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Chapter 102
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 103
If it had been someone from Division Two, they would have leapt up in excitement by now."These three look great too. Whose are they?" Callum asked.Alan, Allison, and Mark stood up.They sat in a row. Alan and Mark were tall, making Allison look especially petite between them.Division Two was dumbfounded.How could this be possible?Out of ten winning designs, Division One had eight. It was a total shutdown.That made no sense."Didn't Ms. Graham also compete? Why haven't we seen her work? Don't tell me it didn't make the list," someone in Division Two piped up.It was a young woman in the back row, one of Nora's old followers.Others joined in."Right. Ms. Graham has trained such an impressive team, so she must be pretty great herself. Why didn't her design make the list?""You people have no right to badmouth Ms. Graham," Alan growled, suddenly standing up and glaring at the Division Two crowd.Clara said coldly, "All of us were trained by Ms. Graham. Our victory is he
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 104
Meanwhile, Division One was in an unusually good mood. Everyone let out their excitement the moment the door closed. They hugged one another and celebrated in all sorts of ways.Before they had gone into the conference room, Angela had reminded them to stay calm no matter the result. She had told them not to reveal their emotions and risk looking foolish.In the past, they had always been laughed at, but today they had finally turned the tables and were able to hold their heads high.They were making a ruckus in the large office outside, but Angela didn't bother to stop them.She felt great all day. After finishing her work and clocking out, she planned to head out for a stroll. She would be leaving for Bellador the day after tomorrow and wouldn't be back for at least a week.Right after she carried a bunch of things home, Angela received a call from an unknown number.It was Nick Campbell, one of Dexter's childhood friends."Angela, Dexter's had too much to drink. Can you come
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 105
Feeling completely baffled, everyone watched Angela leave decisively.What was going on? Did they see it wrong? Was this really Angela? She seemed like a completely different person now."Dexter, don't be mad. Angela might really have something to take care of. It's fine. I'll take you home later. I know where you live," Elena said softly.The others exchanged glances, each understanding the unspoken meaning.Suddenly, Dexter stood up like he had sobered up. He ignored everyone who tried to stop him and walked out."I just parked for a moment. I came in to pick someone up. Can't you make an exception, officer?"Angela was at the entrance, pleading with a traffic police officer. But she still got a hundred-dollar fine.She felt resentful. It was all Dexter's fault!She opened the car door and climbed in, ready to start the engine.Just then, someone banged on her window.Angela turned and saw Dexter's brooding face, his eyes fixed on her intently.Hadn't he refused to leave?
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 106
Angela turned around, dropping the scarf and gloves in her hands."Hey, don't you accuse me of that! It slipped out by accident. Your mom was already suspicious and tricked me into confirming it. I didn't do it on purpose."She's your mom. She wouldn't spread it around and damage your reputation. You lost nothing, so don't try to pin any blame on me. I won't let you use this as a reason to make our agreement void!"Her expression changed noticeably. She stared straight at him, eyes blazing with both fury and fear. Yet she refused to back down.Dexter watched her in silence. The light in his eyes dimmed little by little.Was she really that anxious? Was she afraid he wouldn't let her go?"Then why did you tell my mom to set me up with someone?" he asked through gritted teeth, his voice forced out from deep in his chest, each word dripping with anger.Before Angela could reply, there was a sudden noise from the guest room.Angela forgot all about explaining and hurried over. She
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 107
With just one hand, Dexter pinned both of Angela's hands above her head. She had no choice but to look up at him.At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and she caught a glimpse of her own panic-stricken reflection in his eyes.A wave of humiliation crashed over her, and tears welled up in her eyes. Yet, she still gritted her teeth and glared at him in silence.Dexter paused in the middle of tugging at her clothes.For a moment, it felt like a heavy weight had pressed against his chest, making it hard to breathe.While he hesitated, Angela pushed her foot and kicked his thigh. She broke free from his grasp and darted away.Then, she ran upstairs and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.Dexter snapped out of his daze, but the image of her teary eyes remained seared into his mind.She was no longer the weak and submissive woman she used to be. Now, she was stubborn and unyielding, ready to stand her ground against him. It was strange.Dexter lay back on the couch, staring up
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 108
Fiona had work to do and couldn't take care of Dexter every day.Just then, Dexter's new assistant, Noah Perry, walked over and said, "Mr. Bamford, we got an invitation to Duke Steven's wedding in Montivale two weeks ago, but we still haven't replied."Dexter gave Noah a surprised glance. The assistant kept his head down in a respectful posture."When is it?" Dexter cleared his throat, his expression still sour. "I'm too busy to attend that playboy's wedding.""It's three days from now," Noah answered with a slight smile. "He also said if you don't attend, he'll give that project to DawnStar instead of us."Dexter took longer strides and fell silent, deep in thought.Moments later, he ordered, "Book me a ticker for a flight tomorrow.""Pardon me, Mr. Bamford. Tomorrow's flights are sold out. The only seat left is on the last flight tonight," Noah replied.Dexter paused for a moment.Noah quickly lowered his head, pretending nothing happened."Fine, I'll make do," Dexter said,
