Mag-log inShare
Chapter 136
Kaugnay na kabanata
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 137
On their way there, the car was engulfed in heavy silence."Today, a lot of people were talking about the matter. Mom's in a bad mood. If you have the time, do comfort her," Dexter suddenly said as the car came to a stop.Nodding slightly, Angela agreed.Fiona, surprisingly, had arrived before them. She was seated on the couch with a laptop in front of her, clearly still busy with work.When Joseph arrived, he called everyone to the dining table for dinner.That day, Ursula and Cecilia were also there and sat opposite Joseph.Cecilia, with her playful demeanor and humorous remarks, made Joseph laugh several times heartily, but her efforts didn't change the cold atmosphere around the table."Fiona, oh, wait… I forgot you're no longer a part of the family. Should I address you more formally instead?"Since you and my brother are divorced, isn't it time you give up the control of the household? After all, technically speaking, you're no longer part of the Bamford family," Ursula s
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 138
Everyone knew that they would have been through hell without Angela's self-sacrifice during this trip to Montivale."No, the disaster was my fault. I had to do what I did. I needed to shield you at the critical moment rather than let you all endure fear alongside me," Angela said.The group fell silent, tears welling in everyone's eyes."Alright. We should be glad that we're all fine, okay? Anyway, we won the championship. Those guys in Division Two must be so envious, no?" Angela remarked with a smile.Alan snorted. "Them? Even if they tried, they couldn't even be us. Angela, Mr. Snowden said he'd only present the rewards after you returned. It could be today or tomorrow."Not long after he said that, Callum personally arrived at the design department with two of his assistants.He gathered everyone for a brief meeting."Ms. Graham led her small team to brave the competition, and they lived up to expectations, bringing back excellent results. Let's give a round of applause for
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 139
Angela couldn't quite explain it, but whenever Callum was in front of her, she could feel his genuine care for her, as if he were an elder sibling of hers.This feeling was both grounding and reassuring."We'll first extend an olive branch to Graham Group and show Bill your worth. Then, I'll propose that if they want to keep working with DawnStar long-term, they'll need to reinstate you. He surely won't say no." Callum maintained his smile, his expression as warm as the sun.Angela gave a solemn nod. "Thank you, Mr. Snowden. Your immense kindness and support can only be repaid by more hard work from me."Originally, she had planned to build her reputation and gather strength here before daring to confront Bill as an equal.She hadn't expected Callum to offer her such an opportunity voluntarily. It was almost unbelievable."However…" Callum sighed lightly. "Even after you return to Graham Group, you'll still need to remain DawnStar's specially contracted designer."Angela froze a
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 140
Zack looked embarrassed. "It was those so-called friends of mine who ate everything. I only had two sodas, and now my stomach's completely empty. "They tricked me. They ordered all the most expensive stuff, and I didn't have enough money to pay. I... Anyway, I'm never treating them to a meal again.""And you still don't realize how foolish you were by counting their money after they sold you out," Angela said sternly.The three of them went to an Eastern cuisine restaurant, and all the dishes they ordered were Zack's favorites. As soon as the food arrived, he dug in with enthusiasm.His carefree, oblivious demeanor was frustrating to watch."By the way, I need to discuss something with you," Angela said. "I want to join the family business, and I need your help.""What kind of help?" Zack asked, his mouth full of seafood. "But if it's work-related, don't bother. I have no say with Dad. He doesn't think much of me."Angela lowered her head, thinking for a moment, then smiled sly
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 141
The visitor was none other than Angela's cold and unfeeling father, Bill.That morning, as soon as Bill stepped out of his house, a crowd of reporters bombarded him. They relentlessly pelted him with questions for nearly half an hour, giving him an extreme headache.Thinking he could escape the chaos by heading to the company, he arrived only to find another group of people waiting for him at the entrance.To make matters worse, every employee in the company had already received a video of him and Judy holding a funeral for Angela—all while she was still alive. Now, everyone knew he had hurriedly organized a funeral for his daughter when she was perfectly fine.Before long, Graham Group's stock price had plummeted to an all-time low.Bill had never faced such a crisis.His first thought was that Angela was deliberately seeking revenge.Angela spoke calmly, "And why would I do that? If I wanted to cause trouble, why didn't I release this right when it happened?"But Bill, st
