《Who Dares Claim The Heart Of My Wonderful Queen?》


 Chapter 1

    ?Chapter 1:


    Katelyn Bailey pushed the door open and walked briskly into the vi.


    Today was her special day with Neil Wheeler, and he had already nned the celebration.


    ¡°Neil? Are you home?¡± she called out.


    Katelyn looked around but found no one in therge house.


    Puzzled, she went upstairs to the second floor and was met with the unmistakable sounds of intimacying from the master bedroom.


    A woman¡¯s voice moaned loudly, trying to stifle her pleasure.


    ¡°Stop it, Neil. This isn¡¯t fair to Katelyn.¡±


    Hearing the soft moan was enough to drain all the color from Katelyn¡¯s face, and it certainly didn¡¯t help when she recognized the voice. It was Lise Cooper.


    She was Neil¡¯s ex-girlfriend¡ªKatelyn had never expected her to return.


    Yet there they were, in the master bedroom, engaged in an affair.


    ¡°Why is it unfair? Our families are joined by marriage for mutual benefits. Katelyn is just my wife in name. I don¡¯t care for her at all. I¡¯m not even interested in her body, and I¡¯ve never touched her since we got married.¡±


    ¡°I pity her. Three years of marriage, and she hasn¡¯t won her husband¡¯s heart,¡± Lisemented.


    Katelyn began to tremble. Those words pierced her heart like invisible daggers.


    Her marriage to Neil had always been one of convenience, not love.


    For the past three years, Katelyn had devoted herself entirely to her family. She did theundry, cooked meals, and did her best to be a good housewife. Despite her efforts, Neil had never shared a bed with her. Katelyn had believed she wasn¡¯t meeting his expectations and had failed to earn his approval. But now, she realized he had never cared for her at all.


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    The ongoing sounds of sex from the room made Katelyn¡¯s heart ache.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    Suddenly, the door flew open.


    The two people on the bed froze, and Neil quickly grabbed a nket to cover both himself and Lise. When he saw Katelyn, he froze for a moment before his expression turned cold.


    With disdain, he barked, ¡°Get the f*ck out!¡±


    Even though he had been caught in the act of adultery, he still carried himself with an air of arrogance.


    Katelyn felt a sharp pain in her chest. Staring at her husband, who showed no remorse, she asked in disbelief, ¡°Neil Wheeler, why are you doing this to me?¡±


    Lise leaned forward and deliberately pulled down the nket a little bit, revealing the kiss marks on her corbones.


    With a soft sigh, she said, ¡°Katelyn, you should understand that a mature man has physical needs. Neil doesn¡¯t love you, so he doesn¡¯t want to sleep with you. I¡¯m the only one he loves, which is why he can only be intimate with me. I¡¯m sure you can understand our situation, right?¡±


    Lise smiled. She had deliberately chosen to seduce Neil, relishing the thought of Katelyn being overwhelmed.


    Katelyn clenched her fists tightly and red at Lise with bloodshot eyes. ¡°You¡¯re proud of being a home-wrecking b*tch, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes turned red as she replied, ¡°How could you say that? Would I have broken up with Neil if your parents hadn¡¯t threatened my family¡¯s safety? Katelyn, forcing love only leads to suffering. And remember, in any rtionship, the one who isn¡¯t loved is the real outsider.¡±


    Katelyn stared at her in shock. So this was the story Lise had told Neil. It was now clear to her how Neil couldn¡¯t seem to move on from Lise.


    The truth was that neither Katelyn nor her family had forced Lise and Neil apart.


    That was Katelyn¡¯s chance to defend herself, but before she could speak, Neil cut her off.


    ¡°Katelyn, if it weren¡¯t for you, Lise wouldn¡¯t have suffered so much these past few years. How dare you and your parents treat her that way? I will never forgive the Bailey family.¡±


    Neil had already stood up and dressed, his gaze toward Katelyn as cold as ice.


    Katelyn¡¯s heart continued to ache.


    In that moment, she abandoned any attempt to exin and smiled bitterly.


    She realized how blind she had been to love a man who cheated on her and felt no remorse.


    A sh of satisfaction crossed Lise¡¯s eyes, but she sighed with a guilty tone. ¡°Neil, don¡¯t be so hard on Katelyn. She overheard us at the door earlier. You haven¡¯t slept with her in three years, so it¡¯s understandable she¡¯s feeling unbnced.¡±


    Katelyn trembled with rage. She stormed over to the bed and snapped, ¡°You shameless slut! How dare you spew such nonsense? Didn¡¯t anyone in your family teach you any manners? I¡¯ll be happy to give you a lesson, then.¡± She raised her hand and pped Lise across the face.


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    ¡°Eek!¡± Lise cried out in pain.


    Her head snapped to the side from the force of the p.


    ¡°Katelyn, you bitch!¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes narrowed. Without a second thought, he rushed to defend Lise and pped Katelyn back.


    ¡°Smack!¡±


    Caught off guard, Katelyn was struck and staggered back. A burning pain spread across her right cheek, and her ears buzzed as she struggled to regain her bnce. Anger red in Neil¡¯s eyes as he growled, ¡°Who do you think you are? How dare you hit Lise! Marrying you is my biggest mistake in life.¡±


    He turned abruptly, yanked open the drawer of the nightstand, and pulled out a divorce agreement. He threw it at Katelyn and shouted, ¡°Sign it. I never want to see your face again!¡±


    The divorce agreement had already been prepared and signed by Neil.


    Katelyn fought back a bitter smile. The pain in her cheek was sharp, but it couldn¡¯tpare to the deep ache in her heart.


    However, she knew it was time to let go of her marriage.


    He didn¡¯t love her and had even betrayed her. There was nothing left for her to hold onto.


    Without hesitation, Katelyn picked up the agreement, quickly signed it, and threw it at Neil¡¯s face. ¡°Neil, I¡¯m done. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other.¡±


    As soon as she spoke, her phone rang. Katelyn froze when she saw the caller ID. Ignoring Neil¡¯s reaction, she swiped to answer the call.


    The voice on the other end sounded urgent. ¡°Iris, when are youing back to work? The orders at the studio are piling up. Someone has even offered a hundred million dors for the chance to work with you.¡±


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 Chapter 2

    ?Chapter 2:


    ¡°I¡¯m back now. I¡¯ll be there in a second.¡±


    Since Katelyn no longer needed to focus on Neil or y the docile and devoted wife, she was determined to return to her work immediately. She resolved never to fall in love again.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew serious. Although her appearance remained unchanged, Neil noticed something different about her.


    Her gaze and demeanor had shifted. Even the look in her eyes was no longer the same.


    Neil stared at Katelyn without blinking. For some reason, he felt irritated when she signed the divorce agreement so decisively.


    From the very beginning, she had loved him with every fiber of her being. He couldn¡¯t understand why she signed the divorce agreement so readily.


    Believing she might be ying games with him, Neil walked closer and sneered, ¡°You¡¯d better not try any dirty tricks, Katelyn.¡±


    Katelyn ended the call and looked at him directly. ¡°Do you really think you deserve that?¡± she retorted.


    Back in the day, she had loved him and cared only about him, which made her endure everything for him. Now that they were done, he meant nothing to her.


    Without giving the shameless scumbag another nce, Katelyn turned and left the vi. She walked with her head held high, as if nothing in the world could bring her down.


    Lise noticed Neil¡¯s eyes were still on Katelyn and felt a pang of jealousy.


    Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a message. After reading it, her mood brightened.


    She eximed, ¡°Great news, Neil! Iris has agreed to work with us. Her manager just sent me a message.¡±


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    Neil snapped out of his thoughts and looked at her in surprise. ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Wheeler Group¡¯s design department had been facing a major issue with a critical project. Recently, their designer had been caught giarizing. If they didn¡¯t meet the deadline, thepany would owe the client several billion dors inpensation.


    Only five days remained. The only designer capable ofpleting such a massive project on such short notice was Iris, the top designer in the industry.


    The Wheeler Group had been trying to contact her for weeks but had been repeatedly rejected. Surprisingly, Lise had managed to secure the opportunity. She showed Neil the message and said, ¡°It¡¯s true. You can go to the negotiation tonight. I spent the whole night convincing her manager. My efforts finally paid off.¡±


    Iris was famous but had a difficult personality. Over the past three years, she hadn¡¯t produced any new designs and seemed to have disappeared. For that reason, anyone wanting to work with her had to go through her manager, who was notorious for avoiding people.


    Neil ced his hand on Lise¡¯s and said seriously, ¡°Lise, I¡¯ve never forgotten how much you¡¯ve done for me. I will keep my promise to you.¡±


    She nodded eagerly in response. Suddenly, she frowned and winced in pain.


    Neil asked with concern, ¡°Is everything alright with you?¡±


    Lise forced a smile and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Neil looked at her intently and stated, ¡°Don¡¯t lie.¡±


    After hesitating for a moment, Lise slowly lifted the hem of her dress to revealrge bruises on her knees. Neil immediately recognized that they had been caused by kneeling for an extended period. His expression immediately changed.


    In that moment, he realized why Lise had agreed to work with them¡ªLise had to get down on her knees, begging for their cooperation.


    Feeling deeply moved, Neil looked at her with affection and said, ¡°Thank you for everything you¡¯ve done for me, Lise.¡±


    Lise responded shyly, ¡°I¡¯m willing to do anything if it helps you.¡±


    Their eyes met, and they couldn¡¯t hide their emotions. Neil suddenly leaned in closer.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn had just arrived at her design studio.


    As she looked at the familiar office she had been away from for three years, she felt a pang of regret. She had wasted so much time on a man who wasn¡¯t worth it.


    Aimee Stephens, her manager, spotted her and quickly trotted over. Dressed in a ck suit dress, she looked both professional and capable. She gave Katelyn a big hug.


    ¡°My little Iris! You¡¯re finally back! I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡±


    A hint of guilt crossed Katelyn¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It was all my fault. Aimee, tell me about this order.¡±


    Aimee knew the importance of business. She led Katelyn to the desk where they both sat, and said, ¡°The offer was made by Lise Cooper. She did it on behalf of Neil Wheeler. Let me show you the documents.¡±


    Katelyn was stunned.


    The next moment, she let out a sudden chuckle. ¡°What a small world!¡± He had told her to leave, but now he desperately needed her assistance.


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 Chapter 3

    ?Chapter 3:


    Aimee looked at Katelyn with surprise and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t Wheeler Group your husband¡¯spany? You didn¡¯t help him? Why did they reach out to me instead?¡±


    Katelyn pressed her lips together. She had known about the trouble in the design department and had offered to assist, but Neil had told her to leave and not cause any trouble. With a bitter smile, she responded coldly, ¡°We¡¯re divorced, Aimee.¡±


    Their marriage hadsted only three years, but she had loved him for ten. That love had been wasted. In the end, she felt she deserved this unfortunate oue.


    Aimee¡¯s eyes widened as she looked Katelyn up and down. Clicking her tongue, she remarked, ¡°So, the lovestruck girl has finally woken up. I warned you not to marry that jerk after finding out he had an ex-girlfriend that he couldn¡¯t forget. I tried hard to change your mind, but you were determined. I guess you had to learn it the hard way.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained calm, though her once lively eyes seemed dull. Suddenly, she let out a chuckle and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. I learned my lesson the hard way. From now on, Aimee, I¡¯m focusing on my career.¡±


    ¡°Fantastic! That¡¯s what I want to hear. Forget about love! Your career is what matters,¡± Aimee said enthusiastically. Then, she quickly added, ¡°What¡¯s your n for the coboration? We can walk away from the hundred million dors and give those bastards what they deserve.¡±


    Katelyn looked at her and asked, ¡°The response you gave them was as vague as always, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Aimee nodded in confirmation.


    That was how they operated. They would preliminarily ept an offer once everything seemed in order, but the response remained vague. This allowed them time to further investigate the client. If anything suspicious came up, they would end the partnership immediately.


    Katelyn smiled as she thought it over. She had reviewed the file and knew that if Wheeler Group missed the deadline, they would owe their client several billion dors.


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    She chuckled and said, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s keep them hanging. Let them know we¡¯ll be at the Skyline Building tonight.¡±


    The Skyline Building was a ce that catered solely to the upper ss. The guests there were not only wealthy but also held significant influence.


    Lise sat in a private room holding Neil¡¯s arm. With a gentle smile, she said, ¡°Neil, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll close the deal.¡±


    Neil smiled and wrapped an arm around Lise¡¯s waist. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, Lise. I¡¯m lucky to have you.¡±


    Lise blushed, already envisioning her sess.


    If the deal went through, Neil would realize her true worth and see that only she could help him.


    The meeting was scheduled for seven in the evening. Their private room was left open, allowing a clear view of the corridor.


    At the same moment, they both noticed two figures approaching.


    Lise¡¯s smile froze. She stared at one of the figures in shock.


    She wondered if she was seeing things, but it looked just like Katelyn.


    Neil also spotted Katelyn, and surprise flickered in his eyes.


    She wasn¡¯t dressed in her usual casual shirt and loose trousers. Instead, she wore a ck, form-fitting dress that entuated her figure. Her long hair was styled in loose curls that cascaded over her shoulders. She looked both alluring and distant.


    Her neck was graceful, and her waist was slender. To Neil, she resembled a figure from an oil painting. He pressed his thin lips together as his eyes traveled over her from head to toe.


    It had only been a day since theyst saw each other, but Katelyn seemedpletely transformed.


    Just yesterday, she was still his dull wife. He couldn¡¯t help but imagine the attention she would draw from other men when she was in a crowd.


    It seemed like Katelyn hadn¡¯t noticed them, as she walked straight ahead.


    Then, something unexpected urred.


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 Chapter 4

    ?Chapter 4:


    A man staggered toward Katelyn, clutching a bottle of liquor.


    Katelyn and Aimee were discussing something as they walked. When Katelyn saw the drunk man stumbling toward Aimee, she quickly stepped in front of her to shield her.


    The drunkard scowled at Katelyn. ¡°Hey, what the hell is the matter with you? How dare you get in my way! Move aside!¡±


    The next moment, he noticed how beautiful Katelyn was, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Hey, beautiful, are you alone? How about we hang out together?¡±


    He reached out toward her, but before he could touch her, Katelyn pped his hand away. His expression darkened.


    ¡°You ungrateful bitch! You should be thankful I¡¯m even interested in you. Don¡¯t be¡ª¡±


    His loud voice drew the attention of others nearby.


    Neil¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Is that Felix Ellis?¡± Lise was equally shocked. Felix was here?


    Felix Ellis was a notorious thug in Chaepstow, known for making his living through loan sharking. He was ruthless and would do anything to get what he wanted. Over the years, he had ruined countless lives, leaving many people disabled.


    Lise covered her mouth with her hand and eximed, ¡°He¡¯s dangerous! Katelyn could get hurt. Neil, we should help her.¡±


    Although Lise pretended to be concerned, there was a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. She secretly hoped Felix would teach Katelyn a harsh lesson, which would also serve as her revenge.


    Neil gently pulled Lise¡¯s hand and replied softly, ¡°Lise, you¡¯re too kind-hearted. She brought this on herself. It¡¯s not our problem.¡±


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    Despite his words, he couldn¡¯t resist ncing toward the door.


    Katelyn was small and fragile. If Felix were to hit her, she could be seriously injured.


    With a slight frown, Neil decided to rise from his seat. But before he could act, Katelyn suddenly pped Felix across the face. Felix cried out in pain.


    No one had ever dared to humiliate him before. Furious, he red at Katelyn and spat, ¡°You¡¯re asking for it. I¡¯ll make sure you regret this. I can¡¯t let people think I¡¯m weak.¡±


    As Felix reached for her hair, she swiftly lifted her leg and kicked him hard in the stomach. He crashed to the floor with a shout of pain. ¡°Argh!¡±


    Despite having a slim frame, she was able to overpower the man and kick him away.


    Neil watched in disbelief. The woman he once knew had transformed.


    She now radiated confidence and allure.


    He wondered if Katelyn had been hiding her true self during their marriage.


    Seething with rage, Felix red at his henchmen and yelled, ¡°What the fuck are you all waiting for? Get her!¡±


    The men quickly moved toward Katelyn. In response, Aimee stepped in and pped one of them hard.


    ¡°If any of youy your grubby little hands on my friend, you¡¯re all going to regret it. I¡¯ll make sure you pay for it with your lives!¡±


    Felix¡¯s face went pale when he recognized the woman behind Katelyn. It was Aimee!


    Aimee managed the top designer Iris.


    Many powerful people avoided crossing her. Felix was suddenly intimidated.


    He hadn¡¯t expected Aimee to support the woman he¡¯d just tried to assault.


    Immediately, Felix¡¯s demeanor changed. He forced a smile and stammered, ¡°Oh, Miss Stephens, is she your friend? I didn¡¯t realize. I¡¯m sorry for the trouble.¡±


    Lise stared at the situation in shock. This was unexpected. Neil also paused, his brow furrowing in confusion. He never imagined that Katelyn had such a close rtionship with Aimee.


    Only now did Neil realize that he knew absolutely nothing about his ex-wife.


    Aimee crossed her arms and said impatiently, ¡°Enough! Get out of here! You¡¯ll regret it if you try to hurt her again.¡±


    Felix quickly fell silent and fled the scene. Not long after, the corridor became quiet again.


    Aimee rubbed her wrist, which had turned red from the earlier p.


    Katelyn looked worried and asked, ¡°Are you alright? Is it painful?¡±


    Aimee was about to respond, but Lise rushed over with a concerned expression.


    ¡°Miss Stephens, how is your wrist? Do you need to see a doctor?¡±


    Neil gave Katelyn a cold look before shifting his gaze to Aimee. ¡°My car is parked at the entrance,¡± he offered politely.


    Aimee ignored thempletely. While rubbing her wrist, she replied to Katelyn, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a little sore. It¡¯ll heal soon.¡±


    The way Aimee treated Katelyn was markedly different from how she treated them now, making Lise wonder about their connection.


    After a moment of silence, she said to Katelyn, ¡°Katelyn, I understand you wanted to protect your friend, but that was too risky. What if you had been hurt? And see? You also dragged Miss Stephens into trouble.¡±


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 Chapter 5

    ?Chapter 5:


    ¡°You¡¯ve yed the role of the delicate and kind-hearted soul for so long that you¡¯ve started to believe it yourself,¡± Katelyn said, her gaze filled with contempt.


    She realized Lise had simply been trying to drive a wedge between her and Aimee.


    Lise¡¯s face reddened with anger. Before she could respond, Neil chimed in, ¡°Katelyn,¡±


    He had witnessed the entire encounter in the private room. If Aimee hadn¡¯t intervened, Felix would have continued his harassment. Neil was frustrated that Katelyn had shown no appreciation for Lise¡¯s concern.


    Moreover, he was irked that Katelyn had a connection with Aimee that she had kept hidden from him. Neil had been restless and anxious over the past weeks, while Lise had gone to great lengths to please Aimee. Katelyn, on the other hand, had done nothing.


    Neil¡¯s anger red, and the tension in the air was palpable. Lise subtly tugged at his sleeve.


    Katelyn was Aimee¡¯s friend, and any conflict could negatively affect Aimee¡¯s view of them and jeopardize their potential coboration.


    With a conciliatory smile, Lise said to Aimee, ¡°Miss Stephens, our room is just over there. Why don¡¯t we sit down and discuss the details of the cooperation?¡±


    Aimee red at them with disdain. ¡°When did I agree to work with you?¡±


    Lise and Neil were taken aback by her response.


    ¡°You¡¯re a home-wrecker. Don¡¯t kid yourself into thinking I¡¯ll work with someone as morallypromised as you. Stop dreaming!¡± Aimee growled.


    Lise stared at her, stunned and unable to hide her shock. She hadn¡¯t anticipated Aimee¡¯s harsh response. The words stung more than any physical blow. Despite feeling hurt, Lise didn¡¯t dare to confront Aimee or retaliate.


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    The atmosphere turned icy in response to Aimee¡¯s remarks.


    Lise felt that Aimee¡¯s reluctance to cooperate might be due to Katelyn¡¯s influence.


    She suspected that Katelyn had spoken ill of them to Aimee, causing her to back out of their agreement.


    Lise suppressed her anger and shouted at Katelyn, ¡°Katelyn, Neil¡¯spany is in crisis. Instead of helping, you¡¯ve only caused more trouble. Stop behaving like a child!¡±


    Neil also red at Katelyn and added, ¡°Katelyn, are you finished causing trouble?¡±


    He med her for the issues affecting their cooperation, feeling that she had crossed the line.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. Before she could respond, Aimee defended her.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, stop ttering yourself.¡±


    Neil¡¯s face paled slightly. Aimee, still rubbing her wrist, continued disdainfully, ¡°We¡¯ve already chosen our partner. It¡¯s not you. Unlike you, he¡¯s respectable and hasn¡¯t been involved in any scandals. He adheres strictly to his morals and would never cheat on his wife. Our studio does not work with scumbags like you, Mr. Wheeler.¡±


    ¡°You! You¡­¡± Neil red at her with icy anger.


    Lise quickly intervened, pinching his arm to calm him. Forcing a smile, she said to Aimee, ¡°Miss Stephens, misunderstandings happen¡ªKatelyn spoke in candor. She is¡­¡±


    Clearly irritated, Aimee stared at Lise. ¡°Enough of your excuses. I have no interest in them. If you continue, you¡¯ll only diminish my respect for you. Please stop obstructing my path and acting like fools.¡±


    Neil and Lise were visibly embarrassed and frustrated. Katelyn smiled, appreciating Aimee¡¯s sharpness. Just as she was about to speak, a suddenmotion arose in the corner.


    All eyes turned toward them.


    A line of bodyguards moved with precision.


    Every single one of them looked intimidating, and they were escorting a noteworthy man.


    Dressed in a sleek ck suit, he exuded an air of sophistication with every step.


    His face seemed almost divine, with features that looked meticulously crafted by God himself. His deep and wintery eyes could captivate and unsettle anyone who met his gaze. People felt a palpable tension and held their breath in his presence. Hemanded the attention of everyone around him.


    Before his bodyguards could make a move, the crowd parted instinctively, overwhelmed by hismanding presence.


    Lise stood in awe, her eyes wide with amazement. She questioned whether she was imagining it when she realized it was Vincent Adams.


    He was the president of Adams Group, a colossal business empire.


    The Adams Group started in real estate andter expanded into industries like medical and IT.


    Since Vincent took over thepany five years ago, it had be one of the fastest-growingpanies in the world. And now, it was part of the ten biggestpanies worldwide. Hispany yed a significant role in the city¡¯s economy.


    Neil¡¯s expression tightened, his eyes reflecting his seriousness.


    Ignoring everyone else, Vincent approached Katelyn. His deep voice was like a cello¡¯s melody in the dark. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being¡­¡±


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 Chapter 6

    ?Chapter 6:


    Katelyn stared at the man, puzzled about why he was speaking to her.


    She then nced at Aimee, worried that her identity had been revealed.


    After a brief pause, Katelyn replied with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re notte at all. Your timing is perfect.¡±


    Her response seemed to soften Vincent¡¯s demeanor. His sternness gave way to a warmer expression.


    Standing side by side, their attractiveness created a noticeable chemistry.


    Neil tightened his fists, wondering if Katelyn had moved on with someone new right after their divorce.


    Filled with envy, Lise begrudgingly observed the situation, resenting the fact that Katelyn had attracted such an influential figure.


    With a ttering smile, she approached and said, ¡°Nice to see you here, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Neil masked his feelings and greeted Vincent as well. ¡°Good evening, Mr. Adams. What a surprise to see you here.¡±


    Vincent acknowledged their greetings with a nod, clearly uninterested in engaging in further conversation. He turned to Katelyn, his eyes softening with warmth as he said, ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting.¡±


    Aimee nced at her watch and smiled, saying, ¡°It¡¯s no problem, Mr. Adams. We¡¯ve just arrived as well. Perfect timing. Shall we head to the room to discuss?¡±


    Both Lise¡¯s and Neil¡¯s expressions changed to shock when they realized that Vincent was the business partner Aimee had mentioned.


    What left them even more confused was the fact that Katelyn and Aimee walked into a private room together, arm in arm.


    Given the nature of the meeting, it was unusual for an outsider, even a friend, to be present. Katelyn¡¯s presence seemed out of ce.


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    Upon seeing Vincent¡¯s indifferent nod, Lise¡¯s frustration grew. She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to be working with him? Why is Katelyn joining the negotiation?¡±


    Aimee retorted, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t Katelyn be here?¡±


    She and Vincent exchanged puzzled nces, wondering the same.


    What she meant¡­


    Only the most reliable individuals were allowed to participate in such negotiations. It was hard to believe that Katelyn had managed to gain Iris¡¯ and Aimee¡¯s trust to this extent.


    Lise felt uneasy. She couldn¡¯t allow Katelyn the opportunity to meet Vincent and potentially elevate her status so suddenly.


    With a scowl, Lise said to Katelyn, ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve always beenposed and reliable, but this time you¡¯ve overstepped. How can you deceive Mr. Adams?¡±


    Katelyn furrowed her elegant brows. ¡°What exactly did I lie about?¡±


    Lise, fists clenched, answered with indignation, ¡°Iris is a renowned designer known for her meticulousness. You¡¯re an outsider here. How did you be involved? Miss Stephens is toopassionate to reject you. You need to recognize your ce and stop interfering. If Mr. Adams finds out the truth, he will be very displeased.¡±


    Neil observed the situation with a cold gaze. Since he had not publicly announced his divorce from Katelyn, her actions could reflect poorly on him as well. He warned her firmly, ¡°Every project Mr. Adams personally oversees involves billions of dors. If any details are leaked, you¡¯ll face severe repercussions. Apologize to Mr. Adams immediately!¡±


    The two of them seemed united in using Katelyn of deception and overstepping boundaries. Aimee struggled to suppress her amusement.


    She had encountered many foolish people before, but none as clueless as these two.


    She had permitted Katelyn to join the meeting, yet they still hadn¡¯t grasped what Katelyn really was. She wondered if their ignorance was due to unwillingness or simply ack of courage.


    A sarcastic smile appeared on Katelyn¡¯s face.


    Lise approached with a worried expression. ¡°Katelyn, I understand you want to prove yourself, but fabricating stories won¡¯t help. The truth will eventuallye out. I¡¯m saying this for your benefit. It¡¯s fine to make mistakes as long as you correct them.¡±


    Katelyn recoiled with disdain. ¡°Hmm¡­ Are you being overly intrusive? Aimee hasn¡¯tined. Why does it concern you?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Lise felt embarrassed. She didn¡¯t expect Katelyn to respond this way in front of Vincent.


    Seeing Lise nearly in tears, Neil remarked coldly, ¡°Lise has only acted out of concern for you. You fail to appreciate her efforts. I¡¯m quite disappointed.¡±


    Acting as though she were heartbroken, Lise sighed and addressed Vincent with a helpless tone. ¡°Mr. Adams, as you can see, Katelyn is quite stubborn. I apologize for her behavior. She didn¡¯t mean any harm; she¡¯s just eager to prove herself.¡±


    Vincent observed them with a faint smile. ¡°Perhaps you should think before speaking. Is Miss Bailey truly as inadequate as you im?¡±


    Katelyn was taken aback, her eyes wide with surprise. Due to his reputation for being aloof, she hadn¡¯t really expected Vincent to defend her.


    While watching with delight, Aimee felt that Neil and Vincent were actually a perfect match.


    Lise, stunned, asked, ¡°You¡­ What are you talking about, Mr. Adams?¡±


    With a casual smile, Vincent turned to Katelyn and said, ¡°Miss Bailey, why don¡¯t you tell them that you¡¯re actually Iris?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 7

    ?Chapter 7:


    Katelyn was stunned, unable to believe Vincent had identified her as Iris so quickly.


    Neil, however, furrowed his brow. He had always seen Katelyn as nothing more than a housewife with ambitions, focused solely on daily life. He couldn¡¯t ept that she was Iris standing beside him.


    Lise stared at Katelyn in disbelief. She couldn¡¯t believe what was happening.


    It simply wasn¡¯t possible.


    She even suspected that Vincent had been misled by Katelyn.


    Maintaining her smile with effort, Lise said, ¡°Mr. Adams, you might not be familiar with Katelyn like we are. She¡¯s skilled at deception and presenting herself in a ttering light. How could she possibly be¡­¡±


    Neil¡¯s gaze turned icy as he looked at Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯d bettere clean. You¡¯ll have to face the consequences of your lies.¡±


    Katelyn ignored them entirely.


    Aimee held Katelyn¡¯s arm and gestured toward Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, please follow me this way.¡±


    Vincent responded with a nod, and they moved ahead.


    Neil fixed a steely gaze on Katelyn¡¯s retreating figure.


    Momentster, he scoffed. He still couldn¡¯t believe Katelyn could be Iris. How could a housewife be the world¡¯s top designer?


    He thought she was aware her deception would soon be revealed and was deliberately keeping quiet to mislead Vincent.


    It seemed like a ploy to appear elusive.


    With that in mind, Neil curled his lips in disdain.


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    Katelyn was fortunate enough to be Aimee¡¯s friend. Neil believed she probably wanted him to regret his decision to leave her. However, pretending to be Iris to gain his attention would only deepen his disdain.


    Aimee had booked a high-end business suite in advance for their meeting, ideal for business negotiations.


    Katelyn poured a cup of tea for herself, and the fragrance of the tea spread throughout the air.


    Vincent watched her with interest andmented in a mellow voice, ¡°It seems your marriage isn¡¯t going well, Miss Iris.¡±


    With a polite smile, Katelyn replied professionally, ¡°Shall we discuss the project?¡±


    Aimee took out the files and agreements she had prepared earlier and handed them to Katelyn.


    Vincent was known for being a perfectionist, and he had strict requirements regarding the details of the jewelry. He had specifically proposed three themes for the preparation of the new products.


    Katelyn turned to thetest design drafts and pointed at them.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, here is a jewelry draft designed ording to your specifications. We currently have three designs. If you have any ideas or feedback, please let me know.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. ¡°Youpleted this so quickly.¡±


    Aimeeughed and said, ¡°Mr. Adams, you wouldn¡¯t have sought us out for coboration if Katelyn weren¡¯t highly capable. Shepleted these on the way to our meeting.¡±


    Vincent had previously discussed his requirements only with Aimee, but now Katelyn had not only grasped them quickly, but her drafts also exceeded his expectations. Katelyn seemed to perfectly interpret and implement any idea he proposed.


    This was the first time he had encountered someone who could fully understand his vision. He felt a deep connection, as if there were a resonance of souls. Vincentplimented her, ¡°It¡¯s clear why you¡¯re the top designer, Miss Iris. I like all of these designs.¡±


    Katelyn gave a small nod and responded calmly, ¡°I¡¯m d you like them, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent set the drafts aside and looked at her with a gentle smile. ¡°I have another question. The Wheeler Group is also reaching out to you, Miss Iris. You and Mr. Wheeler¡­¡±


    He paused and rested his hand on the table. His slender fingers tapped idly, and their rhythm matched the sound of a beating heart.


    Katelyn maintained herposure with a slight smile.


    ¡°We¡¯ve divorced. I no longer have any association with Neil Wheeler. You can be assured of that, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Over the past three years, Neil had deeply hurt her through neglect and disdain. After witnessing his infidelity, she had decided to leave him for good.


    Vincent raised an eyebrow slightly. He then stared at her deeply. In a warm tone, he asked, ¡°Miss Iris, are you perhaps considering remarrying?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 8

    ?Chapter 8:


    Katelyn looked at Vincent in surprise. Peering into his deep eyes, she asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, why would you ask such a question?¡±


    Vincent gave a faint smile. His voice was hoarse but resonated deeply. As he leaned back in his chair, he exined, ¡°Our future coboration is extremely confidential. If you had been working for apetitor of ours, it could affect our projects. You understand what I¡¯m implying, Miss Bailey.¡±


    Katelyn grasped his point and nodded. She assured him, ¡°You can be confident, Mr. Adams. I will ensure that no personal matters interfere with our work. Besides, from past experiences, I¡¯ve learned not to trust men too easily in matters of love.¡±


    The man she had loved for many years had proven to be aplete fraud.


    The lesson was harsh and unforgettable.


    At that moment, Katelyn felt as if all men were likely the same.


    From then on, she resolved never to fall easily for any man¡¯s charming words again.


    Vincent smiled, tapping his fingertips on the table. ¡°Good to know.¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t dwell on hisment, but Aimee observed the exchange with keen interest.


    She sensed an underlying meaning in Vincent¡¯s words that Katelyn might have missed, though Aimee couldn¡¯t be certain.


    She found herself hoping that Vincent had taken a liking to Katelyn. He would be a far better match for her than Neil had ever been.


    Meanwhile, Neil and Lise remained in their own private room, watching the business suite where Katelyn and the others had gone.


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    Thirty minutes passed without anyone leaving the room.


    They spected whether Katelyn was truly discussing business with Vincent.


    Consumed by jealousy and resentment, Lise clenched the hem of her dress so tightly that it wrinkled. Her fingernails pressed into her palms as she struggled to contain her emotions.


    Turning to Neil, who looked stern and annoyed, Lise asked hesitantly, ¡°Neil, is Katelyn really Iris?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely impossible!¡± Neil responded.


    Lise continued in a cold tone, ¡°Katelyn must have devised some scheme to deceive us.¡±


    She was convinced that Katelyn was trying to capture his attention.


    He could easily see through such transparent tactics.


    Lise¡¯s eyes held a contemtive expression as she ventured again, ¡°Still, Katelyn appeared quite different today. I could barely recognize her. She was so captivating and radiant. Any man might be drawn to her.¡±


    Neil scoffed dismissively, his voice tinged with reluctance and annoyance. ¡°She may be attractive, but what does that matter? I can see her malicious intent and deceitful maneuvers. She repulses me.¡±


    Lise felt reassured by Neil¡¯s responses.


    As long as Neil continued to care about her, she was certain she could soon legitimately be his wife. Masking thecency and joy in her eyes, she sighed. ¡°Neil, don¡¯t be angry. We both know Katelyn well. She¡¯s trying to prove herpetence and has even resorted to lying. She hasn¡¯t considered the consequences of her lies being uncovered.¡±


    Suddenly, the door to the business suite opened. Both Lise and Neil instantly became serious and focused their attention on the door.


    Vincent emerged first, followed by Katelyn and Aimee. The three were smiling, creating a rxed and pleasant atmosphere.


    Katelyn extended her hand to Vincent with a smile, her voice gentle and clear. ¡°I hope we can enjoy a fruitful cooperation soon.¡±


    Vincent shook her hand and replied with a smile, ¡°I also hope for a pleasant cooperation.¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes narrowed as he watched the exchange in shock. This scene shattered all his previous assumptions and hopes.


    He began to seriously consider whether Katelyn might actually be Iris.


    .


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 Chapter 9

    ?Chapter 9:


    Vincent smiled broadly, showing appreciation and satisfaction in his eyes. ¡°Miss Bailey, I am eager to be impressed by your work.¡±


    Katelyn responded modestly, ¡°Please look forward to it.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Vincent nced at Neil, who was ring with a furious expression. Apanied by his bodyguards, Vincent walked away.


    Katelyn observed his departure, reminded of a pine tree with his tall and upright posture.


    Aimee interrupted Katelyn¡¯s observation by waving her hand in front of her and tugging her arm. She chuckled and said, ¡°He¡¯s gone. Stop looking. Now that we¡¯vended such a big contract, it¡¯s time for us to celebrate.¡±


    Katelyn returned to her senses and nodded in agreement. As she was about to speak, Neil seized her wrist. He stared at her furiously and demanded, ¡°Katelyn, are you really Iris?¡± He gazed at her intently, seemingly afraid to miss any subtle change in her expression.


    Katelyn scowled at Neil and tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong. ¡°What does it matter to you?¡± she asked coldly.


    Neil exhaled in relief, convinced by her response. If she truly were Iris, she would have admitted it confidently rather than responding defensively.


    He remained certain of the vast difference between a housewife and a renowned designer, convinced that she couldn¡¯t be Iris.


    Aimee took Neil¡¯s hand and red at him sharply. ¡°What do you want? Let go, or I¡¯m calling security.¡±


    With Aimee¡¯s intervention, Katelyn managed to free herself from Neil¡¯s grasp. She immediately took a sanitizer wipe from her handbag and cleaned her wrist. Every moment spent near him was revolting to her.


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    Neil¡¯s frustration grew, and he gritted his teeth as he spoke, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin this to me?¡± He was infuriated by the fact that she had kept her close rtionship with Aimee a secret from him.


    Katelyn gave Neil a cold look and stopped Aimee, who was about to defend her. ¡°Aimee, please wait for me outside. I¡¯ll handle this myself.¡±


    Although Aimee was concerned, she trusted Katelyn¡¯s ability to manage the situation. She nodded in agreement and was ready to leave.


    ¡°Just call me if that jerk tries anything,¡± Aimee told Katelyn before leaving.


    ¡°You got it.¡±


    Meanwhile, Lise hurried to Neil¡¯s side. Masking her jealousy and resentment, she attempted to speak to Katelyn with feigned concern.


    ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t you want to tell us the truth? You might fool others, but how can you fool us?¡±


    Neil interjected angrily. ¡°You know Aimee Stephens. Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Do you understand the serious crisis mypany is facing?¡±


    Katelyn shrugged and replied indifferently, ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡±


    Her response left Neil at a loss for words.


    Lise immediately stated, ¡°Of course, you two are a couple. Neil is facing a major crisis. You should face it with him.¡±


    Katelyn sneered, her eyes brimming with sarcasm.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you consider us a couple when you slept with him? Does being a maid make you feel proud?¡±


    Her words struck Lise like invisible ps.


    Lise¡¯s face turned livid crimson, filled with humiliation. She had always looked down on Katelyn, but now Katelyn had the courage to humiliate her.


    Because of that, she cursed Katelyn inwardly.


    Visibly annoyed, Neil warned, ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t push it. Stop discussing mypany¡¯s business. Stay on topic.¡±


    The next moment, Katelyn snorted and pped him across the face.


    The sound of the p resonated across the corridor.


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    .

 Chapter 10

    ?Chapter 10:


    Katelyn¡¯s p came without warning, leaving Neil stunned.


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened, her voiceced with fury as she spat, ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡±


    Neil¡¯s gaze red with rage, but Katelyn stood firm, ignoring the sharp pain in her hand.


    ¡°We¡¯ve settled the score. We are even now.¡±


    Katelyn was not only talking about the p; her words carried the weight of their rtionship.


    Neil caught the deeper meaning, his face paling. A sudden fear gripped his heart, sensing he was about to lose something important.


    Before he could respond, Katelyn added sharply, ¡°If either of youes after me again, I will not stop at just a p. It disgusts me even to share the same space or breathe the air you do.¡±


    Katelyn turned on her heel and walked away purposefully, her high heels echoing as she left. Neil watched her retreating figure, unable to tear his eyes away.


    Lise gently touched his cheek, her expression filled with a mix of concern and regret. ¡°Are you okay, Neil? Katelyn crossed the line this time. She used to be so gentle. Was that all just an act? Have we been deceived by her all this time?¡±


    ¡°That is enough!¡± Neil lost his patience, ripped off his necktie, and stormed toward the entrance. He had no intention of listening to whatever she had to say.


    Lise stood frozen, shocked by how he had never treated her like this before.


    Her fists clenched tightly.


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    She shifted all the me onto Katelyn.


    An hourter, Katelyn made her way back to the Bailey residence.


    The past two days had been overwhelming, leaving Katelyn feeling utterly drained.


    Her parents were seated on the sofa. Katelyn nced at them and murmured, ¡°I¡¯m home, Dad, Mom.¡±


    Sharon Bailey, her mother, quickly put down the jewelry she had been holding and patted the sofa beside her, inviting Katelyn to sit. ¡°Kate, you look so pale. Are you feeling ill?¡± she asked with a worried tone.


    Katelyn took a deep breath. As she looked into her parents¡¯ concerned faces, she paused briefly before sharing the difficult news.


    ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯m getting a divorce.¡±


    The words fell like a thunderp, shocking everyone. It took Sharon a few seconds to regain herposure. She asked, ¡°What is going on? Have Neil and you not always seemed so happy together?¡±


    Not only did her parents see them as a devoted couple, but their friends also believed Katelyn and Neil were deeply in love.


    Jeff jumped to his feet, his anger causing him to stumble as he tried to steady himself. He red at Katelyn and demanded, ¡°Did he mistreat you? I¡¯ll set him straight.¡±


    As Jeff prepared to confront Neil, Katelyn quickly intervened. ¡°No, Dad, please don¡¯t go. Neil is involved with someone else. We have both decided to get a divorce.¡±


    Sharon clenched her teeth. ¡°Who is this disgraceful woman? I will make her pay.¡±


    Katelyn, however, was reluctant to divulge further details. Sharon gently patted the back of Katelyn¡¯s hand and continued, ¡°You can¡¯t go through with the divorce right now. It will only y into that woman¡¯s hands. Your father had affairs when we were younger. One of those women even unted her pregnancy. What happened in the end? She had the abortion and left the country. If she ever dared toe back, I would make sure she regretted it.¡±


    Katelyn blinked, surprised by her mother¡¯s revtions. She wondered if infidelity was amon trait among men.


    Embarrassed, Jeff rubbed his nose and cleared his throat.


    ¡°Those were events from decades ago. Why bring them up now?¡±


    Sharon shot back fiercely, ¡°Of course, I¡¯d always remember. You would too if I were unfaithful to you. I would have divorced you long ago if it weren¡¯t for Katelyn. But I didn¡¯t, because I refuse to give those women the satisfaction.¡±


    The passage of time had left its mark on her face.


    Sharon was more robust than most andcked conventional charm. Known widely for her short temper, Jeff, unable to tolerate her, had cheated on her.


    When Sharon discovered the affair, she caused a scene, and Jeff, fearing further embarrassment, ended it.


    Blushing and at a loss for words, Jeff finally stammered, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on Katelyn¡¯s situation.¡±


    Katelyn, struggling with a migraine, tried to stand up.


    ¡°Dad, Mom, I need to rest. We can discuss thister.¡± As she took a step, a wave of dizziness overcame her.


    The room spun before her eyes.


    Suddenly, she copsed to the floor and lost consciousness.


    ¡°Kate! Are you alright?¡±


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 Chapter 11

    ?Chapter 11:


    Katelyn was rushed to the hospital immediately. Swimming in and out of unconsciousness, she could hear noises, as if a fight was urring around her.


    Sharon, gritting her teeth with fury, red at Neil, who had arrived at the hospital quitete.


    ¡°Neil, what promises did you make when you married Katelyn? You¡¯ve only been married for three years and you¡¯ve already cheated on her! You scumbag!¡±


    Neil nced at Katelyn, lying on the hospital bed. She appeared pale, her eyes shut, her right hand connected to an IV drip. The hospital gown hung loosely on her, making her seem more fragile than ever, as if a mere gust of wind could whisk her away.


    A sharp pang of guilt surged through Neil as he looked at her, but he quickly pushed it aside, ignoring Sharon¡¯s fiery re.


    ¡°Who is that woman? Tell us!¡± Sharon demanded, barely containing her rage.


    Neil, struggling to maintain hisposure, responded, ¡°This is a matter between Katelyn and me. Please, don¡¯t get involved.¡±


    Jeff interjected sharply, ¡°Nonsense! My daughter has been mistreated because of you, and you tell us to stay away?¡±


    Sharon then threatened, ¡°I¡¯m not letting this go. If you don¡¯t tell us who the other woman is, I¡¯ll go to the media and expose how you¡¯ve cheated on my daughter.¡±


    She was well-prepared to handle such deceitful behavior. Neil, increasingly agitated and running low on patience, thought back to how, if it weren¡¯t for this couple pushing Lise away, she wouldn¡¯t have left the country, and his frustration grew.


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    Yet, acknowledging their authority as his inws, he responded, ¡°Look, our marriage didn¡¯t work out, and there¡¯s fault on both sides. It¡¯s unfair toy all the me at my feet.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s anger intensified at Neil¡¯s deflection. ¡°Enough with your excuses! Men like you who betray their wives deserve to be punished.¡±


    At that moment, Katelyn¡¯s eyes fluttered open, slowlying to grips with her surroundings and the familiar scent of sanitizer.


    Seeing her mother in a heated argument with Neil, she croaked weakly, ¡°Mom¡­¡±


    Sharon quickly set aside her irritation and approached Katelyn¡¯s bedside. ¡°Are you feeling all right, sweetie? I¡¯ll call the doctor over,¡± she said, concerned.


    Jeff handed Katelyn a ss of water. Across the room, Neil watched her with a cold expression.


    Sharon assisted Katelyn in sitting up, helping her leanfortably against the headboard. The warm water soothed her thirst, making her feel considerably better.


    Katelyn looked up at Neil, her gazeden with disgust. ¡°Dad, Mom, please ask him to leave. I don¡¯t want to see him here.¡±


    Sharon responded with a frown, ¡°Absolutely not! He must face the consequences. We need to teach him a lesson.¡±


    Neil nearlyughed out of sheer fury, thinking about how, if it weren¡¯t for the Bailey family¡¯s interference, he would have married Lise instead of Katelyn, whom he considered beneath him.


    Katelyn, gaining strength, held Sharon¡¯s hand and pleaded, ¡°Please, Mom, let it go. Even if Neil kneels and begs for forgiveness, I will never forgive him. I cannot continue with someone who betrayed me.¡± Her face was pale, yet her resolve was clear.


    Neil¡¯s betrayal felt like a sharp pain in her heart. In the past, Sharon might have forgiven Jeff¡¯s infidelity to keep the family together, but Katelyn could not bear such a burden.


    Sharon, saddened, tucked a strand of hair behind Katelyn¡¯s ear, saying softly, ¡°My poor baby, you¡¯re such a wonderful person but ended up with such a cruel partner.¡±


    Katelyn managed a weak smile, seeing the worry etched in the grey strands at her mother¡¯s temple. She med herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­ I¡¯m sorry for the stress, Dad, Mom¡­


    Luckily, I¡¯m still young and can learn from my mistakes.¡±


    Jeff sighed deeply, his gaze turning stern as he looked at Neil.


    ¡°If I had known the kind of man you truly are, I never would have approved of your marriage to Katelyn.¡±


    Neil, unable to contain his frustration, shouted, ¡°Katelyn, stop acting like you¡¯re the victim here! You know very well who the real intruder in this rtionship is.¡±


    Enraged, Katelyn grabbed the water ss and hurled it at him, her patience finally shattered.


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 Chapter 12

    ?Chapter 12:


    Neil swiftly moved aside as the ss crashed against the wall, breaking into fragments.


    His gaze hardened as he confronted Katelyn. ¡°Have you finished causing trouble? Enough with the theatrics.¡± He then nced at Sharon with disdain.


    ¡°Do you see this? Your beloved daughter is always causing destruction. And yes, I regret not fighting harder to bring Lise back right from the start.¡±


    Katelyn, unable to contain herself, burst intoughter at the absurdity of the man she once deeply loved.


    Sharon rose swiftly, her finger usingly pointed at Neil. ¡°Do you even have a shred of morality left? Katelyn¡¯s behavior is a direct result of your actions. If you hadn¡¯t been cheating on her, how could she have ended up like this?¡±


    ¡°Say whatever you like¡ªI¡¯m done with this marriage!¡± Neil dered, then stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Jeff, enraged, was ready to pursue him. ¡°This is uneptable. I¡¯m going to set him straight!¡±


    Katelyn caught his arm gently. ¡°Dad, please, just let it be. I just want to finalize the divorce quickly.¡±


    Sharon, struggling to contain her anger, muttered bitterly, ¡°Men like him always believe the grass is greener elsewhere. Karma will handle him soon enough.¡±


    She sighed deeply, looking at Katelyn with deep sympathy. ¡°You¡¯ve endured so much of this.¡±


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, a serene look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m alright, but please don¡¯t let this turmoil impact your health.¡±


    Despite the distressing spectacle, Katelyn had decided to move past it.


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    Sharon, however, couldn¡¯t just let go. As the echoes of her own past grievances lingered, she vowed to shield her daughter from a simr fate.


    Resourceful as ever, Sharon swiftly located Lise¡¯s contact details and arranged a caf¨¦ meeting under Katelyn¡¯s name.


    Lise entered, a basin in hand, but before she could sit, Sharon flung coffee at her face.


    ¡°Ah!¡± Lise cried out.


    ¡°You shameless woman! With countless men around, why target a married one? Proud to be a home-wrecker, are you? Perhaps you should ink that on your forehead for all to see!¡±


    Lise, stunned by the assault and the barrage of usations, soon realized Sharon was acting out of a desire to channel Katelyn¡¯s frustration.


    Choosing not to wipe the coffee off, Lise adopted a look of wronged innocence.


    ¡°Madam, you¡¯re mistaken. There¡¯s nothing romantic between Neil and me. It¡¯s all a misunderstanding on Katelyn¡¯s part.¡±


    Coffee stains marred her white shirt as it trickled down her face, her eyes reddening from the sting, suggesting profound distress.


    Sharon felt an inexplicable twinge of recognition watching Lise¡¯s tear-streaked face but dismissed the empathy quickly.


    This woman had tormented her daughter, after all. How could Sharon feel anything but disdain for her?


    Sharon¡¯s voice was icy as she issued a stern ultimatum. ¡°Stop the theatrics. I¡¯ve seen more than you can imagine. Leave this city within a day, or it won¡¯t just be coffee you¡¯ll be handling next time.¡±


    Lise¡¯s shoulders shook as she bit her lip, her appearance the very picture of distress.


    ¡°Why am I always med? Neil and I merely work together. Just because Katelyn might be overthinking it, does it mean he can¡¯t work with women at all?¡± Her seemingly innocent demeanor could have convinced anyone, but she was facing Sharon.


    Sharon, having maintained her role as Mrs. Bailey over the years, had encountered numerous schemes and was not easily deceived. She addressed Lise pointedly, ¡°Continue ying the innocent, and it might just cost you dearly. Is there a school teaching you how to be this deceptive? Why are all of you tramps so adept at it?¡±


    The severity of Sharon¡¯s tone pierced Lise deeply.


    In that moment, Lise felt a surge of self-loathing. Jealousy over Katelyn¡¯s seemingly effortless happiness gnawed at her.


    ¡°Madam, I¡ª¡± Lise began, her resolve faltering yet not broken.


    Sharon, rising abruptly and dismissing her with a wave of her hand,manded, ¡°Enough of your charades. Leave this city and stay away from Neil from now on, or you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Just then, Sharon¡¯s phone rang.


    She pressed the answer button, her expression shifting as a worried voice announced, ¡°Something happened to Katelyn!¡±


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 Chapter 13

    ?Chapter 13:


    Sharon¡¯s voice grew louder. ¡°What did you just say?¡± From the other end of the line came Jeff¡¯s anxious plea as he watched Katelyn being rushed toward the operating room. ¡°Hurry! Return to the hospital!¡±


    In her haste, Sharon snatched her handbag from the chair and darted out of the caf¨¦, neglecting the lesson she had meant to impart to Lise.


    Upon eavesdropping, Lise¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice and delight.


    She silently gave thanks for the swift downfall of her adversary.


    With that thought, she resolved to visit Katelyn.


    Sharon reached the hospital. She found the doors to the operating room firmly closed, marked by a forbidding red sign.


    Jeff paced the hallway, wringing his hands behind him. As the doctor emerged from the operating room, Jeff approached him urgently.


    ¡°Doctor, how is my daughter? Why is she in shock again?¡±


    Adjusting his sses, the doctor¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°Her mental state has deteriorated sharply ofte. Should this continue, she may not awaken.¡±


    Jeff trembled and recoiled, struck by the gravity of the situation.


    Katelyn was his only child. The thought of losing her was unbearable.


    Sharon hurried to her husband¡¯s side, grasping his arm.


    ¡°What has happened? Exin it to me clearly,¡± she implored, her voice tinged with panic.


    Jeff¡¯splexion turned pale as he struggled with his words. ¡°Katelyn suddenly fell into aa. The doctor mentioned excessive stimtion.¡±


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    Sharon recoiled as if struck, taking a few steps back.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± she whispered.


    At that moment, the operating room doors burst open again, and Katelyn was wheeled out.


    ¡°Katelyn!¡± Sharon eximed, moving forward.


    Jeff held her back with a gentle sigh. ¡°Let her rest. We mustn¡¯t disturb her too much.¡±


    Sharon clutched Jeff¡¯s sleeve tightly and wept. ¡°Katelyn is my everything. What will I do if something happens to her?¡±


    While Jeff offered a consoling pat on her shoulder, his attention shifted as he noticed Lise sneaking in. ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Taken aback, Lise¡¯s eyes widened in rm as she stammered, ¡°I¡¯m a friend of Katelyn¡¯s, and I came to see her.¡±


    Fury ignited within Sharon as she snapped, ¡°How dare you follow me here? You¡¯re to me for my daughter¡¯s suffering!¡±


    Spurred by a resurgence of anger, Sharon seized Lise by the hair and struck her across the face.


    ¡°Ouch! Release me!¡± Lise cried out, retreating and shielding her face.


    ¡°You seem to have missed the point earlier. How dare youe after me! I¡¯ll make you regret this!¡± Sharon threatened menacingly.


    Sharon, imposing and quick to anger, yanked clumps of hair from Lise¡¯s scalp.


    Themotion drew a crowd, whose initially sympathetic looks turned to revulsion as Sharon¡¯s insults flew.


    Despite her screams, Lise couldn¡¯t evade Sharon¡¯s blows. She shielded her face and pleaded for mercy.


    Blinded by rage, Sharon med Katelyn for her misery and vowed vengeance.


    Enraged, Sharon kicked at Lise¡¯s legs, cursing, ¡°I¡¯ll end you!¡±


    Jeff observed Lise intently, a pang of recognition striking him¡ªa feeling he¡¯d never had with Katelyn.


    Without a second thought, he stepped in front of Lise to shield her, enduring Sharon¡¯s wrath. Wincing, he protested, ¡°Enough! Remember where we are!¡±


    With Jeff¡¯s intervention, Lise managed to slip away, her face bruised and her appearance disheveled. Breathing hard, Sharon seethed. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away. Move, Jeff, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Jeff tried to calm Lise, urging, ¡°Why wait? Go now!¡±


    Realizing her peril, Lise clutched her handbag and fled.


    The thought of further violence terrified her.


    In a rage, Sharon attacked Jeff, scratching at his face. ¡°Jeff Bailey, are you stupid? How could you side with that woman? Do you fancy her as well?¡±


    Pain shot through Jeff as he restrained Sharon.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± He scowled, a suspicion forming. ¡°I¡¯ve merely begun to suspect she might be my own.¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 14

    ?Chapter 14:


    Jeff¡¯s words ignited a fury in Sharon.


    Ready tosh out once more, she seethed, ¡°You disgraceful man! How could you father a child outside of our marriage? No surprise she pursued Katelyn¡¯s husband. Clearly, she¡¯s picked up your worst traits.¡±


    Jeff, his face marred by scratches and blood, was both furious and exasperated as he shoved Sharon back. ¡°Enough of your absurd ims! I¡¯m being serious here.


    Didn¡¯t you sense a connection when you looked at her? I¡¯ve never felt that with Katelyn.¡±


    Sharon paused, her hand mid-air, struck by his words. Indeed, she had felt an inexplicable connection the moment she firstid eyes on Lise. She pondered this curious feeling.


    Jeff continued. ¡°You felt that connection, didn¡¯t you? It might be dismissed as mere chance if it were only me feeling this way. But it¡¯s not just me. You feel it too. This can¡¯t be just a coincidence.¡±


    Sharon, still hesitant, held up her hand, tangled with strands of hair freshly pulled from Lise¡¯s scalp. ¡°These strands are from that woman. Shouldn¡¯t we confirm it with a paternity test?¡±


    At the very least, she needed to unravel the mystery.


    Jeff nced toward Katelyn¡¯s room and dismissed his thoughts with a shake of his head. ¡°Forget it. It¡¯s too far-fetched.¡±


    Despite his dismissal, the undeniable connection lingered in his mind, unshakable, like a bond of blood. Parents had this innate ability to recognize their own children.


    The best stories are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???????


    While Jeff wavered, Sharon reached a firm decision.


    ¡°Specting gets us nowhere. We need to take the test¡ªboth of us. Let¡¯s keep this from Katelyn, though. She¡­ might not handle it well.¡±


    Jeff paused briefly before nodding in agreement.


    Together, Sharon and Jeff collected strands of their hair,bined them with Lise¡¯s, and sent them off for a paternity test.


    Sharon was conflicted, a strange turmoil rising in her whenever she thought of Lise.


    ¡°What if she really is our daughter?¡± Sharon pondered aloud.


    Jeff exhaled deeply and settled onto a nearby bench.


    ¡°We¡¯ll know soon enough. Let¡¯s just wait for the results.¡±


    Katelyn stirred only after much time had passed, her head pounding as if besieged by swarms of bees. Flinching at the slightest movement, Sharon was immediately by her side.


    ¡°Kate, you¡¯re awake.¡±


    As she watched her, Sharon¡¯s emotions were conflicted. The suspicion that Lise might be her biological daughter took root swiftly and grew overwhelming.


    She examined Katelyn¡¯s features but found no resemnce to herself, only to the other woman whose eyes mirrored her own.


    Exhausted, Katelyn seemed oblivious to any tension. ¡°It feels like a nightmare,¡± she murmured.


    With a weary gesture, Katelyn massaged her temples. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s happening to me?¡±


    She remembered trying to leave her bed earlier, only to copse once more.


    Jeff approached with a conflicted heart and said, ¡°The doctor mentioned you¡¯ve been significantly stressed out. You¡¯ll need to rest in theing days.¡±


    At this, a wry smile touched Katelyn¡¯s lips.


    Neil, her husband and childhood love, had been unfaithful, defending the very woman who had undermined their union¡ªa betrayal no woman could stand. Exhausted, she leaned back against the headboard and murmured, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Sharon looked on with empathy and gently touched her hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it too much. Focus on getting better,¡± she encouraged.


    Katelyn offered a weak nod. ¡°I will recover.¡±


    While her physical injuries were mendable, the emotional wound Neil had inflicted felt as though it had cleaved her heart in two. Time might heal the injury, but the scar would remain deep and raw.


    A heavy silence filled the room, making the air feel dense and strange.


    Interrupting the quiet, Jeff¡¯s phone rang.


    With a nce at the caller ID showing his assistant¡¯s name, he felt a stir of anxiety.


    He looked at Katelyn, then stepped into the corridor to take the call.


    ¡°Mr. Bailey, we have the results of the DNA test.¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 15

    ?Chapter 15:


    ¡°The samples confirm that you are biologically rted. Miss Cooper is indeed your and Mrs. Bailey¡¯s daughter,¡± the assistant announced.


    Jeff¡¯s grip tightened on his phone as he asked for confirmation. ¡°Repeat that.¡±


    Sharon left the room too, grasping his phone to hear better.


    The assistant repeated firmly, ¡°The tests confirm that Miss Cooper is your biological daughter.¡±


    Both Sharon and Jeff were stunned by the revtion. Their suspicions were confirmed¡ªLise was indeed their biological daughter.


    After hanging up, Sharon gazed at her hands, her voice shaking with guilt.


    ¡°What have I done? I¡¯ve struck my own daughter. No, I must find her immediately.¡±


    ¡°Hold on! Don¡¯t act hastily,¡± Jeff cautioned, quickly grabbing her wrist to restrain her.


    As Sharon fought against his grip, tears streamed down her face.


    ¡°I need to apologize to her right away. I was too harsh today. She must be in a lot of pain.¡±


    Jeff nced back to ensure the door was shut and Katelyn wouldn¡¯t overhear them.


    ¡°Something doesn¡¯t add up here. We only had one daughter. How can Lise Cooper also be¡­?¡± he said with a frown.


    Sharon felt a cold fear. ¡°Indeed, how is that possible?¡± She remembered clearly that she had given birth to only one child, yet it seemed she had two daughters. Sharon looked toward the closed door, biting her lip in contemtion. ¡°We should also test Katelyn.¡±


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    They resolved to discover the true lineage of their daughters.


    Meanwhile, news from the hospital had also reached Vincent through his assistant, Samuel Natt.


    As Vincent leaned back in his chair, toying with a costly pen, sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow around him. His eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief as he remarked casually, ¡°So, it seems quite probable that Katelyn isn¡¯t actually the Bailey¡¯s daughter, right?¡±


    Samuel nodded, then added hesitantly, ¡°The Baileys are conducting another DNA test. If it turns out they¡¯re not rted, should we offer any support to Miss Bailey?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face remained stoic, his eyes piercing. ¡°If she can¡¯t handle this minor issue, how can she be deemed fit to be my¡­¡± His voice trailed off, but his meaning was clear. ¡°Keep monitoring them and keep me informed.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Adams,¡± Samuel replied, then exited the room, leaving Vincent in his expansive office. Pocketing one hand, Vincent walked to the panoramic window and gazed out at the bustling streets below, a thoughtful frown forming.


    ¡°A genuine daughter and a counterfeit one? This is intriguing indeed.¡±


    At the hospital, Katelyn was oblivious to the unfolding drama. The tranquilizers she had been prescribed constantly lulled her to sleep, trapping her in an endless nightmare. In her dreams, she was repeatedly chased to the edge of a cliff by wild beasts.


    Just then, Sharon burst into the room with a lunchbox.


    Observing her worn-out daughter, she expressed her concern. ¡°Kate, I had the chef prepare some light, easily digestible food for you, considering you haven¡¯t eaten in days. I was worried you might be starving.¡±


    Katelyn steadied herself, nodding in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡±


    Sharon ced the food on the small table beside her and assisted her daughter with tying back her hair. As Katelyn ate slowly, Sharon and Jeff exchanged a nce, unease visible in their expressions.


    If Katelyn wasn¡¯t actually their biological daughter, it meant they had unknowingly raised someone else¡¯s child for over two decades.


    Their worry deepened over the possibility of inurate test results. Even pets that lived with them for twenty years became like family, much less Katelyn, whom they had raised as their own daughter.


    Their thoughts were in disarray.


    The wait for the test results was agonizing, weighing heavily on them each moment.


    Katelyn, noticing Sharon¡¯s strained look, voiced her concern. ¡°Mom, you look unwell. Is something wrong?¡±


    Sharon snapped back to the present and dismissed her concern. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It just pains me to see you like this, dear.¡±


    Katelyn, unaware of the deeper issues, reassured her lightly, ¡°Alright, Mom. A few days of rest and I¡¯ll be better.¡±


    Sharon responded with a nod, her gaze returning to Jeff, who was clutching his phone anxiously.


    Jeff held his phone with a tight grip, filled with apprehension.


    When his assistant called once more, he hastily answered, still in the ward. ¡°What¡¯s the result?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 16

    ?Chapter 16:


    Jeff realized toote that he hadn¡¯t stepped out before taking the call.


    As he stood up, his assistant¡¯s announcement filled the quiet room¡ªit was already toote to leave unnoticed.


    ¡°The result shows that Katelyn isn¡¯t your biological daughter, Mr. Bailey.¡±


    Thus, not only Jeff, but also Katelyn and Sharon, heard the revtion loud and clear.


    Color drained from Katelyn¡¯s face as shock took hold.


    Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Sharon seized Jeff¡¯s arm and demanded sharply, ¡°Repeat what your assistant just said!¡±


    Katelyn looked on, shocked and unable to process the words.


    ¡°Dad, please tell me,¡± she urged softly.


    Jeff couldn¡¯t bring himself to meet Katelyn¡¯s gaze, overwhelmed by the magnitude of their mistake.


    He and Sharon had invested so much love and effort into raising Katelyn, only to discover she wasn¡¯t really their daughter¡ªa reality too painful for anyone to easily ept.


    Despite having found Lise, their real daughter, the news was still a devastating blow.


    Jeff inhaled deeply, seekingposure, and then affirmed with heavy certainty, ¡°The results are conclusive. You are our biological daughter.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s hope shattered, visible in her tightening eyes. Jeff¡¯s deration struck her like lightning¡ªunexpected and harsh.


    Tears welled up in Sharon¡¯s eyes as she looked at Katelyn, not with affection but with bitterness.


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    ¡°I struck my own daughter, all for a stranger. The energy spent raising someone I thought was my own¡­¡± Sharon¡¯s voice wasden with betrayal and hurt. Her words, sharp and unforgiving, pierced Katelyn deeply.


    In a fit of anger, Sharon swept Katelyn¡¯s unfinished meal from the table to the floor, creating chaos in the room.


    ¡°My heart breaks thinking of the suffering my true daughter endured. How could I have been so blind?¡± Sharon cried out, her grief palpable.


    She copsed onto the sofa, her body wracked with sobs, her face etched with anguish.


    Despite her pain, her words still implied that Katelyn was the whole reason their real daughter had suffered.


    Jeff¡¯s face was flushed with anger as he admitted, ¡°It was our mistake. We didn¡¯t recognize her.¡±


    In their eyesy unmistakable frustration.


    Katelyn grasped the gravity of the situation as pain snapped her back to reality.


    She thought such twists only happened in soap operas or novels. ¡°This can¡¯t be real,¡± she mused, finding the scenario absurd.


    Taking a deep breath, Katelyn asserted, ¡°This must be wrong. How can I not be your daughter?¡±


    Sharon jumped up, approached Katelyn aggressively, and jabbed a finger towards her.


    ¡°Are you still lying? Should I smash this report in your face? I took the sample myself. It has to be urate.¡±


    The warmth Sharon once showed had vanished, reced by hostility. Katelyn felt a surge of pain but was momentarily speechless.


    Jeff approached Sharon, gently touching her arm to soothe her. He looked at Katelyn with a mix of sorrow and disappointment.