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 109
Angela patted Clara's hand, then turned to the group. "Do you guys like it here?"They all glanced around. Even those who didn't know the backstory sensed something was off, but they couldn't hide their excitement.In all honesty, the place was excellent. It was on the first floor, with easy access to restaurants and transportation. It was quiet and perfect for them to rest or go out to get inspiration."Then let's stay. Get settled in and rest. We'll go out for dinner together tonight," Angela said with a smile.Only a fool would pass up a good deal. Since Dexter was paying, she'd let him spend. It would be even better if it made him broke."Hooray!" They cheered in unison.Trent distributed everyone's room keys but held onto Angela's for a moment."Ms. Graham, please come with me," he said, still wearing his polite smile.Angela felt wary. "My room isn't here?"Trent kept smiling. "You need special security arrangements. Please follow me."Her room wasn't far from the other
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 110
"Besides, you remember what Stephen promised us. If we take Angela down, I'll become head of Division One. After that, we won't have to worry about a better future," Zion said in an icy voice. His demeanor now was worlds apart from his usual polite one. In the dark, his eyes gleamed with a cold light."Flora, you had a chance to deal with Alan earlier today, but you missed it. He's our biggest threat. We can't let him—""That's enough." Flora looked away.She wore a ring that had something hidden inside. If she pricked someone with it, the person would be poisoned in a way that caused dizziness and mental confusion for a few days. It wasn't lethal, but it would be enough to keep them from performing their best in the competition.Their mission was to sabotage the other eight designers so that none of them could compete properly.Yet earlier, when Alan tried to help her, Flora couldn't bring herself to go through with it. She was starting to question if it was worth sacrificing t
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 526
"Ms. Graham, is there any chance you and Mr. Bamford might get back together?""Ms. Graham, once your child is born, will you be raising them as a member of the Bamford family?"Good grief, what kind of questions were these?The press conference had completely flipped the script. Angela wasn't even supposed to be in the spotlight that day, so why was she the one getting bombarded with questions?She was close to showing her displeasure, but she held firm. She couldn't afford to lose composure now. One slip, and everything would fall apart.Taking a deep breath, she stood and addressed the crowd, mic in hand."Thank you for your interest in my personal life, but please allow me to maintain a touch of mystery. Horizon will continue to serve our customers. Thank you all for attending today's event. Goodbye."With that, she gave a polite smile and turned to leave.She was done. It was time to go.Several reporters tried to follow her, but Austin's people quickly stepped in to bloc
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 525
Good looks really did have their perks. Frederick's face, paired with a seemingly sincere attitude, managed to soften the tide of criticism in the live stream chat once he started speaking.Some viewers even began defending him, saying things like, "With a face like that, no wonder people go crazy for him and would even be willing to risk it all."While Frederick was still giving his public apology, Austin handed Angela his phone, showing her the live stream chat.Angela casually used her nameplate to shield the screen from view, then glanced down to scan the comments."What were those two rich women thinking? How did they fall for some baby-faced young man who probably hasn't even grown a single chest hair? Can he even satisfy anyone? I'm way better than him.""Why hasn't a classy sugar mama picked me up yet? I'm so good-looking that I'm charmed by my own reflection.""Frederick is definitely hot. These salty guys in the comments are just bitter. They always trash-talk women who
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 524
Meanwhile, in the live stream chatroom, someone commented, "Damn, she's got such presence now. She even looks different somehow.""You can question her personal life, but don't you dare question her looks. That face is a masterpiece—like God's magnum opus.""She's just exuding power now. No wonder she used to be with a big shot."At that moment, Dexter was sitting quietly in a conference room adjacent to the venue of the press conference, watching the live stream on his phone.Royce looked puzzled. "Mr. Bamford, you're literally next door. Why not just go over and watch it live?"Dexter had a faint, unreadable smile on his lips. He was completely focused on the live stream comments and didn't even hear Royce's question.It seemed as though people still liked him and Angela as a couple.That was great."Mr. Bamford? Mr. Bamford?" Royce waved his hand in front of Dexter. "Should we head inside to watch?""Where?" Dexter's smile dropped instantly, his face turning cold.The conf
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 523