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 142
A bold thought flashed through Bill's mind. It would be perfect If he could secure this contract.It would help dispel the rumors about his rift with Angela and bring enormous benefits to the company."Hello, Mr. Jameson. Good afternoon. Oh, you want me to visit tomorrow for an on-site evaluation, right? Let me think about it."Angela answered the phone, but before she could say anything more, Bill snatched the phone from her and hung up."What are you doing?" Angela snapped. "Give it back! I've been trying to get an appointment with Mr. Jameson for ages. I'm really interested in working with him!"Seeing her flustered expression, Bill was convinced she wasn't faking it. The idea he had grew stronger."Look," he said. "Since you're looking for a partner, why not just choose Graham Group? Why bother with outsiders? What's wrong with you?""No," Angela replied immediately, without hesitation. Mr. Jameson is the best fit. I can't choose you. People would think I'm using my position
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 143
Angela was in an excellent mood today. Even the breeze on her way to the office felt refreshing. However, upon arriving at the company, she noticed something was off. People looked at her with a mix of sympathy and strange expressions."What's going on?" Angela called Clara over.Clara appeared a bit uncomfortable, hesitating for some time before saying, "Ms. Graham, rumors are going around that you were kidnapped in Montivale by some thugs for days, and... And those men... You know..."Angela's mind went blank for a moment, the ringing in her ears growing louder. Who would be vile enough to spread such disgusting rumors? Didn't they have any shame for creating such trouble for her?"Go back to your work," Angela said coldly. "No, come with me to the PR department."The two of them made their way to the PR department head's office. As they reached the door, they could hear voices from inside."How should we handle this? Ms. Graham is one of our company's rising stars. She hel
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 144
Fiona raised an eyebrow and shot Callum a disdainful look."I've already had someone handle this. It won't be necessary...""No need," Fiona interrupted, walking over to Angela. "My daughter-in-law is involved in a public scandal, and as her mother-in-law, of course, I need to step in. You can leave this to me."With that, she pulled Angela away."Hey, what are you doing? He's my boss!" Angela tried to pull her hand back, turning to give Callum an apologetic smile.But Fiona's grip was unyielding, and no matter how much Angela struggled, she couldn't break free.She was forcibly dragged out and shoved into a car."Where are we going?" Angela was utterly confused."To have some fun." Fiona took a deep breath. "Just treat it as keeping me company. I haven't been out for a stroll in three years, six months, and twelve days."Angela was at a loss for words.Damn, she suddenly felt an unexpected twinge of sympathy for this miserable woman.After spending most of the day out, they
Pinakabagong kabanata
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
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 517
Angela asked, "Who is your current partner? Do you know who spread this rumor?"Frederick scratched his head, looking completely at a loss. "Ms. Serrano and I are in a normal relationship. As for who dug up my past, I really have no idea. I swear I'm innocent."Kara Serrano was an A-list celebrity. Though she was already 40, she was known in the entertainment world for her youthful appearance. Her skin was flawless and radiant—the kind that countless people envied.Angela wondered if she could also date a fresh graduate when she turned 40. She could take good care of herself and make a lot of money. She would be more than willing to spend lavishly on a young boyfriend.Dexter cleared his throat again, giving her a resentful look tinged with anger. It was as if he could see right through her and knew what she was thinking. Angela suddenly felt guilty for no reason and quickly looked away.But to Austin, who caught that brief exchange of glances, it looked like a sign that the two
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 516