    ¡°We raised you with love, never expecting this. I know this is hard, but try to see things from our perspective.¡±


    Sharon crumbled under the weight of her emotions, covering her face as she wept.


    ¡°This is all my fault. I failed to recognize my own child and wronged her instead.¡±


    She directed all her me toward Katelyn.


    ¡°If things had been different, perhaps Neil¡¯s actual wife, living a prosperous life, would have been our true daughter. A cruel irony.¡± Sharon¡¯s gaze toward Katelyn was filled with raw bitterness, almost piercing.


    Katelyn, piecing things together, sensed that the Baileys might already know who their real daughter was.


    With her heart pounding and fists clenched, Katelyn¡¯s voice shook as she asked, ¡°Who¡ªwho is your biological daughter?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 17

    ?Chapter 17:


    Sharon¡¯s words hit Katelyn with the force of a storm. ¡°Our daughter is Lise Cooper.¡±


    The revtion echoed in Katelyn¡¯s ears, sending shock through her system.


    Her pupils narrowed as her voice shook involuntarily. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Katelyn gasped, disbelief contorting her features.


    Could it truly be Lise? How was this possible?


    Suddenly, the surreal nature of the situation struck her. She felt like a mere puppet in a farcical y.


    In this twisted scenario, she realized she had inadvertently taken Lise¡¯s lover, Neil, as well as her ce in what she thought was her own family.


    Sharon, watching Katelyn¡¯s color drain, clenched her teeth in frustration.


    ¡°Yes, Lise is my daughter. You¡¯ve unwittingly made her suffer greatly. I¡¯m filled with regret on her behalf.¡±


    Overwhelmed, Katelyn was speechless, her heartache evident in her tear-filled eyes.


    Sharon¡¯s usations felt like a surreal nightmare to Katelyn.


    As Sharon¡¯s resentment deepened, she red at Katelyn and dered harshly, ¡°You¡¯ve usurped my daughter¡¯s life for years. There will be repercussions.¡±


    Jeff, witnessing the scene, felt aplex mix of emotions. Who could have imagined such a turn of events?


    Despite the turmoil, watching Katelyn tremble reminded him of the deep bond they had shared over the years, despite the revtions.


    With a sense of urgency, he gently pulled Sharon aside and urged, ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on this now. We need to find Lise and bring her home.¡±


    Exclusive updates g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s.c?m


    Sharon dered with resolve, ¡°Yes, we must bring her home and announce to the world that she¡¯s our real daughter. We owe her so much, and I intend to make amends.¡±


    With a scornful look at Katelyn, she added derisively, ¡°As for you, the imposter, you no longer have any ce in the Bailey family.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s heart sank with each word, her fists clenched in a mixture of anger and despair.


    ¡°I understand,¡± she whispered hoarsely.


    Jeff, gripping Sharon¡¯s arm, quickly led her from the room, urging, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry and get Lise. She¡¯s still in the dark about everything.¡±


    Despite his frustration with the situation, Jeff remainedposed, aware of Katelyn¡¯s innocence.


    Though neither was at fault, Jeff and Sharon needed someone to me, and Katelyn ended up bearing the brunt of their misced anger.


    Following her husband out, Sharon dered loudly, ¡°We will throw a grand banquet in her honor once she¡¯s home, and the new will be hers.¡±


    Jeff agreed enthusiastically, ¡°Absolutely, it must be avish celebration.¡±


    They reveled in the anticipation of reuniting with their daughter, disregarding Katelyn¡¯s feelings.


    Katelyn, overwhelmed by the absurdity of her situation, felt powerless to protest.


    In the whirlwind of betrayal by her husband and the revtion about her parents, Katelyn was emotionally and physically drained.


    Before she could even catch her breath, Sharon reappeared, her look one of disdain.


    ¡°Since you¡¯re divorcing Neil, you should stay away from him. That marriage was never yours to im. It belongs to Lise.¡±


    Katelyn stared in disbelief, hurt by Sharon¡¯s harsh words and cold demeanor¡ªonce her mother, now seemingly her adversary.


    Jeff, standing by, added sternly, ¡°You¡¯re cruel, Katelyn. All of this rightfully belongs to Lise. We must do right by her.¡±


    Katelyn slumped against the bed, her voice filled with grief. ¡°What about all the years we spent as a family?¡±


    It had only been less than thirty minutes since her world had turned upside down.


    Since the revealing phone call, Jeff and Sharon¡¯s demeanor toward Katelyn had shifted dramatically. The bond they had nurtured over decades seemed insignificantpared to the DNA test results.


    Sharon, with palpable contempt, eximed, ¡°Bah! How can you even mention that? To think I devoted all my years to someone who wasn¡¯t my child. I grieve the time spent, all while my true daughter suffered.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes welled up with pain, her heart aching more intensely.


    She harbored no resentment towards others, resigning herself to what she perceived as her deserved fate. She felt as though she was now facing divine retribution. ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­¡±


    ¡°Get Lise! Hurry!¡± Jeff interjected, his voice urgent. The mention of Lise brought a sudden gleam of joy to Sharon¡¯s face, her earlier bitterness momentarily forgotten.


    ¡°Hurry! I can¡¯t wait to see her!¡± Sharon eximed with a bright smile.


    As the Baileys hurriedly left the room, Katelyn watched them depart, her despair deepening.


    In a startling moment, overwhelmed by the emotional turmoil, Katelyn suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 18

    ?Chapter 18:


    After escaping the hospital, Lise immediately sought Neil. Before meeting him, she darkened her lip injury with lipstick and disheveled her hair to enhance the appearance of her distress.


    Once ready, Lise pressed the doorbell.


    As the door swung open, tears cascaded down her cheeks, her voiceden with sorrow.


    ¡°Neil,¡± she uttered.


    Startled by her appearance, Neil quickly brought her inside.


    ¡°Lise, what happened? Who did this to you?¡±


    With tears brimming in her eyes, Lise replied shakily,


    ¡°Sharon did this. She tricked me into meeting at a coffee shop and attacked me without warning. They¡¯ve been trying to exile me from the city, just like they forced me abroad years ago. Will they ever stop persecuting me?¡±


    Neil fetched the first aid kit, his anger mounting as he listened.


    ¡°This is too much,¡± he dered, preparing the disinfectant.


    Grinding his teeth, Neil spected, ¡°It has to be Katelyn behind this. She pretends to be indifferent, wanting only our divorce, but she¡¯s orchestrating these cruel games behind the scenes. She¡¯s far more devious than she appears.¡±


    Lise, her emotions overwhelming her,mented as she held back tears, ¡°What did I ever do to deserve this? I only wanted to be with you. It was they who pulled us apart in the first ce.¡±


    Neil gazed at Lise, whose eyes were shimmering with tears, and felt a profound sense ofpassion.


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    Holding her uninjured hand tightly, he vowed, ¡°Lise, as long as I¡¯m here, no one will ever bully you again.¡±


    Lise,forted by his promise, rested her head on his shoulder, sharing her relief and affection.


    ¡°I know you¡¯ll always be there for me, Neil. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened in my life.¡±


    Neil, his expression filled with both love and a deepening distaste for Katelyn, agreed with her sentiments. The schemes to prolong their marriage, driven by Katelyn¡¯s desire to maintain her status, disgusted him.


    ¡°It¡¯s clear now, you¡¯re the one who truly loves me,¡± he said softly.


    Lise¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she whispered, ¡°Neil.¡±


    As they drew closer, about to embrace in a kiss, Lise¡¯s phone rang, halting the moment.


    She saw Sharon¡¯s name sh across the screen and tensed up, remembering Sharon¡¯s aggressive past actions. Reflecting on her recent ordeal at the hospital, where she had feared for her life, Lise turned to Neil in desperation.


    ¡°What should we do? They seem determined to continue. Will they only stop when I¡¯m gone?¡±


    Neil clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. ¡°Answer the phone! If they dare harm you again, I won¡¯t hesitate to make them pay for their actions.¡±


    Despite Neil¡¯s reassurances, Lise was still visibly shaken, her voice quivering as she spoke, ¡°Neil, they might be calling to use Katelyn¡¯s situation against me.¡±


    Neil responded with a cold sneer, tightening his grip reassuringly on her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here. I won¡¯t let anyone harm you.¡±


    Lise, steeling herself amidst her anxiety, pressed the answer button after a brief hesitation.


    She braced for the worst, knowing that distress would only fuel Neil¡¯s disdain for Katelyn.


    However, as soon as Sharon¡¯s voice came through, vibrant and clear, the atmosphere shifted. ¡°Lise, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Lise, attempting to steady her shaking hands, responded with feignedposure. ¡°Mrs. Bailey, what do you need?¡±


    Sharon quickly responded, ¡°Lise, I realize the mistakes were mine. I am truly sorry, and I want to apologize.¡±


    Both Lise and Neil were taken aback by Sharon¡¯s words.


    What could Sharon possibly intend by this sudden change of heart? Was this another deceit, perhaps another setup?


    Lise, though wary, voiced her skepticism and fear. ¡°Mrs. Bailey, why continue these games? Haven¡¯t you done enough already? Look, I¡¯ll apologize. Please, can you leave me alone?¡±


    Sharon¡¯s voice broke, tinged with genuine remorse. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Lise, please forgive me. You are my own daughter after all!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 19

    ?Chapter 19:


    Lise and Neil were stunned, questioning if they had misheard the shocking revtion.


    Could Lise truly be the Baileys¡¯ daughter? And what about Katelyn?


    Before they could fully process the news, Sharon¡¯s voice, broken by tears, came through the line.


    ¡°Wepleted the paternity test. Lise, you are my biological daughter, not Katelyn. I am so sorry.¡±


    Lise blinked, her mind reeling.


    The life she had envied in Katelyn, believing it had been stolen from her, was actually hers all along.


    ¡°Is this some cruel joke?¡± she wondered silently.


    Clutching the phone tighter, her voice shaky, Lise asked, ¡°Sharon, are you sure?¡±


    Sharon, drying her tears, replied firmly, ¡°Absolutely. Send me your address. I¡¯lle to you with the DNA reports, and you¡¯ll see for yourself.¡±


    After a brief hesitation, Lise gave her the address.


    Once the call ended, she shared a bewildered look with Neil.


    Confused and overwhelmed, she turned to him. ¡°Am I dreaming? Or did I really just hear that? Am I really the Baileys¡¯ daughter? You were meant to be my husband.¡±


    With this newfound identity, Lise realized she would no longer face disdain or feel inferior.


    Instead, she could now assert her rightful ce, even over Katelyn if she chose.


    As Lise contemted the likely challenges and scorn Katelyn would face once the truth was revealed, a sense of anticipation stirred within her.


    sping her hand firmly, Neil confirmed earnestly, ¡°Lise, you heard correctly. We are destined to be together. After everything, we find ourselves back where we belong.¡±


    Neil quickly grasped the situation.


    Over the years, the Wheeler and Bailey families had coborated on numerous projects.


    Although Katelyn and Neil had signed their divorce agreement, the division of their shared business interests remained unresolved. Neil saw no need to dissolve their ongoing coborations at this point.


    Having gained the upper hand in his marriage to Katelyn, he now also had Lise¡ªthe woman he cherished¡ªback at his side. A situation he deemed highly favorable.


    Lise, overwhelmed with relief and joy, embraced Neil tightly.


    ¡°Finally, we¡¯ve ovee all the obstacles. Nothing can hold us back now!¡± she eximed.


    Neil, masking a sly grin, felt a surge of cold anticipation about Katelyn¡¯s fate.


    Meanwhile, at the hospital, after Sharon and Jeff had left, the nurses they hired for Katelyn were dismissed. Now, Katelyn, increasingly vulnerable, was left unaided.


    Just then, she noticed the door opening and saw a figure entering.


    Dressed in a ck suit, Vincent approached, his expression turning concerned as he noticed the blood on the floor and on Katelyn¡¯s gown.


    Quickly, he helped her onto the bed.


    ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days since west saw each other, and you look dreadful now,¡± he remarked.


    Startled, Katelyn gathered some strength and inquired, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Vincent looked around, fetched a ss of water for her, and responded, ¡°I can¡¯t afford to lose my business partner. I¡¯m still eager to see your uing design work.¡±


    Katelyn managed a faint smile, realizing Vincent was fully aware of her situation.


    ¡°It seems you know everything,¡± she acknowledged.


    Vincent, known for his significant influence in the city, pressed to uncover any secret.


    He nced at Katelyn, his expression somber. ¡°Who would have thought such drama could unfold outside of fiction?¡±


    Katelyn, her voice barely a whisper, agreed, ¡°Indeed.¡±


    It felt as though fate were mocking her.


    Rather than reaching for the water, she attempted to rise from the bed, her hands pushing down behind her for support.


    Yet her strength failed her. Her hands barely touched the ground before they gave out, and she started to copse.


    Vincent quickly stepped in, catching her in his arms. The close contact brought her face near his, and she caught a hint of his light cologne.


    Their bodies close together, the moment held an unintended intimacy.


    Grasping Vincent¡¯s arms for support, Katelyn tried once more to stand.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she murmured, her voice strained, using what little energy she had left.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Vincent replied dismissively, his attention focused on her condition.


    He noticed the paleness of her face and the blood at the corner of her mouth.


    Katelyn, once vibrant and beautiful like a spring iris, now seemed to be fading rapidly.


    After a thoughtful pause, Vincent¡¯s voice lowered, hinting at deeper currents. ¡°Do you wish to seek revenge?¡± he asked.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 20

    ?Chapter 20:


    Katelyn looked at Vincent with a hint of surprise, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity.


    ¡°What revenge?¡± she asked.


    Vincent responded smoothly, ¡°To get back at the woman who broke up your home.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips tightened, her gaze steady and undisturbed. Initially, she had been shocked and felt ridiculous about the entire situation, but now she had found her calm.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Neil was never truly mine to begin with. I have no ns to act against him. Even as a Bailey, I want nothing to do with him.¡±


    She reflected on Neil¡¯s betrayal, not just personally, but throughout their rtionship.


    Forgiveness was not an option she entertained.


    Vincent observed her reaction, a mix of surprise and relief coloring his features.


    ¡°I half expected you to be bitter and vengeful towards everyone, given your ordeal,¡± hemented lightly.


    Katelyn, maintaining herposure, sat upright on the bed, steadying her breathing.


    ¡°I¡¯m stronger than I appear. The anxiety earlier was just a momentary weakness. Soon, I¡¯ll get back to my life, including searching for my biological parents.¡±


    Vincent nodded appreciatively, impressed by her resilience.


    Addressing the practicalities, Katelyn focused on what was immediately important, brushing aside any negativity.


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    ¡°You¡¯re my business partner now. Don¡¯t hesitate to reach out to me if you need any help,¡± Vincent said.


    Her face brightened with a faint smile¡ªthe first since the upheaval began¡ªbringing a slight glow to her otherwise weary features.


    ¡°Understood,¡± she replied.


    ¡°I must leave now, but take care and recover soon.¡±


    With that, he exited, leaving Katelyn to gather her strength and n her next steps.


    Katelyn was left alone in the expansive room, enveloped by a silence so profound it filled the entire space. The quieter the surroundings, the more serene she felt. With a slow closing of her eyes, Katelyn reflected on how much she had transformed after recent events. From that moment forward, she emerged anew, impervious to further disturbances.


    Aimee, unaware of the recent upheaval, only learned of the situation upon seeing the Bailey family¡¯s announcement on social media. She rushed to the hospital to see Katelyn.


    As she approached the bed, Aimee quickened her steps, feeling deep sorrow for the fragile figure before her.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about this? I wouldn¡¯t have known if it weren¡¯t for the Bailey family¡¯s public announcement,¡± Aimee expressed her concern.


    Katelyn, leaning back against the headboard, responded without surprise.


    ¡°Sharon had already revealed ns to publicly recognize Lise as her true daughter with avish banquet.¡±


    ¡°What exactly did the announcement say?¡± Katelyn inquired, coughing slightly.


    Aimee replied, ¡°It was quite harsh. They med you for the years their daughter suffered and¡­ h, h, h.¡± As Aimee spoke, she retrieved her phone to show Katelyn Sharon¡¯s post.


    She hesitated and suggested, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t read it¡ªit might upset you.¡±


    Katelyn offered a wry smile, dismissing the concern with a wave of her hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Ultimately, I gained much from being raised as part of their family.¡±


    Reluctantly, Aimee handed over the phone to Katelyn. Sharon¡¯s Twitter update was extensive. Initially, she shared her joy at reconnecting with her biological daughter, Lise. Subsequently, she subtly med Katelyn for hindering their family reunion.


    Ultimately, Sharon aired her grievances about the shock of discovering that the girl she had nurtured for twenty years was not her own, using Katelyn of causing past conflicts between her and her daughter.


    Sharon concluded her post with a firm deration that no one would harm Lise as long as she lived, a clear caution aimed at Katelyn.


    Katelyn skimmed through the announcement and handed the phone back to Aimee.


    Despite the heavy words, Katelyn maintained herposure. Aimee, however, couldn¡¯t contain her frustration and said, ¡°The Bailey family has crossed a line. You¡¯re innocent in this. They lost their daughter, but you¡¯ve also lost the only parents you knew. Had it not been for their mistake, you wouldn¡¯t be in this hospital. What if your real parents have influence? You might have been deprived of a far better life because of the Baileys.¡±


    Katelyn responded with a resigned chuckle, suggesting, ¡°Perhaps this is just how it was meant to be.¡±


    Relieved that Sharon had at least rediscovered her daughter, Katelyn was about toment further when a loud bang interrupted her. The door burst open with a startling noise.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 21

    ?Chapter 21:


    Both Katelyn and Aimee turned their attention toward the door as it swung open. Sharon stormed in, her finger jabbing toward Aimee as sheunched into a tirade.


    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you, talking about others with no respect? How dare you use us of ruining Katelyn¡¯s chances for a better life? Do you know the time, effort, and energy I poured into raising her, when it was meant for my real daughter?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyshes betrayed the storm of emotions she struggled to contain.


    Unustomed to such hostility, Aimee¡¯s temper red instantly, herposure shattering.


    ¡°The real mistake here is yours! How could you fail to recognize your own daughter? Wasn¡¯t Katelyn innocent, just a child? What could she have known? You are ming her for your own negligence and failure!¡±


    Sharon, seething with fury at the blunt exposure of her failings, shot back, ¡°This is a family matter, none of your business! Keep out of it!¡±


    As Katelyn watched the heated exchange, her lips parted to speak, but before she could utter a word, Lise entered, gently touching Sharon¡¯s arm, attempting to mediate.


    ¡°Mom, calm down. Maybe Katelyn is struggling to ept the sudden changes and is acting out. I understand she is upset. Let her take it out on me¡ªI won¡¯t hold it against her.¡±


    Throughout her words, Lise avoided ming Aimee, deftly redirecting the focus¡ªand the me¡ªonto Katelyn. Lise cast a nce at Katelyn, a thin veneer of apology clouding her eyes. Her sigh carried the weight of unspoken judgment.


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    ¡°Katelyn, who could have predicted that fate would be so cruel to both of us? But now that things have turned out this way, we must ept what life has dealt us. The Bailey family has cared for you all these years. Do not repay them with pain just because you are feeling temporarily let down.¡±


    Lise always kept to the moral high ground, her tone brimming with empathy, yet her words cloaked in subtle barbs directed at Katelyn. This was her tried-and-true strategy.


    Hearing this, Katelyn could not help but find it all terribly amusing, her clear eyes brimming with unspoken sarcasm.


    ¡°When have I ever done anything to hurt them?¡± she asked.


    Lise pressed on, ¡°If you did those things, then why let your friend say such harsh things? Do you have any idea how¡ª¡±


    Lise¡¯s stance brought clear satisfaction to both Sharon and Jeff. Sharon reached out, took Lise¡¯s hand, and patted it tenderly, her heart swelling with emotion.


    ¡°It is true. Only our real baby girl knows how to look out for us. As for the imposter, no matter how much we do for her, she will never truly belong.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s praise for Lise was also a thinly veiled condemnation of Katelyn. In Sharon¡¯s eyes, Lise was now the perfect daughter¡ªthe one she had always longed for. Next to her, Katelyn was nothing.


    Katelyn sat in stony silence, her hands gripping the nket with white-knuckled intensity. Her eyes were shadowed with profound disappointment, tinged with a deep, unspoken pain. Sharon¡¯s words were like salt searing into her already festering wounds.


    Aimee¡¯s fury was palpable. Lise¡¯s scheming demeanor, her ability to manipte the situation with such ease, was truly infuriating.


    ¡°From start to finish, all those words were mine alone,¡± Aimee snapped. ¡°Katelyn has never uttered a word against your family. If you have a problem, address it with me directly. Stop hiding behind your bullying of Katelyn!¡±


    Lise let out another weary sigh, her gaze filled with feigned wisdom. ¡°I know Katelyn¡¯s game. She¡¯s always used others to fight her battles, all the while maintaining a facade of innocence.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes grew even sharper, their sarcasm cutting through the air. Her voice was icy, each wordced with frustration. ¡°Lise, spare me your deceitful games. I see through them clearly.¡±


    Lise was momentarily stunned into silence by the remark, her teeth grinding as she struggled to contain her rising anger. Why hadn¡¯t Katelyn lost herposure and exploded in a fit of rage by now?


    Katelyn¡¯s anger, when unleashed, would paint Lise as more delicate, pitiful, and ironically, more dignified. Yet, despite the biting nature of Lise¡¯s words, Katelyn¡¯s calm demeanor made her appear absurd¡ªalmost like a puppet in a farcical y.


    Even now, Katelyn maintained her air of haughty superiority, as if nothing could touch her quiet confidence.


    Upon witnessing Lise¡¯s distress, Sharon¡¯s patience snapped. She advanced toward Katelyn, her voice dripping with scorn.


    ¡°From start to finish, it¡¯s all your fault! If not for you, how could Lise have ever been mistreated like this? You¡¯ve deprived her of everything, and even now, you continue to torment her! Katelyn, you¡¯ve crossed every line!¡±


    Each word felt like a dagger twisting in Katelyn¡¯s heart. She had done nothing wrong¡ªwhy was she being condemned by everyone?


    Lise seized the moment to intervene, her voice soothing as she said, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t hold it against Katelyn. I understand that the earlier incidents weren¡¯t your fault.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white as she struggled to contain her swelling disappointment and anguish. ¡°After concealing your true self behind this facade for so long, do you really think people would just believe this pretense of yours is the real you?¡±


    Sharon¡¯s rage reignited instantly. ¡°Wretched girl! How dare you speak to my daughter like that!¡±


    Unable to restrain herself any longer, Sharon¡¯s hand shot out,nding a sharp, resounding p across Katelyn¡¯s face.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 22

    ?Chapter 22:


    Katelyn, already frail and weakened, felt the full force of Sharon¡¯s p. The impact whipped her face to the side, leaving her cheek searing with a hot, stinging pain, and her ears ringing with an unrelenting buzz.


    ¡°This p serves as a warning,¡± Sharon dered, her voice cold with fury. ¡°If you dare to torment Lise again, you¡¯ll find no mercy from me.¡±


    Aimee, stunned by Sharon¡¯s unexpected violence, quickly stepped in front of Katelyn, shielding her protectively.


    ¡°You¡¯ve overstepped every boundary,¡± Aimee snapped. ¡°You entered Katelyn¡¯s room, stirred up chaos, and now you must leave. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll call security.¡±


    Sharon, grinding her teeth in rage, retorted, ¡°She¡¯s been relentless in tormenting Lise. I was merely giving her a lesson she desperately needed.¡±


    Ovee with fury, Aimee fired back, ¡°Are you blind? I¡¯ve been chastising Lise from the beginning. If you have the courage, face me yourself. Katelyn, out of respect for the care she¡¯s received from you, has endured your bullying. And now, shamelessly, youy hands on her!¡±


    Aimee¡¯s words ignited Sharon¡¯s rage to its peak.


    Though seething with anger, Sharon dared not confront Aimee directly. Instead, sheshed out at Katelyn. Her outburst wasn¡¯t just fueled by her frustration over raising the ¡°wrong¡± child, but also by her misguided belief that Katelyn would offer no resistance. Had Katelyn chosen to fight back, Sharon would have seized the opportunity to create a scandal, swaying public opinion against her.


    In that moment, Katelyn regained herposure. The sting of Sharon¡¯s p severed the final thread of affection she had still harbored for her.


    Noticing Aimee¡¯s intent to continue arguing, Katelyn quickly intervened, halting her before she could say more. ¡°From this moment forward, I will sever all ties with Neil and will not interfere in your lives. You can be assured of that. The very moment he betrayed me, he lost every right to my affection.¡±


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    Her voice remained steady, her gaze tranquil, despite the reddened palm print marring her right cheek.


    ¡°Since my presence displeases you, I will remove myself from your lives. As for the money you spent on me, I will repay it a hundredfold.¡±


    All Katelyn desired now was to sever every connection with this family, making a clean and final break. There was no point in considering anything else; her disappointment had reached its limits.


    Jeff and Sharon stood in stunned silence, utterly unprepared for Katelyn¡¯s resolute deration.


    Jeff stepped forward, his expression unyielding, and scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying all this now? Your money is our money, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Aimee let out a sharp, derisiveugh, fixing Jeff and Sharon with a scornful re.


    ¡°Katelyn has always been capable of earning her own money. She¡¯s never needed yours. Have you forgotten that she stopped taking your money in junior high? You were the ones parading around, bragging about raising such a capable daughter.¡±


    All their past boasting and praise now rebounded like a boomerang, striking Jeff and Sharon¡¯s pride with full force. They had always taken pride in Katelyn, especially in her financial sess¡ªa fact well known within their social circle.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice remained detached as she stated, ¡°I willpensate you with one billion.¡±


    ¡°One billion!?¡± Sharon and Jeff were left momentarily speechless by the deration. This was no trivial amount.


    Lise dug her nails into her palm, seizing the opportunity to step forward. Her face was painted with a mask of sorrow. ¡°Katelyn, what is the meaning of these words? Do you wish to cut all ties with the family? I have always wanted nothing more than to be your sister.¡±


    Lise¡¯s words immediately sparked Sharon¡¯s anger anew. ¡°After all the years we¡¯ve cared for you, you want to cut ties over a single p? How could I have not seen before how melodramatic and fragile you are? You are so heartless and selfish¡ªyou¡¯ve truly squandered all the love and guidance we invested in you.¡±


    Lise gently held Sharon¡¯s arm, fanning the mes with her calm voice. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be upset with Katelyn. She is only venting her frustrations. And as for the billion, it¡¯s such a huge amount¡ªhow could Katelyn ever gather that much? She is merely talking nonsense.¡±


    Sharon¡¯sugh was cold, dripping with contempt. ¡°Boasting before your own family¡ªKatelyn, is this the result of my upbringing? You have sorely disappointed me. Had I known you would turn out this way, I would never have bothered to nurture you.¡±


    Katelyn responded with a faint smile, choosing silence. All she felt now was a deep, unrelenting disappointment.


    Unable to endure their words any longer, Aimee grabbed the phone directly from Katelyn¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Enough with this nonsense. The money has already been transferred. Now, get out!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 23

    ?Chapter 23:


    Impatience clouded Aimee¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Check your ount. This money is meant to sever ties. Take it, and stop iming I owe you anything!¡±


    Sharon felt a surge of anger. How could they equate years of care with money? As she was about to mock them, a notification popped up on Jeff¡¯s phone, indicating a deposit had been made. His expression shifted as he saw the ount bnce.


    He grabbed Sharon¡¯s arm, his face a mix of emotions. ¡°The money¡¯s in,¡± he announced.


    Sharon and Lise, standing beside him, looked on in shock. Katelyn had indeed transferred a billion dors¡ªa significant sum.


    Lise¡¯s hands balled into fists, her eyes shing with jealousy. ¡°Where did all this moneye from? Did Neil have a hand in it?¡±


    Sharon, though less shocked now, still looked at Katelyn with disapproval and continued questioning. ¡°Can money really buy everything? How can I ever repay Lise for her childhood and everything she¡¯s been through?¡±


    Jeff maintained hisposure and shot Sharon a cautionary look. ¡°Enough, let¡¯s leave.¡±


    Lise, however, wasn¡¯t ready to drop it. ¡°Dad, shouldn¡¯t we find out where this money came from? What if it¡¯s not legal? I¡¯m concerned she might be heading down the wrong path.¡±


    Jeff¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Enough,¡± he snapped. He had known Katelyn well for many years. Despite everything invested in her, perhaps this billion was her way of settling everything.


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    It was now evident that Katelyn was dering a definitive end to their bond.


    Lise bit her lip, realizing she couldn¡¯t change the situation. She could only escort Sharon, who was stillining, out of the room.


    As soon as the door shut, Aimee hurried to the window to let in some fresh air.


    ¡°We need to ventte this room quickly to clear out the negativity. Sharing the same air as them is suffocating.¡± Aimee was clearly upset. She looked at Katelyn¡¯s pale face, sighed, and expressed her concern. ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯re too generous with them. Why give them so much?¡±


    Katelyn averted her eyes, her long eyshes veiling a fleeting look of bitterness. ¡°We need to end this charade one way or another. Consider us even now.¡±


    She had lost all faith in maintaining family bonds. Today¡¯s events had shattered any remaining illusions about Sharon and Jeff.


    After the family of three left the hospital, Sharon grabbed Jeff¡¯s phone and obsessively reread the deposit notification. She murmured in disbelief, ¡°This is actually happening. How did she acquire so much money?¡±


    Jeff thought for a moment before responding, ¡°I recall Katelyn starting a small business while in school. It was somewhat sessful, but not like this.¡±


    As they reflected, it dawned on them that they really didn¡¯t understand Katelyn. For the most part, they had merely seen her as a symbol of their sessful parenting. Impatiently, Sharon dismissed the matter. ¡°Forget it. If we can¡¯t figure it out, let it be. This money can stillpensate for our past losses.¡±


    Lise, trailing behind, listened intently, her hands balled into fists. Seizing the moment, she excused herself and quickly called Neil.


    ¡°Lise? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Neil¡¯s concerned voice filled her ear.


    Lise measured her words, asking tentatively, ¡°Neil, has the financial division between you and Katelyn been resolved? Did you allocate half of your assets to her?¡±


    Lise lingered on the thought that Neil was the most likely source of the funds. If it was true, she needed a n to reim those funds. Once married to Neil, his wealth would be hers. She needed to make sure Katelyn got nothing.


    Neil, who was in a meeting, signaled for quiet before stepping into the hallway to respond. ¡°Why do you bring this up? Katelyn left without a single penny.¡±


    Lise was taken aback. ¡°How is that possible? Could Katelyn really have opted for such an unwise move?¡± she thought.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she softened her tone. ¡°Neil, perhaps you should check your financial statements. Katelyn hase into a significant amount of money. How could she, a homemaker, amass such wealth?¡±


    The implication was clear¡ªNeil had to see her point. What other exnation could there be for Katelyn¡¯s sudden wealth if not theft?


    Neil paused, his expression turning grave. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into it.¡±


    Three dayster, Katelyn was discharged from the hospital. Aimee handled the formalities early that morning. As they were packing up to leave, an unexpected visitor entered the room.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 24

    ?Chapter 24:


    Katelyn looked up, taken aback by Vincent¡¯s sudden presence.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked.


    Today, Vincent had swapped his usual suit for a light gray casual outfit, softening his typically intimidating presence and making him seem more friendly and approachable.


    He smiled slightly, his voice calm. ¡°I heard you were discharged today, so I thought I¡¯de and help.¡±


    Katelyn was visibly startled. Vincent, known for his relentless business acumen andck of romantic entanglements, was thest person she expected to see.


    His presence alone was enough to stir anxiety in her. She nced at her luggage and then back at him. ¡°Please, there¡¯s no need. Aimee and I can manage.¡±


    Vincent arched an eyebrow yfully. ¡°Are you trying to send me away?¡±


    His question left Katelyn momentarily at a loss for words. She quickly tried to rify, saying, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯m just busy and don¡¯t want to impose on your time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Vincent responded smoothly.


    Katelyn found herself without words again.


    Beside them, Aimee observed their exchange intently, her smile growing wider. She always sensed a curious and elusive tension between them whenever they met. Despite being a billionaire with extensive dailymitments, Vincent had made time to visit Katelyn in the hospital, which sparked curiosity and mischief in Aimee¡¯s gaze.


    Deciding to create a moment for them to be alone, Aimee pulled out her phone, feigning urgency. ¡°Kat, I need to handle an emergency immediately,¡± she announced.


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    Before Katelyn could say anything, Aimee turned to Vincent. ¡°Mr. Adams, Katelyn is still quite weak. Could you be so kind and take her home?¡±


    Without waiting for a response, Aimee quickly exited, leaving Katelyn to watch her disappear down the hallway. Katelyn¡¯s expression tensed, puzzled by Aimee¡¯s sudden urgency.


    Meanwhile, Vincent appeared thoughtful, clearly intrigued by Aimee¡¯s behavior.


    After a moment, Vincentposed himself, stepped forward, and lifted the luggage.


    ¡°Your manager has entrusted me with this responsibility, and I must fulfill it,¡± he stated firmly.


    Given Vincent¡¯smitment, Katelyn knew that any refusal woulde across as rude. She gratefully responded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee,¡± he replied smoothly.


    Vincent led the way out with the luggage, Katelyn trailing behind. The bag was lightly packed, containing only a few clothes and personal items.


    Vincent initially moved swiftly, prompting Katelyn to quicken her steps. Noticing her struggle, Vincent consciously slowed his pace to match hers. They reached his car, a sleek ck limo, parked at the hospital¡¯s entrance.


    Vincent gracefully held the car door open for her, and she acknowledged with a nod, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Once settled in the backseat of the car, Vincent nced over and casually asked, ¡°Where to?¡±


    ¡°Evergreens Garden,¡± Katelyn answered.


    It was more than just a house¡ªit was a personal milestone, bought as she stepped into adulthood. She had tailored its interior long ago to suit her tastes. Though she had moved in with Neil after their marriage, she had never truly lived there. It stood as her sanctuary.


    Vincent remarked casually, ¡°It¡¯s a nice location. I¡¯ve heard the scenery is quite impressive.¡±


    Katelyn smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m also quite fond of the environment there.¡±


    After herment, she turned to gaze out the window. A gentle spring breeze wafted through the half-open window, yfully tousling her hair.


    The car was filled with the soft tones of piano music, lending an air of tranquility to their ride. Despite this being only their second encounter, Katelyn felt an unexpected familiarity with Vincent, as if they had known each other for a long time.


    Vincent nced at Katelyn and inquired casually, ¡°Have youe up with any new designs for that jewelry batch?¡±


    Katelyn, looking healthier than she had in days, her natural beauty evident even without makeup, responded sincerely, ¡°I¡¯ve based the next designs on the Milky Way theme. I¡¯ve finalized the ideas and will send you the drawings once I return.¡±


    Vincent tapped his fingers on hisp thoughtfully andmented slowly, ¡°Is working with you genuinely enjoyable, Miss Bailey?¡±


    Katelyn smiled softly. ¡°Thank you for the kind words, Mr. Adams.¡±


    As they neared Ever-spring Garden, just two blocks away, an unexpected event urred. A cyclist suddenly swerved in front of their car.


    Reacting swiftly, the driver steered sharply to the right. Caught off-guard, Katelyn was thrown slightly off bnce, leaning involuntarily towards Vincent, nearly making contact with his lips.


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 Chapter 25

    ?Chapter 25:


    The incident unfolded so abruptly that neither Katelyn nor Vincent had time to react. Their lips nearly touched.


    Katelyn immediately sat up straight, her pulse quickening. ¡°Sorry, that was unintended.¡±


    Even though she had been discharged from the hospital, she was still weak.


    Vincent adjusted his posture smoothly. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± he murmured soothingly.


    The driver, flustered, blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams.¡± A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He was well aware of Vincent¡¯s aversion to physical contact, and anxious thoughts clouded his mind about his uncertain position.


    Vincent remarked coolly, ¡°Focus on your driving.¡±


    The driver, caught off guard by Vincent¡¯sck of anger, felt a chill fill the air. He was utterly baffled but ceased his worrying under Vincent¡¯s piercing stare.


    Katelyn gazed out the window at the passing scenery, seeking a diversion from her turmoil.


    Vincent remained quiet, the tension palpable, yet somewhat alleviated by the soft strains of the radio.


    Shortly after, they arrived swiftly at Everspring Garden. Katelyn exited the vehicle, and Vincent assisted her with her bag.


    She ran her fingers through her tousled hair while looking at him. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. See you around, Miss Bailey,¡± he replied.


    She nodded, her eyes lingering on his departing vehicle. Once it vanished, she lifted her bag and went into the building.


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    After a quick shower, Katelyn entered her bedroom,ptop in hand.


    She felt more settled after two days of rest in the hospital. Going over earlier design ideas, she paused briefly before sketching directly on the screen.


    Deeply engaged in her work, her drawings flowed effortlessly.


    Once fully immersed in her beloved career, she always lost track of time.


    Two dayster, shepleted all her pending design drafts.


    Katelyn massaged her stiff neck and sighed in relief. Atst, she had finished a segment of the design. Rising, she filled a ss with warm water and tended to her newly acquired green nts. Her phone then broke the silence, vibrating on the table. It was Aimee calling.


    Katelyn answered, only to hear Aimee¡¯s expletiveden outburst.


    ¡°What a despicable pair! How could they dare attack you online? I really should¡¯ve confronted that Lise Cooper at the hospital!¡±


    Aimee was furious, but Katelyn remained serene, leaning back on her sofa.


    ¡°Take it easy, Aimee. Getting mad at those fools isn¡¯t worth it.¡±


    Aimee, frustrated by Katelyn¡¯s calm demeanor, retorted, ¡°You¡¯re too forgiving, which is why they keep targeting you. Check the inte to see what¡¯s being said. At least you¡¯ll be prepared to handle the public attentionter. Just don¡¯t let their nonsense get to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into itter.¡±


    Katelyn then found the tweet.


    Having processed everything earlier, she had distanced herself from the ordeal. Thus, regardless of Neil¡¯s actions, Katelyn remained unaffected. To her, they were mere strangers, unworthy of her energy.


    The tweet had sparked major online bacsh, along with several other trending topics rted to her and Neil. After reviewing the details, Katelyn understood why Aimee was so upset.


    Neil had announced their divorce and revealed the finalized decree. Subsequently, he dered his engagement to Lise.


    Lise quickly tweeted a hypocritical response mirroring his announcement.


    Lise feigned remorse, offering an apology to Katelyn, then boldly imed that pursuing love was just and vowed to chase her happiness. Intimately, she suggested that if not for Katelyn, she and Neil could have married years ago, asserting that things were now as they should be.


    A faint smile crossed Katelyn¡¯s face. Lise¡¯s tweet had ignited a storm of bacsh, leading to a barrage of insults on Katelyn¡¯s Twitter page, where she was maligned mercilessly.


    While Katelyn browsed through thements, Aimee remained on the line, fretting over her friend¡¯s well-being.


    ¡°Kat, don¡¯t let thesements get to you. The public is simply¡­¡±


    ¡°Specting without any real insight,¡± Katelyn said, not bothered. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m concentrating on my career right now.¡±


    Despite her reassurances, Aimee¡¯s concern persisted. She continued the conversation, reiterating her points until Katelyn received another call. When she saw the caller ID, her expression turned grave.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 26

    ?Chapter 26:


    Vincent was on the line. Katelyn suspected he might have caught wind of the negativements online. Hesitating briefly, she answered the call and greeted him politely.


    ¡°Hello, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I¡¯m calling about our coboration,¡± Vincent replied, getting straight to the point. He was gazing down at the bustling street below from beside a French window, his hand in his trouser pocket.


    Katelyn straightened up immediately, her tone turning serious.


    Vincent spoke softly, ¡°Our coboration is vital to Adams Group. After reviewing your recent design themes and drafts, my team has a few suggestions. We¡¯d like to have you over for a group discussion to finalize the overall design concepts and address any relevant concerns.¡±


    Katelyn was taken aback. Known as the top designer, she wasn¡¯t ustomed to her designs being questioned. Vincent had seemed quite pleased with her ideas previously. With a slight frown, Katelyn wondered if the public bacsh was influencing Vincent¡¯s stance now.


    Vincent, sensing her hesitation, added, ¡°Miss Bailey, please excuse any seeming impertinence. It wasn¡¯t intentional. We highly value this project and want to ensure everything proceeds wlessly. That¡¯s why I¡¯m inviting you to our office.¡±


    Katelyn regained herposure and responded, ¡°I understand, Mr. Adams. I¡¯ll be at Adams Group tomorrow.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s lips curved into a knowing smile, his gaze enigmatic. ¡°About 9 a.m.?¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    After hanging up, Katelyn disconnected from the social media drama and logged out, finding sce in her private world once again.


    Your next adventure is at g  al n ovels . con


    She arrived at Adams Group the following morning, punctually. Dressed in a long dress that brushed her ankles, with light makeup and her hair tied up, she walked confidently on her 3-inch heels.


    The door to the meeting room swung open, and all heads in the design department turned her way.


    Samuel promptly stepped forward to introduce her. ¡°Allow me to introduce the woman beside me¡ªshe¡¯s Iris.¡± The room filled with murmurs of surprise.


    Meeting the renowned designer Iris in person was unexpected for everyone. She was both remarkably young and strikingly beautiful. Katelyn, always a figure of modesty, valued her privacy. Despite her fame, few knew her by sight.


    Vincent greeted her with a subtle nod and began, ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Therge screen behind Katelyn lit up, disying her design draft alongside a document featuring the finished products from their own designers. Both images were juxtaposed forparison.


    The theme was ¡°Gxy.¡± Katelyn¡¯s draft featured a small, curved moon encircled by vivid stars that shone brighter than the moon itself.


    Nes were the primary focus of this design series. The department head furrowed his brow, set down the file, and posed a question. ¡°Miss Bailey, when other designers tackled the Gxy series, they emphasized the moon, using the stars merely as a backdrop. But your design takes a different approach¡ª¡±


    Katelyn offered a knowing smile. ¡°The series is named ¡®Gxy,¡¯ so the stars ought to be the centerpiece. Even on moonless nights, the stars remain luminous. While many exalt the moon¡¯s purity, they often overlook the radiance of the stars. My inspiration for this ne came from those diligent yet unrecognized individuals in their fields¡ªlike stars, they shine with a selfless light.¡±


    As she exined, Katelyn approached the screen and gestured at the images disyed. As the design was swiftly rotated ny degrees, someone spotted a detail in Katelyn¡¯s draft and voiced their astonishment. ¡°Is the pattern formed by the stars a letter?¡±


    ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s an ¡®A¡¯ for Adams,¡± Katelyn acknowledged with a nod but continued to rotate the design. Momentster, another observer discerned a different letter ¡®A¡¯ from a new angle.


    ¡°It¡¯s not just for aesthetic appeal; it¡¯s also meant to be unmistakably associated with Adams Group,¡± Katelyn exined.


    Her innovative approach and original ideas captivated everyone present. She then swiped her finger across the design draft, revealing another transformation. The crescent moon now morphed into a full moon.


    The room fell into awed silence until someone started pping, soon followed by sustained, thunderous apuse.


    Katelyn¡¯s design had won them overpletely. ¡°She truly lives up to her reputation,¡± someonemented admiringly.


    ¡°By the disy, the department head who had initially challenged Katelyn abruptly stood up, seemingly with something more to say.¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 27

    ?Chapter 27:


    The department head stared at Katelyn, her eyes filled with dissatisfaction.


    ¡°I acknowledge that your design has its merits, yet my work is equallymendable. Why should your design lead this newunch?¡± she challenged.


    This collection marked Adams Group¡¯s initial venture into the jewelry sector. Vincent had ced significant emphasis on the project, knowing that a sessful campaign would grant the chief designer extensive exposure and resources. She had been waiting for this opportunity for years and was determined not to let Katelyn take it from her.


    Katelyn nced at their designparisons and, with a light tap, erged the relevant image on the screen.


    The design showcased a clever moon motif ented with stars at its base.


    A flicker of realization crossed Katelyn¡¯s face, and her tone turned detached.


    ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m mistaken, but did your design draw inspiration from Hake, the foreign designer?¡± she asked, her wordsced with quiet respect for the department head.


    Designs bearing such resemnce would typically be seen as giaristic. In this field, giarism was a cardinal sin.


    Should her sketch be selected andter mass-produced, such usations would damage both Adams Group and Vincent¡¯s reputation.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze turned icy.


    The department head, her eyes betraying a flicker of guilt, persisted, ¡°This design is entirely my own. You cannot disparage my work as inferior.¡± She clung to a thread of hope.


    Rake, a little-known designer, was a recent discovery for her. Pressed by Vincent¡¯s tight deadline, she had been unable to craft a superior design but was determined to secure the prestige and resources meant for the lead designer.


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    Katelyn narrowed her eyes slowly, her expression turning cold.


    ¡°It seems you won¡¯t give up until you see the evidence.¡±


    With that, she lowered her head and resumed navigating the screen. Soon, she located the star motif designed by Hake.


    She aligned the two images and zoomed in simultaneously.


    Theparison was striking. Everyone could clearly see the resemnce between the two.


    The department head was visibly shaken, disbelief etched across her face.


    ¡°How did Katelyn discover this designer?¡±


    Unruffled, Katelyn spoke calmly. ¡°I gave you a chance, which you did not value. giarism is an offense in this field. Must we go over this again?¡±


    The others were stunned. No one had expected the department head to engage in such misconduct. The department head¡¯s body trembled involuntarily. After regaining herposure, she eximed, ¡°I refuse to ept this! I don¡¯t believe you coulde up with such a wless design so quickly. If you¡¯re truly skilled, prove it. Let¡¯s have a contest right here, right now.¡±


    Vincent, seated to the side, observed Katelyn with intense eyes.


    ¡°Sure,¡± Katelyn replied evenly. After a brief pause, she looked up and frowned slightly. ¡°However, I didn¡¯t bring myptop.¡±


    Vincent straightened and signaled to Samuel, who promptly retrieved Vincent¡¯sptop and ced it before Katelyn.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, this is Mr. Adams¡¯sptop,¡± Samuel announced.


    Surprised, Katelyn turned to Vincent and offered a faint smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She then focused entirely on her work, not looking up again.


    They were given two hours to create a design themed around spring.


    Katelyn was wholly engrossed in her work, her hair yfully falling over her forehead.


    The sunlight filtered through the window, illuminating her. From Vincent¡¯s angle, he could see the fine hairs on her face.


    The vast conference room was mostly silent, punctuated only by the asional tapping of keyboards as they worked.


    Two hours flew by. Katelyn¡¯s ne design, themed around a peach blossom, immediately enchanted the audience, drawing gasps of amazement and admiration.


    No one could have predicted that such an exquisite and intricately designed ne could emerge in just two hours, right before their eyes.


    Even in its sketch form, the design was alreadypelling. Transformed into a finished product, it promised to be even more breathtaking.


    In contrast, the department head¡¯s creation, while decent, seemed overly familiar and uninspired.


    The result was unmistakable¡ªthere was no need to announce a victor.


    The department head slumped in her chair, whispering, ¡°I admit it.¡±


    With a trace of sympathy in her gaze, Katelyn addressed her, ¡°You have a knack for design, but you¡¯re too focused on quick wins.¡±


    At that instant,prehension dawned on everyone.


    Unsurprisingly, future designs would likely be modeled after Katelyn¡¯s. The session concluded.


    Katelyn returned theptop and was on her way out of the conference room when a voice halted her.


    ¡°Miss Bailey.¡±


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 Chapter 28

    ?Chapter 28:


    Katelyn nced over, catching Vincent¡¯s smile. She inquired, slightly puzzled, ¡°Mr. Adams, is there anything else?¡±


    Vincent approached her. Despite her 2-inch heels, Katelyn still appeared much shorter as his shadow loomed over her.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, thank you for the invaluable insights you shared with my team. They¡¯re sure to be inspired by their uing projects. I¡¯d like to invite you to dinner as a token of my appreciation.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s first instinct was to decline. Professionally, she had unfinished work to attend to. Personally, she preferred to keep her distance from Vincent.


    Yet, before she could politely refuse, Vincent interjected earnestly, ¡°I truly want to express my gratitude, Miss Bailey.¡±


    His expression was sincere, and his usually cool tone was warmer now.


    Katelyn hesitated, and eventually, the thought of potential future coborations made her reconsider. ¡°It¡¯s just a meal,¡± she thought.


    She responded softly, ¡°Alright, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s smile widened. ¡°There¡¯s an excellent new restaurant nearby, known for its exquisite cuisine.¡±


    Katelyn agreed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Please, lead the way then, Mr. Adams.¡±


    The restaurant Vincent mentioned had recently gained poprity, not only for its exceptional food but also for its exclusive clientele.


    It was a ce frequented by the affluent and influential. Vincent had secured a table by the window with a stunning view.


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    A piano yed softly in the background, and red roses adorned each table.


    Settling into the pleasant ambiance, Katelynmented, ¡°The setting here is truly splendid.¡±


    Vincent replied with a gentlemanly nod, ¡°I¡¯m pleased you think so, Miss Bailey.¡±


    Soon after, a waiter delivered their meals.


    Just as Katelyn was about to savor her steak, a harsh voice interrupted.


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey, so this is why you finalized our divorce without a fuss, not even asking for a dime from me. Seems you¡¯ve already moved on to someone else.¡±


    Turning, Katelyn¡¯s gaze fell on Neil¡¯s scornful expression, which immediately dampened her spirits. Lise trailed behind, eyeing Katelyn with envy, convinced that Katelyn¡¯s newfound fortune post-Neil was the reason for her change.


    Suppressing her bitterness, Katelyn realized how naive she had been in the past.


    Setting down her fork, she retorted, ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve found a new man. Mr. Adams surpasses you in every conceivable way. You¡¯re no match for him.¡±


    Vincent merely raised his eyebrows, remaining silent.


    Katelyn¡¯s words stung Neil. Incensed, he shot back, ¡°Have you forgotten how you begged me to marry you? I regret marrying someone like you.¡±


    ¡°Marrying you was the gravest mistake of my life,¡± Katelyn replied coldly.


    ¡°You!¡± Neil red at her, then burst into mockingughter. He turned to Vincent, jeering, ¡°She¡¯s been passed on by Mr. Adams. A man of your caliber could choose any woman. Why settle for her?¡±


    Vincent responded coolly, ¡°You¡¯ve overlooked a gem in favor of the mundane. I appreciate the opportunity this oversight has given me.¡±


    Taken aback by his words, Lise nced at Vincent, herposure slightly shaken, yet she quickly regained her confidence.


    Fists clenched, Lise approached with feigned concern. ¡°Mr. Adams, perhaps there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Katelyn is skilled at maniption, and Neil simply doesn¡¯t want you misled.¡±


    As she spoke, Lise¡¯s usatory tone shifted to Katelyn, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to expose you, Katelyn. I just want to spare you the repercussionster.¡±


    Katelyn responded sharply, ¡°You¡¯re quite the actress. Ever considered a career in entertainment?¡±


    With that, Katelyn intended to end the exchange. Just then, more unexpected guests made their entrance into the restaurant.


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 Chapter 29

    ?Chapter 29:


    When Jeff and Sharon entered and saw Lise on the verge of tears, their gaze quickly shifted to Katelyn, sitting quietly aside, which sparked immediate fury.


    Despite her polished facade as an elite, Sharon rushed at Katelyn, spitting venom. ¡°Bitch! You¡¯ve ruined Lise¡¯s life, but still dare torment her.¡±


    The sting of her words hit Katelyn deeply. She had once been cherished as Sharon¡¯s darling, but now scorned, merely due to a DNA report.


    Disenchanted by what she saw as hollow familial ties, Katelyn retorted sarcastically, ¡°Did you actually see me harm her? Why don¡¯t you teach Lise some manners? She¡¯s quite the hypocrite.¡±


    Lise, hurt, whispered, ¡°Katelyn¡ª¡±


    Sharon, inmed, jabbed a finger at Katelyn. ¡°Lise is good and kind. Think she¡¯s like you? Warn her again, and I won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    Vincent, though visibly annoyed, remained silent, observing the confrontation.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes glinted with icy disdain while Neil, regretting his earlier harshness, remained tight-lipped.


    Sharon, still seething,shed out, ¡°I regret ever raising you, you ingrate! I wish I had never let you survive your childhood.¡±


    Katelyn clenched her fists, hiding her anger as Lise smirked in victory, reveling in Katelyn¡¯s downfall. Once a beloved member of the Bailey family and Neil¡¯s wife, Katelyn now found herself ostracized, an outcast in her own circles, ording to Lise.


    Vincent then fixed a chilling stare on Sharon and Jeff, asserting his formidable presence. ¡°It appears the Bailey Group is prospering,¡± he said, his voice light, butced with an unmistakable threat.


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    Sharon, typically domineering, recoiled under his intimidating aura.


    Sensing Vincent¡¯s protection of Katelyn, Lise panicked, fearing the consequences of crossing the powerful Adams Group.


    Reluctantly, Lise pulled at Sharon, clutching her chest. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m feeling unwell. Can we leave?¡±


    Sharon quickly steadied her daughter, concern etched on her face. ¡°Of course. Let¡¯s get you to a doctor.¡±


    As they made their way to the exit, Sharon shot a warning nce at Katelyn, her look promising that this wasn¡¯t over. The meal had lost all appeal to Katelyn.


    She took a sip from her goblet, a slight furrow forming between her brows.


    ¡°I have to admit that I have some sympathy for you, Miss Bailey,¡± Vincent said, pulling her from her distracted state. Their eyes met, and in his gaze, Katelyn found not mockery, butpassion.


    With a wry smile, she faced him earnestly.


    ¡°I apologize for such a scene, Mr. Adams. Also, calling you my new boyfriend was a spur-of-the-moment thing to get back at Neil. I didn¡¯t mean to offend you.¡±


    She clutched the fabric of her dress, hoping he wouldn¡¯t misunderstand her intent.


    ¡°I know,¡± Vincent replied, tapping his knee thoughtfully. ¡°Have they always treated you this way?¡±


    Katelyn shook her head, her emotions surfacing.


    ¡°They were kind to me once, treating me like a princess. Butter¡­ perhaps they felt I usurped the life meant for their biological daughter.¡±


    She had regained herposure and spoke about her past dispassionately, as if she were merely an observer.


    Vincent studied her intently. ¡°Do you hate them?¡±


    Caught off guard, Katelyn hesitated, but then shook her head again.


    ¡°I hold no resentment towards them, nor do I believe I¡¯ve wronged them. My birth was not my choice. I¡¯ve repaid them financially, and moving forward, we¡¯ll part ways, as strangers.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened at her words.


    ¡°Given their actions today, they won¡¯t let this go easily. Be careful. And in the future, choose yourpanions more wisely,¡± he advised, his tone carrying an underlying warning.


    Katelyn forced a smile to mask her bitterness, stating firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t fall in love again. It¡¯s too painful. In the future, I¡¯ll devote myself entirely to my career. You won¡¯t be disappointed in our project, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes gleamed with increased respect as he lifted his ss.


    ¡°I look forward to it,¡± he said smoothly.


    Katelyn raised her goblet, and they clinked sses.


    ¡°Likewise.¡±


    Their smiles met in mutual understanding. Unbeknownst to them, a paparazzo lingered nearby.


    Suddenly, a sh went off.


    Crack! Crack! The sound of the camera shutter shattered the calm of the evening.


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 Chapter 30

    ?Chapter 30:


    Later that evening, a post titled Vincent¡¯s Rendezvous with a Mystery Woman surged in poprity, igniting discussions among tens of thousands ofizens. Along with it, multiple topics regarding his love life surfaced.


    The post featured a photo. The restaurant¡¯s soft lighting bathed the two figures in a warm glow. Vincent¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, and the woman opposite him wore her hair in a simple low ponytail, her profile striking. Though her full face wasn¡¯t visible, her beauty was evident.


    Online viewers erupted with excitement. In just half an hour, the post amassed millions of views and hundreds of thousands ofments, all centered around Vincent.


    Ever since Vincent had stepped into the public eye, he had been described as stern, handsome, and adept. This was the first time he had been photographed with a woman.


    The image piqued the curiosity ofizens, who eagerly began to investigate the identity of the woman. Onement read, ¡°Vincent looks handsome from every angle, without exception.¡±


    Another remarked, ¡°Just glimpsing the side profile through the screen suggests they make a great couple.¡±


    One user asked, ¡°Hispanion is so beautiful. Is she a celebrity? Her face is lovely, and her aura is captivating.¡±


    Othersmented, ¡°The long-time bachelor has finally found love. The typically work-focused Vincent is actually having dinner with a woman.¡±


    Upon reading thesements, Lise was overwhelmed with jealousy, to the point of nearly dropping her phone. Vincent had never shown such tenderness with any woman. How had Katelyn, of all people, managed to attract his attention?


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    Why did she deserve such an outstanding man?


    Shouldn¡¯t Katelyn be devastated over Neil¡¯s betrayal?


    Lise¡¯s mood soured, and she inadvertently dropped her fork during the meal. The others at the table turned to look at her.


    Neil looked up, concerned. ¡°Lise, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lise hesitated before responding, ¡°Neil, I stumbled upon a news article, but I¡¯m hesitant to share it with you.¡±


    Confused, Neil inquired, ¡°What is it? Why can¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    After pausing, Lise handed her phone to Neil.


    ¡°Looks like Katelyn has started anew. The inte is celebrating their union,¡± she exined.


    Neil¡¯s expression turned grim instantly. As he read the article, his eyes grew cold.


    Lise sighed, a mock guilt weighing on her. ¡°Neil, this is partly my fault. If I hadn¡¯t appeared, Katelyn might not have tried to retaliate by getting close to other men. But this is damaging her reputation more than anything.¡± The more Lise spoke, the guiltier she felt, her eyes beginning to water.


    Neil clutched the phone, scrutinizing the photo, his brows knitted in concern.


    ¡°So, they even clicked after you and the Baileys left? Toasting to their newfound camaraderie?¡±


    ¡°What could possibly follow?¡± he pondered aloud. ¡°Could it lead to something more intimate?¡±


    A coil of anger and jealousy formed inside Neil. This scenario was far from what he had envisioned. Katelyn should be remorseful and longing for his return. Neil returned the phone with a sneer. ¡°A woman who maniptes situations for her advantage doesn¡¯t deserve true love. She¡¯ll face the consequences of her actions eventually.¡±


    Sharon gently patted Lise¡¯s hand, offeringfort. ¡°Lise, don¡¯t me yourself for everything. Katelyn is beyond redemption. It¡¯s best to just ignore her.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s gaze darkened with contempt as she added, ¡°Katelyn can¡¯t hold a candle to you.¡±


    Lise hesitated but then nodded. Despite the reassurance, jealousy lingered in her heart.


    Jeff exhaled, evidently weary of the topic, and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s just focus on the meal.¡±


    Meanwhile, Katelyn had just exited the restaurant when her phone rang with a call from Aimee.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t expect your rtionship to advance so swiftly. How was the dinner date tonight?¡±


    Confused, Katelyn responded, ¡°What are you referring to? I¡¯m at a loss here.¡±


    Aimeeughed knowingly. ¡°Thetest online post has revealed your outing with Vincent. Now, everyone knows about your dinner date tonight.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡± Katelyn was shocked.


    Without wasting another moment, Katelyn essed the trending search.


    Disyed prominently were Vincent¡¯s name and their photo together.


    A past incident shed through her mind, causing her heart to flutter anxiously.


    .


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 Chapter 31

    ?Chapter 31:


    Vincent always kept his public and private lives separate, detesting any public discourse about his personal matters. She had heard that some people had spread rumors online, attempting to get closer to Vincent.


    They were said to have ended up miserably, with some even rumored to be silenced permanently. To this day, unresolved rumors hinted at Vincent¡¯s involvement.


    Katelyn¡¯s grip on her phone tightened as she worried Vincent might think she was behind the trending photo and react harshly. Feeling a chill, she quickly exined to Vincent, ¡°Mr. Adams, someone took our photo and posted it online. Now it¡¯s trending. I don¡¯t know who did it, but I promise it wasn¡¯t me.¡±


    Looking at Vincent, Katelyn was frightened he might not believe her.


    Vincent, noticing her anxious demeanor, slightly frowned and asked, ¡°Am I that intimidating to you?¡±


    In that moment, Katelyn looked like a frightened kitten, her anxiety palpable.


    Caught off guard, Katelyn hurriedly added, ¡°I just want to rify that I didn¡¯t start this rumor.¡±


    Vincent responded calmly, ¡°I believe you. If it bothers you, I can have the news removed.¡±


    Surprised, Katelyn tentatively asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, doesn¡¯t this bother you?¡±


    Vincent coolly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t concern myself with these matters.¡±


    Katelyn paused, wondering if he truly was indifferent. If Vincent didn¡¯t care, why had there been no rumors about him since that past incident?


    Not wanting to dwell too deeply, especially since they were now working together, she stated, ¡°Please have the news removed. I don¡¯t want it damaging your reputation, nor do I want my private life exposed.¡±


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    Netizens were already specting about the woman¡¯s identity in the photo. If left unaddressed, her identity would soon be public knowledge, sparking unwanted discussions.


    Vincent considered briefly.


    Katelyn, known in the design world as Iris, had always maintained a discreet profile.


    Vincent expressed his appreciation and decided, ¡°I¡¯ll handle the situation soon. However, you might consider being less secretive. You¡¯re better suited for the sunlight than hiding in the shadows.¡±


    Katelyn was caught off guard by Vincent¡¯sment about living in the sunlight. Before she could process it, Vincent had already opened the car door, offering to drive her home.


    ¡°I can take a taxi back,¡± Katelyn quickly responded, stepping back. Her car was still parked at Adams Group, where she had left it to join him for dinner. The dinner had already been captured by photographers, and being seen with Vincent again wouldplicate things further.


    As she declined, she turned to scan the traffic. ¡°There are plenty of taxis around. I can manage by myself. Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Adams,¡± she said.


    As she spoke, Katelyn turned to leave.


    Vincent watched her intently and then calmly stated, ¡°It¡¯s rush hour now. You could end up waiting for a taxi for two hours.¡±


    His observation briefly stilled Katelyn. Rush hour indeed made the city roads congested. ¡°It¡¯s not far to Everspring Garden from here. It¡¯s on my way. I can drop you off,¡± Vincent offered casually.


    After hesitating briefly, Katelyn decided to ept the ride rather than wait.


    Unbeknownst to her, as she got into the car, several cameras captured the moment from the shadows. Vincent chose a less crowded route to make the drive smoother. He selected a soothing piano piece to y, and the gentle evening breeze added to the calm.


    Katelyn, feeling more at ease, rolled down the window to enjoy the fresh air.


    Though they didn¡¯t talk much, the drive felt morefortable than before. Vincent asionally nced at Katelyn, the scent of her gardenia perfume filling the air as the breeze passed through.


    They soon arrived at the entrance to Everspring Garden. Just as Katelyn was about to exit the car, her phone began to buzz incessantly with message notifications.


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 Chapter 32

    ?Chapter 32:


    Katelyn pulled out her cell phone, noticing messages from friends about the trending news. Since graduating from college, she had be a full-time housewife, with only a few friends she had kept in touch with.


    ncing at the messages, Katelyn saw everyone asking the same question about the authenticity of the trending news. Her side profile in the photo had made her recognizable.


    Without responding immediately, Katelyn nced over at Vincent, gave a slight nod, and said, ¡°Thank you for the ride home tonight, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent smiled and replied in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re wee. Go home and rest well.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn responded.


    After this exchange, Vincent drove away.


    Once the vehicle was out of sight, Katelyn began her walk home, pondering who might have instigated the trending search. She had only walked a few steps when she noticed a figure under a nearby camphor tree.


    The figure was unmistakably Neil, recognized by his height and build. Katelyn¡¯s face twisted into a frown, her eyes reflecting disdain.


    ¡°Why is he here?¡± she wondered.


    Neil had already noticed her. Discarding his cigarette with a look of disgust, he stepped out from the shadows, the lighting enhancing his features. Katelyn felt a deep revulsion at the sight of him.


    His look hadn¡¯t changed, but now, all she felt was sickness.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked, her voice cold.


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    She eyed him warily, clutching her bag tightly, ready to defend herself if needed.


    Neil¡¯s expression was stern as he held back his anger. ¡°Katelyn, remember, we¡¯re officially divorced. Yet here you are, with another man, and letting him drop you off. Can¡¯t you wait? Do you always need a man by your side?¡±


    Katelyn immediately felt irritated and let out augh, her tone cold. ¡°And you dare to judge me like this? Have you forgotten that you were with Lise in our bed while we were still married?¡±


    Her eyes filled with disgust and sarcasm, sharp as needles, piercing Neil¡¯s heart.


    Neil¡¯s heart ached deeply. This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to be. This wasn¡¯t how Katelyn should look at him.


    Losing her patience, Katelyn said with a sharp tone, ¡°When will you finalize the divorce? Once it¡¯s done, I want you out of my lifepletely.¡±


    Annoyed, Neil adjusted his tie and warned, ¡°As long as we¡¯re still married, you remain my wife. Keep your distance from other men.¡±


    ¡°Have you no shame?¡± Katelyn spat. ¡°Does Lise know that you¡¯re trying to control who I see? You¡¯re truly despicable.¡±


    With every word, Katelyn¡¯s disgust grew. Just seeing Neil¡¯s presence soured her mood.


    She pulled her phone from her bag and sneered, ¡°Maybe I should call Lise right now and let her hear your so-called advice. I don¡¯t need to endure your presence.¡±


    Just as she was about to make the call, Neil snatched the phone from her hands.


    ¡°Give it back!¡± Katelyn demanded coldly.


