2025-10-27 17:37:59In the most luxurious top-floor office of the DeGrand Group, a woman of striking elegance rose swiftly to her feet, gesturing for several security personnel to follow her. She then strode into the elevator and stabbed the button for the first floor.
Her face was grave and deathly pale, her eyes fixed on the descending floor numbers as if willing the elevator to reach the ground floor instantly.
But at the 8th floor, the elevator stopped and the doors slid open. The secretary outside spotted Ivy and bowed her head with delight and deference. "Miss Harrington, I've successfully brought the VIP up. We're saved!"
Miss Harrington had repeatedly instructed her that once they secured this important guest, their current crisis would be resolved!
But the moment she finished speaking, the secretary felt an inexplicable chill wash over her. She looked up in confusion, only to be met with the horrifying sight of Miss Harrington glaring at her in fury.
"I just received a call from our VIP guest. He sounded extremely displeased and said he's still waiting on the first floor. Bianca, who the hell did you bring up?!"
What!
Bianca's mind went blank. She had brought up the wrong people! If this angered their VIP, then she, then she...
SLAP!
Ivy struck her secretary hard across the face, leaving a vivid handprint on her cheek!
"What are you standing there for? Get downstairs with me right now and apologize to our guest!"
The secretary finally snapped back to reality in terror. Ignoring the stinging pain on her face, she quickly lowered her head and hurried to stand behind Ivy, drenched in cold sweat, not daring to look up.
The elevator doors slammed shut. When they opened again, she saw the man she had barely glanced at earlier now calmly sweeping his gaze over her before fixing it directly on her boss, Ivy.
Ivy moved forward, her high heels clicking urgently across the marble floor. Bianca followed uneasily as Ivy strode straight up to the man, then watched in mounting dread as Ivy's body tensed and she bowed slightly in apology.
A bead of cold sweat rolled down Ivy's cheek and dropped to the ground.
"Mr. Smith, I sincerely apologize for my tardiness. My secretary failed to receive you properly. Please forgive us!"
With that, Ivy shot Bianca a pointed look. Bianca immediately rushed forward and dropped to her knees before Mr. Smith with a thud, her heart pounding wildly.
"Mr. Smith! Please forgive me. I—I was blind and foolish. I didn't recognize your identity. It was all my fault. Please, don't hold this mistake against me..."
But to the secretary's despair, Donald glanced at her and said nothing.
The secretary felt her hope crumble.
Just then, Ivy suddenly stepped forward, her figure casting a shadow over her. Then Ivy pointed to the red, swollen handprint on her face.
"Mr. Smith, I've already disciplined this foolish subordinate of mine on your behalf. So perhaps..."
Ivy looked at Donald with a mixture of tension and anticipation.
For a moment, Donald simply maintained an impassive exterior while regarding Ivy with a hint of appreciation beneath the surface.
He had only used the secretary incident as a way to observe how Ivy treated those around her. Now he got it.
On the surface, she was being ruthlessly harsh with her secretary, but in reality, she was doing everything in her power to protect her.
Moreover, her beauty surpassed Jane's in every aspect—both in refinement and sharpness. No wonder the warden said there wasn't a man in Boston worthy of Ivy's attention.
The corner of Donald's mouth curved into a faint smile. His voice was calm yet cutting.
"It's nothing. I'm not so easily rattled. What I want to know…" His eyes locked onto hers. "…is what you want from me."
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Chapter 424
The room remained silent after Richard's declaration.No one underestimated the gravity of the situation anymore.Richard carefully folded the mysterious letter and placed it back inside the silver case.He then looked at the black stone resting within it."Do not touch it."The order was firm.Caleb immediately stepped back.Donald, however, continued staring at the stone.For some reason, it felt familiar.Not because he had seen it before.Rather, it gave him the same indescribable feeling he experienced whenever he held the Holloway heirloom.Richard noticed his gaze."What do you feel?"Donald answered honestly."It's difficult to explain.""It doesn't feel dangerous.""It feels..."He searched for the right word."...alive."The butler and Caleb exchanged uneasy glances.Richard slowly nodded."I was afraid you would say that."Donald looked at him."You know what it is?""I have a suspicion."Richard walked toward another section of the Crimson Archive.He unlocked an old oak c
Chapter 423
The shrill sound of the security alarms echoed throughout the Holloway estate.Red warning lights flashed along the underground corridor, bathing the Crimson Archive in an eerie glow.For a brief moment, no one spoke.Richard Holloway calmly closed the cabinet and locked it.His years of experience showed in his composure.He turned to Donald."This is why I kept you away from this life."Donald tightened his grip on the communicator."I've already been dragged into it."Richard gave a faint nod."Yes.""And now there's no turning back."The butler listened to another report through his earpiece."Master, the intruders have not breached the main gate.""They're simply waiting."Richard frowned."They're observing."Caleb looked puzzled."Why would they just wait?"Richard answered quietly."Because professionals rarely attack without understanding their target.""They're testing our response."Donald stepped toward the staircase."Let's go up."Richard stopped him with a raised hand.
