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Chapter 164
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 165
Bill finally snapped out of his daze, irritation clearly etched on his face. "This matter is over. After all, it was Hector's fault. Let's just move on and not stir up any more trouble," he said impatiently. Nora, as usual, was coming up with bad ideas. If it weren't for her connections and her ability to bring in business, he would have fired her long ago."This isn't acceptable! She's simplyโ""Enough." Bill waved his hand dismissively. "I know what I'm doing."Nora fumed with frustration, but seeing that there was nothing more she could do, she reluctantly left the office.As she reached the door, she unexpectedly ran into Angela, Dexter, and Fiona.Nora was wary of Dexter, so she hurriedly walked past them.Once she was out of earshot and in a more secluded area, she paused and glanced back at the trio's retreating figures. Something felt off. Could something be happening?Nora secretly walked back and stood behind a big plant pot by the door."Oh, Dexter, Mrs. Bamford,
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 166
Dexter and Fiona were two people who were not to be underestimated. With a mere snap of their fingers, they could ruin him. Bill stood no chance against them. "Angela, I'm your father. Youโ""The pen is here." Angela ignored his fake tears and placed the pen on top of the contract without a second glance. "You are threatening and slandering me. Angela, you are simply outrageous. Your father is alive and well, and here you are, trying to usurp the throne. How could you be so unreasonable!" Bill completely lost his composure; his finger pointed accusingly at Angela, his eyes blazing with fury. Angela nearly laughed in disbelief. Usurp the throne? Did this guy really think of himself as an emperor? "Mr. Graham, I advise you to be kind." At this moment, Dexter, who had been sitting silently by, suddenly spoke up, his tone calm and unusually soothing. Fiona chimed in as well, "Is it just a portion of the shares you're losing, or are you also losing your reputation and the compan
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 167
Dexter turned his head with a disgruntled expression, ignoring Fiona. At least she had been there to keep things from getting awkward; without her, he wasn't sure how things would have gone. Other people's mothers-in-law were typically considered nuisances or troublemakers, but Angela's had turned into an asset. "Mom, I must thank you this time, too. I toast to you." This time, Angela stood up steadily and respectfully raised a glass to Fiona. The atmosphere between the three of them was strange, yet oddly harmonious. On the way back, Angela slept on Fiona's shoulder the entire ride, her phone ringing constantly. Fiona grew a bit irritated and opened Angela's bag to check her phone. To her surprise, it was a voice message from Trevor. "When did she start talking to Trevor?" Fiona's voice turned cold. "Delete it," Dexter glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his gaze sharp. Fiona raised an eyebrow, quickly deleting the message. But soon, Trevor sent another message
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 168
Zack was rambling, but Angela couldn't focus on his words. Her mind was occupied with the possibility that someone else had leaked the information.She remained silent. Dexter and Fiona weren't the gossiping type either."Hey, Dad's here," Zack suddenly said, then dashed off. Before Angela could react, Bill walked in with an angry face."You're so dishonest, Angela. You're simply outrageous!" Bill's eyes were bloodshot with fury, and a cold menace radiated from him. "I didn't do it," Angela said, her expression unchanged. "You might want to check if the rumors leaked from somewhere else." "If it wasn't you, then who else could it be? You've taken the shares, and my reputation is about to be ruined. I didn't expect you toโ" "I told you it wasn't me. Can you guarantee that you've kept the mother-son trio hidden so well all these years? Has no one else found out, or could they have accidentally let it slip?" Angela coldly glared at him. "It's impossible," Bill fumed, pacing
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 169
"You think I wanna be here?" Angela snorted. "I'm here to tell you to move your secret family elsewhere. Make sure they don't appear in public."Bill averted his gaze, trying to grasp the meaning behind Angela's words."I'm part of the Graham family, part of the Graham Group," Angela continued, her voice sharp with frustration. "Do you really think I'd dig my own grave?""I'll call them," Bill started to say, but before he could finish, the door swung open again. This time, it was Judy and Zack. "Mom, calm down. When you were dating Dad, didn't you already know how much of a flirt he was? You're just the product of his infidelity. Now that he has a mistress, why are you so upset and angry?"Zack was good at defusing tension, spreading his arms as if to block Judy, his posture awkward but well-meaning. "Get out of my way, you traitor! How dare you help that bastard! You're not even my son anymore!" Judy was fierce and domineering. She shoved Zack aside, took a few steps for
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 170
Angela pressed her lips together, letting silence speak for itself. Judy's tears flowed instantly, her composure shattering. "You heartless bastard! How could you be so cruel? I've stayed by your side all these years, running the household, being your wife, and this is how you repay me?"Watching her break down like this, Angela felt an odd sense of satisfaction."Angie, so what's the plan now? We'll do whatever you say." Zack grinned foolishly, as if the entire mess had nothing to do with him. Both Bill and Judy froze, their heads snapping toward Zack in perfect unison. They glared at him, their shared disapproval unmistakable, but neither said a word.For now, they were like ants on a hot pan, frazzled and clueless, while Angela remained surprisingly calm."First, the two of you need to appear in public together. When people see you united, the rumors will naturally lose their power. Second, issue an official statement. Make it clear that anyone who spreads defamatory claims
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 171
At once, the PR department of Graham Group issued a statement clarifying that the rumors circulating online were baseless slander and warned that any further false claims would result in legal action.This matter was effectively controlled in a very short period, avoiding further fallout.Angela was relatively satisfied with it.On her way home from work, she passed by a restaurant that served Aldairian cuisine and remembered that Fiona loved their beef stew, so she bought her a portion.Unexpectedly, when she got home, Fiona wasn't back yet, and Dexter was sitting in the living room, busy on his computer. It was unclear what he was working on."You brought food for me?" He noticed the food container in Angela's hand and smiled. "Bring it here. I just happen to be hungry.""This isn't for you." Rolling her eyes at him, Angela headed straight for the kitchen."I just helped you big time, and instead of thanking me, you're going to starve me." Dexter shot her a glare. "That's so u
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย Chapter 172
Bill's face was already marked with several bloody scratches that were shocking to look at. His eyes were bloodshot, and he was practically bald nowโhe was on the verge of losing his mind."You still won't admit it? If not you, then who else? Who else would bother to abduct a single mother and her child? You vile woman! What was I even thinking when I married you?" Bill gritted his teeth, cursing furiously, as though he wanted to rip Judy's mouth apart with his bare hands.Zack, their "love child," stood helplessly in the middle. If he blocked one, the other would hit him, and if he stopped the other, the first would kick him. It was pure agony."Can you two just stop? Dad, shouldn't you be figuring out how to find them? Hitting Mom isn't going to help!"Zack sighed helplessly, rubbing his temples, then turned to Judy. "Mom, as for youโyou still need to depend on him financially in the future. If you tick him off, we'll be the ones who end up as the single mother and fatherless chi
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claimย ย ย 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 Claimย ย ย 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 masterpieceโlike 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 Claimย ย ย 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 Claimย ย ย 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 goodwillโa 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 Claimย ย ย 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 nowโif she gave in to this veiled attempt to push her outโthen 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 Claimย ย ย 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 latelyโrushing around nonstop, working through even her worst morning sicknessโthat she hadn't had time to keep up with the gossip.A comment read, "Gotta hand it to herโshe'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 Claimย ย ย Chapter 519
With a sorrowful gaze, Frederick looked at Angela, clearly trying to tug at her heartstrings."Ms. Graham, I had no choiceโฆ If I hadn't done that, I would've been tormented to deathโฆ" 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 Claimย ย ย 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 Claimย ย ย 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 radiantโthe 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
