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 31
Before Donald could end the call, he told his men once again,“Listen carefully. Jane is the priority. You must bring her back unharmed. If anything happens, if you encounter any difficulties you can’t handle, contact me immediately. I will give instructions and deal with it myself if necessary. No improvisation. Understand?”“Understood, Donald,” Marcus replied firmly. “We won’t fail you.”“Neither will we,” Liam added, his voice steady, though tinged with urgency.Donald ended the call, taking a deep breath. He knew the risk. Thomas Lewis was dangerous, ruthless, and unpredictable. Any wrong move could result in disaster. But there was no turning back now. Jane’s life and the success of his larger plans depended on the precision of Marcus and Liam’s actions.Meanwhile, Marcus and Liam drove steadily through the city streets.Even though their vehicle was low-profile. It was equipped with the tools they might need.They knew Thomas’ property well enough to anticipate the security mea
Chapter 30
Donald’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. He glanced at the distressed woman beside him—Mrs. Wilson—and then back at Michael. His tone was icy, controlled, and detached.“Don’t make baseless accusations,” Donald said coldly. “I had nothing to do with her disappearance. You should focus on what’s important instead of pointing fingers at me.”Michael’s face flushed with anger. “Nothing to do with it? She’s missing, Donald! We’ve searched everywhere! The police have been informed! If you don’t produce Jane, count yourself finished!”Donald didn’t respond further. Without another word, he walked back to his car, opened the door, and got in. He started the engine and drove off slowly, leaving the Wilsons standing on the roadside, their anger and fear colliding. Michael’s fists clenched tightly as he shouted after him, but Donald ignored him, his expression hard and unreadable.For several minutes, Donald drove in silence. The traffic blurred around him, but his thoughts were focused shar
Chapter 29
Donald was driving along Boston’s busy streets, navigating the morning traffic with a calm, collected focus, though his mind remained fixed on the growing list of issues waiting for him at DeGrand Corporation. The morning rush had its usual rhythm—cars honking impatiently, cyclists weaving carefully between lanes, and pedestrians hurrying across intersections with coffee cups clutched in their hands. He was halfway through the intersection when something caught his attention on the sidewalk to his right. At first, it was only the motion—two figures in an intense back‑and‑forth. But when he looked again, the tone of their voices cut through the ambient city noise, forcing him to instinctively slow his car.A heated argument was unfolding beside a glossy black sedan parked awkwardly near a curb. A young man and an older woman stood face‑to‑face, the young man’s arms flailing as he emphasized every word with frantic energy. The older woman—whose hair was tied tightly at the back of
Chapter 28
Jane’s hands were trembling as she held her phone. Her pulse raced so fast it felt like it could burst through her chest. She had barely started to explain her situation to Jaxon when the door burst open. The room seemed to shrink as Thomas stormed in, his eyes dark with fury. Jane froze, her voice caught in her throat. “I—I,” she stammered, trying to explain, but before she could finish, Thomas’s shadow loomed over her. Without a word, he slammed his hand down on her phone. It shattered instantly, the screen cracking and sparks of glass scattering across the floor. Jane gasped in terror, reaching out instinctively, but it was gone—her only lifeline severed in an instant. “Put that thing down,” Thomas growled, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t want to hear it ring ever again.” Jane’s eyes filled with tears as she backed away. “Please! You don’t have to do this! I’ll—I'll cooperate!” Thomas’s lips curved into a cold, mocking smile. “Cooperate?” he said, his tone dripp
Chapter 27
“You think you can speak to me like that?” Thomas’s voice was full of rage.Jane tensed. “You will cooperate. Or you will regret everything you’ve done today!" he growled. Jane’s pulse hammered in her ears, but she refused to bow her head. “I won’t betray DeGrand Corporation,” she whispered. Even though her voice trembled, the conviction within it was unmistakable.Thomas’s eyes narrowed, darkening like a storm gathering force. “We’ll see.”He took a slow step forward. The room seemed to shrink with every inch he closed between them.Behind him, his men exchanged uncertain looks. One of them, braver than the rest, cleared his throat.“Boss… let’s go.” His tone held a warning. “We’ve made the point.”Thomas didn’t turn. He didn’t even blink. His jaw clenched, a tiny twitch betraying the fury he was holding back. For a split second, Jane thought he would snap again—strike, shout, something—but instead he inhaled deeply, forcing himself back into control.He leaned in, so close she
Chapter 26
Jane swallowed hard. “W–what deal? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Thomas’s smile was slow, deliberate—one of those smiles that didn’t reach his eyes. “The deal, Jane,” he said softly. “The one where your cooperation determines whether you walk out of here unharmed.” Her breath caught in her throat. She tried to keep her voice steady, but her chest tightened painfully. There was no misunderstanding his tone. This wasn’t a threat disguised in polite words; it was the threat. He stepped closer. “You’re a partner of DeGrand Corporation now. I’ve confirmed it myself.” His lips curved. “Impressive title, I’ll admit.” Jane’s mind raced. “What does that have to do with anything?” she asked, forcing the words out. She needed to understand, even if every instinct told her she wouldn’t like the answer. Thomas straightened, his posture suddenly sharp and formal, as though he were at a boardroom table instead of standing in front of a woman he had trapped. He clasped his h
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