¡°I want you to spend tonight with me. I want you to keep your promise. I want you, Domenic, to swear you¡¯ll never marry Lindsey. If you refuse, I¡¯ll jump!¡± Slowly, she released one hand from the railing. Domenic¡¯s brows furrowed deeply, his face looking very grim as he stared at Carole. Swallowing hard, his hands clenched into firsts, not knowing what he should do next. His mom had always taught him to repay the kindness shown to him, and to always keep his promises. Hence, he saw to it that he adhered to this principle. After escaping from that asylum and establishing the Vitality Group, he made sure to track down the man who had helped him escape. Eventually, he found out that the man turned out to be the notorious leader of a mafia in Morcastle, who was betrayed by his own buddies and thrown into that infamous asylum. This man had a long list of crimesmitted, and the number of deaths attributed to him was endless. However, because of their deal, Domenic still helped him turn a new leaf without questioning his dark past. He shut down that asylum, erasing it from existence, and satisfying his own thirst for revenge. In the end, the man chose to stay by Domenic¡¯s side, vowing to be a deadly weapon in his arsenal that he could call at any time. Sure enough, he had handled numerous troublesome matters for Domenic. Throughout the years, because of Domenic¡¯s unwavering adherence to his principles, he had obtained several loyal followers that would readily risk their lives for him. Likewise, Carole had saved his life once. If it wasn¡¯t for her, he would have perished in that cold, damp cer. Of course, he didn¡¯t forget to offer his gratitude. However, her demands were just too excessive to grant. Nheless, he couldn¡¯t let her die just Like that. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y He just knew that if he drove his own savior to death, his mother in heaven would look down at him with disdain, and if they ever met in the afterlife, she wouldn¡¯t stop ming her. Moreover, this incident was happening on his own cruise ship. If Carole was to die here, it would inevitably give a bad look to his entire family.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The business world was like a huge battlefield. He couldn¡¯t trust just anyone, and though people would seem friendly on the surface, they would seize any opportunity to climb thedder and trample him under their feet. His grandfather, who was fond of Carole, would especially be devastated when such a thing happened. Domenic¡¯s mind was a turmoil of conflicting thoughts right now. At this time, Carole issued an ultimatum. ¡°Domenic, I¡¯ll ask you onest time, do you agree or not?¡± It seemed that she had finally abandoned all reason and logic, fixated on only one thought. At this point, she would not let Domenic off easily, even if the price to pay was her own life. Seeing how Domenic didn¡¯t respond for quite a while, her despair deepened all the more. Sheughed bitterly, a chilling sound in this dark night. ¡°What? You think I¡¯m bluffing? Have you forgotten? I have no family to go back to, or anything that ties me to this world. It was just you and your grandpa who kept me going. But now, you, the man I¡¯ve loved for years had be nothing but an ungrateful scoundrel. Ha! I was a fool for even thinking that you are different from everyone else. I have nothing left to live for! Tell me, why would I even prolong my suffering?¡± Right after speaking, she started loosening her grip on the railing little by little, her body tilting backward. ¡°Stop!¡± Domenic shouted with a sense of urgency. ¡°I agree!¡± The next moment, Carole grabbed the railing tightly with both hands as her eyes widened in anticipation. Chapter 967 ¡°Really?¡± An obvious glimmer of hope returned to her eyes. Domenic pressed his thin lips tightly together and nodded with hints of hesitation. ¡°Promise me. State everything clearly,¡± Carole demanded relentlessly. With a deep breath, Domenic focused his dark eyes into hers, carefully enunciating each word, ¡°I promise to stay by your side tonight¡­ And that I would never marry Lindsey. Is that enough?¡± ¡°You never fulfilled your previous promises. Why should I believe you now?¡± Carole locked eyes with Domenic.T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What do you want me to do then?¡± Domenic asked in a cold tone. ¡°I demand a written agreement, with your signature and thumbprint on it,¡± Carole firmly stated. Domenic¡¯s face became even darker in displeasure. After gazing at the night sky and then at the sea for a moment, he turned to a bodyguard and gave him a signal. The bodyguard immediately understood his silentmand and quickly went to fetch a pen and paper which he promptly handed to Domenic. Putting the paper on the table in the balcony, Domenic wrote a few lines, signed his name, and put his thumbprint on it. Then he tossed the paper at Carole and said in an icy tone, ¡°Is that enough?¡± . . Library Carole didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she carefully read what he had written. Then her lips curled into a slow, satisfied smile. Now, she feltpletely assured. Holding the paper as if it was a treasure, she climbed back over the railing and onto the deck. She said with a smirk, ¡°You can¡¯t go back on it. Now, tell them to leave. ¡± She was referring to his bodyguards who were standing right behind him. Domenic nodded to them, and they all quietly left the room, closing the door behind them. Now, it was just the two of them alone in the room. Carole felt a surge of triumph in her heart. It seemed he couldn¡¯t bear to see her die after all. This signed agreement had finally resolved her biggest concern. As long as Domenic didn¡¯t get married to Lindsey, she still had a chance and all the time in the world to win him over. Right now, Carole was in a jubnt mood. Walking into the living room, she grabbed a bottle of red wine from the cab, poured two sses, and brought them out to Domenic, who continued to keep his distance. ¡°Domenic, would you like to have a drink with me?¡± she asked, her voice soft and inviting. Domenic walked over, took one of the sses and poured its contents into the trash. ¡°I only agreed to stay here. I won¡¯t do anything more than that,¡± he said in a cold tone. Carole knew he had been forced to sign that agreement. It was not something he had been willing to do at all. Chapter 968 So, she didn¡¯t push him any further. She just drank her wine in one gulp and followed it up with a few more sses. ¡°Domenic, I didn¡¯t want to force you,¡± she said after a while. ¡°It¡¯s just that you never fulfilled your previous promises, and that made me feel very hopeless. I did this simply because I love you. I really love you¡­ more than you know. ¡± Her cheeks were flushed and she was pretending to be drunk. As she spoke, she began to stumble towards him. But Domenic quickly sidestepped her. This infuriated Carole. She was beautiful and had a great figure. Now that she was alone with him, howe he had no desire for her at all? She never believed any man would be able to resist her! ¡°It¡¯s so hot,¡± she suddenly said and began to slip the straps of her evening dress off her shoulders. Then she walked over and turned her back to him. ¡°Domenic, can you help me with my zipper?¡± she requested. ¡°I can¡¯t reach it. ¡± As she spoke, she made a show of struggling in vain to grasp the zipper. Her smooth, delicate back was exposed as she wiggled her hips slightly, fully confident that no man would be able to resist such temptation. But Domenic knew her intentions. With a frown, he turned and walked towards the door. ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you promise to stay with me?¡± Carole shouted angrily after him. . . Library But Domenic didn¡¯t respond. He simply opened the door and said something to a staff member outside. Carole had been ready to explode, but when she saw him return, she suppressed her anger. Before long, a female staff member knocked on the door and promptly entered. ¡°How can I help you?¡± she asked politely. Domenic nced at Carole and then said to the staff member, ¡°Thisdy wants to rest. Help her change out of her clothes. ¡± ¡°Of course. ¡± The staff member nodded and then turned to Carole. ¡°Miss, please. ¡± Carole red at Domenic, her face flushed with anger. Despite the fact that she had thrown herself at him, he remained unmoved, and even went ahead to bring in someone else. Was he even a man? Now that they were no longer alone, she had no choice but to maintain herposure. So she followed the staff member into the changing room albeit reluctantly. After she had gone, Domenic¡¯s expression darkened, and he grabbed his phone to make a call to Hendrix. Meanwhile, frantically, Hendrix swiped his room key and burst into the room. He found Lindsey slumped on the floor, half draped over the sofa, seemingly unconscious.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Miss Stewart!¡± Panic surged through him as he knelt beside her, checking for a pulse. Relief washed over him as he felt her steady rise and fall. Spotting the empty wine ss and bottle on the table, he deduced she¡¯d overindulged. Luckily, he had some honeyed water for hangover. Chapter 969 Gently propping her up, he called her name softly while offering her the honeyed water. ¡°Drink this, Miss Stewart. It¡¯ll help you feel better. ¡± In a daze, Lindsey registered the honeyed water and instinctively swallowed. Seeing her respond, Hendrix felt a wave of reassurance. Just then, his phone rang-it was Domenic. Hendrix answered quickly. Domenic¡¯s deep voice filled the line. ¡°I¡¯m dyed. How¡¯s Lindsey?¡± Hendrix nced at Lindsey, still slumped by the sofa. ¡°She¡¯d had one too many drinks. ¡± ¡°One too many drinks, huh?¡± Domenic¡¯s voice held a hint of edge. Hendrix quickly exined the situation. ¡°But I feed her some honeyed water to sober up. She should be up soon. ¡± ¡°Make sure she gets some rest. Stay with her tonight. I¡¯m concerned my grandpa might cause trouble. ¡± Domenic still wasn¡¯t sure his grandfather had epted Lindsey. With the ship full of his associates, he couldn¡¯t risk anything. The only person he fully trusted was Hendrix. Hendrix had been his confidant for a decade and wouldn¡¯t betray him. . . Library Only with he around could Domenic feel a semnce of ease. Once they disembarked the next day, he could ensure Lindsey¡¯s safety. ¡°Got it. No worries,¡± Hendrix replied firmly. Hanging up, he returned to Lindsey, gently nudging her. ¡°Wake up, Miss Stewart. Let¡¯s get you to bed. ¡± Blearily, Lindsey opened her eyes at the sound of her name. When she saw the man before her, a wave of emotion washed over her. ¡°Domenic. . ¡± To her, the man wasn¡¯t Hendrix, but Domenic.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. And the room wasn¡¯t a luxurious suite, but their cozy apartment, their haven. Everything looked exactly as she remembered, bathed in the soft glow of the living roommp and a nightlight casting a warm Light. Cuddled up together on the sofa, they watched a movie they¡¯d seen before. Disoriented, Lindsey wondered if it was all a dream. The breakup, Domenic¡¯s identity as the CEO of Vitality Group and heir to the Walsh fortune, his deception-was it all a terrifying figment of her imagination? Were they still living a happy life together? Chapter 970 Gazing at the handsome face of ¡°Domenic¡±, tears welled up in her eyes. Hendrix, noticing her ssy-eyed daze, knew she wasn¡¯t fully awake. But at least she was conscious. Leaving her on the cold floor wasn¡¯t an option. He reached out to help her up.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You should get off the floor. It¡¯s cold. ¡± Suddenly, Lindsey threw her arms around him. In her dream-clouded mind, there was only Domenic. She squeezed him tightly, burying her face in his chest. ¡°Domenic, I had a horrible dream,¡± she choked out, her voice thick with emotion. Memories of the dream made her nose tingle, and she gripped his arm even harder. ¡°I dreamt we broke up, that you lied to me the whole time. ¡± Despite knowing it was a dream, sobs wracked her body. ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me. Tell me it wasn¡¯t real. Tell me you¡¯re just an ordinary person, not some powerful CEO. Tell me you were always honest with me. ¡± Hendrix, taken aback by her sudden embrace, tried to gently push her away. But she clung to him with surprising strength, pulling him down to the floor with her,nding on top of him. Lindsey was sobbing, her voice murmuring indistinct words that Hendrix couldn¡¯t fully understand. He didn¡¯t dare to make physical contact with her. She was his boss¡¯s woman, a person he knew he absolutely must not touch. He kept his hands hovering in mid-air. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y ¡°Miss Stewart, please snap out of it! It¡¯s me, Hendrix!