Chapter 422
Caleb wasted no time.Within ten minutes, a sleek black luxury sedan rolled to the front of Donald's mansion.The security team had already inspected the vehicle, while two escort SUVs waited behind it.Caleb stepped out of the driver's seat."Sir, everything is ready."Donald nodded.He turned toward the front door just as Ivy hurried outside.She had overheard part of the conversation with the messenger and immediately sensed that something was wrong."Donald."He stopped and looked at her."I have to see my father."Ivy walked closer."Is it serious?"Donald smiled reassuringly."I believe so."She looked at the convoy waiting outside."You've only recently reunited with him, and now he's sending urgent messages."Donald nodded."He wouldn't do this without a good reason."Ivy hesitated."Can I come with you?"Donald gently took her hands."I'd rather you stayed here.""I'll have additional security around the house.""If anything unusual happens, call Caleb immediately."Caleb smi
Chapter 421
Three days later...Life appeared to have returned to normal.Donald resumed managing DeGrand Corporation.Ivy gradually regained her peace of mind after the frightening attacks.The Kessington family remained unusually quiet.Even Adrian had stopped making any obvious moves.To everyone else, it looked as though the storm had finally passed.But Donald knew better.People who harbored hatred rarely gave up overnight.Deep within an old estate on the outskirts of the country...An elderly man dressed in a black traditional robe sat quietly inside a spacious study.His white hair reached his shoulders, and his sharp eyes scanned an old leather-bound book lying open on his desk.The room was filled with ancient paintings, maps, and shelves containing centuries-old artifacts.A younger man hurried into the room.He bowed respectfully."Master."The elderly man looked up."What is it, Victor?"The young man handed him a sealed envelope."Our agents have returned."The elderly man calmly o
Chapter 420
Donald remained seated long after Victor had left.His fingers lightly tapped the business card on the desk.Caleb, who had been waiting outside, knocked gently before stepping into the study."Sir?"Donald looked up."Victor has left?""Yes.""He declined the escort and drove away alone."Donald nodded."What do you think of him?"Caleb thought for a moment."I think he's dangerous."Donald raised an eyebrow."Dangerous?""Not because he wants to harm you.""But because he's extremely intelligent.""He found out things that very few people should have been able to uncover."Donald smiled."That's exactly what I was thinking."He stood and walked toward the large window overlooking the gardens."Someone hired him.""Yes, sir.""And if Victor could find me...""...others eventually will."Caleb's expression became serious."I'll strengthen security immediately."Donald nodded."And don't just focus on me."Caleb looked puzzled."Sir?""I want additional security around Ivy as well."Ca
Chapter 419
Donald tightened his grip on the phone.His father's words echoed in his mind."There are people who have spent decades searching for that heirloom."He looked down at the wooden box resting on his desk.The soft golden glow had completely disappeared.The heirloom looked ordinary again.No one would ever guess what it contained.Donald finally broke the silence."Father...""Who are these people?"Richard sighed deeply."I wish I could answer that question completely.""What do you mean?""I've spent years trying to identify every person involved.""And?""I've only found pieces."Donald frowned."Then tell me the pieces."Richard slowly stood from his chair on the other end of the line and walked toward the large window of his mansion."When your grandfather was alive...""...our family wasn't just wealthy.""We were guardians."Donald narrowed his eyes."Guardians?""Yes.""The heirloom has been passed down through generations.""It was never meant to be displayed.""It was never m
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