    Neil¡¯s voice was icy and menacing as he stepped closer to her. ¡°So, you¡¯re eager to cut ties with me to be with Vincent? Consider this¡ªhis high status won¡¯t change the fact that he sees a divorced woman as disposable. How could he truly want someone like you? He¡¯s just using you to pass the time.¡±


    Neil regained hisposure, his tone now lofty and cautionary. ¡°For the sake of our long history, I advise you not to jeopardize your future. Vincent could easily ruin you.¡±


    Katelyn clenched her fists, the hatred in her gaze unmistakable. Every time she thought she couldn¡¯t be more disillusioned with Neil, he managed to shock her further.


    ¡°Don¡¯t assume everyone is as vile and sordid as you,¡± she replied, her teeth clenched in anger. ¡°I regret every moment spent with you. I¡¯d rather have given those years to the dogs.¡±


    Her words provoked Neil even further. In a sudden move, he reached out and grabbed her neck.


    ¡°Do you me me for holding you back? Tell me. Why did Vincent defend you in the restaurant? Is it because you couldn¡¯t endure being alone and sought his presence with such desperation?¡±


    Furious, Katelyn narrowed her eyes, her anger rising quickly. Without hesitation, she swiftly raised her hand and struck Neil across the face with all her might!


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 Chapter 33

    ?Chapter 33:


    The sound of the p echoed loudly through the night. Katelyn¡¯s right palm throbbed with pain, her eyes burning with hatred and disgust.


    ¡°Don¡¯t assume everyone is as vile as you. I was so blind to have loved you.¡±


    She then stepped back, sharply withdrawing her hand.


    Neil red at her, his eyes filled with anger.


    ¡°Based on your reaction, I was right. You¡¯ve been with Vincent, and that¡¯s why you want to divorce me!¡±


    ¡°I want to divorce you because you betrayed me, and I caught you! What? Should I just sit at home, crying, waiting for you to return? No more double standards!¡±


    Neil scoffed, blind to his own faults. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a look at yourself? If it were for you, Lise would have been my choice from the start!¡±


    Katelyn nearlyughed out loud.


    After being betrayed, she was expected to suffer and reflect on herself? Ridiculous.


    She inhaled deeply, calming herself, and hissed, ¡°Leave. I don¡¯t want to see you again. Harass me again, and I¡¯ll tell Lise everything.¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice was stone-cold as he said, ¡°Now that the Bailey family no longer supports you, you¡¯re like a stray dog. Watch how you act before our divorce is final, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Katelyn closed her eyes, taking another deep breath.


    Loving the wrong person brought nothing but torment.


    Exhausted, she couldn¡¯t find the energy to respond. Neil sneered and walked away.


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    She then made sure to instruct the security at the gate to prevent Neil¡¯s car from entering themunity again. Given the high security and the cost of homes in Everspring Garden, the guards were strict.


    Following her instructions, they wouldn¡¯t allow Neil¡¯s car through.


    Weary, Katelyn leaned against the sofa, feeling overwhelmed by recent events.


    She massaged her temples with her slender fingers.


    Her phone rang once more, disying Aimee¡¯s name on the screen.


    Katelyn brightened up and answered the phone. ¡°Hey!¡±


    Aimee nced at the time and, with a gossipy tone, said, ¡°How¡¯s it going? Are you two still together? I was hesitant to ask anything earlier when he was still with you.¡±


    Feeling somewhat helpless, Katelyn hugged a pillow and exined, ¡°Aimee, you¡¯re overthinking it. It was just a simple dinner. I never expected it would be secretly photographed and end up trending.¡±


    ¡°Vincent has never been publicly linked to any woman before, but now he¡¯s asked you out. Doesn¡¯t that suggest something?¡± Aimee¡¯s excitement was palpable, surpassing Katelyn¡¯s own.


    ¡°After you left that jerk, Neil, I¡¯m sure something good wille your way. If you are together, Neil will be furious.¡±


    As Aimee¡¯s spections grew more oundish, Katelyn interrupted her. ¡°Hey, please rein in your wild imagination. Neither Vincent nor I have those intentions. It¡¯s purely professional.¡±


    Disappointed, Aimee ceased, ¡°You¡¯re so naive about love. Don¡¯t you get it? Trust me, Vincent is definitely interested in you.¡±


    Katelyn sighed and massaged her temples. Aimee¡¯s chatter only worsened her headache.


    ¡°Listen, I need to get back to my work.¡±


    Katelyn swiftly changed the subject to avoid more wild theories from Aimee.


    Holding the phone, Aimee scoffed, ¡°Boring. Get on with your work then.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After ending the call, Katelyn picked up herptop, paused to gather her thoughts, and resumed drawing on the screen.


    It was already ten o¡¯clock in the evening, yet the CEO office of Adams Group remained brightly lit.


    Vincent had returned to thepany after seeing Katelyn off, facing two international meetingster on. He bent over the documents before him, his expression stern and focused.


    Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Samuel entered, pushing the door open.


    He ced the documents he carried onto the desk and said respectfully, ¡°Mr. Adams, these are some ongoing projects rted to the Bailey family.¡±


    Vincent looked up, scanning the documents with a detached gaze, and responded coolly, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Samuel paused, then voiced his concern. ¡°We¡¯ve managed to suppress one batch of trending searches, but another has surfaced. Should we take action to¡ª¡±


    He trailed off, cing a hand on his neck with a grave expression in his eyes.


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 Chapter 34

    ?Chapter 34:


    With a calm and indifferent expression, Vincent spoke softly, ¡°Just take down the trending searches.¡±


    A sh of surprise crossed Samuel¡¯s eyes. He recalled how Vincent had previously dealt with a woman trying to threaten him with public opinion so decisively that she vanished from the city. Yet now, faced with a flurry of public indifference, Vincent¡¯s response puzzled him. The online gossip about his rtionship had amassed tens of millions ofments.


    Distracted momentarily, Samuel was snapped back to attention by Vincent¡¯s sternmand. ¡°Find out who is behind this.¡±


    Regainingposure, Samuel nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Adams.¡±


    After Samuel exited, Vincent was left alone in the office. The documents on his desk were stacked up like a small mountain, symbolizing the immense pressure of his responsibilities.


    Picking up another document, Vincent¡¯s thoughts unexpectedly drifted to Katelyn. Despite being scrutinized that morning, she had remained poised and able to deftly turn the situation around. Vincent was notably impressed by the design she had produced in just hours.


    In her professional state, Katelyn¡¯s charm was ineffable. Her eyes sparkled like stars, capturing the attention of anyone who saw her. The scent of gardenias seemed to waft through his memory again.


    Snapping out of his thoughts, Vincent frowned, puzzled by his own distraction.


    Just as heposed himself, his phone rang¡ªit was Katelyn.


    Rxing slightly, he answered the call more softly than usual.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, there seems to be an issue with the ¡®Eternity¡¯ theme we discussed. I need to review it with you directly.¡±


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    Previously, Vincent had proposed three design themes for their coboration. Now, Katelyn was grappling with the broad scope of the ¡°Eternity¡± theme. Although not challenging to conceptualize, the final decision rested with Vincent.


    Vincent¡¯s voice, low and resonant like a cello in the night, broke the silence. ¡°Pleasee to my office tomorrow morning. We will discuss this face to face.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn responded.


    The next morning, Katelyn arrived at thepany on time, her design sketches in hand. Dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans, she radiated a special charm. Her look made her appear youthful, almost like a college student, embodying purity and innocence.


    Katelyn stood at the CEO¡¯s office door and knocked.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± she called.


    ¡°Come in,¡± Vincent invited.


    Vincent, casual yet refined, leaned against the sofa in a light gray suit. He nced at Katelyn, a spontaneous smile gracing his face as he said, ¡°Miss Bailey, you look quite striking today.¡±


    The simplicity of her attire demanded a strong presence to carry it off, which she did effortlessly.


    Katelyn, looking splendid, nodded slightly and replied, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    As she spoke, she approached the table and presented two sketches she had prepared.


    ¡°These are the designs themed around ¡®Eternity¡¯ I¡¯ve been working on. Which one do you prefer, Mr. Adams?¡±


    Vincent studied one of the drawings, impressed by the intricate details and thoughtful design. Reflecting on the rich history of the jewelry industry, which spanned centuries with countless styles and themes, he recognized that while many ideas be ssics, even the most popr designs today were often adaptations of these timeless concepts.


    Katelyn¡¯s greatest strength was her ability to think outside the box. Even with amon theme, she could surpass others in design. This talent and creativity were why she had remained at the forefront of the design world for so many years.


    Vincent remained silent, leaving Katelyn uncertain about his reaction. Tentatively, she asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, which version do you prefer?¡±


    Vincent looked up at Katelyn, his eyebrows lifted, and asked, ¡°Can you do both? Create two versions of the same theme?¡±


    Katelyn smiled slightly and responded in a light tone, ¡°Then the cost will be higher.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay double,¡± Vincent replied generously and shifted his gaze to another design sketch.


    Both designs were wless in concept and execution, making it impossible for him to choose one over the other.


    Pleased by Vincent¡¯s approval, Katelyn felt a sense of satisfaction. She had already prepared a rough sketch. For her, refining both of these designs was effortlessly manageable.


    As Katelyn reached to retrieve the drawings, Vincent also extended his hand. Their fingers brushed against each other by chance.


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 Chapter 35

    ?Chapter 35:


    When their eyes met, both Vincent and Katelyn were taken aback, withdrawing their hands simultaneously.


    A brief moment of embarrassment shed across Katelyn¡¯s face as she told herself that their hands had touched purely by ident.


    She put the design drawings back into her bag and nced up at Vincent.


    ¡°Since there¡¯s nothing more, I¡¯ll head back first, Mr. Adams,¡± she said.


    As she turned to leave, Vincent called out, ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay and have lunch with me? Ourpany¡¯s canteen offers quite decent food.¡±


    Katelyn turned to respond, but before she could speak, a sudden knock at the office door interrupted her.


    Samuel appeared at the door, visibly anxious. After a hesitant nce at Katelyn, he whispered, ¡°Mr. Adams, bad news. The director of the design department has been found dead.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°What?¡±


    Shock registered on Katelyn¡¯s face. The director, with whom she had had a confrontation just yesterday, was now dead?


    Samuel responded somberly, ¡°She died in her office just now. The details are still unclear for now.¡±


    Vincent, maintaining hisposure, stood up and led the way out, with Katelyn and Samuel following.


    The design department was in disarray, with the director¡¯s body on the floor, surrounded by whispering coworkers.


    ¡°What could she have done to be killed like this?¡±


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    A woman in sses asserted confidently, ¡°Katelyn is the most suspicious, considering their argument yesterday.¡± Another colleague cautioned, ¡°Hold on, don¡¯t make usations without proof. It¡¯s nder.¡± Undeterred, the first woman insisted, ¡°Think about it. Katelyn argued with her yesterday, and now she¡¯s suddenly dead. Isn¡¯t that suspicious?¡±


    Overhearing this, Vincent, Katelyn, and Samuel absorbed the rising tensions. Katelyn, feeling a cold dread, sensed a metaphorical closing around her.


    Vincent, observing the escting gossip, emitted a chilling aura that silenced the room. His stern gaze and deep voice cut through the whispers.


    ¡°Enough. What are you suggesting?¡±


    His voice quelled the murmurs instantly, and the room fell silent.


    Katelyn, her fists clenched, looked down at the director¡¯s lifeless body.


    Across from the director¡¯s office, a high-rise building stood, and a bullet hole was clearly visible in the office¡¯s shattered window.


    ¡°Such audacity,¡± Katelyn thought. ¡°Tomit murder in broad daylight.¡±


    Vincent surveyed the area and thenmanded in a cold tone, ¡°Don¡¯t move anything. Samuel, call the police.¡±


    Samuel nodded and dialed the police.


    Vincent dered to the room, ¡°Everyone present is a suspect. Later, everyone must cooperate with the investigation.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, someone quickly used, ¡°It has to be Katelyn. They argued just yesterday, and now the director is dead. It¡¯s too coincidental.¡±


    As the user finished, murmurs of agreement filled the room. Another person added, ¡°It¡¯s suspicious. Katelyn¡¯s only been here once, and now this happens.¡±


    Katelyn responded coolly, ¡°I was with Mr. Adams in his office when the incident urred.¡±


    The user retorted, ¡°You could have hired someone to do it from one of the buildings across the street.¡±


    Frustration marked Katelyn¡¯s expression. These individuals were close to the director, and it seemed they were intent on ming her.


    Katelyn nced at the surveince camera in the corner. ¡°Can we check the footage?¡± she asked.


    ¡°The camera¡¯s been down for two days,¡± the user snapped back, eager to ce me. ¡°It provided the perfect window for your crime.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze sharpened as he interjected, ¡°Do you have any evidence to support your im?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± the woman said, stooping to reveal a piece of paper clutched in the director¡¯s hand¡ªa fragment of Katelyn¡¯s design drawing.


    Shock gripped Katelyn.


    Her design being clutched by the director was damning. ¡°This clearly points to her being involved,¡± remarked the user.


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do this,¡± Katelyn asserted, panic edging her voice.


    Just then, the police arrived. After a brief overview of the scene, one officer turned to Katelyn with a stern look. ¡°Miss, pleasee with us for questioning.¡±


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 Chapter 36

    ?Chapter 36:


    All the clues and evidence seemed to lead straight to Katelyn, especially the torn piece of the design drawing. Vincent stepped in front of Katelyn, his expression stern and unyielding.


    ¡°This evidence isn¡¯t enough, and we don¡¯t have the full picture yet. You can¡¯t just arrest her,¡± he said firmly.


    The police hesitated, aware of Vincent¡¯s influence, and knew they had to handle the situation carefully. But the seriousness of the matter pushed them to speak.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, we¡¯re just doing our job. If Miss Bailey isn¡¯t involved, we¡¯ll release her once our investigation isplete.¡±


    Vincent didn¡¯t back down, ready to argue further, when Katelyn touched his shoulder softly. She shook her head slightly and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so I¡¯m not worried about being investigated.¡±


    Then, she looked at the police officers.


    ¡°I¡¯m willing to cooperate and give my statement. Just make sure my name is cleared.¡±


    Katelyn was fully cooperative, though Vincent¡¯s brow remained tightly knit. Being questioned by the police meant they already saw her as a suspect. But Katelyn had made her decision, leaving Vincent no choice but to step aside as the officers escorted her away.


    Vincent quickly turned to Samuel, his voice cutting through the air. ¡°Get the surveince footage from yesterday¡¯s meeting room and this morning at my office entrance. Send it to the police station.¡±


    He trusted Katelynpletely, but this whole situation felt like a trap set against her.


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    There was also something that didn¡¯t add up. Katelyn had always kept a low profile; her social circle was small, almost nonexistent. Who could possibly hate her enough to frame her like this, using someone¡¯s life as a weapon?


    By this time, Katelyn had been taken to the police station. She sat in a small room meant for taking statements, the cold chair beneath her adding to her difort, while a bright deskmp shone directly on her.


    Katelyn exined everything clearly, detailing the events from the start of the incident to the moment they discovered the department head dead today. The police diligently recorded every word she said, their questioning methodical.


    ¡°Was your conflict with her really that minor? Did you notice anything unusual about her?¡±


    Katelyn paused for a moment to think, then shook her head. ¡°No. Everything seemed normal.¡±


    The officer leaned in slightly. ¡°Then why would she purposely hide evidence against you in her hand?¡±


    Katelyn frowned, genuinely puzzled. ¡°I think someone¡¯s trying to frame me.¡±


    Suddenly, she recalled the chubby woman with sses and quickly brought up her odd behavior. Throughout the ordeal, that woman seemed intent on influencing everyone¡¯s thoughts. As soon as they arrived at the office, she had loudly imed that Katelyn was definitely deeply involved. But Katelyn couldn¡¯t figure out why. There had been bad blood between them, so what could possibly motivate that woman to target her like this?


    The officer nodded, pausing to remind her, ¡°All right, I¡¯ve noted everything you said. We¡¯ll investigate thoroughly. For now, you¡¯re still a suspect, so you must be avable for further questioning and under residence surveince whenever necessary.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn responded quietly.


    By the time they wrapped up the standard procedures, evening was approaching. After that, Katelyn was allowed to leave.


    Outside, a ck Cayenne waited, parked near the entrance of the station. The rear window lowered, revealing Vincent¡¯s stern face. Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°This happened in mypany. It shouldn¡¯t involve you,¡± Vincent replied calmly, though he kept his deeper concerns hidden.


    He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that this situation wasn¡¯t just about Katelyn¡ªit might be aimed at him.


    For years, the Adams Group had controlled two-thirds of the capital¡¯s economic power, making Vincent a target for countless people who wished him harm. He had faced all sorts of ruthless attacks. To his detractors, a human life meant nothing.


    Katelyn sighed, feeling a deep weariness in both her body and mind. ¡°I still can¡¯t figure out how I got involved in all this.¡±


    Vincent, showing concern, opened the car door. ¡°I¡¯ll find out what¡¯s going on and get you answers. For now, just get in.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and got into the car.


    She tried to think of who might be behind this, but every possibility she considered didn¡¯t add up. The scene involved a gunshot, but there was no sound of it, meaning the shooter must have used a silencer. For someone to sneak into the Adams Group andmit murder without being noticed, they had to be far from ordinary.


    Today, Samuel was driving as usual, with Vincent and Katelyn seated quietly in the back seat.


    Katelyn stared out of the window, lost in thought, while the back of the car remained silent.


    Samuel, hands on the steering wheel, mumbled something to himself.


    Having worked for Vincent for almost ten years, he had never seen Vincent show such special care and kindness toward anyone¡ªespecially not by picking someone up from the police station just to drive them home. As he was lost in thought, a truck suddenly swerved toward them, barreling directly into their path. In the blink of an eye, a deafening crash erupted.


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 Chapter 37

    ?Chapter 37:


    The car crash was sudden, throwing Katelyn nearly out of the vehicle. Before they could react, a group of armed men rushed down from an opposing truck, aiming their weapons directly at them.


    Bang! Bang!


    Gunfire rang out, with shell casings scattering across the ground.


    ¡°Get down!¡± Vincent shouted, pulling Katelyn close and swiftly grabbing a handgun from the glovepartment. Samuel also armed himself and dialed for backup at the same time.


    This was Katelyn¡¯s first encounter with such violence, and herplexion turned ghostly pale. Thankfully, Vincent¡¯s car was bulletproof, offering them some protection until help arrived.


    But the attackers seemed to know about the car¡¯s modifications. Soon, several assants smashed the windshield with their gun butts and charged toward them.


    Vincent quickly exited the car, taking down one assant as he opened the door. He grabbed Katelyn¡¯s hand, pulling her out and using the car as cover. Behind it, Vincent, Katelyn, and Samuel shielded themselves, returning fire whenever they could. Vincent¡¯s shots were decisive and rapid.


    The air was thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder.


    Katelyn, weaponless and tense, could only watch as the fight unfolded.


    Despite Vincent¡¯s and Samuel¡¯s sharpshooting, they were outnumbered and outgunned. Their adversaries wielded automatic rifles, while they only had simple revolvers. Under the relentless assault, they couldn¡¯t even risk peeking out from their cover.


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    Vincent pulled Katelyn close, shielding her with his body, and whispered urgently, ¡°If there¡¯s a chance, run and don¡¯t look back.¡±


    Katelyn, her lips pressed tightly together, understood that staying would only hinder them. She nodded, ready to flee at the first opportunity.


    Samuel, witnessing this, was both concerned and perplexed by Vincent¡¯s protectiveness. It was clear Vincent would take a bullet for her. Just then, the dire situation escted as an enemy gunman took aim at them from a distance.


    At the moment the opponent raised their gun, Vincent shouted a warning.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    The assant fired quickly, aiming straight at Katelyn, who had no time to react.


    In a panic, Vincent instinctively stepped in front of her, absorbing the bullet meant for her.


    Katelyn heard Vincent grunt, then felt warm blood seeping from his chest. Her expression froze in shock and fear.


    ¡°Vincent!¡± she cried out.


    ¡°Mr. Adams!¡± Samuel shouted, panic rising in his voice.


    Holding onto Vincent, Katelyn was overwhelmed by his act of selflessness. Given the circumstances, Vincent could have moved out of the way, but he chose to protect her instead.


    Vincent¡¯splexion turned pale, and he struggled to suppress the blood in his mouth.


    With Vincent injured, the attackers intensified their assault. However, just as the situation seemed dire, over a hundred heavily armed elite gunmen arrived, swiftly intervening and overpowering the attackers. The adversaries¡¯ confidence waned instantly as Vincent¡¯s reinforcements turned the tide.


    Seeing her chance, Katelyn helped Vincent up, supporting much of his weight.


    ¡°Vincent, hold on. We¡¯re getting you to a hospital,¡± she said, her voice shaking with urgency.


    Samuel quickly assisted, and together they rushed Vincent to the nearest hospital.


    In the car, Katelyn noticed her hands were covered in Vincent¡¯s blood, a stark reminder of his sacrifice. Vincent, though in severe pain, remained conscious and silent, bearing his suffering stoically.


    Overwhelmed by guilt, Katelyn questioned, ¡°Why would you do that? Why take a bullet for me?¡±


    Vincent, eyes closed, managed to reply calmly, ¡°It was aimed at me. I couldn¡¯t let you get hurt on my ount.¡±


    Upon reaching the hospital, Vincent was immediately taken into surgery to remove the bullet.


    Katelyn and Samuel waited anxiously in the corridor, haunted by the day¡¯s violent events.


    As they stood there, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but feel responsible for Vincent¡¯s injury.


    She turned to Samuel, her hands sped lightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it odd? First, one of your employees is shot, and now this ambush.¡±


    Samuel looked up, a realization dawning on him. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s all connected?¡±


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 Chapter 38

    ?Chapter 38:


    With her hands sped tightly, Katelyn shook her head slowly, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯s just a suspicion¡ªI don¡¯t have any solid evidence,¡± she murmured.


    Currently, her main concern was Vincent¡¯s recovery, not uncovering the schemer behind the attack. She held a silent prayer in her heart for Vincent¡¯s safety. The wait outside the operating room felt endless, each minute stretching into what seemed like an eternity. Katelyn was engulfed in misery and anxiety.


    Then the doors of the operating room swung open. Katelyn, propelled by urgency, surged forward and nearly stumbled in her haste.


    Her eyes, wide with concern, searched the doctor¡¯s face for any sign.


    ¡°Doctor, how is he? Is he out of danger?¡± she asked, her voice tight with worry.


    The doctor removed his mask and reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The bullet missed his heart by merely an inch, but he¡¯ll be fine. He must avoid strenuous activities while he recovers, though.¡±


    Relief washed over Katelyn, and she let out a long breath, her tension easing.


    ¡°Thank you, doctor,¡± she responded gratefully.


    Vincent, still under the effects of anesthesia, was carefully moved to the intensive care unit, with Samuel handling the necessary paperwork.


    Just then, the sound of hurried high heels echoed down the corridor.


    A woman appeared, her presence marked by a blend of elegance and urgency. Herplexion was wless, a testament to meticulous care, yet her expression was undeniably anxious, revealing inner turmoil. Cristina Adams hurried over and intercepted the doctor.


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    ¡°How is my son? Is he alright?¡± she asked urgently.


    ¡°The surgery went very well. He¡¯s no longer in danger,¡± the doctor replied quickly.


    Cristina let out a relieved sigh and murmured, ¡°Thank goodness.¡±


    Katelyn observed from the side, realizing that this poised woman was Vincent¡¯s mother.


    Cristina exuded an aura of dignity and authority. Suddenly, her gaze shifted to Katelyn, eyes narrowing with suspicion.


    ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡± Cristina demanded.


    Before Katelyn could respond, one of Cristina¡¯s aides interjected,


    ¡°Mrs. Adams, thisdy is the designer coborating with ourpany. Mr. Adams was injured while trying to protect her during the shooting.¡±


    Cristina¡¯s demeanor changed instantly. ¡°Exin,¡± shemanded.


    The aide continued, ¡°There was an ambush, and during the attack, Mr. Adams shielded her, taking a bullet in the process. Also, she¡¯s under suspicion for another incident at thepany today involving the murder of the design department head.¡±


    With each revtion, Cristina¡¯s expression grew sterner. Katelyn, caught off guard, struggled to find the right words.


    Indeed, she was a prime suspect in the murder case. Vincent had been injured because of her, albeit unintentionally. She attempted to defend herself,


    ¡°Mrs. Adams, this is all a misunderstanding. I did not kill anyone.¡±


    Cristina scoffed, ¡°A misunderstanding? That seems far-fetched. Why were you even in the same car as Vincent?¡±


    Katelyn clenched her fists, trying to remainposed. ¡°I was at the police station providing a statement. Mr. Adams kindly offered me a ride afterward.¡±


    Cristina spoke harshly, her tone dripping with skepticism. ¡°Are you serious? Vincent has never been this attentive to any woman. Who are you really? Are you trying to seduce my son, or is someone trying to nt you by his side?¡±


    Taken aback, Katelyn quickly shook her head in denial. ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. We are purely business partners, nothing more,¡± she asserted.


    Seizing the moment, Cristina¡¯s subordinate interjected sharply, ¡°Justst night, you were seen dining with Mr. Adams, and suddenly he¡¯s in the public eye. Then today, there¡¯s a shooting. Quite the coincidence, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t know what to say, her frustration evident. Facing Cristina, she pleaded earnestly, ¡°Mrs. Adams, the truth is, there¡¯s a conspiracy aimed at framing me.¡±


    Before Cristina could respond, her subordinate used Katelyn with a piercing stare, ¡°Why do all these suspicious events revolve around you? If not for you, why would Mr. Adams be in the hospital right now?¡±


    Cristina¡¯s expression darkened with fury, her anger palpable.


    Katelyn began to attempt a defense, but before she could continue, Cristina struck her across the face without a second thought.


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 Chapter 39

    ?Chapter 39:


    Katelyn¡¯s head tilted from the force of the p, leaving a clear palm print on her cheek. Suppressing her anger, Cristina stared intensely at Katelyn.


    ¡°Vincent is in critical condition all because of you,¡± she used.


    Remainingposed, Katelyn responded, ¡°Mrs. Adams, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Mr. Adams and I are strictly business partners. I¡¯ve never intended any harm to him.¡±


    Cristina clenched her teeth and demanded, ¡°Then how do you exin these incidents?¡±


    ¡°The police are currently investigating the murder of the department head. I¡¯m not involved. Regarding the shooting, the assants came prepared. I don¡¯t have enemies. Mr. Adams believes the attack was meant for him, and I was unfortunately caught up in it,¡± Katelyn exined.


    Despite her involvement in multiple incidents, Katelyn maintained her innocence.


    Cristina hesitated, her experience with the Adams family told her that many would target her son, Vincent. Earlier, after hearing that Vincent had been shot and influenced by her subordinate¡¯sments, Cristina hadshed out at Katelyn.


    Once calmer, she began to consider the possibility that Katelyn was merely caught in an unfortunate series of events.


    The subordinate, sensing the shift in mood, quickly added, ¡°But isn¡¯t it too coincidental? Mr. Adams had been out of harm¡¯s way until she appeared.¡±


    Katelyn gave him a sharp look, recognizing his attempts to lead Cristina astray from the start. She challenged him calmly, ¡°Were you present at the shooting?¡±


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    Confidently, he replied, ¡°Of course, I was. How else would I know so many details?¡±


    Encouraged by his response, Katelyn pressed further, ¡°And were you at the scene when the department head¡ª?¡±


    Caught off guard, the man faltered, his expression betraying him.


    Katelyn turned his own argument against him. ¡°You im to know so much, yet you weren¡¯t present. What exactly sent you here?¡±


    The man looked to Cristina, panicking under her scrutinizing gaze. He hastily assured, ¡°Mrs. Adams, I¡¯ve always been loyal to you and Mr. Adams. I was simply too concerned about Mr. Adams¡¯s safety.¡±


    Cristina remained silent, observing the exchange with skepticism. Katelyn, sensing an opportunity, used, ¡°All you¡¯ve done is cast suspicions on me to divert attention. What¡¯s your real motive?¡±


    Unable to respond, the man¡¯s silence was damning. Cristina, her disgust evident, dismissed him with a wave. ¡°Leave us.¡±


    Reluctantly, the subordinate left. Cristina shifted her gaze back to Katelyn, noticing the mark on her cheek and feeling a pang of guilt. ¡°I lost my temper and struck you. I apologize if I¡¯ve wronged you,¡± she said with a trace of regret.


    Katelyn, checking the ICU door once more, responded calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for apologies, Mrs. Adams. We now only need to focus on uncovering the truth.¡± She was concerned about the impact of the injury on Vincent, knowing the bullet had missed his heart but still posed serious risks.


    ¡°When will he wake up?¡± Katelyn wondered quietly.


    As medical staff moved in and out of the ward to check on Vincent, Katelyn lingered in the corridor, lost in thought. Her contemtion was interrupted by her ringing phone. She stepped aside to answer it. ¡°Hello?¡±


    Aimee sounded infuriated. ¡°I¡¯m absolutely livid! My entire day¡¯s been ruined by those bastards!¡±


    Startled, Katelyn inquired, ¡°What¡¯s happened? Is everything alright?¡±


    After a deep breath, Aimee exined, ¡°Your ex-husband again. He¡¯s desperate for a designer as his deadline looms, and he¡¯s insisting on your help, by any means necessary.¡±


    Aimee¡¯s frustration grew as she recounted the pressure.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned stern. ¡°If he bothers you again, don¡¯t hesitate to call the police.¡±


    Aimee acknowledged her advice but expressed concern. ¡°It¡¯s not a major issue for me, but I worry about him pestering you. He showed upst night, and I turned him away. You know he¡¯ll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Stay alert.¡±


    ¡°I will. And I¡¯ll keep you posted,¡± Aimee assured her.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    As Katelyn ended the call, a nurse emerged from the ICU. ¡°He¡¯s awake now,¡± she informed Katelyn.


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 Chapter 40

    ?Chapter 40:


    Katelyn hastened towards the ICU room, closely followed by Cristina.


    Inside, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled the air. Vincenty on the bed, hisplexion ghastly pale, his lips devoid of color, with an IV drip attached to his hand. Despite his weakened state, a certain intensity remained evident in his gaze.


    Cristina, anxious and concerned, questioned, ¡°How do you feel now, Vincent? Are you in pain?¡±


    Vincent managed a slow shake of his head, his expression tinged with difort. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Cristina¡¯s voice broke with emotion. ¡°Are you trying to keep this a secret from me? Do you realize how risky your surgery was? I was afraid I might lose you.¡±


    For years, they had leaned on each other deeply. Cristina had grown to rely on him for everything.


    Vincent weakly murmured, ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± attempting to reassure her.


    Relief washed over Katelyn upon seeing Vincent awake, but it was short-lived when he noticed the mark on her face, and his eyes darkened instantly. ¡°Who pped you?¡± he demanded.


    Katelyn froze, worried about the potential conflict between mother and son. Before she could fabricate an excuse, Cristina admitted, ¡°I did.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s surprise was evident, and Vincent¡¯s frown deepened.


    Cristina, her expression stern, exined, ¡°Since she entered your life, nothing but trouble has followed. I even thought she might have hidden motives for getting to you.¡±


    Vincent attempted to sit up, prompting Katelyn to quickly stop him. ¡°Lie down and rest. Don¡¯t move,¡± she urged gently.


    Additional chapters at g ??ln ov els .???? ??


    Vincent coughed, struggling with difort, prompting Katelyn to adjust the window to keep the draft away.


    Vincent then addressed his mother, rifying, ¡°Mom, someone is targeting me, not Katelyn. She¡¯s been unwittingly caught up in this.¡±


    Cristina appeared skeptical, given the string of unsettling coincidences.


    ¡°And what about the death of that employee from yourpany?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s voice was low and firm. ¡°This is no ident. Someone is orchestrating these events for their own ends. The police are on it.¡±


    Despite his frailty, his conviction was palpable.


    Cristina¡¯s demeanor softened as regret crept in. She nced at Katelyn, lowering her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Bailey. I misunderstood the situation and acted rashly.¡±


    Katelyn maintained a neutral tone. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You are his mother. I can understand your worry and anxiety in such a situation.¡±


    She pondered that had she been in Cristina¡¯s shoes, her reaction might not have been much calmer.


    Cristina, unlike the stereotypical domineering, arrogant rich women, was quick to acknowledge her missteps. As she evaluated Katelyn, a look of respect flickered in her eyes.


    Faced with skepticism, Katelyn sinctly exined the events. She skillfully used the loopholes in her words to her advantage, rather than just inly emphasizing her innocence.


    As for the p, Katelyn remainedposed, her demeanor neither submissive nor aggressive, a testament to her equanimity.


    Noticing Vincent¡¯s difort, Katelyn gently inquired, ¡°Do you want some water?¡±


    Vincent gave a slight nod. With no drinkable water in sight, Katelyn headed to the water room for a disposable cup.


    Meanwhile, Cristina adjusted Vincent¡¯s covers, her eyes reflecting emotional gratitude. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen you treat a woman so differently,¡± she remarked.


    Vincent, historically disinterested in romantic entanglements, had prompted Cristina to once half-jokingly question his orientation.


    Responding inly, Vincent assured, ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. We¡¯re just colleagues, and I wouldn¡¯t let her get involved in my troubles.¡±


    Cristina, moved by his defense,plimented softly, ¡°Katelyn is truly admirable.¡±


    Vincent remained silent, reflecting on his mother¡¯s words as Katelyn returned with water. The discussion concluded without further debate.


    After helping Vincent drink, Cristina watched as Katelyn, bag in hand, announced her departure to resume her work.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I must get back to my tasks now.¡±


    Vincent acknowledged with a simple nod. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Exchanging a respectful nod with Cristina, Katelyn left, intent on returning home to continue her work. Unexpectedly, she encountered two familiar faces upon exiting the hospital, her expression darkening instantly.


    .


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 Chapter 41

    ?Chapter 41:


    At that moment, Neil and Lise were standing at the hospital gate.


    As soon as their eyes met Katelyn¡¯s, all they saw was her disgust.


    How could she always run into these two wherever she went? Katelyn found it incredibly annoying.


    Neil and Lise were taken aback to see Katelyn there. Lise had been feeling unwelltely, prompting a hospital visit with Neil, who was also concerned.


    Neil¡¯s eyes widened in confusion at the sight of Katelyn. Why was Katelyn here at the hospital?


    Lise quickly adjusted her expression and approached Katelyn. ¡°What a surprise, Katelyn. What brings you here?¡±


    Impatience shed in Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she stepped back. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡±


    Lise¡¯s smile faded, her face returning to its usual expression.


    ¡°Worried about you. Also, Katelyn, could you please talk to Miss Stephens? We need her to convince Iris to coborate with Neil. The Wheeler Group is facing a major crisis, and without her help, we might not make it through.¡±


    With only a few weeks before the deadline, the Wheeler Group was in dire straits, unable to submit any satisfactory designs. The contract stipted triplepensation.


    Neil walked up to Katelyn with a serious demeanor. Since Aimee was avoiding him, Neil had no choice but to seek Katelyn¡¯s assistance.


    He asked coldly, ¡°Katelyn, are you sabotaging the cooperation between Aimee and me?¡±


    Lise stared at Katelyn, her expression one of utter disbelief.


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    ¡°Is that true, Katelyn? After all the years you¡¯ve spent with Neil, how could you jeopardize him like this now? Are you really trying to get him into trouble?¡± Lise said in a tone full of concern, yetced with usation.


    Katelyn sneered, visibly annoyed. ¡°What does his problem have to do with me?¡±


    Then she turned to leave. Every encounter with these two left her feeling nauseated.


    Lise quickly stepped in front of Katelyn, blocking her path. ¡°Katelyn, are you doing this out of spite? Neil? We¡¯re adults now, not children. Please talk to Miss Stephens and get her to coborate with the Wheeler Group. I¡¯m sure Neil can overlook your past actions if you help resolve this issue.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face remained expressionless as he looked down at Katelyn. ¡°You¡¯ve caused this problem, but if you can fix it, I¡¯m willing to forgive you.¡±


    Forgive?


    That idea almost made Katelynugh. It was absurd.


    How could there be such a shameless couple in the world? She was at a loss for words.


    ¡°How can you stand there and talk about forgiveness, Neil? You¡¯re having an affair! You preach about morality while betraying your vows. And you, Lise, justify this? It¡¯s sickening. I never want to see either of you again.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª You!¡± Lise responded, her hands clenched into fists. ¡°How can you use me of that, Katelyn?¡± She seethed, insulted by Katelyn¡¯s words.


    Neil¡¯s face twisted into a snarl. ¡°This is yourst chance, Katelyn. Follow my lead, and maybe we can sort things out. Otherwise, no matter what you do, it¡¯s over.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    Could Neil really be considering reconciling with Katelyn? Was he sincere, or was this just a ploy to soothe Katelyn?


    A cold smile tugged at the corner of Katelyn¡¯s mouth. Her eyes were full of disdain and mockery as she gazed at Neil, seeing him as nothing more than a clown.


    ¡°Do you deserve it?¡±


    The words hit Neil like a p.


    His handsome face twisted with emotion.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Lise, masking her reluctance, lowered her gaze, feigning distress.


    ¡°Katelyn, I understand your anger with Neiles from your hatred for me. Please, direct your anger at me, not others who are innocent. Tell me what I need to do to make you forgive us, and I will do it.¡±


    In her gentle demeanor, Lise stood in stark contrast to Katelyn¡¯s coldness.


    Neil looked at Lise with admiration. Indeed, choosing her was the best decision he¡¯d ever made. Lise lifted her gaze once more, her voice trembling. ¡°Katelyn, if you¡¯re still angry, take it out on me. Yell at me, hit me¡ªdo whatever you feel is necessary.¡±


    Katelyn, exasperated, burst into mockingughter. Wasn¡¯t it exhausting to always y the victim? Yet, to Neil, she now appeared nothing more than a tormentor to Lise. Why should she show mercy?


    She smirked and responded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    As Lise¡¯s face registered shock, Katelyn swiftly kicked her leg. Bang!


    ¡°Ahr!¡±


    Caught off guard, Lise crumpled to the ground instantly.


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 Chapter 42

    ?Chapter 42:


    Katelyn showed no mercy as she kicked Lise, causing her to fall and clutch her stomach in agony.


    ¡°My belly hurts,¡± Lise cried in pain.


    Neil quickly helped her up, ring at Katelyn with intense fury. ¡°Are you insane? How could you kick Lise?!¡± he yelled.


    Unperturbed, Katelyn responded with a sneer. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear her? She asked me to. I was merely fulfilling her request.¡±


    Meanwhile, Lise, pale and sweating, tried to bear the intense pain. Her actions contradicted her initial reaction to the leg injury¡ªher focus was now on her stomach.


    Impressed by the discrepancy, Katelynmented sarcastically, ¡°I targeted your leg, but here you are clutching your belly. Try to stay in character, will you?¡±


    Lise¡¯s difort was obvious, but before she could correct the misunderstanding, Neil angrily interjected, ¡°What do you know about her pain? You caused her pain! Lise, should we see a doctor?¡±


    Worried, Neil reflected on the fact that Lise¡¯s period waste, and her fall only added to their concern. However, since there was no bleeding, he hoped the situation wasn¡¯t dire.


    After a brief moment of relief, Lise nced at Katelyn and remarked sadly, ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve really let your anger out, haven¡¯t you? When will you ask Aimee to finalize the contract?¡±


    Despite her pain, Lise¡¯s concern for Neil moved him deeply. He tightened his hold on her hand affectionately, whispering tenderly.


    Lise mustered a weak smile. ¡°As long as it helps you, it¡¯s worth it.¡±


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    Katelyn, observing their dramatics, responded coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not the one handling the contracts. You¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Neil was stunned.


    As Katelyn turned away with a dismissive smile, Neil clenched his teeth in anger. ¡°Katelyn Bailey, you will pay the price for this.¡±


    Lise sighed softly, gazing at him with affection.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Neil. I¡¯ll be with you every step of the way through all the challenges. I¡¯ll make sure Iris signs the contract with you.¡±


    Her words reached the deepest corners of Neil¡¯s heart, a ce entirely devoted to Lise.


    Neil believed that only a woman like Lise deserved his lifelong devotion and care. With a firm nod, he sped Lise¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Lise, your kindness overwhelms me, but please, look after yourself. I can¡¯t bear the thought of you wearing yourself out.¡±


    Lise simply shook her head. ¡°Your business is my concern too.¡±


    She had already devised a n to ensure the contract¡¯s signing, confident that once sessful, Neil would value and love her even more. To maximize the impact, she decided to dy the announcement until everything was settled.


    Neil helped her to her feet and proposed softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go get you a doctor for a checkup. I¡¯ll make sure Katelyn regrets her actions.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lise replied.


    The following day, Katelyn visited Vincent¡¯s hospital room early in the morning. She ced the insted container on the table and asked with concern, ¡°Good morning, Mr. Adams. How are you today? Is your wound still bothering you?¡±


    ¡°Much better,¡± Vincent replied, appearing more rested than the day before. Katelyn offered a warm smile.


    ¡°I brought you some chicken soup. Would you like to try it?¡± she asked.


    Vincent arched an eyebrow but epted.


    Katelyn set down a bowl and gentlydled the soup. The broth, simmered for hours, was rich and quickly neutralized the room¡¯s harsh disinfectant aroma. She handed the bowl to Vincent and took a seat beside his bed.


    Vincent picked up the spoon and sipped slowly, his strikingly handsome features making even the simplest of movements seem elegant.


    Gazing at him, Katelyn said solemnly, ¡°Mr. Adams, you saved my life. I¡¯ll always remember it. If you ever need help, please let me know.¡±


    Vincent shook his head slowly. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, Miss Bailey. I¡¯ve inadvertently dragged you into my mess.¡± Due to his unique circumstances, anyone close to him risked getting hurt. He didn¡¯t want Katelyn to suffer because of him.


    ¡°But you took the bullet for me, and that¡¯s a fact,¡± she countered.


    Katelyn gazed at him intently, moved by his selflessness. She had never imagined anyone would shield her so bravely.


    Despite their limited acquaintance, having only met three times as business partners, there was an undeniable bond between them.


    Vincent smiled at her. As he attempted to sit up further, Katelyn quickly lent her support. However, as she reached out, her hand brushed against the sharp splinter in the wooden headboard.


    Suddenly¡ª


    Swoosh!


    Her blouse tore from bottom to top. Katelyn¡¯s face drained of color with shock. In an instant, her sleeve ripped apart, revealing her delicate skin underneath.


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 Chapter 43

    ?Chapter 43:


    Katelyn¡¯s skin was as smooth as silk, soft and unblemished. Her torn shirt barely concealed her, leaving much exposed. Had Vincent been just any man, he might have been overwhelmed by the sight.


    She quickly covered herself, her cheeks turning a deep red.


    Vincent caught himself and quickly averted his gaze, embarrassed by the ident.


    Katelyn, both embarrassed and irritated, realized she had no change of clothes, adding to her distress.


    Vincent cleared his throat. ¡°Please don¡¯t worry, Miss Bailey. I¡¯ll have my assistant send up some clothes for you.¡±


    He then picked up his phone and dialed his assistant. ¡°I need a set of women¡¯s clothes, sizerge. Please send them to my ward.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mr. Adams,¡± the assistant replied before quickly hanging up, sensing something odd.


    Vincent was recuperating in the hospital, and Katelyn hade to visit him. Why she needed to change puzzled his assistant.


    Vincent had recently undergone surgery, and despite his youth and the apparent passion between them, he was expected to show more restraint.


    The assistant, lost in thought about the morning¡¯s events, was snapped back to reality by Cristina, who was waiting for him to update her on Vincent¡¯s schedule.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why that look?¡± Cristina inquired with a frown.


    The assistant hesitated, unsure whether to divulge the situation.


    Cristina¡¯s presence seemed to fill the room with amanding aura. ¡°Are you quiet? Are you hiding something from me?¡±


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    Avoiding her intense stare, the assistant replied nervously, ¡°Mr. Adams just called, asking for a set of women¡¯s clothes to be sent up.¡±


    Cristina paused, taken aback by the implications, and her annoyance grew. She silently chastised her son for his reckless behavior, despite his severe injuries.


    He was indeed an adult, but sorelycked self-discipline. He seemed utterly indifferent to his own health.


    The assistant hesitated before suggesting, ¡°Did Katelyn Bailey try to make a move on Mr. Adams? Considering Mr. Adams hasn¡¯t been intimate with any woman for years, it¡¯s hard to imagine he¡¯d lose control.¡±


    Cristina scoffed. ¡°If he wasn¡¯t interested in women, how could he be seduced? I¡¯ve met Katelyn. She¡¯s not that type of woman.¡± She had observed many women over the years, and a single nce was often enough for her to form an opinion. Clearly, Katelyn didn¡¯t fit the profile, so Cristina med her son even more.


    With that thought, she picked up her phone and dialed Vincent¡¯s number.


    The ward remained tense in ufortable silence. Katelyn, doing her best to cover herself, used both hands to avoid further embarrassment. Vincent acted honorably, keeping his eyes shut throughout.


    This standoff continued for a while.


    Suddenly, Vincent¡¯s phone rang, breaking the silence. As he reached for it with his eyes still closed, the phone slipped from his hand and fell to the floor, revealing his mother¡¯s name on the caller ID.


    ¡°Could you put it on speaker for me?¡± he asked. Katelyn did as he requested, and as soon as the call connected, Cristina¡¯s voice filled the room with usations.


    ¡°Vincent Adams, you¡¯re an adult. You should know better than to behave like this at such a time. You narrowly avoided death yesterday, yet today, your actions are wildly inappropriate. Did you go as far as to rip her clothes?¡±


    Cristina bit back further anger.


    For years, she had seen Vincent as calm andposed, but today, his actions left much to be desired.


    Both Vincent and Katelyn, being adults, grasped the implications of Cristina¡¯s words instantly. Katelyn blushed, realizing how Cristina must have misunderstood Vincent¡¯s request to his assistant.


    Vincent looked up at the ceiling awkwardly.


    ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not what you think,¡± he exined.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin,¡± Cristina interrupted sharply. ¡°I heard you ask your assistant to send some clothes to your ward. It¡¯s not old-fashioned, but you need to be careful with your health. The doctor told you not to engage in any kind of strenuous activity and to focus on your recovery. Did you forget everything he said? What if you end up hurting yourself? Do you have to rush things?¡±


    Cristina cut him off quickly, leaving no room for him to respond.


    Katelyn¡¯s cheeks grew even redder, wishing she could just disappear.


    ¡°All I¡¯m saying is for your own good. Even if you felt overwhelmed, you need to control yourself. If this happens again, break a leg.¡± Cristina warned, before hanging up and ending her lecture.


    The phone call only heightened the awkwardness in the ward. Vincent and Katelyn exchanged nces, both feeling the weight of the moment.


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 Chapter 44

    ?Chapter 44:


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t bring herself to meet Vincent¡¯s gaze. It was more humiliating than if her blouse had been torn.


    Vincent shared her difort. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that his call would result in such a deep misunderstanding with his mother. More importantly, Cristina had cut him off before he could rify.


    ¡°Well¡ª¡±


    Both of them spoke at the same time, trying to get a word in.


    After a brief silence, they tried to speak simultaneously again.


    ¡°You go first,¡± Katelyn said.


    ¡°No, you,¡± Vincent replied.


    Katelyn took a deep breath, seeming to decide to speak her mind. ¡°Never mind. Let me speak first.¡±


    Vincent nodded in agreement.


    With a heavy sigh, Katelyn massaged her forehead. ¡°Adams, please make time to clear things up with your mother. This misunderstanding is too profound. I can¡¯t bear it.¡±


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Vincent replied. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll make sure to exin everything to her.¡±


    Relieved, Katelyn nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Yet, their conversation did little to ease the awkwardness that lingered between them.


    Katelyn bit her lip and inspected her blouse, wondering if she could leave the hospital by covering the tear with her arms. But the rip in her blouse ran too deep, from cor to hem.


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    What made it worse was that a strip of fabric hade awaypletely. So even if she tried to cover it with her arms, it would be noticeable and likely spark conversation.


    Resigned, Katelyn decided to wait for new clothes.


    Silence enveloped the ward, and the tension seemed almost tangible.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t know how long she had waited. Finally, Samuel arrived with the clothes.


    Katelyn immediately turned around.


    Samuel passed therge bag to Vincent. ¡°Adams, here are the clothes,¡± he said.


    Vincent frowned. ¡°Why are you the one bringing them?¡± He hadn¡¯t called Samuel earlier.


    Samuel exined, ¡°Mrs. Adams asked me to bring them.¡± As he spoke, he nced at Katelyn, clearly puzzled. He sensed the odd atmosphere in the ward but couldn¡¯t pinpoint the cause.


    Katelyn twisted the torn fabric of her blouse to cover herself, grabbed the bag, and rushed into the bathroom. Watching her, Samuel asked, ¡°What happened to Miss Bailey? She was expected to visit Vincent here.¡±


    Samuel was puzzled by her need to change.


    Vincent red at him, his expression filled with warning. ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions you shouldn¡¯t,¡± he cautioned.


    Samuel silenced himself at once.


    Katelyn quickly changed into the dress Samuel had brought and came out of the bathroom. She stuffed the torn blouse into the bag. Though now more presentable, she still couldn¡¯t face Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I need to leave now,¡± she said quietly.


    After a moment, Vincent responded calmly, ¡°Okay. Be careful out there.¡±


    Katelyn gave a quick nod, clutched the bag, and walked briskly out of the ward. She hurried as if chased by some unseen force.


    Despite being married to Neil for three years, they had never shared moments like this¡ªVincent had seen her half-naked. She barely knew him, and now this. Feeling acutely embarrassed, Katelyn exited the room.


    Only Vincent and Samuel remained in the ward. Samuel, watching the way Katelyn had left, was filled with doubts.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, do you find Miss Bailey¡¯s behavior odd today? She seemed rushed and anxious when she left. I¡¯m worried something serious might have urred.¡±


    Leaning against the head of the bed, Vincent said coldly, ¡°Maybe she was busy.¡±


    Samuel nodded thoughtfully and nced at him, still unsure.


    After the surgery, the gunshot wound was covered with thick gauze. The first two buttons of his hospital gown were undone, revealing the edge of the gauze.


    Vincent¡¯splexion was still pale, his fine features giving him the appearance of a man from a painting.


    Rubbing his chin, Samuel pondered for a moment before finding the right words. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but Mr. Adams, you somehow seem fragile now, and it makes me want to protect you.¡±


    Vincent red at him, snapping, ¡°Shut up!¡±


    With an embarrassed smile, Samuel quickly changed the subject, reporting on the investigation.


    ¡°The mastermind behind the gunshot is still under investigation. It appears this person is also responsible for the murder of the head of the design department. All vehicles are now equipped with bulletproof designs, each armed with at least ten pistols and three submachine guns.¡±


    Vincent responded with a cold nod. ¡°You¡¯re fully in charge of those matters.¡±


    A secondter, his phone rang. When he saw the caller ID, his expression turned icy.


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 Chapter 45

    ?Chapter 45:


    Vincent answered Neil¡¯s call with visible annoyance. ¡°Hello, Mr. Adams,¡± Neil greeted immediately.


    Vincent leaned against the bed¡¯s headboard, his voice indifferent. ¡°What do you want, Mr. Wheeler?¡±


    Neil hesitated before continuing. ¡°Mypany is facing challenges, and we need to coborate with Iris. Could you help me get in touch with her, Mr. Adams?¡± His tone was polite, almost pleading.


    Vincent¡¯s lips twisted into a scornful smile. ¡°Sorry, but that¡¯s not possible. Iris chooses her own business partners, and I don¡¯t interfere with her decisions.¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice grew anxious. ¡°Mr. Adams, all I¡¯m asking for is an introduction. Honestly, I¡¯ve tried contacting Aimee several times without sess.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes remained cold and unyielding. ¡°I understand yourpany¡¯s predicament, but I can¡¯t assist you. You¡¯ll need to find another way, Mr. Wheeler.¡±


    With Vincent¡¯s firm refusal, Neil reluctantly ended the call.


    Vincent hung up and stared at the phone screen, contemting the potential chaos if Neil were to discover that Katelyn was Iris.


    Meanwhile, Samuel, unable to restrain his curiosity, was slicing an apple next to Vincent¡¯s bed. ¡°What is Neil thinking? Why would he try to poach from you? Doesn¡¯t he realize that his ex-wife is Iris? It¡¯s amusing to see how poorly he and his ex-wife coordinate.¡±


    Thisment drew a stern look from Vincent.


    ¡°I think you¡¯d be suitable for that,¡± Vincent suggested, his tone sharp.


    The suggestion was enough to make Samuel stop in his tracks. It seemed that Vincent was about to give him more work if he didn¡¯t shut up now.


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    Samuel straightened up and suppressed a smile. ¡°I promise to keep out of things that don¡¯t concern me, Mr. Adams.¡±


    The thought of being sent on an inspection assignment for the next few months meant Samuel wouldn¡¯t see the town again for at least three months and would likely endure considerable hardship.


    Vincent¡¯s cold voice broke through Samuel¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Keep an eye on them and stay updated on their activities.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Adams,¡± Samuel replied promptly.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn had just gotten home and was about to rx in bed when her phone rang unexpectedly. It was Tricia calling.


    Katelyn barely had any friends, and Tricia Guerrera was one of the few she considered a true friend. They had enjoyed shopping and high tea together, but they hadn¡¯t spoken in a month. Feeling curious, Katelyn answered the call, wondering what had prompted Tricia to reach out now.


    Katelyn answered, slightly puzzled, and Tricia¡¯s cheerful voice filled her ear.


    ¡°Hey, Katelyn, what have you been up to? I¡¯m throwing a birthday party tomorrow. Will you be able to make it?¡±


    Clutching a pillow on her bed, Katelyn responded with a tinge of sarcasm. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass on the party tomorrow. After all, I¡¯m not the Bailey family¡¯s daughter anymore. These events typically attract crowds from wealthy families.¡±


    Previously, Katelyn mingled easily with such groups, but since the revtion about her parentage, she had be the target of their jokes.


    Tricia brushed off her concerns, insisting warmly, ¡°You might not be a Bailey by blood, Kat, but you¡¯re still my dear friend. Would I look down on you for something like that? Plus, it¡¯s been ages since west met. I really miss you.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression wavered with uncertainty.


    Upon sensing her friend¡¯s hesitance, Tricia¡¯s voice grew even more persuasive. ¡°Please,e keep mepany. It might be myst party here. My parents are nning to send me overseas after my birthday. It¡¯ll be harder to see each other then.¡±


    Caught off guard, Katelyn asked, ¡°Going abroad?¡±


    The person next to Tricia nearlyughed out loud but managed to stifle it. Tricia shot a sharp look at her, silencing her before she could jeopardize the ruse. After giving her friend a warning look, Tricia acted disappointed and sighed deeply.


    ¡°Exactly! I¡¯m leaving right after the party. Don¡¯t you want to see me onest time before I go?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s hand tightened around her phone, reflecting her internal struggle. Finally, she responded, ¡°Okay. Send me the address.¡±


    ¡°You better not miss it,¡± Tricia said.


    Katelyn agreed and hung up, unaware that her response was met with immediateughter on the other end. One of the group members managed to ask between giggles, ¡°Tricia, did Katelyn Bailey really agree? She¡¯s not going to stand us up, is she?¡±


    Tricia smirked victoriously and confidently dered, ¡°She¡¯s a fool who clings to the idea of friendship. She¡¯ll definitely show up now that she gave me her word.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯re in for a treat tomorrow.¡±


    The people in the roomughed again.


    With a disdainful gaze, Tricia said, ¡°Katelyn, I can¡¯t wait to see your downfall with my own eyes this time.¡±


    The following day, Katelyn put on a ssic ck dress. Following the address Tricia had sent, she arrived at the party venue on time. To her surprise, the guards at the entrance blocked her way.


    ¡°You¡¯re not on the list. You can¡¯te in.¡±


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 Chapter 46

    ?Chapter 46:


    ¡°Entry is restricted to those with invitations only. Do you have one?¡±


    Katelyn was taken aback by the guard¡¯s question. Tricia hadn¡¯t mentioned needing an invitation during their call.


    She furrowed her brows and muttered, ¡°Hold on, I¡¯ll call Tricia.¡± Katelyn tried reaching Tricia by phone, but there was no response.


    Faced with no other option, she turned back to the guards. ¡°Tricia is my best friend. She invited me, but she¡¯s not answering her phone right now.¡±


    The guards¡¯ expressions hardened, clearly skeptical of Katelyn¡¯s exnation. One of them replied sternly, ¡°Without an invitation, we simply can¡¯t let you in. Didn¡¯t you hear us the first time? We can¡¯t just allow anyone who ims to be Miss Guerrero¡¯s friend inside. What if it¡¯s someone with bad intentions?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression soured as she pressed her lips together tightly. She tried calling Tricia once more, but again, there was no answer.


    As guests with invitations flowed into the party hall, Katelyn stood alone outside, drawing curious nces and whispers.


    All of a sudden, a shocked voice resonated from behind her.


    ¡°Katelyn, is that you?¡±


    When Katelyn turned around, she saw Ad Tucker approaching. They had met before but weren¡¯t closely acquainted. Katelyn waved.


    Ad approached and handed her invitation to the guard who had stopped Katelyn.


    ¡°She¡¯s my friend. May we enter together?¡±


    Ad had noticed Katelyn¡¯s predicament the moment she exited her car.


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    After the guard inspected the invitation, he nodded and allowed them to enter.


    Looking earnestly at Ad, Katelyn expressed her gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your help just now.¡±


    Ad dismissed the thanks with a casual wave and linked arms with Katelyn, leading her forward. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡±


    Inside, Katelyn scanned the familiar faces around her, recognizing many old friends. Among the crowd, she spotted Lise.


    As Katelyn began to search for Tricia, she was surprised to see her walking over to thank everyone for attending her birthday party.


    When Tricia noticed Katelyn, her expression changed drastically, and she shouted, ¡°Who let this woman in? Get her out of here!¡±


    Her sharp voice captured everyone¡¯s attention instantly. Whispers spread as all eyes turned to Katelyn, and she felt a chill run through her.


    It appeared that Tricia had orchestrated the birthday party to humiliate her.


    Lise approached and spoke softly. ¡°Tricia, is there a misunderstanding here between you and Katelyn? Weren¡¯t you good friends before? Why do you want to kick her out?¡±


    Realizing the situation, Ad quickly came to Katelyn¡¯s defense.


    ¡°Yes, we are good friends. You can¡¯t just mistreat her because her circumstances have changed. She came here to celebrate your birthday with you. Why are you being so cruel?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand anything! You have no right to judge me!¡± Tricia retorted, ring at Katelyn.


    ¡°When the Bailey family worked with the Guerrera family, she abused her position as a Bailey to bully me. She¡¯d boss me around, send me on errands, and even threatened me to keep quiet about it,¡± Tricia dered.


    These usations caused everyone to look at Katelyn with disdain.


    Katelyn, on the other hand, was visibly displeased. Tricia was lying.


    Acting surprised, Lise said apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Tricia. I didn¡¯t mean to dredge up such painful memories. We were all under the impression that you two had a great rtionship.¡±


    Tricia said nothing, clenching her teeth as if enduring profound injustice.


    Ad gently patted Tricia¡¯s shoulder and offered insincerefort. ¡°The past is the past, and Katelyn has already faced the consequences. I still hope you two can reconcile.¡±


    Tricia scoffed and looked at Katelyn with disdain. ¡°For your sake, I¡¯ll forgive her.¡±


    Katelyn observed the insincere disy, her eyes glimmering with scorn.


    It was clear now; her initial reluctance to attend what she suspected to be a sham birthday party was justified. The im of going abroad was nothing more than a ploy to draw her into this event.


    Katelyn stood tall, disregarding the curious stares around her. She appeared unaffected by the ordeal. ¡°Are we finished? If so, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Just as she turned to leave, another person began screaming.


    ¡°My diamond ne is gone!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 47

    ?Chapter 47:


    The voice immediately shifted everyone¡¯s focus back to Katelyn.


    Suspicion clouded their gazes, as though they were watching a thief caught in the act. Whispers began to circte among the crowd.


    ¡°Could it be possible that someone came to this party intending to steal another¡¯s ne?¡±


    ¡°Now that you bring it up, there seems to be an ideal suspect right in front of us. I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s been struggling since she was expelled from the Bailey family. Perhaps she attended this birthday party to steal and sell something for financial gain?¡±


    ¡°We need to find the thief immediately. Such behavior cannot be allowed!¡±


    The conversations among the crowd continued, but every eye remained fixed on Katelyn.


    With a contemptuous glint in her eyes, Tricia surveyed the crowd and dered, ¡°No one is leaving this party until we identify the thief. I intend to find out who would dare to steal at my birthday celebration!¡±


    She then spun around and called the person who had just raised the rm about the missing ne.


    ¡°Now, exin to me where you have been and whom you have spoken to since your arrival.¡±


    The woman, Chloe Hampton, nervously bit her lip. ¡°I have been in the dessert area since I arrived.¡± She appeared to be straining to remember, and then abruptly pointed at Katelyn.


    ¡°Oh, now I recall. I brushed past her moments ago, and shortly after, I realized my ne was gone.¡±


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    While the previousments had been mere malicious gossip, Chloe¡¯s statement seemed to offer significant evidence.


    In that instant, the collective disdain and revulsion in everyone¡¯s eyes became unmistakable.


    Katelyn silently balled her fists. It felt as though this entire birthday party had been set up with the intention of framing her.


    First, Tricia had humiliated her by summoning her to the front, and now this orchestrated theft seemed designed to frame her.


    Yet one thing puzzled her. She had once had a strong bond with Tricia, having looked after Tricia and the Guerrero family. Why would Tricia betray her like this now?


    Had the human heart truly be so untrustworthy in the face of adversity?


    Ad, seething with anger at the baseless usation, clenched her jaw and retorted, ¡°If you¡¯re going to frame Katelyn, at least try to make some proper efforts. Does it make any sense that she could steal someone¡¯s ne just by brushing past her? This is utterly disrespectful.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly with irritation. ¡°What¡¯s with Ad? Why is she defending Katelyn?¡±


    She advanced a step and remarked, ¡°Ad, your naivety is showing. People who cannot handle their misfortunes might go to any extreme to regain their lost status. Theft might just be the beginning; they could eventually resort to robbery.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze grew icy as she replied firmly, ¡°I did not steal her ne.¡±


    Tricia smirked and responded, ¡°What thief ever admits to their crime? They only confess when the evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.¡±


    She was resolute in her mission to ce the me on Katelyn, ensuring she would never be able to hold her head high again.


    Lise¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of disappointment as she let out a weary sigh. ¡°The truth, Mom, Dad never meant to push you away. Your pride and stubbornness are to me for this situation. If you were struggling, you could havee to us for help. Instead, you chose to steal. Your actions not only ruin your reputation but also cast a shadow on Mom and Dad.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s icy gaze locked onto Lise with the intensity of a sharp de slicing through the air, instilling a sense of fear that made Lise instinctively recoil.


    ¡°Do you not understand what I am saying? I did not take anything from her. I have not evene into contact with her.¡±


    She had just taken another careful look at Chloe, ensuring they had note into contact or brushed past each other. Upon entering, she had been preupied with looking for something and hadn¡¯t had the opportunity to pay attention to anyone else.


    Ad promptly spoke up to support her. ¡°We¡¯ve been together the entire time. Katelyn had nothing to do with this.¡±


    ¡°Aside from Katelyn, who else here would have a motive?¡± Tricia sneered, her voiceced with irony and contempt.


    She looked down at Katelyn, relishing her newfound superiority as she metaphorically ced Katelyn beneath her feet.


    She basked in the satisfaction of dominating Katelyn, her tion growing with each moment. ¡°Given our long history, if you just hand over the ne, we might decide against involving the police. But if you remain obstinate, the consequences will be far worse.¡±


    Lise, clutching her chest in distress, urged urgently, ¡°Katelyn, please give it to us quickly. Don¡¯t make things worse. This could destroy your entire future.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained unyieldingly cold, as though she were encased in a sheet of ice.


    Before she could respond, Chloe abruptly lunged forward and grabbed the bag from Katelyn. In the blink of an eye, Chloe extracted a ne from the bag and lifted it for everyone to see, dering in a resolute tone, ¡°This is my ne!¡±


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 Chapter 48

    ?Chapter 48:


    The sight of the ne being found in Katelyn¡¯s bag was like a bomb detonating amid a joyous gathering. Up until now, everyone had only spected, but now hard proof had finally surfaced.


    Fury zed in Tricia¡¯s eyes as she lunged forward, seized Katelyn¡¯s wrist, and spat through clenched teeth, ¡°I knew it. You¡¯re a thief! How dare you steal from my friend at my birthday party?¡±


    Lise gazed at Katelyn with deep disappointment, releasing a long, weary sigh.


    ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve let me down profoundly. If Mom and Dad found out, they would be heartbroken. They¡¯ve spent years trying to instill good values in you, but I guess they just couldn¡¯t change who you truly are deep inside,¡± Lise added.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes went wide with shock. She had been by Katelyn¡¯s side the entire time. How could that ne have ended up in Katelyn¡¯s bag? Katelyn, her gaze now icy, wrenched her wrist out of Tricia¡¯s hold.


    She faced Chloe, her lips curling into a sneer. ¡°You¡¯re saying this ne belongs to you. Can you prove it?¡±


    Chloe stuttered, unable to meet Katelyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°I know my own things. Do you think I wouldn¡¯t recognize what¡¯s mine?¡±


    With a piercing gaze, Katelyn challenged her, ¡°Alright then. Tell me exactly what this ne is made of and who the designer is. Every custom piece has a unique serial number engraved on the back. We can trace it back to the designer and the original buyer. Since you¡¯re iming this is yours, share those details.¡±


    Chloe, nowpletely thrown off, was at a loss. How could she possibly know the materials of the ne she held? But with many eyes on her, she had no choice but to press on.