¡± He shouted loudly, trying to get through to her. ¡°Domenic, I need you to hold me. ¡± Lindsey looked up at Hendrix, her eyes zed and unfocused, obviously confusing him with another person. Hendrix immediately sensed that something was amiss. Her condition didn¡¯t seem like ordinary drunkenness. It appeared more like she had been drugged! Having worked closely with Domenic, Hendrix had previously observed the effects of hallucinogenic substances on people. Lindsey¡¯s current state was strikingly simr. It was a total loss of awareness, with the personpletely immersed in their hallucinations. That exined why she had mistaken him for Domenic. Could the honeyed water from earlier be the cause? Realizing this, he knew he couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate any longer. The situation would only deteriorate further. He forcefully pushed her away and reached for his phone to contact Domenic. However, he suddenly noticed a strange odor. It had been subtly present earlier, but amidst themotion, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to it. Turning around, he saw that the room door was closed, with a thin wisp of smoke seeping in from under it. His head started to feel clouded, and his senses became muddled. The phone slipped from his hand and his vision began to blur. An average person wouldn¡¯t withstand this state for long, but Hendrix was not an ordinary individual. He was Domenic¡¯s most reliable and capable assistant. He attempted to grasp his phone, but his vision was too blurred to focus on it. Chapter 971 He realized he was on the verge of losing his mind. He had to take action quickly. Fighting to maintain rity of thought, he mustered all his strength to lift Lindsey from the floor and drag her to the bedroom. After cing her on the bed, he quickly exited the room, closing the door behind him. He stumbled towards the exit, understanding he needed to leave to prevent himself from doing something beyond his control. When he reached the door, he discovered it was locked, as if it had been deliberately sealed shut. Someone had orchestrated a trap for both him and Lindsey! Copsing against the door, Hendrix felt his heart pounding furiously, his breathing bing increasingly ragged. He was teetering on the brink of losing control, desperate to satisfy his raging desires. . . Library Even though he fought to restrain himself, his eyes gradually fixated on the door to Lindsey¡¯s room. Inside that room had his cure. He gradually began to lose his sanity. This was the only thought that upied his mind. Battling to maintain a semnce of rity, he rose slowly, like a zombie driven by an insatiable thirst for fresh blood, dragging his heavy body step by step toward the bedroom. Meanwhile, Lindsey had entirely lost her grip on reality. In her hallucinations, she and Domenic were intimately entwined. She continuously sought him, calling out his name, desperate to make her hallucinations feel real.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Her clothes had fallen from her body, scattered across the floor. Her hands were suspended in the air, as if embracing an invisible figure. She remained oblivious to the impending danger. The doorknob of the bedroom slowly turned, apanied by a faint creak as the door was pushed open from the outside. Hendrix¡¯s eyes were filled with eager greed as he gazed at the nearly naked woman lying on the bed. The blood coursing through his body boiled even more intensely. Elsewhere, Carole emerged from the dressing room wearing her nightgown, casting a furious look at Domenic, who was sitting on the sofa reading a magazine. She contemted how she could win him over. She intentionally lowered the neckline of her nightgown, then walked over to him and took hold of his arm. ¡°Domenic, it¡¯s gettingte. We should go to sleep. ¡± She pressed her chest against his arm, rubbing it suggestively several times. But Domenic immediately pushed her away, sending her to the other end of the sofa. ¡°Carole, I have always treated you with respect. Do not make me lose that respect for you tonight,¡± Domenic said coldly. Chapter 972 Carole bit her lip. Men had always pursued her. She had never been so forward with a man before. Yet in front of Domenic, she had set aside all her dignity, only to be repeatedly rebuffed by him. ¡°Domenic, there¡¯s just one thing I need to ask you. ¡± Carole¡¯s eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Domenic, her gaze drifting into the distance. ¡°Do you honestly have no affection for me at all?¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes werepletely void of any emotion as he looked at her. He responded without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Not even a little bit. ¡± Carole felt as if his words had deeply pierced her heart. She let out a bitterugh. ¡°What about Lindsey, then? How much do you care about her?¡± Domenic gazed at her with a cold stare. He answered with firm decisiveness, ¡°I am in love with her. ¡± Upon hearing this, Carole could no longer contain herself. She began tough uncontrobly, each chuckle emanating a coldness. ¡°Fine, you say you love her. But because of me, marriage will never be in your future with her. I should be happy with this, shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Caroleughed with wild abandon. Domenic looked icily at the nearly deranged Carole before him. He had never imagined that the girl who once saved him from the depths of despair would transform into this. A gesture of gratitude had twisted into a weapon for ckmail. How absurd! ncing at his watch, he noted it was already midnight. He wondered if Lindsey had gone to bed and if she would be angry that he hadn¡¯t returned. Considering the pressing circumstances, he decided he would exin everything to her in the morning. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Carole noticed Domenic¡¯s indifference, understanding that any further actions would only increase his disgust. She turned away, stormed into her room, and mmed the door. Domenic looked up, finally allowing himself to rx as he sank into the sofa. Meanwhile, in the opulent suite where Jordan was staying, the butler Franklin entered with a respectful air to report. ¡°It¡¯s done. ¡± ¡°Well done!¡± Jordan put down the magazine he was reading and removed his reading sses, and his eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°Yes. Hendrix entered Lindsey¡¯s room and didn¡¯t emerge. Thebination of hallucinogens and aphrodisiac smoke is irresistible,¡± Franklin said with a sinister grin. Jordan, arms crossed over his chest, leaned back into the sofa, visibly pleased. ¡°How will Domenic react tomorrow morning when he finds his trusted aide and the woman he loves in bed together?¡± Jordan couldn¡¯t help butugh heartily at the thought. Franklin chuckled along, adding, ¡°It will devastate him!¡± ¡°Precisely! I want Domenic to abandon that woman. As the future leader of the Walsh Group, he can¡¯t marry a woman who had an affair with his subordinate. We¡¯ll orchestrate a grand spectacle and let everyone witness it tomorrow. Domenic values his reputation; he might kill her right then and there!¡± He continued, ¡°As for Hendrix, I¡¯ve never liked him.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. He must have known about Domenic and that woman¡¯s rtionship but never reported it to me. He¡¯s dead wood! We¡¯ll eliminate him and ce our own people close to Domenic to keep tabs on him. ¡± Chapter 973 Jordan¡¯s eyes narrowed, a glint of shrewdness and machinations dancing in his gaze. Though anger simmered within him, he couldn¡¯t so easily cast aside Domenic, the most suitable leader of the Walsh Group. He thought Domenic was temporarily blinded by the charms of that Lindsey. He wanted Domenic to see that woman¡¯s true color, and then he would know that Carole was the perfect fit for him-someone kind and moral. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s Carole doing?¡± Jordan asked casually, his thoughts returning to the matter at hand. ¡°Domenic spent the night in his room,¡± Franklin replied. Jordan¡¯s mood brightened, his face now alight with joy. ¡°It seems Carole hasn¡¯t let me down. To handle men, one must employ some tactics to hold them tightly. Being too naive won¡¯t help; even if she marries Domenic, she could easily be taken advantage of. ¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. After tonight, your worries should be alleviated. ¡± ¡°Good! That¡¯s just wonderful!¡± Jordan felt a wave of relief and said to Franklin, ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see the drama next day!¡± The night¡¯s festivitiessted until nearly dawn. As the sun rose over the sea, the cruise ship finally returned to tranquility. But it was merely the calm before the storm. Domenic slowly opened his eyes. Last night, he dealt with thepany¡¯s affairs until midnight and somehow fell asleep on the sofa. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y An early riser by habit, he was acutely aware that his sleep was never deep unless Lindsey was beside him. As he stirred, his thoughts immediately wandered to Lindsey. The soft glow of sunlight pierced through the curtains, casting a serene glow on the room. Thinking he had fulfilled the promise he had made to Carole, he knew it was high time to return to Lindsey. He rose from the sofa, stretched his stiff, weary body, and stepped out into the corridor. The ship was a sprawling vessel, and Domenic¡¯s opulent suite was quite a distance from Carole¡¯s quarters. On his way, he attempted to reach Hendrix to get an update on the previous night¡¯s events, but the call remained unanswered. His brows knit together in concern. Hendrix was a model of reliability, always reachable, day or night. The uncharacteristic silence set off rm bells in Domenic¡¯s mind. Had something gone wrong? His pace quickened, urgency propelling him towards the luxury suite.Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Upon arrival, he found Hendrix absent, the persistent silence from his phone only heightening his unease. A knot of worry tightened in his chest. The suite¡¯s security system recognized his fingerprint, allowing him entry without hesitation. Bursting into the room, he was greeted by an eerie stillness. Chapter 974 A wine bottle and a toppled ss marred the otherwise pristine living room. The sofa bore the telltale signs of a restless night, cushions askew. His eyes finallynded on the closed bedroom door, suspicion and dread coiling within him. Domenic had barely advanced a step when a hoarse voice emanated from behind him. ¡°Sir. ¡± Franklin called out, his gaze fixed on Domenic. ¡°Your grandpa requested your presence with Miss Stewart for breakfast. Observing the open door, I took the liberty to enter. ¡± Franklin¡¯s gaze swept up and down Domenic¡¯s figure.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Domenic, fully attired with the door ajar, clearly bore the signs of a recent return from outdoors. ¡°Sir, you¡­ were absent from your suitest night?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Domenic replied icily. ¡°And Miss Stewart¡­¡± Franklin¡¯s eyes drifted towards the bedroom door. Domenic¡¯s gaze chilled as he tracked Franklin¡¯s look, his brow creasing in mild concern. ¡°She¡¯s likely still asleep. ¡± Franklin let out a sigh. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re well aware of the family protocols. Your grandpa is already awaiting us in the dining room. A dyed arrival from Miss Stewart might not reflect well on the situation. ¡± Being a distinguished family, the Walsh household adhered to numerous regtions, one of which dictated a punctual breakfast at six in the morning, leaving no room for tardiness. Domenic hadn¡¯t slept in since childhood. ¡°Lindsey isn¡¯t bound by our family¡¯s customs yet,¡± Domenic retorted, his stare frosty. ¡°Allow her some more rest. Inform my grandpa that neither Lindsey nor I will join him for breakfast. ¡± Franklin hadn¡¯t anticipated Domenic¡¯s response; his expression was shifting to a frown. ¡°It may not be advisable. Your grandpa recently acknowledged her. Her absence at her inaugural breakfast could displease him. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle the exnation. Must I rely on your guidance?¡± Domenic¡¯s impatience silenced Franklin. He nced at the bedroom once more before departing reluctantly. Once Franklin left, Domenic shut the door and redirected his gaze to the bedroom. Domenic¡¯s intuition pricked at the absence of Hendrix¡¯s response. He had specifically tasked Hendrix with guarding the door overnight, a duty Hendrix wouldn¡¯t shirk without cause, especially not ignoring Domenic¡¯s calls. Franklin¡¯s abrupt presence only fueled Domenic¡¯s suspicion, sensing an ulterior motive driving the old butler¡¯s actions. The bedroom likely held a revtion. In a bid to uncover the truth, Domenic had purposefully dismissed Franklin to create a secluded environment, ready to tackle any potential issues head-on at a moment¡¯s notice. His eyes shadowed as he neared the bedroom door, attempting to twist the knob. Chapter 975 It resisted, locked from within. ¡°Linds, are you inside?¡± he knocked. Silence greeted him. A rare unease crept over him; his instincts whispered that Lindsey was in jeopardy. Without pause, he lifted his leg and kicked at the door. Despite his forceful attempts, the sturdy door of thisvish suite proved impervious, standing firm against his repeated kicks without yielding. The sudden chiming of the doorbell interrupted his efforts. The sound jarred his concentration. Frustrated, Domenic crossed the room to the screen of video doorbell, spotting Jordan outside the door. His arrival puzzled Domenic and his suspicion deepened. Contemting, he dyed opening the door. A warm smile graced Jordan¡¯s face as he noticed Domenic. Trailing behind him were a group of attendants and vignt bodyguards, apanied by Franklin. Laden with a plethora of breakfast delights, the attendants wheeled in a cart. .Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. . Library ¡°Domenic, Franklin informed me of your wish for Lindsey to rest longer. I feared she might skip breakfast and grow famished, hence the arrangement for breakfast delivery. ¡± Domenic managed a smile. ¡°Much obliged, Grandpa. ¡± Turning to the attendants, he instructed, ¡°Set the breakfast on the dining table and depart afterward. ¡± The attendants acknowledged with a nod, proceeding to unload an array of dishes from the cart and arrange them neatly on the table. Jordan¡¯s gaze intensified. ¡°The culinary delights aboard are exquisite and must be savored warmly to retain their essence. It¡¯s a special indulgence for Lindsey. Ensure she partakes in its freshness. Wake her at once. ¡± Sensing Domenic¡¯s hesitation, Jordan signaled Franklin discreetly. Franklin, interpreting the cue, approached the bedroom door confidently, rapping on it assertively. ¡°Miss Stewart, your breakfast has arrived. ¡± Silence met Franklin¡¯s call. He knocked once more, more forcefully, yet the silence persisted. ¡°Domenic, she wouldn¡¯t typically sleep so soundly, would she? Franklin mentioned your absencest night. Could there be cause for concern?¡± Jordan pretended to worry, scanning the room. ¡°And where¡¯s Hendrix? Wasn¡¯t he with you? You entrusted him with Lindseyst night. Could something have transpired?¡± His eyes were fixed on the closed bedroom door. Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed, a sudden tension gripping his heart. Yet, he maintained aposed exterior. Chapter 976 Franklin interjected, ¡°The door¡¯s locked, sir. ¡±T¨ºxt ? N?velDrama.Org. A faint smile tugged at the corners of Jordan¡¯s lips as he instructed the bodyguards, ¡°Force it open!¡± ¡°Grandpa, Lindsey might be sleeping too soundly to hear the knocking. Breaking down the door so suddenly is disrespectful!¡± Domenic raised his voice, trying to stop the bodyguards. Jordan scoffed. ¡°An attendant told me he saw Hendrix enter your suitest night and nevere out. If you weren¡¯t herest night, it was just him and Lindsey alone all night. Need I spell it out? A man and a woman alone¡­¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Domenic interrupted firmly. ¡°Hendrix is my loyal aide. He wouldn¡¯t do anything like that. Grandpa, this might be a misunderstanding. Please go back and rest. I¡¯ll wake Lindsey and bring her to see you. ¡± ¡°What happened will be clear once we open the door! Domenic, if she wants to be part of our family, she at least needs to be faithful to you!¡± Ignoring Domenic¡¯s protests, Jordan ordered decisively, ¡°Break it down!¡± Jordan¡¯s autocratic nature meant hismands were rarely defied, even by Domenic. Several bodyguards quickly converged on the door, theirbined strength easily overpowering Domenic. The door gave way with a loud crash. Jordan smirked, anticipating Domenic¡¯s rage upon seeing Lindsey¡¯s betrayal. Franklin entered first. Domenic stood frozen, his feet seemingly glued to the floor. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to move forward. Whatever awaited him, he had to face it. Stepping into the room, his eyes widened at the sight before him. . . Library Lindseyy naked on the bed, aforter barely covering her body. Domenic¡¯s expression turned icy. He moved swiftly, removing his coat and gently draping it over her before pulling her into his arms. Only when he felt her warmth and her breath did his panic subside slightly. ¡°Linds, wake up,¡± he whispered softly, but she remained unresponsive, seemingly in a deep sleep. ¡°She¡¯s disheveled. She must be with a man!¡± Convinced of his suspicions, Franklin lunged forward and pulled back theforter beside Lindsey. His eyes widened in shock. There was no one else! ¡°This¡­ this can¡¯t be!¡± he stammered. ¡°How dare you pull the covers!¡± Domenic roared, his voiceced with anger. Jordan arrived at the doorway, followed by a crowd drawn by themotion. They peered into the room, their faces a mixture of curiosity and spection. ¡°What happened?¡± the onlookers whispered, craning their necks for a glimpse into the room. ALL they saw was Domenic holding Lindsey, seemingly fast asleep. Nothing else. Confusion rippled through the crowd. Why had Jordan summoned them at this ungodly hour? Jordan¡¯s faced morphed into shock. He scanned the room for any sign of Hendrix. All he found was an open window, the sea breeze billowing the curtains. Domenic, too, noticed the open window. His stern expression drained of color, his dark pupils flickering with a hint of fear. ¡°What in God¡¯s name is going on here?¡± Jordan roared at Franklin, pinning the me for the chaos on him. Franklin, equally bewildered, was at a loss. He was certain Hendrix hadn¡¯t left the room the night before. How could he have vanished? His gaze darted to the windblown window. A chilling possibility crept into his mind. Could Hendrix have¡­ jumped into the sea? Chapter 977 When realization dawned upon Franklin, he rushed to the window, his heart pounding as he leaned out to peer into the distance. The endless sea stretched before him, tranquil and undisturbed. If anyone had jumped, they would have vanished into the vast, unfathomable depths below. Domenic¡¯s hand clenched into a tight fist, his eyes zing a furious red as he fixed his unwavering gaze on Jordan. ¡°Now that the truth has been revealed, you are free to go. ¡± Jordan¡¯s heart trembled when he saw the fiery hatred burning in Domenic¡¯s eyes. Domenic¡¯s current demeanor was unsettlingly reminiscent of his escape from the asylum years ago, emitting a chilling, malevolent aura that sent shivers down Jordan¡¯s spine. Jordan had hoped to seize this moment to convince Domenic to give up on Lindsey once and for all. But now, with Hendrix missing and no evidence of what had happened between him and Lindsey, she had once again slipped through their fingers. Frustration gnawed at Jordan as he clenched his teeth in vexation. He had never felt so utterly defeated. Despite his numerous attempts to get rid of Lindsey, she always managed to elude him. Feeling increasingly embarrassed, he cleared his throat and spoke tentatively, ¡°Domenic, I have misunderstood. All I wanted was what¡¯s best for you. Let her eat the breakfast once she wakes up. ¡± He then subtly signaled Franklin, who was standing by the window. Understanding the signal, Franklin walked to the door and peered out to find a gathering of guests. With a dismissive wave, he ushered them away. ¡°Please leave everyone. Let¡¯s not disturb Miss Stewart. ¡± ¡°Why on earth is she still in bed? Why hasn¡¯t she woken up with all these people around?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already sote. Doesn¡¯t she have any sense of decorum?¡± ¡°Hush, keep it down. Don¡¯t let Domenic hear you. ¡± The guests murmured amongst themselves as they exited the room.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Once everyone dispersed, Domenic carefully eased Lindsey onto the bed, tucking her snugly beneath the nket. Her unusually deep sleep raised suspicions. Perhaps she had been drugged, he guessed. Moving to the open window, he drew back the curtain and gazed out, his expression cold as ice. As he closed his eyes slowly, a pained furrow creased his brow. He harbored a strong suspicion that Hendrix had jumped out of the window to safeguard Lindsey¡¯s reputation. Domenic had long sensed his grandfather¡¯s reluctance to ept Lindsey. It now appeared the entire charade was orchestrated to engineer this very situation. If she and his confidant had been caught together, he would have been enraged enough to make him give up on her. At the same time, it would eliminate his trusted aide, giving his grandpa more control over him. It was a clever scheme to achieve two goals with one move. However, his grandpa overlooked one crucial detail. Hendrix would rather die than betray him. Chapter 978 With Hendrix alive, he could be used against Lindsey, but in his absence, there would be no way to prove what happened the previous night. Hendrix had taken these actions solely for his sake. He had once rescued Hendrix, who in turn pledged a lifetime of loyalty-a vow he had steadfastly upheld. Domenic¡¯s closed eyes trembled slightly, and his lips turned pale. Hendrix wasn¡¯t merely an aide; he was his unwavering confidant, someone he relied on wholeheartedly. His absence was unsettling, as Domenic had grown ustomed to his constant presence. The loss of Hendrix felt like a dagger to his soul, sending waves of agony through his heart. The rage coursing through him was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Struggling to contain the fury bubbling within, he unleashed his frustration by mming his fist into the window frame, causing his hand to gush with blood. Domenic¡¯s eyes snapped open, gleaming with steely resolve. He refused to let Hendrix¡¯s sacrifice be in vain. Whoever was responsible would be hunted down and made to pay for their actions! Meanwhile, when Lindsey slowly blinked her eyes open, an unfamiliar ceiling greeted her. Confusion swept over her as she tried to piece together where she was. Wasn¡¯t she just at home with Domenic? Or was this yet another one of her dreams? Turning her head to the side, she found the space next to her empty. But her attention was quickly seized by the figure standing by the window. ¡°Domenic,¡± she called out instinctively. At the faint sound behind him, Domenic swiftly turned around, his eyes sparking with a hint of joy upon seeing her awake. ¡°Linds!¡± He rushed to her side, taking a seat. ¡°You are finally awake. ¡± Lindsey met his gaze, a flicker of confusion dancing in her eyes as rity slowly returned. ncing around, she recognized her surroundings as the Costa Grace, the elegant ship where the Walsh Group¡¯s grand celebration had been held. Her eyes welled with tears. That meant that this was real! ¡°Linds, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Domenic asked urgently, noting her distressed expression. ¡°Do you recall what happenedst night?¡± Lindsey couldn¡¯t fathom why he was asking. However, her recollection was hazy. ALL she remembered was returning to her room, downing a bottle of red wine, and then sumbing to unconsciousness. After that, she had a dream. As she thought about that tender dream, a wave of sadness enveloped her. ncing at Domenic, she shook her head gently. ¡°I only remember drowning myself in wine. As for the rest¡­ It¡¯s all a blur. ¡± As she attempted to sit up, the nket slipped, exposing her skin. She gasped, hastily tugging the quilt back into ce, casting usatory res at Domenic. ¡°Hey! What happenedst night? Did¡­ Did you take advantage of me?¡± Domenic was left speechless by Lindsey¡¯s reaction.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. He smirked upon seeing the panic flicker in her eyes and said, ¡°Have you forgotten your antics when you¡¯re drunk? Could it be you who started this, seducing me?¡± Chapter 979 Lindsey froze, memories of the past surfacing of how she had once acted improperly toward him while under the influence. She was well aware that her manners deteriorated when she drank. Yet, in the past, she retained at least some fragmented memories. This time, her mind was a nk te. What had she possibly done? The thought of the sex dream made her cheeks burn. Was it possible that she had acted out her dream, seeking his affection in reality? ¡°Even if that were true, I was too drunk to realize what I was doing!¡± She defended herself hastily. Domenic chuckled. ¡°What? You¡¯re trying to deny it again, just Likest time?¡± Lindsey lifted her gaze to him, overwhelmed by a flood of memories from their past encounters. Each memory sliced through her heart sharply. She had never envisioned a future with him, nor anticipated theplexities of their interactions.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Then my answer remains unchanged. Nothing happened,¡± Domenic dered as he stood, his demeanor shifting back to its usual detached coldness. He gazed down at her and continued, ¡°Rest some more. If you¡¯re hungry, just let me know. I¡¯ll be outside. Once you feel better, we¡¯ll disembark. ¡± With that, he turned and exited the bedroom. Lindsey felt an urge to call him back, but the words lodged in her throat. Her heart was heavy. Although she was now awake, her head continued to reel. How potent had that wine beenst night? She sensed that something was amiss. Once outside the bedroom, Domenic stepped onto the balcony and dialed his top secret guard, Wyatt Cooper. The call connected immediately. ¡°Hello. ¡± ¡°Hendrix has jumped into the sea and is now missing. Whether he¡¯s alive or dead, find him. I don¡¯t care what it takes, even if you must drain the entire sea,¡± Domenic instructed. He was aware that surviving in such a vast expanse was highly unlikely, but he would not ept it until he received definitive news. Wyatt, taken aback by the urgency, responded softly, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll find him. ¡± ¡°Hyatt,¡± Domenic continued in a firm, resolved tone, ¡°I¡¯m leaving the Walsh Group. ¡± Wyatt, caught slightly off guard, responded, ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Domenic affirmed. ¡°Vitality Group was my creation and is under myplete control. I will sever ties with the Walsh Group and use my resources to usurp them, freeing myself from my grandpa¡¯s domination. ¡± Domenic knew his position within the Walsh Group would never allow him freedom from his grandpa¡¯s maniptive tactics. To secure his inheritance, he had endured countless trials, feigningpliance. What had his sacrifices earned him? His grandfather had consistently targeted those closest to him and had even escted his tactics to ensure total control! Chapter 980 Domenic¡¯s tolerance had been exhausted. Aware of his grandfather¡¯s role in Hendrix¡¯s disappearance and Lindsey¡¯s recent ordeal, Domenic found it impossible to forgive him, even though he was family. Just as he couldn¡¯t forgive his grandfather for allowing Rupert to desecrate his mother¡¯s ashes. If iming the heirship meant marrying a woman his grandfather chose, Domenic was prepared to renounce the title. From this point forward, he would steer his own course! Wyatt chuckled softly. ¡°I knew I didn¡¯t misjudge you¡­ You escaped the asylum, you kept your promise to clear my name, and you built Vitality Group from nothing. I believe you¡¯re destined for great things. ¡± Wyatt was the man who had helped Domenic escape that asylum. After Domenic¡¯s decisive actions and faithfulness impressed him, he had remained loyally at his side. He was sure he had chosen wisely. Initially, he had merely admired Domenic. Now, his feelings had deepened to respect. Fewpanies, whether nationwide or globally, could measure up to the Walsh Group. While Domenic might not fully anticipate the challenges of independence, Wyatt was confident his decision was meticulously nned. Domenic was the type to grasp even the slimmest chance, transforming a one percent probability into a certainty. ¡°Whatever path you choose, I¡¯m with you. I am your de, ready to strike wherever you point,¡± Wyatt dered, echoing the loyalty once shown by Hendrix. That was precisely the confirmation Domenic needed. With Wyatt¡¯s unwavering support, he felt unburdened. Ending the call, Domenic stood on the balcony, gazing at the tranquil sea. He was aware of the treacherous currents lurking beneath its calm surface. The road ahead was fraught with dangers, yet he was resolved to advance, undeterred by the challenges. He was determined to seek justice for the wrongs against his parents, Hendrix¡¯s ordeal, and the harm inflicted upon Lindsey. Drawing a deep breath, Domenic experienced a freedom he had never felt before. His life had previously been constrained by the demands and expectations of the Walsh family, dictated by his grandfather. Now, he was ready to live for himself and those he cherished.