Angela was truly speechless. She quickly tidied herself up and got ready to head to the office.Dexter eagerly volunteered to drive her."Leave me alone. I don't need it." Angela shot him a glare and impatiently waved him away.But he swiftly slid into the driver's seat, rubbing his hands together leisurely. "If you bring me along, you won't have to explain much. Doesn't my face hold up just as well as those young male streamers'?"Angela burst out laughing. He wasn't wrong.However, he was already pushing 27 this year. On the other hand, Frederick was only 22. He was still a fresh graduate. "He's younger than you, more obedient, and gentler," Angela said with a meaningful smile, giving Dexter a slow once-over.Dexter snapped, "What's that supposed to mean? He's just some pretty boy! How can he possibly compare to me?"He gritted his teeth, a flash of resentment crossing his eyes.Angela found it amusing. Still, she didn't chase him off again. Indeed, if Dexter showed up with
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 515
Angela's attitude toward Fiona was much better than it was toward Dexter. The two of them strolled across the lawn. When the morning's events came up, Fiona couldn't help but sigh. "Whatever decision you make, I'll support you." Fiona looked at Angela gently, as if she were an old, dear friend.Angela smiled sincerely, feeling touched by her kindness. "Yeah. I don't plan on getting married again. With this child, whether it's a boy or a girl, I'll never be truly alone for the rest of my life."Fiona froze for a moment, a flash of delight quickly crossing her eyes. She wondered if Dexter still had a shot.Just then, a car slowly pulled up outside the villa. Fiona spotted it from a distance and went to open the gate, letting the car drive in."They are the caretakers I hired for you. From now on, they'll be responsible for taking care of you until you give birth safely," she said casually, pointing to the eight uniformed men and women who stepped out."It's not necessary. There's
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 514
Dexter didn't answer Angela's question. Instead, he quickly pulled a card from his pocket. "This is 50 million."Angela was puzzled.Before she could even react, he stood up again and retrieved a transparent file folder from his briefcase. Inside, several property certificates were neatly arranged."These are the certificates for five of my private villas. They've already been transferred to your name."Angela propped herself up on the bed, feeling weak and drained. When her eyes landed on the items in front of her, she was utterly stunned."I don't want your assets. I can support the child on my own." She turned her head, refusing to look at him.Before she finished speaking, Dexter stood up. He stepped away from the expensive items and paced around the room with his hands on his hips. Then he muttered vaguely, "It's not for you. It's for my daughter.""It's not your daughter, it's my... How do you know it's a daughter? What if it's a son?" Angela glared at him. Dexter felt
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 513
The spacious room was cloaked in an eerie silence.Angela appeared calm and composed, seemingly unfazed. But in reality, she was in full-blown panic. After all, this was Austin, the only man she truly respected and feared."Come with me," Austin said after a moment of silence. Suddenly, he grabbed Angela's hand and started pulling her toward the door.Angela immediately sensed trouble and instinctively struggled to get free, but his grip was far too strong. There was no way she could break away.Austin had one hand on the doorknob and the other gripping Angela's wrist tightly, exuding a dangerous energy.But the moment the door swung open, a tall figure blocked their way. It was Dexter. He was dressed up and looked sharp. Yet, at that moment, he seemed clearly stiff and awkward.His hand was still hovering midair, as if he had been about to knock but kept hesitating.Their eyes met. Seeing the strange scene before him, Dexter frowned deeply. "What are you doing? Why are you pull
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 512
Angela hesitated. She wanted to avoid it.But Mia firmly pressed the coin into her hand. "You flip it. If it lands on heads, you keep it. If it's tails, you let it go."Then she gently nudged Angela forward.Ultimately, Angela compromised. It was better to resolve the situation quickly rather than be overwhelmed by indecision and fatigue.She closed her eyes, tossed the coin high into the air, and waited for fate to deliver her verdict. A crisp clink rang out as the coin landed, and her heart seemed to stop for a beat.Zack sprawled on the floor and shouted in surprise, "Heads. It's heads!"Angela's heart raced as she opened her eyes. The coin rested on the coffee table, clearly displaying it was heads. Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears.It wasn't because she was overjoyed by the result. Rather, at the precise moment the coin was tossed, she had already known her answer. She wanted to keep the baby.Despite having countless reasons to give the baby up, she found herself un