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    ¡°This ne was a gift. How would I know all those details? Stop trying to cover up your crime. You stole my ne!¡±


    As she uttered thest words, Chloe¡¯s voice suddenly gained strength and confidence. She refused to believe that Katelyn could turn the situation around.


    Ad shot back with a mocking smile, ¡°You should follow Katelyn¡¯s suggestion and prove that this ne is yours before using anyone of theft. What if this ne belongs to Katelyn, and you¡¯re iming it wrongly?¡±


    Chloe¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she stepped back. ¡°Wait! Does Katelyn have any proof that this ne belongs to her?¡±


    Katelyn responded with a soft, knowingugh. ¡°I can absolutely prove this ne is mine.¡±


    She stepped forward, taking the ne in her hand and holding it up for everyone to see.


    In her grasp was an exquisitely crafted pink diamond ne, clearly worth a fortune.


    Katelyn raised her voice, addressing the crowd. ¡°This ne was created by the renowned foreign designer, JK.R. The theme of this piece is ¡®love,¡¯ and it was released justst year. You can find all the details, including the designer¡¯s name, on the official website.¡±


    She then pulled her phone from her bag, turned on the shlight, and inspected the sp at the back of the ne. A clearly engraved serial number was visible.


    Someone in the crowd, curious, quickly looked up the number and confirmed, ¡°She¡¯s right! It¡¯s definitely the designer Katelyn mentioned. This ne belongs to her. How else would she know all these details?¡±


    ¡°Considering how valuable this pink diamond is, it seems unlikely that Chloe could afford it,¡± someone added.


    Chloe saw the tide of public opinion turning against her.


    Nevertheless, she was determined not to back down. She straightened her posture and said, ¡°That doesn¡¯t prove the ne is yours. What if¡ª¡± She hesitated, struggling toe up with a follow-up.


    Everyone present could now see through the situation. While Chloe was at a loss for words, Katelyn disyed intimate knowledge of the ne. Chloe, frustrated, cast a desperate look at Tricia for assistance, but Tricia refused to acknowledge her plea.


    Now, Chloe was at aplete loss, unable to find anything more to say.


    Observing their exchange, Katelyn felt a growing sense of irony. It was clear that everyone had been conspiring to undermine her.


    ¡°Since you are so keen on evidence, I¡¯m happy to provide more.¡±


    Turning her gaze to Ad, Katelyn asked, ¡°Could you assist me by finding an ultravioletmp?¡±


    Although Ad was unsure of the reason, she agreed and nodded.


    Momentster, she returned holding an ultravioletmp. Katelyn switched it on and focused the light on the engraved numbers. To everyone¡¯s surprise, two initials emerged clearly¡ª ¡°KB.¡±


    These initials, representing Katelyn¡¯s name, were irrefutable proof.


    Chloe¡¯s face drained of color instantly, and herst hope shatteredpletely.


    Lise, clenching her teeth but forcing a smile, said, ¡°Katelyn, I knew there must have been a mistake. You are not the kind of person they are making you out to be.¡±


    Ad, without hesitation, revealed her true feelings, saying, ¡°Just drop the pretense. It is revolting.¡±


    Lise¡¯s fists tightened with anger, ready tounch another attack on Katelyn. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Katelyn walked up to the stage and took the microphone.


    .


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 Chapter 49

    ?Chapter 49:


    Standing on the stage, Katelyn surveyed the crowd below. Their gazes ranged from curiosity to contempt and disdain. But after everything she had endured, she was unfazed by their judgment.


    Taking the microphone, she spoke in a cold, steady voice. ¡°I am no longer a member of the Bailey family. I never desired anything from them, and I will not interfere with their lives moving forward. As for all of you, just because I have left the Bailey family, it doesn¡¯t mean you can push me around. I will not let this issue fade away. Tricia will be held ountable for her actions today.¡±


    She fixed Tricia with a cold, piercing gaze. Her voice, though not loud, carried an intimidating edge. ¡°The Guerrero family deserves nothing but hell.¡±


    As her words hung in the air, shock gave way to increased disdain and mockery from the crowd. Without the support of the Bailey family, Katelyn was seen as insignificant. In contrast, the Guerrero family still held a position of influence. How could Katelyn possibly seek revenge?


    Tricia crossed her arms, eying Katelyn with cold disdain, and could not help butugh.


    ¡°Do you really think your words have any weight? Without the Bailey family, you are nothing more than a pest that can be squashed with ease. How dare you talk about revenge? Let¡¯s see if you have the capability.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained icy, her eyes calm andposed.


    ¡°Is that so? I hope you still feel the same way tomorrow.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, sensing an unexpected threat in Katelyn¡¯s unnervingly calm tone. But how could it be? How could Katelyn possibly manage to take revenge on the Guerrero family after leaving the Bailey family?


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    It had to be a bluff, a desperate attempt to save face. With this thought, Tricia dismissed her unease and reverted to her arrogant demeanor.


    ¡°Katelyn, let¡¯s see who gets thestugh.¡±


    Katelyn maintained her expressionless demeanor as she walked out, carrying her bag.


    Ad, sneering, moved to follow Katelyn but was halted by Tricia as soon as she stepped forward.


    ¡°Ad, you are on apletely different level from Katelyn. We share the same status. You have already betrayed us once; do you intend to do it again? If you leave with her now, you will be permanently excluded from this circle.¡±


    Ad¡¯s eyes shed with sarcasm as she replied, ¡°What¡¯s so great about being associated with deceitful people like you?¡±


    Tricia, her teeth clenched in anger, said, ¡°I am giving you onest chance. If you align with me now, I might forgive you.¡±


    Ad met her gaze coolly and responded, ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    ¡°You are only targeting Katelyn because she has fallen from grace. If my family were in trouble someday, you would be eager to crush me too.¡± She turned to address the crowd.


    ¡°Everyone, think carefully. Associating with someone as two-faced as this is a constant risk of betrayal.¡±


    Tricia, fuming, clenched her fists tightly. ¡°You¡ª¡±


    Katelyn paused briefly before quickly exiting the hall, with Ad following close behind.


    Katelyn was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. She had once believed Tricia to be a true friend, only to find out that Tricia had set a trap to embarrass her. On the other hand, Ad, who had been just an ordinary friend, came to her aid when she needed it. Reflecting on her past, Katelyn realized she had been blind in both romantic and tonic rtionships.


    With a look of regret, Katelyn turned to Ad and said, ¡°I am sorry for dragging you into this. You didn¡¯t have to.¡±


    The dynamics among wealthy and influential families, even in personal rtionships, could impact future coborations between the ns. If word of this incident spread, Ad might find herself facing unwanted scrutiny.


    Katelyn was indifferent to such concerns, but Ad had more to worry about.


    Ad offered a reassuring smile and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I am just following my heart. I value you more than them.¡±


    Despite her words, a trace of worry lingered in her eyes. ¡°Be cautious, Katelyn,¡± Ad warned softly. ¡°Tricia is quite spiteful. She mighte after you again.¡±


    Katelyn nodded with a smile, responding nonchntly, ¡°I am aware.¡±


    Ad, her voice filled with concern, added, ¡°I know you are strong, but please be more careful when facing people like her.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡± Katelyn nodded once more and gently shifted the conversation to a new topic. ¡°I know of a great restaurant. Let¡¯s go try their food.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡±


    After their meal, they parted ways to head home. It appeared that the day¡¯s events had not caused significant trouble.


    The next day, Tricia received a call from her father, who was furiously berating her.


    ¡°Tricia, who on earth did you offend?¡±


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    .

 Chapter 50

    ?Chapter 50:


    Tricia, just waking up and still groggy, struggled to make sense of her father¡¯s furious scolding.


    ¡°Dad, I¡¯m not following you. What¡¯s going on?¡±


    Clutching the phone tightly, Delmar Guerrero ground his teeth in anger. ¡°Tell me, who have you managed to piss off? Are youpletely clueless? Don¡¯t you realize that our family¡¯s stock is plummeting today?¡±


    Delmar had been meticulous in his business dealings for years, and such a crisis was unprecedented. There had to be a reason why the Guerrera family was suddenly under attack.


    Tricia¡¯s foggy mind finally cleared. She quickly opened the stock app, revealing a sea of red. Guerrero family stocks were plummeting, and numerous shareholders were voicing theirints. The drop in stock value indicated that the Guerrera family had likely lost fifty million overnight.


    If the stock price continued to decline daily, the Guerrero family could lose everything and faceplete bankruptcy. There were numerousments specting that Tricia had offended someone, leading to these massive losses. Tricia felt a wave of dread wash over her.


    Delmar warned, ¡°If you can¡¯t sort this out, don¡¯t be surprised if I take severe action!¡±


    He then mmed the phone down in frustration. Tricia copsed onto her bed, bewildered. What had happened? When had she offended anyone?


    Then, her mind shed back to what Katelyn had said the previous day.


    Could it really be Katelyn behind this?


    No, it seemed impossible¡ªhow could she be so powerful? The news about the Guerrero family¡¯s stock plunge quickly spread, and Lise, of course, heard about it. The Guerrero family¡¯s stock had always been stable. The sudden, severe drop indicated that the opposing party had far greater financial power, possibly bing thergest shareholder in the Guerrero family, which caused the stock price to crash.


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    Lise couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious, and Katelyn immediately came to mind. However, Katelyn had no assets after leaving the Bailey family. It seemed more usible that the Guerrera family had offended someone else.


    Tricia, sharing Lise¡¯s concern, clung to a slim hope that the stock price might stabilize by the next day. But her optimism was quickly shattered.


    Every project the Guerrero family was involved in, whether still under negotiation or already in progress, encountered issues. Partners chose to pay liquidated damages and withdraw from deals rather than continue. It seemed as though the Guerrero family had be a ma for misfortune, with anyone associated with them caught in the fallout.


    Then, Tricia realized the truth. It was really Katelyn behind all of this.


    Katelyn had orchestrated the revtion that any partner working with the Guerrero family would face stock crashes, causing their partners to flee in droves. Tricia¡¯s heart sank. She reached out to Lise for help.


    As soon as Lise answered, Tricia said, ¡°Lise, it¡¯s really Katelyn¡¯s doing. What should I do? If she doesn¡¯t stop, our family will end up bankrupt!¡±


    Lise quickly shook off her initial shock and assured Tricia in a soothing tone, ¡°Tricia, stay calm. Panicking will only make things worse. I¡¯ll help you find a solution.¡±


    Tricia, on the verge of tears from anxiety, still found the energy to berate Katelyn angrily. ¡°Damn it! How is this bitch still so powerful after leaving the Bailey family?¡±


    Meanwhile, the Guerrero family remained on the brink of bankruptcy.


    As time passed, the Guerrero family¡¯s situation grew increasingly precarious, as if they were teetering on the edge of a cliff. Delmar did some digging and eventually discovered what had transpired at Tricia¡¯s birthday party.


    When he returned home and saw Tricia engrossed in her phone, his anger boiled over. He pped her hard. ¡°How could you be so stupid as to offend Katelyn? Call her and apologize right now!¡±


    The force of the p sent Tricia crashing to the floor. Her cheek was already swelling, and her eyes were filled with disbelief.


    ¡°Dad, how could you p me?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t just stop at pping you,¡± Delmar growled. ¡°If our family actually goes bankrupt, I will break your legs!¡±


    Delmor, seething with fury, was infuriated by his daughter¡¯s ipetence. How could someone so foolish be his daughter? He even questioned whether Tricia was truly his.


    Seeing Tricia still in a daze, Delmor stepped forward and delivered a sharp kick to her leg. ¡°Call her and apologize right now!¡±


    Tricia, overwhelmed by the pain, could barely speak. Despite her reluctance, she had no choice but to call Katelyn; her father¡¯s anger could not be taken lightly.


    ¡°Katelyn, I am apologizing now. Please, show some mercy and spare my family.¡±


    Katelyn, with a chilling tone, replied nonchntly, ¡°I expect you to broadcast a livestream where you get on your knees and beg for forgiveness.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s face reddened with fury. ¡°No way! What are you even thinking?¡±


    ¡°Then let the storm intensify,¡± Katelyn sneered, immediately ending the call.


    Tricia¡¯s expression hardened. As soon as she looked up, she was met with Delmor¡¯s murderous re.


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 Chapter 51

    ?Chapter 51:


    ¡°Who do you think you are, talking to her that way? Are you out of your mind?¡±


    Before Tricia could respond, Delmar¡¯s fury boiled over. He yanked her by the hair, his hatred radiating through clenched teeth. ¡°Listen to me carefully! The Guerrero family is teetering on the edge of copse. If Katelyn doesn¡¯t call this off by tomorrow, everything we¡¯ve built will be gone!¡±


    Tricia let out a terrified scream. She had never been struck in her life and could not believe Delmar would be so merciless. Tears streamed down her swollen cheeks as she struggled to find her voice. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry. I really am. I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to make Katelyn forgive me.¡±


    Delmar¡¯s eyes zed with fury. Still seething, heshed out again, kicking Tricia in the chest just as she managed to stand up. She let out a scream of agony, crumpling to the floor once more. This time, she was too weakened to attempt to get up.


    ¡°Fix this mess, or the consequences will be severe!¡±


    Bruised and battered, Tricia whimpered in pain. Lying on the floor, she seethed inwardly, cing all the me squarely on Katelyn. But this time, she was not about to repeat her mistake.


    That night, she reluctantly started a livestream. In the livestream, Tricia gazed tearfully into the camera, her voice trembling as she spoke.


    ¡°Katelyn, I admit my wrongdoing. I am here to apologize. Please, spare the Guerrero family.¡±


    Mid-sentence, she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of the camera, breaking down into tears.


    ¡°You told me to apologize and broadcast it, and here I am. I¡¯ve done what you asked. Please, let the Guerrero family go.¡±


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    As Tricia knelt, the livestream room quickly filled with hundreds of thousands of viewers.


    Tricia had a moderate level of fame online, known as an inte celebrity with hundreds of thousands of followers. Her status as the daughter of a wealthy family only added to her notoriety, making the clip from her livestream go viral. Soon, countless people began editing and reposting the video, with each version racking up millions of views.


    In the video, Tricia, her face swollen and tear-streaked, sobbed and pleaded for forgiveness.


    Outrage quickly spread amongizens.


    ¡°Forcing a girl to kneel and apologize live? That¡¯s just too much. How heartless can people be?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Katelyn the one who dumped Neil Wheeler after walking away from the Bailey family? She is such a drama queen.¡±


    ¡°What could have possibly happened between them? It¡¯s hard to believe she would go to such lengths.¡±


    ¡°Wait a minute. Something feels off about this. There¡¯s got to be more to it. Don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Thement section quickly filled with remarks, most users siding with Tricia. Any neutral or questioningments were immediately drowned out by a flood of harsh responses.


    For a brief moment, the entirement section was awash with sympathy for Tricia and condemnation for Katelyn. Some users even tracked down ounts she no longer used. Within minutes, the feed was flooded with tens of thousands of hatefulments.


    Seeing thements flood in, Tricia felt a wave of satisfaction. If she could continue ying the victim, she might just ruin Katelyn¡¯s reputation entirely.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn, who had been silently watching the livestream, remained unfazed. With a calm demeanor, she uploaded all the recordings and videos she had carefully saved. These clips clearly captured Tricia¡¯s nder and mockery during her birthday party.


    The moment the video was released, it quickly went viral, bing a trending topic once more.


    The footage shed light on the entire situation, revealing why Katelyn had demanded a public apology from Tricia in the first ce.


    In the video, Tricia came across as arrogant, domineering, and downright malicious¡ªnothing like the helpless and innocent girl she pretended to be in her livestream.


    The entire narrative took a dramatic turn.


    Just seconds before, Tricia had been smug, plotting how to garner more sympathy by ying the victim. But as soon as she saw the flood ofments filled with scorn and outrage, she was left utterly speechless. Due to the overwhelming interest in the news, the identities of every guest at the birthday party were uncovered, including Chloe, who soon found herself the target of online harassment from enragedizens.


    Tricia¡¯s expression stiffened as she realized the full extent of the situation.


    Meanwhile, a slow, satisfied smile spread across Katelyn¡¯s face as she watched thement section unfold. She had anticipated a moment like this, knowing that the video she saved would prove invaluable.


    Katelyn did not shrink from the criticism. Instead, she faced it head-on, responding with bold defiance that quickly earned her a surge of new supporters.


    The unexpected shift in public opinion took everyone by surprise, especially Lise.


    Lise, twisted with acid rage, realized that Katelyn had kept the video and was using it to her advantage.


    Tricia, a pawn in her ns, had be irrelevant. Determined to salvage the situation, Lise was resolved to destroy Katelyn¡¯s reputation, no matter what it took. Thinking of this, she picked up her phone and called Tricia.


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 Chapter 52

    ?Chapter 52:


    After the call ended, Tricia¡¯s livestream abruptly cut off, and everyone was removed from the room. Yet, the discussion about the event continued to buzz across the inte.


    For a brief period, both Tricia and Katelyn became trending topics, drawing significant attention.


    Katelyn nced at the now-closed livestream room, lost in thought. Who could have made that call to Tricia? She pondered briefly but chose not to dwell on the question.


    Meanwhile, Tricia felt like a cornered animal, desperate and helpless, clinging to Lise, herst hope.


    ¡°Lise, what am I supposed to do now? The Guerrero family is teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. If it happens, my father will surely kill me.¡±


    Lise sighed, irritated. She wondered why she had ever teamed up with someone as ipetent as Tricia.


    ¡°Draft a fresh apology letterter on and try to regain Katelyn¡¯s goodwill. Beyond that, you will have to let fate take its course.¡±


    Tricia, despite her usualck of insight, now understood that abandoning her was not an option. Dabbing at her tears, Tricia gritted her teeth and made a threat.


    ¡°You are the one who pushed me into this. If the Guerrero family copses, I will make sure everyone knows you were behind it. We will all be dragged down together.¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression darkened. Yet, since their conversation was over the phone, Tricia remained unaware of the fury in Lise¡¯s eyes.


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    She quicklyposed herself, concealing her anger behind a calm facade, and let out a sigh.


    ¡°Tricia, I have been working hard to find solutions to improve your situation. It¡¯s disappointing to hear you speak like this.¡±


    Tricia, unusually perceptive, clung to her stance. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I went against Katelyn to support you. You need toe up with a solution for me.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed with anger, but then a new n formed in her mind. ¡°I might have a way to help you, but it will involve you making a significant sacrifice.¡±


    Tricia quickly inquired, ¡°What kind of sacrifice?¡±


    Their malicious scheme against Katelyn began to take shape in the secrecy of the night, hidden from any external scrutiny.


    While Katelyn continued to apply relentless pressure on the Guerrero family, she had no intention of driving them toplete ruin.


    After a restful night, she was preparing to take the freshly brewed chicken soup and visit Vincent at the hospital when her phone began to vibrate incessantly with a flood of messages.


    She casually tapped the screen to read the messages, but her face immediately hardened into a grim expression. Tricia had attempted suicide the previous night.


    She had left behind a note and cut her wrist. Fortunately, she was discovered in time and rushed to the hospital. However, she remained in the CCU, with the risk of remaining in a vegetative state indefinitely.


    Tricia¡¯s suicide note had also been made public. It was filled with repeated apologies to Katelyn, expressing a desperate hope that her death would soothe Katelyn¡¯s wrath. She pleaded for Katelyn to show mercy toward the Guerrero family and give them a chance to escape ruin.


    Soon, ¡°Katelyn murderer¡± became a top trending topic.


    Whether due to the orchestrated nature of Tricia¡¯s dramatic plea or not, it appeared the public¡¯s focus had shifted. The me was now ced entirely on Katelyn.


    Delmor organized a press conference, visibly broken and shaking as he faced the swarm of reporters and cameras. ¡°I ampletely in the dark about the details of this situation. Regardless of the conflict, nothing could justify my daughter¡¯s life being put on the line. If I could go back, I would prefer Katelyn to have destroyed ourpany rather than seeing my daughter reduced to this. Katelyn, is this what you wanted? If so, please return my daughter to me, the daughter she was before.¡±


    Footage from the press conference quickly spread across the inte.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze turned icy. Tricia, atst, had shown some shrewdness by using this tactic to sway public sentiment. Yet, Katelyn suspected other forces were orchestrating this behind the scenes.


    Her attention shifted to the hospital where Tricia was admitted, the same one where Vincent was currently receiving treatment.


    Her phone was inundated with messages, but she ignored them, opting to log out and block the negativements.


    Katelyn concentrated on her drive to the hospital. Yet, as soon as she arrived and stepped out of her car, a shout pierced the air from a nearby crowd.


    ¡°Katelyn¡¯s here. Make sure she doesn¡¯t slip away!¡±


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 Chapter 53

    ?Chapter 53:


    After the first outcry, the crowd quickly joined in, their voices rising in unison.


    ¡°She took a life, and she deserves the same in return!¡±


    ¡°This criminal belongs behind bars, not walking free!¡±


    Before Katelyn had a chance to process what was happening, the mob swarmed around her, shoving cameras and phones dangerously close to her face. Every pair of eyes burned with fury, fueled by the details of Tricia¡¯s suicide that had been circted everywhere. After more people viewed the footage she released, a subtle shift in public opinion began to tilt in her favor.


    Yet, once the news of Tricia¡¯s suicide spread, Katelyn became the primary target of the public¡¯s outrage. Even though it was relentless cyberbullying that led to Tricia¡¯s downfall, the onlinemunity shifted all the me onto Katelyn. This was the cruelest w in human nature.


    Netizens, feeling righteous, convinced themselves they were seeking justice for the victim. In their narrative, this was about an innocent victim and a viin beyond redemption.


    Using her handbag to cover her face, Katelyn maneuvered away from the blinding shes and intrusive cameras.


    ¡°Move aside, or I will call the authorities!¡± Her threat fell on deaf ears.


    A stern-looking woman with sses stepped forward, her finger jabbing the air in Katelyn¡¯s direction. ¡°You nearly drove an innocent girl to her death! Are you just going to walk away without admitting your guilt?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze turned icy cold.


    Before she had a chance to respond, armed bodyguards suddenly emerged from the hospital entrance. They were dressed in tactical bulletproof gear, wielding submachine guns¡ªa highly trained elite force of bodyguards.


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    ¡°Cause trouble again, and it will be thest mistake you make,¡± Samuel warned, his gun raised.


    Bang!


    The deafening shot sent the chaotic crowd into a panic. Faces turned pale, and without a word, they scattered in fear.


    Samuel approached Katelyn with a respectful tone. ¡°Rest assured, Miss Bailey. Mr. Adams sent us to protect you.¡±


    Katelyn, feeling a wave of gratitude, nodded and allowed the team to escort her upstairs. Vincent must have anticipated the trouble and arranged for Samuel to intervene.


    If they hadn¡¯t arrived when they did, Katelyn might have been stuck dealing with the crowd for who knows how long.


    After a few days of rest, Vincent¡¯s condition had noticeably improved. He sat on the sofa, the top two buttons of his hospital gown undone, revealing the edge of his bandages. When he looked at Katelyn, the usual coldness in his gaze softened.


    Katelyn met his eyes, her voice full of gratitude. ¡°Thank you for your help, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Vincent replied as he set his phone aside.


    ¡°Do you want me to suppress the online trends as well?¡±


    ¡°No, that is not necessary.¡±


    Katelyn had regained herposure, though her beautiful face now held a frosty demeanor. On her way upstairs, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about how she had been ambushed by a mob of people defending Tricia the moment she stepped out of the car.


    What stuck with her most was the middle-aged woman in sses, deliberately manipting the crowd¡¯s emotions.


    That was when Katelyn realized the crowd had been nted to stir up trouble.


    She unlocked her phone, a cold smirk ying on her lips. As expected, the photos from the incident outside the hospital were already dominating the top three spots on the trending list. Thements were vicious and frenzied.


    Vincent, watching her intently, rapped his knee with his long fingers. Despite the chaos she had faced, Katelyn remainedposed and declined Vincent¡¯s offer of assistance. He suspected she already had a n in mind.


    He said casually, ¡°Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.¡±


    Katelyn smiled faintly. ¡°Of course.¡±


    At that moment, a new message popped up on her phone. Her expression grew serious. She nced at Vincent and said, ¡°I have something urgent to handle. I will check in on youter.¡±


    As she walked out of the ward, Katelyn¡¯s determined figure slowly receded from view. Samuel, observing her departure, looked puzzled. ¡°Why did Miss Bailey turn down your help? With all the public me falling on her, she needs to counter the negative press. Otherwise, the situation could spiral out of control.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was steady, tinged with a hint of admiration.


    ¡°Reaching the peak of the storm is often necessary for a dramatic turnaround, making the eventualeback more credible. Katelyn likely has concrete evidence to counteract Tricia. Let¡¯s just wait and see.¡±


    Meanwhile, Neil, sitting in his office, noticed the trending news and the overwhelmingments online. After a moment of deep contemtion, he picked up his phone and made a call.


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 Chapter 54

    ?Chapter 54:


    Before Neil¡¯s call could connect, there was a sharp knock at his office door.


    ¡°May Ie in, Neil?¡±


    Neil quickly ended the call andposed himself. ¡°Come in.¡±


    Lise entered, holding a lunch bag. Neil looked at her in puzzlement. ¡°What brings you here, Lise?¡±


    Lise ced the bag on his desk with a warm smile. ¡°I was concerned you might not be eating properly these days, so I brought you your favorite soup. Please enjoy it while it¡¯s still hot.¡±


    Shedled out a bowl of soup and handed it to Neil.


    Neil took a sip of the soup and nodded appreciatively. ¡°Thanks, Lise. I didn¡¯t realize you were such a skilled cook.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes brimmed with affection, but then she seemed toe to a realization, letting out a sigh.


    Neil set the bowl down and regarded her with confusion. ¡°You seem troubled. What¡¯s wrong? You look a bit pale.¡±


    Lise fiddled with the edge of her sleeve, uncertainty evident. She looked directly at Neil and asked softly, ¡°Neil, have you seen the news about Katelyn online?¡±


    Neil frowned slightly and nodded. ¡°Yes. What about it?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s as bad as they say. There has to be more to it. I came here to ask if you could help her.¡±


    Lise spoke with a resolve that masked her apprehension.


    Neil¡¯s irritation was visible. ¡°Katelyn brought this on herself. She doesn¡¯t deserve any sympathy. And let¡¯s not forget, you¡¯ve suffered because of her actions. This is just her just deserts.¡±


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    A flicker of doubt crossed Lise¡¯s face. She hesitated and began, ¡°But Katelyn is¡ª¡±


    She hesitated again, leaving her sentence unfinished. Annoyed, Neil mmed the bowl onto the desk.


    ¡°Lise, you¡¯re far too generous. Why are you still concerned about Katelyn? When you think about being kind to her, remember everything she¡¯s put you through. Is it worth it?¡±


    Lise was left without words.


    She pressed her lips together, on the verge of speaking but ultimately holding her tongue. Neil drew her closer, letting out a resigned sigh.


    He said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ve been following this situation closely from the start. Katelyn is the primary culprit in this whole fiasco. Don¡¯t expect me toe to her aid. She brought this upon herself.¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, Lise reluctantly agreed with Neil.


    Inside, she felt a sense of satisfaction. She knew Neil had never held any regard for Katelyn.


    With a sigh, she expressed her hope. ¡°I just wish Katelyn would learn something from all of this and make¡­¡±


    Neil gently ced his hand over Lise¡¯s, his gaze soft and affectionate. ¡°Lise, your kindness and sensibility are truly remarkable. If only Katelyn had just a fraction of your admirable qualities, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡±


    Lise rested her head on his shoulder, a gentle smile crossing her face. However, when Neil wasn¡¯t paying attention, a trace of a scheming look shed through her eyes.


    She hade to Neil to gauge his intentions. Now that she was certain he wouldn¡¯t assist Katelyn, she felt a sense of relief.


    Tricia¡¯s suicide was a calcted trap, and Lise was eager to see how Katelyn would fare in its aftermath. Even if Katelyn survived, her life would be in shambles. Hidden away in a quiet corner, Lise texted an unsaved number:


    ¡°I will add another $100,000. Push the story harder. Make sure it spreads across the nation.¡±


    The reply came swiftly: ¡°Consider it done.¡±


    Meanwhile, after receiving the room number, Katelyn made her way to Tricia¡¯s ward. Her instincts told her that Tricia¡¯s suicide was a desperate act; there was likely more to it. Perhaps Tricia and her allies had orchestrated this performance for the media, ying the victims. Katelyn was certain she could discern whether Tricia¡¯s suicide attempt was genuine or just a carefully orchestrated act when she got to confront her.


    As Katelyn reached the 22nd floor, she stepped out of the elevator and was met with the sight of reporters clustered around the ward. In front of the cameras, Tricia¡¯s mother wept bitterly, putting on a heart-wrenching disy.


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey has devastated my poor daughter beyond measure!¡± she cried. ¡°I demand justice. Even if it means risking the entire Guerrero family, I will not rest until Katelyn pays the price.¡±


    Katelyn let out a bitterugh, her anger barely contained.


    ¡°The one who strikes first is always the first to cry foul,¡± she thought.


    Suddenly, a roar erupted from behind her.


    ¡°How dare youe here!¡±


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 Chapter 55

    ?Chapter 55:


    Delmar was seething, ring at Katelyn with undisguised hatred in his eyes. His shout caught the attention of the reporters at the ward door, and the scene from downstairs reyed.


    Surrounded by reporters, Katelyn was jostled by microphones and cameras.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, can you give a formal response to this event? After what happened, your actions might leave her in a vegetative state.¡±


    ¡°Due to your revenge, you nearly took someone¡¯s life. Don¡¯t you feel any guilt?¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey, the public has been following this story closely. Please, share your response.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were filled with disgust. To her, the reporters were nothing but pests scrambling for a scoop. Annoyed, she grabbed a microphone from one of them and turned to face the cameras.


    ¡°I will respond to this matter, but not today. If you harass me again, don¡¯t me me for being rude.¡± After speaking, she handed the microphone back. As she turned to leave, Delmar grabbed her wrist in fury.


    His eyes zed with rage. ¡°Do you think a few words will end this? No way! Return my healthy daughter to me!¡±


    Katelyn looked at him coldly.


    ¡°Let go.¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Delmar yanked Katelyn into the ward. He pointed at Tricia, who was connected to a respirator, and hissed, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, my daughter wouldn¡¯t be in this condition. If anything happens to her, I¡¯ll take you down with me¡ªeven if it costs me my life.¡±


    Ignoring him, Katelyn observed Tricia closely. Shey on the bed, pale and lifeless. Her right wrist was wrapped in thick gauze, while her left hand was connected to an IV drip. The nearby equipment disyed her vital signs.


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    If it weren¡¯t for the faint signs of life, she could have been mistaken for a corpse.


    Katelyn realized the tragic truth¡ªTricia had indeed slit her wrist. However, she was certain that Tricia, someone who would never recklessly endanger her life, must have been coerced into doing so. And she was obviously prepared. That¡¯s why Tricia had been saved in time after cutting her wrist.


    Delmor med her hysterically. ¡°See? Because of you, you turned my daughter into this!¡±


    He tightened his grip on her wrist, his intentions deadly serious. ¡°You owe me an exnation today, or you¡¯re not going anywhere.¡±


    Coldness spread across Katelyn¡¯s face as she forcefully removed Delmor¡¯s hand. Surveying the scene with an icy gaze, she remained poised despite the circumstances.


    ¡°She set a trap to insult me, aiming to ruin my reputation. Was it wrong for me to demand an open apology from her?¡± Her tranquility was such that it seemed as though she were addressing either Delmor or the gathered media.


    Her question left the crowd speechless, having almost forgotten that Tricia was the one who had initially caused the incident. ¡°She couldn¡¯t withstand the public¡¯s scrutiny and chose to end her life by shing her wrist. Now, you¡¯ve shifted all the me to me. What have I done wrong? Why should I be vilified and suffer because of her actions? Your hypocrisy disgusts me.¡±


    Her remarks cast a profound silence over the room. Delmor, enraged, widened his eyes but found himself speechless. The cyberbullying had been the work of faceless online users; Tricia¡¯s decision to end her life was her own, and Katelyn was in no way ountable.


    After a tense silence, Delmor finally spoke. ¡°Nopensation is enough for my daughter¡¯s life.¡±


    Katelyn responded firmly. ¡°She made her choice. There¡¯s no one else to hold responsible.¡±


    Eventually, she approached him, her tone softening withpassion. ¡°You should understand your daughter better. She would never choose suicide lightly. Consider whether she acted on her own or was manipted. You should investigate.¡±


    At that moment, Delmor seemed to grasp something, his expression turning to anger.


    Then, a soft voice from the doorway challenged Katelyn. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you¡¯ve taken this too far?¡±


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 Chapter 56

    ?Chapter 56:


    Lise appeared at the door, followed by Neil. Their sudden entrance caught the attention of the reporters, who eagerly pointed their cameras at them. The two daughters of the Bailey family were now here, confronted with a vtile situation.


    The reporters expected this story to trend for at least three days.


    With a look of sadness and disappointment, Lise approached and said, ¡°Tricia might not wake up because of you. How can you stand there so self-righteously without feeling any guilt? Have you forgotten the values you were taught? Mom would be disappointed if she saw you now.¡±


    Katelyn snorted, clearly unable to hide her disgust. From the beginning, Lise had been recycling the same tactics, which bored Katelyn immensely.


    Lise seemed unfazed by the repetitiveness, but Katelyn was thoroughly disgusted.


    Neil then stepped forward and addressed Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, I never thought you¡¯d be so selfish. Apologize to the Guerrero family now and ask for their forgiveness. Tricia is their only child. If something happens to her, how do you expect her parents to carry on?¡±


    Katelyn pressed her lips together tightly, refusing even to nce at Neil. ¡°Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?¡±


    Neil¡¯s anger intensified. He had never encountered someone as ungrateful as Katelyn. He believed the quickest way out for her was an apology. While the public¡¯s attention might shift quickly, if the situation continued like this, it could destroy her life. He was baffled by Katelyn¡¯s stubbornness at such a pivotal moment.


    A brief smile flickered in Lise¡¯s eyes before she masked it swiftly. She maintained a look of concern and sighed softly.


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    ¡°Katelyn, consider the Guerrero family¡¯s plight. How do you think they feel, seeing their daughter harmed by your actions? Apologize. You will start to make amends for your mistake.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed as she red at Lise. She was adept at maniption. An apology from Katelyn would imply guilt. Even solid future evidence wouldn¡¯t sway public opinion anymore.


    Lise clearly underestimated Katelyn, thinking she had no solutions, didn¡¯t she?


    Lise¡¯s heart skipped a beat under Katelyn¡¯s icy stare, momentarily feeling exposed.


    Unable to sway Katelyn, Lise approached Delmar. She spoke softly, ¡°Mr. Guerrero, I know you¡¯re both angry and upset. Since Katelyn refuses to apologize, I will do so on her behalf. She may not acknowledge me as her sister, but I must make amends for her actions. If you¡¯re angry, direct it at me. I just hope you will forgive her.¡± Her demeanor suggested a strained rtionship between her and Katelyn, casting herself in a calm, dignified light.


    Delmar looked at Lise, his emotions mixed, while Katelyn¡¯s earlier words echoed in his mind. Indeed, Tricia was too spoiled to even consider suicide. If there was maniption involved, Lise was likely at the center of it.


    Delmar remained silent, filling the room with an uneasy quiet.


    Lise¡¯s smile persisted, almost turning rigid as she wondered about the old man¡¯s inaction. She was expected to ept her apology, which would implicate Katelyn.


    Katelyn observed Lise¡¯s shifting expressions and remarked scornfully, ¡°I severed ties with the Bailey family long ago. Stop your charade here. You think you¡¯ve deceived everyone and left no traces behind, huh?¡±


    Lise¡¯s face twitched, frustration evident. Damn it! She pondered if Katelyn possessed any proof. Seeing Katelyn¡¯s oblivious error, Neil grew furious.


    ¡°Katelyn, Lise¡¯s advice is for your benefit. Use your head!¡±


    Katelyn shot him a frosty look, but before she could respond, a rxed voice interrupted from the doorway. ¡°How lively!¡±


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 Chapter 57

    ?Chapter 57:


    Everyone turned as a voice called out, and their gaze shifted toward the door. Katelyn turned as well and spotted Vincent.


    His attire had changed to a dark shirt, casually unbuttoned at the cor. Despite his recent surgery to remove a bullet, his demeanor remained unruffled and detached. No one would guess the ordeal he had just undergone.


    Uncertainty clouded Katelyn¡¯s expression. She pondered Vincent¡¯s reasons for appearing.


    A shadow crossed Neil¡¯s face as he spotted Vincent. ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± Neil acknowledged him.


    Lise offered a greeting and stole a covert nce at Katelyn. She spected on the nature of Katelyn¡¯s rtionship with Vincent, a significant influencer. Vincent¡¯s arrival stirred excitement among the reporters at the door, who quickly began snapping photos. Capturing him seemed far more newsworthy than the ongoing Guerrero family saga.


    Vincent caught Samuel¡¯s eye and signaled. Understanding the cue, Samuel and his team swiftly confiscated the reporters¡¯ cameras and phones. Memory cards were seized, and all stored images and videos were erased.


    The reporters were dismayed but silenced, their protests stifled by the presence of armed security.


    With the media handled, Samuel ushered the reporters out.


    The crowded and noisy room suddenly felt more spacious.


    Delmar stared intensely at the unfolding scene, disbelief written across his face as he wondered why Vincent would show up. A single move from Vincent had enough power to ruin the Guerrero family financially.


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    Attempting to mask his concern with a cordial smile, Delmar cautiously inquired, ¡°What brings you here, Mr. Adams?¡±


    Vincent looked at him with deep, dark eyes and responded nonchntly, ¡°Just here to observe the spectacle.¡±


    Those around murmured, trying to decipher Vincent¡¯s cryptic remark. Was he referring to the amusement of the situation, or specifically to Tricia¡¯s plight?


    Katelyn watched Lise with a nk stare, curious about how she would maintain her act.


    Lise adjusted her expression and moved closer to Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, we were just discussing Katelyn¡¯s involvement in Tricia¡¯s attempted suicide. The incident has captivated public attention. It¡¯s beyond my ability to shield her,¡± Lise said, her tone feigning helplessness. She sighed deeply as she finished.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a sneer, her eyes cold.


    ¡°Lise Cooper, I have uncovered proof of your role in urging Tricia to end her life. From the start, you orchestrated this affair. It¡¯s time to drop the act,¡± she said, her voice icy.


    Lise¡¯s smile vanished instantly. A chill ran through her as she met Katelyn¡¯s piercing gaze, sensing her disguise was beginning to fall apart.


    Lise attempted topose herself, reminding herself not to panic. She was confident in her meticulous execution of the n, certain that no trace was left behind for Katelyn to find.


    A nearby reporter, eavesdropping, was all ears. His eyes widened in shock. ¡°For real?¡± he muttered under his breath. Luckily, he still had his recording pen with him.


    Before Lise could respond, Neil jumped to her defense, confronting Katelyn angrily.


    ¡°Katelyn, you still fail to see the error. How can you unjustly me Lise? What does she have to do with this?¡±


    Lise sighed and gently touched Neil¡¯s arm.


    ¡°Neil, calm down. Bear the me if it¡¯s Katelyn¡¯s guilt,¡± she said softly.


    Katelyn sarcastically pped her hands together, the irony thick in the air.


    ¡°Remarkable, Lise, your acting has improvedtely. However, did you forget you missed a crucial figure in your story?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s attention remained fixed on Katelyn, who stood resolute and unyielding, reminiscent of a steadfast pine in a harsh winter. Her smile was mischievous, portraying her as the master of the game.


    Lise¡¯s anxiety intensified as she realized who Katelyn was hinting at.


    ¡°Damn it! How could I overlook that person?¡± Lise thought, flustered.


    Katelyn casually waved her phone and continued nonchntly, ¡°Chloe has spilled everything, and I¡¯ve captured it as evidence. This story is all over the inte. Do you really think Tricia will support you once she¡¯s able to speak?¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression shifted to one of rm and distress.


    As Neil listened, confusion overtook him. He burst out, ¡°Enough with the games! rify what you mean!¡±


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 Chapter 58

    ?Chapter 58:


    Katelyn¡¯s lips twisted into a smile, her eyes glittering with cold irony.


    She spoke sharply, each word distinct. ¡°You orchestrated this to frame me by inciting Tricia to take her own life, leveraging public sentiment against me.¡±


    Neil¡¯s annoyance deepened, and he shot Katelyn a frosty look. ¡°Do you really think Lise could be as malicious as you suggest? How is that possible?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s sneer deepened as she regarded him dismissively.


    ¡°Do you honestly believe Lise is as innocent as she appears?¡±


    Lise clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her look of hurt and injustice.


    ¡°Katelyn, criticize all you want if it eases your conscience. It must make you feel less guilty to shift the me to me, right?¡±


    Vincent raised an eyebrow andmented casually, ¡°Miss Cooper, you¡¯d make a fine actress. Such a waste!¡±


    Though he spoke quietly, his words carried clearly across the room.


    Lise, feeling Vincent¡¯s gaze, turned toward him uneasily, puzzled by his support for Katelyn.


    Vincent typically stayed out of other people¡¯s affairs, and Lise feared her efforts to conceal her actions would be futile if Katelyn truly had concrete evidence.


    Surprised by Vincent¡¯s intervention, Katelyn looked at him briefly before turning back to Lise.


    With an icy tone, she dered, ¡°I¡¯ve gathered the proof. We¡¯ll see what happens when Tricia wakes. Lise, you¡¯ll face the consequences of your actions.¡±


    As she spoke, something seemed to dawn on Katelyn. She smiled thinly at Lise, who was visibly panicking. ¡°I¡¯ve spoken to Tricia¡¯s doctor. She¡¯s expected to regain consciousness tonight. Let¡¯s see how the public reacts tomorrow morning.¡±


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    Delmar was taken aback, pondering anxiously, ¡°Will Tricia wake up tonight? Why hasn¡¯t the doctor informed me?¡±


    Even Neil was momentarily surprised.


    A persistent inner voice urged him to trust Katelyn, yet upon seeing Lise¡¯s pale face, he dismissed it instantly. Neil had always known Lise to be innocent and couldn¡¯t conceive of her being capable of wrongdoing.


    Holding back his anger, Neil confronted Katelyn. ¡°What scheme are you concocting to frame Lise this time? She¡¯s done nothing to you. Why not just leave her be?¡±


    Katelyn scoffed, questioning her past affection for a man who never truly trusted her, always opposing her without considering the facts.


    ¡°She deserves whateveres her way.¡±


    Disinclined to engage further with Neil, Katelyn approached Lise, locking eyes with her.


    ¡°Once Tricia wakes up, I¡¯ll unveil all your deceptions. We¡¯ll see tonight.¡±


    Lise, visibly shaken, remained silent, unable to respond. The revtion could devastate her if the tables turned and her secrets came to light.


    Katelyn observed Lise¡¯s fear, sneering before turning away decisively.


    Vincent surveyed the room with a subtle smirk and exited the ward alongside Katelyn.


    Their departure seemed to lift a heavy atmosphere from the room, allowing those left behind to rx slightly. The reporter sneaking around was thrilled, believing he had captured a lucrative scoop.


    Back in Vincent¡¯s ward, Katelyn expressed her concern.


    ¡°How are you feeling? Shouldn¡¯t you have remained in bed as the doctor advised?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression was unreadable, his dark eyes masking his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m alright. I should be able to leave the hospital soon.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, but her worry was still evident. ¡°I brought a different type of tonic soup for you today. Please have plentyter.¡±


    Vincent, with a light in his eyes, responded cheerfully. ¡°It seems I¡¯ll be enjoying your cooking quite a bit in the uing days, Miss Bailey.¡±


    ¡°I do alright with cooking. Let me know if there¡¯s anything specific you¡¯d like to eat. After all, you¡¯ve saved my life. It¡¯s only right to take care of you.¡±


    Vincent smiled warmly and resettled on his bed. Their rapport was as deep as that of lifelong friends. With a smile, Vincent inquired,


    ¡°Is there going to be an interesting show tonight?¡±


    Katelyn was briefly taken aback by the abrupt shift in topic and the underlyingplexity of his question. A momentter, she grinned. ¡°Mr. Adams, you miss nothing.¡±


    Vincent raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with amusement. ¡°Earlier, you seemed to be venting about Lise, yet now you¡¯re actually defending her? It looks like you¡¯re leading her, aren¡¯t you?¡± He seemed to have seen through her npletely.


    Katelyn thoughtfully nodded, impressed by Vincent¡¯s sharpness and insight.


    Only someone of his caliber could elevate hispany into the global top ten so swiftly.


    Meanwhile, as Lise and Neil prepared to leave the hospital, Lise¡¯s anxiety intensified. Her hands clenched tightly.


    ¡°Lise, are you keeping something from me?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 59

    ?Chapter 59:


    Neil kept staring at Lise, trying hard not to miss every flicker of emotion that crossed her face. Her tension was so intense that she pressed her fingernail into her palm until it broke the skin, a small bead of blood forming. But she seemed unaware of the pain, too wrapped up in whatever was racing through her mind.


    She was scared¡ªreally scared¡ªand it showed in the way her breath quickened.


    Suddenly, Lise snapped back to reality, her gaze locking with Neil¡¯s. She forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil within.


    ¡°How could I possibly keep anything from you?¡± she said, her voice soft yet strained. ¡°I always tell you everything.¡±


    ¡°Why are you acting so strangely now?¡± Neil asked, his frown deepening as Katelyn¡¯s earlier warning echoed in his thoughts.


    He trusted Lise, but the way she was acting made him hesitate.


    With a mix of emotions, Lise offered another exnation, her voice hesitant.


    ¡°I¡¯m worried that Katelyn might try to turn Vincent against you. They¡¯re close, and remember how she sabotaged your potential cooperation with Rig?¡±


    Neil¡¯s face hardened.


    Even though he had sessfully taken the Wheeler Group public, he knew that Vincent had the power to tear it all down in an instant.


    He said nothing, and Lise noticed his suspicion beginning to ease. She let out a quiet breath of relief.


    ¡°Neil,¡± she continued, ¡°think about what¡¯s happening here. Katelyn doesn¡¯t have the background or skills to bring the Guerrero family to the brink of bankruptcy so quickly. I believe Vincent has been helping her all along, and I¡¯m afraid he might turn on you too.¡±


    galno¦Í?ls is your update source


    Lise¡¯s words seemed to click something into ce for Neil.


    That uneasy feeling he¡¯d had finally made sense. Lise¡¯s exnation tied it all together.


    She was right¡ªthere was no way Katelyn alone could have pushed the Guerrero family to the edge within days. Neil was convinced that Katelyn had already moved on to Vincent.


    A deep anger started to build within him, heating up with every thought.


    They hadn¡¯t been divorced for long, but here she was, already with another man. Neil was certain she had betrayed him before the divorce, which exined how quickly she had signed the papers.


    As Neil¡¯s thoughts drifted away, Lise felt a sense of relief.


    Winning Neil over wasn¡¯t her concern right now; Katelyn¡¯s words echoed in her mind, demanding her attention.


    She couldn¡¯t let years of hard work go to waste.


    In a quiet corner, Lise quickly grabbed her phone, her hands shaking as she tried to call Chloe.


    But no matter how many times she dialed, the call wouldn¡¯t connect. All she got was the familiar voicemail.


    ¡°Hello, this is Chloe. I can¡¯t take your call right now. Please leave a message, and I¡¯ll get back to you as soon as possible.¡±


    Lise clenched her teeth, her hatred simmering just beneath the surface.


    She couldn¡¯t shake the thought of Chloe¡ªhad she gone into hiding out of fear, or had Katelyn already found her? With a determined look, Lise quickly typed out a message:


    ¡°I need you to find Chloe Hampton, no matter the cost. Bring her to me as soon as you find her.¡±


    An instant reply from an unknown number appeared.


    ¡°No problem, but it¡¯ll cost extra.¡±


    Without hesitation, Lise responded, ¡°You¡¯ll get whatever you want. Just find her, now!¡±


    She gripped her phone tightly, her eyes shing with deep anger.


    As night settled in, the city began to quiet down.


    In the hospital, the hallway was still and silent.


    The surveince cameras in the corners blinked red for a few seconds¡ªuntil, without warning, the lights went out.


    A woman quietly nudged the ward door open and slipped inside.


    The room was so dark she could barely make out anything. Carefully, she crept toward the bed, and as the moonlight touched Tricia¡¯s face, a cold, murderous intent red in her eyes.


    Without a second thought, she reached out and pulled the oxygen tube free.


    She had been thinking things over. Tricia was the biggest threat to her ns; getting rid of her would clear the way. She exhaled softly after she was done, feeling a twisted sense of relief.


    But just as Lise was about to leave, the door suddenly swung open.


    Lise¡¯s face went white with shock.


    A blinding light flooded the room.


    The light was so bright that Lise had to shield her eyes with her hands, barely able to look up.


    Katelyn stood in the doorway, a smug smile on her face. ¡°Gotcha!¡±


    Behind her, a group of people had gathered, including Vincent, Delmor, and Samuel, who stood ready with a camera to capture everything.


    Lise¡¯s heart raced, her face going pale. This couldn¡¯t be happening!


    She gaped at Katelyn in disbelief, quickly realizing that she had walked into a trap. Katelyn had set this up, hoping she woulde to harm Tricia in the dead of night.


    Trying to keep her fear under control, Lise forced herself to stayposed. ¡°Why is everyone standing in the doorway, Katelyn?¡±


    Katelyn moved to the light switch and flipped it on. She stared at Lise with a smirk. ¡°Care to exin yourself?¡±


    Lise managed a strained smile, sticking to her story. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean, Katelyn. I don¡¯t see why I need to exin anything.¡±


    ¡°How dare you try to cover this up! You¡¯re a lying bitch!¡± Delmor¡¯s rage boiled over as he rushed at her. Before Lise could react, his hand came down hard. Smack!


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 Chapter 60

    ?Chapter 60:


    Lise screamed in agony, her ear throbbing with a sharp buzzing. She was mmed to the floor, her face a portrait of shock and disbelief.


    The p had been sudden and deafening¡ªDelmor didn¡¯t hold back at all.


    With fire in her eyes, Lise stared up at him. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡±


    Delmor¡¯s face was a mask of fury. His voice cracked with anger as he roared, ¡°I¡¯m hitting you! You not only hurt my daughter, but you also meant to take her life right here and now!¡±


    Still unsatisfied, Delmor charged forward andnded a brutal kick to Lise¡¯s chest.


    Lise copsed on the floor, her face twisted in pain as she let out a scream of pure torment.


    The kick struck her squarely in the chest. Shey there, too weak to move, overwhelmed by the pain.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were icy, a chilling contrast to any warmth she might have once shown. This was probably the harshest treatment Lise had received since rejoining the Bailey family.


    ¡°I¡¯m furious just thinking about you almost killing my daughter, you wretch. I¡¯ll make sure you pay for this!¡±


    As Delmor moved forward, Samuel quickly stepped in, cing a hand on his arm. ¡°If you keep this up, you might end up killing her.¡±


    Delmor¡¯s eyes burned with anger. ¡°She nearly took my daughter¡¯s life. She deserves to die for that, even if she doesn¡¯t.¡±


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a quick, knowing look. They both understood Delmor¡¯s fury. No father could stand having the person who almost harmed his daughter standing in front of him.


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    Katelyn¡¯s gaze turned sharp with mockery as she faced Lise.


    ¡°Lise, let¡¯s see how long you can continue to y the innocent victim this time.¡±


    Katelyn set her trap with subtle cunning, and Vincent instantly caught the hint. Lise, not picking up on the clues, eagerly walked into the trap, giving Katelyn exactly what she wanted.


    When people are overwhelmed with guilt and worry, they tend to make hasty decisions.


    Vincent watched Katelyn silently, a new respect showing in his eyes.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t just smart and resourceful; she was also a master of psychological strategy.


    With just a few words, she expertly lured Lise into her trap.


    Women like her¡ªsmart, attractive, and skilled¡ªwere bing rarer.


    Sensing the intense gaze of those around her, Katelyn lifted her head and caught Vincent¡¯s eye.


    Vincent¡¯s usual detachment seemed to soften slightly, revealing a small, almost imperceptible smile.


    As their eyes met, Katelyn felt an odd sensation. She quickly looked away, flushed and trying to regain herposure.


    Lise, her face ashen, struggled to rise from the floor.


    She looked up with feigned innocence and said, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand. I was just worried and came to see Tricia. I didn¡¯t expect you toe in and start using me, even attacking me.¡±


    With a hint of mockery, Katelyn said, ¡°We have a recording of you removing the oxygen tube.¡±


    Still stubborn, Lise insisted, ¡°I really don¡¯t know what you mean. I was only concerned about Tricia and wanted to check on her!¡±


    Just then, Neil appeared at the door of the ward. Noticing the scene, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    When Lise saw Neil, her eyes brightened with hope, and tears quickly filled them.


    She choked up and said, ¡°You¡¯re finally here! They¡¯re all turning against me, using me wrongly, and trying to make me out to be a murderer.¡±


    At that moment, Katelyn saw how skillfully Lise could twist the truth¡ªeveryone, except for Katelyn, who had long seen through Lise.


    Even caught red-handed, Lise managed to defend herself convincingly, still ying the victim.


    Neil steadied Lise by holding her arm, his face serious and concerned.


    ¡°What exactly happened? Tell me everything.¡±


    ¡°I was just worried and wanted to check on Tricia. Suddenly, they used me of being a murderer. I know they don¡¯t like me and are trying to frame me, but Neil, you believe me, don¡¯t you?¡± Lise¡¯s voice trembled with desperation.


    Neil¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as he remained silent for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought. He felt something was off, as if the entire situation was unfolding too conveniently.


    Delmar, seething with rage, snapped, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell him that you tried to remove my daughter¡¯s oxygen tube?¡±


    Despite the usation, Lise stubbornly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t even know what an oxygen tube is, I just wanted to check on Tricia!¡±


    Katelyn had seen Lise¡¯s shameless behavior before. She knew that Lise wouldn¡¯t stop until she waspletely beaten.


    With a cool, detached tone, Katelyn said, ¡°I¡¯ve got the evidence on record. No matter how much you deny it, the facts remain the same. Lise, it¡¯s time for you to experience the bacsh of public scrutiny.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened in fear as she noticed the camera Samuel was holding.


    She pressed a hand to her chest, staggering and wincing. ¡°Neil, my chest is really hurting. Please find me a doctor,¡± she gasped.


    Lise struggled to move toward the door, her eyes shing with a hint of spite.


    Without warning, she made a desperate lunge for the camera.


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 Chapter 61

    ?Chapter 61:


    Lise¡¯s movement was a blur¡ªa swift, unexpected action. Katelyn, however, had anticipated this. Her eyes had been locked on Lise, analyzing every flicker of her intentions. The moment she saw her n to destroy the evidence unfold, she acted. Without a second thought, she drove her foot into Lise¡¯s side.


    ¡°OUCH!¡±


    The force of the kick sent Lise crashing against the wall with a resounding thud.


    Vincent¡¯s lips curled into a subtle grin.


    He had not anticipated this from Katelyn, who usually resembled a finedy. Her sudden ferocity took him by surprise.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was icy, her tone unyielding. ¡°Trying to destroy the evidence, are we?¡±


    ¡°Lise!¡± Neil¡¯s voice was sharp with rm as he rushed to assist Lise, then turned to face Katelyn with simmering anger.


    ¡°Katelyn, have you lost your mind?¡±


    Lise¡¯s face contorted in pain, her mask of innocence slipping away as she struggled to maintain herposure.


    Every inch of her body throbbed with agony, her heart boiling with rage. How dare Katelyn strike her in front of so many people? It was beyond unforgivable. Lise¡¯s patience had reached its limit.


    With Neil¡¯s support, she rose unsteadily. Her eyes, now red and fierce, locked onto Katelyn as she demanded, ¡°I get it. You¡¯re upset about what happened. But hitting me over and over? I wanted to be your sister, not your punching bag.¡±


    Tears streamed down Lise¡¯s cheeks.


    .c¨®m is the source


    It seemed that she had really suffered a lot.


    To unsuspecting onlookers, it might seem like a heartbreaking disy of sadness.


    Katelyn watched Lise with cold detachment, a smirk ying on her lips. ¡°You brought this on yourself. Let¡¯s not shift the focus. We¡¯re discussing how you tried to kill Tricia.¡±


    Lise¡¯s distress deepened, tears cascading down her cheeks like shattered pearls. ¡°I¡¯ve already exined. It¡¯s not what you think. You¡¯re the ones conspiring to drag my name through the mud.¡±


    ¡°Why would I want to kill her?¡± Stubbornness was etched on Lise¡¯s face as she resolutely denied the usations.


    Yet, her obstinacy seemed absurd in the face of irrefutable evidence.


    With a deep look in his eyes, Vincent casuallymented, ¡°Miss Cooper, you¡¯re not only good at acting, but you also have an excellent mentality.¡±


    It was rare to see anyone so vehemently deny the truth when confronted with undeniable proof. His seemingly casual words carried a sharp, destructive edge.


    Lise¡¯s face paled slightly, her hatred for Katelyn burning fiercer within her.


    If it weren¡¯t for this bitch who had allied herself with Vincent, how could Vincent have any say in this matter? With Vincent here, Lise¡¯s chances of turning the situation around seemed increasingly slim.


    A mocking smirk twisted Katelyn¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Do you think Neil will believe you? I really doubt it.¡±


    The conversation suddenly shifted, drawing everyone¡¯s attention to Neil.


    Lise¡¯s gaze shifted to Neil, her eyes wide with pleading desperation. ¡°Neil¡­¡±


    A flicker of doubt passed through Neil¡¯s eyes.


    Though he had arrivedte and missed the events, he had pieced together the fragments from their statements.


    Vincent stood as a witness, which convinced Neil even more, as someone like Vincent wouldn¡¯t likely assist Katelyn in tarnishing Lise¡¯s reputation.


    Yet, was the woman he loved truly a master of deception, capable of such profound duplicity?


    A sh of panic crossed Lise¡¯s face as she clutched Neil¡¯s hand, her voice trembling with anxiety. ¡°Neil, don¡¯t you trust me?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression was a mix of confusion and distress. He struggled to respond.


    Katelyn¡¯s impatience was clear. She had no interest in watching their drama unfold any longer.


    ¡°Lise, there¡¯s no way out for you this time,¡± she said.


    With a decisive movement, Katelyn took the camera from Samuel and walked away.


    Vincent followed her at a leisurely pace, while Delmar¡¯s gaze burned with anger as he red at Lise. His next words made Lise¡¯s heart pound with fear.


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 Chapter 62

    ?Chapter 62:


    ¡± I don¡¯t just want you to pay¡ª I want your whole family to pay! This is far from over. Just you wait!¡±


    Delmor spat out each word through clenched teeth, his eyes zing with hatred as he red at Lise.


    After he stormed off, Lise¡¯s energy seemed to evaporate, leaving her feeble and shaking. She now fully grasped the meaning of ¡°digging your own grave.¡±


    What would tomorrow bring? She couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom the bacsh that awaited her.


    When Katelyn and Vincent returned to his hospital room, Katelyn removed the memory card from the camera. Vincent¡¯s voice was low and resonant,pellingly deep. ¡°That was clever. You caught her in the act.¡±


    The result was now inevitable. No matter how much Lise fought, her fate was sealed.


    Katelyn transferred the video from the memory card to theputer, a smirk forming on her lips. ¡°She acts too impulsively,¡± shemented.


    Though she loathed Lise, she couldn¡¯t deny that she was clever. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Lise to alienate everyone close to Katelyn so quickly.


    Katelyn had exploited every one of Lise¡¯s fears, driving her to the desperate act of attempting to kill Tricia. ¡°Clever move still,¡± Vincent said, his gaze prating, his lips curving into a subtle smile. ¡°Imend your strategy. Your attacks are well-timed and executed wlessly, leaving your opponent no chance to retaliate. Such tactics, if applied in the world, would undoubtedly pave her way to sess.¡±


    Continue reading at g?????¦Ï¦Í??????. c o??


    Katelyn looked up at him, her eyes turning into crescents with delight.


    ¡°Thank you for the praise, Mr. Adams.¡±


    She uploaded the video.


    To maximize its reach, Katelyn tagged it extensively. Anyone following the story would see the video without dy.


    As he watched everything unfold, Vincent¡¯s amusement grew. He grabbed his phone and sent a quick text to Samuel.


    Vincent instructed, ¡°Make sure this thing goes viral.¡±


    Samuel replied promptly, ¡°Understood, Mr. Adams.¡± With Vincent¡¯s influence, the video rapidly caught the attention of anyone still awake at thatte hour.


    The evidence was irrefutable, and the fallout was immediate.


    It was like adding water to boiling oil¡ªthe response was instantaneous and intense.


    Despite it being after midnight, the video swiftly garnered ten million views.


    The footage unambiguously showcased Lise¡¯s harsh tactics, her guilty demeanor, her attempts to dodge responsibility, and her feeble excuses. Online discussions erupted almost immediately.


    ¡°Oh my God! I can¡¯t believe she tried to remove the oxygen tube! That¡¯s practically attempted murder!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m shocked that Lise has been pretending all along! I even defended her and criticized Katelyn before. I actually thought Lise was the victim! Turns out she¡¯s just a liar!¡±


    ¡°Else wanted Tricia permanently silenced. It¡¯s clear now that Tricia¡¯s suicide wasn¡¯t due to Katelyn. Lise was framing her.¡±


    Thements varied, but themon thread was universal revulsion toward Lise.


    The ten-minute video had thoroughly revealed Lise¡¯s true nature.


    Katelyn nced through thements but didn¡¯t linger on them.


    Now that Lise¡¯s deception was public, Katelyn¡¯s focus shifted to moving forward with her own life.


    Lise had repeatedly targeted her, and Katelyn wasn¡¯t about to hold back any longer.


    Upon reaching home, Katelyn took a long, hot shower and then enjoyed a deep, restful sleep.


    Her peace was shattered the next morning by furious yelling and loud banging.


    ¡°Down!¡±


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 Chapter 63

    ?Chapter 63:


    Themotion outside, coupled with the relentless doorbell, only intensified Katelyn¡¯s irritation.


    Reluctantly, she pulled herself out of bed, opened the door, and was immediately confronted by Sharon¡¯s fiery gaze. Katelyn, clearly annoyed, demanded, ¡°What on earth do you want at this hour?¡±


    Sharon, seething, shot back, ¡°And you dare question me?¡± Her teeth were clenched in anger as her hand shot up, ready to p Katelyn across the face.


    She was just inches away fromnding the blow when Katelyn, with a sharp glint in her eyes, stepped back, effortlessly dodging the strike.


    Sharon, having put all her strength into the swing, stumbled forward, struggling to regain her bnce. ¡°You wretch! Clear this up immediately! Tell everyone the video online is fake, and that it has nothing to do with Lise!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression hardened, her face bing as cold as ice.


    Katelyn had anticipated Sharon¡¯s visit, but she hadn¡¯t expected such a bold and absurd demand the moment she arrived.


    ¡°The video speaks the truth. If Lise wants to y the role of a murderer, then she should face the full consequences under thew,¡± Katelyn replied coldly.


    Sharon¡¯s eyes burned with fury. ¡°Lies! Lise is innocent and kind-hearted. She could never be as cruel as you! This is your doing, framing her!¡±


    Innocent and cruel¡ªtwo words that could not be further apart. One described Lise, and the other was meant for Sharon herself.


    A cold glint appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    Sharon¡¯s words might have cut deep, but aftering to certain realizations the other day and letting go of certain things, not even Sharon¡¯s harshest insults could stir a single emotion in her. ¡°When hope is lost, there is no room for disappointment,¡± Katelyn thought.


    With no patience left, Katelyn turned to close the door, intent on shutting Sharon out. ¡°Take this up with the police,¡± she said tly.


    Sharon blocked the door, her teeth clenched as she red at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, after everything Lise has endured, do you want to push her to the brink of death? This is yourst chance to clear her name, or else don¡¯t me me for what happens next. I¡¯ve given you thest bit of respect. Don¡¯t throw it away.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes grew colder as she faced Sharon, her expression unyielding.


    ¡°I settled everything when I paid you back for raising me these past twenty years. What you¡¯re doing now is harassment. I can involve the police if you want to continue.¡±


    Sharon, desperate and determined, threatened, ¡°If you don¡¯t retract those lies and restore Lise¡¯s reputation, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it.¡±


    Whether the video online was true or not, the damage to Lise¡¯s reputation was undeniable, and it threatened her entire future.


    Sharon was determined to force Katelyn into a public apology.


    But Katelyn didn¡¯t waste any time. She pulled out her phone and dialed 911 right in front of Sharon.


    ¡°Hello? There¡¯s a disturbance at my door. Could you send someone over right away? Yes, the address is¡­¡±


    Sharon¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that Katelyn would call 911. What she didn¡¯t realize was that Katelyn was only bluffing.


    ¡°Are you out of your mind? You actually called the police?¡±


    ¡°What else should I do? Tolerate your harassment quietly?¡± Katelyn¡¯s tone remainedposed as she nced at her wristwatch.


    ¡°The police will be here in about ten minutes. You might want to leave now unless you¡¯re eager to join Lise in jail.¡± Though the situation was just a trending topic online for now, if it gained enough attention, the police would inevitably get involved.


