“After the wedding? I never agreed to marry him.”Disgust sharpened every line of Daisy’s face. She truly could not stomach Russell Sanders. His reputation and his conduct both made her skin crawl.“Not marry me? I’m afraid that’s no longer yours to decide.” Russell’s expression cooled; his patience was clearly spent.“Oh? And if I refuse, are you planning to take me by force?” Daisy met him head-on.Russell spoke with leisurely menace. “We know the Hill Group inside and out. Your cash flow is hanging by a thread, isn’t it? Six months ago, new regulations came down. More than eighty percent of your products fall under pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; without a license, you can’t sell a thing. Operations have been frozen for half a year. You’re shrinking by the day, bleeding a million dollars every twenty-four hours.”“Mr. Hill, that must be agony,” he went on, deliberately flicking a glance at Cameron. “I know what the Hill family is waiting for. Do you really think you can outlast the

The voice left Daisy stunned.Adrian held the card out toward Cameron. “Uncle, the transfer’s done. Pay me back when the company’s liquid again. There’s no rush.”Russell and Daphne were equally dumbstruck. Daphne even forgot the burn stinging her cheek.Transaction approved. Ten million dollars.That wasn’t pocket change—most people couldn’t save that much in a lifetime. Yet this plainly dressed nobody had produced it without blinking.“Fake. It has to be fake!”Russell refused to believe the card was genuine, let alone funded.Warmth rose in Daisy’s chest. Adrian hadn’t been bluffing. Ten million dollars—for her—offered without a second thought. She’d seen sums like that before, but never felt what she felt now.Everyone else had treated her like merchandise. Love and care were luxuries she’d never been granted.Until today.Everything Adrian did—every punch thrown, the card he put on the table—was for her.Daisy’s eyes softened when they found him. Once, she’d thought marrying Feli

Daisy blinked in confusion. “Mr. Logan, you were looking for me?”Hunter Logan’s face broke into a genial smile. “Miss Daisy, I came to apologize. Please accept this small token.”He flicked a glance to his aides.They stepped forward with a compact case and eased it open.Inside lay a cosmeceutical sales license.Daisy froze, then instinctively took half a step back. It was too valuable. There’s no such thing as kindness without cause. With Hunter personally delivering the license, she didn’t dare accept it.“The Hill family does need it,” she said carefully, “but I can’t accept an unearned reward. Please, take it back.”Hunter laughed softly. “No need to stand on ceremony. I’ve already reviewed the Hill family’s qualifications—you’re fully entitled to the license. My illness delayed matters, and that’s what caused your recent losses. If you refuse, wouldn’t that tarnish my name?”“Don’t turn me down. Consider it restitution.”As he spoke, he signaled for the license to be handed ove

With Daisy’s permission, Adrian stepped behind her, set his thumb and forefinger to either side of her neck, and pressed twice with a deft, feather-light touch.Relief flowed through her at once.A small, involuntary sound slipped from her lips.“Mmm… that’s good.”Eyes closed, she wore an expression of pure contentment.Adrian gradually increased the pressure, finding the precise points with unerring instinct. “You didn’t pull a muscle. You’re just overtired—mild stiff neck from lack of rest. From now on, sleep on time and take proper breaks. Understood?”The usually aloof CEO gave a docile nod.In less than five minutes, Daisy felt completely restored.“Could you… could you work on my feet too? I’ve been running all over putting out fires for the company. They’re killing me.”Adrian hadn’t expected that.She realized what she’d said and flushed. The massage had felt so good that her request had slipped out without thinking.“If it’s inconvenient, then forget—”“It’s not. Massaging m

Adrian looked at Daisy in frank astonishment, bafflement plain in his eyes.She, however, had her reasons.First, by promoting him, she’d silence any gossip about his frequent visits to the president’s office. Second, an assistant’s work wasn’t for the faint of heart. She planned to dump the thornier problems in his lap and savor the sight of him flailing—consider it a little payback.Ignoring Adrian, Daisy turned to Freya. “Take him to HR in a bit and process the transfer. After that, show him the ropes on the new portfolio.”“Miss Daisy has never bent the rules to personally promote anyone,” Freya said coolly. “I suppose this colleague must be very capable to have caught your eye.”“That’s enough. Give me the status report, then take Adrian to get up to speed.”At the mention of work, Freya straightened at once. “Miss Daisy, sales remain dismal this month, down sharply again from last month.”“The Summit Group still hasn’t cleared their outstanding balance. It’s been months. I recom