2025-12-17 09:15:11
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CHAPTER 10
Vanessa's face turned pale.For a split second, it felt as if all the blood in her body had drained away at once.Still, she forced herself to maintain a smile.“Sir,” Vanessa said stiffly, the corners of her lips trembling slightly, “this joke isn’t funny.”She took a small breath, forcing air into her lungs.Her eyes swept across the cameras, the journalists holding microphones, and the guests who had been invited to witness what was supposed to be her moment of glory.“There are journalists here,” she added quickly. “This event is being covered in full. You really shouldn’t joke about something like this.”A few guests nodded unconsciously, clearly thinking the same thing.Canceling a cooperation at such a moment sounded absurd.Her words sounded calm on the surface, but she was anything but calm.Her smile was stiff. Her eyes were far too bright.The manager didn’t smile.Not even a little.The respectful, flattering expression he had worn earlier was completely gone.In its place
CHAPTER 9
As the manager left the banquet hall, the other people inside quickly gathered around Vanessa and Charles.Glasses clinked softly as people shifted closer, forming a loose circle around Vanessa.The elegant music in the background was livelier now, almost celebratory, matching the mood of the crowd.Several guests moved closer, glasses in hand, their expressions full of enthusiasm.“Vanesaa,” one man said warmly, lifting his glass slightly toward her, “this cooperation with the Rand family is truly impressive. Not many people have that kind of opportunity.”“Yes, exactly,” another person chimed in quickly, nodding repeatedly. “Your company has really risen fast these past months. We’ve all been watching closely.”A woman beside him smiled politely. “I heard your company is about to be listed. With the Rand family backing you, your future is basically guaranteed.”Others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with calculation rather than pure admiration.“If possible,” someone added wi
CHAPTER 8
Elaine was so frightened that cold sweat poured down her face; it turned out that everything Iris said was true.Her entire body trembled uncontrollably as reality crashed down on her.The cold floor beneath her knees felt like ice, yet she barely noticed it.Her mind was completely blank.She had offended someone she could never afford to offend.No— not just offended.She had personally ordered security to throw them out.That single command echoed in her head again and again, each repetition tighter than the last, like a noose slowly closing around her neck.Her lips quivered as she looked up desperately, her gaze darting between Adrian and Iris.She couldn’t even bring herself to focus on either of them properly.Both felt equally terrifying now.“I—I’m sorry…” Elaine choked out, her voice hoarse and broken, nothing like the authority she had wielded moments ago. “I didn’t know… I really didn’t know…”She bowed repeatedly, her movements frantic and clumsy, her forehead nearly touc
CHAPTER 7
Charles and Vanessa had been somewhat nervous.The moment Elaine’s words rang through the lobby, however, their tension shattered instantly.It was as if an invisible weight had been lifted off their shoulders.They burst into laughter.Loud and unrestrained.The kind of laughter that came from certainty—from knowing they had already won.As if they had just watched a bad joke finally collapse in front of an audience.“Did you hear that?” Charles said between laughs, one hand clutching his stomach as though the scene before him was simply too entertaining. “Security is coming. This is priceless.”His shoulders shook as he laughed again, not even bothering to hide his mockery.Vanessa's lips curled upward slowly as relief washed over her entire body.She exhaled. Of course, she knew it.From the very beginning, she had known it.Adrian was lying.How could the Rand family possibly have anything to do with him?The idea itself was ridiculous.Several security guards approached quickly,
CHAPTER 6
Adrian looked at Vanessa and suddenly felt amused.Not in a warm way.More like watching someone embarrass themselves without realizing it.A faint sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth.“If we’re talking about affairs,” he said coldly, “then your relationship with him looks far more convincing.”His gaze slid briefly to Charles before returning to Vanessa.“She and I just met today,” Adrian added calmly, nodding slightly toward Iris. “Try again.”The words were light, almost casual.There was no anger in them. No raised voice. No explanation.Vanessa's face flushed instantly.Her breath hitched as disbelief turned into rage.Her chest rose sharply as anger flooded her expression.“You—!” she shouted, taking a sharp step forward. “How dare you say that!”Her heels scraped loudly against the floor, the sound sharp and jarring.Several people nearby flinched.Being called an adulterer was her biggest fear.She had spent years polishing her image—successful, respectable, admirable.A w
CHAPTER 5
Adrian's expression turned cold.The calm indifference he had maintained since leaving the house was gone.It wasn’t rage. It wasn’t agitation either.Victor noticed immediately.The old man’s brows knitted together as he studied Adrian's profile.Years of experience had taught him how to read faces, and Adrian's was one he took very seriously.The old man’s face darkened as well.“Who offended you?” Victor asked in a low voice even though he already knew who it was.His tone carried suppressed anger. “Tell me.”Adrian didn’t answer that question.He leaned slightly back against the seat and looked out the car window, his gaze distant and indifferent, as if whatever had angered him was already beneath his attention.Buildings passed by in a blur. Cars slowed and accelerated. None of it seemed to register.Victor followed his line of sight, then frowned.Adrian's silence was answer enough.After a brief pause, Victor asked another question, choosing his words carefully.“Will the coope
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