    At that point, it wouldn¡¯t just be a matter of morality. It would be a legal issue.


    Sharon, unwilling to back down, clenched her teeth and spat out, ¡°Katelyn, why did I even bother raising you? If I had known you¡¯d turn out like this, I would have beaten you to death when I had the chance. This isn¡¯t over. Remember my words!¡±


    With that, Sharon stormed off in a hurry.


    As Katelyn turned back inside, theposed mask she had worn cracked, revealing a hint of pain in her expression. Sharon¡¯s final words had cut deeply, like a knife twisted in her heart. Despite her indifference toward Sharon, the pain lingered.


    Sharon had been her mother for over two decades, and that bond was not easily forgotten.


    The contrast was jarring. Sharon, who had known Lise for less than a month, now seemed willing to harm the daughter she had raised in favor of the one she barely knew.


    Katelyn shut her eyes momentarily.


    Just then, her phone began to ring. ncing at the shing number, a flicker of recognition crossed her eyes.


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 Chapter 64

    ?Chapter 64:


    It was Vincent on the line.


    Once the call connected, he quickly informed Katelyn, ¡°Tricia¡¯s awake.¡±


    Gripping the phone, Katelyn steadied herself.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±


    She quickly changed her clothes and headed straight for the hospital.


    Upon arrival, she saw Tricia, pale and frail, lying on the hospital bed, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, murmuring, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡±


    Tears streamed down Delmar¡¯s aged face as he clutched Tricia¡¯s hand tightly.


    ¡°Tricia, why would you do such a reckless thing? How could your mother and I¡­ We almost lost you.¡± Perhaps the scare of nearly losing her softened him; Delmar wept openly, shedding his usually stern demeanor.


    Ovee with emotion, Tricia began to sob. ¡°This is all my fault. I¡¯ve been so silly, risking my own life.¡± Only now did she realize the folly of her actions.


    She had thought Lise¡¯s n was sound, but now it became clear that Lise had actually been plotting her death. If Tricia had died, not only would she have been silenced, but Katelyn would have also been med for it for the rest of her life. Even without direct evidence, the court of public opinion would likely have convicted her.


    Tricia was merely a tool in Lise¡¯s scheme against Katelyn. Why would Lise concern herself with the fate of a mere pawn?


    From the doorway, Katelyn and Vincent observed the tearful reunion between father and daughter. Katelyn frowned slightly.


    While she felt a pang of sympathy witnessing the scene, she remembered that Tricia hadrgely brought this upon herself.


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    Tricia might have been as vile as Lise, though not as cunning.


    Vincent caught Katelyn¡¯s reaction, his gaze shifting back to the ward, his dark eyes growing even more intense. At that moment, Tricia noticed Katelyn standing at the door.


    Although she was weak, she clenched her teeth fiercely. ¡°You bitch! How dare you show up here?¡± Immediately, struggling to sit up, Tricia scolded Katelyn, her hands flinging items from the bedside table.


    The bedside table was hurled in her direction. A ss shattered right next to where Katelyn stood, her expression cold.


    Vincent, standing behind her, exuded an overwhelming aura of intimidation.


    Tricia¡¯s arrogance vanished in a sh, and her gaze narrowed at them.


    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s Vincent? How could he be with Katelyn?¡±


    ¡°You seem to have already forgotten the lesson from your narrow escape from death,¡± Katelyn said, her voice steady and cutting. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t intervened to stop Lise from removing your oxygen tubest night, would you still be here yelling at me?¡±


    The shock from Katelyn¡¯s revtion left Tricia speechless.


    She stared at Delmar, unable to believe it.


    ¡°Dad, is what Katelyn is saying true?¡±


    Delmar clenched his jaw and replied, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true. I never imagined Lise would harm you again. I¡¯ll ensure she pays dearly for this!¡±


    Tricia turned ghastly pale.


    She had timed her suicide attempt by shing her wrist, not expecting to lose so much blood and remain unconscious for so long.


    Yet, what shocked her even more was the revtion that Lise had intended to end her life.


    With a calm demeanor, Katelyn said in a chilling tone, ¡°To Lise, you¡¯re a disposable tool. If you were to die, I¡¯d be the prime suspect, and Lise could easily frame me since it¡¯s her word against mine.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s hands clenched tightly as fury sparked in her. ¡°I refuse to be manipted like a mere pawn.¡±


    Katelyn cautioned, ¡°Yet, you don¡¯t have any proof to use her.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s expression turned fierce. ¡°Who says I don¡¯t have evidence?¡±


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 Chapter 65

    ?Chapter 65:


    Tricia wasn¡¯t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, but she was far from stupid.


    When Lise had nudged her toward suicide, Tricia sensed something was off. Unable to pinpoint the issue, she decided to save the recording of their conversation. If there were no issues, she wouldn¡¯t need the recording. But if trouble arose, she would have proof to back her up.


    That recording now served as the strongest piece of evidence.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a subtle smile.


    She had kept her true intentions under wraps until this moment, aiming to pit Tricia against Lise. Everything seemed to be unfolding perfectly.


    They had now be bitter enemies.


    Katelyn was no saint; she had her strategies.


    Vincent¡¯s respect for Katelyn grew.


    He had anticipated her motives when she provoked Lise to act. No wonder she was the partner he had chosen. Her judgment was impable.


    Now, Katelyn could leave the rest of the matter to Tricia. Back in Vincent¡¯s hospital room, she settled on the sofa and pulled out her phone, prepared to enjoy the drama as it unfolded.


    Vincent was seated across from her, dressed in a light gray casual suit. This attire gave him a more approachable air than an authoritative one.


    ¡°Well done, the strategy worked,¡± hemented.


    Startled, Katelyn looked up at him.


    Their eyes locked, and she felt as though he could see right through her.


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    Katelyn hadn¡¯t felt this way since she was a child. Vincent¡¯s piercing gaze left her feeling utterly exposed, as if he could see every thought in her mind.


    Surprisingly, she didn¡¯t resist this sensation but openly embraced it.


    ¡°You always see right through me, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey,¡± he replied with a grin, ¡°your insight and intelligence are too valuable for just design work. Have you considered joining mypany?¡±


    ¡°You can name your position and sry, and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re satisfied.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened as she held back a smile. ¡°Your generosity is much appreciated, Mr. Adams, but being a designer really suits me best.¡±


    ¡°Given your skills and resources, you could certainly carve out a sessful career in business too,¡± Vincent said casually.


    Upon hearing this, Samuel was stunned. Was Vincent actuallyplimenting Katelyn on her intelligence? After years of working for Vincent, this was the first time Samuel had heard him praise someone with such admiration.


    More than that, Vincent was ready to offer any position and sry if Katelyn agreed to join hispany.


    What was going on?


    Was this really the Vincent Adams he knew?


    Vincent stared at Katelyn with keen interest. Exceptional talents, he believed, would thrive in any industry. Yet, Katelyn declined his offer once more, still smiling.


    ¡°Thanks for the proposal, Mr. Adams. However, I¡¯ve decided to stick with design as my life¡¯s work. Yourpliments tter me, though.¡±


    Vincent ceased his attempts to persuade her. He rxed back into his chair, legs slightly apart. ¡°You are an exceptional woman. Neil has married above himself but fails to recognize that you¡¯re a pearl, seeing you as nothing more than amon bead. He doesn¡¯t appreciate your value.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze grew colder as she replied sarcastically, ¡°Choosing such a jerk was my biggest mistake. If I could turn back time, I¡¯d give myself a couple of sharp ps.¡±


    That had been her sentiment.


    How had she been so blinded by love that she failed to see Neil¡¯s true character?


    Vincent simply smiled in response.


    Just then, Katelyn¡¯s phone beside her started buzzing with a barrage of iing messages.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 66

    ?Chapter 66:


    Katelyn picked up her phone, her eyes lighting up with a smile as she read the news headline.


    The moment she had been eagerly anticipating had arrived.


    The Guerrero Group held a press conference. Supported by Delmor, a frail Tricia tearfully told the media that Lise had incited all the trouble. She also yed their recorded conversation as proof, confirming that it had been Lise¡¯s n to deliberately disgrace Katelyn all along.


    Unable to tolerate such usations against Lise, Sharon reacted by disrupting the press conference, causing a scene. She then held her own press conference, asserting that Lise was being wrongfully maligned by the Guerrero family, sparking a heated exchange between the two sides.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curved into a smile as she watched the unfolding chaos, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Vincent, observing her smile, seemed to share in her cheerful mood.


    ¡°Got ns today? I¡¯d love to try the soup you make again,¡± he said.


    Katelyn set her phone down, nodded with a smile, and responded, ¡°Sure. Anything else you want to eat? I¡¯ll cook for you.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes twinkled as he replied, ¡°Alright. But I have to ask¡ªare you cooking for me as a way to thank me, or just because you¡¯re in a good mood?¡±


    Katelyn picked up her bag and nced back at him with a smirk. ¡°Both.¡±


    Vincent gave a slight nod, his eyes softening.


    ¡°I¡¯ve sent all the design sketches to the R&D department. Theunch event for the new product ising up soon. I hope you¡¯ll be there with me as Iris.¡±


    As a shrewd businessman, Vincent knew the importance of leveraging opportunities.


    ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? g????????¦Í?????????????


    Katelyn grasped his intent clearly.


    This was the first time Adams Group was venturing into the high-end jewelry market, which had sparked considerable debate, particrly about using Iris as the designer.


    The discussion about Iris was very heated in the outside world.


    It would be her first public appearance, regardless of the public reception of the Adams Group jewelry line. Because of this strategic move, the Adams Group was poised for significant sess in the jewelry industry.


    ¡°Think of your presence at theunch event as part of the job, and I¡¯ll pay extra,¡± Vincent added.


    The corners of Katelyn¡¯s mouth curved upward slightly.


    After that, she left the hospital, headed to the supermarket to pick up some ingredients, and then returned home to cook the soup for Vincent. With Katelyn¡¯s approval, Vincent texted Samuel.


    There had been much anticipation for the Adams Group¡¯s first venture into the jewelry industry, and finally, there was concrete news. Iris would be featured as the lead designer and would grace theunch event. The theme of her designs was also revealed.


    This announcement sparked a surge of excitement, overshadowing the ongoing dispute between the Guerrero and Bailey families.


    Katelyn decided to prepare chicken soup. She slow-cooked a fresh hen overnight in a crockpot with several nourishing herbs, creating a soup that was both delicious and nutritious.


    The next morning, she filled a thermos with the soup, nning to take it to the hospital. She didn¡¯t expect to encounter someone she despised at the entrance of her residentialplex.


    Due to her instructions to the security guardst time, Neil could no longer drive into themunity and had to wait outside the gate for Katelyn.


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened as she approached. Her eyes clearly disyed her disgust. ¡°Why are you here again?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened as he eyed the barrier in front of him. His gaze turned grim. ¡°Why am I not allowed in themunity now?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was cold as she responded sharply, ¡°You don¡¯t live here. Why should the security let you in? What you¡¯re doing is harassment. If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll call the police.¡±


    Neil¡¯s face turned cold and harsh, his anger seething within him. He studied Katelyn¡¯s expression closely. Gone were any signs of love or warmth, reced only by scorn and disdain.


    This change left him feeling unsettled and ufortable. It felt as though something he once imed as his had vanished abruptly.


    ¡°Are you the one behind Lise¡¯s current PR nightmare? And tell me, are you really Iris?¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 67

    ?Chapter 67:


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. ¡°What makes you think I owe you any answers?¡±


    Neil¡¯s hands tightened into fists, his expression confirming his realization.


    ¡°Just as I expected. You¡¯ve taken everything from Lise. Why can¡¯t you just move on?¡± he demanded, bitternesscing his voice.


    His features, once sharp, clouded with anger.


    Yet, he quickly masked his emotions with a veneer of arrogance, tinged with a faint sense of superiority. ¡°As long as you agree to clear things up now, I might reconsider and give you another opportunity.¡±


    Katelyn stared at him, puzzled. She pressed her lips together, trying to make sense of Neil¡¯s bizarre behavior.


    With a hint of pity, she pointed at her head and said, ¡°It seems like there¡¯s something off with your thinking. Maybe you should consult a doctor.¡±


    Turning to leave, she found Neil trailing behind her.


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey, listen to me. This is your final chance. If you squander it, we will never have a future together. Even if you beg me on your knees, I won¡¯t reconsider taking you back.¡±


    Katelyn was momentarily speechless. It was only then that she fully realized what Neil had been implying earlier.


    Her anger left her at a loss for words. She marveled at her blindness to someone so arrogant and foolish.


    When Katelyn remained silent, Neil took it as agreement and smirked. He was certain that, despite everything, Katelyn still harbored feelings for him.


    ???????? ???? ???????????????? ???????? ?g???????¦Í?????????????


    His eyes wandered to the soup Katelyn was holding. ¡°See? You still remember that I have a soft spot for your soup. I haven¡¯t tasted it in ages and have missed it dearly.¡± With that, he extended his hand toward the lunch bag.


    However, Katelyn swiftly pulled the bag out of his reach. Neil¡¯s expression darkened. He had assumed she would be reasonable after his excuse.


    Before he could speak, Katelyn shot back, her eyes filled with contempt. ¡°Do you think this soup is for you? I never said it was.¡±


    Neil furrowed his brow in confusion. ¡°If it¡¯s not for me, then who?¡±


    The answer became clear to him instantly, and his eyes hardened with malice.


    He grabbed Katelyn¡¯s arm with force. ¡°So, it¡¯s for Vincent Adams? When did you two be involved?¡±


    Katelyn yanked her arm free, barely containing her rage. ¡°Get lost!¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes zed with fury. He hissed, ¡°Are you furious because I¡¯ve exposed your little secret? Katelyn, you¡¯re nothing but a slut. I should have seen your true colors sooner.¡±


    His anger intensified with every word. In a fit of rage, he snatched the lunch bag and hurled it to the ground. The container inside shattered, and soup sttered everywhere.


    Katelyn¡¯s fury boiled over. She stomped hard on Neil¡¯s foot. Her three-inch heels caused him to wince in pain.


    ¡°Argh!¡± Neil¡¯s face contorted with agony.


    But Katelyn was far from done. With a cold re, she dered, ¡°Neil Wheeler, just seeing you makes me want to puke. I deeply regret ever marrying you.¡±


    Neil could only fume in silence, his eyes locked on Katelyn as he seethed.


    Without allowing him a moment to respond, Katelyn coldly added, ¡°This is your final warning. If you harass me again, there will be consequences.¡±


    With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.


    Neil stood there, brimming with anger and frustration. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this one day,¡± he vowed.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t even spare him a nce. With the soup ruined, she resigned herself to visiting Vincent empty-handed.


    To her surprise, as she approached the door, she could hear voicesing from inside Vincent¡¯s ward.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 68

    ?Chapter 68:


    Samuel spoke with respect, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve followed your instructions to hype up this matter. Now that our efforts are paying off, should we keep pushing it?¡±


    Vincent turned his gaze toward the window, his expression unreadable. ¡°No. It¡¯s already received enough attention.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    As Samuel was about to leave, he was surprised to see Katelyn standing by the door. ¡°Miss Bailey.¡±


    Katelyn looked at him with a hint of apology and said quietly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for overhearing.¡±


    Vincent, standing by the bed, gave a brief, indifferent nod. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡±


    Katelyn took a moment before stepping into the room. Now she understood why the issue had sparked so much online buzz. Despite the post being made in the dead of night, it had triggered millions of conversations.


    Vincent was behind the uproar.


    But why? The Bailey and Guerrero families had never had any conflicts with him. Could it be because of her?


    That didn¡¯t seem possible either.


    She kept her thoughts to herself, but Vincent¡¯s sharp look suggested he could read her mind.


    He spoke in a rxed tone, ¡°As my partner, if you get tangled up in too much scandal, it could generate negative impacts on us.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, her face serious. ¡°I get it. I¡¯ll be more careful. I don¡¯t want anything to affect our partnership.¡±


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    Samuel watched them with a frown of confusion. The real reason behind Vincent¡¯s actions seemed to be helping Katelyn vent her anger. Why not just say that? The Adams Group was so dominant that not much could truly impact it.


    Unable to solve the mystery, Samuel left to follow Vincent¡¯s orders.


    As Katelyn turned to shut the door, she gave Vincent a look full of regret and apology.


    ¡°There was an ident this morning, and the soup got ruined. I¡¯ll make more for you tonight,¡± Katelyn said.


    Vincent looked at her with curiosity. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Katelyn showed a hint of frustration as she exined, ¡°Neil blocked my path on my way out and broke the thermos.¡±


    She gave a brief summary of the incident.


    Vincent¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Do you need any help?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve got it,¡± Katelyn replied, shaking her head. She knew Vincent was swamped with work, and she didn¡¯t want to add to his stress with her own problems. If he kept intervening, it would only lead to more confusion.


    Enjoying the pleasant weather, Katelyn opened the window. A refreshing breeze rushed in, clearing out the lingering scent of disinfectant in the ward.


    Just then, the doctor walked in to check on Vincent. Katelyn stood silently, waiting.


    The doctor used various advanced tools to evaluate Vincent¡¯s recovery. He adjusted his sses, skimmed through the report, and then spoke to Katelyn.


    ¡°Mr. Adams is recovering well, but his diet needs more variety. As a family member, it¡¯s important for you to keep this in mind. I have a book on dietary supplements that might help.¡±


    Katelyn was startled, her hand instinctively ced on herself. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡±


    When had she be part of Vincent¡¯s family?


    The doctor nodded gravely. ¡°The first month after major surgery is a critical recovery period. You need to be very careful.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, but before she could say anything, the doctor turned and walked out.


    Frustration bubbled up inside her as the term ¡°critical recovery period¡± echoed in her mind.


    When she turned, she found Vincent watching her with a bemused expression.


    She cleared her throat awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll address this with them when it¡¯s the right moment.¡±


    Vincent shrugged off her concern. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about it.¡±


    Katelyn pressed her lips tight, feeling the weight of growing misunderstandings. Some media outlets had even started calling her Vincent¡¯s wife.


    She was about to continue when the door suddenly flew open and someone burst into the room.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 69

    ?Chapter 69:


    A figure burst into the room like a tiny torpedo, narrowly missing Katelyn. She quickly stepped aside to let the young woman pass.


    The woman had lovely wavy hair and spoke with a light foreign ent, immediatelyunching into a tirade.


    ¡°It¡¯s been ages since west met. How did you end up so badly hurt? I heard you took a bullet for a woman. Are you out of your mind? Don¡¯t you value your own life?¡±


    Vincent, who was pinned down by her, furrowed his brows. ¡°Get off! You¡¯re on my wound.¡±


    The woman slowly stood up, looking aggrieved after his reprimand.


    ¡°I was just worried about you. Why would you talk to me like that? You¡¯re really hurting my feelings.¡±


    Vincent lost his patience and retorted sharply, ¡°Talk properly. Watch how you speak to me.¡±


    Unexpectedly, the woman ignored hisment and stuck her tongue out yfully.


    Katelyn observed the scene in astonishment. Ever since meeting Vincent, he had always been guarded, his emotions unreadable. This was the first time she saw Vincent visibly express his annoyance. Despite this, it was clear from their interaction that they knew each other well. Katelyn realized they must be good friends who shared a yful bond.


    Before Katelyn could gather her thoughts, the woman noticed her.


    She eyed Katelyn intensely, sizing her up as she circled around her.


    ¡°Is this the woman you took a bullet for? She¡¯s quite beautiful. Now I see why you turned down Lucia.¡±


    ?????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? g???????¦Í??????????????


    Feeling slightly ufortable, Katelyn stepped back and introduced herself. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you. I¡¯m Katelyn Bailey.¡±


    The woman tossed her curly hair and responded, ¡°I¡¯m Ate Pinch. I heard while I was overseas that Vincent had taken a bullet for a woman. Now that I see you, I can understand why. It¡¯s quite an honor for him to have done that for someone as lovely as you.¡±


    Katelyn was baffled and turned to Vincent for assistance, speechless.


    The more she thought about Ate¡¯sments, the stranger they seemed. She was still unsure about the nature of Vincent and Ate¡¯s rtionship.


    Vincent leaned back against the headboard, sighed in exasperation, and massaged his forehead. ¡°Just ignore her. She¡¯s my cousin. She¡¯s been like this since we were kids. Don¡¯t take anything she says seriously.¡±


    Ate looked visibly hurt, ring at him. ¡°Watch your words, Vincent! I traveled thousands of miles to see you after I heard about your injury.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes turned cold as he gave a half-smile. ¡°Did you reallye back for me, or was it for someone else? You know the answer to that. By the way, I sent Samuel recently. He won¡¯t be back for at least a while.¡±


    Ate¡¯s face fell, and she said through clenched teeth, ¡°You did that deliberately! It¡¯s one thing not to support me, but actively hindering me¡ªare you serious? We¡¯re rted!¡±


    Vincent remained unruffled. ¡°You might as well think of me as not being your cousin.¡±


    Ate was left speechless.


    As she watched them argue, Katelyn felt a twinge of envy. Meanwhile, the conflict between the two majorpanies was escting into outright animosity.


    Reading the harshments online, Lise began to sense that something was amiss. She realized that from the start, Katelyn had deceived her into a trap meant to pit her against Tricia. Katelyn¡¯s amusement was clear¡ªher sole intention had been to stir up a conflict between her and Lise and then sit back to enjoy the show.


    Once Lise grasped what Katelyn was aiming for, she hurried to the hospital to confront Tricia, but the Guerrero family barred her entry.


    Fuming with anger, Delmar shed with the Bailey Group, who seized the opportunity to publicize the Guerrero family¡¯s wrongdoings.


    Already seething, Delmar found the perfect target for his anger when Lise showed up.


    ¡°How dare you show your face here! Didn¡¯t you learn your lesson fromst time? Believe it or not, I¡¯m ready to p you again!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 70

    ?Chapter 70:


    Hatred seared through Lise¡¯s eyes. She had nned to retaliate after Delmar¡¯s previous p, but for now, she forced herself to stay calm.


    Taking a deep breath, she said in a controlled, almost pleading tone, ¡°Mr. Guerrero, please give me a chance to exin. Katelyn concocted this malicious scheme to cause all this chaos. Once I meet with Tricia, we¡¯ll piece together what really happened and find out who¡¯s behind all of this.¡±


    Delmar¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as he lifted his hand. ¡°What more can be said? I witnessed you disconnect my daughter¡¯s oxygen tube with my own eyes. You even pushed her toward suicide. Tricia is my only child, and if anything happens to her, I will make sure your entire family pays the price.¡±


    Lise¡¯s voice rose, edged with desperation. ¡°Why won¡¯t you just give me a chance to clear things up? It was an unfortunate ident. Do you really want our families to fight to the bitter end and both be ruined? Katelyn wille out on top if we let this division continue. Please, calm yourself and think about what I¡¯m saying.¡±


    Delmar remained unmoved. Seizing the moment, Lise shouted through the closed door of the ward, ¡°Tricia, I know you can hear me! Please, think this through. Katelyn has been ying us from the start. We used to be friends¡ªwhy are we fighting each other now? Please, consider what I¡¯m saying.¡±


    Delmar, his face flushed with fury, gripped Lise¡¯s arm with a bruising force. ¡°Get out!¡± he barked. ¡°Or don¡¯t me me if I get rough.¡±


    Just a faint voice drifted from inside the ward, steady but weary. ¡°Dad, let her in.¡±


    It was Tricia. She had pushed herself through the press conference but waster drained and bedridden, finally beginning to recover after a day on an IV drip.


    Step into fiction with  .


    Lise seized the chance, pulled her arm free from Delmar¡¯s grasp, and pushed the door open, stepping resolutely into the ward.


    Tricia slumped weakly against the head of the bed, each cough wracking her frail frame. She lifted her tired eyes to Lise, her gaze steely despite her exhaustion.


    ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± she rasped. ¡°Be direct.¡±


    Lise¡¯s face hardened with resolve as she spoke. ¡°I¡¯m saying that Katelyn set both you and me up. Her n was to¡­¡±


    ¡°Think it through. Why would I suddenly pull out your oxygen tube? Why would I cause you harm?¡±


    Delmar¡¯s anger boiled over, his voice seething with fury. ¡°How dare you bring this up!¡±


    Tricia¡¯s lips twisted into a bitter smile as she looked at Lise with sharp eyes. ¡°You were afraid I¡¯d survive and tell everyone you talked me intomitting suicide, then shifted the me to Katelyn. Your best option to keep me quiet was to kill me, thinking it would also ruin Katelyn¡¯s reputation.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s usationnded with cutting precision. Lise¡¯s jaw clenched as frustration red inside her. Her mind raced, clear on her mission: to stop the escting feud. If she didn¡¯t seed, both the Bailey and Guerrero families would be left in ruin. Her goal was to persuade Tricia¡ªwhom she considered easily swayed¡ªto join her in opposing Katelyn.


    ¡°This is just the beginning,¡± she said firmly. ¡°If our families keep fighting, who benefits the most from our destruction?¡±


    Tricia showed confusion, her thoughts clearly in turmoil. She hadn¡¯t considered this perspective before. Unable to immediately identify who stood to gain, Tricia remained silent.


    Seeing this, Lise put on a serious expression. ¡°The real winner is Katelyn, but more precisely, it¡¯s Vincent. Katelyn orchestrated all of this to gain his support.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she absorbed Lise¡¯s words. Her mind raced, trying to grasp why Lise hade to see her and what her real motives were in telling her these things.


    Under the nket, her hands tightened into fists, frustration etched on her face as she struggled to make sense of Lise¡¯s words. Unable to fully understand or respond, she remained silent, only fueling Lise¡¯s irritation.


    Lise took a deep breath, her frustration palpable as she continued. ¡°Katelyn is powerless and broke. There¡¯s no way she could have nearly bankrupted the family on her own. It¡¯s Vincent who¡¯s orchestrated this.¡±


    Tricia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, while Delmar¡¯s expression shifted to one of disbelief.


    Lise leaned in, her voice low and urgent. ¡°Katelyn and Vincent have been in league for a long time. If we keep fighting, the Adams family will take advantage of our division, merging ourpanies with minimal effort and strengthening their position.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes drilled into Tricia¡¯s face, searching for any sign that her argument wasnding. This was the most she could offer.


    Delmar, his eyes sharp with scrutiny, remained silent, but his intense gaze was fixed on Tricia. He silently hoped she would piece things together and figure out a way to resolve the situation.


    Tricia, caught off guard, took a moment to process before responding. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. How could Katelyn be working with Vincent? And if the Adams family wanted to ruin us, they could do it with a singlemand. Why go through all these borate schemes?¡±


    Lise¡¯s frustration red as she stared at Tricia, her grip tightening into fists. She was astonished and irritated that Tricia, whom she had always believed to be naive, now seemed to grasp the situation with unexpected rity.


    ¡°I¡¯ll show you the proof,¡± she snapped, barely containing her irritation.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 71

    ?Chapter 71:


    While talking, Lise pulled out her phone and started scrolling through old news reports about Vincent and Katelyn¡¯s rtionship.


    Delmor and Tricia exchanged a nce, their eyes reflecting a hint of disappointment.


    Tricia¡¯s brow furrowed; she had expected Lise to present something more solid, something they could really use. Instead, it was just the usual gossip from the media.


    Those stories had been buried a long time, and all Lise could show were outdated screenshots, remnants of a once-hot topic.


    She locked eyes with Lise for a hint of defiance in her gaze. ¡°You really think I¡¯m that easy to trick?¡±


    Lise¡¯s jaw tightened, her fists clenched tightly in her sleeves.


    When did Tricia suddenly be so sharp? She wasn¡¯t so easily controlled anymore.


    For a split second, Lise¡¯s face twisted with spite, but she quickly masked it with a calm fa?ade.


    Her voice turned firm. ¡°This is the clearest evidence we¡¯ve got. Katelyn and Vincent have been close for ages. If things sour between our families, the Adams Group will swoop in and snatch up bothpanies for a steal.¡±


    She paused, her gaze locking onto Delmor¡¯s, her expression tense. ¡°If we keep battling like this, we¡¯ll both lose more than we gain.¡±


    Gritting her teeth, Lise lifted her chin, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Mr. Guerrero, you know exactly what I mean.¡±


    Tricia might be naive, but if Delmor was just as clueless, they¡¯d have no shot at winning.


    C?ntent ?riginally fr?m g?l????¦Í?????????????


    Delmor shifted his gaze from the scene, his eyesnding on Lise, whose nervousness was almost palpable. A scornful smile curled his lips.


    ¡°Cut the act. You¡¯ve tried to hurt my daughter more than once, and I remember every attempt. Now you¡¯re suddenly concerned about the Guerrero Group? Where was your concern when you were plotting against her?¡±


    Even though he was a businessman, his role as a father always came first.


    Tricia¡¯s gaze grew dark, and her fingers balled into tight fists beneath the nket.


    She had worried that Delmor might put business concerns before her well-being,


    But it was clear now that her fears were misced.


    Lise¡¯s frustration was mounting.


    She nced at Tricia, clearly exasperated. ¡°Do you keep arguing with me like this? Do you want to see the Guerrero family go under? And don¡¯t forget, your family is on the brink too!¡±


    Delmar stepped closer, his tone unyielding. ¡°Even if the Guerrero family falls, I¡¯ll make sure the Bailey family goes down with us. Everyone will see what your family is really like.¡±


    Lise¡¯s voice caught in her throat, her eyes zing with a mix of anger and frustration.


    Why had she picked someone as inept as Tricia?


    And it wasn¡¯t just Tricia¡ªeveryone in her family seemed equally clueless.


    Delmar¡¯s frustration erupted as he pointed at the door. ¡°Lise, don¡¯t think I¡¯m oblivious to your schemes. You¡¯re pulling my daughter into your chaos just to get back at Katelyn? No way! Leave now, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Lise¡¯s hands tightened into fists, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to control her anger.


    She inhaled deeply and turned to Tricia as she approached the door, her voice carrying a note of warning. ¡°Think this through,¡± she said, her words sharp and deliberate. ¡°This argument is pointless for both of us. I don¡¯t want that conniving Katelyn toe out ahead, but I also don¡¯t want Vincent to gain from our struggle. If you don¡¯t believe me, just watch how our families¡¯ businesses fall apart and see who ends up buying them.¡±


    Lise was halfway out the door when Tricia¡¯s voice pierced the silence.


    A spark of hope ignited in Lise¡¯s eyes, and a smile tugged at her lips.


    So, Tricia wasn¡¯t entirely beyond help after all.


    Delmar¡¯s gaze shifted to Tricia, his expression a mix of astonishment and skepticism. Could it be that Tricia was actually contemting Lise¡¯s proposal and momentarily willing to let go of her resentment?


    But even if Tricia had wanted to give in, Delmar wouldn¡¯t have it.


    Lise was going to pay for what she¡¯d done to Tricia.


    With effort, Tricia pushed herself out of bed, her movements slow and painful. Delmar quickly moved to her side, his face etched with concern as he held her steady. ¡°The doctor said you need to rest.¡±


    Tricia shook her head, determined, and began walking toward Lise, one slow step at a time.


    Lise let out a deep breath, her voice rising as she began to speak.


    But before she could finish, Tricia¡¯s hand shot up. With a swift motion, she pped Lise across the face. The sting hit before Lise even had time to blink.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 72

    ?Chapter 72:


    Although Tricia was weak, she had gathered all her strength to p Lise.


    Lise looked at Tricia in disbelief and anger, not expecting the p. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡±


    Tricia coughed, her pale face twisted with contempt. ¡°You did this to me. A p is nothingpared to what you¡¯ve put me through.¡±


    Delmar quickly stepped in front of Tricia, his voice booming with anger. ¡°Get out of here, now!¡±


    Lise¡¯s hands clenched into fists so tightly that her nails bit into her palms. Her face contorted with rage. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this. All of you will pay!¡±


    She had involved the Guerrero family, trusting them with her ns, only to have it all backfire.


    The consistent ps she had received over the past few days twisted Lise¡¯s heart with resentment. The moment she got home, she began smashing everything in the room.


    Expensive cosmetics and luxurious itemsy shattered on the floor, but the wreckage didn¡¯t faze her. She stamped on the pieces, her rage only growing.


    ¡°Die! All of you go to hell!¡± she screamed, her voice trembling with unhinged fury.


    But Lise didn¡¯t notice the figure standing in the doorway. Neil watched silently, his feelings tangled, as he witnessed the woman he once knew unraveling before him.


    Neil found himself struggling to understand who this woman really was.


    Was she the caring, considerate Lise who always seemed to think about his feelings?


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    Or was she the cold, calcting person who would go to any lengths, even if it meant destroying someone, to achieve her goal?


    As if sensing the shift in the room, Lise turned quickly and met Neil¡¯s intense stare.


    A flicker of fear crossed her face, her eyes narrowing in rm. But she quickly masked it with a smile as she approached him. ¡°Neil, why are you here?¡±


    She reached out, but Neil recoiled, avoiding her touch. Her smile wavered.


    With a hard look, Neil took another step back, widening the space between them.


    ¡°I need to know if what Tricia said is true.¡±


    Lise¡¯s head shook rapidly, her tone defensive. ¡°No, it¡¯s not true! Katelyn and Tricia are conspiring to ruin me. Neil, you¡¯ve known me for so long. Don¡¯t you know my character by now?¡±


    Her eyes brimmed with tears.


    ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d do something like that? Your doubt hurts more than their lies. God, Neil!¡±


    Her voice quivered as if she were on the verge of breaking. In that moment, Neil felt his certainty begin to slip.


    Public opinion online could be easily manipted. Neil had known Lise for years and believed he understood her well. To him, she was the embodiment of purity and kindness. He scolded himself internally for doubting the woman he had loved for so long, letting the words of others cloud his judgment.


    With this in mind, Neil¡¯s tone softened.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to doubt you,¡± he said. ¡°I just need to hear the truth from you.¡±


    Lise pouted, throwing herself into his arms as tears spilled down her cheeks.


    ¡°Neil, you¡¯re all I have left. If even you can¡¯t trust me, I might as well be dead. Maybe that¡¯s the only way to prove I¡¯m innocent. I just¡­ I was so furious earlier.¡±


    She didn¡¯t know how much of her earlier meltdown Neil had witnessed, but she couldn¡¯t afford for him to start doubting her now. Everything she had worked for would fall apart if Neil lost faith in her.


    And if she couldn¡¯t have someone like Vincent, Neil was herst lifeline.


    Neil held her tightly, his voice firm. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that. The truth wille out in time.¡±


    Lise nodded eagerly, but as Neil looked away, a cold, vengeful light flickered in her eyes.


    Katelyn. Tricia. She would make them suffer, dragging them into a nightmare from which they would never escape.


    Meanwhile, in Vincent¡¯s hospital room, Katelyn had been by Vincent¡¯s side all afternoon, her presence steady while Ate left to handle personal errands.


    With herptop in front of her, Katelyn focused on sketching out a design draft, her brows furrowed in concentration. Vincent, propped against the headboard, was intently reading through a stack of documents.


    Then, Katelyn¡¯s phone buzzed. She nced at the caller ID, her face clouding with hesitation as she debated whether or not to answer the call.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 73

    ?Chapter 73:


    It was Aimee calling. Katelyn propped the phone against her shoulder with one hand while her other hand continued to glide across the screen, sketching away.


    ¡°What¡¯s up, Aimee?¡± she asked, barely breaking her focus.


    Aimee¡¯s voice erupted with energy. ¡°Kat, you have to check out the news! The Guerrero and Bailey families are locked in a showdown like never before. It¡¯s getting brutal, and they won¡¯t stop until one side is finished!¡± Aimee had been glued to the news all morning, unable to pull herself away. The drama hit a fever pitch when Tricia leaked an explosive audio clip, sending the story into a frenzy.


    Clutching a bag of chips, Aimee had spent the afternoon absorbed in the unfolding spectacle. Realizing she couldn¡¯t keep this to herself, she decided to call Katelyn and share the excitement. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s thetest?¡± she asked.


    Katelyn stifled a chuckle, barely managing to keep herposure. After orchestrating the stage for the two families to sh, she hadrgely forgotten about it. To her surprise, the drama was still unfolding.


    Aimee¡¯s voice crackled with excitement. ¡°I can¡¯t exin everything over the phone. You need to see it yourself. That audio clip has put Mr. Adams and you back in the spotlight.¡±


    Katelyn nced over at Vincent, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of Aimee¡¯s cryptic words.


    Just then, Vincent looked up. Their eyes met, and Vincent saw the bewilderment in Katelyn¡¯s gaze. He closed hisptop with a soft thud. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    Katelyn shook off her confusion and replied, ¡°Nothing important.¡±


    She turned back to the phone and said, ¡°I¡¯ll check out the trending news now. Talk soon.¡±


    More chapters on g????????¦Í??????.?????


    ¡°Hurry up. Make sure to get some popcorn,¡± Aimee teased. ¡°This is even crazier than a soap opera.¡±


    Katelyn grunted in response and ended the call with a quick swipe. Stories about Tricia and Lise dominated the top trending news, but Katelyn noticed her and Vincent¡¯s names repeatedly tagged at the bottom.


    Their news had been pushed aside before, and Katelyn puzzled over why it was resurfacing now. Driven by curiosity, she clicked on one of the links. The reason quickly became clear.


    The audio clip released by Tricia was from a confrontation with Lise. In the recording, Lise not only admitted to staging Tricia¡¯s supposed suicide but also imed that Katelyn and Vincent were behind a grand scheme. That was why their names were making headlines again.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression tightened with irritation, her eyes shing with anger. Lise had spun a web of lies to drag her down. As Katelyn yed the audio, she kept the volume up, making it easy for Vincent to overhear. His attention, however, was focused on Katelyn, noting the irritation that shed across her face as she furrowed her brow.


    ¡°Lise is now acting like a wild animal, biting anyone whoes near,¡± he remarked.


    After hearing the recording, Katelyn came to a grim conclusion. A shadow of concern crossed Vincent¡¯s face. He tapped his fingers on theptop and said, ¡°The Guerrero family isn¡¯t going to back down. This won¡¯t end well for either of us.¡±


    Katelyn sighed deeply and looked up at Vincent. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Adams. It¡¯s because of me that you¡¯re caught up in this,¡± she said.


    Vincent¡¯s brows furrowed as he turned to her. ¡°Why are you apologizing to me?¡± Vincent asked, clearly puzzled.


    Katelyn looked up, her eyes steady. ¡°If Lise hadn¡¯t gone to such lengths to drag me into this, she wouldn¡¯t have made up those stories about us being involved,¡± she exined. Her tone was serious, and her words were measured as she continued, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t do anything about the news for now. The more it¡¯s talked about, the more it will impact both the Bailey and Guerrero families. It really hurts your reputation, though,¡± she added.


    Katelyn, who had be resilient from facing her own struggles, was concerned for Vincent¡¯s innocence in all of this.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing to worry about. I don¡¯t really mind,¡± Vincent said with a rxed smile, his voice nonchnt. ¡°What I¡¯m more interested in is what you n to do next,¡± he added, his gaze fixed intently on her.


    Katelyn was caught off guard by the intensity of his look.


    .


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 Chapter 74

    ?Chapter 74:


    Katelyn didn¡¯t hesitate to share. ¡°Of course, I want this fire to burn brighter,¡± she said. A faint smile curled on her lips. Though she looked harmless, her words suggested otherwise.


    The scene was set, but the people involved weren¡¯t delivering what she wanted. Their constant arguing was getting them nowhere. She was after something more intense.


    Vincent raised an eyebrow, a yful glimmer in his usually serious eyes. It was as if a spark of excitement had entered his dull routine life. And that spark was Katelyn.


    Katelyn reached for herptop again, saving the drawing she had justpleted. She closed the drawing software and immediately opened another program. As she entered the password, the screen suddenly shifted to a dark red hue.


    The screen was nearly consumed by this unsettling color, with thin red lines forming a frame along the edges, giving the impression of some kind of boundary. From his spot across the room, Vincent couldn¡¯t make out the exact image on the screen, but he definitely noticed the unusual color. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes.


    Katelyn, oblivious to Vincent¡¯s reaction, focused on typing. Her slender fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard like they were performing a graceful ballet. With each keystroke, she quickly located the information she was searching for.


    Both the Guerrero and Bailey families harbored secrets so dark that they couldn¡¯t afford to let them see the light of day. If these secrets were exposed, the fallout would be catastrophic for both sides.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. After securing all the evidence, she drafted an email for bothpanies. The real game was just beginning.


    L??€$? ???t??§ñ? I¦Ç ?a?n?¦Í¦Ål?.c?m


    Sure enough, when the Guerrero and Bailey families opened the email, they were left stunned and speechless. This wasn¡¯t just evidence¡ªit was the key that could determine the victor in their fierce battle.


    Once the information leaked, it wouldn¡¯t just sway public opinion; it could bring down the rivalpany entirely. The Guerrero Group wasted no time in preparing to unleash the contents.


    The evidence detailed years of tax evasion by the Bailey family and the hical methods they had used to win contracts.


    Meanwhile, the Bailey Group was already gearing up tounch a counterattack.


    The Guerrero Group had once developed property where five workers lost their lives on the construction site due to substandard materials. Byw, the project needed to be fixed, with all faulty materials removed and proper approval given before continuing. But the Guerrero family didn¡¯t follow the rules. Instead, they paid to smooth over the incident, ensuring the project proceeded as if nothing had happened. Amazingly, it even performed well afterward.


    As the darkest secrets of both families came to light, the inte exploded with gossip. Forpanies of this size, the revealed information was solid proof.


    When Jeff saw what the Guerrero Group had exposed, he sat at hisputer, unable to believe his eyes.


    ¡°How is this possible?¡± he muttered, his disbelief palpable. ¡°I¡¯ve kept the tax evasion hidden well. How did the Guerrero family find out?¡±


    He mmed his fist on the desk, his voice erupting in anger.


    Lise rushed into the office, startled by the noise. When she saw the fury on Jeff¡¯s face, her heart sank.


    ¡°Dad, is what they¡¯re saying online true? Did our family really evade taxes?¡±


    Jeff clenched his teeth, his eyes zing with rage. ¡°Who could have leaked this? Is it Katelyn?¡± As the words left his mouth, he shook his head, dismissing the thought. It didn¡¯t add up. Even when Katelyn was with the Bailey family, she was never involved inpany affairs. There was no way she could know about the tax evasion.


    Only he and the CFO were aware of this in the entirepany. But the CFO had been his trusted ally for years. Could he really have been the one to leak it?


    As Jeff continued to specte about who might have betrayed him, Lise¡¯s anxiety grew. She silently cursed his stubbornness and urgently reminded him, ¡°Dad, now isn¡¯t the time to figure out who leaked it. We need to pay the taxes right away.¡±


    Jeff nearly shouted, ¡°Now? For every penny we evaded, we¡¯ll be fined ten times over! Where are we supposed to get that kind of money?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 75

    ?Chapter 75:


    As soon as the news reached her, Lise felt her entire world shatter.


    She had worked so hard to secure her ce within the Bailey family. Was it true that thepany was on the brink of copse due to tax issues? Was she really about to be thrust back into the realm of the ordinary?


    Absolutely not!


    The thought was unbearable. She was determined to cling to her elevated status and the privileges of being a Bailey. Clenching her teeth to steady herself, Lise fixed her gaze on Jeff.


    ¡°Dad, if we¡¯re facing a payment, you have to tell me how much. We need to find a solution together. Thispany represents your life¡¯s work; we can¡¯t just let it fall apart!¡±


    Jeff slouched in his chair, a grim smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    ¡°Five billion dors. How could wee up with that much?¡±


    He had only intended to take a small amount to escape the heavy taxes. But over time, his greed grew, and he found more ways to deceive the system. After all these years of trickery, he had evaded nearly five hundred million dors in taxes. That was almost the entire value of thepany.


    ¡°Five billion¡­¡±


    Lise¡¯s knees buckled, and she almost fell to the ground. Her hope evaporated, and her world shattered. Even if they somehow managed to cover the debt, the identity of being a Bailey would slip away from her grasp.


    In that instant, it felt as if her life as a wealthy woman was slipping away¡ªlike a brief, precious dream fading before her eyes.


    She had to do something¡ªanything¡ªto prevent this from happening.


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    The tension was palpable throughout the Bailey Group, but the Guerrero Group was facing an even harsher reality.


    Ever since the news broke that one of their previous projects had used substandard materials, irate clients had been rallying outside thepany, demanding answers. The uproar spread beyond a single site; property owners from other Guerrero Group projects had joined in, angrily protesting and demandingpensation. How could they have used substandard materials in their construction? If something went wrong, countless lives could be endangered.


    Despite the bodyguards stationed at the entrance, the furious property owners were ready to storm the building at any moment.


    Delmar slouched in his chair, his voice barely audible as he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s over. Everything¡¯s over.¡±


    The building in question had stood strong for over ten years without a hitch. He had believed the work was safe, but somehow the Bailey family had discovered the truth. How could they have found out?


    If this matter esctes, they would all be facing prison. Tricia, upon seeing the news, bolted from the hospital, brushing aside the doctors¡¯ protests. She slipped into thepany through the fire escape. Entering Delmar¡¯s office, she found him sitting there, lost in thought.


    ¡°Dad, why are you just sitting here? We need a n. If this keeps going, we¡¯re finished!¡±


    Delmar pounded his fist on the desk and barked in exasperation, ¡°What can I do now? Those property owners outside are demandingpensation. Where am I supposed to find the money? That building has stood for over ten years without any problems. The Bailey family must have stirred them up to cause trouble! You, Jeff Bailey!¡±


    The only option left was to pay the angry property owners. But with so many buildings sold over the years, the amount of money needed would be staggering. Even if they sold every asset in the Guerrero family, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to cover it.


    Tricia¡¯s face went pale, and she felt a wave of dizziness. ¡°What are we going to do?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated that the Bailey family would have something like this up their sleeve. Suddenly, Delmar jumped up, a new n forming in his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to sell everything immediately. Our only chance is to escape. We need to get out while we still can!¡±


    But before he could put his n into action, the re of police sirens pierced the air from the street below.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 76

    ?Chapter 76:


    Delmar and Tricia exchanged puzzled looks, bewildered by the sudden arrival of the police. Before they could react, the door burst open, and officers swiftly apprehended them.


    Outside, a crowd of reporters had already gathered, capturing every moment as Delmar and Tricia were led away in handcuffs. The images quickly ignited a flurry of discussions online.


    As the media frenzy reached its peak, Katelyn observed the unfolding drama with a hint of satisfaction. The sh between the Guerrero Group and the Bailey Group had finally culminated in the copse of the Guerrero Group.


    The Guerrero Group had already been on the brink of copse due to Katelyn¡¯s relentless tactics, and thistest scandal was the final blow, leading to itsplete shutdown. In contrast, the Bailey Group, though bruised, faced significantly less damage. As long as they settled the fines for tax evasion, they could steer clear of prison.


    A faint smile yed on Katelyn¡¯s lips as she reopened herputer. She had stumbled upon some damning information and decided to sell it to an entertainment blogger. Operating through anonymous ounts, she leaked details about Jeff¡¯s past infidelities and the scandalous story of Sharon¡¯s confrontation, which led to the other woman¡¯s abortion. The blogger eagerly bought the information for half a million dors.


    Within minutes, the blogger published the scoop with a headline designed to grab attention¡ª


    Shocking NEWS! Jeff Bailey Exposed in Affair


    The news spread like wildfire.


    The story sparked a storm of online discussions.


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    Unsurprisingly, Vincent soon came across the headline. His gaze, filled with a mix of curiosity and concern, shifted to Katelyn, whose lips curved into a self-assured smile.


    Every detail of the unfolding drama seemed to fit perfectly with Katelyn¡¯s master n.


    Yet, Vincent¡¯s thoughts lingered on the software.


    Setting theptop aside, he turned to Katelyn and asked, ¡°I¡¯m intrigued. How did youe across so much incriminating information about these twopanies?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief as she deflected his question. ¡°People always leave traces when they act. No matter how hard they try, those traces are impossible to erase.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze grew more contemtive, and he responded with a casual tone, ¡°I suppose that¡¯s true. It¡¯s just their misfortune for crossing paths with you.¡±


    He turned his attention back to the trending topics. While the Bailey family might weather this storm, they would never reim their previous status.


    ¡°My motto is straightforward,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t strike unless provoked.¡±


    Katelyn strolled toward the window, her eyes fixed on the clear blue sky outside. She turned her gaze back to Vincent. ¡°If anyone targets me, they will face twice the retribution.¡±


    She had not nned to entangle herself with the Bailey family, but Lise had left her with no other choice.


    Vincent gently pulled back the nket, rose from the bed, and joined Katelyn at the window. His imposing figure loomed over her as the evening light poured through the window. It was as though his presence offered her a protective shield.


    After resting for a while, he had noticeably improved.


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed with worry when she saw him standing. She hurried over, taking his arm gently to steer him back to bed. ¡°The doctor advised that you stay in bed as much as possible. You really should not be up,¡± she said firmly.


    Vincent stayed put, a hint of amusement in his tone. ¡°If I stay in bed any longer, I will start to feel like I am rotting.¡±


    She was adamant about this. Gently nudging him, she insisted, ¡°No, you need to focus on recoveringpletely.¡±


    With a resigned sigh, Vincentplied and settled back into bed.


    ¡°I understand you are restless,¡± Katelyn said earnestly. ¡°I will speak with the doctor to see when you can be discharged. Even then, you will need to proceed with caution.¡±


    Vincent looked at her, his eyes reflecting the genuine concern Katelyn had for him. ¡°I understand,¡± he said, offering a warm, appreciative smile.


    Katelyn felt a twinge of frustration, as though she were managing a particrly obstinate child. ¡°Alright then. Proper recovery after surgery is essential.¡±


    Her concern lingered despite her firm stance. Just as she was about to leave to seek out the doctor, Vincent¡¯s voice called out to her.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, it seems you have a knack for hacking.¡±


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    .


    .

 Chapter 77

    ?Chapter 77:


    Katelyn turned abruptly. Vincent was still reclining against the bed¡¯s headboard, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious intensity.


    He had instructed Samuel to investigate the unusual software he had seen her using and had just received some insights. It was from the top andrgest hacker website in the world.


    This site was a treasure trove of information, essible only to those with an invitation code and password¡ªnot something the average person could obtain. Only the world¡¯s top 100 hackers were eligible for ess.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze grew more intense, his admiration for Katelyn deepening by the moment.


    Regaining herposure, Katelyn gave a subtle smile, attempting to smooth things over. ¡°I picked up a few tech skills in college, but I¡¯m no expert.¡±


    Vincent drummed his fingers on hisptop, his expression serious. ¡°I¡¯m eager to see what else you might surprise me with, Miss Bailey.¡± His implication was somewhat vague.


    A wave of anxiety washed over Katelyn. She wondered if Vincent had discovered something. But she quickly dismissed the thought¡ªshe didn¡¯t believe it was likely.


    Trying to appear rxed, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. ¡°Mr. Adams, perhaps you¡¯re reading too much into it. I¡¯m just a designer, after all. I doubt I can keep surprising you.¡±


    Vincent simply smiled, saying nothing.


    Yet, his probing look seemed to see through any disguise she might wear.


    Feeling the tension mount, Katelyn quickly turned to leave, the atmosphere in the room growing too strange for herfort.


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    However, her reaction only convinced Vincent further that Katelyn was hiding a bigger secret.


    Bowing his head, Vincent texted Samuel again.


    ¡°Look into Katelyn Bailey. Also, investigate those unidentified figures who reached the pinnacle of their careers in certain industries but suddenly resigned within thest three years.¡±


    Samuel responded promptly. ¡°Understood, Mr. Adams.¡±


    In the Bailey family¡¯s study, Jeff and Sharon frantically sifted through all the bank cards and savings books in the house, desperate to gather money. They needed enough to cover the shortfall from their tax evasion and possibly even use this crisis to absorb the Guerrero Group.


    Yet, after emptying all their financial resources, they managed to amass less than 25 billion.


    Holding the cards and savings books, Sharon¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°After all these years, is this really all the money we¡¯ve managed to save?¡±


    Jeff avoided her gaze and replied awkwardly, ¡°We¡¯ve had some losses in recent projects. Let¡¯s try to scrape together more funds.¡±


    He then turned his attention to the transaction records and the total amount, sighing deeply. ¡°How are we going to cover such a huge deficit?¡±


    Sharon was briefly sidetracked as she pondered deeply, her brow furrowed. Online opinions were insignificant¡ªwealthy families always faced their share of scandals.


    Then, an idea struck her, and her eyes sparkled with possibility.


    ¡°Remember, I bought Lise all those luxury items when she came home? They should be worth about 500 million altogether. If we sold them, it could bring in some additional funds.¡±


    Jeff pped his thigh, struck by the thought.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! I also gave Lise a bank card with 500 million on it aspensation when she came home. We could use that money too.¡±


    As they continued their conversation, the study door had been left ajar, and Lise overheard their ns from the doorway. The thought of parting with her luxury items and money caused her intense distress.


    In the past, she could only afford counterfeits. Finally, she could afford the real luxury ones¡ªbut now, she had to sell them. She had only had those things for a month!


    Sharon, determined, was on her way to find Lise. As she opened the door, she caught Lise¡¯s eye, taken aback.


    ¡°Lise, what are you doing here?¡±


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    .

 Chapter 78

    ?Chapter 78:


    Lise struggled to keep her smile from faltering. She responded with a soft voice, ¡°Mom, with everything our family is going through, I want to see if there¡¯s anything I can do to support you and Dad.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s tension eased, her heart warmed by Lise¡¯s words. Parents usually didn¡¯t expect anything in return from their children. Their joyrgely came from knowing their child cared about the family. She grasped Lise¡¯s hand and let out a deep sigh.


    ¡°We do need your help now, Lise. Please hand over the bank card your dad gave you and the luxury items I bought for you. The money could make a significant difference in getting us out of this crisis.¡±


    Lise¡¯s smile wavered; her teeth clenched tightly. ¡°The resale value of those items drops if they are second-hand. Even though they were expensive when new, you will only get half of what they cost, at best. It¡¯s hardly worth it.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s face tightened with worry, her resentment toward the Guerrero family intensifying. If it weren¡¯t for the Guerrero family, their tax evasion would not have been exposed.


    ¡°Every little bit helps. We are running out of options. We have just a week to raise the money. If we fail and thepany goes under, your dad will end up in jail.¡± Sharon paused, as if remembering something, then added, ¡°Do not worry. Once things improve, I will buy more luxuries for you.¡±


    Lise could not suppress a sneer. Her mother must have thought she was naive. Even if they managed to pay off the debt, keeping the Bailey family¡¯spany afloat would be an uphill battle. The idea that her mother would buy more luxury items wasughable.


    Just then, Jeff emerged from the study, his gaze settling on Lise, who looked conflicted. With a frown, he said, ¡°We are in a crisis, Lise. Now is the time for us to stand together and face it head-on. I hope you will not disappoint us.¡±


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    Though he had always been fond of Lise, the gravity of the situation made him more pragmatic than Sharon. He could sense her hesitation to part with her card and luxuries. His tone carried an unmistakable warning.


    Lise¡¯s heart raced. She quickly responded, ¡°You misunderstood me, Dad. I would never disappoint you. I was just thinking that even if we sold all my luxury items, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Where else can we find the money we need?¡±


    Sharon quickly picked up on the tension in the air and shot a sharp look at Jeff. ¡°Lise is our daughter; she cares about this family. Do you think she is anything like Katelyn, that ungrateful brat? Not a single call from her after everything we¡¯ve been through. We spent years raising her, pouring our hearts into it. I would have rather raised a dog than someone so thankless.¡±


    Lise suddenly had an idea. She had nearly forgotten about Katelyn. Not too long ago, Katelyn had wired a billion to sever ties with the Bailey family. It wouldn¡¯t be difficult for Katelyn to offer more. With Aimee¡¯s and Vincent¡¯s considerable wealth, Katelyn could easily request a loan from either of them.


    Excitedly, Lise sped Sharon¡¯s hand. ¡°Katelyn has plenty of money. We can ask her to help us get through this tough time.¡±


    If Katelyn covered their financial gap, the Bailey family would not lose a dime, and Lise could keep her status. The Bailey family wouldn¡¯t face decline.


    Sharon was momentarily stunned, but then eagerly agreed, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. How did I forget about her? It¡¯s time that ungrateful girl repaid us for raising her. She must give us all the money we need to cover the taxes.¡±


    As Jeff listened to the two women talk about Katelyn like she was some rich fool, he frowned and said, ¡°You should let go of that idea. Katelyn already paid us to sever ties. Do you really think she¡¯s going to help us after everything that has happened between us?¡±


    After they brought Lise back into their lives, they shattered whatever trust Katelyn had left. No one in their right mind would be willing to offer them help after that.


    Sharon shot him an irritated look and scoffed dismissively. ¡°Not everything can be resolved with money. I will call her right now.¡±


    With that, she dialed Katelyn¡¯s number.


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 Chapter 79

    ?Chapter 79:


    For years, Sharon believed she had given Katelyn resources and an education that money couldn¡¯t buy. Despite Katelyn contributing one billion, Sharon saw it merely aspensation for the separation that hadsted over 20 years. She felt this wasn¡¯t enough and still expected more money from Katelyn.


    Jeff tried to intervene. ¡°Stop it. Katelyn won¡¯t help us,¡± he cautioned her. After all, he had yed the role of Katelyn¡¯s father for many years and knew her character to some extent. Katelyn waspassionate, but once she made up her mind, it was final. Even if he were in Katelyn¡¯s shoes, he wouldn¡¯t want to get involved in such a mess.


    Annoyed, Sharon shot him a re. ¡°Are your words supposed to be helpful? I¡¯m doing this for our family. If you hadn¡¯t dodged taxes, I wouldn¡¯t need to ask Katelyn for help. Besides, she owes us that much. I just want to borrow some money from her. I¡¯ll pay her backter.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s tone was self-righteous, as if she was certain Katelyn would lend them the money. Yet, her n to ¡°borrow¡± was just words. When would she return, and could she even return the money? It all depended on the Bailey family¡¯s fortunes.


    Observing this, Lise barely concealed a smile. She believed she had figured out a way to persuade Katelyn to lend them money. Speaking gently, she said, ¡°Regardless of the past, Katelyn is still part of our family. Now that we¡¯re in a crisis, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll help.¡±


    Jeff looked at her with mixed emotions. He chose not to argue further and sat down next to them. They seemed to have entirely overlooked the fact that Katelyn had vowed to sever ties with them in the hospital, even though she was visibly unwell.


    Additionally, he was frustrated with Lise¡¯s attitude during the crisis. Still, she was his biological daughter, and he couldn¡¯t be too severe with her. If only, he hoped, Katelyn would lend them the money.


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    Sharon held her phone in anticipation for a while, but Katelyn didn¡¯t respond. Upon checking, she discovered that her number had been blocked.


    She went ballistic, cursing Katelyn furiously.


    ¡°Bitch! How dare she block my number! Ungrateful little brat!¡±


    Lise looked on anxiously and asked in a panic, ¡°How could this happen? Did Katelyn anticipate we¡¯d ask for help and block your number in advance?¡± Her words only intensified Sharon¡¯s anger.


    ¡°As I always said, she¡¯s ungrateful. All the years I spent raising her were a waste,¡± Sharon muttered through clenched teeth.


    Gritting her teeth, Sharon headed for the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to her ce. She can¡¯t just hide from me.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously as she quickly followed her mother.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn was at home preparing a tonic soup, ingredients in hand. Remembering how Neil hade to confront her earlier and spilled her soup, she was still seething.


    Her address had been leaked, and she feared Neil might show up again. After some thought, Katelyn decided it was time to move. She acted quickly, knowing she had other real estate properties besides the current one.


    She also owned arge and magnificent vi by the sea, which might be a good option.


    Katelyn hurried to pack her personal items and then called a movingpany to handle the rest. Fortunately, she hadn¡¯t been in this ce for long and didn¡¯t have much to pack¡ªeverything fit into fewer than 20 boxes.


    When Sharon and Lise arrived, they saw several moving trucks outside Katelyn¡¯s house, with workers bustling about, loading boxes.


    Pointing at the logo of the movingpany, Lise eximed, ¡°Look, Mom! Katelyn is really leaving. She¡¯s trying to avoid us on purpose!¡±


    Sharon¡¯s face contorted with anger as she clenched her teeth.


    ¡°Ungrateful bitch! I¡¯ll teach her a lesson.¡±


    With that, she rushed forward.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 80

    ?Chapter 80:


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey!¡± Sharon shouted, disregarding the elegant, wealthy image she usually upheld.


    When Katelyn turned and saw the two womening her way, a look of disgust crossed her face. She was more convinced than ever at that moment that moving had been the right decision.


    With a nk expression, Katelyn inquired, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Sharon red at her fiercely, her voice strained as she spoke. ¡°Where are you off to? Ourpany is facing a major crisis, and you haven¡¯t even called. Now you¡¯re sneaking away? Scared we might approach you?¡±


    Sharon¡¯s barrage of questions left Katelyn visibly stunned. She furrowed her brows in confusion.


    So, Sharon was upset because Katelyn hadn¡¯t reached out to the Bailey family? Considering they had cut ties, Katelyn felt no obligation to them, even if the Bailey Group was copsing.


    ¡°I can keep up with the Bailey family¡¯s affairs online. Why would I call a stranger?¡±


    Sharon was so infuriated by her response that she nearly fainted. She raised her hand to p Katelyn, but Lise quickly intervened.


    Although she relished the thought of Katelyn getting pped, they needed to ask her for a loan. What if Katelyn refused because of the p?


    ¡°Take it easy, Mom. Remember why we¡¯re here,¡± Lise murmured into Sharon¡¯s ear.


    Her words cooled Sharon down a bit. Reluctantly, Sharon shot Katelyn a hostile look.


    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s?c???? brings imagination alive


    Confusion flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she took a step back. Her instincts warned her that their sudden visit was bad news.


    Lise softened her expression and gazed at Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, our family¡¯spany is in deep trouble. If we don¡¯te up with enough money within a week, Dad will be arrested and could be in jail for up to 15 years. You wouldn¡¯t want to see the family you¡¯ve lived with for so long suffer like that, right?¡±


    She was attempting to guilt-trip Katelyn, who quickly caught on to her tactics.


    With a sneer, Katelyn realized they were here to ask for money. It now made sense why they had shown up so abruptly.


    Sharon looked at Katelyn and said coldly, ¡°Your father has treated you well for years, pampering you like a princess. He¡¯s given you everything you ever wanted. Now, it¡¯s time for you to repay his kindness. Don¡¯t worry, we promise to pay you back.¡±


    ¡°Well, leaving aside whether I¡¯m even considering lending you the money, you say you¡¯ll pay it back. How?¡± Katelyn didn¡¯t beat around the bush, her arms crossed defensively.


    The Bailey Group¡¯s scandals had exploded in the media recently. While they were preupied with battling the Guerrero Group, their stock prices had plummeted. In just one week, they had lost several billion dors. Bailey Group wasn¡¯t a leadingpany; such a substantial loss could lead to their quick copse.


    Irritated, Sharon retorted, ¡°I said we¡¯d pay it back, and I meant it. We raised you, and now it¡¯s time for you to return the favor. Are you going to watch and do nothing? He is your father. You¡¯ve called him ¡®Dad¡¯ for more than 20 years.¡±


    Lise stepped forward and added, ¡°Katelyn, I know you¡¯ve been wronged. Dad and Mom might not have always been fair to you, but those things aren¡¯t important anymore. With this major crisis looming, I hope we cane together and get through it.¡±


    Sharon raised her chin and looked at Katelyn with arrogance. ¡°That¡¯s right! If you help us now, you¡¯ll still be my daughter going forward. This is yourst chance.¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 81

    ?Chapter 81:


    Two seconds passed before Katelyn burst intoughter. A big smile yed at the corners of Katelyn¡¯s mouth, radiant in the sunlight, yet Sharon and Lise detected a hint of mockery.


    Sharon stepped forward and asked angrily, ¡°What¡¯s so funny? We¡¯re offering you this chance because we were family for many years. Don¡¯t be so ungrateful.¡±


    Afterughing enough, Katelyn crossed her arms and looked at Sharon steadily. ¡°You should offer this chance to someone else. I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Sharon was taken aback; she hadn¡¯t anticipated such a dismissive response. On their way here, she had imagined Katelyn would be overwhelmed with gratitude at the offer to rejoin the Bailey family and would scramble to gather funds from her contacts like Aimee. Yet now, Katelyn dered she didn¡¯t care at all! This infuriated Sharon!


    Her eyes narrowing, Sharon warned, ¡°Think carefully. Reject this, and you forfeit your ce as the esteemed daughter of the Bailey family!¡±


    Lise grabbed Sharon¡¯s arm and cast a reproachful look at Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, are you still upset about what happened before? The Bailey family is facing serious troubles. It¡¯s time to stop being childish. Mom and Dad raised you for many years¡ªyou can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.¡±


    Katelyn chuckled again, fully aware of their greed and hypocrisy. When her parents discovered she wasn¡¯t the biological daughter of the Bailey family, they discarded her without a second thought, harsh words and all. Now, amidst financial turmoil, they expected her to hand over billions to fix their problems because ¡°they were family.¡± Did they really think she was that naive?


    Mistaking her silence for hesitation, Sharon softened her approach slightly and took Katelyn¡¯s hand with a smile. ¡°Listen to me, and we might still live together peacefully in the future¡­¡±


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s©q??§àm opens doors to fiction


    But before she could finish, Katelyn pulled her hand away, leaving Sharon and Lise dumbfounded.