To avoid any long-term repercussions from Frederick's scandal, Angela decided to put an end to it once and for all.She arranged for the PR department to hold a press conference, where she would personally represent the company and address the situation in public."Are you serious? You're actually going to do it yourself? Isn't that a little unnecessary?" Ingrid was surprised when she heard Angela's plan. "We can handle this ourselves. There's no need for you to make an appearance."Ingrid had a hunch about Angela's reasoning. Angela was currently the talk of the town, with discussions about her wherever she went.If she appeared in the public eye to bear the brunt of the criticism or insults, it would take much of the pressure off Horizon.It was a calculated risk."There's no need to dissuade me." Angela added indifferently while packing up her things, "I've already made up my mind. If I can't take responsibility for something like this, then what kind of CEO am I? What kind of
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 522
These old-fashioned, narrow-minded fossils! When would they finally evolve some new brain cells?Angela kept that thought to herself, forcing down a sigh. Just as another board member was about to voice their doubts again, Ingrid stood up."I support Ms. Graham's proposal." With a voice full of resolve, she made her point and made sure it stuck."Ms. Graham's capabilities are evident to all of us. I trust she can balance her health and responsibilities, and I have full confidence in her sharp insight and sound judgment."She has a keener sense of market trends and consumer demand than most people here. And if this policy is implemented, it will undoubtedly elevate our company's image and increase public goodwill—a form of hidden capital that's hard to quantify."Without using grand words or fanfare, she expressed herself calmly, but her energy and passion were impossible to miss.Angela was honestly taken aback. She hadn't expected Ingrid to speak up for her at such a crucial m
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 521
With Angela already feeling incredibly unwell, this naturally was the last straw for her."Yes, I am pregnant, and I'm indeed experiencing morning sickness, but I haven't let it interfere with my work. So why should I be criticized for it?"She was pretty composed as she calmly yet firmly directed her powerful question at the board member who had expressed his displeasure.The man scratched his bald head awkwardly."Ms. Graham, since you're unwell, you should hand over your responsibilities to the COO for the time being and go home to rest. It's only natural for women to take time off during pregnancy. As such, someone else should temporarily fill your position."Oh, heck no. This was a disguised attempt at a coup if she had ever heard one.If she showed weakness now—if she gave in to this veiled attempt to push her out—then what hope would any other pregnant employee in the company have?"Tell me, has my existence inconvenienced you personally in any way?" Her brow raised, she
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 520
"Currently, people online are speculating that you'll get back together with Mr. Bamford and that he still has feelings for you and is trying to win you back," Joanne added bluntly, conveying her thoughts just as she had been asked to.Angela was so speechless that she nearly choked on her water.She grabbed her phone to check out the trending topics herself. She'd been so busy lately—rushing around nonstop, working through even her worst morning sickness—that she hadn't had time to keep up with the gossip.A comment read, "Gotta hand it to her—she's seriously badass. We watched her go from a discarded wife to a business mogul, and now she's involved with a hot young guy.""Right? I think she made the right call by getting a divorce. Sure, Dexter's rich and handsome, but Angela's not hurting for cash. Staring at the same face every day? Anyone would get tired of that.""But does Dexter still have feelings for her or what? Why is he always showing up wherever she is? The paparazzi
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 519
With a sorrowful gaze, Frederick looked at Angela, clearly trying to tug at her heartstrings."Ms. Graham, I had no choice… If I hadn't done that, I would've been tormented to death…" While begging for mercy, he tried to inch closer to Angela and reach for her hand."Get lost." Before Angela could speak, Dexter snapped coldly, swatting Frederick's hand away.Frederick was then escorted out.The gossip at the company only grew more outrageous after that. Some even claimed Angela had gone too far, so much so that even her ex-husband, Dexter, couldn't bear to watch any longer and personally stepped in to handle the problem.Ingrid came to see Angela. "Ms. Graham, how would you like to handle this?"Unexpectedly, she wasn't as emotional as usual, and her eyes no longer held their usual hostility as she faced Angela.Raising an eyebrow, Angela asked instead of answering, "What can you do?" "Fire Frederick, release a formal apology, appease public opinion with some customer incentiv
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 518
Angela instinctively wanted to avoid it, but she told herself she couldn't back down. After a brief pause, she nodded firmly. "Austin, this baby is mine. I'll do everything I can to protect the baby."Austin was momentarily stunned. After a long silence, he finally said, "If you've already made up your mind..."But halfway through, he suddenly stood up. He placed his hands on his hips and paced around the office.It was clear he couldn't bring himself to accept the reality. He was visibly upset. "You could have another baby anytime. Why are you so hung up on this one? You still can't let go of him, can you?""That's right," Angela answered without hesitation, speaking her mind bluntly.Both of them froze for a moment.Austin frowned deeply. He stared at her for a long time, a trace of self-mockery flashing in his eyes. He already knew the answer. Why had he even bothered to ask? "Austin, stop pushing me. This baby is my bottom line. As long as I have the baby, I can keep myse