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. As he turned, his silhouette was bathed in sunlight, casting a resolute shadow. He stepped into the looming darkness, carrying with him an unmistakable glow of determination. Back in his room, Jordan exploded at Franklin. ¡°Is this your idea of sess? Is this how you manage things? Really?¡± Franklin¡¯s expression was stern. ¡°I didn¡¯t foresee Hendrix diving into the sea. But that still doesn¡¯t erase the possibility of something happening between him and Lindsey. ¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying that now?¡± Jordan shot back, his re intense. ¡°With Hendrix gone, there¡¯s no way to confirm anything! Unless¡­ he¡¯s still somewhere alive. ¡± Franklin leaned in closer, his voice low and urgent. ¡°I¡¯ve already dispatched people to find him. We need to see him, dead or alive. ¡± Jordan nodded, remembering the ferocity in Domenic¡¯s eyes earlier. With a steely resolve, he added, ¡°We must ensure Domenic never learns that Hendrix¡¯s incident is tied to me!¡± ¡°Rx, I¡¯ve covered our tracks perfectly. He won¡¯t find out,¡± Franklin assured him with unwavering confidence. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 981 Jordan eased a bit, his grip tightening around his cane before striking it against the floor. ¡°We need to get rid of Lindsey Stewart! She owned a talent agency, right? Domenic wants to protect her, so we can¡¯t go after her directly for now. But we can target herpany and her artists. ¡± Franklin replied, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted her partners to break their contracts with her. But I heard she got Reece Barton as herwyer and ns to sue those partners. Knowing it¡¯s Reece, several partners backed off from terminating their contracts. ¡± ¡°Reece Barton?¡± Jordan¡¯s eyes narrowed with cunning. ¡°The firstborn of the Barton couple?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. ¡± Jordan smirked. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve seen his father. I do miss him!¡± Carole woke up to find Domenic absent. The events of the previous night reyed in her mind, fueling her rage with no outlet. She had never despised anyone as much as she despised Lindsey now. If it weren¡¯t for Lindsey taking Domenic away, she wouldn¡¯t be in this mess! Out of the blue, she recalled something crucial. Fishing out the agreement Domenic had signed the night before, a smirk spread across her face. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Lindsey would react upon seeing this pledge from Domenic. Soon enough, the ship docked, and the celebration drew to a close. As Carole was making her exit, she bumped into Kristy. Kristy¡¯s gaze was icy and disdainful. ¡°Oh, if it isn¡¯t the future Mrs. Walsh? Where¡¯s your fianc¨¦? Oh, wait, that¡¯s right, he left you for Lindsey!¡± Kristy¡¯sughter was dripping with mockery. Ever since discovering Carole was Domenic¡¯s fianc¨¦e, Kristy had harbored a burning resentment toward her. Carole was well aware of Kristy¡¯s feelings for Domenic. This was just another jab. Swallowing her anger, Carole managed to retort, ¡°At least I have Jordan Walsh¡¯s recognition! Unlike some people, who are just lowly actresses, desperately clinging to the Walsh family. It¡¯s fucking pathetic!¡± Kristy¡¯s face reddened with fury. Carole had always donned a mask of gentleness and poise in front of her. Witnessing Carole¡¯s true colors now only deepened Kristy¡¯s loathing. ¡°And who was the one making a spectacle of themselvesst night? Quit the charade!¡± Kristy shot back before storming off in her high heels. Carole¡¯s fists clenched. Even an actress had the nerve to ridicule her now. This was all Lindsey¡¯s fault! She would not let Lindsey off the hook. As the crowd dispersed, Lindsey trailed behind Domenic off the ship. Relief washed over her as she stepped onto solid ground. She nced at Domenic. His chiseled profile was so near, yet he seemed an ocean away, both familiar and distant. He was no longer the same Domenic she once knew. Now, he radiated an aura of authority and ruthlessness as a member of the Walsh family. They were worlds apart. In a daze, she found herself in front of his car, a limited edition Bugatti. She had ridden in it once before when Domenic had imed it was his boss¡¯ car. The powerful, enigmatic boss he spoke of was actually himself. The irony made Lindsey smile bitterly.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 982 ¡°Get in,¡± Domenic said, stepping forward to open the door for her, his eyes softening as they met hers. Lindsey hesitated. She didn¡¯t particrly want to ride with him, but he had repeatedly stressed the importance of staying close, warning her of his grandfather¡¯s men lurking around, waiting for a chance to strike. Lindsey decided to leave the area first and figure things outter Pressing her lips together, she slid into the car, positioning herself in the far back seat to maintain some distance from Domenic. Domenic noticed but remained silent. He simply asked, ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°To the hospital to see my mom,¡± Lindsey replied. Domenic nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll tag along. ¡± Lindsey was taken aback by Domenic¡¯s words. ¡°No need. You¡¯re busy. I can manage on my own.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡± Domenic gave her a sidelong nce before looking away. ¡°I¡¯m free today. I need to discuss some matters about Cherish with your mother. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart ached slightly. So, this was all about work. If that was the case, she had no grounds to refuse. Cherish had been acquired by Vitality Group and was now one of its brands. Sooner orter, her mother would have to talk to Domenic. ¡°Alright,¡± Lindsey agreed, turning her head to gaze out the car window. The tension in the air was palpable. Before long, they stood at the door to Juanita¡¯s hospital room. Lindsey paused and nced at Domenic. ¡°My mom just woke up. She can¡¯t handle too much stress. About us¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know how to go about it. ¡± Domenic¡¯s calm voice seemed to cut through the tension. Lindsey had meant to say more but found herself at a loss. She nodded and pushed open the door. Leonel was sitting by the bed, peeling an apple for Juanita. Hearing the sound, he turned and saw Lindsey and Domenic. His eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly stood. ¡°Leonel, I¡¯m back,¡± Lindsey said softly. Leonel eyed Domenic warily, his voiceced with cold disdain. ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡± Juanita, who had been resting, slowly opened her eyes at themotion and turned her head toward Lindsey. Upon seeing Domenic, her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°He¡¯s here to see Mom,¡± Lindsey exined softly, feeling lost as to how to summarize the whirlwind events of the past few days. ¡°But why?¡± Leonel red at Domenic, then shifted his gaze to Lindsey. ¡°Didn¡¯t you two break up? What¡¯s going on? Are you two back together? I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t even think about getting our blessing!¡± Chapter 983 His grudge against Domenic had always simmered beneath the surface. He¡¯d been relieved when Lindsey told him they had broken up. Seeing them together now, his anger red anew. He couldn¡¯t understand why his sister was so smitten with this guy. ¡°Leonel, it¡¯s not what you think. We really did break up. ¡± Lindsey stopped for a moment, biting her lip. ¡°He needs to talk to Mom about some other stuff. ¡± ¡°What could a useless man like him possibly have to discuss?¡± Leonel sneered. ¡°Leonel!¡± Lindsey¡¯s voice rose, trying to stop him. She wanted to reveal Domenic¡¯s true identity but feared it would only fuel her brother¡¯s rage and lead to conflict. Desperately, she turned to her mother for help. Juanita, snapping out of her shock, sat up in bed and tugged on Leonel¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Leonel, I need to speak with him alone. You and Linds should step out for a moment. ¡± ¡°Why?¡± Leonel was taken aback, looking at Juanita in disbelief. ¡°What could you possibly need to talk about with him?¡± ¡°Leonel! Are you ignoring my wishes now?¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Juanita¡¯s sharp words stung Leonel, causing his blood to boil, but he shot Domenic onest scalding re before storming out of the room in a huff. Lindsey hesitated, her eyes darting between Domenic and Juanita. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll be waiting outside. Give me a holler if you need anything,¡± she said. Juanita gave a curt nod, and Lindsey, after a moment of indecision, turned on her heel and exited the room. Now, it was just Domenic and Juanita. Domenic approached Juanita with an air of confidence, his brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Ms. Lopez, how are you feeling? Any lingering difort?¡± he inquired, his toneced with genuine care. Juanita looked up at him, a hint of a smile ying on her Lips. ¡°There¡¯s no need for such formalities with me. Please, have a seat, Domenic Walsh the big boss. ¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. A flicker of surprise shed across Domenic¡¯s face, but he obliged, taking a seat next to her. ¡°It seems you already know who I am. ¡± Domenic spoke in an even,posed tone, his expression betraying no emotion. Juanita responded in kind, her words measured and deliberate. ¡°The youngest scion of the Walsh family, CEO of Vitality Group. Tell me, why did you hide your true identity to get close to Linds? She¡¯s just a regr girl. How could she ever be worthy of someone as distinguished as you?¡± Her words wereced with a sense of maternal protectiveness. Domenic lowered his eyes, a soft chuckle escaping his lips as he reminisced about his first encounter with Lindsey and their cherished moments together. His gaze softened, brimming with affection. ¡°When Love is in the equation, status is of no importance. To me, Linds is one-of-a-kind, irreceable. ¡± He looked at Juanita with unwavering sincerity, his eyes reflecting the truth of his feelings. Juanita felt a flicker of emotion stir within her, but she remained skeptical. ¡°If you im to love her, why did you deceive her? Did you ever consider how shattered she would be when the truth came to Light?¡± Domenic fell silent, knowing that any exnation would sound like a feeble excuse. He didn¡¯t need everyone¡¯s understanding; he only needed Lindsey¡¯s. Chapter 984 ¡°I wronged Linds, and I will do whatever it takes to make it up to her,¡± he said, his words carrying a weight of resolve.This is from N?velDrama.Org. Hearing his seemingly perfunctory response, Juanita felt a surge of anger rose within her. ¡°Mr. Walsh, there¡¯s no need for you to make it up to her. The best thing you can do is leave her alone from now on. Linds is simple and innocent; she can¡¯t deal with theplications of your wealthy family. Since you two have already broken up, please, let her go. ¡± Juanita¡¯s calm voice had a cold edge as she stared at Domenic. . . Library ¡°Besides, Linds has been engaged to Sumner for a while. He¡¯s her fianc¨¦, and they¡¯re supposed to get married. ¡± Domenic¡¯s eyes narrowed instantly. ¡°She¡¯s engaged to Sumner?¡± Juanita nodded. ¡°She never told you? That¡¯s something you should¡¯ve known. Now that you do, I hope you¡¯ll let them be together. ¡± Domenic¡¯s hands tightened up. So, Lindsey and Sumner were engaged, and she hadn¡¯t bothered to tell it to him. So much for being honest. Suddenly, it dawned on him that Lindsey had her own secrets. Her rtionship with Sumner wasn¡¯t as straightforward as she had made it seem. Maybe she never nned to marry him and had always intended to be with Sumner. ¡°Even if you love Linds, can you really marry her?