    Katelyn scoffed. ¡°I already gave you a billion to cut all ties. We¡¯re nothing but strangers to each other now. Using threats to get money from me is nothing short of despicable.¡±


    Sharon angrily jabbed a finger at her. ¡°You! Money isn¡¯t everything! What about all the years I spent raising you?¡± Sharon changed the subject and sneered. ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager to cut ties with me, transfer another five billion to my ount. After that, we¡¯re done. Good riddance.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned cold as she tapped her temple, her tone a mix of mockery and disbelief. ¡°Are you serious? Have you lost your mind?¡±


    In the past, Katelyn had seen Sharon as merely feisty and daring, but now, as Sharon turned against her and held nothing back, Katelyn realized Sharoncked the grace expected of nobility; she was utterly shameless.


    Yet Sharon appeared entirely unbothered by her own behavior, snorting dismissively and speaking with conviction. ¡°What you¡¯ve done has deeply disappointed me. If you¡¯re going to pick a fight with me, remember one thing: you won¡¯t be able to shake me off without the money.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s response was a chilly grin. ¡°Oh, is that so? Sounds more like extortion and ckmail to me.¡± She showed Sharon her phone, disying a recorded conversation.


    ¡°If I upload this conversation online, do you think it will spark another viral scandal? Or maybe it couldnd you a few years in jail if the authorities hear it?¡±


    At this, Sharon and Lise¡¯s expressions changed dramatically. Lise¡¯s fists clenched, her eyes seething with barely concealed resentment.


    ¡°This bitch is getting more difficult to deal with,¡± she thought. If she had known this earlier, she would have opted for a more drastic measure against Katelyn. Anger was about to spurt out of Sharon¡¯s eyes. She gritted her teeth and took a step forward. ¡°You have the nerve to threaten me?¡±


    Katelyn was already on the social media post¡¯s editing screen, unting her phone for them to see.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t leave within a minute, I guarantee this recording goes viral.¡±


    Sharon was so angry that she gritted her teeth and said angrily, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    Katelyn shrugged casually, ncing at her watch. ¡°Only fifty seconds left. No, make that forty-nine, forty-eight¡­¡± Lise panicked.


    The Bailey family was already drowning in negative publicity. Another scandal could bury thempletely.


    Yet, seeing the imminent loss of potential ie, Lise attempted a softer approach, saying, ¡°Katelyn, we¡¯re family. Does it have to be this ruthless?¡±


    A flicker of disdain crossed Sharon¡¯s eyes, confident that Katelyn would lend them money after Lise¡¯s appeal.


    But the smile on Sharon¡¯s face froze as Katelyn retorted,


    ¡°Who is your family?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 82

    ?Chapter 82:


    Katelyn scoffed and shot back, ¡°I haven¡¯t considered the Baileys my family since the hospital incident.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Sharon seethed with anger upon hearing her. Not wanting to waste another moment on them, Katelyn proceeded to upload the recording. ¡°So don¡¯t me me for being cruel.¡±


    The moment Katelyn pressed the upload button, the recording would be all over the Inte.


    As she said this, her finger hovered over the screen. Lise¡¯s pupils dted sharply. She gritted her teeth and pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t post it. We¡¯ll just leave.¡±


    They couldn¡¯t afford to worsen their public image any further.


    Clutching Sharon¡¯s arm, Lise saw her mother¡¯s flushed face and whispered, ¡°Mom, we should leave now. Staying will only cause more damage.¡±


    Sharon understood this, but leaving without achieving anything was hard for her to ept. As she turned to leave, she shot Katelyn a fierce look. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely regret this.¡±


    Watching Sharon and Lise walk away, full of resentment and frustration, Katelyn remained unaffected and went back to her work.


    All she wanted was to lead a peaceful life, free from the Bailey family¡¯s constant disturbances.


    It was best to move somewhere they wouldn¡¯t be able to find her.


    Sharon and Lise got into their car. Sharon couldn¡¯t hold back her fury any longer and said angrily, ¡°How did I end up raising such an ungrateful person? She won¡¯t even do this small favor for us. A dog would at least show some loyalty to its owner!¡±


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    Lise¡¯s impatience flickered. What would they do now that Katelyn had refused to help?


    She regretted not urging her mother to keep a cooler head. Her life had turned so bitter. She hadn¡¯t even been able to live like a wealthydy for long, and now she was on the verge of losing everything!


    But for now, she had no choice but to try and calm Sharon. She patted Sharon¡¯s back consolingly and said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t let it get to you. It¡¯s not good for your health. We still need to figure out how to get through this mess.¡±


    Sharon clenched her teeth, filled with bitterness. ¡°What can we do? That bitch won¡¯t help us. Where will we find such a huge amount of money?¡±


    Lise paused, and then a spark of an idea shed in her mind.


    She nced at Sharon reflexively, but after a moment of hesitation, she chose to stay silent about it. Instead, she sighed heavily. ¡°Ah well, there must be other ways.¡±


    Sharon clutched her chest and furrowed her brow. ¡°God! What are we going to do?¡±


    Throughout the journey home, Sharon kept venting her frustrations. Upon returning, she continued to criticize Katelyn for her ingratitude.


    Lise, tired of hearing theints and not wanting to engage with her parents, decided to visit the Wheeler Group instead.


    The scandal involving the Bailey family¡¯s tax evasion was now public knowledge, though the exact amount they owed remained unclear. It wasmon knowledge, however, that it was enormous and could potentially bankrupt the family.


    Lise paced anxiously in the Wheeler Group¡¯s lounge, her brow creased with worry.


    Neil walked out of the meeting room and noticed her immediately, approaching with curiosity. ¡°Lise, what brings you here today?¡±


    Grasping the hem of her dress nervously, Lise looked at him with uncertainty.


    ¡°Neil, I need to ask for your help.¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened. He paused before seating himself and said casually, ¡°You¡¯re here to ask for money for your parents, aren¡¯t you? How much do they need? You see, thepany is facing a financial crisis right now.¡±


    Embarrassment flickered in Neil¡¯s eyes. It wasn¡¯t that he was unwilling to help her, but¡­ His recent projects had encountered several problems. Clients were backing out and demandingpensation, and the troubles seemed orchestrated against him. Drained by these challenges over the past few days, Neil found himself too overwhelmed to focus on Lise.


    Moreover, the issues were tied to Lise¡¯s parents, and he felt she shouldn¡¯t bear such a burden. Yet, it seemed¡­ life was proving challenging for her, and for Lise.


    Her hopeful expression froze.


    Before she could articte her request, Neil preemptively declined, clearly wary of a financial ask. Did he now see her as a burden?


    As her fianc¨¦, he hadn¡¯t even inquired about her needs, yet he was quick to emphasize his own financial constraints. It was so realistic, but at the same time, it stung.


    Lise knew she couldn¡¯t afford to upset him. Her options were limited to her parents and Neil; she couldn¡¯t risk offending him further.


    With this in mind, she shook her head and rified, ¡°Neil, you got it wrong. I¡¯m not here for money. I need your help with something else.¡±


    Neil looked at her, surprised, and asked, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 83

    ?Chapter 83:


    Lise paused for a moment, then, with a resolute expression, said, ¡°Katelyn has the means but refuses to help us. I need you to help persuade her.¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    He pondered Lise¡¯s words, questioning whether Katelyn truly possessed enough money to assist the Bailey family with their tax obligations. He was skeptical. How could Katelyn possibly have so much money?


    Reflecting on this, Neil responded dismissively, ¡°When Katelyn and I separated, she was left with nothing. She doesn¡¯t have any money.¡±


    Lise sighed and retorted helplessly, ¡°Katelyn once transferred a billion to cut ties with my parents. She didn¡¯t hesitate over such a huge sum. Do you still doubt her financial capability?¡±


    Neil furrowed his brows tightly.


    He had been married to Katelyn for three years and was fairly familiar with her financial situation. Over those years, he had provided her with a monthly allowance. Since her graduation, she had been a stay-at-home wife, never earning her own money.


    How was it possible for her to easily part with one billion? A sudden thought struck Neil.


    If Katelyn was actually Iris, she could be making five billion dors from a single project on average. Neil clenched his fists, still in shock.


    It was difficult for him to reconcile the image of Katelyn, the simple housewife, with Iris, the world¡¯s leading designer.


    Noticing the change in his expression, Lise looked concerned.


    ¡°Katelyn won¡¯t help us, Neil. I had to turn to you. I believe Katelyn still has feelings for you. If you talk to her, maybe she¡¯ll listen.¡±


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    Neil felt a wave of relief¡ªperhaps it was because Lise said Katelyn still loved him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try. But I can¡¯t promise she¡¯ll listen.¡±


    Lise, visibly relieved by his willingness, nodded excitedly.


    ¡°I have faith in you.¡±


    Neil then picked up his phone to call Katelyn. However, as soon as the call started ringing, it was abruptly disconnected. Neil appeared irritated.


    It was unexpected for him that Katelyn would block his number.


    Here¡¯s the corrected version of your text with improved coherence and quality:


    With evident anxiety that she struggled to mask, Lise asked, ¡°How is it going? Did Katelyn pick up, Neil?¡±


    Neil cleared his throat and turned off his phone¡¯s screen. ¡°It might be best if I speak to her in person. I¡¯m heading over now.¡±


    Without another word, he grabbed his jacket from the chair and quickly left.


    As she watched him leave, a calcting look shed in Lise¡¯s eyes.


    This was her n A. If Neil didn¡¯t seed, she was prepared with a backup n.


    One way or another, she was resolute about getting the money from Katelyn.


    Meanwhile, in the hospital, Katelyn carried nourishing soup to Vincent¡¯s room.


    Vincent was seated at a table, engaged in an international teleconference, wearing a Bluetooth earpiece.


    He had swapped his patient gown for a ck shirt.


    Katelyn, standing at the doorway, knocked softly. Vincent nced her way and nodded, silently inviting her in.


    As Katelyn walked behind him with the meal, she momentarily appeared on the conference call¡¯s video, stirring reactions among the shareholders.


    One shareholder asked, ¡°Am I seeing things? Or was there really a woman in Mr. Adams¡¯ room?¡±


    Another said, ¡°Could she be the future Mrs. Adams? She looks lovely.¡±


    A third shareholder chimed in, ¡°No wonder Mr. Adams seems more rxed these days. It appears he¡¯s found love.¡±


    Seeing thesements in the chat box, Vincent tapped his fingers lightly on the table.


    His eyes turned cold, and he warned them, ¡°Let¡¯s keep our focus on business. I need those reports within three days.¡±


    His words immediately brought silence to the online conference room.


    The shareholders felt a mix of frustration and urgency; Vincent had initially given them a week for the task but had unexpectedly shortened the deadline.


    Vincent pressed his lips together. Just then, he heard Katelyn¡¯s yelp.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 84

    ?Chapter 84:


    Vincent immediately turned and rushed over to Katelyn. She clenched her teeth, holding her hand and wincing from the intense burning sensation. The chicken soup had spilled from the thermos, much of itnding on the floor.


    Vincent¡¯s brow furrowed with concern. ¡°Are you alright? Did the soup burn you?¡±


    He stepped forward, gently taking Katelyn¡¯s hand to inspect it. The back of her hand was visibly red from the scald, and her fingers bore marks from the steaming soup. Katelyn winced from the pain, her brow furrowing. ¡°I was just trying to open the thermos and pour out some chicken soup to cool down, but it spilled out unexpectedly.¡±


    As she spoke, a hint of regret crossed her face. She had simmered that soup for five hours.


    Vincent caught her nce toward the spilled soup and responded casually, ¡°The soup spilling doesn¡¯t matter, just as long as you¡¯re okay.¡±


    His voice, usuallymanding, carried an unusual softness now, a gentleness he hadn¡¯t intended. Katelyn felt a bit awkward at first but then nodded appreciatively at his concern. However¡­


    When she snapped back to her senses, she realized Vincent was still holding her hand. She instinctively pulled away and took a step back to maintain some space between them.


    A blush spread quickly from her ears to her cheeks. She coughed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m going to run some cold water on it.¡±


    Vincent released her hand and nodded in agreement. As she left for the restroom, he pulled out his phone and dialed Samuel without hesitation.


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    ¡°Get the best burn ointment. Make it quick.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Adams.¡±


    The shareholders who had been watching the scene through the camera remained silent throughout. It was clear to them that Vincent¡¯s concern for Katelyn was genuine, suggesting a deeper rtionship than they had assumed. Vincent had never shown such concern for a woman before.


    But Katelyn didn¡¯t know that.


    She had held her hand under the cold water for thirty minutes, but she still felt a little pain.


    Upon returning to the room, she noticed that Samuel had delivered several types of ointment, seemingly every burn treatment the hospital stocked.


    Vincent selected one at random, checked the directions, and then motioned to Katelyn. ¡°Come here.¡±


    Katelyn moved closer, eyeing the ointment¡¯s packaging.


    It was for burns and scalds. Had Vincent had Samuel bring it over? They were at the hospital, so acquiring it hadn¡¯t been difficult.


    As he opened the box, Vincent instructed, ¡°Hand it over.¡±


    It was only when she extended her hand that Katelyn understood his intention, prompting her to quickly say, ¡°Mr. Adams, I can manage the ointment myself.¡±


    ¡°Your right hand is burned; it¡¯ll be hard to apply with one hand.¡±


    There was a firmness in Vincent¡¯s voice that was difficult to contest.


    With no choice, Katelyn reached out her hand. Vincent squeezed out some of the ointment and gently applied it to the burn.


    As the cool ointment met her inmed skin, a sharp pain made Katelyn instinctively pull back, but Vincent firmly held her hand in ce.


    He looked focused as he softly massaged the ointment into her skin. ¡°Stay still. I¡¯ll be as gentle as I can.¡±


    Katelyn remained still, suppressing the urge to withdraw her hand.


    Just then, a voice from the doorway broke the silence.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 85

    ?Chapter 85:


    Katelyn instinctively turned around.


    Neil stood there in a ck suit. It had been a while since they had seen each other. He looked as sharp as ever, yet¡­ Upon spotting him, a look of disgust briefly crossed Katelyn¡¯s face.


    Neil had been bothering her persistently, like a fly she couldn¡¯t swat away. Despite her attempts to hide in the hospital, he had tracked her down.


    Vincent remained calm, giving Neil a silent,manding nce.


    Neil¡¯s fists were clenched, his expression stern. He had clearly noticed Vincent holding Katelyn¡¯s hand tightly.


    What could possibly justify such closeness during their conversation?


    Katelyn pulled her hand away, her irritation undisguised.


    ¡°Why should that concern you?¡±


    Neil was taken aback by her blunt question. His expression darkened even more. He stepped forward, noticing the ointment in Vincent¡¯s hand.


    Had Vincent just been applying ointment to Katelyn?


    Frustration red in Neil¡¯s eyes. Did Katelyn not have her own hands? Why did she need Vincent¡¯s assistance with the ointment?


    Vincent¡¯s gaze hardened as he faced Neil.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, what brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I came to see Katelyn.¡±


    At this, Neil¡¯s frustration deepened. He had been barred by security at Katelyn¡¯s residence previously, forcing him to purchase an apartment nearby just to see her. Yet, he hadn¡¯t anticipated Katelyn moving away. Worse still, she always seemed to be with Vincent.


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    Disdain and coldness were evident in Katelyn¡¯s beautiful gaze.


    She stared at Neil and frowned. ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡±


    ¡°I need to talk to you.¡±


    Casting a wary look at Vincent, Neil stepped closer, reaching for Katelyn¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Let¡¯s step outside to talk.¡±


    Katelyn quickly stepped back, dodging his hand, her frown deepening. ¡°Didn¡¯t you understand what I said? Should I spell it out for you?¡±


    Neil struggled to maintain hisposure, his voice strained but controlled. ¡°Katelyn, what I have to say is important. Come outside with me first.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s annoyance was evident as she remained silent. In the morning, Lise and Sharon had stirred up trouble, and now Neil had shown up. When would she finally be free of them?


    With a stern expression, Neil reached out again to grasp Katelyn¡¯s wrist.


    At that moment, a chilling voice intervened.


    ¡°Whatever you have to say, say it here. Miss Bailey does not wish to go outside with you.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s voice was indifferent, but the sudden burst of his imposing and cold aura made people tremble with fear. Even Neil couldn¡¯t withstand it and took a step back.


    Clenching his teeth, Neil said stubbornly, ¡°Mr. Adams, this is a personal matter between me and Katelyn.¡± Normally, he wouldn¡¯t dare confront Vincent like this. Neil had always treated Vincent with respect, but now his anger was getting the better of him.


    Katelyn raised her hand, pulled out a disinfectant wipe, and vigorously cleaned her wrist. Vincent hadn¡¯t really touched her, but she still felt sick.


    She tossed the wipe into the trash with force, as if discarding Neil himself. Disgust was evident in her eyes.


    To her, Neil was no more than trash.


    Once done, Katelyn looked directly at Neil and said with clear disgust, ¡°I¡¯ll say this once more. I don¡¯t want to see you right now.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Neil was seething, yet he restrained his anger, remembering why he hade.


    Vincent¡¯smanding presence filled the room, heavy like a weight pressing down on Neil.


    Vincent¡¯s patience wore thin, and he dismissed Neil bluntly.


    ¡°If there¡¯s nothing you have to say, Mr. Wheeler, please.¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened. In a desperate move, before Katelyn could react, he grabbed her arm, insisting firmly,


    ¡°Come outside with me!¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Just as Katelyn was about to demand that he release her, she noticed Vincent beginning to rise. Wanting to avoid a confrontation on her behalf, she said,


    ¡°I¡¯ll return after a brief moment.¡±


    Vincent gave a nod, respecting her decision.


    Once outside, Katelyn quickly freed herself from Neil¡¯s grip and halted.


    ¡°If you have something to say, say it now!¡±


    Neil¡¯s face was contorted with frustration, veins bulging as he red at her and questioned,


    ¡°The Bailey family is facing a major crisis. As a family member, why aren¡¯t you helping? Don¡¯t you realize that if this isn¡¯t resolved, Jeff could end up in jail?¡±


    Katelyn scoffed dismissively. ¡°Do you even hear yourself?¡± She had anticipated this line of questioning. No doubt Lise had been quick to share her woes with Neil. As expected, Neil was quick to confront her.


    Neil stared at her with sharp eyes.


    ¡°Do you not see the difference between right and wrong? You¡¯re part of their family. Are you worried they might not repay you or what? This could be your chance to reconnect with them. Don¡¯t be so ungrateful.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 86

    ?Chapter 86:


    Anger shed in Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she clenched her fists tightly at her sides, fighting the urge tosh out at Neil. The way he spoke, and the way he behaved, was exactly the same as Sharon¡¯s.


    It was as if Katelyn was expected to feel privileged to lend them money. In their eyes, she was supposed to hand over all her money upon hearing about the Bailey family¡¯s troubles, begging them to take it.


    Why would they assume she still valued their so-called familial ties?


    Seeing that Katelyn didn¡¯t say anything, Neil frowned and asked, ¡°Did you hear what I just said? Also, I need to know where the money you sent to the Bailey family came from.¡±


    ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡±


    Katelyn took a deep breath, reminding herself internally that getting angry with a fool was pointless and not worth her health.


    ¡°Stop being so ungrateful!¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression turned cold, his tone dropping to a menacing whisper.


    ¡°Come with me now and transfer the money to the Baileys. They¡¯re running out of time.¡±


    As he spoke, he moved to grab Katelyn¡¯s hand. Katelyn swiftly dodged and pped Neil¡¯s hand forcefully. Smack!


    The sound was sharp, and Neil¡¯s arm reddened. Katelyn¡¯s expression remained cold as she said sharply,


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. You make me sick.¡±


    Neil, holding back his mounting rage, responded coldly,


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    ¡°Will you help them or not? Don¡¯te to meter iming I didn¡¯t give you a chance.¡±


    He had made it clear: if Katelyn helped, the Baileys would consider mending their familial ties.


    ¡°ying hard to get is one thing, but don¡¯t push it too far. You¡¯ll end up regretting it.¡± His voice carried a clear threat.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help butugh.


    A chance?


    They made it sound as though they were bestowing charity, graciously offering her a precious opportunity. How conceited could they be to assume she valued it so highly?


    The disgust in Katelyn¡¯s eyes was unmistakable as she stepped back in revulsion.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said? I said you disgust me. Do you think this is just ying hard to get?¡±


    Just the thought of Neil made her sick, let alone having to speak to him up close. She regretted the years she had wasted on him. Neil¡¯s jaw tightened as he red at her.


    ¡°Katelyn, are you going to help the Bailey family or not?¡±


    Katelyn had lost all patience and simply rolled her eyes. ¡°If you have the money, help them yourself. Don¡¯t drag me into this.¡±


    Through clenched teeth and with a mocking sneer, Neil retorted, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d bothering to you if mypany hadn¡¯t been hit with massive refunds and halted partnerships these past days?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed, a thought darting through her mind.


    While Neil had never treated her well, he wasn¡¯t one to lie casually. He also genuinely cared for Lise. If he had the resources, he certainly would have helped. Then¡­


    Why was the Wheeler Group facing such an attack right now?


    It was a critical time for the Bailey family, and Neil¡¯s business was in deep trouble.


    Clearly, someone didn¡¯t want the Bailey family to have peace and targeted Neil¡¯spany.


    Only a handful of people in the city had the means tounch such a significant attack on the Wheeler Group.


    Katelyn was shocked. Could it be Vincent?


    If it was indeed him¡­ doing this to her?


    No¡­ It couldn¡¯t be him.


    Vincent always had a clear motive behind his actions. He wasn¡¯t one for pointless moves, nor would he mistreat her in such a way.


    After snapping back to her senses, Katelyn faced Neil. Her expression was indifferent, yet her smile hinted at detachment.


    ¡°And then? Why should that concern me?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened. He hadn¡¯t expected such a dismissive response from Katelyn.


    In the past, she would have shown concern for the state of hispany. But now, she appearedpletely unbothered.


    For a moment, anger surged in Neil¡¯s heart, but he still maintained hisposure and didn¡¯t forget the real purpose ofing here.


    ¡°Are you going to help the Bailey family or not?¡±


    With a faint smile on her face, Katelyn answered perfunctorily and impatiently, ¡°No. Now please leave.¡± Her words were thick with sarcasm.


    Frustrated, Neil red at Katelyn.


    ¡°Don¡¯te to regret this!¡±


    Katelyn had a chance to make things right, but she didn¡¯t know how to change it. Watching Neil storm off, she felt a twinge in her heart, a mix of pain and sorrow.


    How had she put up with such a person and even loved him madly in the past?


    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning back. But as she opened the door, she was met with a pair of intense, deep-set eyes.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 87

    ?Chapter 87:


    Vincent reclined on the sofa, his long legs casually crossed, exuding effortless elegance. He smiled, rxed. ¡°Looks like Neil hasn¡¯t given up on you yet.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face showed clear contempt. ¡°Mr. Adams, please spare me such jokes. The mere thought of having spent so many years with someone like him makes me sick.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s yful grin widened. He got up, walked over to the table, and shifted the conversation. ¡°Come join me and have some.¡±


    Katelyn approached, and in a gentlemanly manner, Vincent pulled out a chair for her. She gave a slight nod in appreciation.


    As she sat down, her phone buzzed with new messages in her pocket. Casually checking the notifications, a smile formed on her lips.


    ¡°T¨¹La¡¯s father has decided to take all the me to shield her. Looks like he¡¯s facing over twenty years in prison, maybe even a life sentence.¡±


    This development was exactly as Katelyn had predicted. Even if Delmar hadn¡¯t taken the fall, Tricia would likely have remained unaffected. She raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Looks like Tricia is now headed for a long-standing conflict with Lise.¡±


    Vincent nced at her, noticing the smile ying on her lips. He handed her a bowl of soup and said casually, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing? Watching them tear each other apart is like a real-life dog-eat-dog drama.¡±


    Katelyn widened her eyes, then responded, ¡°Not just that. With the ongoing strife between the two families, Lise¡¯s meticulously crafted public persona has utterly copsed. Also, the Bailey family¡¯s troubles aren¡¯t over. If they fail to cover this financial gap, I suspect Jeff¡¯s fate won¡¯t be much different from Delmar¡¯s.¡±


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    After a brief pause, Katelyn looked at Vincent¡¯s calm expression and voiced her suspicion.


    ¡°Did you orchestrate the Wheeler Group¡¯s troubles?¡±


    Vincent nodded straightforwardly. ¡°Yes.¡±


    His straightforward admission caught Katelyn off-guard.


    Katelyn found herself unable to ask. Had he really done it for her? With no apparent animosity between Vincent and Neil, it seemed there could be another reason behind his actions.


    Vincent stole a quick nce at Katelyn, reading her reaction before casually exining, ¡°The Wheeler Group once snatched a deal from me, so I merely took advantage of the situation and intensified things a bit.¡±


    Katelyn breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that it wasn¡¯t on her ount. Otherwise, she would have felt overwhelmed by such a huge favor. She nodded with a smile. ¡°I see.¡±


    It was good that she didn¡¯t probe further, which might have seemed presumptuous. She respected Vincent¡¯s capabilities, but they were like inhabitants of different worlds. Once their joint project concluded, they would go back to their separate lives, like two lines that never meet.


    Katelyn refocused her thoughts, took a spoonful of soup, and marveled at her own excellent cooking skills. ¡°If I ever decide to quit designing, I might just open a restaurant. I¡¯m sure it would be a sess.¡±


    Vincent, sitting beside her, smiled in agreement. ¡°That sounds fantastic! Be sure to invite me on your opening day. I¡¯ll be your first and most loyal customer.¡±


    Katelyn beamed, nodding enthusiastically. ¡°Absolutely¡ªI¡¯ll even offer you a discount whenever you visit.¡±


    The mood between them was light and cheerful, unlike two people who had met just over a month ago. They felt more like old friends who had known each other for years.


    Katelyn enjoyed this easygoing vibe. She was about to say more when her phone rang, and Lise¡¯s name shed on the screen. She grimaced and dismissed the call with a swipe.


    But Lise was persistent, calling back immediately, determined to get through to Katelyn. Growing increasingly annoyed, Katelyn decided to answer the call.


    As soon as she connected, Lise¡¯s voice came through, fraught with urgency. ¡°Katelyn, there¡¯s trouble! Something happened to Mom!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 88

    ?Chapter 88:


    Lise¡¯s voice was sharp and filled with urgency, indicating she was on the verge of panic.


    ¡°Come to the hospital now. Mom has just been taken to the operation room.¡±


    Katelyn felt a sudden tightness in her chest, yet her eyes betrayed a flicker of skepticism. Just this morning, Sharon had enough energy to show up at her doorstep, yelling at her. How could she be in the hospital all of a sudden?


    Sharon had always been vignt about her health, attending regr check-ups every year. Other than slightly elevated blood pressure, she was supposedly healthy.


    Katelyn managed to keep her voice steady. ¡°You must have dialed the wrong person. I¡¯ve already said we¡¯re no longer family.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so indifferent at a time like this? Don¡¯t you realize you might miss yourst chance to see Mom?¡± Lise¡¯s grip on her phone tightened, her words forced out through clenched teeth. ¡°Despite any past grievances, she¡¯s been your mother for over twenty years. Can you really miss thisst opportunity to see her?¡±


    Lise¡¯s tone was exceptionally serious, sounding nothing like a joke at all.


    Frowning, Katelyn asked sternly, ¡°Exactly what is going on?¡±


    Lise balled her hands into fists and recited her rehearsed lines. ¡°After we left your ce today, Mom startedining of heart pain and then she just copsed. The doctors are saying it¡¯s critical, and she might not wake up. You need toe¡ªyou might regret it forever.¡±


    Heart pain? Confusion deepened. Sharon had never had heart issues. How could she suddenly develop heart problems?


    Get lost in stories on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s©q??????


    Just then, the background noise on Lise¡¯s end became audible.


    ¡°Who is Sharon Bailey¡¯s rtive? We need someone to sign some documents urgently. The patient¡¯s condition is critical!¡±


    Lise hurried forward, her steps quickening, and her voice tearful.


    ¡°Doctor, please, do everything you can to save my mom. I can¡¯t lose her.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re doing all we can.¡±


    Hearing this, Katelyn involuntarily clenched her fists, imagining the frantic and hectic scene just outside the operating room through the phone. Lise wouldn¡¯t make up something so serious.


    A pang of concern tightened Katelyn¡¯s chest, prompting her to ask, ¡°What hospital are you at?¡±


    Through tears, Lise responded, ¡°Renan Hospital¡ªPlease hurry. The doctor said Mom might not survive.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    Katelyn ended the call, lost in thought. How could Sharon suddenly copse and end up in the hospital? And knowing her, why would she reach out to Katelyn immediately unless she needed something or was plotting another scheme?


    All of these assumptions were based on the premise that this was just another scheme. But what if it was real?


    Katelyn closed her eyes, remembering the affection Sharon had once shown her. Those days unfolded before her¡ªthe time before her identity as a wealthy heiress came crashing down, when she was the gem in Sharon¡¯s crown. The pain and disillusionment that followed were undeniable. Yet, the love Sharon had shown her couldn¡¯t be simply undone by those events.


    Her childhood had been filled and shaped by that affection. After deep contemtion, her emotions took over. Missing the chance to see Sharon¡ªpossibly for thest time¡ªwould be a lifelong regret.


    Vincent, sitting beside her, had overheard the phone call.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Vincent said.


    Katelyn, pulled from her reverie, regarded Vincent with concern.


    ¡°No, you¡¯re still recovering. I can manage on my own. True or not, I¡¯ll understand the reality once I get there.¡±


    Meanwhile, at Renan Hospital, Lise ended the call, her expression breaking into a wild grin. She could sense the shift in Katelyn¡¯s feelings and was confident that Katelyn¡¯s nature would lead her right to them.


    At that moment, a man stood next to her, seeking approval with eager eyes.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, was my performance convincing?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 89

    ?Chapter 89:


    Lise nodded contentedly and transferred the sum of money into the man¡¯s ount.


    ¡°Job well done.¡±


    The transaction wasplete.


    The man quickly checked his phone and saw the bank notification. His eyes crinkled as a broad smile spread across his face.


    ¡°Thank you, Miss Bailey. Please keep me in mind if you have any more tasks like this.¡±


    With a joyful stride, he left, still looking at his phone. As she watched him walk away, Lise¡¯s smile grew wider, her eyes twinkling with self-satisfaction.


    She had orchestrated the entire scene.


    The recent moment when Katelyn heard the doctor urgently calling the family toe and sign documents was just part of Lise¡¯s n, designed to escte the urgency andpel Katelyn to act.


    Lise was resolute in achieving her goals, employing a backup strategy she had devised. She was convinced Katelyn wouldn¡¯t be able to decline under such pressure.


    Katelyn rushed to the hospital immediately. Lise was seated on a bench in the corridor, looking pale and distressed.


    Katelyn hastened her steps and stopped beside Lise, her eyes drawn to the red light above the operating room door.


    ¡°Is she suddenly so unwell? What happened after you went home?¡±


    Lise exhaled a heavy, sorrowful sigh.


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    ¡°The bacsh online is spiraling, and it¡¯s even begun to severely impact thepany. Then, we received a legal notice from the court that overwhelmed her, causing her to faint from stress. The doctors are uncertain when she¡¯ll regain consciousness.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, skepticism shadowing her thoughts.


    Despite Lise¡¯s convincing portrayal, Katelyn noticed inconsistencies in her story.


    Why had they received a legal notice? Why would the court direct such a document specifically to the Bailey family?


    Moreover, with Sharon critically ill in the hospital, why was Jeff not present at such a critical time?


    Fed up with Lise¡¯s forced performance, Katelyn cut straight to the chase, saying, ¡°Where¡¯s Jeff?¡±


    Lise clutched her head, grasping for a usible exnation.


    ¡°He¡¯s probably still out trying to gather funds. Thepany¡¯s financial troubles are deepening. If he doesn¡¯t manage to shore up our finances, the Bailey family is headed for ruin.¡±


    A flicker of hope still gleamed in Lise¡¯s eyes.


    Her hints to Katelyn were tant, expecting them to be unmistakably clear. But Katelyn didn¡¯t y along.


    ¡°Paying off your debts is just a basic responsibility. You owe the government tenfold for tax evasion. You should have considered these consequences when you made those choices.¡±


    Katelyn believed the Bailey family¡¯s current predicament was well-deserved.


    Lise clenched her teeth, forcing herself to stayposed. The real drama hadn¡¯t yet begun.


    ¡°But thepany is the result of our parents¡¯ lifelong hard work. If something happens to Mother and thepany fails again, I don¡¯t think Dad will be able to escape.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips tightened, a hint of disgust visible in her eyes.


    ¡°Since she hasn¡¯t woken up, I¡¯ll be going now. Don¡¯t contact me again regarding the Bailey family.¡±


    This time, Katelyn had been lenient, still considering her long-standing connection with them. She had intended to see Sharon onest time, believing she was truly critically ill. But now, she was convinced that Lise was merely performing, aiming to extract money from her. Her final hope had vanished. How could Lise exploit such a situation?


    If something truly tragic were to happen in the future, she would never visit to say goodbye.


    As Katelyn turned to leave, Lise hurried after her, eyes shadowed with hidden resentment.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving just like that? Mom¡¯s in surgery right now, and it¡¯s uncertain if she¡¯ll make it. You¡¯re going to walk away after just one nce? If she wakes up and finds out, it¡¯ll break her heart.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s response was cold, her sarcasm evident.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether I¡¯m here or not. You¡¯re her daughter. Besides, you know full well whether this is a real crisis or just another one of your schemes.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was calm yet piercing, challenging Lise¡¯s disguise.


    Just then, the door to the operating room swung open.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 90

    ?Chapter 90:


    Katelyn looked behind her, unaware.


    Sharon, swathed in the hospital¡¯s pale green attire, was being wheeled slowly from the operating room. The rhythmic beeping of the infusion device punctuated herbored journey. Her face, drawn and pained, spoke volumes about the severity of her recent surgery.


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened in rm as she spotted her mother.


    ¡°Mom!¡±


    Rushing to the stretcher, Lise looked utterly anxious. She grabbed the arm of the nearest doctor, tears brimming in her eyes as she asked, ¡°Doctor, how is my mother? When will she wake up?¡±


    The doctor¡¯s tone was steady but carried a note of gravity. ¡°The operation went well, but her condition is still very serious. It¡¯s essential that she stays calm during her recovery. Don¡¯t upset her again. Any additional stress could jeopardize her recovery, and we might not have another chance.¡±


    Katelyn, observing the scene, felt a flicker of doubt. A subtle unease crept over her, hinting that there might be more to the doctor¡¯s words than met the eye. They had to make sure Sharon was always calm, and no one could upset her?


    Determined, Katelyn moved closer to Sharon¡¯s side and examined her closely. Despite her pale skin, Sharon¡¯s lips held a faint blush of color.


    At this close range, Katelyn noticed the slight movement of Sharon¡¯s eyshes¡ªa clear sign of someone pretending.


    When she realized the charade, Katelyn¡¯s expression tightened.


    She saw through Lise¡¯s borate setup and understood that the doctor¡¯s warnings were part of a carefully crafted n.


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    Lise carefully dabbed at her eyes with an overly dramatic gesture before casting a nce at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, could you stay here and wait for Mom to wake up? It would really make her day if she saw you here when she opens her eyes.¡±


    ¡°Make her day?¡±


    Katelyn repeated, her toneced with disbelief, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that sound ridiculous? Lise was indeed shameless. She was willing to say anything to get what she wanted.¡±


    With a sigh that seemed to drain her of all hope, Lise added, ¡°There¡¯s been so much misunderstanding between you and Mom. A mother and daughter shouldn¡¯t hold grudges. If you two could just talk things over, everything would be fine. I¡¯ve been trying to find the right moment for you both to make up, and now seems perfect.¡±


    Her eyes were resolute. She couldn¡¯t let Katelyn walk away today. If she did, all her efforts would be in vain. Unbeknownst to her, Katelyn had already given up on leaving. Her interest was piqued, and she was eager to see what would happen next.


    Without a word, Katelyn followed the stretcher into the nearby ward. Inside, advanced medical equipment surrounded Sharon, each machine quietly monitoring her condition. The screen disyed stable, healthy readings.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips twisted into a wry smile. She thought to herself that they were deluded, wrapped up in their own borate thinking, thinking she wouldn¡¯t notice anything. Did they really believe she couldn¡¯t see through their act? To enhance their deception, they¡¯d even gone so far as to use medical equipment, making themselves appear absurd in the process.


    Lise followed Katelyn into the ward, still ying her part. ¡°I wonder when Mom will wake up,¡± Lise said, her voiceden with insincere sympathy.


    Katelyn took a seat in silence, her eyes fixed intently on Sharon. She was waiting for the moment when Sharon¡¯s ruse would unravel.


    Lise, irritated by Katelyn¡¯s indifference, bit her lip, trying to keep her frustration in check. It wasn¡¯t the right time for Sharon to wake up; they needed at least another half hour to make their n stick.


    Katelyn, with a purposeful nce, reached into her bag and pulled out a keychain with a fluffy toy¡ªa little fox with a big bushy tail. She moved to Sharon¡¯s bedside, holding the toy.


    Lise watched, unsure of Katelyn¡¯s next move. With a sly smile, Katelyn brushed the fox¡¯s tail across Sharon¡¯s nose.


    In a split second, Sharon¡¯s eyes shot open, and she sneezed, shattering the pretense.


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    .

 Chapter 91

    ?Chapter 91:


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed as she suddenly grasped Katelyn¡¯s intentions. However, it was already toote to intervene. Clutching the keychain, Katelyn eyed Sharon with a mix of coldness and sarcasm.


    ¡°Is this how you recover from major surgery? You must be one of the greatest medical miracles.¡±


    Sharon stared back at Katelyn, cursing under her breath. She was both angry and frustrated.


    Their n had been so cleverly orchestrated¡ªpretending to be sick and even paying off aplices to y along. Yet, it had all been ruined.


    Lise hurried over to Sharon and discreetly pinched her thigh, maintaining their act.


    ¡°How do you feel? Is your heart still trembling?¡± She positioned herself to block Katelyn¡¯s view while covertly signaling with frantic winks.


    ¡°Anyway, the act must go on.¡±


    Sharon did her best to control her irritation, clutching her chest and looking pale.


    ¡°Katelyn, look at me now. Do you still want to aggravate me? Do you really want to see me dead?¡±


    Katelyn responded with a sardonic smile but remained silent. Her eyes, as clear and striking as ever, carried a distinct chill.


    She had stayed after realizing their act was just that¡ªan act¡ªto see what else they would attempt.


    Sharon, seeing Katelyn¡¯s silent rebuke, seethed with resentment.


    Fresh chapters live g?ln¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m


    Katelyn was indeed utterly heartless. Since entering the room, Katelyn hadn¡¯t shown a shred of concern, instead choosing to mock her.


    Sharon sighed heavily and added, ¡°Katelyn, perhapsing close to death has opened my eyes. Blood ties don¡¯t mean everything. I was wrong in the past. Even though you aren¡¯t my biological child, we¡¯ve still been a family for all these years.¡±


    Upon hearing Sharon¡¯sst remark, Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened.


    Why was Sharon suddenly adopting this affectionate mother persona?


    Katelyn paused, her gaze cold as she absorbed their words.


    In the past, she might have been swayed by Sharon¡¯s gestures, but not now. She was fully aware that Sharon¡¯s true aim was to extract something from her.


    Lise quickly chimed in, casting a helpless nce at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, as I¡¯ve mentioned, Mom has been full of regrettely. She mes herself for driving you away and has been wanting to apologize and bring you back into the Bailey fold. We just haven¡¯t found the right moment yet. I hope you can return. We¡¯d all be happier together.¡±


    Listening to Lise¡¯s long plea, Katelyn focused on the words ¡°back into the Bailey fold.¡± She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, giving them a cold look.


    ¡°Returning to the Bailey family? Do you think offering me that is some kind of favor? Or do you assume I¡¯ll simplyply with whatever you ask if you dangle that in front of me?¡±


    They had tried to ept her return to the Bailey family in exchange for her help before, and now, in the afternoon, they were repeating the same tactic.


    Both Lise and Sharon were momentarily taken aback. Sharon clenched her fists in frustration. Katelyn was bing increasingly difficult.


    She nearly leaped out of bed in agitation!


    Lise gripped Sharon¡¯s sleeve tightly, urging her with her eyes not to act rashly. This was her carefully devised n B, and she couldn¡¯t let Sharon¡¯s impulsiveness spoil it.


    After taking a moment topose herself, Sharon turned back to face Katelyn, her expression concerned.


    ¡°Between mother and daughter, there should be nosting resentment, right? Katelyn, is it really necessary to stay angry over such a trivial matter? Mom is simply asking you to rejoin the Bailey family.¡±


    ¡°If this were the old Bailey family, perhaps I¡¯d consider it. But now, the Bailey family is nothing but trouble. Are you telling me this just because you expect me to bail you out?¡±


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 Chapter 92

    ?Chapter 92:


    Katelyn¡¯s remarks cut sharply, exposing the maniptive tactics of the two women.


    When Sharon and Lise had no use for her, they had maligned her, wishing her the worst. Now, in need of her assistance, they switched tactics, sweet-talking her. Katelyn wondered if they really thought she was that gullible.


    Sharon¡¯s eyes shed with anger, brimming with bitterness. Before she could retort, Lise intervened.


    Looking disheartened, Lise said sadly, ¡°Katelyn, is this really how you see your family? Did you ever think about how your words would hurt us?¡± Internally, Lise was frustrated with Sharon. She couldn¡¯t understand why Sharon was unable to maintain herposure today. They shouldn¡¯t be antagonizing Katelyn¡ªat least not before getting what they wanted.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned disdainful as she stepped back, putting distance between herself and the two women.


    ¡°I have no family here. Don¡¯te any closer.¡±


    Initially, she had just wanted to watch the drama unfold, but she was taken aback by Lise¡¯s willingness to resort to any tactic, to say anything to meet her goals.


    Unable to contain her anger, Sharon shouted, ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve gone too far!¡± She wished she could get off the bed and beat Katelyn to vent her frustration.


    Lise clenched her teeth in frustration. She wondered how Sharon had ever managed to keep her position as Mrs. Bailey with such poor judgment. Sharoncked even the basic patience required to handle such situations.


    As Sharon¡¯s face contorted with anger, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but let out a mockingugh.


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    ¡°Mrs. Bailey, you¡¯re quite energetic for someone who¡¯s just gone through surgery. If you¡¯re going to put on an act, at least make it believable.¡±


    Sarcasm dripped from Katelyn¡¯s every word. Her detachment only fueled Lise¡¯s irritation, but she kept her anger in check.


    In a voice filled with grievance, Lise said, ¡°Katelyn, do you have to be so sarcastic? Don¡¯t you remember the doctor¡¯s orders? Mom needs peace and can¡¯t be stressed.¡± Her words jogged Sharon¡¯s memory, prompting her to clutch her chest dramatically while lying on the bed, her breathingbored. She pointed a trembling finger at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve truly let me down.¡±


    A look of boredom swept over Katelyn; her patience was wearing thin. She suddenly realized that staying to watch the performance had been a mistake. Instead of wasting more time, she said, ¡°Continue with your act. I have to go now.¡± With those words, she turned to leave. However, before she could reach the door, Lise rushed over and blocked her way.


    Despite her desire to keep up the act, Lise couldn¡¯t help but shift tactics. Biting her lip, she tried a different approach.


    Pointing to Sharon, who was still ying her part, Lise snapped, ¡°Katelyn, I know you have a kind heart. Look at Mom. Thepany¡¯s crisis has been overwhelming for her. You have the means. Why not help us?¡±


    Eventually, Lise¡¯s voice softened. ¡°The Bailey family is where youe from. If you ever face troubles in the future, we¡¯ll be there for you. Helping us now would be helping yourself.¡±


    Katelyn furrowed her brows tightly, realizing Lise was very skilled at changing the subject. She threw up her hands in resignation. ¡°I don¡¯t have any money.¡±


    Sharon, who had been pretending to be frail on the bed, suddenly sat upright.


    She eximed, ¡°How can you not have money? Didn¡¯t you just give us a billion not too long ago?¡±


    With a derisive smile, Katelyn replied, ¡°We have no rtionship now. Why would you shamelessly ask me for money? I truly don¡¯t have any. When I left the Bailey family¡¯s residence, I left everything behind except my clothes.¡±


    As she left, Sharon had insisted on rifling through her suitcase, ensuring she hadn¡¯t taken anything else from the Bailey family.


    ¡°No money? Why don¡¯t you go and borrow some?¡±


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 Chapter 93

    ?Chapter 93:


    Sharon responded almost reflexively. Meanwhile, Katelyn¡¯s expression darkened. The audacity of the Bailey family shocked her again and again, leaving her at a loss for words. Sharon just couldn¡¯t seem to get it right! Frustration rendered Lise speechless.


    Now, she found herself more irritated with Sharon than with Katelyn. Was Sharon always this rash? Why did she have to provoke Katelyn? With Sharon causing so many issues, Lise was left to clean up the mess.


    Though she had only been back with the Bailey family for a short time, she already regretted her return due to the endless problems.


    Katelyn wore a smile at the corner of her mouth, and the expression in her eyes became colder. She pointed at herself and asked in disbelief, ¡°Are you suggesting I should borrow money to cover your debts?¡±


    Sharon gritted her teeth. Their conversation had finally reached the point. She sat on the bed and blurted out, ¡°Yes, isn¡¯t that Aimee woman very wealthy? Plus, you¡¯ve been close to Vincenttely, haven¡¯t you? Just ask them, and they¡¯ll surely lend you the money. Once thepany stabilizes, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡±


    At this point, Katelyn fully grasped their desperate intent to extract funds from her today. Their greed and shamelessness knew no bounds. Lise winked at Sharon. They were in a position where they needed help, so they couldn¡¯t afford to be too forceful. Turning back to Katelyn, Lise sighed once more.


    ¡°Katelyn, try not to overthink it. The Bailey family is really backed into a corner right now. Thepany is the culmination of our parents¡¯ lifelong efforts. You wouldn¡¯t want to see it fail, would you?¡±


    ¡°For thest time, that¡¯s your problem,¡± Katelyn replied, her eyes growing colder. ¡°If you don¡¯t have money, why don¡¯t you go borrow some yourselves?¡±


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s©q??o?? is where stories live


    She had resolved never to soften her heart toward the Baileys again. This visit to the hospital had been a mistake¡ªone she intended to learn from going forward. Katelyn turned to leave.


    Panic surged in Sharon immediately. If Katelyn walked out, how would they secure the money? What a stubborn girl! Why couldn¡¯t she just y along?


    She abruptly threw off the covers and got out of bed. Facing Katelyn, she yelled, ¡°If you don¡¯t lend me the money today, I¡¯ll jump from this window! Haven¡¯t I raised you for years? Is it too much to ask for this small favor?¡±


    Katelyn instinctively turned around, only to see Sharon rushing toward the window. They were on the¡­


    Sharon had already leaned half her body out the window. The wind whipped around her, terror evident in her eyes. Her hands clung to the window frame, shaking with fear yet determined. She locked eyes with Katelyn.


    ¡°If I die, the media will me you. By that time, you won¡¯t be able to live a peaceful life.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She dashed to her mother, pleading, ¡°What are you doing? This is too dangerous¡ªplease, get down!¡±


    Sharon said resolutely, ¡°Thepany is all I have left. If it fails, I have nothing to live for.¡±


    Panic evident in her voice, Lise turned to Katelyn, saying, ¡°Katelyn, please. Do you really want to see Mom do something so¡­¡±


    With aplicated look in her eyes, Katelyn didn¡¯t know what to say at that moment. From her initial yacting to this emotional extortion, Sharon had proven she would stop at nothing to get her way.


    Katelyn¡¯s sense of desperation deepened. She took out a bank card from her purse and ced it on the table.


    ¡°Use whatever¡¯s on this card. Don¡¯t bother repaying me. Just know, if you¡¯re in my life again, I won¡¯t hold back.¡±


    With those final words, she walked out firmly.


    A fleeting gleam of triumph appeared in Sharon¡¯s and Lise¡¯s eyes. Sharon hurriedly climbed back inside, holding the bank card, a smug look on her face.


    ¡°I knew it! Katelyn can¡¯t stand firm when pushed. She was bound to give in.¡±


    Lise grinned, barely containing her excitement, saying, ¡°This is great! With this, we can solve our family¡¯s problems. Let¡¯s see how much we have!¡±


    They left the hospital in high spirits, heading straight for the bank.


    But as they inserted the card into the ATM and saw the bnce, their expressions froze. Sharon¡¯s disbelief was evident as she eximed, ¡°Am I seeing this right?¡±


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 Chapter 94

    ?Chapter 94:


    Sharon wiped her eyes. ¡°Why is there only 32 cents on this card?¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes bulged in disbelief. She flipped the card over several times and reinserted it into the ATM, but the disy still showed 32 cents. It was clearly a trick from Katelyn. Not even a beggar would ept such a tiny amount.


    ¡°Katelyn has yed us,¡± Lise¡¯s voice shook with anger. That exined why Katelyn handed over the bank card so readily!


    Lise muttered curses under her breath. Sharon¡¯s face reddened with anger.


    ¡°How dare that bitch y me like this! I¡¯ll make her regret it. Let¡¯s get back at her.¡±


    Sharon was seething, vowing to make Katelyn pay dearly. Her resolve hardened. She was set on confronting Katelyn to settle the score.


    Visibly frustrated, Lise realized all her schemes had crumbled. If nothing else availed, she would have to appeal to that one person. She was confident that person would assist if she approached them correctly.


    Sharon stormed off, her phone beeped with a message. She nced down at her phone and eximed loudly. Her voice was so harsh it hurt Lise¡¯s ears. Trying to hide her distaste, Lise couldn¡¯t help but wonder how someone so crude ended up as Mrs. Bailey.


    Despite her thoughts, Lise quickly approached Sharon, pretending to be concerned.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mom? Is there a problem?¡±


    Hatred red in Sharon¡¯s eyes as she spat out, ¡°That bastard Jeff Bailey! How dare he keep a mistress!¡±


    Astonishment was written all over Lise¡¯s face. ¡°What did you just say, Mom?¡±


    g¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s is your story hub


    Sharon tossed her phone to her. ¡°See for yourself.¡±


    An anonymous sender had forwarded her apressed file. Inside the folder, there were numerous photos of Jeff and a younger woman. The snapshots captured them entering and leaving hotels and aboard a yacht.


    The revtion that Jeff had visited a hospital¡¯s OB-GYN department with that woman infuriated Sharon the most. It confirmed that the woman was pregnant.


    Sharon was so enraged that it physically pained her. Compared to the issues with Katelyn, Jeff¡¯s betrayal seemed far more severe.


    ¡°No man remains faithful forever,¡± she thought. Sharon cursed herself for ever believing Jeff would change.


    ¡°Once a cheater, always a cheater,¡± she thought bitterly.


    She scrolled through the photos, her emotions tangled. She was already upset, but now she felt overwhelmed. Had she known the Bailey family was this chaotic, she never would havee back. Rather than reaping any benefits, she was now entangled in endless problems.


    Lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t notice Sharon storming off.


    All Sharon could think about was confronting Jeff and the other woman.


    At the same time, Katelyn sat in her car. She noticed that her message had been read, and a smirk yed across her lips. She watched as Sharon hurriedly got into a ck car. Lise didn¡¯t follow her.


    The next moment, the car sped off. Katelyn chuckled. Sharon was always impulsive, and this time she had even forgotten about her daughter. Lise tried to catch up but was left behind. Katelyn raised an eyebrow, started her car, and followed Sharon.


    Sharon had previously covered for Jeff¡¯s infidelities, only revealing them during a heated argumentst time. So, when Katelyn delved into the Bailey family¡¯s scandals, she made sure to investigate Jeff¡¯s history of affairs. She was shocked to find that his behavior had never changed; he¡¯d always had affairs, though Sharon remained unaware. However, histest girlfriend was different.


    This woman was already five months pregnant. Sharon¡¯s car was now parked in front of a downtown apartment.


    Katelyn maintained a safe distance behind, ensuring she wasn¡¯t spotted.


    Sharon burst from the car and pounded on the apartment door, shouting, ¡°Open up!¡±


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 Chapter 95

    ?Chapter 95:


    Sharon shouted loudly, her voice so intense that it likely carried for miles.


    Katelyn, still in her car, casually pulled out her camera, set it up, and began streaming live. Her lens was aimed directly at the apartment door. If Sharon disappeared inside, the camera wouldn¡¯t capture her, but that was fine. The opening alone was juicy enough. Whatever unfolded next would surely be unearthed by the ever-curious and talkative onlinemunity.


    At that moment, Sharon was furiously pounding on the door, shouting, ¡°Open up! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll tear this door down!¡±


    She had been Jeff¡¯s wife for over thirty years. Her health wasn¡¯t great, and they had only one daughter together¡ªno other children. The Bailey family¡¯s legacy was meant for her own daughter. But now, if this woman was carrying Jeff¡¯s child¡­


    Themotion Sharon caused eventually got the door opened.


    A woman in pajamas appeared, her long hair loosely draped around her. The loose pajamas hid her pregnancy well. She wore no makeup, yet her natural, youthful beauty was striking.


    Katelyn caught a glimpse of the woman and was surprised. She looked incredibly young, almost like a recent graduate. Katelyn¡¯s eyebrows lifted slightly. Facing such beauty, Sharon¡¯s jealousy was understandable.


    ¡°Who are you looking at?¡± Sharon spat.


    Before the woman could answer, Sharon grabbed her by the hair and yanked her out. Sharon pped her twice before the woman could react.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± the woman cried out in pain. She covered her face, but something seemed to cross her mind, and she quickly covered her belly.


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    Sharon¡¯s anger escted. She jabbed a finger at the woman. ¡°You bitch! How dare you seduce my husband and get pregnant with his child? Are you plotting to snatch my daughter¡¯s inheritance? You¡¯re nothing but a whore! Rot in hell!¡±


    While cursing, Sharon pulled the woman¡¯s hair hard.


    ¡°Ouch! Stop it, what are you doing?¡± the woman cried.


    Sharon¡¯s p across the woman¡¯s cheek echoed so sharply that Katelyn, sitting in her car, could hear it clearly. Katelyn furrowed her brow but remained seated, watching the scene unfold.


    It was Sharon¡¯s own actions that had driven her husband into another woman¡¯s arms. Despite knowing Jeff was married, this woman had shamelessly entered into an affair with him. Neither of them were innocent.


    The woman¡¯s cries grew louder, but her frail form stood no chance against Sharon. She was easily overpowered and pinned to the ground, her arms desperately shielding her belly.


    The violence unfolding was so tragic that even Katelyn began to feel uneasy. She had already uncovered disturbing information about Jeff, though she hadn¡¯t shared it with Sharon. Today, she was disgusted by their behavior and decided to take action.


    Katelyn adjusted her angle and focus, settling back into her seat. She had been worried about missing the action once Sharon entered the room, but to her surprise, Sharon dragged the woman outside and began hitting her in the middle of the street. Soon, hundreds of thousands ofizens flooded the livestream, and thements exploded across the screen.


    ¡°Is that a wife catching her husband¡¯s mistress? Can you share the location? I want to see it with my own eyes.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I always feel better watching these kinds of videos. If she chose to be the other woman, she should have expected the bacsh.¡±


    ¡°Wait, doesn¡¯t the woman in the video look familiar? That¡¯s Jeff Bailey¡¯s wife.¡±


    Seeing this, Katelyn responded politely, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Jeff Bailey¡¯s wife. Jeff was caught having an affair. She¡¯s confronting the mistress right now.¡±


    Her response sparked a frenzy in the livestream, pushing the discussion to the top of the trending topics. Recent scandals involving the Bailey family were already circting¡ªfrom tax evasion issues to this altercation with a mistress.


    The audience was captivated by the unfolding drama. Sharon, seething with rage, continued to target the woman¡¯s belly with kicks.


    ¡°I want to see what kind of monster you¡¯re going to give birth to!¡± Sharon yelled.


    The woman, overwhelmed and defenseless, cried out in agony, ¡°Someone call the police! Call the police for me!¡±


    Sharon, looking at her with contempt, spat on the ground and sneered, ¡°Do you think the police will help you? You¡¯re not the first one I¡¯ve dealt with. You¡¯re naive to think you can stand up to me!¡±


    Sharon raised her foot to kick again.


    At that moment, Jeff, having received a message from Katelyn, finally rushed over. Upon seeing the scene, his blood pressure instantly shot up. ¡°Stop it, Sharon!¡± he shouted.


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 Chapter 96

    ?Chapter 96:


    Jeff¡¯s voice echoed with startling rity, making Sharon instinctively stop in her tracks.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes gleamed with malicious satisfaction as Jeff walked toward them. When Katelyn had sent Sharon the pictures, she had already made sure Jeff was on his way. Her motives were clear¡ªshe wanted to fan the mes of this vtile situation. Understanding Sharon¡¯s fierce temper, she feared the mistress might face serious harm before Jeff could arrive.


    At that moment, the battered mistressy on the ground, barely lifting her head to look at Jeff with pleading eyes. Her desperate cries during the livestream left Katelyn and the audience in stunned disbelief.


    ¡°Darling, pleasee quickly! This madwoman is about to kill me!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as a mix of emotions briefly crossed her face. The mistress was young and stunning, while Jeff was well over fifty. Anyone seeing them together might easily mistake them for father and daughter. But the affectionate ¡°darling¡± left everyone speechless!


    Sharon¡¯s teeth clenched, her eyes burning with rage as she delivered another forceful kick.


    ¡°You little vixen! Even now you¡¯re still trying to lure my husband! I swear, I will beat you to death today!¡±


    Jeff stormed forward and shoved Sharon with all his strength. Despite her solid build, Sharon was no match for Jeff¡¯s force. The impact of his shove sent her reeling backward, crashing into the wall with a painful thud.


    Turning his attention to the young woman, Jeff hurried to help her up, panic evident on his face.


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    ¡°Vivian, are you okay?¡±


    Vivian Turner, her face bruised and streaked with tears, looked utterly pitiful. Her tears mixed with snot, creating a distressing image. She flung herself into Jeff¡¯s arms, crying uncontrobly.


    ¡°Darling, it hurts so much!¡±


    Jeff¡¯s heart ached at the sight. He wrapped her in aforting embrace, gently patting her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, honey. I¡¯m here now, and no one will hurt you again.¡±


    Katelyn rubbed her temples, unable to grasp the bizarre scene unfolding before her. It felt oddly misced to hear Jeff, of all people, spouting those typical CEO lines.


    In the livestream chat,ments like ¡°my eyes¡± kept shing on the screen.


    Sharon¡¯s face twisted with fury as she red at them, her rage palpable. She pointed at Jeff and screamed, ¡°You bastard! Did you forget how you begged for my forgiveness thest time you cheated? Now, just because you think I¡¯m too old to have kids, you break your promises and keep a mistress!¡±


    As Sharon raged on, her hatred grew. She couldn¡¯t believe she had chosen Jeff as her husband and had been so foolish as to forgive his earlier infidelities.


    Vivian, still crying in Jeff¡¯s arms, didn¡¯t hesitate to taunt Sharon. ¡°There was never any real love between you two. What Jeff and I have is the real thing.¡±


    As soon as Vivian was back on her feet, she was already plotting her next move. Even if Sharon¡¯s attack caused her to lose the baby, Vivian was determined to make her pay a hefty price for it. This thought filled her with a sense of triumph, and she leaned even more into Jeff.


    Sharon¡¯s eyes burned with rage. Thebined sting of Jeff¡¯s betrayal and Vivian¡¯s taunts pushed her to the brink. Without a second thought, she lunged forward, her voice a sharp, angry cry. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you both, you filthy pair!¡±


    Consumed by fury, Sharon only wanted to drag them both into her despair.


    Jeff, showing nopassion, met her fury with icy indifference. His face, set in a mask of disgust and impatience, ignored the years they had spent together.


    Suddenly, he raised his foot and¡ªm!


    Sharon¡¯s agonized scream echoed as Jeff¡¯s kicknded hard in her stomach. She crumpled to the ground, unable to get up.


    From his elevated stance, Jeff looked down at her with a cold, unfeeling stare.


    ¡°I¡¯m done being stuck with you all these years, you old hag! Do you think I put up with you for nothing? I can¡¯t stand another day of this. We¡¯re getting a divorce! If anything happens to my baby with Vivian, you¡¯ll pay for it.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s eyes narrowed with fierce resolve as she struggled to get up from the ground. Through clenched teeth, she said, ¡°You¡¯re not getting a divorce! Unless I die, you¡¯ll stay trapped in this marriage. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s foreverbeled a mistress.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Before she could say anything further, Vivian cried out in pain. ¡°My belly hurts so much!¡±


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 Chapter 97

    ?Chapter 97:


    Vivian turned pale, and blood began to seep through her pajamas, staining them red.


    Jeff tensed up and immediately checked on her, feeling a surge of panic.


    ¡°Hold on¡ªI¡¯m taking you to the doctor right now.¡±


    Over the years, he had been involved with many women, but Vivian was the only one who became pregnant. The child she carried represented his future hopes. He was determined to protect the unborn child at all costs.


    Vivian¡¯s face contorted in pain. Earlier, she had taunted Sharon boldly, but now, clutching her stomach, she gasped for breath. Jeff grabbed her arm, intending to rush her to the hospital.


    But Sharon lunged at Jeff, seizing his arm with a fierce look in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking her to the doctor? Over my dead body! Let her suffer to death.¡±


    For women, not only childbirth but the entire pregnancy could be a life-and-death issue. Given the circumstances, if Vivian didn¡¯t receive medical help soon, both she and the child could die. Sharon watched, consumed by the crisis.


    Jeff shot Sharon a furious look, his eyes zing.


    ¡°Mark my words. If anything happens to this baby, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    With that, he wrenched his arm free. Anticipating another attack, he defensively kicked Sharon in the stomach.


    Sharon screamed, doubling over and clutching her belly, writhing on the ground.


    Jeff didn¡¯t even look back. He helped Vivian into the car and started it up. As he did, Sharon threw herself onto the hood. Her face was twisted by resentment. She had lost her mind.


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    ¡°Go ahead, kill me if you dare!¡±


    Sharon had never felt so wronged in her entire life. Her anger was uncontroble.


    She vowed to make both the cheater and his mistress pay dearly.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Jeff was so furious, he was at a loss for words, ring at Sharon. If looks could kill, she would have been torn apart by now.


    Suddenly, Vivian¡¯s cries intensified. Blood flowed more profusely from between her thighs, and she was slick with cold sweat. Momentster, she lost consciousness. Her life was hanging by a thread.


    Katelyn, tense, touched the door of her car. She couldn¡¯t believe Sharon could wish death upon Vivian.


    Just as Katelyn was about to step out and intervene, she saw another car approaching in her rearview mirror. Relieved, she settled back into her seat. Lise had arrived.


    Lise exited her vehicle and nearly copsed at the chaos before her. She had onlyst seen Sharon moments ago, yet everything had escted so quickly.


    Sharon was sprawled across the car¡¯s windshield like a wild animal. Jeff was ring at her, and in the passenger seat was presumably his mistress, as Lise deduced.


    Observing the debacle, Lise felt disgusted. She questioned how someone of Sharon¡¯s caliber had ever navigated through the years as Mrs. Bailey. There were numerous ways to handle an affair discreetly, but Sharon had chosen the most scandalous route. Lise felt disgraced.


    She regretted returning to the Bailey family. Instead of enjoying any benefits, she was constantly burdened by problems.


    Jeff, gripping the steering wheel, clenched his teeth. ¡°You gave a death wish? I¡¯ll grant it.¡±


    As he snapped, he stepped on the gas without hesitation. Lise dashed in front of the car in disbelief.


    ¡°Dad, what are you doing? Are you really going to run them over?¡±


    Jeff was unmoved by his daughter¡¯s plea and cursed, ¡°Drag her away, or I¡¯ll run down both of you.¡±


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 Chapter 98

    ?Chapter 98:


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened in shock, her pupils narrowing in fear.


    Her mother was acting like a madwoman, and her father? He would kill both her and her mother if it meant protecting his mistress. How had she ended up with such an absurd family?


    Before her thoughts spiraled further, Lise quickly grabbed Sharon¡¯s hand, trying to reason with her.


    ¡°Mom, please, calm down. Don¡¯t provoke him any further.¡±


    Sharon gripped the front windshield with a fierce re, her eyes zing with hatred. She was ready to face whatever came her way.


    ¡°If he wants to kill me, let him try. I¡¯ll make sure to haunt them if I die,¡± she spat defiantly.


    Lise was exasperated, her teeth clenched in frustration. How could her mother be so reckless and stubborn at such a crucial moment?


    Lise had no desire to be entangled in this mess, but she still needed Sharon¡ªfor now.


    Determined, she tugged at her mother, trying to pull her away while desperately attempting to reason with her.


    ¡°Please calm down, Mom. There¡¯s no benefit in causing a scene like this. We need to extract as much profit as possible from him now. If you keep this up, we might end up with nothing.¡±


    Lise could tell that even if she and her mother worked together, they could notpare to the mistress in Jeff¡¯s eyes.


    Anyone with a shred of intelligence would find a way to ensure a return and maximize their gains. But Sharon¡¯s incessant cursing and dramatic outbursts only made their situation worse. It served no purpose. Instead, Sharon ended up bing passive, even though she had initially gained the upper hand.


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    Lise attempted to reason with her, but her efforts fell on deaf ears. Sharon¡¯s sole aim was to make Jeff and his mistress face the consequences. She had been married to Jeff for nearly three decades¡ªa significant portion of her life.


    She had devoted herself to the Bailey family and given birth to his daughter. But in the end, what had she received for all her efforts?


    Her anger was overwhelming. Even if it meant her own destruction, she was determined to bring them down with her.


