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Chapter 423
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 424
"You're just getting back? Have you eaten yet? What's going on?" Fiona looked at Angela, surprised to see her return with such a heavy heart. Angela forced a faint smile and shook her head before heading upstairs. After shutting herself in her room, she didn't do anything. She didn't shower or change her clothes. She simply lay there, motionless, for two hours.A little past eleven, Angela heard a door open in the adjacent room. It must be Dexter coming back. She quickly got out of bed, kicking off her high heels and slipping into quieter slippers before stepping out. From the slightly ajar door, she could already smell the faint scent of alcohol. Dexter had been drinking. Without hesitation, she barged in. Before he could react, she switched off the lights and pushed him onto the bed.Dexter was startled. Instinctively, he tried to push her away. But the moment he realized it was her, he stopped moving. In the darkness, he looked at her intensely, feeling puzzled. He a
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 425
When Angela woke up, the room was utterly silent. She felt like she was being held in someone's embrace, a weight pressing on her chest, making her uncomfortable. "You're up?" Dexter's deep voice, filled with satisfaction, came from right beside her.Angela froze. She instinctively wanted to turn and sit up, but she was firmly held in his strong arms, unable to move. "I... I'm a little thirsty. I want to get some water." She avoided looking at his face. Her voice carried a hint of unease. "Hmm." Dexter stood up and turned away from her to pour a glass of water.He wore only black boxer briefs, showcasing his impressive physique. It was simply mesmerizing. His broad shoulders, trim waist, defined abs, and long legs were striking. But the most captivating feature was his face with sharp features, a chiseled jawline, and icy eyes that exuded indifference. He was absolutely stunning.Angela couldn't shake off the wild memories of last night and suddenly realized how much she h
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 426
Angela was completely taken aback, puzzled by the meaning behind his words. For a brief moment, she found herself at a loss for how to reply.Dexter looked into her eyes, showing a hint of tenderness. Suddenly, he softly brushed his fingers through her messy hair and sighed quietly. His voice was gentle, tinged with an unmistakable hint of vulnerability. "I don't want to see you struggle.""You…" Angela hesitated, her gaze softening with a hint of heartache."I'm not someone who falls in love easily. And I believe you're the same. So, go handle your own matters first. As for us… We can talk about it later." He smiled sincerely.Angela's entire body tensed as if she had been hit, leaving her feeling broken. She couldn't believe that he could be this direct and understanding. That wasn't like him at all.She had never imagined facing such a difficult choice. Seeing Genevieve was something she had to do. Yet, Dexter had also become someone she couldn't bear to part with. Feeling
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 427
Austin watched the scene in silence, his expression unreadable. Though he remained indifferent, his fists clenched ever so tightly.Angela walked over, closing the transparent umbrella. "Austin, let's go."Her fingers tightened around the handle, her knuckles pale, and her lips had lost all color. It was an undeniable sign of exhaustion and weakness. "Let's go." Austin reached out to take the umbrella, but she didn't hand it over. Instead, she silently brushed past him and headed toward the airport. A faint pain stirred in his chest as he watched her stubborn figure disappear into the distance. Only now did he truly realize that she was no longer the same person she used to be.After an eight-hour flight, they landed in Yedren. Another exhausting ten-plus hours by car brought them to a remote, almost isolated town on Yedren's border. Unlike Yedren's bustling cities, this place offered beautiful natural landscapes, with mountains on one side and the sea on the other.The to
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 428
Elias and Austin clearly had a good relationship. He was extremely dedicated and responsible.As they reached the upper floor, a loud, furious roar came from the south-facing bedroom. "Get out, all of you! Who are you? Stop staying in my room!"Hearing that voice, Angela couldn't hold back any longer. She started crying again. It was Genevieve's familiar, slightly aged voice.At that moment, two maids rushed out in a panic. A loud thud followed from inside the room as if something had been thrown to the floor.Upon seeing Austin, the maids turned pale with fear, momentarily at a loss for words. After all, they knew that Austin cared deeply for Genevieve and wouldn't allow anyone to mistreat her."You can go now," Austin instructed, waving the two maids away calmly. Then, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.Angela followed closely behind. The moment she entered, her eyes fell on a middle-aged woman crouched in the corner, trembling with fear. She was thin, her hair strea
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 429
Angela couldn't help but feel a bit nervous and uncertain. The last time she had painted was months ago during a livestream session. Though she still remembered what Genevieve and Austin had taught her, she worried that her rusty hands would fail her, earning her a scolding. "Ms. Lawson, what should I paint?" Angela asked as she spread out the canvas and carefully arranged the paints. Genevieve took a small sip of tea, sighing with gentle exasperation. "Why are you still so indecisive? Just paint whatever you feel like. As long as it makes you happy, that's all that matters." Angela shook her head with a wry smile. After that, she began sketching. She was capturing this very moment, with Genevieve sitting by the bed, gazing at her lovingly.Time passed slowly as Angela painted in silence, while Genevieve quietly admired her. She was calm and gentle.On the surveillance feed, Austin watched the scene with a complex expression, feeling conflicted.Elias stared intently at th
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 430
At night, Genevieve took a sleep-aid medication and fell into a deep slumber. Meanwhile, Austin wandered around the manor with Angela.The courtyard, featuring a garden, lawn, lake, forest, and horse stable, was illuminated by the peaceful light of the stars and moon, creating a dreamy atmosphere. To her surprise, behind the small forest near the horse stable, there was a secluded wooden cabin filled with various painting tools and art supplies.Angela couldn't help but recall the countless times she had casually mentioned that if she ever became wealthy, she would buy a vast manor. Then, she would fill the estate with trees and build a small wooden cabin among the trees, decorating it just the way she had always dreamed. Back then, Angela had still been a somewhat naive woman, indulging in romantic fantasies. However, after going through a difficult marriage and the stress that followed, she had long forgotten her past dreams."Do you like it?" Austin asked.Angela was briefl
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 431
Angela never expected this to happen. Genevieve, her beloved teacher, had now changed beyond recognition overnight. It was as if her soul had been drained away, leaving behind only a mere shell of her old self.Austin rushed over, joining everyone in an attempt to calm Genevieve down. After exhausting all efforts, they eventually called her doctor, Oswald Reid, over to give her a tranquilizer. In the following days, Genevieve's condition was still the same. She drifted in and out of consciousness, and her lucid moments grew shorter with each passing day. However, she regained an unusual surge of clarity on the fourth day. After calling Angela and Austin over, she declared her intention to transfer all shares of Horizon, the brand she had founded during her younger days, to Angela and appoint her as the company's president. Hearing her words, Angela went numb. She rushed to dissuade Genevieve, convinced that she was still in a state of confusion, but Austin stopped her just befor
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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
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