¡± Juanita pressed on, her gaze steady. She understood the tough realities of high society and the rigid standards wealthy families held for their daughters-inw. They¡¯d never approve of someone outside their social circle. Domenic stayed silent, his hands clenching tightly. He had given Carole a written promise never to marry Lindsey. He couldn¡¯t give Juanita an answer. Seeing his silence, Juanita became even more convinced that Domenic had no ns to marry Lindsey. She scoffed, ¡°You and Linds are from different worlds. Your wife will be a high society match. I¡¯m sorry, but my daighter doesn¡¯t fit the bill. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m tired and need to rest. ¡± Juanita closed her eyes, dismissing him. She couldn¡¯t afford to offend Domenic, so she spoke politely, hoping he would get the message and keep his distance from Lindsey. ¡°I came here today to talk about something different,¡± Domenic said, feeling Like his heart was being squeezed. He shifted gears abruptly. Juanita opened her eyes, puzzled. ¡°What is it?¡± Domenic¡¯s tone became more professional. ¡°It¡¯s about Cherish. ¡± After leaving the hospital room, Lindsey couldn¡¯t spot Leonel anywhere. Realizing that meeting him would just be awkward, she roamed around the hospital grounds alone, pondering how to exin Domenic to him. She wandered around by herself. As she stepped into the garden, a familiar figure stood in her way. Lindsey looked up, surprised to see Carole. Her mouth dropped open in astonishment. ¡°I¡¯m here for you,¡± Carole said bluntly, dropping any pretense. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Lindsey asked cautiously, giving her a wary nce. ¡°Let¡¯s find a quiet spot for a chat, just you and me,¡± Carole said with a shrug, leading Lindsey to a quiet spot in the garden away from other people. Then, she turned to face Lindsey. Chapter 985 ¡°Miss Larson, if this isn¡¯t important, I¡¯ve got a lot of things to do and can¡¯t afford to waste any time. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s tone was irritated. Carole raised an eyebrow, grinning. ¡°Domenic wasn¡¯t with youst night, was he?¡± Suddenly, Lindsey¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Well, of course I know. ¡± Carole chuckled loudly. ¡°Because he was with mest night. ¡± Lindsey felt as though an arrow had pierced her heart. She tried to keep herposure, but her trembling eyes gave her away. Carole was delighted by her reaction. Seeing Lindsey speechless made her even smugger. ¡°You can tell what could have happened between him and me, right?¡± Lindsey clenched her teeth, fighting the pain inside her. ¡°What do you want to tell me?¡± Carole chuckled. ¡°Lindsey, do you actually believe you¡¯ve won? Take a look at this. ¡± She pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and unfolded it before Lindsey. It read, ¡°I, Domenic Walsh, promise Carole Larson that I will stay with her tonight and that I will never marry Lindsey Stewart in this lifetime. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s facade crumbled as she recognized Domenic¡¯s handwriting. He had imed he was workingst night, but instead, he was with Carole. They had spent the night together, and he had vowed never to marry her. Had all his previous professions of love been merely an act? If he preferred Carole, why had he chosen her in front of his grandfather? Lindsey pressed her nails into her palms, nearly drawing blood, using the physical pain to dull the emotional torment. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Domenic had done this. She looked up at Carole, striving to seem indifferent, though her heart was breaking. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I never sought topete with you. Everything was Domenic¡¯s decision. It has nothing to do with me. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be going. ¡± ¡°Lindsey!¡± Carole called out to her. ¡°Domenic will marry me one day! You wouldn¡¯t have been deceived for so long if you were truly capable of winning him over. Without my help, you¡¯d still be unaware of his true nature. How could a man who truly loves you deceive you for so long?¡± Her words cut deep, making Lindsey feel as though her heart was bleeding. She suddenly realized that all the sweetness she once believed in was nothing but a fragile illusion, easily shattered. She thought Carole was right. If Domenic truly loved her, how could he continue to lie to her? If she hadn¡¯t discovered the truth, would he have kept deceiving her forever? The thought left Lindsey gasping for air, rendering her speechless. Carole¡¯s tone became gentler, her words seemingly sincere. ¡°Lindsey, I¡¯m sorry for how I¡¯ve acted, but I was left with no choice. His grandfather picked me to be his future wife. To prepare for this, I spent years abroad improving myself. Marrying him has been the sole purpose of my life. I even gave up who I was to master the ways of high society and transform into a refineddy. However, upon my return, I discovered you were involved. My anger at that is why I¡­ But Last night, Domenic reminded me that he hasn¡¯t forgotten about me. I once saved him, and because he still values that, he found himself unable to resist being with me¡­¡± Carole paused before continuing, ¡°¡°Linds, his grandpa will never ept you. You two are destined to drift apart. Domenic and I could have been very happy if it weren¡¯t for your presence. So please, step aside and let us be together. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s eyes welled up with tears.This is from N?velDrama.Org. She told herself not to cry, not to shed another tear for Domenic. Regardless of the truth behind his words, the chasm between their worlds and social status was clear. There was no going back. To protect herself from more pain, she needed to distance herself from those who had hurt her. She turned to Carole and asked, ¡°Is it really worth losing yourself for a man?¡± Carole smiled. ¡°If that man is Domenic, then yes, it¡¯s worth it. ¡± Lindsey scoffed. ¡°No matter who the man is, I will never Lose myself. And I won¡¯t leave to make way for anyone else. I¡¯m leaving for myself. ¡± With that, she turned and walked away, not looking back. Carole stood there, stunned, watching her slender yet resolute figure recede. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 986 On her way home, Lindsey felt dazed. Once, her future had included Domenic, but now, she realized he would no longer be in the picture of her future. But she found it eptable. At least she wouldn¡¯t hurt anymore. Tears streamed down her face, but Lindsey lifted her head, trying to smile. In the room, Domenic exined to Juanita what had transpired with Cherish after she fell into aa and detailed its current situation. He reassured her that once she recovered, she could resume full control of Cherish, with her authority and influence remaining intact. Juanita was caught off guard and confused by his words. She never imagined Domenic would be the one to save Cherish. ¡°Why would you do this? That was a colossal gamble for you. You could lose everything,¡± Juanita said, her gaze fixed on Domenic. For a businessman, this decision seemed utterly illogical. Domenic smiled. ¡°Because you¡¯re Lindsey¡¯s mother. Cherish is your life¡¯s work, and it¡¯s something she cares about deeply. ¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y ¡°So¡­ you did it for Lindsey?¡± Juanita¡¯s astonishment deepened. She had always believed Domenic was merely ying with Lindsey, but this made her question that belief. Domenic didn¡¯t reply, offering only a meaningful smile. He stood and looked at Juanita. ¡°The contract is ready. We can sign it anytime. The staff of Cherish is waiting for you. Don¡¯t keep them waiting too long!¡± As he finished speaking, the hospital room door opened. Lindsey walked in, her face pale and expressionless. She nced at both Domenic and Juanita. ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Domenic approached her cautiously, sensing a shift in the air. ¡°Yes, we are. Come, walk with me. I have something important to discuss. ¡± Domenic walked out first, and Lindsey followed, her gaze cold. Once outside, Domenic said, ¡°I¡¯ll assign two people to stay with you. Not to monitor you, but to protect you. ¡± No matter what, her safety was his top priority. As for everything else, he needed time to sort it out. But Lindsey didn¡¯t appreciate his concern. She looked up at him with a cold stare. ¡°No need. ¡± ¡°I¡¯ve told you, your situation is fraught with danger right now,¡± Domenic said, lowering his voice and struggling to rein in his growing frustration. He couldn¡¯t fathom why she would refuse his protection. ¡°If your logic holds, then your grandfather must be afraid that our entanglement will jeopardize your marriage to Carole,¡± Lindsey said, her eyes colder than ever. ¡°I¡¯ll make it crystal clear to him that from this moment on, there will be no rtionship between us. We¡¯re done, Domenic. Completely and utterly done!¡± Domenic¡¯s pupils shrank, and his brows furrowed in disbelief. He stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°What did you just say? Repeat it, please. ¡± ¡°I said we¡¯re done, Domenic!¡± Lindsey lifted her chin, her determination unwavering. ¡°If you have any shred of self-respect left, don¡¯te chasing after me anymore. Stop clinging to me like a drowning man!¡± Domenic¡¯s voice deepened as he asked, ¡°Is this because of Sumner?¡± Lindsey almost let out a frustratedugh, but she didn¡¯t want to delve into the reasons further. ¡°Does it matter why? I loved the man who shared a simple life with me, and who made me feel the warmth of everyday living. That was my Domenic. But not the current Domenic Walsh, the president of Vitality Group, who¡¯s been toying with my affections like a cat with a helpless mouse. ¡± ¡°So you¡¯re still harboring resentment over what I hid from you before, aren¡¯t you?¡± Domenic probed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore,¡± Lindsey said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she spoke each word with unwavering rity, almost pleadingly. ¡°If you ever truly loved me, Domenic, then let me go. Read thetest and free novels at .Com I beg of you. ¡± Domenic stood there, stunned, feeling as if a vital part of his heart had been ripped out, leaving him adrift in a sea of uncertainty.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. He gazed into her clear eyes, but could no longer see his reflection in them. It finally dawned on him that Lindsey waspletely serious about severing all ties with him. His eyebrows trembled, and he slowly closed his eyes, mustering every ounce of strength to say, ¡°I understand. ¡± Lindsey¡¯s tense body rxed slightly at his words. She spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯ll pack my things and move out today. Let¡¯s not cross paths again. Please exin this to your grandfather. ¡± With that, Lindsey turned and pushed open the door, leaving Domenic no chance to respond. The door mmed shut with a resounding finality. Domenic stood there, staring in the direction she had left. Chapter 987 Lindsey walked into Juanita¡¯s ward and closed the door behind her. Even though her face was devoid of emotion, her eyes were slightly red. She approached the bed and picked up an apple from the bedside table. Gaze fixed on the apple, she asked in a voice barely above a whisper, ¡°Mom, do you want an apple?¡± Before Juanita could reply, Lindsey moved away and started searching the room for a knife. She scoured the countertop and drawers frantically. In her haste, she knocked over the bag of apples to the floor. There was a soft thud as all the apples spilled out and rolled all over the ce. This seemed to be the final straw that broke the camel¡¯s back and Lindsey suddenly found herself overwhelmed by all the emotions she had been trying to keep at bay. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip tightly, refusing to let them fall. A lump lodged itself into Juanita¡¯s throat as she watched her daughter. Lindsey was on the floor, trying to pick up the apples, but the rigid lines of her shoulders hinted at a different issue altogether. Juanita couldn¡¯t help but sigh before murmuring, ¡°Linds, get up. Read thetest and free novels at .Com Don¡¯t worry about the apples. ¡± But Lindsey didn¡¯t acknowledge her words and continued picking up the apples. There was a rigidity to the way Lindsey held herself, as if she was only a few seconds away from breaking. Juanita¡¯s heart ached even more. As her mother, Juanita knew Lindsey better than anyone else. Lindsey must have discovered Domenic¡¯s true identity. She had no idea what they discussed outside, but Juanita was certain that discussion was responsible for Lindsey¡¯s current mood. ¡°Linds, if you feel like crying, just cry. Don¡¯t hold it in¡±, Juanita urged softly. Those words broke Lindsey¡¯s restraint. She copsed to the floor, her shoulders shaking violently. Her tears fell to the floor, yet she didn¡¯t make a sound. Her pride wouldn¡¯t allow it. She was no longer the vulnerable and helpless Lindsey of the past. It didn¡¯t matter how great the pain she was going through was, she would not only persevere but ovee it. Juanita was very worried about Lindsey, but she also knew there was nothing she could do to stop the pain Lindsey was going through.