LOGINMaria stepped into the building and found that she couldn't use the private executive elevator.She was already running late. If she wanted to stop Janet before anything happened, the fastest way would have been that elevator. But Richard was not answering his phone and Trent was not at the office, so she had no choice but to take the regular one.She let out a slow sigh and waited, her heart thumping anxiously in her chest. She kept worrying as she took the crowded elevator all the way up. Maria didn't know what kind of awful things Janet might say with her sharp tongue, but was sure it wouldn't be anything good.Maria kept brooding in silence until she finally reached the top floor about five minutes later. Nobody stopped her.She hurried down the hallway.As soon as she reached the office door, she heard Janet's voice from inside."That's right! I won't let Maria marry my son with my blessings, especially when you already have a son together. Mr. Shaw, try putting yourself i
The more Janet thought about it, the more she was convinced that her relatives were right.Maria's family had money, but she wasn't the heir to their company. No matter how many assets there were, all would go to her older brother. Maria's son had nothing he could inherit. If he ever got anything, it would come from her ex-husband's side.In these circumstances, who would ever complain with their son inheriting a vast fortune, be it liquid cash or assets? No one would.Janet was confident she was right about Maria. Maria was definitely using Cameron to get her hands on the Lane family's resources.Janet told herself she would never allow that to happen. Never!With that thought in mind, she took a deep breath. A bold idea suddenly formed in her mind. She narrowed her eyes, got in her car, and then told the driver, "Go to Shaw Group."The driver froze for a second, then quickly turned the steering wheel and turned the car around. Remembering what Cameron had told him earl
Maria had just reached the ground floor when her phone rang.It was Cameron.She glanced back at the front entrance of Lane Group, not understanding why he was suddenly calling her. Once the call connected, Cameron's cautious voice came through. "Mari, are you alright? Where are you now?""I just got to the ground floor. I'm about to get into a ride. What's wrong?" Maria said."I already told my mom that no matter what happens, I'm going to marry you. Don't worry. Whether it is our engagement or our wedding, you won't have to deal with them anymore. Our life has nothing to do with them."Cameron spoke carefully on the phone, as if afraid of upsetting her.Maria held her phone, about to answer, when she saw Janet storming out of the building. Their eyes met. Clearly, Janet didn't expect Maria to still be here and beelined straight toward her.Maria had a bad feeling about this. She quickly said into the phone, "Alright, I know. I'm getting in the car now. I'll talk to you lat
Janet made it sound like Maria had done something shameful.Maria took a deep breath. She hadn't expected to run into Janet and hear the latter say that. There was a stubborn glint in her eyes as she said, "Nothing happened between me and Richard. We're innocent. Please don't accuse me of things I haven't done.""Accuse you?" Janet acted as if she had heard a joke. She waved her hand, her eyes full of disdain. "Fine. I don't want to waste time on this nonsense. You can leave now. I want to talk to my son alone."Cameron frowned and walked over, lowering his voice. "Mom...""I know. You think I have a problem with Maria and don't support your relationship with her, but I'm only looking out for you as your mother. I need to talk to you. Tell her to leave right now," Janet cut him off harshly. Her eyes were firm, as if she wouldn't back down until Maria left.Cameron frowned even more deeply and said nothing.Watching the stalemate between them, Maria felt a sudden heaviness in he
When Cameron heard that Maria had arrived, he immediately asked the receptionist downstairs to bring her up.After she entered his office, Maria told him everything that had happened to Richard from start to finish.When he heard it all, Cameron frowned and stayed silent for a long time.Maria felt uneasy seeing him like that. She couldn't help asking, "What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"Cameron forced a small smile, hesitation and concern in his eyes. "I don't know what to say. Just being friends isn't something that happens with Richard. Even if he does nothing now, he won't be able to bottle up his feelings later."Maria frowned upon hearing that. She didn't understand why he thought that way. "If he still cares about me and wants me to stay alive, he'll have no choice but to let go. Maybe he doesn't want me to be happy with you, since that would mean he has no chance at all. But at the very least, if he wants me to live, he doesn't have much leeway."Cameron tho
"Alright. I'll think about it and give you an answer soon."With that answer from Maria, Richard knew it was settled. There was no other path between them. If Maria insisted on being with Cameron, then she had to accept the condition he had set. Otherwise, they both knew very well that if they couldn't be friends, he would keep trying to be her lover.Maria turned and nodded at Trent, telling him to take Richard away. Only then did she leave with Willow.As soon as the car door closed and she was sure no one outside could hear, Willow asked hurriedly, "What just happened out there? Did you promise him something? Is that why he suddenly calmed down?"When she looked at how worried he was, Maria had no idea how to answer. After a while, she let out a helpless sigh and nodded. "Yeah. I've already made up my mind. I forced Richard to budge earlier by saying I'd rather die. He agreed not to interfere with the engagement, but he has one condition. He wants to remain friends. He say