    Lise¡¯s eyes betrayed her anxiety. In a sudden burst of strength, she forced Sharon to release the windshield and pulled her away from the car.


    Seizing the moment, Jeff elerated and sped away.


    The car moved so quickly that it nearly struck Lise. She tried to step back to avoid it but lost her bnce and fell to the ground. Before she could get back up, Sharon suddenly lunged at her and pped her across the face.


    The assault was so unexpected that Lise was momentarily stunned, as was Katelyn, who watched with a frown on her face.


    Katelyn wondered if Sharon had lost her sanity due to the shock. Why else would she suddenly strike Lise? Wasn¡¯t Lise the precious daughter she had worked so hard to find?


    Covering her cheek, Lise stared at Sharon in disbelief and clenched her fist, resentment burning in her eyes. ¡°Mom, why did you p me?¡±


    Sharon¡¯s hair was disheveled, and she hissed in a frantic tone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you help me earlier? Why did you side with them? Don¡¯t you know that woman is pregnant? If that baby survives, it will take your ce in the Bailey family!¡±


    Sharon was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.


    Jeff¡¯s infidelity had left her devastated, and the way he treated the mistresspared to her only intensified her pain. The ultimate betrayal, however, came from him.


    Sharon feltpletely isted, with no family support.


    Lise took a deep breath, her eyes reddened. ¡°Mom, I did this to protect you. If that woman dies because of your actions, how will Dad react? It would be considered murder, and we can¡¯t afford that kind of trouble.¡±


    Sharon gasped and clenched her teeth, unable to process any other input.


    ¡°I have to make sure that woman dies. She deserves to go to hell,¡± she dered with intense resolve.


    She continued repeating her words, ignoring the growing hatred in Lise¡¯s eyes.


    Disdain for the Baileys was evident. They had only caused her problems without offering any support. If they continued to be so foolish, Lise decided she would not extend any mercy to them.


    Katelyn observed the chaos from her car. With Jeff and his mistress gone, the entertainment had waned, so she turned off the live stream.


    The Bailey family was now in disarray. The once-admired couple, known for their love over more than 20 years, had finally shown their true colors. Katelyn saw this as their punishment.


    Suddenly, Lise took a quick look toward the car.


    A look of confusion crossed her face as she thought she saw Katelyn, unsure if it was just her imagination.


    Without hesitation, Lise got up and headed toward the car.


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 Chapter 99

    ?Chapter 99:


    Katelyn pressed down on the gas, a smirk ying on her lips as the Ferrari surged forward.


    She saw her face only for a moment, the sleek, glowing red tail lights fading into the distance. She stood rooted to the spot, a frown creasing her forehead. Was that really Katelyn?


    But she quickly shook off the thought. There were bigger problems at hand, like the mess with the Bailey family that still needed sorting out.


    Clips from Katelyn¡¯s live stream spread like wildfire online, withizens chopping them up and sharing them. Each clip racked up millions of views in no time.


    People were shocked. Who knew that the secrets of the Baileys would be this explosive?


    Conversations buzzed everywhere as some people weighed the gravity of the situation while others couldn¡¯t wait to see what would happen next.


    After ending the stream, Katelyn deleted her ount and headed straight back to the hospital.


    When she pushed open the door, she found Vincent sprawled on the couch, his eyes fixed on his phone.


    He was watching a video.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t need to guess; she knew he was watching the chaos with the Bailey family unfold.


    Vincent looked up at her meaningfully.


    ¡°The Bailey family surely knows how to keep everyone entertained,¡± he said.


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    Katelyn¡¯s face remained calm as she replied coldly, ¡°They¡¯ve brought it all on themselves.


    Jeff spent years betraying Sharon, weaving lies around their marriage, even going as far as trying to father a child outside their home.


    With solid proof of his cheating, Sharon could¡¯ve easily pushed Jeff out the door without letting him take a single thing. But instead, she chose to make a scene, even going so far as to attempt killing Vivian.


    Their choices led them right into the consequences they now face.¡±


    Vincent put his phone down, a slow smile creeping across his lips.


    ¡°Did you do it?¡±


    The sudden question caught Katelyn off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless.


    She almost denied it, but before the words coulde out, she changed her mind.


    ¡°It was me,¡± she admitted. She frowned slightly and added, ¡°But I didn¡¯t expect it to escte like this.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, his smile barely concealed as he said, ¡°You yed your hand well. It¡¯s definitely going to destroy them.¡±


    Katelyn looked at him. His eyes were dark, but she couldn¡¯t see any trace of malice or negativity.


    She sank into a chair, her tone casual as she said, ¡°I thought you¡¯d see me as heartless when you found out, wondering how I could do something like that to them.¡± After all, the Bailey family had taken care of her for years. If the truth got out, there¡¯d be a flood of people online calling her ungrateful and cold.


    Vincent stood up and walked slowly to the French window, one hand resting in his pocket. There was a subtle, chilling undertone in his otherwise calm voice. ¡°Heartless? If I were you, I¡¯d have gone after the Baileys long ago, and I wouldn¡¯t have held back like you did.¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t respond right away. Her longshes lowered, concealing the swirl of emotions in her eyes. At first, she hadn¡¯t nned on sending those things to Sharon. But when anger took over, she wanted them to suffer, to face the consequences.


    She had hesitated back then, and now, seeing how things had spiraled, she was even more torn. Over twenty years of memories couldn¡¯t just be erased. She might have lost any affection she once had for them, but she couldn¡¯t simply wipe away the past.


    Noticing her silence, Vincent turned to her with a grim look.


    ¡°They did this to themselves,¡± he said. ¡°All you did was tell Sharon the truth. Without you, she¡¯d still be living a lie.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. She looked up at Vincent, a small smile ying on her lips. ¡°Are you trying to make me feel better?¡±


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want you to carry any guilt,¡± Vincent replied. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    He paused, then repeated, ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong from beginning to end.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t Katelyn¡¯s fault that she wasn¡¯t the Baileys¡¯ biological daughter.


    The meaning behind his words settled in, and Katelyn found herself staring at him, momentarily lost in thought.


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 Chapter 100

    ?Chapter 100:


    When Katelyn¡¯s eyes met Vincent¡¯s, the room seemed to fall into a deep, still silence. The usual sounds¡ªthe rustling of leaves outside the window and the faint noise from the hallway¡ªfaded away, as though everything hade to a stop. Katelyn kept her gaze on him. After a few seconds that felt like forever, her lips slowly curled into a bright smile.


    ¡°Okay, I don¡¯t regret anything I¡¯ve done.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s smile grew wider, and he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡±


    Though they hadn¡¯t known each other for long, they had quickly developed an unspoken understanding, often needing only a nce tomunicate. Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but feel that partnering with Vincent had been the right choice. After all, how else could she have found someone who felt like a true friend? It was as if they were meant to find each other.


    Everything was going smoothly for Katelyn, but on the other side, the Bailey household was in turmoil because of Jeff¡¯s affair. As soon as Jeff got rid of Sharon, he rushed to the hospital, where Vivian was quickly taken into the emergency room.


    Jeff anxiously paced the hallway, his hands sped together as if in desperate prayer.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done so much good in life. Please, God, be merciful. Don¡¯t take this baby away from me.¡±


    His entire future seemed to rest on that baby.


    But the empty hallway offered nofort, only silence. Then hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Sharon and Lise had followed Jeff¡¯s car and had just arrived at the hospital.


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    Lise watched Sharon closely, her nerves on edge. She kept reminding her in a hushed voice, ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t do anything reckless. We could lose everything.¡± Throughout the drive to the hospital, Lise had tried to talk sense into Sharon, but she wasn¡¯t sure if her words had made any impact.


    Sharon nearly broke into a run as she headed straight for Jeff, ignoring Lise¡¯s pleas. All she could think about was making him pay.


    The moment Sharon spotted Jeff, she lunged at him, grabbed his neck, and pped him twice, hard. The p echoed through the hallway, snapping Jeff¡¯s head to the side.


    With eyes zing, Sharon hissed, ¡°You¡¯re a monster in human skin! How could you do such awful things? Don¡¯t you feel any guilt for what you¡¯ve done to me and Lise?¡± Lise stood there, stunned, her mind buzzing as if in a daze. In that moment, she realized her attempts to calm her mother had failedpletely.


    Sharon couldn¡¯t grasp the n. With her limited understanding, she was only making things worse. Jeff stumbled to his feet, his eyes filled with rage. ¡°I haven¡¯t even begun to deal with you. How dare you cause another scene?¡± he spat.


    But Sharon wasn¡¯t intimidated. She lifted her chin and stepped closer, ring at him. ¡°How dare you talk to me like that! Jeff Bailey, with all the horrible things you¡¯ve done, you deserve to rot in hell.¡± As Sharon spoke, her anger boiled over. Suddenly, sheshed out, her nails digging into Jeff¡¯s face.


    She moved so quickly that Lise couldn¡¯t stop her in time. ¡°Mom!¡±


    Sharon was strong and sturdy. When she had gotten angry before, she had once pinned Jeff to the sofa, wing at his face just like this. Back then, Jeff had let her vent her anger in that way.


    But now, they were bitter enemies. There was no way Jeff would stand for it. He shoved Sharon away, grabbed her by the hair, and pped her twice in return.


    Sharon¡¯s face puffed up, and she copsed to the floor. Dazed, she didn¡¯t immediately realize what had happened.


    Jeff snarled, ¡°You want a fight? Fine, let¡¯s fight. I must¡¯ve been a fool to marry a woman like you. You¡¯ve cursed our family with nothing but bad luck.¡±


    Lise quickly rushed over, cing herself between them. She shouted, ¡°Dad, what do you want from us? We were a happy family. Do you really want to shatter that?¡±


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 Chapter 101

    ?Chapter 101:


    Lise¡¯s words seemed to snap Jeff back to reality. He dropped his hand and hesitated, casting a troubled look towards the door of the operating room.


    The gravity of the situation hit him hard: Vivian had lost too much blood for the baby to be saved. If the baby survived, Jeff was prepared to sever ties with Sharon without a second thought. But if the baby didn¡¯t make it, he would be left with nothing.


    Lise picked up on his silent struggle, understanding it deeply and intuitively. Choosing between his grown daughter and a five-month-old fetus on the verge of dying was a decision that anyone with a clear head would find obvious.


    In a soothing tone, Lise said, ¡°Dad, I know this must be because of that woman. If you¡¯re willing to fix things with Mom, we can still keep the family together.¡±


    Sharon spat angrily on the floor, her eyes zing with fury.


    ¡°Ha! You really think I¡¯d stay married to him? Not a chance! Jeff Bailey, I¡¯ll never divorce you. Even if it¡¯s myst act, I¡¯ll make sure you and that woman never get a chance to be together. You¡¯ll never marry her as long as I¡¯m alive.¡±


    Jeff had fought with her angrily over that woman, even raising his hand against her. The strain was too much for Sharon to bear. She had no intention of divorcing; instead, she was driven by a desire for revenge. She wanted to see both her deceitful husband and the other woman suffer.


    Jeff, his face etched with frustration, clutched his hair and copsed onto a nearby bench, wordless and defeated.


    As his rage subsided, rity began to return. In the chaos of watching Vivian in pain and bleeding, he had lost his grip on reason. He knew he could have handled things much better.


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    Jeff stayed silent, but Sharon¡¯s anger red. Her eyes burned with hatred and scorn.


    ¡°If I hadn¡¯t exposed that woman, you¡¯d have let her give birth and then fight Lise for the Bailey family¡¯s fortune, right? That¡¯s not happening. If that woman survives this time, I¡¯ll make sure she doesn¡¯t get a single thing!¡±


    ¡°Make sure she doesn¡¯t get so lucky next time,¡± Sharon¡¯s cutting words left Lise trembling with rage, almost making her copse.


    Lise was stunned by Sharon¡¯s recklessness, feeling a deep frustration. Threats were pointless¡ªwhat mattered now was seizing control of the situation.


    With Jeff wavering, Lise saw a crucial opportunity to negotiate. If Sharon continued acting out, things might turn against them entirely.


    Tightly clenching her fists, Lise stepped forward and pulled Sharon aside with determination. Sharon fought back, her frustration clear as she tried to wrench free. Frowning deeply, she snapped, ¡°Why are you dragging me away? I¡¯m ready to confront that woman and make her pay!¡±


    Lise stared at Sharon, bewildered. It was as if Sharon were disconnected from reality.


    Lise struggled to keep herposure. Taking a deep breath, she said, ¡°Calm down, Mom. Do you want them to pay? Do you want the Bailey family to rise back on top?¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes zed with resolve as she retorted, ¡°Of course I do! But look at the mess we¡¯re in now. Even if it sends me to hell, I¡¯ll make sure they go down with me!¡±


    As Sharon charged toward Jeff again, Lise acted quickly to block her way.


    After a weary sigh, Lise said, ¡°Making a scene won¡¯t help. It¡¯ll only drive him further into that woman¡¯s arms. Trust me, Mom. Just stay quiet and watch what I can do. I have plenty of ns to get Dad to leave her.¡±


    Even though Lise had arrivedte, she still vividly remembered Vivian¡¯s look. With a single nce, Lise had seen through Vivian¡¯s motives. She was using her youth, beauty, and the baby she carried to secure a marriage with Jeff. Lise had done the same thing many times before, and she knew exactly how to handle such women.


    Sharon, frowning deeply, fell silent as she considered her options. Realizing that creating a scene would only make things worse and embarrass the Bailey family, Sharon finally said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do what you say. But you have to make sure they pay for this.¡±


    Lise nodded, a sense of relief washing over her. Before she could say more, the doors to the operating room swung open.


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 Chapter 102

    ?Chapter 102:


    Wearing a mask, the doctor emerged from the room. Jeff, his face etched with worry, hurried over. ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s the baby?¡±


    Jeff was prepared to do everything possible to support Vivian and the child if the baby had survived. However, if the baby hadn¡¯t made it, he needed to consider his next steps.


    The doctor shook his head sadly. ¡°We couldn¡¯t save the baby, and due to the critical nature of the situation, we had to perform a hysterectomy on the patient to save her life, which meant removing her uterus.¡±


    The news hit Jeff like a lightning bolt. The world seemed to spin, his ears filled with a ringing noise. His face turned pale, and he stumbled backward, a look of disbelief spreading across his features. The idea that Vivian would never be able to bear another child for him crushed him.


    Lise and Sharon, who were just returning from down the hall, overheard the doctor¡¯s announcement.


    Sharon sneered with glee and snapped, ¡°This is what she gets for seducing him.¡±


    Lise shot Sharon a stern look and pulled at her sleeve.


    Had Sharon not understood what she had just said? If Sharon couldn¡¯t keep herments to herself, she should at least know to remain silent in such moments. Jeff sank into a chair, his eyes hollow and filled with despair.


    Nobody knew how much he had invested in this child or how often he had envisioned Vivian presenting him with a son.


    His expression made Lise clench her teeth in annoyance. She was an aplished adult, engaged to the CEO of the Group, yet Jeff was reluctant to hand over the Bailey Group, pinning his hopes instead on an unborn child of unknown gender.


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    Was having a son really that crucial to him?


    ¡°Anyone who values sons over daughters like this surely deserves no mercy!¡± she thought.


    Concealing her resentment, Lise approached Jeff and gently ced her hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Dad, try not to be too upset. Maybe things were meant to happen this way. But doesn¡¯t it seem odd? It¡¯s like all of this is being manipted by someone.¡± As she spoke, Lise took Sharon¡¯s phone, opened a file she had received, and showed it to Jeff.


    ¡°Mom decided to confront her spontaneously after seeing these photos. But the real question is, who sent these photos? And how did they know Mom would confront her at that exact moment?¡±


    Lise¡¯s words jolted Sharon and Jeff back to reality, forcing them to consider the bigger issue at hand. Jeff clenched his jaw tightly as he looked through the file.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t even know what happened to Vivian until someone texted me,¡± he said.


    If they still couldn¡¯t recognize that all of this was a set-up, then they were no smarter than fools.


    Jeff pulled out his phone and tried contacting the number, but discovered it was likely from an untraceable disposable device.


    Realizing they¡¯d been yed, Sharon¡¯s fury peaked, nearly overwhelming her.


    ¡°Who? Who the hell dared do this to us? When I catch them, they¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Lise shook her head, her face marked with contemtion. The intentions behind the act were now obvious. ¡°They aim to tear down the Bailey family. If we keep falling for their tricks, we¡¯re only aiding their sess. Our priority should be to unite as a family. We¡¯ll handle the rest afterward.¡±


    Jeff¡¯s expression turned serious as he nodded, looking at Sharon with mixed feelings.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, Lise. We are a family. We can¡¯t let outsiders break us apart.¡±


    But those words rang hollow. How could Jeff talk about family unity when he had betrayed Sharon and fathered a child with another woman?


    Sharon¡¯s face twisted with scorn, and she was on the verge of exploding.


    Quickly, Lise grabbed Sharon¡¯s arm and shook her head, signaling her to calm down. They needed to stay focused if they were going to resolve this effectively.


    Reluctantly, Sharon held back her anger.


    At that moment, Lise¡¯s phone rang loudly, startling everyone. Her face changed subtly as she saw the caller.


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 Chapter 103

    ?Chapter 103:


    It was Neil who was calling.


    Lise answered immediately.


    Neil¡¯s voice was icy as he said, ¡°Lise, take a look at the news. It¡¯s about your family.¡±


    Jeff and Sharon, who were nearby, overheard the conversation. All three were shocked.


    What could possibly have happened now? What more could unfold for the Bailey family? Hadn¡¯t all their secrets already been revealed to the public?


    Suddenly, Lise¡¯s eyes widened, her heart raced. She wondered if the incident involving Jeff¡¯s mistress had been exposed.


    Gripping her phone tightly, sheposed herself and said, ¡°Neil, I need to go. I will contact youter.¡±


    Neil responded gravely, ¡°I¡¯ve done my best to help, but this has already attracted a lot of attention fromizens. You should make a statement on social media quickly.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Lise replied.


    After ending the call, Lise quickly checked the trending news. Sharon and Jeff did the same. Upon seeing the online tags, it was clear.


    Lise¡¯s suspicion was confirmed. The footage of them confronting Jeff¡¯s mistress had gone viral.


    The video quality was so high that every detail was visible, and their voices were clear. It was obvious that the person who recorded it had been close by.


    Holding her phone tightly, Lise couldn¡¯t help but remember something she had noticed earlier.


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    A woman who resembled Katelyn had been in the car. Lise wondered if Katelyn might be behind this.


    At the same time, Katelyn sneezed as she pulled into a parking spot beneath the inpatient building.


    She absentmindedly rubbed her nose, grabbed the lunch bag from the passenger seat, and headed directly to Vincent¡¯s room.


    To her surprise, the room was empty.


    Even Vincent¡¯s personal items were missing. With a puzzled frown, Katelyn wondered where Vincent might have gone.


    Just then, a nurse happened to pass by the ward. Katelyn stopped her and asked, ¡°Excuse me, could you tell me where the patient from this ward is?¡±


    The nurse rang the bell and said, ¡°Are you referring to Mr. Adams? He checked out this morning.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened. Checked out? Why hadn¡¯t Vincent informed her about this?


    Yet, she quickly epted that it was likely to be expected. They were simply business partners. He was even temporarily in a supervisory role over her, so he wasn¡¯t required to keep her informed about his movements. They weren¡¯t exactly friends, after all.


    Regaining herposure, Katelyn thanked the nurse with a nod and left the hospital.


    Once she got home, Katelyn turned on her phone to review the public reaction to the Bailey family¡¯s scandal. To her surprise, many posts were being deleted and reported. Some trolls were even manipting thement trends.


    Katelyn narrowed her eyes, realizing that the Bailey family must have taken some action.


    Despite the Bailey family¡¯s tarnished public image, they still held considerable influence. Moreover, the rapid removal of news articles and video clips indicated that the Wheeler family might be involved.


    In no time, all references to the Bailey family¡¯s scandals vanished. The names of Jeff, Sharon, and Lise led curious inte users nowhere.


    Katelyn ced her hand firmly on the desk, her eyes gleaming darkly.


    Lise thought she could control the public¡¯s reaction by having the posts removed. It was a sign of her naivety. She was overly na?ve.


    Each video clip had been watched millions of times, and everyone online knew what had transpired. Removing them now seemed like an attempt to ignore the problem.


    At the Bailey residence, Lise finally seemed to see where the scandal had gone and breathed a sigh of relief. The issue seemed to be under control.


    She was convinced that her parents would recognize her capabilities through this situation and finally allow her to take the lead.


    As she pondered, her phone suddenly pinged with a new message. Startled, Lise sprang to her feet.


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 Chapter 104

    ?Chapter 104:


    It was a transfer notification!


    Seeing the amount made Lise break into a wide smile, and she even let out a small cheer of excitement. ¡°Yes! The Bailey family is saved!¡± she thought. The amount she received was significant¡ªfive billion dors.


    This was exactly what the Bailey family needed to address their pressing crisis.


    Lise nearlyughed with joy. She quickly called Neil, her voice gentle and full of gratitude when he picked up.


    ¡°Thank you, Neil! I really can¡¯t thank you enough! You¡¯ve been a huge help!¡±


    Neilughed softly on the other end. ¡°You¡¯re my woman, Lise. There¡¯s no need for formalities.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡± Lise paused and said, ¡°I know yourpany is facing challenges. How were you able to secure so much money to help me?¡±


    Neil massaged his forehead, his tone softening from the kindness in her voice.


    ¡°My opponents have backed down, giving me some space. I made quick profits on an international project, so I¡¯m sending the money to you first. If you need more, just let me know.¡±


    Lise felt a surge of emotion. She was reassured that she hadn¡¯t misjudged Neil. He truly was someone she could depend on.


    ¡°Neil, I¡¯ll never forget this. If there¡¯s ever anything you need, I¡¯m here for you, no questions asked.¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice grew softer, filled with fondness. ¡°You¡¯ve done plenty for me, Lise. No thanks are necessary.¡±


    ¡°Are you around? I¡¯d like to stop by your office,¡± Lise asked, heading to her wardrobe as she thought about which enticing lingerie to wear for Neil. She wanted to show him how much she valued his support.


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    ¡°I¡¯m away on business today. I¡¯ll be back in Granville tomorrow. We can catch up then.¡±


    ¡°Okay. Take care then.¡±


    After ending the call, Lise leaned back in her chair, her face lighting up with a pleased smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect! Now that the Bailey family has the funds to manage this crisis, I can maintain my status as a Bailey and stay one step ahead of Katelyn!¡± she thought to herself.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn was at her house, organizing her belongings.


    In her rush to move, she had left several items behind. While sifting through a folder, she suddenly remembered that her divorce agreement with Neil was still iplete. Without two copies, both signed, the divorce wouldn¡¯t be valid.


    Realizing this, Katelyn pulled out her phone, unblocked Neil¡¯s number, and dialed him.


    When Neil picked up, Katelyn got straight to the point.


    ¡°When are you going to give me the signed agreement?¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice carried a hint of emotion. ¡°Is that the only reason you called?¡±


    ¡°What else would it be?¡± Katelyn responded, her voice tinged with impatience.


    The faster the documents were finalized, the sooner their marriage could officially end.


    Currently, they were in a state of limbo¡ªseparated, yet legally married.


    Katelyn wanted nothing more to do with Neil. Just the thought of him made her stomach turn.


    Neil¡¯s tone hardened, bing chilly. ¡°I¡¯m tied up at the moment.¡±


    Katelyn said without hesitation, ¡°When will you be avable? I can stop by your office to collect it.¡± She paused, mulling something over.


    ¡°Actually, the original agreement was somewhat unfair. Let¡¯s draft a new one. How about I bring mywyer tomorrow? Let¡¯s settle everything once and for all.¡±


    Neil¡¯s frustration was apparent, his patience thinning. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I¡¯m tied up right now. If that¡¯s all you wanted to discuss, don¡¯t bother me again.¡±


    With that, Neil hung up.


    Katelyn stared at the nk screen, a wave of revulsion washing over her.


    She reached out to the top divorce attorney she could think of and set up a meeting at the Wheeler Group for the following day to finalize the divorce.


    The next day arrived.


    After preparing everything she needed, Katelyn went to the Group, apanied by herwyer. The staff recognized her and allowed her to pass without interference as she headed upstairs.


    As Katelyn neared the meeting room, she could hearughter echoing from inside.


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 Chapter 105

    ?Chapter 105:


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes darkened with recognition. She pinpointed the voice as belonging to Lise.


    Right then, theughter from the office was especially cheerful, almost as if Lise was flirting with someone. The assistant noticed Katelyn¡¯s darkening expression and coughed loudly to alert Neil.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, Miss Bailey is here,¡± the assistant announced, almost referring to Katelyn as Mrs. ¡ª a slip that would certainly anger Lise.


    As the assistant finished his announcement, theughter inside the room stopped abruptly. Lise¡¯s smile froze, and a flicker of confusion crossed her face.


    What was Katelyn doing here at this hour?


    Neil¡¯s surprise was evident as he straightened his suit and said in a clipped tone, ¡°Let her in.¡±


    With his approval, Katelyn opened the door and entered, followed by her divorcewyer, who wore a professional air. Katelyn managed a forced smile. ¡°Karlyn, what brings you here?¡±


    Without looking at Lise, Katelyn took out the divorce agreement and set it on the table. Her voice was calm and direct.


    ¡°Here¡¯s the revised divorce agreement. If you have any concerns, discuss them with thewyer now. If it¡¯s eptable, please sign it.¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression turned icy, while Lise¡¯s face lit up with a satisfied grin.


    The long-awaited divorce was finally happening. Soon, she would be his wife.


    Neil picked up the document with a furrowed brow and skimmed it with a detached air. The terms were basically unchanged from before: Katelyn gave up any im to his property and asked for nothing but the end of their marriage.


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    He tossed the document back onto the table and scoffed.


    ¡°Is this why you barged into my office?¡±


    ¡°Or what?¡± Katelyn shot back, her irritation clear in her tone.


    ¡°Just sign it,¡± she said firmly.


    ¡°You can¡¯t wait to get rid of me, just to throw yourself into Vincent¡¯s arms, right?¡±


    The irony in Neil¡¯s eyes deepened. Seeing Katelyn¡¯s indifferent expression only fueled his anger further.


    Why had she moved on so quickly?


    Didn¡¯t she once im to love him above all else? Shouldn¡¯t she be begging him to stay?


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°What does that have to do with you? Look over the agreement now. If everything is fine, just sign it.¡±


    This was the third time she had repeated it, and her frustration was growing.


    She had already signed it; she only needed Neil¡¯s signature now.


    Neil stood up, his gaze hard as he looked at Katelyn.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sign,¡± he said, ¡°but only if you admit that you don¡¯t love me anymore and that you¡¯re leaving me for someone else.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips tightened into a straight line, her eyes flickering with confusion.


    What was Neil trying to say?


    Even Lise, standing off to the side, balled her fists, unable to hide her own bewilderment.


    Why was Neil dying? Katelyn had already agreed to the divorce¡ªwhy was he asking these pointless questions?


    Lise¡¯s impatience was palpable. She just wanted Neil to sign the document. Sign it already! Hurry up!


    Neil picked up the agreement once more, his eyes narrowing as he studied Katelyn¡¯s signature. His fists clenched involuntarily.


    He recalled a simr scene from before, when he had hastily tossed a signed divorce agreement to Katelyn.


    At that time, he had been eager to end their marriage, but now¡­


    Neil wasn¡¯t sure what was holding him back, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to let Katelyn go so easily.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were icy. ¡°I¡¯ll admit it. The reason I want a divorce is that I no longer love you. I¡¯m in love with someone else. Every moment with you makes me sick. Is that enough for you?¡±


    Lise hid the smile in her eyes. If Katelyn had been so decisive and determined, she wouldn¡¯t have resorted to so many tricks.


    ¡°Katelyn¡­¡± Lise smiled and was about to say something, but she didn¡¯t expect that, in the next moment, with a straight face, Neil would tear up the agreement.


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 Chapter 106

    ?Chapter 106:


    Neil¡¯s sudden action left both Katelyn and Lise slightly bewildered.


    Katelyn¡¯s look of disgust deepened. What was going on with Neil? Wasn¡¯t the divorce exactly what he had wanted?


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened as well.


    It was the perfect moment. Why hadn¡¯t Neil signed the document? Instead, he ripped it apart!


    Did this mean he regretted the decision to divorce Katelyn? Did he still have feelings for her?


    Lise managed a strained smile and asked cautiously, ¡°Neil, why did you tear that up?¡±


    Hadn¡¯t he promised he would go through with the divorce? Katelyn looked at him icily and demanded, ¡°What are you trying to pull? Isn¡¯t this what you¡¯ve wanted ever since you had an affair?¡±


    With a stony expression, Neil fed the torn papers into the shredder.


    ¡°Nothing. I just don¡¯t want to make things easy for you. The more you want, the less inclined I am to give it to you.¡±


    Lise was almost driven to frustration. What a pathetic excuse!


    It was clear he still had feelings for Katelyn!


    Katelyn clenched her fists, remaining silent. She should have known Neil was like her archenemy, always looking toplicate matters.


    He had always been like this, seizing every opportunity to upset her.


    Katelyn gestured to herwyer. He instantly understood what she meant, pulling out several more copies of the agreement from his briefcase and handing them to her. Katelyn¡¯s expression was frosty.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You can tear these up too if you like. I have extras right here.¡±


    Neil¡¯s gaze turned steely. This moment was a stark contrast to when he was determined to divorce her before.


    If he recalled correctly, he had spoken simr words back then.


    Indeed, what went around came around.


    Neil clenched his jaw. ¡°I won¡¯t make this easy for you.¡±


    Witnessing this, Lise nearly lost herposure and cursed. She took a deep breath, maintaining her gentle and considerate demeanor, and suggested softly, ¡°Neil, I think you should go through with the divorce in this situation. Continuing a bad rtionship will hurt not just the other person, but you as well.¡±


    Lise carefully chose her words to be diplomatic, yet Neil¡¯s response took her by surprise.


    Neil gave a cold smile. ¡°I don¡¯t care. My only goal is to make her miserable.¡±


    Lise was incensed. What was he thinking?


    This was obviously a self-serving excuse!


    Katelyn brushed her hair back and said resolutely, ¡°From now on, I will send ten divorce agreements to yourpany every day. If you don¡¯t sign them within three days, we will see each other in court. I am determined to get this divorce.¡±


    Then, she turned and walked away decisively.


    She wouldn¡¯t havee to the Wheeler Group if she hadn¡¯t intended for Neil to sign the agreement in person. She found thispany as repulsive as Neil himself.


    Grinding his teeth, Neil watched Katelyn¡¯s departing figure.


    It was Katelyn who had vowed to love him forever. It was unthinkable for her to break that promise now!


    Observing all the emotions ying across his face, Lise was frustrated but tried once more to push the divorce papers toward him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be upset, Neil. Honestly, I can understand Katelyn. After all, she has found someone she loves, so naturally, she wants to leave everything else behind to follow her heart. If I were you, I would choose to respect and bless her. After all, you two were married for so many years.¡±


    Without even ncing at the papers, Neil shoved them into the shredder.


    ¡°Katelyn is so eager to move on to another man. I¡¯m not going to let that happen!¡±


    Lise clenched her fists, took another deep breath, and finally voiced the question that had been on her mind.


    ¡°Neil, why are you doing this? Do you still love Katelyn in your heart?¡±


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 Chapter 107

    ?Chapter 107:


    It was nonsense when Neil imed his actions were motivated by revenge. Clearly, he was just making excuses to avoid leaving Katelyn.


    Neil¡¯s expression turned cold, his gaze sharp.


    ¡°How can that be? From this moment on, Katelyn is my archenemy. I¡¯ll do everything in my power to make her life miserable.¡±


    Lise¡¯s look was one of mixed emotions. She hesitated before speaking, ¡°But I don¡¯t think this will be good for either of you.¡±


    A cruel glint shed in Neil¡¯s eyes as he clenched his teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t care. All I want is for Katelyn to pay a steep price!¡±


    Though Lise wanted to dissuade him further, she held back her words upon hearing his resolve.


    She needed to find a way to expedite Neil¡¯s separation from Katelyn!


    Meanwhile, Katelyn, unsessful in getting Neil to sign the agreement, was brooding at home. She called up Aimee, and they decided to hit a bar together.


    Aimee chose the liveliest bar in the city.


    The nightlife there kicked off after 9 p.m. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and nicotine. The dance floor was alive with young people swaying energetically to the deafening music.


    It was like a theme park designed for adults.


    For their night out, Katelyn wore a long ck slip dress that revealed her back,plemented by her glossy lips and high heels, making her a stunning figure. She drew plenty of admiring looks along the way, with some onlookers remarking on her beauty.


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    Their booth was on the second floor with a good view of everything downstairs.


    Aimee swirled her wine and looked at Katelyn, who appeared somber.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, girl? You seem really down.¡±


    At the mention of her troubles, Katelyn¡¯s expression soured. She turned to watch the dance floor, her tone cold.


    ¡°It¡¯s all Neil¡¯s fault. He backed out at thest minute and didn¡¯t sign the divorce agreement. Now I need to find a betterwyer to handle my divorce.¡±


    Katelyn was adamant about getting her divorce! With that deration, she tilted her head back and finished her wine in one swift gulp. Aimee smirked and raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°Do you think Neil changed his mind because he realized you¡¯re the one he truly loves? Maybe he can¡¯t bear to let you go but is too proud to admit it, so he made up thatme excuse,¡± she teased.


    Katelyn¡¯s mouth twisted in disgust, and she rubbed her arms, trying to soothe the goosebumps.


    ¡°Honestly, I want to gouge my eyes out just remembering that I once loved that man.¡±


    What she said was true.


    The times she had spent with Neil had once been the highlights of her life, now tainted with regret. She mourned the youthful years wasted on a man unworthy of her.


    Aimee burst intoughter at Katelyn¡¯s harsh words, leaning backfortably in her seat.


    ¡°I¡¯d love to see Lise¡¯s face right now; I bet she¡¯s fuming.¡±


    Everyone knew what was on Lise¡¯s mind. She hoped that she could be Neil¡¯s wife after the divorce. As long as Neil and Katelyn remained married, Lise would remain a mistress.


    Katelyn refilled her ss, the bright red wine shimmering like a bewitching elixir under the light. She nced at the wine in her ss with a casual, indifferent look on her beautiful face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care what she thinks. I just hope she ends up with that scumbag for the rest of her life. A scumbag and a homewrecker are a perfect match.¡±


    One betrayed his wife by ignoring moral standards, while the other, fully aware of the marriage, carried on with the affair and unted it.


    They deserved each other, spreading misery everywhere.


    Just as Katelyn finished speaking, an enraged voice interrupted behind her, ¡°Katelyn Hailey!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 108

    ?Chapter 108:


    Katelyn turned around and found herself staring into Neil¡¯s angry eyes.


    He had only nned to grab a drink and rx that day. Never did he expect to encounter Katelyn, let alone catch her speaking ill of him.


    Annoyance flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    She felt incredibly unlucky, as if fate were deliberately mocking her. Why did she always run into Neil wherever she went?


    Katelyn got up and looked at him with impatience.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you this time?¡±


    The disgust was evident in her eyes.


    Her feelings of revulsion toward Neil intensified under the influence of alcohol.


    Neil red at her with hardened eyes and asked in a confused tone, ¡°Does my presence bother you that much?¡±


    Katelyn noticed that Neil¡¯s gaze was unfocused and his face flushed. He was obviously drunk.


    She didn¡¯t want to argue with him, especially not while she was also under the influence. ¡°Get the fuck out of my face!¡± she hissed.


    In the booth, Aimee¡¯s body stiffened, ready to act at any moment.


    Normally, Neil was aposed and rational individual, but in his drunken state, his behavior could be unpredictable.


    ¡°Listen, Katelyn, don¡¯t fool yourself into thinking you can easily dismiss me.¡±


    Neil clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking loudly.


    After seeing Katelyn¡¯s scornful expression, a persistent thought nagged at him. Their interactions shouldn¡¯t unfold this way, and she shouldn¡¯t look at him with such disdain.


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    Suddenly, he moved toward Katelyn and embraced her.


    ¡°You always say you despise men, right? Well, let¡¯s see if you can keep that up.¡±


    As Neil acted out visibly drunk, Katelyn¡¯s expression turned stern.


    She was unaware that someone had been observing the entire exchange from nearby.


    Vincent appeared indifferent, his demeanor reserved. He put down his ss, turned, and left silently.


    Aimee¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Why was Vincent here? To make matters worse, he had just witnessed Neil embracing Katelyn.


    Until now, Katelyn was still unaware that Vincent had seen her. She pped Neil across the face¡ªsomething she had been wanting to do for a long time.


    The sound of the p was sharp and clear. Neil felt the sting and stepped back instinctively. Katelyn seized the moment to break free from his arms. Aimee rushed over to Katelyn and positioned herself in front of her, ready to protect her.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were fierce, like des. ¡°Have you gotten sober now?¡±


    Neil¡¯s cheek instantly swelled, a stark contrast to his still-handsome left side. His eyes, which had been unfocused, finally sharpened. He stared at Katelyn, his brow furrowing deeply.


    The pain had sobered him up significantly.


    Neil pressed his lips together. ¡°Katelyn, how dare you hit me?¡±


    Without a hint of fear, Katelyn replied, ¡°That p was your wake-up call. If you try to bother me again, there will be more to follow.¡±


    Aimee pulled out her phone and turned on the camera, pointing it at Neil.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, it would be best if you went home now. Don¡¯t make things worse. If you do, I¡¯ll make sure this video goes online.¡±


    Neil was well-aware that this was his fault. A shadow crossed his eyes, but he stayed silent and walked away.


    The incident had ruined Katelyn¡¯s mood. She held her wine ss, looking irritated. ¡°When will I be able to cut ties with someone like Neil? Every time I¡¯m with him, it only brings trouble.¡±


    Aimee had aplicated expression on her face as she looked at Katelyn. Hesitantly, she said, ¡°I saw someone just now. He happened to see Neil holding you.¡±


    Katelyn felt confused when she heard this and asked with curiosity, ¡°Who did you see?¡±


    After a brief pause, Aimee replied, ¡°Vincent. He looked really serious. It seemed like he was in a bad mood.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes shed with surprise. She instinctively turned her head to search for Vincent. He had left the hospital without saying a word, and she still hadn¡¯t asked him what had happened.


    She had brought the soup that she had stewed for five hours that day, only to find his ward empty. Aimee waved her hand in front of Katelyn¡¯s face and said with a sigh, ¡°Don¡¯t bother looking for him. He¡¯s already gone. Do you think he was jealous when he saw that?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 109

    ?Chapter 109:


    Katelyn appeared puzzled as questions began bubbling up in her mind.


    Jealous? Why would Vincent be jealous? Could it be that he was jealous of Neil?


    Katelyn dismissed the idea as unlikely, since her rtionship with Vincent was strictly professional. After their project ended, it was probable they wouldn¡¯t evenmunicate.


    While Vincent was certainly impressive, she had never considered getting romantically involved with him. Aimee watched her intently, clearly thinking that they were ideally suited for each other.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m wrong. You know I¡¯m always sensitive when ites to matters of the heart,¡± Aimee said.


    Feeling cornered, Katelyn rified, ¡°Aimee, you¡¯re reading too much into it. Vincent and I aren¡¯t even close friends; we¡¯re just business partners. Plus, you¡¯re aware of my situation. Don¡¯t you know better than to think I¡¯d find rtionships burdensome at this point?¡±


    Katelyn was now free and could do whatever she wanted. She no longer had to consider herself someone¡¯s wife or give her time to any man who wasn¡¯t family.


    She was simply herself¡ªKatelyn Bailey.


    Aimee nodded approvingly. ¡°Exactly. You¡¯repletely transformed from the Katelyn before your divorce. It¡¯s like you¡¯re a new person.¡±


    Her changed demeanor was evident, even visible in her posture.


    Katelyn shed a smile and took another sip of her wine.


    ¡°Exactly. To me, men have brought nothing but trouble.¡±


    At that, Aimee stopped herself from saying more. She wholeheartedly agreed with Katelyn. For them, rtionships and men were nothing but hindrances.


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    Katelyn and Aimee spent the evening at the bar, staying well past midnight.


    The next morning, Katelyn¡¯s rm clock buzzed at 9 A.M. She got out of bed, showered quickly, and after finalizing the drafts she had been working on, sent them off to Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, these are the final drafts. Please review them and let me know if there are any changes you¡¯d like to make.¡±


    Vincent responded quickly, ¡°Come to my office. We need to discuss these in person.¡±


    Katelyn agreed, ¡°All right.¡±


    After sending the message, she changed into casual attire and drove to the Adams Group.


    Since theirst discussion, Katelyn had be a familiar face at thepany. As she walked through the building, several employees greeted her warmly, to which she responded with a nod and a smile.


    Vincent¡¯s office was located on the top floor. Upon arriving at his door, Katelyn knocked.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, it¡¯s me.¡±


    A reserved voice responded from within, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Katelyn opened the door and entered. Vincent was seated at his desk, dressed in a ck suit. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed him in a gentle glow.


    He looked up at Katelyn with a neutral expression. ¡°We need to tweak a few details in the drafts.¡± His tone was professional.


    Katelyn nodded, not overly concerned. She retrieved herptop from her briefcase and pulled up the document.


    ¡°Sure, let¡¯s discuss the changes.¡±


    The project theme was spring. With thepletion of this batch of drawings, only two more themes remained under their contract. Katelyn had reached the halfway mark of the coboration.


    Vincent pointed to a section of the draft and suggested, ¡°We should make the end of the design more distinct and pronounced. It could better represent the concept. Right now, it¡¯s just some trees, and it feels a bit too in.¡±


    Katelyn considered his suggestion and began adjusting the design on herptop. Her fingers danced on the keyboard as she focused deeply on her task. She didn¡¯t notice Vincent¡¯s thoughtful gaze.


    ¡°Anything else, Mr. Adams?¡±


    She had sent him a total of twenty drafts, from which five were selected to be sent to the factory for sample production.


    If the samples came back without issues, the designs would be approved for mass production and customization.


    Vincent nced over the modified drafts and leaned back in his chair, satisfied. ¡°The rest is fine. No more changes needed.¡±


    That¡¯s when Katelyn sensed something was amiss. She looked at Vincent, confused, and hesitated for a moment before deciding to hold back her questions.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 110

    ?Chapter 110:


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was off about Vincent¡¯s attitude, though she couldn¡¯t pinpoint what it was.


    At that moment, Vincent caught her gaze and seemed to read her thoughts instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn held back her words and simply shook her head. ¡°Nothing.¡±


    As she said this, she continued to examine the design drawings, moving the mouse around.


    ¡°If everything looks good with these theme designs, I¡¯ll move on to developing the next set. I¡¯ll send the preliminary sketches to your email as usual.¡±


    After reviewing all the design drawings and receiving Vincent¡¯s nod of approval, she shut down herptop and ced it back in her bag.


    She nced at Vincent¡¯s chest, aware of the gunshot wound hidden beneath his shirt, out of sight. ¡°How¡¯s your wound?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s answer was still indifferent, and his eyes were as cold as ever. When he looked over, there seemed to be no emotion.


    He seemed even more distant and aloof than when they first met.


    They had been through life-threatening situations together, yet¡­


    A flicker of confusion crossed Katelyn¡¯s eyes, but she dismissed it, not wanting to dwell on what she couldn¡¯t understand.


    After all, their coboration was only temporary. She gathered her belongings and was about to leave when there was a sudden, urgent knock at the door.


    Samuel entered with grave news. ¡°There¡¯s a problem, Mr. Adams. A fire broke out at the factory, and we¡¯ve lost our samples; they¡¯ve beenpletely destroyed.¡±


    L¦¡¦Ó??¦Ó ch¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??????


    Vincent¡¯s stare at Samuel was chilling.


    ¡°Did all the themed samples get destroyed?¡±


    Samuel confirmed with a nod. ¡°The entire factory was reduced to ashes.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Katelyn¡¯s expression turned serious.


    The factory where the samples were produced was owned directly by the Adams Group, with external contractors involved.


    How could there be a fire just when things were so critical?


    With the new productunch fast approaching, they needed those samples for disy and further marketing strategies.


    The timing of the fire seemed too coincidental to be an ident.


    Katelyn looked up at Samuel and asked in a tense voice, ¡°Were there any signs of foul y?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Samuel replied, shaking his head before turning to Vincent. ¡°Mr. Adams, what should we do now?¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s get these designs to several reliable factories, not just one. Spread out the risk. Also, we need to investigate what caused the fire.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression was unreadable.


    His gaze shifted to Katelyn.


    He had uncovered details about the death of the design department¡¯s head but had not yet shared them with Katelyn.


    Now he was certain that someone was targeting him, specifically aiming to sabotage his partnership with Katelyn.


    But the other party was so cunning and mysterious that he hadn¡¯t yet caught the person behind it.


    Samuel responded with a quick nod. ¡°Understood, Mr. Adams. I¡¯ll handle it right away.¡±


    With that, he hurried out.


    Katelyn looked at Vincent, frowning. ¡°I¡¯ll forward the earlier designs to your emailter.¡±


    There wasn¡¯t much more she could do at this point.


    Vincent nodded, then leaned back in his chair, typing something on his phone, sending what appeared to be urgent instructions.


    Due to the distance, Katelyn couldn¡¯t see what he was typing.


    Considering the urgency of the situation, she decided it was best to leave and not impose any further.


    Shouldering her bag, Katelyn said firmly, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯m heading out now. Call me if you need anything else.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Vincent responded indifferently.


    Katelyn nodded and was about to exit when suddenly Vincent¡¯sptop emitted a piercing rm.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 111

    ?Chapter 111:


    Vincent¡¯s expression was cold as he rapidly typed on his keyboard.


    But he was a moment toote; the hacker was too fast. In an instant, hisptop went ck. Even a forced restart only brought up a screen filled with snowke-like patterns.


    Katelyn raised an eyebrow, surprised by the audacity of someone daring to breach the Adams Group¡¯s secure systems.


    Vincent frantically typed on the keyboard, but to no avail. The hacker was bypassing thepany¡¯s firewall. A breach of their confidential documents could potentially result in a loss in the hundreds of billions.


    Suddenly, Samuel rushed back in, looking rmed. ¡°Bad news, Mr. Adams! Ourwork¡¯s beenpromised.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s re was so chilling it seemed to drop the temperature in the room, making it feel like an ice cer. ¡°Get the IT team to check this immediately and reinforce the firewall. Hurry!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Adams.¡±


    After issuing the order, Vincent sank back into his chair, his gaze fixed on the malfunctioningptop.


    Over the years, numerous hackers had attempted to infiltrate thepany¡¯s database, though none had been as audacious as this.


    This hacker¡¯s methods were far more sophisticated than those of previous attackers.


    The Adams Group¡¯s firewall was a high-cost system, specially designed and imported from overseas.


    However,


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    Katelyn silently watched the drama unfold on Vincent¡¯sputer.


    It was clear to her that the hacker¡¯s skills ranked among the top 10 globally.


    The room grew tense and silent, with only faint noises from the office breaking the quiet.


    Suddenly, the pattern on the screen changed, forming the capital letters ¡°T¡± and ¡°S.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, her nails digging into her palms as her breathing quickened.


    This hacker, known as TS, had emerged mysteriously five years ago and had topped the global rankings ever since, unbeaten in all that time.


    Their hacking skills were fearsome; any secret was vulnerable if they decided to uncover it. Furthermore¡­ Katelyn herself was TS.


    For a moment, her eyes filled with panic, confusion, and disbelief.


    She wondered if someone was imitating her to target the Adams Group.


    Who could it be?


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed, his look bing menacing. ¡°So, that¡¯s why. No wonder our firewall seemed so ineffective.¡±


    Suppressing her mixed feelings, Katelyn pretended to be confused. ¡°Mr. Adams, are you familiar with the hacker who left that message?¡±


    Vincent fixed a cold stare at theputer screen as he responded, ¡°Not personally. I only know their reputation. This one¡¯s recognized as the number one hacker in the world.¡±


    Nobody knew TS¡¯s real identity or even gender. All that was known was that TS was enigmatic and only took highly paid jobs.


    Vincent guessed that someone must have deliberately hired TS to target the Adams Group. Such audacity! With that thought, Vincent picked up his phone and made a call.


    His voice was cold as hemanded, ¡°Find the hacker. TS at all costs.¡± His resolve was clear; he intended to make TS face the consequences.


    Katelyn watched the unfolding scene with conflicted emotions, mentally ruling out potential suspects. Despite her prominent position in the hacker rankings for years, her knowledge of other hackers was limited, so she decided to have her connection, Briar Astan, look into it.


    Lost in thought, she didn¡¯t notice Vincent¡¯s piercing gaze on her.


    ¡°You seem quite stressed, Miss Bailey. Do you know this particr hacker?¡± he inquired.


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 Chapter 112

    ?Chapter 112:


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was sharp and probing.


    Under his watchful eyes, it felt as if no secret could remain hidden.


    He had never looked at Katelyn in such a way before. She momentarily panicked but quickly regained herposure.


    ncing at the letters disyed on the screen, Katelyn quickly came up with an excuse.


    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with TS, but a friend of mine might know something. I¡¯ll reach out to him for help.¡±


    Vincent caught the subtle shift in her demeanor.


    He casually tapped his finger on the desk. The sound was not loud, but to Katelyn, it echoed like a heartbeat.


    Vincent responded in a tone filled with implication.


    ¡°Okay. That sounds like a n.¡±


    Katelyn said, ¡°I need to leave now, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm,¡± Vincent merely gave her a detached look and didn¡¯t invite her to stay, yet his gaze unnervingly rooted her in ce for a moment.


    Without another word, Katelyn left his office briskly.


    Half an hourter, she was back at her house.


    After slipping into her slippers, she headed to the study and powered up herptop.


    She needed to investigate on her own.


    Her fingers danced across the keyboard, filling the room with the tter of keys.


    The firewall protecting the Adams Group¡¯s data was sophisticatedly encrypted. Aside from Katelyn, only top-ranked hackers could potentially breach it.


    She mulled over who might be pretending to be her. This hacker wasn¡¯t just targeting the Adams Group but seemed intent on framing her.


    Katelyn quickly navigated through herptop and opened a peculiar software marked by a ck and red logo. Unbeknownst to anyone, she had created this tool, which facilitated information searches and elerated programming tasks.


    As she continued inputting codes, a flurry of numbers and letters flooded across her screen.


    With the hacker still targeting the Adams Group¡¯s systems, she swiftly set up a new firewall to block the attack.


    Vincent had once saved her life, and this was her way of repaying that debt.


    The cyber battlested for an hour. After typing thestmand, Katelyn slumped back on the sofa, letting out a relieved sigh.


    She had quickly set up a temporary firewall for the Adams Group. However, it was just a stopgap measure.


    To enhance the security measures, she needed to visit the Adams Group to update their system.


    For a corporation asrge as the Adams Group, crafting the necessary firewall codes was aplicated task. Even Katelyn would need several days toplete it. Thepany soon realized that the cyber attack had been sessfully thwarted.


    Vincent, fixated on hisptop screen, analyzed the intertwining ck and red codes representing the ongoing cyber battle.


    Clearly, the defender had won.


    As the ck code receded and vanished, the initials ¡°T¡± and ¡°S¡± were briefly visible, marking their territory.


    This wasn¡¯t just a signature; it was more like a challenge.


    Samuel, staring at theplicated codes, scratched his head, baffled.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, was that your backup? They¡¯re far superior to our own IT team.¡±


    Their IT staff had spent two hours and hadn¡¯t evenid the groundwork for the firewall yet this mysterious defender had not only repelled the attacker but had also managed to upgrade the firewall.


    ¡°If we could get them on board to reprogram it, we might prevent such a crisis in the future,¡± Samuel suggested.


    Vincent remained silent, recalling Katelyn¡¯s earlier reaction.


    His background in psychology helped him pick up on her subtle cues. He was convinced she knew more about TS than she let on. In fact, he suspected she might be TS herself. This suspicion was fueled by a glimpse of unusual software with a ck and red logo he had once seen on herptop in the past.


    Katelyn had admitted to having some hacking skills, but she hadn¡¯t borated.


    She tended to keep a low profile, so Vincent doubted she would readily reveal her identity as TS to others.


    Seeing his boss lost in thought, Samuel stopped talking.


    Suddenly, the office door swung open. A man with scarlet hair and a golden stud earring strode in. Vincent and Samuel instinctively turned to look at him.


    .


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 Chapter 113

    ?Chapter 113:


    Breathing heavily, Jaxen Lawrence entered Vincent¡¯s office and ced hisptop on the desk.


    ¡°Vincent! You mentioned yourpany was under attack, right? I¡¯m here to help sort it out now.¡±


    He had been enjoying a yacht party with a group of lovely women when Vincent¡¯s call interrupted him.


    Without hesitation, he left the party behind and hurried back as quickly as possible.


    Opening hisptop, Jaxen nced at Vincent, who remained motionless, and expressed his concern. ¡°Why are you just sitting there? What if ourpany¡¯s confidential information gets leaked? We need to act fast!¡±


    Vincent, stone-faced, turned hisptop around to show Jaxen. ¡°You¡¯re toote,¡± he simply said.


    A defender had quickly set up a temporary firewall, granting them a bit more time. Now, all that remained was for the IT department to strengthen their firewall.


    Eyes wide, Jaxen scanned the codes on the screen and cursed under his breath. ¡°Damn it! If the issue was already handled, why wasn¡¯t I informed sooner? Do you realize how many pretty girls I¡¯ve left behind to rush back here?¡±


    ¡°Not concerned with your social sacrifices,¡± Vincent replied. ¡°You owe me for this inconvenience.¡±


    Jaxen sank into the sofa with a look of regret over his interrupted escapade.


    Vincent approached him, his presence overpowering. Jaxen quaked slightly and quickly adopted a more pleasing demeanor.


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    ¡°I was just joking. There¡¯s no need for you topensate me. Could you stop staring? It¡¯s making my skin crawl.¡±


    Vincent, pondering, pointed at theptop screen. ¡°I once mentioned that each hacker has a distinct coding style, almost like a personal signature. Can you identify who might be behind this by their coding style?¡±


    Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Jaxen immediately dropped his jovial facade, took on a serious expression, and began scrutinizing the programming codes with intensity.


    After a moment, he burst out, ¡°Oh my God! That¡¯s TS¡¯s coding style. He¡¯s back in action? Howe I haven¡¯t heard anything about this?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. ¡°Are you certain there¡¯s no mistake?¡± he questioned.


    Jaxen gestured dismissively and asserted confidently, ¡°I may not be familiar with other hackers, but TS has been my inspiration for years. I¡¯ve dreamt of studying under him if given the opportunity.¡±


    While pointing to the end of the code, Jaxen let out a sigh. ¡°I needn¡¯t consider others. This coding style is unmistakably TS¡¯s. Only he could code like he¡¯s painting a masterpiece.¡±


    Should TS have any admirers, Jaxen would undoubtedly be the most devoted among them. He had been a follower of TS for years. Sadly, TS remained an enigma, with Jaxen knowing very little about him.


    A flicker of sadness passed through Jaxen¡¯s eyes, but he was quickly struck by a realization.


    His eyes gleamed as he looked over the code. ¡°Vincent, how did you manage to employ TS to enhance our firewall? Could you introduce me? Being his pupil would be a dreame true.¡±


    Samuel, overhearing their conversation, interjected with confusion, ¡°Mr. Lawrence, is there an error? Wasn¡¯t TS responsible for the attack? Why do you believe he assisted in setting up the firewall?¡±


    With a flick of his tongue, Jaxen casually exined, ¡°The true intruder aimed to pin the me on TS. Clearly, theyck TS¡¯s finesse. They¡¯re merely a feeble copycat.¡±


    Vincent continued tapping on the desk, yet the grave look in his eyes began to wane.


    It seemed his suspicion was right. This issue likely involved Katelyn.


    At the same time, Katelyn had slipped into a snug leather jacket and was now speeding across the sea bridge on her heavy motorcycle.


    .


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 Chapter 114

    ?Chapter 114:


    Katelyn¡¯s long hair, tousled by the night breeze, remained concealed beneath her helmet.


    She brought her motorcycle to a halt at a quaint tavern in the city¡¯s northern part. Decorated in vintage style, the tavern featured wind chimes at the door that jingled when it opened.


    Her visit was intended to meet the tavern¡¯s owner.


    Although it was night, only a few patrons were present, as the locals didn¡¯t favor the tavern for entertainment.


    Seated at the counter, Katelyn requested, ¡°Diet Coke, please.¡±


    Taken aback, the bartender reflexively responded, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re in the right ce? We don¡¯t have soft drinks here.¡±


    ¡°Water is fine then,¡± Katelyn replied, scanning the surroundings casually.


    The bartender¡¯s puzzled look suggested he suspected her of causing trouble when suddenly, a hoarseugh echoed through the space.


    ¡°My little angel, it¡¯s really you!¡±


    The voice led Katelyn¡¯s gaze to a middle-aged man descending the stairs in a long gown, using a cane for support.


    Although he was only in his mid-forties, his hair was entirely gray, and his gold-rimmed sses cast a gaze both keen and sage.


    Katelyn stood to greet him, ¡°Good evening, Briar.¡±


    She had never been sure if ¡°Briar Aston¡± was his real name, but that was the name he had given her during their first meeting.


    In her ventures into hacking, Briar had been a mentor, and their rtionship grew into a strong friendship over time.


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    There were many gaps in Katelyn¡¯s inte knowledge, yet nothing seemed to escape Briar, which is why she sought his counsel now.


    Noticing Briar¡¯s struggle with an old leg injury, Katelyn quickly assisted him to a seat, expressing concern about his well-being amid the fluctuating temperatures.


    ¡°How are you managing? Feeling any better these days?¡±


    Briar settled into the chair, smiling wryly. ¡°Same as always, fussing over my age.¡±


    While speaking, Briar observed the marked changes in Katelyn¡¯s appearance.


    ¡°You seem to have had a tough few weeks; you¡¯ve noticeably slimmed down.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s leave the past in the past,¡± Katelyn dismissed, quickly changing the subject.


    She nced towards the bartender, her hesitation apparent. She seemed ready to share something important with Briar but paused at the sight of strangers.


    Briar, beaming with understanding, said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the back for a chat. It¡¯s been years since west caught up.¡±


    Katelyn, holding his arm and smiling, secretly sighed.


    ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s been almost three years since west saw each other.¡±


    Back then, Katelyn was consumed by romantic pursuits, which led her to step back from her business ventures and cut off many professional ties.


    Now, reflecting on those decisions, she criticized her own naivety.


    Briar¡¯s tea room, located at the very back, served as his sanctuary.


    Instead of books, the shelves were stocked with various precious tea leaves.


    Tea was his primary passion, despite hisck of other hobbies.


    Katelyn, inspecting the tea collection, couldn¡¯t help but smile brightly.


    ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve gathered quite a collection of fine tea over the years. Your shelf ispletely full now. I¡¯ve recently acquired some excellent tea myself. I¡¯ll bring you some next time.¡±


    As Briar prepared the tea, he responded with a smile.


    ¡°Great. I¡¯ve always valued your taste.¡±


    The high-quality green tea leaves unfurled slowly, releasing their scent as hot water poured over them, turning the water a light green.


    The room filled with the rich aroma of the tea. Upon tasting it, Katelyn remarked on its unparalleled sweetness.


    ¡°This tea you brew is exceptional, Briar. I can¡¯t find this quality anywhere else.¡±


    ¡°If you enjoy it, feel free to visit more often. When I¡¯m gone, I¡¯ll leave all the tea on the shelf for you.¡±


    After taking a sip of his tea, Briar set down his cup and looked intently at Katelyn.


    ¡°Has something happened to you?¡±


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 Chapter 115

    ?Chapter 115:


    Briar¡¯s piercing gaze was almost as if he could read minds, reminding Katelyn of Vincent¡¯s intense look from earlier.


    Though simr to Vincent¡¯s, Briar¡¯s eyes conveyed a different kind of fierceness.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were sharp like a dagger, while Briar¡¯s resembled a sheathed de, still emitting a faint coldness.


    His extensive life experiences had turned him inward, giving him a somewhat grim demeanor.


    Because of this, Katelyn was direct, hiding nothing as she broached the subject.


    ¡°Briar, someone impersonated me to infiltrate a firewall and ess confidential data earlier today. Do you have any idea who this hacker might be? Are they pretending to be TS?¡±


    Briar pondered, a flicker of disdain crossing his features. ¡°As if they could really¡­¡±


    ¡°The fact is, I¡¯m at a loss myself. That¡¯s why I came to you.¡±


    ¡°The hacker waspetent, nearly breaching the firewall. Despite my efforts, I still can¡¯t pinpoint who they are.¡±


    While exining, Katelyn pulled out her phone to show Briar a screenshot of the hacker¡¯s attempt on Vincent¡¯spany.


    As Jaxen had observed, individual habits lead to unique identifiers, allowing those familiar with these people to recognize these nuances.


    Briar examined the phone, scanning the intricate codes disyed.


    Katelyn furrowed her brows and continued, ¡°I only took online orders for the first two years andter stopped doing this for three years. I believe I hold no grudges against other hackers, but could this be a targeted attack against me?¡±


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    Briar responded with a rxed smile, ¡°The hacker has some skills. He¡¯s definitely trying hard to mask his identity well, though his methods are stillcking. I¡¯ll assist in investigating this and keep you informed.¡±


    After reviewing the information, Briar handed her phone back. Katelyn epted it, nodding emphatically in gratitude.


    ¡°Thank you so much, Briar.¡±


    Leaning back in his chair, Briar waved off her thanks casually. ¡°You¡¯re wee. After all, we¡¯re close friends.¡±


    Katelyn smiled at him.


    Briar was not just a close friend. He also yed the roles of mentor and father figure to her.


    Despite the age difference, they shared a deep, unspoken understanding.


    While spending time with Briar, Katelyn noticed it was 10 P.M. as the clock chimed.


    She nced at the clock and then picked up her helmet. ¡°I need to head home now. I¡¯lle by another day,¡± she said.


    Briar, supporting himself with his crutch, nodded and smiled in agreement. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Katelyn then left the tavern and mounted her motorcycle. Dressed in tight leather that highlighted her figure, she waved goodbye to Briar, lowered her helmet¡¯s visor, and started the engine. In a moment, she vanished into the night.


    Unbeknownst to her, Briar¡¯s warm smile faded as soon as she turned away.


    The light from the streemps cast a glow on one side of his face, leaving the other half obscured by shadow, reflecting the dual nature of his emotions.


    Katelyn sped home, arriving in under thirty minutes. Upon returning, she took another hot shower and once again fortified the firewall for Vincent¡¯spany.


    This security measure was only a temporary solution. She needed to find an opportunity to implement a more permanent fix at Adams Group.


    Meanwhile, several high-definition photographs secretly taken of her crossing the bridgey scattered across a desk.


    Her silhouette was especially striking in these images. In a dimly lit room, a figure looking at one of the photographs murmured in surprise, ¡°Is that Katelyn Hailey?¡±


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 Chapter 116

    ?Chapter 116:


    Lise was the one speaking.


    Her gaze was fixed on Katelyn¡¯s elegant image in the photos, unable to mask her evident hatred.


    Lise had assumed that after being ousted from the Bailey family and abandoned by Neil, Katelyn would spiral into depression, living miserably.


    Contrary to her expectations, Katelyn appeared unaffected, radiating happiness and beauty. How could she stand to let her thrive?


    Lise red at the man dressed in ck across from her with cold eyes.


    The man had a menacing presence, marked by a snake tattoo on his neck.


    ¡°Her life ends,¡± Lise dered through clenched teeth, her eyes burning with intensity. The man responded with a nod and an ¡°OK¡± gesture. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to transfer the payment.¡± He then exited the room.


    Lise remained seated, staring intently at the photographs. Internally, she seethed, ¡°Katelyn must be eliminated.¡±


    The following morning, in Katelyn¡¯s bedroom, she woke up early and immediately checked the Adams Group¡¯s firewall on herptop.


    The logs showed another hacking attempt at three in the morning, which had been thwarted.


    The temporary firewall had beenpromised, necessitating a trip to thepany to update the security protocols.


    After freshening up and changing, she was about to head to Adams Group when her phone rang unexpectedly. It was Vincent calling.


    Upon connecting, Vincent¡¯s tone was cool. ¡°Are you avable today?¡±


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    Katelyn responded instinctively.


    Vincent, leaning back, spoke in a serious tone, ¡°Could youe to my office? I need to discuss something with you, and a colleague of mine is also here.¡±


    ¡°No problem,¡± Katelyn replied.


    After ending the call, she sighed in relief.


    Vincent¡¯s tone had a serious edge, as though he was aware of something.


    Did he suspect her secret identity as a hacker?


    Katelyn made her way to the garage and drove to the Adams Group, arriving in just half an hour.


    At the door, she called out clearly, ¡°Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°Come in,¡± came the reply.


    Upon entering, Katelyn looked up to see Jaxen staring at her with curiosity.


    A flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes. She didn¡¯t recognize him. He must be the ¡°colleague¡± Vincent had mentioned.


    Jaxen observed Katelyn intently, his eyes gleaming with admiration.


    This was his first encounter with such a captivating woman, whose delicate facial features resembled artwork. Her cool, detached demeanor made her seem unattainable, like a lofty pine snow-capped peak.


    Raised among wealth, Jaxen had always been surrounded by beauty, but Katelyn¡¯s presence was uniquely striking. She embodied the essence of natural beauty.


    Vincent, seated on the sofa, nced at Katelyn and spoke in his usual detached, deep voice. ¡°This morning, there was another attempt to breach ourwork. We need to fortify our firewall immediately.¡±


    Katelyn was taken aback. What exactly did he mean? Was he expecting her to handle the coding? Had he found out something?