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. The only thing she could do was to stay by Lindsey¡¯s side and offer her unwavering support. That evening, Lindsey returned to the Waterfront Apartments. Not so long ago, this was where she and Domenic lived together. From the moment she stood in front of the door, she was assaulted by memories of the past, each one cutting into her heart like a knife. After a few seconds, Lindsey took in a deep breath, mustered up her courage and walked in. But the moment she got into the living room, she came to an abrupt halt. She couldn¡¯t help but look around quietly. Finally, her eyes fell on the kitchen. They never managed to cook tomato and beef brisket together. Lindsey sniffled but refused to allow herself to sumb to sorrow. She moved forward swiftly and started packing her things. Today, she would move out. And as she left this ce behind, she would also leave her rtionship with Domenic where it belonged: in the past. Meanwhile, in the top floor office of the Walsh Group building, the dim lights cast a soft glow on the face of the man working intently at his desk. Domenic¡¯s focus remained fixed on the papers in front of him, his golden pen moving with precision as he worked through the documents. Chapter 988 Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he reached for the desk phone and dialed a number. A few secondster, someone knocked on the office door. Domenic didn¡¯t nce up from his papers as he ordered curtly, ¡°Come in. ¡± The door opened and a man walked in. ¡°Sir, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Notify everyone. There¡¯s an executive meeting at 8 AM tomorrow. ¡± ¡°Yes, sir. ¡± The assistant nodded and turned to leave, but Domenic¡¯s next words halted him. ¡°By the way, have Hendrix prepare the car. I¡¯ll be going back tonight. ¡± The assistant¡¯s expression faltered, and he hesitated before replying, ¡°Sir, Hendrix¡­ is no longer with us. ¡± Domenic¡¯s pen paused mid-stroke, his eyes narrowing slightly. A faint, humorlessugh escaped his lips. ¡°I see. You can go now. ¡± The assistant quickly departed, leaving Domenic to his thoughts. As soon as the door closed behind the assistant, Domenic set his pen down, leaned back in his chair and rubbed his forehead in frustration. He lit a cigarette, got up and walked to the window. He inhaled the nicotine deeply, his intent gaze on the dazzling city lights before him. His heart felt like a barren wastend where nothing grew. As the night wore on, cigarette butts piled up at his feet, the glowing ends flickering in the dark, casting a Lonely and cold shadow over him. Later that night, Domenic¡¯s car arrived at the Walsh Manor. When he got out of the car, the bright lights inside the manor highlighted his tall, imposing figure. Draped in a ck coat, he walked up to the door and pressed the doorbell. The servant who answered the door was shocked to find Domenic there. ¡°Mr. Walsh, wee,¡± he breathed. The next second, he quicklyposed himself and ushered Domenic in. In the living room, Carole was massaging Jordan¡¯s shoulders. A freshly brewed pot of tea sat on the table before them. After the incidents on the ship, Carole decided that her best course of action was to brave through it all and continue staying at Jordan¡¯s ce. Read thetest and free novels at .Com Jordan was her only support and she couldn¡¯t afford to lose his favor. ¡°Is the pressure alright?¡± Carole asked, her voice soft and soothing. Jordan¡¯s response wasced with satisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s perfect, Carole.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. You¡¯ve really got the touch. ¡± But his contentment was short-lived, as his thoughts turned to Domenic and his preference for a lowly woman who couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Carole. Carole¡¯s burgeoning smile faltered when she noticed a tall figure from the corner of her eye. She looked up, only to find an impassive Domenic standing there. Chapter 989 ¡°Oh, Domenic¡­¡± Hearing Carole¡¯s voice, Jordan opened his eyes and frowned. ¡°I thought you¡¯d totally forgotten about us and decided to focus on that woman. So what brings you here sote?¡± he asked in an unpleasant tone. Read thetest and free novels at .Com He had still not gotten over what had urred on the cruise ship. Nevertheless, he allowed Domenic a chance to exin himself. With a cold look on his face, Domenic walked over to a sofa opposite Jordan and sat down on it. ¡°I have two things to tell you,¡± he said in a formal tone as if the person sitting opposite him was not his grandfather but a business partner he was negotiating with. ¡°Just say what you have to say,¡± Jordan said impatiently. Sensing how tense the atmosphere was, Carole tactfully interjected, ¡°Let me leave you and Domenic to have your discussion. ¡± A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Jordan nodded in agreement. But Domenic felt differently. ¡°No need to leave,¡± he said to her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I¡¯m going to say that you can¡¯t hear. ¡± Carole was taken back and then turned to look at Jordan. Jordan had no idea what Domenic was thinking, so he didn¡¯t say anything. He just stared back at him too.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Carole, on her part, quietly sat down on a sofa. ¡°The first thing I want to talk about concerns me and Lindsey,¡± Domenic began. ¡°I will no longer have any rtionship with her. So, please leave her alone. ¡± Both Carole¡¯s and Jordan¡¯s eyes brightened the moment they heard this. Nevertheless, they were surprised by his sudden decision. ¡°Have you really thought this through?¡± Jordan asked warily. ¡°Are you done with her for real?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got plenty of informants watching me. You would know if I was lying,¡± Domenic replied bluntly. This response made Jordan feel a little embarrassed. ¡°Franklin said that the girls around me who had disappeared were sent by you to other cities,¡± Domenic went on in a cold tone. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know better than I do what happened to them. I don¡¯t want to dig too deeply into this issue because I still have some respect for you. For so many years, I¡¯ve never confronted you about the matter of my mother¡¯s ashes being scattered. You are the person I respect most in the family. I really don¡¯t want to hate you. ¡± Jordan stared at him in perplexity. What was his grandson trying to imply? Was Domenic saying that he would hate him if he dared to hurt Lindsey? Did Domenic know that what happened the previous night was his handiwork? Jordan would never forget how Domenic had looked at him ¨C so cold and gloomy. He had never been afraid of anyone in his life, but when Domenic gave him that stare, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of fear. Domenic was very much Like him, so he knew fully well that trying to force Domenic to do his bidding would ultimately fail. Recently, Walsh Group had suffered huge losses. Jordan didn¡¯t want the situation to get any worse. Since Domenic was the most promising future leader of thepany, he would do nothing against him as long as Domenic was willing to be obedient. As for Lindsey, unless Domenic truly and fully let her go, Jordan would not be able to promise that he would leave her alone. Chapter 990 ¡°Okay, but you need to understand that everything I did was for your own good,¡± he said to Domenic. ¡°As long as you cooperate, I won¡¯t do anything that shouldn¡¯t be done. Since you have nothing more to do with Lindsey, your marriage should begin soon. ¡± Jordan nced at Carole as he said this. Carole couldn¡¯t help but smile shyly. She was so overjoyed. Domenic nced at Carole and then at Jordan before saying in a cold voice, ¡°The next thing I want to say is¡­¡± Then he stood up and looked down at the two people that were seated opposite him as he dropped a share certificate on the center table. ¡°I¡¯ll be quitting Walsh Group,¡± hepleted. ¡°What?! What are you talking about?¡± Both Jordan and Carole widened their eyes in shock. They just couldn¡¯t believe their ears. Had they heard him wrong? ¡°I¡¯ll take Vitality Group out of Walsh Group,¡± Domenic dered. ¡°From now on, Vitality Group would have nothing to do with Walsh Group. I¡¯m no longer the next leader of Walsh Group. I¡¯m now the president of Vitality Group. ¡± ¡°Domenic, have you gone crazy?¡± Carole shouted, jumping to her feet. Read thetest and free novels at .Com She just didn¡¯t understand why he would make such a ridiculous decision. ¡°Because of that woman?¡± Jordan growled, his face already red with anger. ¡°No, it¡¯s because of myself,¡± Domenic calmly replied. ¡°In the past few years, I¡¯ve lived for Walsh Group, for you, for my deceased parents, but I have never truly lived for myself. Now, I want to live well for myself. ¡± ¡°How¡¯s staying in Walsh Group not living for yourself?¡± Jordan asked in confusion. ¡°Have you been bewitched by that woman? Did you make this decision because of her?¡± Jordan jumped up excitedly as he spoke. He had thought about a lot of possibilities, but he never imagined even in his wildest dreams that Domenic would leave Walsh Group. How could it be? No way! If Lindsey had such a great impact on Domenic, then he would never allow Domenic to remain with her! ¡°Grandpa! Listen! Let me make it clear once more. I¡¯ve got nothing to do with Lindsey. Why drag her into this mess? Or are you just trying to find someone to me to fulfill your need for control?¡± Domenic¡¯s tone grew stern, radiating a sense of authority. Jordan was left speechless. He stared at Domenic standing calmly before him in disbelief. In that moment, Jordan suddenly felt the weight of his years. ¡°Domenic¡­ you¡­ I did everything for your sake. . ¡°Jordan finally spoke in a hoarse voice after a long silence. Domenic chuckled. ¡°Grandpa, if you truly cared about me, you wouldn¡¯t have ignored my parents¡¯ death, wouldn¡¯t have let Rupert scatter my mother¡¯s ashes, and wouldn¡¯t have stood by as he sent me to that asylum. It¡¯s your fault I¡¯ve ended up like this. Under your control, I can¡¯t even protect the people closest to me!¡± Jordan was taken aback. He couldn¡¯t figure out what he¡¯d done wrong to deserve this. The battles among wealthy and influential families were always brutal. All Jordan wanted was for Domenic toe out on top. What had gone wrong?Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. Chapter 991 He had never felt so let down. If Domenic wanted to strike out on his own, then he would have to realize that without the backing of the Walsh family, he was nothing. Jordan narrowed his eyes, giving Domenic a sharp look, and said slowly, ¡°As long as you strike a deal with me, I¡¯ll allow you to leave the Walsh Group. ¡± ¡°What kind of deal?¡± Domenic asked seriously. Jordan grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three years. If you don¡¯t seed, youe back, marry Carole, and take over the Walsh Group. ¡± Domenic responded coldly, ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m just letting you know, not bargaining. ¡± ¡°If you agree to this deal, I¡¯ll leave Lindsey alone. But if you don¡¯t¡­ Well, I can¡¯t promise there won¡¯t be consequences for others. ¡± Jordan fixed Domenic with a piercing gaze, as if he had found Domenic¡¯s weakness. Domenic¡¯s face hardened, his fists clenched slightly. ¡°Unless you¡¯re sure you can keep Lindsey safe from me. ¡± Jordan dropped the act and threatened him. Domenked that kind of confidence. If he did, he wouldn¡¯t have concealed his identity to be with Lindsey from the start, keeping it under wraps for so long. He could only do his best to keep her safe, but at the same time, he was afraid he might not seed. Read thetest and free novels at .Com So ever since Domenic stepped off that cruise ship, he had made sure his men kept a close watch on her, worried that something bad might happen to Lindsey again. But there would always be things overlooked. Lindsey could only truly be safe if his grandpa was genuinely willing to let her go. With this in mind, Domenic replied without hesitation, ¡°Okay, I promise you. ¡± Hearing that, Jordan¡¯s lips twitched subtly. The Walsh Group could handle anyone with ease. He was certain Domenic would face challenges once he left the Walsh Group and would eventuallye back. When Domenic woulde back to him, things could go back to normal. . . Library After Domenic left, Carole approached Jordan and knelt before him. ¡°Are you really going to let Domenic leave the Walsh Group so easily? If he seeds, he may never return.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Jordan assured her with a smile. ¡°I won¡¯t let him seed, no matter what. ¡± Carole felt a bit relieved hearing this. ¡°Are you really going to let Lindsey go?¡± she asked. ¡°Since I¡¯ve promised Domenic, I¡¯ll stick to it,¡± Jordan replied. Jordan now knew that Domenic wasn¡¯t as easily fooled as before. He had grown up and be more mature, less likely to be tricked Like a child. ¡°Carole, I can only support you to a certain extent. If you want to win his heart, you¡¯ll have to do it on your own. ¡± Jordan rose from the sofa wearily, saying, ¡°I¡¯m tired. Help me back to my room for some rest. ¡± ¡°Sure thing. Lean on me¡±. Carole offered, supporting Jordan¡¯s arm gently. Chapter 992 Carole¡¯s eyes betrayed her reluctance and malice. Even though Jordan was ready to let Lindsey go, she wasn¡¯t. She saw Lindsey¡¯s presence as a looming threat, sooner orter. At the Waterfront Apartments, Lindsey had just finished packing her things. As she stared around the living room for thest time, her grip on the suitcase unconsciously tightened. A part of her was very reluctant to leave, but her mind was made up and she was set on seeing her decision through. She breathed in through her nose, and as she exhaled, she let go of the past. Then she turned and walked toward the door. At that very moment, she heard the sound of a key turning in the lock from outside the door. Her steps faltered and she stared at the door with wide eyes. She knew who was on the other side of the door and the knowledge made her heart race. She gulped and bit her lips, desperately trying to keep her calm facade in ce. As soon as the door opened, Domenic walked in but he came to an abrupt halt when he saw Lindsey standing in the hallway. His gaze immediately went to the suitcase she was holding, and the lights in his eyes dimmed. ¡°ALL packed?