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Chapter 444
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Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 445
Angela mumbled to herself, acting like a fool.She stood up and stretched a little. After sleeping with her head down all night, her arms and legs were stiff and numb, making her feel incredibly uncomfortable.And yet, strangely, she felt more at peace being here than anywhere else.It wasn't that she wasn't worried about Dexter. It was just difficult to describe this feeling. When she was alone at home or numbing herself with reckless behavior, she felt lost, as if her heart was wandering restlessly.Every day, she was itching for a fight, her mind filled with wild and chaotic thoughts. It was like she was having an anxiety attack.The doctor said Dexter was out of danger. His injuries were mostly external, and internally, he wasn't too badly hurt.Even so, it would still take at least two or three months before he could walk again.Angela sat down, staring at his gaunt face, and let out a bitter smile."Dexter, what were you thinking? Street racing? I remember the last time y
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 446
"It's good that you remember. Take care of yourself too—don't wear yourself out. If you do, it'll mean I didn't take good care of you, and then Ms. Lawson will be mad at me." Austin's lips curved slightly into a faint smile.Angela stayed at the hospital for another three days. During this time, whenever she was alone in the room, she would either read or play games and spend the rest of her time engaging in on-and-off chats with Dexter.Though, to be more precise, she was simply letting things out, aimlessly venting, treating him like a confession booth.Dexter simply lay there, motionless. Though he had already regained consciousness, he was never found out.Day after day passed. That afternoon, Angela told Austin she would be going to Horizon for a visit which was meant to prepare her for taking over as CEO in the future.She had already spent a month in a slump. She couldn't continue being a useless wreck forever.Angela had just left the hospital when she suddenly remembered
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 447
The rest of the Bamford family soon noticed Angela and Dexter's strained relationship, especially Joseph.At first, he thought the two youngsters were just having a lovers' spat. After all, minor disputes were normal in a marriage, a part of life's ups and downs.But to his surprise, the two had completely cut off contact, and Dexter's condition had worsened significantly.Left with no other options and unable to make sense of the situation, Joseph went to Villa Heights to see Angela and get some answers.Angela received Joseph with politeness, sitting on the couch with a somewhat tense expression. She didn't know what kind of excuse she could give to this elderly man with graying hair.Seeing the worry in his eyes, she felt an overwhelming sense of unease."Grandpa, we… I remember telling you before that we already got divorced. Our relationship has long since become nothing more than a formality. Now, we both have our own lives to focus on, and there's no need to force ourselve
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 448
The man was Erwin, Genevieve's longtime friend and business partner.Angela's first impression of him was quite positive—he seemed straightforward and bold, and he treated Austin well."Mr. Mack, you're here." Austin stood up to greet him, and Angela followed suit.Letting out a hearty laugh, Erwin patted Austin on the shoulder. "How about we find a place to have a drink tonight? Now that Genevieve has left us so suddenly at such a young age, the company will need the two of us to keep it running. I've always thought highly of you, kid."Erwin was genuinely forthright, but the last few words he spoke carried a weight that made them difficult to hear.Austin said, "Mr. Mack, I'm actually here to talk to you about this matter. Ms. Lawson has already—""Transferred her shares to you? That's only natural," Erwin interrupted, still looking excited."Not to me," Austin said helplessly, cutting off the talkative elder once again.Erwin frowned. "Not to you? Then who? Genevieve wouldn'
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 449
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help Mr. Mack up!" Austin was the first to react and quickly ordered.Angela belatedly nodded and hurried forward, but just as her hand was about to touch Erwin, he suddenly shouted, "Stop! Don't touch me!"He got up by himself. Erwin stood frozen in place as if he couldn't believe what had just happened.Had he really been taken down by a woman who looked like she barely weighed a hundred pounds? How was that possible? If word got out, wouldn't it be a blow to his pride? He was a trained fighter!"I'm so sorry, Mr. Mack." Angela kept her head as low as it could go.Austin quickly patted her on the shoulder, snapping, "That apology doesn't sound sincere at all!"Angela was beyond embarrassed. She wished she could disappear into the ground. "Uh… I really didn't mean to. It was just a reflex, Mr. Mack. Please don't hold it against me."This was way too awkward.Erwin rubbed his sore tailbone with a sullen expression. After a brief si
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 450
"Angela, could you do me another favor?" Fiona sounded particularly helpless over the phone."Don't panic. Tell me what happened," Angela said anxiously, fearing something serious had occurred.Fiona explained, "Dexter has been working non-stop for two days without resting. No one can persuade him to stop, and we're really worried…"Angela paced around the room for a while, considering refusing. Fiona rarely asked for help, and if she was calling now, it must mean she had no other choice.After much deliberation, Angela decided to go. However, she didn't go alone—she asked Austin to accompany her.She didn't want to break her promise, nor could she stand by and watch Dexter push himself to the brink. Given the circumstances, this was the only option left.Austin didn't scold her this time. He silently drove her to the hospital entrance but showed no intention of getting out. "You have 30 minutes. Handle it yourself."Angela nodded and hurried inside.Austin watched her slender
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 451
In that instant, Angela felt like a deer caught in headlights, flustered and awkward. Heat rushed to her face, and her breath caught in her throat.What was she even doing here? For what reason and with what right? She was the one who suggested separating. She was the one who abandoned him. What did his well-being have to do with her? "It seems like you've gotten more ahead of yourself after just a few days apart." Dexter shot her a cold glance, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Angela was mortified. How harsh! He was the Dexter from a few years back again, his tongue laced with venom. Although he seemed harmless when silent, the moment he spoke, every word was a merciless strike. Frustration simmered within Angela. Damn it. She had already come this far. How could she let herself be humiliated by a bedridden person? "Who could possibly outdo you when it comes to getting ahead of oneself, Mr. Bamford?" Angela raised her chin, locking eyes with him. Dexter's expression da
Love and Devotion: No Longer His to Claim Chapter 452
Dexter stared at Angela's departing figure until it completely disappeared. Only after what felt like an eternity did he manage to recover, if only barely, from her cutting words.At the end of the day, Angela merely wanted to snap him out of it. She wanted to make him treat himself better and stop him from neglecting his own well-being.To him, she had already become an open book. If not for what she had said by his bedside a few days ago when she thought he was still unconscious, Dexter might have really believed her indifference.But even so, what could it change? The two of them were ultimately strangers now. A suffocating sense of pain and frustration welled up within Dexter, one he couldn't describe.Angela trudged out of the hospital, making her way toward Austin's car.He, too, preferred larger vehicles. The dark gray SUV parked by the roadside under the night sky was like a lurking beast."What's wrong?" Austin leaned against the car door, calmly studying her gloomy expr
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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
