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Chapter 254
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 255
Andrew's face darkened even more. He took two steps back, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.Angela continued, "Let me be honest with you. If you had simply stayed in your lane as COO and done your job without making mistakes or causing trouble, I would have tolerated you."I might have even ensured that the company supported you in your retirement. Alas, why couldn't you just do so? Why must you insist on opposing me and forcing my hand?"Angela sighed softly. "Now that everything has been laid out on the table, you should understand where my resolve is coming from. So, I'll give you two choices."One—you voluntarily leave the headquarters and take a cushy position at one of Graham Group's subsidiaries for your retirement. Two—you can continue to oppose me, and I'll send Sean straight to the police.""You insolent brat!" Andrew roared, humiliated and furious. "You're just a young woman—do you really think you're all that? How dare you challenge me?""Haven't you already seen f
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 256
"That has nothing to do with me." Angela remained indifferent. "Dexter is free to do whatever he wants."She genuinely believed that avoiding unnecessary interactions with certain people would save her energy and prevent her from getting emotionally drained.Angela waited in the hospital lobby for nearly ten minutes, but when Dexter still didn't appear, she decided to head home.Spending the past two days at the hospital had indeed been exhausting. Now that Elena and Dexter could comfort each other, there was no need for her to linger around.Besides, there was a chance that her presence would ruin things for them. She knew better than to do what she shouldn't.Unexpectedly, she had barely sat down at home when Dexter called."Why didn't you come to the hospital?" he questioned. His voice was cold, carrying an undeniable sense of pressure.Angela shrugged. "I did, but when I heard that Ms. Carrey was with you, I decided not to disturb you. I even brought you some ravioli, but si
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 257
Dexter left the hospital and headed straight for Villa Heights.Meanwhile, Angela was having a relaxing evening in the living room. She was soaking her feet and watching a movie with a face mask on. Beside her was a cup of herbal tea. She was completely at ease.This was the life she had always dreamed of—work during the day, rest at night, and enjoy every moment."You seem to be having a relaxing time." Dexter's voice suddenly rang out, startling Angela."Why are you back? Didn't the doctor say you shouldn't move around for a week?" She sat bolt upright, half of her face mask slipping off.Dexter scoffed and sat down on the couch. "There's no one there to take care of me. Am I supposed to just sit there and wait for my death?"Angela was speechless.What the heck? Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed? What was his deal?She quickly removed her face mask and got up. "How are you feeling then? A-aren't you being too—"Before she could finish, Dexter shot her a sharp, icy
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 258
"Bribery? So you bought them off? I don't think that would work. They'll probably just mock you behind your back." Dexter sounded a bit concerned."No, no." Angela continued, "Each of them was given a different gift."Dexter looked a little shocked for a moment, then a glimmer of admiration showed in his eyes—though he quickly masked it. "Explain."Angela crossed her arms, looking triumphant as if she had the whole world in her grasp. "Francis is obsessed with collecting antique artwork, so I sent him an antique painting that Bill had bought at an overseas auction years ago."He was suspicious of my intentions, but he couldn't resist the allure of the artwork and ended up accepting it, albeit hesitantly. "As for Dale, he's a simple brute. He's not particularly capable but is obsessed with money. He's also as stingy as they come. So, I gifted him a black card that had a million dollars on it. The one Grandma gave me back then was—""What?" Dexter was stunned. "That card is one
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 259
"Yeah, Pete! How could you do this to us?" Francis reproached him with knitted brows.Outwardly, he was backing Andrew up, but on the inside, he was filled with doubts.He hadn't expected Angela to send gifts not just to him, but to Pete as well. He believed Angela must be desperate, resorting to such a foolish strategy as buying them off.However…Francis stroked his chin. That painting was exquisite—so much so that he couldn't stop admiring it. He had already hidden it away at home, reluctant to let anyone else lay eyes on it."Uncle Andrew, I just want to gain some experience away from headquarters. Don't worry, even if I go to the subsidiary, I would never betray you. Angela wants you to move to a subsidiary too, right? That way—""You're an absolute fool!" Andrew interrupted Pete with a cold sneer. "Can't you see this is clearly a ploy to weaken you? Once you leave for the subsidiary, there's no telling if you'll ever return. By the time she dismantles everything you've pa
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 260
Just then, Angela's phone rang unexpectedly. It kept ringing repeatedly. Zack was calling her. He would never come to her without a reason. If he was this anxious, something serious must have happened."Angie, come out now. I'm in your office."Angela rushed to her office, where Zack was already on his feet to greet her. "Angie, Dad suddenly vomited blood. I got someone to take him to emergency care. You need to come with me. I think it's really bad this time."Angela put down her bag and asked as she hurriedly followed Zack outside, "What happened?" His brows were furrowed tightly. "I don't know either. Oh, right—earlier today, I went to visit him. He asked how things were going, and I told him you were doing great. I even praised you like crazy, telling him how you've turned the company around with your leadership skills and landed a huge deal—""Stop right there." Angela was at a loss. "Are you really not aware that he has a problem with me? What is wrong with your brain? Di
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 261
When Angela and Zack arrived at the hospital, Bill had still not been brought out of the emergency room.However, what they didn't anticipate was that someone had arrived ahead of them and was already waiting nervously in the corridor. It was Andrew, Francis, and several of their subordinates.Upon spotting Angela, Andrew immediately exclaimed, "Angela, why did you arrive so late? Your dad's condition is uncertain, yet you're focused on work instead of caring about him.""Mr. Andrew, Ms. Graham has arrived. She won't abandon Mr. Bill—we all know how devoted she is," Francis added."That's right. Ms. Graham stopped what she was doing and came here as soon as she found out. She seems very dedicated to Mr. Bill. She is truly a good daughter." "With a caring daughter like Ms. Graham, Mr. Bill will definitely get better soon."The group of people labeled Angela as a "good daughter" forcefully."You guys are exaggerating," Zack sneered.Out of nowhere, a group of men wielding camer
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 262
As Francis spoke, his gaze shifted from Bill to Angela. It was as if he were assessing them, contemplating his next move.Others followed suit. For a moment, Angela and Zack were celebrated as the perfect children, as if no one could be better.Zack's face flushed with embarrassment as he stumbled over his words. In contrast, Angela remained silent throughout, maintaining a perfect smile on her flawless features.She glanced at her watch calmly. "I appreciate your kind words, but I need to get back to work. The project with MK Corporation is crucial for Graham Group, and I can't afford to waste time here."She said it so bluntly that it shocked everyone."Angela, how could you consider this a waste of time? You're aware of Bill's current situation. What if something goes wrong with him again—""I've hired the best doctors, and they'll be here soon to take over. I care more about my dad's health than you do. I know your concerns too, but I suggest you don't waste your efforts."A
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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