¡± His voice was deep and gentle as it always was, but now, it carried a cold undertone. Lindsey nodded and replied, ¡°Yes. ¡± Then she walked towards Domenic, a determined glint in her eyes.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. When she was about two steps away from him, she stopped and held out her palm towards him. Domenic¡¯s heart clenched and it was all he could do to maintain hisposure when he saw her outstretched palm. In Lindsey¡¯s palmy the red diamond ne he had given her. ¡°I¡¯m leaving, so I have no need of this ne anymore. That¡¯s why I¡¯m giving it back to you. I think you¡¯ll be able to find someone more suitable to gift it to,¡± Lindsey said, trying to keep her voice steady. A N G E L A ¡®s L I B R A R Y Domenic¡¯s lips curled into a self-mocking smile. ¡°I never take back the gifts I¡¯ve given. If you don¡¯t like it anymore, just throw it away. ¡± After saying that, he brushed past her. Shocked by his dismissive tone, Lindsey turned around to watch him walking away from her without a care in the world. For some reason, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat. But she knew she couldn¡¯t keep the ne. They had broken up so she had no reason to hold on to it. Mind made up, Lindsey suddenly announced to Domenic¡¯s departing back, ¡°I¡¯ll leave it here then. ¡± Then she gently ced the ne on the table. Domenic paused for a moment, then he whirled around and quickly walked over to Lindsey. He picked up the ne she just ced on the table and stared at her coldly. ¡°You don¡¯t want it?¡± Lindsey¡¯s heart thumped heavily as she stared at his inscrutable expression. There was a hand made of magma crushing her heart to pieces and it hurt so bad that her vision went blurry for a second. After a brief second of silence in which Lindsey managed to push back her emotions, she nodded. Domenic gave a short, bitterugh. ¡°Fine. ¡± Without another word, he opened the door and stormed out. Read thetest and free novels at .Com Before Lindsey even knew what he was up to, he raised his hand and flung the ne with all his might. Chapter 993 Lindsey gaped, and for a second, she was unable to process what just happened. Her shock was so great that she immediately ran to Domenic, forgetting to take her suitcase with her. ¡°Are you crazy?! It¡¯s a red diamond ne worth one billion, and you just threw it away? Are you kidding me right now?¡± she screeched at the top of her voice. Domenic Lowered his gaze and replied in a deep voice, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I don¡¯t take back things I¡¯ve given someone. Since you don¡¯t want it anymore, I threw it away. ¡± With that parting shot, he turned and walked back into a room without sparing Lindsey another nce. Lindsey was at a loss for words. She stared in the direction he threw the ne, then back at the apartment. After a second¡¯s hesitation, she quickly went back to get her suitcase and then hurried downstairs. When Domenic saw Lindsey hurrying away without so much as a backward nce, his heart splintered into a million pieces. In that moment, it finally hit him that their rtionship was well and truly over. Domenic stood there in a dazed trance for a very long time. Finally, he shook off his mncholic thoughts and went to the bedroom.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. There, he opened the bedside drawer and took out a sandalwood bracelet. Then he started rubbing it back and forth in his palm. Read thetest and free novels at .Com This bracelet was a birthday gift from Lindsey. Initially, it was an amulet when Lindsey gifted it to him. No matter what, he would never throw it away. After that fateful day, he had his people search around for a long time until they found all the beads scattered around the surrounding grass. Then he got the best craftsman to repair the beads and put them together again. Domenic was sad and upset, but as he stared at the bracelet, he was reminded that the ordinary life he lived with Lindsey not so long ago was not a figment of his imagination but reality. Unfortunately, all he had left was this string of rosewood bracelet. Domenic sat on the edge of the bed, clutching the rosewood bracelet in his palm protectively, and he couldn¡¯t help butugh at himself. He just couldn¡¯t understand why Lindsey had left him. She had been willing to stay with him when he had nothing, so why did she decide to walk away after she found out that he was loaded? Was it because she thought he deceived her? But he had exined everything to her and even promised not to hide anything from her again. Erroneously, he had believed that was enough to make here back to him. Why was she so unwilling to trust him again? All he was asking for was another chance. That was not too much to ask, was it? Was it possible that she was refusing him because of Sumner? Juanita had mentioned that Lindsey and Sumner were engaged. This could only mean that Lindsey never had any intentions of marrying Domenic in the first ce. She only used the excuse of her returning a favor to refuse him so that she could stay with Sumner. Did she feel pressurized by his true identity, or did she simply prefer Sumner to him? Did she feel more rxed and free around Sumner? Even after several minutes of analyzing everything, Domenic still couldn¡¯t understand it. At this point, he wasn¡¯t even sure that Lindsey ever Loved him. From the onset till this moment, he was always overlooked. Never the chosen one, always left behind in favor of another. It was a fate he had known for as long as he could remember. It took him a lot of courage to open his heart, but all he had to show for his effort was pain and misery. He was even more pathetic now than he had been in the beginning. Unfortunately, Domenic couldn¡¯t afford to wallow in his misery. In order to safeguard Lindsey¡¯s well-being, avoid being dragged back to the Walsh Group and forced to be under his grandfather¡¯s thumb, but more importantly, to ensure that he would never have to marry a woman he didn¡¯t love, he had to shake off his despair and make the Vitality Group the most sessfulpany in the cutthroat business world. On the other side, Lindsey was near the bush downstairs frantically searching for the red diamond ne Domenic had thrown away earlier. Lindsey gazed toward the bushes where Domenic had flung the ne, then she concealed her suitcase in a hidden spot and started her searching. Chapter 994 She knelt on the ground, sifting through the bushes in search of the ne. Passersby couldn¡¯t resist pointing at her as they walked by. ¡°Damaging the nts? How rude!¡± ¡°People these days!¡± ¡°Should we notify security?¡± ¡°Let it go. It¡¯s none of our business. ¡± Unperturbed by the murmuring around her, Lindsey¡¯s sole focus was on locating the red diamond ne. Read thetest and free novels at .Com She was determined to return it to Domenic. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of it being discarded so carelessly. It felt as if, by abandoning the ne, she was also discarding the emotions she had suppressed for so long¡­ She carefully searched through the bushes, her hands bing smeared with dirt until they were caked with mud. Yet, through it all, she vividly remembered the moment Domenic had presented her with the ne. He had dropped to one knee and, with a gentle voice, draped the ne around her neck, dering, ¡°From this moment, you belong with me. ¡± She recalled how, in the church, she had wound the ne around her ring finger, using it as an improvised ring, and said, ¡°I do. ¡± It wasn¡¯t just any ne. It contained countless memories of their time spent together. The prospect of losing the ne left Lindsey feeling adrift, her heart fracturing with sorrow. Tears streamed down her face, unchecked. She hastily wiped them away with her muddy hand, but she persisted in her search. Then, among the weeds, she glimpsed the ne, partially buried. A wave of relief washed over her as she gently freed it from the dirt and clutched it to her heart like a cherished relic. ¡°Thank goodness, it¡¯s safe¡­¡± With a sigh of relief, Lindsey rose to her feet, brushed the mud from her clothing, retrieved her suitcase, and left the bushes. However, as she made her way out, security guards approached her. ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve had reports of you damaging the nts. Could you tell me which apartment you¡¯re from? We need to apply penalties ording to our policies. ¡± At that moment, one of the security guards recognized Lindsey. He was the one who had greeted her when Domenic first brought her to theplex.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content. He murmured something to his colleague, who raised his eyebrows in surprise, then scrutinized Lindsey before his demeanor softened. ¡°Miss, after discussing it, we¡¯ve decided to overlook this since it¡¯s your first mistake. Just try to be careful next time. ¡± Chapter 995 With that, the two security guards walked away as if the incident had never urred. Residents of such a prestigiousplex were typically affluent or influential, and the guards were ustomed to amodating such individuals. Lindsey had been oblivious to this dynamic, but now she realized they had spared her because of her connection to Domenic. She frowned and called out to the retreating security guards, ¡°I don¡¯t actually live here. ¡± The security guards paused and turned back to face Lindsey, looking puzzled. Read thetest and free novels at .Com Lindsey approached them and dered firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not involved with anyone here. I¡¯m ready to face whatever consequences your rules dictate.Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org. ¡± The security guards exchanged puzzled nces, unsure of how to respond. Wasn¡¯t she engaged to that influential man? Their attention soon shifted to Lindsey¡¯s suitcase, realizing she could be leaving after some disagreement. With this in mind, the security guards felt relieved of any immediate concern. Their expressions hardened once more. ¡°Very well, please follow us. ¡± Lindsey, showing no signs of backing down, stood tall and apanied them. As Domenic drove by, he caught sight of Lindsey stepping out of the security office. A security guard had just addressed her rudely, and she walked away, suitcase in tow, looking unkempt and slightly lost. With a concerned frown, Domenic parked on the side of the road and headed towards the security office. Dressed in a custom-made suit, he entered the security office, radiating amanding presence. The security guards, caught off guard by his entrance, quickly put on friendly smiles. ¡°Sir, how may we assist you today?¡± one of the guards asked. In this upscale residential area, the security guards were ustomed to interacting with influential figures and were all quite eloquent. Some security guards had even amassed wealth by serving these high-profile residents. Even driving for a person of high status, they knew, could prove far more lucrative than their current positions. Hence, they consistently showered attention on those who seemed to wield significant influence. Though unaware of Domenic¡¯s precise status, his opulent car, the frequentpany of an assistant, and his undeniable presence hinted at his importance. As Domenic made his entrance, smiles stretched across the security guards¡¯ faces. Domenic regarded them coldly. ¡°What happened with the woman who just left?¡± he inquired, his voice cold. The two security guards exchanged puzzled nces, unsure of Domenic¡¯s meaning. One guard mulled it over before speaking. ¡°Earlier, thatdy was deliberately damaging the nts. Our rules say she ought to face a penalty for that. Given it¡¯s her first vition and she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e, we were ready to overlook it. But then she said¡­¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 996 He paused, gauging Domenic¡¯s reaction. ¡°What did she say?¡± Domenic pressed, his voice deepening with concern. The guard hesitated, then continued, ¡°She dered that she¡¯s no longer living here and has no ties to anyone here. She insisted on epting the penalty. ¡± ¡°And why was she damaging the nts?¡± Domenic inquired further. Read thetest and free novels at .Com ¡°We tried asking her, but she wouldn¡¯t exin. Though, I did overhear another resident mention she seemed to be searching for something among the bushes,¡± the guard replied.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Looking for something?¡± Domenic¡¯s gaze intensified suddenly, sharp and probing. ALL he could think about was the red diamond ne he¡¯d discarded. She had broken up with him, casting aside their rtionship along with the ne. So why was she searching for it now? . . Library There she stood, resolute before him, only to turn away and rummage through the bushes as if desperately seeking that very ne. Could it be that she saw the ne costing a fortune and was unable to part with it? Or was her attempt to return the ne merely a game, a strategy to keep him intrigued? He scoffed quietly to himself, the sound barely a whisper, as he realized the absurdity of his quest for answers. From now on, he and Lindsey would go their separate ways. He had released her, so there was no need to fret about her true motives. Whatever she wanted was none of his concern. With that thought, he turned to leave. Just then, a voice halted him. It was the guard, calling from behind. ¡°Sir, would you Like to remove thedy¡¯s facial information from the system?