LOGINThe wall clock chimed, showing five in the afternoon. The hallways of Ashford Company were slowly becoming quiet as most of the employees had packed their things and gone home. However, inside the design department office, Camelia had just finished organizing her sketch sheets with a relieved sigh.She glanced at her phone screen. There were still no new messages from Calvin. Her husband was probably still trapped in that extremely important investor meeting with Ronal outside the office.The Ashford family’s personal driver had actually sent her a short message half an hour ago, informing her that he was already waiting in the lobby downstairs. However, Camelia politely refused. This afternoon, she wanted to have some time for herself. Her plan was to visit Juna’s residence. She missed her older brother unbearably, and Camelia wanted to have a heart-to-heart conversation without being tightly escorted as usual.Camelia slung her handbag over her shoulder before walking out of the sky
After returning from the luxurious restaurant, the atmosphere inside Calvin’s car felt slightly calmer, although the remnants of the tension from the secret he was hiding still lingered faintly. The moment the car stopped at the lobby of Ashford Company, Calvin briefly held Camelia’s fingers before his wife stepped out.“I have to leave again immediately, Darling. There’s an important meeting outside the office with several major investors,” Calvin said softly while stroking the back of Camelia’s hand.Camelia smiled in understanding. “Alright, don’t skip dinner tonight. I’ll head straight to the design department.”After making sure Camelia safely walked into the lobby, Calvin’s expression instantly turned cold and firm. He turned toward Ronal, who was already prepared in the driver’s seat. “Ronal, drive now. We can’t be late meeting the consortium.”“Yes, Sir,” Ronal replied promptly.The black premium MPV—a luxurious vehicle with a spacious cabin and privacy partition often used by
lThe long-awaited lunch bell finally rang. In the design department of Ashford Company, the employees began tidying up their desks with cheerful expressions. However, the relaxed atmosphere instantly turned tense—in a very sweet way—the moment the glass doors of the department swung open wide.A tall man in an expensive suit stepped inside. Calvin Ashford. His handsome face and absolute dominant aura immediately drew the attention of the entire room. Without glancing left or right, his gaze was fixed on only one point: Camelia’s workspace cubicle.Camelia, who had just closed her laptop, looked up with widened eyes in surprise. “Calvin? Why are you here? I could’ve gone up to your office.”“I missed you,” Calvin answered bluntly, his baritone voice sounding clearly through the sudden silence in the room.Jealous whispers and amazed murmurs immediately broke out among the female staff. “Oh my God, the CEO is so romantic... I want to be picked up like that too!” one of the junior design
The morning sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains of the master bedroom at Ashford Mansion, bringing warmth after such an intense long night. Camelia slowly opened her eyes, only to be greeted by a pair of dark eyes that had been admiring her sleeping face for quite some time.Calvin smiled faintly and briefly kissed his wife’s lips. “Good morning, Mrs. Ashford.”Camelia’s face instantly flushed red as memories of last night resurfaced. She pulled the blanket up to her nose. “Morning... Hurry and get ready, we have to take the kids to school today.”At exactly seven-thirty in the morning, Calvin’s luxurious car stopped in front of the gates of the Elementary School. Daven and Aurora stepped out of the car in their neat uniforms with backpacks hanging on their small shoulders.Camelia got out briefly to straighten Daven’s collar. “Remember what Mommy told you, okay? Study well, take care of your sister, and if anything happens…”“Report it to the teacher immediately or step
The man inside the Presidential Suite slowly turned his executive chair around. The reflection from the laptop screen illuminated the sharp and cold lines of his face. His full name was Jhonson Ashford. He was Calvin’s biological uncle, although the age gap between them was not very far apart, only a few years.For the past ten years, Jhonson had been forced to live in exile overseas because of the unilateral decision made by the Ashford family council of elders, who had instead allowed Calvin to ascend as the head of the family at a young age.Jhonson finished the rest of the drink in his glass, letting the warmth burn his throat together with the resentment that had rotted inside him for an entire decade.“Ten years, Calvin...” Jhonson hissed sharply. His fingers tapped lightly against the laptop screen displaying Camelia’s profile photo as Calvin’s legal wife. “You’ve sat in my seat for far too long. Now it’s time for me to take back all the wealth and power that should have been u
The CEO office at the top floor of Ashford Corporation was shrouded in thick tension. The cold air from the air conditioner seemed incapable of suppressing the heated atmosphere radiating from behind Calvin’s large work desk.Ronal stood stiffly with a digital tablet in his hands. The personal assistant’s face looked extraordinarily pale.“Explain it again,” Calvin ordered. His voice was low, yet the cold vibration within it was enough to make anyone shudder in fear.Ronal swallowed hard before presenting the tablet screen to his boss. “Two hours ago, our central security system detected a massive cyberattack, Sir. This anonymous attack deliberately targeted the main financial server database. The strange thing is... the encryption they used to break through our defenses.”Calvin narrowed his eagle-sharp eyes, staring at the lines of flashing red code on the screen. “Not an ordinary hacker?”“No, Sir,” Ronal replied quickly. “Our IT forensic team just submitted the preliminary report.
Chapter 47That afternoon, Calvin’s hospital room felt quiet. Mira had just gone home for a while, while Samantha went out to buy something. For the first time since being hospitalized, Calvin was truly alone.He leaned against the bed while playing with his phone.Work notifications kept coming in
Chapter 33The ballroom lights were still bright when Juna returned to stand beside Camelia. Soft music flowed, the guests’ conversations blending into one. Camelia tried to appear calm, even though her heart had yet to steady itself.Juna glanced sideways, then his gaze stopped at Camelia’s neck.
Chapter 35The taxi stopped in front of the apartment that Camelia knew all too well. The building lights were still on, just like six years ago. Only her feelings were different.“We’ve arrived,” Camelia said softly.Calvin did not respond. His head drooped, his heavy body leaning against her. The
Chapter 29The car stopped in the yard of the large house. Camelia stared at the building, which felt unfamiliar, yet not entirely so. Six years was not a short time. Still, the memories tied to this place remained too vivid.“We’ve arrived,” Mrs. Vera said softly.Camelia nodded. Her hands tremble