¡± In the residentialplex, entry was secured by facial recognition technology. If her facial data were removed, she would lose ess to thisplex. After a brief pause, Domenic responded in a soft tone, ¡°Keep it. ¡± Upon leaving the Waterfront Apartments, Lindsey hailed a taxi to her brother¡¯s temporary residence, as their mother¡¯s apartment had been destroyed by fire. His apartment was nestled within a residential area featuring a beautifullyndscaped garden in the heart of Morcastle. She had phoned Leonel ahead of time, and as she stepped out of the taxi, he was already there waiting at the gates of theplex. Seeing her covered in dirt with her hair slightly disheveled, Leonel raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Have you been mining coal or scrambling through tunnels?¡± She pressed her lips together, choosing to remain silent. Leonel had been informed of her circumstances by Juanita. He knew she had ended things with Domenic for good this time. As for Domenic¡¯s true identity, Juanita had chosen to keep that to herself, thinking it wiser to avoid more trouble. Chapter 997 Lindsey¡¯s decision to move in also subtly confirmed this news. Relieved, Leonel realized she was likely still processing her breakup and chose not to probe further. He reached out to take her suitcase. It was only then that Lindsey snapped out of her reverie and quickly said, ¡°Leonel, I can handle it myself¡­¡± He nced at her and remarked, ¡°Even if you¡¯ve lost your boyfriend, you still have me by your side. ¡± Then he pulled her suitcase and led the way. Watching his determined, tall figure, a rush of warmth filled Lindsey¡¯s heart. She hastened to catch up, walking alongside him. ¡°The new medication will beunched in a few days. Remember our deal,¡± he suddenly said, recalling their contract. It dawned on Lindsey that Xiomara had agreed to endorse that medication and would be involved in several promotional events after its release. With all the recent upheaval, Lindsey had somewhat neglected her professional responsibilities, especially those involving her artists and her agency. She resolved to focus, pushing thoughts of Domenic aside. ¡°I¡¯m aware.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. We¡¯ve got the contract, and I¡¯ll make sure Xiomara makes time for your events. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± she assured him. Leonel nodded in acknowledgment. It suddenly urred to Lindsey that the next filming session for Star Search would be on Thursday and she rushed to add, ¡°Thursday marks the final shoot for Star Search, and Xiomara is set to join. Let¡¯s n around that to avoid any conflicts. ¡± Leonel¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°The schedule for the event is set by the research center and I can¡¯t change that. However, I will inform the marketing team and try to adjust the times as much as possible. ¡± ¡°Sure, thank you,¡± Lindsey responded with appreciation. Leonel paused before adding, ¡°After the event, let¡¯s invite Xiomara for a meal. It¡¯s on me. ¡± Lindsey lifted her eyes to her brother¡¯sposed face, noting his attempt at nonchnce. A subtle smile touched her lips as she agreed, ¡°Sure, that sounds good. Read thetest and free novels at .Com ¡± Leonel tightened his lips and changed the subject. ¡°By the way, make sure you visit Sumner. ¡± She nodded in understanding. ¡°I will. ¡± Lindsey was grateful for Sumner¡¯s assistance, which had enabled her to attend the Walsh Group¡¯s celebration. Moreover, she needed to discuss the uing filming with him. Beyond these, she had to handle the ongoing legal disputes with those partners seeking to break their contracts with herpany. The days ahead promised to be hectic. Nancy had been managing various responsibilities for thepany recently, facing considerable challenges. Lindsey resolved to grant Nancy a few days off to recuperate once she returned. As for herself, Lindsey nned to immerse herself in the workload. Staying busy could just help her escape the ache lingering in her heart. The following day, Lindsey made her way to the hospital to see Sumner. Descending the stairs to the inpatient department, she spotted Paige, gently guiding Sumner in a wheelchair through a peaceful park. Chapter 998 Sumner seemed to have recovered a lot. Noticing her, he called softly, ¡°Lindsey. ¡± Paige paused, following Sumner¡¯s gaze to meet Lindsey¡¯s, her face breaking into a delighted smile. ¡°Lindsey, you made it here!¡± she eximed. . . Read thetest and free novels at .Com Library With a warm smile, Lindsey stepped forward, addressing Paige. ¡°You must be exhausted after these past few days. Let me take over now. Go on and take a break. ¡± Paige, eager to give Lindsey and Sumner some privacy, smiled warmly and said, ¡°Perfect timing. I¡¯m feeling a bit tired. Lindsey, please look after him for me. ¡± Then she handed the wheelchair over to Lindsey and, after exchanging a few words with Sumner, strode away. Lindsey led Sumner on a leisurely stroll through the park. ¡°Lindsey, how¡¯s the Walsh Group¡¯s celebration going? Have you seen that mysterious CEO?¡± Sumner¡¯s voice was soft as he asked. When the cruise incident came up, Lindsey felt a twinge of pain, a heavy weight settling in her chest. She struggled to hold back her emotions and replied as usual, ¡°Yes, he agreed to return Cherish to my mom. Everything is almost sorted out. ¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. ¡± Sumner pressed on. ¡°But something feels off about you. You sure you¡¯re alright?¡± Lindsey felt flustered, blurting out, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m happy it¡¯s resolved. Sumner, I¡¯m really grateful for your help. Couldn¡¯t have managed without that invitation. Seriously, thank you. ¡± Sumner let out a soft chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m d I could help out. Makes me feel like I¡¯m not just sitting around twiddling my thumbs. ¡± His words stirred a pang of sympathy in Lindsey. Stopping the wheelchair under a tree, she approached Sumner, squatting down to meet his gaze, their eyes locking in a meaningful exchange. ¡°Sumner, don¡¯t underestimate yourself. You¡¯re really something special. ¡± Caught in Lindsey¡¯s genuine gaze, Sumner felt a wave of emotion wash over him. If only his disability didn¡¯t hold him back, he would have reached out to hug her tightly. ¡°Lindsey, can you be with me forever? With you around, I¡¯ll keep holding onto hope. ¡± He gripped his trousers tightly, his plea heartfelt as he looked at her. She nced down, grappling with her thoughts. Her rtionship with Domenic had ended. Now, all she wanted was Sumner¡¯s recovery. With the guilt about Domenic no longer weighing on her mind, Lindsey felt a sense of peace wash over her. Taking a deep breath, she turned to Sumner with a smile.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll stick with you until you¡¯re back on your feet. ¡± But what would happen after that? Would she leave after he recovered? Sumner hesitated to ask, deciding to remain silent instead. Having her around, even for a while, brought himfort. Chapter 999 For the time being, Lindsey would be there for him. Sumner¡¯s face lit up with gratitude. ¡°Thanks, Lindsey. Read thetest and free novels at .Com ¡± ¡°No need to thank me,¡± she replied, giving his shoulder a gentle pat. ¡°Oh, and by the way, the final shooting for Star Search is on Thursday. You mentioned wanting to participate in it. Are you still interested?¡± Sumner just nodded firmly. ¡°Absolutely, count me in. ¡± . . Library He was set on proving his bravery to her. ¡°Sumner, I¡¯ve always believed in you. It¡¯s great to see you feeling upbeat,¡± Lindsey said, her relief evident. ¡°Focus on preparing for the final, and leave everything else to me. Don¡¯t worry about what¡¯s happening outside; I¡¯ll handle it all. ¡± Sumner smiled in agreement. ¡°Sure thing. ¡± He had full faith in her, willing to do whatever she asked. His love for her even outweighed everything else, even his own self.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org. After spending the entire day with Sumner and waiting for him to fall asleep, Lindsey finally returned home, exhausted. Since she needed to return to work the next day, her brother stayed at the hospital to look after their mother, allowing her to go home and get some rest. Lindsey kicked off her high heels, walked barefoot to the bathroom, and washed her face in front of the mirror Looking up, she saw her reflection, a strained smile on her face, and her long ck hair damp against her chest. Yet, in her mind, she was back at Domenic¡¯s apartment, with Domenic resting his head on her shoulder, slipping a ruby ne around her neck¡­ Her hands, resting on the sink, slowly clenched into fists. It was all behind her now; everything from the past was over. Tomorrow was a new day, and she had to move on. Lindsey hurried to the living room, grabbed a pair of scissors, seized her long hair, and cut it off bravely. She wanted a fresh start by doing this as if she could cut away her past emotions with her hair. The next day, the Lindnita Artists Agency was bustling as usual. Recently, Nancy has been the first to arrive each morning to delegate tasks, radiating strong boss energy. As she gave instructions to Niks Harvey from the publicity department, a gasp echoed through the office. Niks immediately looked up, his eyes widening in shock. Nancy, slightly annoyed by the interruption, turned to see what had caught his attention. Chapter 1000 She found herself instinctively widening her eyes as well. She saw Lindsey, now in a sharp ck suit with a crisp white shirt underneath and ck high heels, her steps echoing through the office. But the biggest surprise was Lindsey¡¯s hair, which had been cut to a chic shoulder length, swaying with each step she took. For some reason, Nancy couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Lindsey, after a few days away, had returned with an even sharper and moremanding presence. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯re back!¡± The employees stood up excitedly at the sight of Lindsey. ¡°The new hairstyle looks amazing on you. ¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Lindsey responded with a polite and charming smile to those whoplimented her. ¡°Linds!¡± Nancy quickly approached, gently took her arm, and examined her from different angles. ¡°You look different now, Linds. I think this style suits you better. ¡± With a warm smile, Lindsey replied, ¡°Nancy, thank you for all your efforts recently. ¡± Nancy casually said, ¡°It¡¯s all for thepany. Don¡¯t worry. How have you beentely? How is your mom?¡±N?velDrama.Org owns all content. She was aware that Juanita had regained consciousness, but with Lindsey away from the office these past days and herself swamped with tasks, she hadn¡¯t managed to visit Juanita just yet. ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my office,¡± Lindsey suggested. She led Nancy to her office and shared all the recent developments, including the events at the Walsh Group¡¯s celebration. Nancy, being her closest friend and business partner, deserved to know. Nancy¡¯s face moved from calm to shock and then to anger. ¡°What did you say? Your boyfriend¡­ Oh no, Domenic is the CEO of Vitality Group?!¡± Her disbelief was palpable. Lindsey pressed her Lips together and then said, ¡°Yes. ¡± ¡°Oh, my goodness, I always suspected something was off with him, but I never imagined he was concealing something so significant! Feigning innocence-is that like a hobby for these wealthy young men? Or do they just find it entertaining?¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± Lindsey responded nonchntly. She hadn¡¯t shared much about Domenic with Nancy. It was his private affairs, and she preferred not to disclose them. Besides, she wasn¡¯t even sure if his tales were true, making it pointless to discuss further. Observing Lindsey¡¯s detached response, Nancy mmed her hands on the desk, frustrated. ¡°Lindsey, you¡¯ve been deceived financially and emotionally, and yet you don¡¯t seem upset at all? What¡¯s going through your mind?¡± Lindsey looked at her. She was indeed angry but felt powerless. Read thetest and free novels at .Com She had already spent considerable time calming herself down about this issue. ¡°I¡¯m upset, but what can I do?¡± Lindsey gazed at Nancy. ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of Vitality Group, a giant in Morcastle¡¯smercial realm. He has the power and status to overshadow uspletely. What can I do? Confront him? You know, he could shut down our small business. ¡± Nancy was taken aback by Lindsey¡¯s realism. She understood, yet it infuriated her to see her dear friend deceived Like this when, in any other situation, she would have confronted the culprit directly. But this was no ordinary man; this was the formidable CEO of Vitality Group! ¡°So, are we just supposed to ept this? Are you really okay with letting it slide?¡± Nancy asked Lindsey, looking for her reaction. Lindsey¡¯s expression darkened momentarily before she forced a smile and jokingly said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Honestly, I didn¡¯t lose anything being with him these past few days. Let¡¯s just say I had some fun with a handsome guy. And in the future, I can boast to others that I slept with the CEO of Vitality Group!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!