    Suddenly, Jaxen redirected his attention to her. He approached with a smile and extended his hand.


    ¡°Hi, beautiful. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jaxen Lawrence. We will be coborating for the next couple of days.¡±


    Instinctively, Katelyn stepped back, slightly overwhelmed by Jaxen¡¯s vivid appearance and mboyant demeanor, reminiscent of a peacock in full disy. Vincent¡¯s expression grew darker.


    Katelyn, somewhat awkwardly, shook hands with him, managing a polite smile.


    ¡°Hello, Katelyn Bailey.¡±


    At that moment, confusion clouded Katelyn¡¯s mind. She wondered about Vincent¡¯s intentions and whether he doubted her skills, since he had hired help for her.


    Oblivious to her thoughts, Jaxen grinned broadly and mused quietly to himself, ¡°Katelyn Bailey¡­ that name sounds familiar. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve heard it somewhere before.¡±


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 Chapter 117

    ?Chapter 117:


    Jaxen was certain he had heard the name ¡°Katelyn Bailey¡± before. His memory was hazy, though, and he couldn¡¯t quite recall where.


    He gazed at Katelyn intently, rubbing his chin. ¡°Have we perhaps met before? Could you give me a hint?¡±


    Feeling somewhat helpless, Katelyn nced toward Vincent. Their contrasting personalities¡ªone fiery, the other icy¡ªmade it puzzling how they had ever be friends.


    Suddenly, Vincent¡¯s stern voice broke the silence. ¡°Jaxen, remember our purpose here.¡±


    His words jolted Jaxen to attention, and meeting Vincent¡¯s chilling stare sent a shiver down his spine. Was it his imagination, or was there a hidden threat in this ordinary office setting?


    Jaxen quickly dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m invaluable. Plus, with a beautiful colleague like Katelyn, our productivity will double.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression hardened, and he tapped his knee lightly. His voice carried a veiled threat as he said, ¡°If you don¡¯t meet my expectations, I¡¯ll have to reveal your secret to your family.¡±


    Jaxen protested loudly, ¡°We¡¯re supposed to be friends. Isn¡¯t this a bit underhanded?¡±


    Vincent ignored him, turning instead to lock eyes with Katelyn.


    ¡°Once the firewall is up, I¡¯ll pay you double the estimate.¡±


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, pretending confusion. She was puzzled. Shouldn¡¯t Vincent have been more discreet if he harbored suspicions about her identity?


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    Vincent looked at her calmly and asked inly, ¡°Are you capable of coding?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Mr. Adams, are you asking me to code? Aren¡¯t you aware that I¡¯m solely a designer?¡±


    Jaxen, puzzled by the exchange, looked from Katelyn to Vincent. ¡°Wait, are you sure you have the right person?¡±


    Vincent sat stoically, his gaze locked on Katelyn. ¡°Just yesterday, TS thwarted an impersonator shortly after you left. Doesn¡¯t that seem too coincidental?¡±


    Katelyn was momentarily silent, contemting. Could Vincent really be basing his suspicions on such trivial observations? How astutely observant he must be!


    Facing him squarely, her eyes earnest, she replied, ¡°Mr. Adams, you¡¯re overestimating me. I¡¯m merely a designer. Perhaps it¡¯s simply as coincidental as it seems.¡±


    Vincent mused, his expression bing more inscrutable. He seemed unconvinced.


    Thepany¡¯s firewall had started receiving anonymous protection exactly when Katelyn would have reached home from the Adams Group.


    ¡°In this world, true coincidences are one in a million. Most are man-made,¡± Vincent remarked, his words heavy with implication.


    Jaxen paced around Katelyn, his expression troubled, before stopping to face Vincent.


    ¡°TS¡¯s coding is incredibly refined, almost like a work of art. Isn¡¯t she too young for such expertise?¡± he questioned. In his view, TS should have decades of experience to craft such wless code.


    Vincent remained silent, his intense gaze fixed on Katelyn as if trying to discern the truth through her demeanor. Despite his scrutiny, Katelyn showed no sign of panic, only genuine bewilderment.


    She brushed back a lock of hair and said with a touch of frustration, ¡°If I possessed TS¡¯s skills, why would I hide it? If I had such talent, I would proudly acknowledge it.¡±


    Her statement, intended to deflect, only intensified Vincent¡¯s scrutiny. He found no concrete reason to believe Katelyn would deny such a im either.


    Jaxen, trying to lighten the mood, ced a hand on Vincent¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°You might be reading too much into this.¡±


    Vincent stayed quiet, torn between his suspicions and the possibility that Katelyn was merely concealing her true capabilities.


    Katelyn, with a gesture of resignation, spread her hands and exined, ¡°I understand thepany is under threat, but I¡¯m not the programmer you need. My expertise is in design, not coding.¡±


    Vincent, with a thoughtful look, slightly smiled and conceded, ¡°Perhaps I was mistaken.¡±


    Just as he rxed, his phone rang. The caller ID made his expression turn grave instantly.


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 Chapter 118

    ?Chapter 118:


    The call was unusual. The screen disyed no iing number, only asterisks.


    The number had been intentionally obscured to prevent tracing its identity. Upon answering, Vincent was greeted by a cold, mechanical voice.


    ¡°Hello, Adams, it¡¯s TS.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened as he nced at Katelyn, who seemedpletely baffled.


    Holding the phone, he spoke gravely. ¡°It appears you know I¡¯ve been investigating you?¡± The voice on the phone chuckled, distorted and metallic, adding to its eerie nature.


    Though not a speaker, Katelyn and Jaxen could overhear bits of the conversation due to their proximity. Katelyn subtly clenched her hand inside her sleeve.


    The caller was Briar.


    Katelyn had prepared for Vincent¡¯s possible suspicions. She had pre-arranged with Briar to assist if needed.


    Her phone was set to send a signal to Briar by pressing the power button three times, a subtle movement she had made earlier while being questioned.


    This helped divert Vincent¡¯s attention.


    The voice continued, ¡°I¡¯m aware of the issues at yourpany, and I won¡¯t be med for others¡¯ actions. I¡¯ll address the firewall, but Mr. Adams, keep your team in check. I don¡¯t appreciate my private life being scrutinized, and I hope we can resolve this matter amicably.¡±


    Vincent sensed a veiled threat in those words. Given TS¡¯s renowned hacking prowess, the hacker certainly had the means to significantly impact Adams Group.


    Vincent responded icily, ¡°Can I trust you when yourwork has beenpromised twice already?¡±


    The mechanical voice promised, ¡°Within a week, I will overhaul your firewall and secure yourwork.¡±


    Vincent kept hisposure while ncing at Katelyn, monitoring her every subtle movement.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one chance. If the issue isn¡¯t resolved, I¡¯ll consider it a direct challenge.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± was the curt reply before the call abruptly ended.


    Vincent looked at the now-darkened phone screen, a shadow of concern passing over his face.


    Both the caller ID and the voice had been thoroughly disguised to prevent identification.


    The unexpected call from TS to address the issue felt unsettling to Vincent, and he struggled to understand why.


    He handed the phone to Jaxen, asking, ¡°The callsted over thirty seconds. Can you trace the caller¡¯s exact location?¡±


    Jaxen examined the phone thoroughly, his expression grim.


    ¡°This is TS. With his hacking skills, he¡¯s beyond the reach of even ten people like mebined. Moreover, this is a virtual number. It could reroute through ten different locations within a minute. If we were to track TS, he wouldn¡¯t have remained unssified for this long.¡±


    Vincent stared at the phone disy, filled with asterisks, and then suddenly looked up at Katelyn.


    ¡°I recall you mentioned yesterday that a friend of yours is acquainted with TS.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face tensed for a moment. Her priorment, meant to absolve her, now seemed to have entrapped her instead.


    Attempting to dismiss the implication, she smiled weakly and said, ¡°My friend mentioned that, but I can¡¯t verify if it¡¯s him.¡±


    Vincent paused, then stated firmly, ¡°I want to meet him.¡±


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 Chapter 119

    ?Chapter 119:


    Katelyn¡¯s smile froze momentarily on her face. ¡°A meeting with TS?¡± she thought, bewildered by the impossibility.


    How could Vincent request this suddenly?


    Hadn¡¯t he already known that TS had nothing to do with this cyber-attack?


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was intense as he looked at her, his eyes deep with unspoken thoughts.


    ¡°Is this request too challenging?¡± he inquired.


    Katelyn, gathering herposure, responded, ¡°I can¡¯t confirm the authenticity of my friend¡¯s im. TS is known for his elusiveness. Convincing him to meet might not even be feasible.¡±


    She then posed a question to Vincent, feigning curiosity.


    ¡°Why this sudden interest in meeting him? Haven¡¯t we already established that he wasn¡¯t involved?¡±


    Vincent moved towards the window, his reflection mirroring his cold demeanor.


    ¡°TS¡¯s talent is rare. Missing this opportunity would be a significant loss.¡±


    In an era marked by swift technological progress, TS was considered a valuable asset.


    Integrating him into thepany could lead to substantial advantages.


    Relieved, Katelyn replied mechanically, ¡°I¡¯ll contact my friend once I¡¯m back. If his story holds, I¡¯ll ask him to convey your invitation to TS.¡±


    Vincent curtly acknowledged, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Jaxen, unable to contain his enthusiasm, chimed in, ¡°If you do get to meet TS, could I possibly join you? Meeting my idol in person would be incredible, and perhaps he might even consider me for an apprenticeship.¡±


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    Katelyn regarded Jaxen, her expressionplex, as she pondered his request.


    The idea that she could evoke such admiration was both strange and unfamiliar to her.


    Considering Jaxen¡¯s admiration for TS, she shuddered at the thought of what might happen if her true identity were revealed.


    She quickly dismissed the thought, rubbing her arms to dispel the unease.


    Jaxen¡¯sputer screen began to shift suddenly, his eyes lighting up with excitement.


    ¡°¡®TS is making a move.¡±


    This announcement immediately drew Katelyn¡¯s and Vincent¡¯s attention. Both stared intently at the screen, now flooding withplex code.


    TS was remotely updating a new firewall for the Adams Group.


    Jaxen pulled up a chair and sat down to monitor the changes closely.


    Katelyn also settled herself nearby, opening herptop, which disyed a designyout, secretly masking a programming interface beneath.


    At that moment, Vincent was so focused on Jaxen¡¯sputer screen that he didn¡¯t notice what Katelyn was discreetly sending out.


    Vincent¡¯s brow creased as he observed the swiftly changing code on the screen, though he was not particrly adept at programming. He ced his hand on Jaxen¡¯s shoulder and posed a direct question. ¡°Take a good look at this coding style. Can you confirm if this is really TS?¡±


    Katelyn straightened up, alert and ready. Hadn¡¯t the recent call already cleared any lingering doubts in Vincent¡¯s mind?


    Anyone else might have concluded that the caller was indeed TS.


    At that moment, Katelyn grew even more appreciative of Vincent¡¯s sharp insight, which had propelled thepany into the global top hundred so swiftly.


    Alerted by the conversation, Jaxen examined a few lines and soon identified discrepancies.


    He pointed decisively to a specific line on the screen. ¡°If this really is TS, his coding habits would be different!¡± This assertion caused Katelyn to shudder involuntarily.


    Had Jaxen analyzed her habits that thoroughly? Was he suggesting it wasn¡¯t her based on subtle idiosyncrasies she herself might not even be aware of?


    ¡°I believe someone is imitating TS¡¯s coding style, much as I once did. Yet, true mastery eludes mere imitation. Such nuances are the unique signatures of a coder,¡± Jaxen borated.


    Vincent, his hand still in his pocket, looked thoughtful for a moment before his intense gaze turned to Katelyn, scrutinizing her response.


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 Chapter 120

    ?Chapter 120:


    Haven¡¯t I Answered My Own Question?


    Vincent still couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that TS was somehow connected to Katelyn. Everything that had happened seemed too perfectly smooth, and upon reflection, the recent phone call was also suspicious¡ªsomeone always intervened just in time to divert suspicion from Katelyn.


    Katelyn managed to conceal any visible emotion and feigned curiosity. ¡°Can we really verify someone¡¯s identity from such minor details? I think coding styles tend to ovep somewhat.¡±


    Jaxen responded with a knowing smile, wagging his finger in front of her. ¡°You don¡¯t fully grasp it, do you? It¡¯s like design. Everyone has unique thinking patterns and stylistic nuances that might not be evident at first nce.¡±


    Katelyn appeared to have an epiphany and nodded, as though she had just understood aplex concept. ¡°I see.¡±


    While engaging Jaxen in conversation, she covertly slid her hand beneath the table, out of sight, and sent a program she had prepared earlier to Briar. This program, crafted during a sleepless night, proved useful.


    She kept her thoughts well hidden, managing to deceive even Vincent.


    Vincent paused, then looked away, knowing that without concrete proof, Katelyn wouldn¡¯t confess. He nced back at the screen just as a new batch of codes appeared. Briar had just gone online and promptly began using the program Katelyn had sent.


    Jaxen, observing the new codes, expressed his puzzlement. ¡°These codes that just appeared seem to be TS¡¯s work. But what about the earlier ones? Could it be that he¡¯s trying to alter his style a little, yet finds his original method more fitting?¡±


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    Jaxen was left wondering about the inconsistencies.


    Vincent was shocked by what he heard. He moved closer, pointed at the screen, and asked softly, ¡°Which part is TS¡¯s style?¡±


    Jaxen urately identified the transition between two different coding styles. Although the top part of the program was wless, it still appeared wed whenpared to the section that followed.


    Katelyn, watching Jaxen, clenched her fists inside her sleeves without realizing it. She suddenly grasped the extent of the fanaticism among fans, which was all too familiar to her. If this continued, her secret might be revealed.


    Vincent pinpointed the crucial issue and asked directly, ¡°Did the style change after you mentioned that the coder might not be TS?¡±


    It was another uncanny coincidence. Vincent¡¯s suspicions deepened as he observed Katelyn silently.


    At that moment, Katelyn was focused on her design work, seemingly oblivious to the conversation. Nervousness caused sweat to form on the palms of her hands; she silently hoped that Jaxen would stop discussing the matter. She felt Vincent¡¯s renewed suspicion, rendering the phone call pointless.


    Reacting to Vincent¡¯sment, Jaxen excitedly pped his thigh and eximed, ¡°Yes, it changed right after I mentioned it. Do you think I¡¯m linked to TS? He probably altered his style intentionally after hearing my thoughts.¡±


    Hearing this, both Vincent and Katelyn were left speechless. Jaxen¡¯s naivety was apparent.


    Meanwhile, Briar continued coding tirelessly. Soon, he had established the initialyer of the firewall. Thisyer was not just the first line of defense but also the most crucial. Typically, a high-securitywork would have at least a thousandyers to deter hackers.


    Jaxen, admiring the code, whispered to himself, ¡°He¡¯s truly deserving of my admiration. I never imagined someone could craft code as sublime as art. If I ever get the chance, I¡¯ll ensure he epts me as his student, no matter what.¡±


    Katelyn concealed the turmoil in her eyes and acted as if she hadn¡¯t heard anything. She had prepared enough code for Briar to get through the morning¡¯s requirements. She nned to write additional code herselfter that evening.


    As she reassured herself, Katelyn¡¯s tense body began to rx. She was focused on her drawing and didn¡¯t notice Vincent approaching silently from behind.


    Katelyn¡¯s hair was untied, cascading softly down her back, allowing Vincent to catch the subtle scent of gardenia as he drew near.


    He spoke suddenly, his gaze intense. ¡°Miss Bailey, do you believe what just transpired was merely a coincidence?¡±


    Caught off guard, Katelyn flinched and instinctively clutched at her chest.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, why are you so quiet when you move? You frightened me terribly.¡±


    She had heard his question but pretended as if it hadn¡¯t registered.


    Vincent, seizing the moment to probe further, loomed over her with a daunting presence.


    Seated, Katelyn felt the weight of his scrutiny intensify. The familiar panic of being trapped resurfaced.


    Vincent watched her with a slight smile, pressing further.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡±


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 Chapter 121

    ?Chapter 121:


    Facing Vincent¡¯s intense gaze, Katelyn feigned ignorance, her eyes filled with doubt.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams, I didn¡¯t quite catch what you said just now. I really don¡¯t know much about these hackers. My expertise is in design.¡±


    The subtext was clear¡ªshe wasn¡¯t the person to quiz about hacking.


    Vincent studied Katelyn, his gazeden with significance.


    ¡°If a coincidence happens twice, it might be chance, but three times? That¡¯s surely deliberate.¡±


    Jaxen, overhearing, scratched his head and asked, ¡°Vincent, do you still think Miss Bailey could be TS?¡±


    Vincent responded only with a piercing look, his eyes sharp and cold, making anyone under his gaze uneasy. Katelyn, grasping the gravity of his suspicion, gestured to herself incredulously.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I just spoke with TS over the phone just now, so why suspect me?¡±


    Despite Vincent¡¯s daunting stare, Katelyn mustered her finest acting skills to maintain a facade of innocence. Her face was a picture of confusion, her eyes wide and guileless, as though she was truly clueless.


    Vincent leaned forward, resting one hand on the table, and did not let any of Katelyn¡¯s expressions escape his scrutiny.


    ¡°All these coincidences¡ªdon¡¯t you find them peculiar, Miss Bailey?¡±


    In that moment, the space between them diminished rapidly. Close enough to detail, Katelyn could even see the individual hairs on Vincent¡¯s face, and she silently admired the intense detail of his features.


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    This face¡­ it¡¯s like a perfect sculpture crafted by divine hands, she thought silently.


    Katelyn nodded slowly, cautiously agreeing.


    ¡°It does seem a bit suspicious, Mr. Adams, but I think you might be asking the wrong person. My insights really aren¡¯t relevant here.¡±


    Vincent stood resolutely, one hand in his pocket, his expression detached.


    ¡°I will exhaust every method to uncover TS¡¯s identity. I just hope the oue is not disappointing.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression tensed immediately, revealing her anxiety.


    She wondered how topletely clear herself of Vincent¡¯s suspicions.


    Whenever they locked eyes, sparks seemed to fly, each trying to read the other.


    Their conversation wasden with significance, understood only by the astute.


    Throughout it all, Katelyn maintained aposed facade, her smile forced, yet there remained an edge around Vincent.


    Jaxen, frustrated by the cryptic exchange, interjected bluntly, ¡°There are just three of us here. If you need to say something, just say it. Am I an outsider?¡±


    Katelyn gestured helplessly and exhaled.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I understand your point. But I am not TS, and no amount of scrutiny will change that.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s demeanor turned icy, his expression as hard as frost. Both recognized the reality.


    ¡°I await the day everything isid bare,¡± he said, his tone final.


    Jaxen¡¯s expression grew stern.


    Vincent seemed not to notice Jaxen¡¯s reaction.


    Katelyn offered a resigned smile.


    ¡°If you won¡¯t believe me, Mr. Adams, then time will have to be our judge.¡±


    Suddenly, an rm sounded from theptop.


    Taking advantage of the moment, the hacker attempted another strike at the firewall currently under repair.


    Despite the attempt, the defense held firm.


    Vincent watched the screen, disying flickering snowkes, his expression somber.


    He had announced earlier that day that the resolution of this situation would involve cooperation with TS. It seemed his enemy was getting anxious.


    Right then, Jaxen eximed with a surge of excitement,


    ¡°I¡¯ve found him!¡±


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 Chapter 122

    ?Chapter 122:


    Katelyn and Vincent approached theptop, their eyes fixed on the changing digital map.


    They both marveled at the audacity of whoever dared to target Adams Group.


    The map continually updated, with a white circle gradually narrowing over the city until a red dot pinpointed a location.


    To their astonishment, that location was within Wheeler Group¡¯s premises.


    Disbelief flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    She spected whether Neil was truly orchestrating these events. ¡°Why would he target Vincent¡¯spany so suddenly? Does he have a death wish?¡± she pondered. Wheeler Group had grown rapidly but stillgged far behind Adams Group. A cynical smile crossed Vincent¡¯s face as he muttered about Neil¡¯s audacity.


    Unaware of the underlying tensions, Jaxen boasted, ¡°I enhanced our firewall with an anti-positioning featurest night. It locks onto the source of any attack.¡±


    Katelyn, looking uncertain, inquired, ¡°Is it possible to trace the earlier attacks as well?¡±


    Jaxen responded with a resigned shake of his head, ¡°This is the best we can do for now.¡±


    This meant he could only verify the source of the most recent attack, but not the earlier ones.


    Jaxen rubbed his chin, reflecting. ¡°Wheeler Group has risen to be a major yer here recently, which exins their boldness in confronting Adams Group.¡±


    Something clicked for Vincent, his expression turning icy. He stood and dialed a number on his phone.


    His voice was chilling as he dered, ¡°Effective immediately, halt all dealings with Neil Wheeler and his ventures.¡±


    Vincent had previously kept his actions against Wheeler Group under wraps, but now he resolved to confront Neil openly for his actions.


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    Katelyn remained silent, lost in her thoughts.


    She doubted Neil would act so rashly and wondered if someone else had set him up.


    She knew well the severe consequences Wheeler Group would face if Vincent decided to retaliate. Vincent had the power to drive Wheeler Group into bankruptcy swiftly.


    Suddenly, she felt Vincent¡¯s piercing gaze and instinctively looked up to meet his probing eyes. Vincent tapped rhythmically on the desk and asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Miss Bailey?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed slightly, caught off guard by his direct question.


    His tone suggested he was gauging her reaction to the unfolding situation.


    She wondered if he suspected her involvement in the cyber-attack.


    Quicklyposing herself, Katelyn responded frankly, ¡°I was thinking Neil Wheeler must be incredibly foolish if he¡¯s really responsible.¡±


    Adams Group dominated two-thirds of Granville¡¯s economy. If Neil¡¯s actions were proven true, they would likely lead to his own downfall.


    Vincent¡¯s response was frosty. ¡°If mypany¡¯s confidential documents arepromised, the financial damage could be immense. People often take great risks for profit.¡±


    Katelyn could only nod in agreement, momentarily at a loss for words.


    Though she wasn¡¯t involved, the implications of Neil¡¯s actions weighed on her.


    She preferred to remain an observer, particrly as Vincent seemed intent on dealing with Neil, which somewhat satisfied her own frustrations.


    Vincent noted the subtle shifts in her demeanor but remained unsure of her indifference toward Neil.


    Just then, Katelyn¡¯s phone rang, casting a shadow over her expression.


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 Chapter 123

    ?Chapter 123:


    Katelyn answered her phone to find Aimee on the other end, sounding cheerful.


    ¡°Kat, I have both good and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?¡±


    Pondering for a moment, Katelyn opted for the good news first while sittingfortably.


    ¡°The great news,¡± Aimee began, ¡°is that I¡¯ve secured the country¡¯s top divorcewyer for you. His track record guarantees a swift and favorable resolution to any case he handles.¡±


    Katelyn smiled, relieved at the prospect ofpletely severing ties with Neil, whom she now viewed with disdain.


    She quickly regained herposure and stated, ¡°As long as he¡¯s willing to take on my case, I¡¯m ready, regardless of the cost.¡±


    Curious about the bad news, she asked, ¡°But what¡¯s the bad news? Is thewyer unavable?¡±


    Aimee confirmed her fears.


    ¡°Exactly. His schedule is packed until next spring. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m already looking for anotherwyer to expedite your divorce.¡±


    Resting her forehead in her hand, Katelyn sighed. Ironically, thewyer¡¯s unavability was due to his high demand.


    Given the skyrocketing divorce rates, surpassing even marriage statistics, prompt legal representation seemed unlikely. With thewyer¡¯s schedule booked until next spring¡ªfar too lengthy for her urgency¡ªKatelyn felt frustrated.


    Despite not being on speakerphone, Vincent overheard the conversation and looked at Katelyn thoughtfully, realizing she was embroiled in a divorce dispute. He was taken aback, surprised that someone as charming as Katelyn was going through a divorce.


    ¡°How could anyone let go of such a remarkable woman?¡± he wondered aloud.


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    Resigned, Katelyn concluded, ¡°Just do your best. I¡¯m also on the lookout for capablewyers.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Aimee replied before ending the call.


    Katelyn stared at her phone¡¯s dark screen, her expression turning somber. Her divorce wasplicated, and not just anywyer could handle it.


    Despite renouncing any ims to Neil¡¯s assets, he seemed intent on prolonging the proceedings, evidently to torment her.


    She was determined to resolve the divorce swiftly and decisively, her frustration evident as she gritted her teeth. Neil had not only wasted her years but now sought toplicate the divorce unduly.


    Jaxen, noticing her mood, approached with a suggestion.


    ¡°You could ask Vincent for help with a divorcewyer.¡±


    Perplexed, Katelyn looked toward Vincent, wondering aloud, ¡°What can he do in this situation?¡±


    Vincent wasn¡¯t awyer to begin with and couldn¡¯t do much to help unless he had connections with top-tierwyers. Shaking his head, his golden earring glinting, he informed her, ¡°The bestwyers in the country work at Adams Group. They usually handle majormercial cases, so a divorce case should also be manageable for them.¡±


    Vincent met Katelyn¡¯s gaze seriously and offered, ¡°I can help you if you need it.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated, reluctant to impose. She hadn¡¯t yet reciprocated his past help.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s right to bother you with this. I¡¯ll find someone,¡± she replied, wary of imposing further.


    Vincent, understanding her reluctance yet insistent, responded firmly, ¡°It¡¯s important you aren¡¯t distracted by this ordeal so you can focus on work. I¡¯ll have one of thewyers start on your case tomorrow.¡±


    Jaxen watched the exchange, taken aback by Vincent¡¯s uncharacteristic directness.


    ¡°Is this really the Vincent I know?¡± he wondered silently.


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    ?Chapter 124:


    Jaxen and Vincent had been friends since childhood.


    Jaxen knew Vincent well enough to say that he rarely took an interest in the affairs of others.


    However, this time, Vincent stepped in to help with a determination that left no room for Katelyn to decline. Always keen on gossip, Jaxen couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Vincent might have feelings for Katelyn. Given Vincent¡¯s firm stance, Katelyn found herself without a usible excuse to reject his offer.


    With a regretful expression, she murmured, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams. I¡¯ll be there to assist you whenever you need in the future.¡±


    A smile briefly lightened the somber look Vincent had carried for days. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Word quickly got out that Vincent had targeted the Wheeler Group, and it circted among their peers.


    At the Wheeler Group headquarters, Neil sat in his office, stern, as he listened to his assistant¡¯s briefing.


    ¡°Wheeler, all the partners who wanted to work with us have backed out. They¡¯re even canceling ongoing projects and are willing to pay the penalties to end the cooperation.¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened as he listened to the assistant¡¯s report.


    What could he have possibly done to upset Vincent to this extent, driving him to sabotage all of Neil¡¯s business dealings?


    Since the tactics were the same as before, Neil was convinced that Vincent was behind the recent attacks on hispany.


    Without the profits from international projects, Wheeler Group would have faced ruin.


    Neil clenched his fists and mmed them on the table.


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    ¡°Reach out to other partners and offer to work with them at a lower market rate. I refuse to believe Vincent can control the entire city!¡±


    The assistant, holding the document, nodded vigorously. ¡°Mr. Wheeler, there¡¯s something else,¡± he stammered.


    At that moment, Neil¡¯s frustration was evident as he yanked at his tie irritably.


    The assistant¡¯s voice shook as he delivered more bad news.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been anonymously used of tax evasion. The Tax Bureau will be here shortly, and it looks like thepany will have to halt operations andply with their investigation.¡±


    A cruel glint appeared in Neil¡¯s eyes.


    Vincent had first terminated all his projects, and now he had tax officials disrupt Wheeler Group¡¯s operations for an extended period.


    Furthermore, he was vying against Adams Group for both a design coboration and the uing Roucarro Mountain project.


    He simply had no time to waste.


    With a determined grit of his teeth, Neil said, ¡°Prepare the car. We¡¯re heading to Adams Group.¡±


    Clearly, Vincent¡¯s aggressive move was in retaliation for something involving Katelyn.


    ¡°Damn it, Katelyn¡­¡±


    He would make her pay for this.


    The assistant quickly arranged the car. Upon Neil¡¯s arrival at Adams Group, a receptionist halted him.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir, do you have an appointment with Mr. Adams?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression stiffened, though he tried to maintainposure.


    ¡°I¡¯m Neil Wheeler. I need to discuss something urgent with Mr. Adams.¡±


    The receptionist offered a courteous but dismissive smile.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Wheeler, but Mr. Adams is very busy right now. You need to schedule in advance for any meetings. Let me see the earliest avable slot for you.¡±


    The receptionist said, browsing the appointment book.


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait at least six months. I¡¯ve put you down for then. Please return in six months.¡±


    Neil clenched his jaw in frustration.


    Surely, Vincent must have instructed the receptionist. Damn it!


    Frustrated and without Vincent¡¯s personal contact, Neil was at a loss.


    Just then, Katelyn exited the elevator, catching Neil¡¯s gaze from the lobby.


    With a look of clear disdain, Katelyn turned to leave.


    Neil called out through gritted teeth, ¡°Katelyn!¡±


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    ?Chapter 125:


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze darkened instantly, filled with undisguised disgust at Neil¡¯s presence. She was convinced that no good could evere from being near him.


    As she attempted to leave, Neil pursued her determinedly, his gaze sharp and focused on her.


    ¡°Have you said something to Vincent to make him target mypany?¡± he demanded directly.


    Neil had mulled over their conflict during his approach, convinced that, despite theirpetitive business interactions, Vincent had no personal grudge against him¡ªthus, he ced the me solely on Katelyn.


    With a stern expression, Katelyn retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not involved in any dispute with him.¡±


    Neil¡¯s frustration was palpable as he bitterly used her, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, Vincent wouldn¡¯t oppose me so suddenly. It seems you¡¯re eager to harm me by aligning with any new man in your life.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s annoyance grew as she faced Neil¡¯s unwarranted usations.


    In an attempt to distance herself, she stepped back, countering with evident irritation, ¡°Can¡¯t youprehend? You¡¯ve offended Vincent. Address him directly instead of harassing me.¡±


    Neil, however, escted the confrontation by grabbing her wrist forcefully.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. I will confront him directly,¡± he insisted, his grip firm and unyielding.


    Katelyn struggled in vain, the difference in their physical strength too apparent.


    ¡°Release me!¡± she demanded sharply.


    ¡°Take me to Vincent!¡±


    Neil¡¯s defiance was palpable as he challenged,


    ¡°Vincent¡ªhonorable. He¡¯d face me himself instead of resorting to underhanded tactics.¡±


    ???????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????????????


    A sneer crossed Neil¡¯s face, filled with contempt.


    ¡°So, you think you¡¯ve won a protector in Vincent? He is only using you as a pawn in his games against me.¡±


    Infuriated by his demeaning words, Katelyn¡¯s response was swift and painful¡ªshe stepped hard on Neil¡¯s foot, her heel driving a sharp pain through him as she exerted as much force as she could muster, expressing her anger physically for his relentless provocations.


    Neil¡¯s face contorted with pain, and he reflexively let go.


    Katelyn quickly escaped his grasp, smoothed her hair, and suppressed her rising anger.


    ¡°Watch how you speak. You can¡¯t fault me for being harsh. Vincent is targeting you because of your own actions. I hope Wheeler Group copses,¡± she dered sharply.


    Neil, grimacing in pain, stared back at her with intense fury but said nothing.


    Katelyn looked at him, feeling a strong urge to distance herself further. She wondered how she could have ever felt affection for such a despicable person, criticizing herself for her past blindness.


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey,¡± Neil muttered, not anticipating that Katelyn would openly curse hispany in his presence. She was too bold and presumptuous.


    Drawing a deep breath and fixing a hard stare on Katelyn, Neil warned, ¡°If mypany suffers, I won¡¯t let you off easy. We¡¯ll go down together.¡±


    Katelyn scoffed, unbothered. ¡°Whatever. Touch me again, and I¡¯ll call the police.¡±


    As she turned to leave, Neil pursued her again, desperate to confront Vincent through her. He grabbed her briefcase in a bid to stop her, hissing, ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere until I meet Vincent.¡±


    ¡°Let go!¡± Katelyn demanded, pulling her briefcase away from him with a sharp tug.


    During their scuffle, her briefcase came unzipped, and herptop fell out, the screen still lit.


    A fleeting image shed across the screen before it went ck.


    Neil stared at the darkened screen, a mix of shock and disbelief washing over his face.


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    Neil was certain he wasn¡¯t mistaken; he had seen a design draft.


    There was aplete design on Katelyn¡¯sptop. In other words, it proved she was indeed his.


    How else could she have been so involved with Vincent recently, with such sensitive documents on herptop?


    Upon discovering herptop was damaged, Katelyn was furious. After retrieving it, she red at Neil intensely.


    ¡°You broke myptop. You¡¯re going to pay for it!¡±


    She felt incredibly unlucky.


    Herptop contained several important, iplete designs. Now, she¡¯d have to spend extra time repairing it¡ªall thanks to that fucking bastard, Neil.


    She wished he would just focus on Lise and leave her alone.


    Neil¡¯s fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.


    He growled, ¡°Why are you keeping it a secret that you¡¯re Iris? You¡¯ve been lying to me. You¡¯re Iris.¡±


    Katelyn shoved herptop into her briefcase and rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Jesus, this again? Just give me a break. Believe what you want.¡±


    With that, she turned to leave.


    Neil hurried in front of her, blocking her path, and stared at her intently.


    ¡°You can easily prove you¡¯re not Iris. I¡¯ll apany you to get theptop fixed. Let¡¯s see what¡¯s inside.¡±


    Katelyn, ovee with irritation, backed away, clutching herptop.


    She coldly said, ¡°Why should I let you see what¡¯s in myptop? Fuck off! Or I¡¯ll call the cops.¡±


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    ¡°You¡¯re still married. Even if the copse, they can¡¯t do much.¡±


    Resolve shone in his eyes.


    He was adamant about seeing the contents of Katelyn¡¯sptop today.


    This matter had troubled him for so long, and he was determined to resolve it today.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was cold as she stood firm, staring down Neil with visible disgust.


    ¡°Give it a try!¡±


    She started to question if something was off with Neil. He seemed to be growing increasingly immature in his approach to situations.


    Neil, teeth clenched, shot her a look that could kill. Since Katelyn wasn¡¯t cooperating, he reached out to grab theptop.


    ¡°You¡¯ve driven me to this.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, shocked that Neil would actually attempt to snatch herptop.


    Under immense pressure, Neil had abandoned his usual manners. His sole focus was on discovering whether Katelyn was indeed Iris.


    Katelyn dodged his hands. Just as she was about to retort, a chilling voice intervened.


    The voice was bitingly cold and immediately captured their attention.


    Katelyn turned to see Vincent had spoken. Jaxen was beside him, a mischievous grin on his face, clearly enjoying the spectacle.


    Katelyn breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Vincent had arrived. She didn¡¯t know how much longer she could tolerate Neil¡¯s pestering.


    Vincent walked over, exuding an intimidating presence. Neil found it difficult to maintain hisposure under Vincent¡¯s icy stare. Clearly, in terms of demeanor, Neil was outmatched.


    The tension was clear.


    Vincent shot Neil a murderous look. Though his voice was casual, his words carried a stern warning.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it inappropriate to harass ady in public? Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Neil clenched his fists, trying to contain his anger.


    ¡°Finally, you show up.¡± Neil had not let go of Katelyn because he needed to confirm if she was Iris. Simultaneously, he had anticipated Vincent¡¯s arrival if Katelyn faced trouble.


    His prediction only further convinced him of an ongoing affair between them.


    Regardless of offending Vincent, Neil needed to address hispany¡¯s crisis.


    Gritting his teeth, Neil replied, ¡°We are merely businesspetitors, Mr. Adams. Why resort to underhanded tactics against me? What if I reveal your actions and show the world how despicably you treat your rivals?¡±


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    ?Chapter 127:


    Neil¡¯s voice was deep andmanding.


    He wasn¡¯t just enraged by Vincent¡¯s methods¡ªhe harbored a bitter disdain for his ipetence. If only he had the power to elevate the Wheeler Group to the level of the Adams Group, he wouldn¡¯t be the one suffering under the weight of defeat today.


    In the past, Neil¡¯s confidence had been unshakable. Hispany, standing proudly as the secondrgest in Granville, was only a step behind the Adams Group. There were even moments when he could pry business away from Vincent¡¯s clutches.


    It wasn¡¯t until today that he fully grasped just how vast the chasm between first and second ce truly was.


    Katelyn caught every flicker of anger and reproach in his eyes.


    As she observed Neil, her brow furrowed. The veins in his arms pulsed with fury, and a spark of doubt flickered in her mind.


    If Neil had really been behind this cyber-attack, he would have known why Vincent had taken action against him. He wouldn¡¯t have stormed into the Adams Group building to confront Vincent like this.


    It didn¡¯t feel like he was putting on an act.


    Could he be pulling the strings? Was the real n to pit the two top groups against each other?


    Katelyn¡¯s thoughts spiraled as she considered the possibilities, oblivious to Jaxen, who had quietly approached. His eyebrows arched, and curiosity gleamed in his eyes as he observed her.


    ¡°Is this your clueless ex-husband?¡±


    His words struck Katelyn as oddly amusing, brightening her previously somber mood.


    She let a knowing smile y on her lips and replied, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s me who is really clueless. How else could I mistake garbage for gold?¡±


    ???????????????? ?????????????? ????????: ?????????¦Í????????©q?????


    Jaxen rubbed his chin thoughtfully, shifting his gaze between Katelyn and Neil before finally locking his eyes on Vincent.


    After closely watching the three of them, he delivered his assessment with clear authority.


    ¡°You really are clueless,¡± he said, his tone both surprised and critical. ¡°This man doesn¡¯t evenpare to Vincent. Why didn¡¯t you choose Vincent back then?¡±


    The more Jaxen considered it, the more it seemed like a reasonable thought.


    Katelyn, as a designer, had a solid career, earned well, and was undeniably attractive.


    On the other hand, the Adams family wasn¡¯t old-school like most other rich families. Their only concern was whether Vincent had feelings for the woman he was marrying. If he did, they would ept her without hesitation.


    Jaxen, sharp-eyed and perceptive, noticed that Vincent had developed a soft spot for Katelyn, though Vincent himself seemed oblivious to it.


    Jaxen¡¯s words left Katelyn momentarily dumbfounded. She found herself at a loss, unsure how to respond to the unexpected shift in topics.


    After a long pause, Katelyn decided to stay quiet, pretending she hadn¡¯t heard anything.


    Meanwhile, Vincent and Neil had overheard every word of their conversation.


    Vincent nced at Neil, a slight crease forming between his eyebrows, though his expression remainedposed.


    ¡°Why not ask yourself what you¡¯ve done first? You seriously don¡¯t know why I¡¯m targeting you?¡±


    Vincent couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Neil hade here to cause trouble.


    This time, he went after the Wheeler Group to send a clear message¡ªif Neil dared to step out of line again, tomorrow¡¯s headlines in Granville would announce the Wheeler Group¡¯s bankruptcy.


    Neil¡¯s eyes tightened as he caught onto something. Just a moment ago, both Katelyn and Vincent had pointed the finger at him, insisting it was all his fault.


    Neil paused, thinking it over, and eventually, his tone softened.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯ve done to upset you. Could you tell me?¡±


    Vincent stared at him as he casually slipped one hand into his pocket.


    ¡°Mypany¡¯swork has been under attack recently, and thest signal we traced came from yourpany.¡±


    Neil¡¯s face immediately darkened, his eyes narrowing with a chill.


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± he responded sharply. ¡°I never even thought of attacking the Adams Group like that.¡±


    He had loaned money to Lisa previously, and now thepany was teetering on the brink of copse. Challenging the Adams Group at this critical juncture would be nothing short of suicidal.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing to thin slits as a menacing toneced his words.


    ¡°Are you suggesting I falsely used you?¡±


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 Chapter 128

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    Vincent¡¯s voice and gaze were soothing, yetced with tension.


    Neil looked visibly irritated as he clenched his fists.


    ¡°I swear on my honor that I have notmitted such an act.¡±


    Katelyn nearly burst intoughter, clearly amused. She found his oath charmingly outdated, especially since he swore on his honor.


    In her eyes, Neilcked any real sense of honor. She even thought a stray dog possessed more integrity than he did.


    Vincent, maintaining hisposure, responded, ¡°I trust only in facts and evidence.¡±


    The two locked gazes, simmering with annoyance, one cool and assured, as if he had the upper hand.


    Despite their reputations as remarkable individuals, their stark contrasts were evident when they stood side by side.


    Neil gritted his teeth.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Meanwhile, I ask that you refrain from further usations against Wheeler Group for now.¡±


    Vincent paused, then slowly nodded.


    ¡°You have one week to prove this incident isn¡¯t linked to you, and I¡¯ll spare the Wheeler Group.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Neil responded promptly. ¡°A week is sufficient.¡±


    As Neil prepared to leave, he nced at Katelyn significantly, signaling that their discussion was far from over.


    Katelyn rubbed her temples, feeling the onset of a migraine.


    She desperately pondered how to distance herself from Neil.


    ???????? ???????????????? ????????: g???????¦Í?????????????


    Vincent approached her, his tall, solid silhouette casting a shadow over her.


    ¡°What was his reason for bothering you just now?¡±


    ¡°He asked me again if I was Iris and even smashed myptop. I feel sick every time I think of him now. Once the divorce is final, I¡¯ll seek a restraining order,¡± Katelyn exined to Vincent in a tone of defeat.


    She had already attempted to obtain a restraining order against Neil, but since their marriage was still legally recognized, her request had been immediately rejected. The more Katelyn dwelled on the issue, the more her frustration grew.


    Vincent examined the crack on Katelyn¡¯sptop and offered,


    ¡°I have several spareptops in my office. Feel free to take one.¡±


    Katelyn responded,


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have anotherptop at home. I¡¯ll send you ten more drafts in the evening, though they might be a bitter than usual.¡±


    While speaking, Katelyn nced at her watch.


    ¡°It¡¯ste, Mr. Adams. I have to leave now. Goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Katelyn headed to her car, and soon, the red Ferrari sped off.


    Jaxen, resting his hand on Vincent¡¯s shoulder, seemed pensive.


    ¡°Do you think you¡¯ll fall in love soon? Can I assist you? With my experience, I could offer aplete guide to winning her heart.¡±


    Vincent, appearing uninterested, looked at Jaxen.


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. We¡¯re merely business partners.¡±


    As he dismissed him with a wave of his hand, Vincent walked toward the elevator, and Jaxen tagged along.


    ¡°Merely business partners? That¡¯s hard to believe. Didn¡¯t you take her for a drive recently? Was it Katelyn?¡±


    Vincent remained silent as Jaxen continued to probe.


    Jaxen, skeptical, smirked and said,


    ¡°Well, if you¡¯re not interested in Katelyn, I might pursue her myself. She¡¯s quite stunning, after all.¡±


    As Jaxen said that, Vincent halted abruptly, causing Jaxen, who had been following behind, to bump into him and yelp in pain.


    Regaining hisposure, Vincent gave him a stern look.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try any games with Katelyn. She¡¯s not like the others.¡±


    Jaxen, startled by Vincent¡¯s intense look, felt a chill.


    ¡°Really, dude? Are you serious?¡± Jaxen inquired, his voice uncertain.


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 Chapter 129

    ?Chapter 129:


    Vincent and Jaxen, childhood ymates, grew up together but were fundamentally different.


    Vincent, naturally indifferent, only found excitement in business and had never pursued romantic rtionships. Any woman bold enough to approach him faced severe rejection. On the other hand, Jaxen embraced his role as adies¡¯ man, casually dating numerous women without evermitting.


    Vincent¡¯s stare was now icy and piercing. He dismissed Jaxen¡¯s question with a turn of his head and walked away.


    Jaxen hurried after him, assuring, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll leave Katelyn alone, as you wish.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s re intensified.


    ¡°Enough. Return to your duties.¡±


    Jaxen, rmed, immediately fell silent.


    Previously, Jaxen had faced a harsh penalty for upsetting Vincent, spending two miserable months working in a warehouse, an ordeal he would never forget.


    He had since learned his lesson well¡ªhe could cross anyone but Vincent.


    On a different note, Katelyn was heading to aputer store to repair herptop.


    Upon entering, she noticed the owner, distracted by his phone, sitting behind the counter.


    Katelyn approached and courteously requested, ¡°Could you please look at myptop and see if it can be fixed?¡±


    The middle-aged store owner nced upzily and then began inspecting herptop.


    ¡°I can fix this. Leave it here ande back in two days.¡±


    ¡°Great.¡±


    After arranging the repair, Katelyn paid the deposit before leaving.


    Although she knew enough aboutputers to manage the repair herself, she preferred to focus on her design work instead of delving into hardware issues.


    As Katelyn opened her car door to leave, she glimpsed a white car parked along the roadside.


    She noticed someone seated in the driver¡¯s seat from her vantage point.


    A memory struck her¡ªshe had seen this white car trailing her during her earlier drive.


    Now, with her car stopped to handle theptop issue, she noticed the white car had also stopped. She pondered if she was being followed. Alert and pretending all was normal, Katelyn climbed into her Ferrari.


    She intentionally slowed her pace, catching sight in the rearview mirror of the white car¡¯s driver hastily entering the store she had just left.


    Katelyn realized the individual was after herptop. Without hesitation, she executed a swift U-turn.


    Sadly, she was toote.


    The white car¡¯s driver had seized herptop and sped off, aware that he had been spotted. The car vanished quickly. A fierce look crossed Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she elerated. She shifted gears rapidly, but just as she floored the elerator, the traffic light ahead turned red.


    Meanwhile, the white car took advantage of the yellow light, speeding through the intersection.


    With the light against her, Katelyn lost sight of the car.


    Fists clenched, she suspected Neil¡¯s involvement, not believing he would go so far as to steal herptop to prove she was Iris. Luckily, the drawings she had created were safely stored in the cloud.


    The uing press conference for Adams Group¡¯sunch event had to be wless, especially now that herptop¡ªand potentially sensitive drafts¡ªwerepromised.


    Taking a deep breath and leaning back, Katelyn dialed the police.


    ¡°Hello, I want to report a theft. Yes, myptop has just been stolen,¡± she reported calmly.


    On the other side, the driver of the white car reached Wheeler Group as quickly as possible, pulling theptop out eagerly.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, we¡¯ve seeded,¡± he announced triumphantly.


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    Neil had been waiting alongside aputer repair technician, prepared for what was next.


    He nodded, and the technician advanced with his tools to start on Katelyn¡¯sputer.


    Watching silently from the side, Neil¡¯s eyes betrayed a deeper intent.


    Ever since their divorce, he had been caught in a relentless cycle,ing close to proving Katelyn was Iris, only to have his suspicions thwarted time and again. Driven nearly mad by uncertainty, Neil was resolved to discover Katelyn¡¯s true identity this time.


    The issue with Katelyn¡¯sputer was minor. It had simply shut down from the fall. Nothing critical was damaged, and it was quickly operational again. Yet, it was secured with a password.


    Neil tried various passwords, including significant dates like Katelyn¡¯s birthday, their anniversary, and his own, but none worked.


    Growing impatient, he enlisted a hacker to bypass the password.


    The screen disyed a straightforward six-digit password, which the hacker cracked with ease. Neil hastily explored the folders, finding numerous design sketches, each meticulously dated.


    The most telling document was dated the day after their divorce, coinciding with the day Neil had seen Katelyn with Vincent.


    His fists tightened, emotions swirling as he processed the information.


    Katelyn, his wife for three years, had concealed her real identity, colluding with others to deceive him.


    Despite understanding the project¡¯s importance to him, she chose to side with Vincent, betraying her own husband.


    Had she ever truly loved him?


    ???????????? ???????????? ???? ??????????????????£®??????


    Throughout their rtionship, had her affections been nothing more than a facade?


    Katelyn had proven herself aplete imposter.


    Neil pounded the table in rage, shouting, ¡°I knew it all along! Katelyn is actually Iris¡ªshe¡¯s been tricking me for ages!¡±


    Lise, who had just walked in, overheard everything clearly.


    ¡°How is that possible? How could Katelyn be Iris?¡± she thought.


    Despite her disbelief, memories of Vincent¡¯s frequent assistance to Katelyn and their coboration shed through her mind¡ªa coboration Lise had actively tried to sabotage. She now felt utterly foolish.


    Her endless critiques of Katelyn now seemed like a cruel joke. Iris, the designer she had been trying to win favor with, turned out to be Katelyn, the woman she hated the most.


    Bitterness and anger welled up inside her, and jealousy darkened her eyes.


    ¡°Why has Katelyn been ostracized as imagined after Neil? Instead, she¡¯s acimed as a top designer¡ªan existence I¡¯ve longed for but cannot reach. Why is that?¡±


    Lise masked her shock and anger with a smile, inhaling deeply and pretending to be confused.


    ¡°Neil, what if Katelyn insists she¡¯s not Iris?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe it.


    Could it be true?!


    Even now, Lise held onto hope.


    How could Katelyn, of all people, ascend to such heights in the design world?


    Neil, consumed by fury, thrust theptop toward Lise.


    ¡°Here¡¯s Katelyn¡¯sptop, full of design sketches. What more is there to say?¡±


    Lise opened a few files and was instantly struck by the sophisticated design sketches within.


    As a designer herself, the stark difference between her own work and the brilliance showcased in these documents fueled her envy even more. A sinister idea then struck her.


    ¡°Neil, perhaps you should work directly with Katelyn now to ensure this partnership for the uingpany project.¡±


    Neil inhaled sharply and walked toward the window, his eyes zing with vengeful thoughts.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make Katelyn regret deceiving me!¡±


    Unseen, Lise discreetly captured photos of the design sketches on her phone.


    The brilliance radiating from Katelyn¡¯s work was mesmerizing.


    Lise was determined to attain that level of acim and respect in the design world for herself.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 131

    ?Chapter 131:


    Katelyn emerged from the police station, frustration evident in her eyes after making her statement. The loss of herputer paled inparison to the daunting task of redoing all her previous design work. With the project deadline looming, she faced the prospect of starting over, feeling the immense pressure of time.


    Although she suspected who had orchestrated the theft, shecked proof. Her frustration mounting, Katelyn massaged her forehead and called Vincent.


    He picked up immediately. In a weary voice, she exined, ¡°Mr. Adams, there¡¯s a problem. The designs I had arepromised. I¡¯ll stay up tonight to create two new themes and send them to you.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s voice carried warmth as he asked, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    ¡°Theptop with all the designs was stolen, possibly by others beforehand by now,¡± Katelyn exined, her voice hard with determination. ¡°But I assure you, I¡¯ll have everything ready by the deadline.¡±


    Vincent rose, his gaze intensifying with concern. ¡°Neil?¡±


    Katelyn, starting her car, responded, ¡°I¡¯ve reported it to the police. They¡¯re investigating, but no solid evidence yet.¡±


    ¡°Just calling to keep you informed. I¡¯m heading home to work right now,¡± she added.


    ¡°Understood,¡± Vincent replied gravely.


    Upon ending the call, Vincent¡¯s expression turned grim, his cold fury rising. Neil must have found something.


    Vincent believed he had been lenient with Wheeler Group in the past.


    Katelyn reached home in thirty minutes and immediately set up herputer to begin work anew.


    She faced the grueling task of creating at least thirty new designs every day.


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    To ensure theunch went smoothly and without hints of giarism, she had topletely overhaul her previous high-quality designs, a process she found profoundly stressful.


    While Katelyn concentrated on her sketches, her phone began to ring.


    Seeing Neil¡¯s name sh on the caller ID, she quickly declined the call with a sense of disdain. Despite her rejection, Neil kept calling repeatedly. Overwhelmed with frustration, Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin.


    Frustrated, Katelyn eventually turned her phone off, choosing to focus on her immediate tasks rather than entertain distractions from Neil.


    Meanwhile, Neil¡¯s demeanor darkened as Katelyn ignored his repeated attempts to contact her.


    Determined more than ever, he resolved to confront Katelyn in person.


    As Neil was about to leave his office, grabbing his car keys, his assistant rushed to him, looking anxious.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, there is another problem,¡± his assistant announced, visibly shaken.


    Exhausted by the relentless negative updates, Neil responded with visible irritation,


    ¡°What is it now?¡±


    The assistant, almost quivering, handed over a set of documents that had just arrived.


    ¡°It¡¯s the partners¡ªwe¡¯ve lost several who we¡¯d reduced rates for. Our funding is critically low now¡­¡± His voice faded to a whisper.


    Neil¡¯spany had cut their profits to secure these deals, benefiting greatly at the time.


    While the Adams Group was an obvious threat, some firms were still willing to take risks. But now, they had also withdrawn their support¡ªclearly a maneuver influenced by Vincent.


    A fire lit in Neil¡¯s eyes, and he gritted his teeth in anger.


    ¡°Then let¡¯s find new partners. Vincent can¡¯t possibly have a hold over everyone.¡±


    Vincent had assured him there would be no interference with Wheeler Group for a week.


    Why, then, had Vincent escted his efforts so abruptly?


    Was Katelyn the reason?


    Lost in his thoughts, Neil was startled by urgent knocking at his door.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, you¡¯ve just been served a legal notice,¡± came the rming call from outside.


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    ?Chapter 132:


    Neil¡¯s anger red as he noticed the receptionist hurrying upstairs.


    ¡°Why the rush? Can¡¯t anyone in thispany keep their cool?¡±


    His irritation was mixed with bewilderment, wondering who could have sent the legal notice. Though thepany was indeed facing difficulties, it hadn¡¯t escted to a legal threat yet.


    The employee, clearly nervous and hesitant, handed him the notice.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, this has just arrived.¡±


    The entirepany was aware of the pressure from Adams Group. The looming fear of potential bankruptcy weighed heavily on everyone.


    Vincent¡¯s name carried significant weight among the employees.


    Neil¡¯s expression turned grim as he grabbed the document and ripped open the packaging. His eyes widened with surprise as he read the contents. It was a divorcewsuit filed by Katelyn.


    She was dragging him to court, demanding a contested divorce.


    His gaze darkened, his voice barely audible through clenched teeth.


    ¡°Katelyn!¡±


    The following day, at Katelyn¡¯s ce, she had managed to finish two design themes after an all-nighter.


    Exhausted, she rubbed her sore neck.


    She hadn¡¯t justpleted the designs¡ªshe had to ensure they were high-quality and done quickly, despite the tight deadline.


    After sending the files to Vincent, she was about to take a much-needed break when her phone rang unexpectedly. It was the police.


    Upon answering, she heard a formal tone from the other end.


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    ¡°Miss Bailey, we¡¯ve identified the suspect who took yourputer. Please visit the police station at your earliest convenience.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face set into a serious expression instantly.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯lle right now.¡±


    She made her way to the police station as quickly as she could.


    Even though she suspected that the person caught wasn¡¯t the mastermind, the sight of an unfamiliar face still made her hesitant.


    The officer began, ¡°This man is the one who took yourputer. The surveince footage from the repair shop supports his confession.¡±


    Katelyn, wearing aplex expression, asked sternly, ¡°Did Neil Wheeler direct you to do this?¡±


    The suspect paused briefly before rapidly shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with anyone named Neil.¡±


    Katelyn moved toward him, her intense stare piercing through him.


    The suspect couldn¡¯t maintain eye contact, his expression revealing his deep anxiety and fear.


    In a chilling tone, Katelyn pressed, ¡°If Neil isn¡¯t your boss, why steal myputer? Facing three years in prison, are you really ready to defend him?¡±


    Shock widened his eyes. He was speechless, his hands shaking, showing his inner conflict.


    The reality of potential prison time dawned on him unexpectedly.


    Katelyn watched him, her smile turning cold and mocking, her look growing more scornful.


    ¡°Think hard¡ªthis is serious. Are three years locked away worth it for him? Or did he pay you off with enough to cover these years?¡±


    Her words struck him like daggers, digging deep into his soul.


    Fear flickered in his eyes. His hands trembled uncontrobly.


    Katelyn¡¯s look became icier. She had sparked enough of a reaction. Now, she waited for his defenses to break down, hoping they would expose Neil.


    She was determined to uncover some damaging evidence against Neil.


    The suspect¡¯s forehead was covered in cold sweat, his eyes nervously darting around.


    Katelyn remained quiet, watching him closely, expecting him to break at any moment.


    The nearby officer interjected, ¡°This is the baseline. Given theputer¡¯s value, the penalty could be harsher.¡±


    The suspect shook even more, his eyes shifting back and forth between Katelyn and the officer.


    Just as he seemed on the verge of breaking down, someone unexpected showed up at the police station.


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    ?Chapter 133:


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze turned icy as she watched a man enter the room.


    He was dressed sharply in a suit, with gold-rimmed sses, giving off an air of authority.


    He greeted the police officers with a smile upon entry.


    ¡°Excuse, officers. I¡¯m a friend of his. His parents were rmed to hear of his arrest. They¡¯ve fallen ill and are now in the hospital. I¡¯ve brought a few messages from them for him.¡±


    The suspect looked confused.


    He was an orphan. How could he possibly have parents? It dawned on Katelyn what was unfolding.


    This so-called friend was likely sent by Neil to prevent the suspect from talking.


    She quickly addressed the police officers, saying, ¡°Officers, perhaps it¡¯s best to keep the suspect detained. Let him out only if he¡¯s ready to confess.¡±


    Although the case was underway, the suspect had not been formally booked yet.


    Even as Katelyn spoke quickly, it was not swift enough. Thewyer-like man turned to the suspect, his lips curling into a smirk as he pped him on the shoulder.


    ¡°Let me tell you something. You¡¯ve made a mistake. Serve your time and reflect on yourself. They¡¯ll be waiting for you once you¡¯re out.¡±


    His tone was seemingly caring, but the underlying message was clear.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes hardened with understanding as she caught the hidden message.


    Her heart sank. She recognized this as Neil¡¯s influence.


    There was little chance the suspect would betray Neil now.


    The neer addressed the officers, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve delivered their messages. Thank you.¡± With that, he walked away.


    Katelyn looked back at the suspect with a mix of frustration and appeal.


    L¦¡¦Ó??¦Ó ch¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??????


    She said, ¡°Think carefully. This isn¡¯t a trivial matter. A criminal charge could ruin your life forever. Are you really going to keep silent? Even if you refuse to speak, I will find other evidence.¡±


    The man who had been hesitant before now seemed resolved.


    ¡°What are you implying? I don¡¯t follow. I acted alone because I needed money, so I stole yourptop to sell it. Now, I¡¯ve been caught, and I¡¯m prepared to face the consequences.¡±


    Katelyn clenched her fists, her eyes shing with frustration.


    She was astounded by Neil¡¯s audacity.


    On her way to the police station, she had known it wouldn¡¯t be easy to link Neil to the case. Still, it hurt to see her hopes dashed.


    Holding back her anger, Katelyn demanded coldly, ¡°Where¡¯s myptop?¡±


    The man¡¯s bold reply infuriated Katelyn further.


    ¡°Theptop broke and was worthless. I threw it into the river. You might try looking there.¡±


    He persisted in iming sole responsibility for the crime, leaving the police powerless to pursue it further. With him taking all the me, the police had no choice but to close the case.


    Leaving the police station, Katelyn was seething. Even if she confronted Neil at the Wheeler Group, he would deny everything without hard evidence. She swore to make Neil pay for this someday.


    Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Katelyn decided to head home to unwind. She nned to continue her work in the afternoon.


    Unexpectedly, as she looked up, she noticed a man standing under a camphor tree far away.


    Leaning against his car and smoking a cigarette, Neil watched her intently.


    He took a quick puff, flicked the cigarette to the ground, and crushed it underfoot before walking over to Katelyn.


    With a harsh tone, he demanded, ¡°How long do you n to keep this from me? ying housewife, huh?¡±


    Katelyn stopped in her tracks, staring down at him.


    Three months ago, she still loved him deeply, delighting in every moment they shared. But now, the mere sight of him repulsed her.


    ¡°Your games are growing tiresome. How blind could I have been to¡­¡±


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    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were as cold as a winter¡¯s chill.


    If she could turn back time, she¡¯d have pped herself without a second thought.


    Out of all the men in the world, she had to pick this one¡ªaplete scumbag.


    Neil¡¯s re was sharp enough to cut, his teeth clenched in anger.


    ¡°If you¡¯d just told me you were Iris and stuck with me through the tough times, we wouldn¡¯t be here now. It¡¯s all your fault; you¡¯ve shattered our future.¡±


    Katelyn almost let out augh.


    Her smile, though, was light and full of mockery. How could a man be shameless enough to say something so disgusting?


    ¡°Whose fault was it, really? Did you even think about me when you slept with Lise? How dare you pin this all on me! My only regret is not catching you two in the act sooner.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze grew colder with every word.


    ¡°Oh, and just so you know, I recorded everything that day. Piss me off again, and I¡¯ll make sure the whole world sees what kind of man you really are, Neil Wheeler.¡±


    Even a rabbit would fight back when it was trapped. For the past few weeks, Neil had been pestering Katelyn in every way possible. His sudden appearances made her skin crawl, filling her with disgust.


    He stepped closer, a mocking grin spreading across his face.


    ¡°If you weren¡¯t so dull that I couldn¡¯t even bring myself to sleep with you, do you think I would¡¯ve turned to Lise? You still don¡¯t see what you did wrong, do you?¡± He spoke as if his twisted logic made perfect sense. As if offering a deal, he added, ¡°If you help me secure the project as Iris, I¡¯ll give you one more chance.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fists clenched tightly, her body trembling with the urge to hit him.


    He had the audacity to shift all the me onto her when it was clearly his own doing.


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    Talking to him made Katelyn feel queasy, as if even the air around him was contaminated.


    With a sneer, she gave him a cold, uninterested nce.


    ¡°Do you really think theptop you¡¯ve stolen is mine?¡±


    Her casual tone left Neil looking puzzled.


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    His man had confirmed that theptop was stolen right after Katelyn left it at the store. There shouldn¡¯t have been any mix-up.


    Katelyn regarded him with a mischievous smile, as though he were a fool.


    ¡°Theptop isn¡¯t mine. It belongs to Iris. Even if you make a man fall for you, this will alle to light sooner orter, and Iris won¡¯t be so forgiving either.¡±


    Neil¡¯s frown deepened, his uneasy feeling growing. Still, he wanted to trust what he had seen.


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that naive? Theptop was stolen from you. How could it possibly belong to someone else?¡±


    Katelyn casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth. Whether you believe it is your choice. You say theptop is mine¡ªhave you found my photo on it? Or any of my personal details? And the password isn¡¯t even my birthday.¡±


    Each of Katelyn¡¯s sharp responses only made Neil¡¯s frustration grow.


    Katelyn was right. Aside from the fact that theptop had been stolen, nothing on it proved it was hers.


    Now Neil understood why he had felt uneasy after getting theptop, though he couldn¡¯t pinpoint why. The realization dawned on him. Theptop didn¡¯t belong to Katelyn.


    ¡°You think this is over just because someone took the me for you? I¡¯ve already told Ilis and Vincent. They¡¯ll make sure you face the consequences.¡±


    Seeing Neil angry, Katelyn sneered.


    ¡°Wheeler Group will vanish pretty soon.¡±


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 Chapter 135

    ?Chapter 135:


    Katelyn ended her statement with a chuckle.


    Observing the expression on Neil¡¯s face amused her. She was relieved she hadn¡¯t stored any personal data on herptop, using it solely for work.


    Otherwise, lying to Neil would have been out of the question. He would persist in bothering her if he believed she was hiding something.


    His eyes narrowed as he focused on Katelyn. ¡°I don¡¯t buy what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    Although he was pretending to be calm, he had already been convinced.


    He had repeatedly tried to determine if Katelyn was actually Iris. Truth had brought him the reality, only for it to thwart him with a resounding no.


    Frustration ignited in his eyes. Through gritted teeth, he said, ¡°If you¡¯re not Iris, then who is she?¡±


    Raising an eyebrow, Katelyn casually replied, ¡°Curious about Iris? Find out for yourself. She might have considered coborating with you, but since you stole herptop, she¡¯ll cut you off for good.¡±


    Her words burned Neil, crushing his spirit.


    Katelyn shot a nce at the conflicted Neil and turned away with a sneer.


    She marveled at how Neil had managed to build Wheeler Group with his level of intelligence.


    Frozen in ce, Neil watched her leave, emotions swirling within him.


    He didn¡¯t pursue Katelyn. Instead, his stare lingered on her, dark thoughts flickering in his eyes.


    Discovering Iris¡¯ identity was no longer his main concern. His immediate focus was to uncover the hacker and tackle the crisis at hispany.


    After parting ways with Neil, Katelyn headed back home. Once there, she copsed onto the sofa and pressed her fingers against her forehead, clearly drained.


    Her life and mindset had always been straightforward. She enjoyed spending time in her modest room, engaging in activities she loved.


    Fulfilling her simple desires used to be effortless, buttely, it had be a challenge.


    Out of the blue, her phone chimed with a new message. It was a text from Vincent.


    ¡°I¡¯ve reviewed the drafts you sent over. They¡¯re all excellent. Please look after yourself. Try not to push yourself too hard.¡±


    Katelyn hadpleted those drafts overnight.


    She was taken aback that Vincent hadn¡¯t urged her to wrap up all her tasks but instead showed concern for her well-being.


    The responsibility would fall on her if the designs from the stolenptop were to get out. Katelyn tapped her phone screen to respond to him.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t worry, Mr. Adams. I assure you everything will be delivered on time. Nothing will go wrong.¡±


    Vincent quickly replied,


    ¡°Work is important, but your health matters just as much.¡±


    Katelyn paused before expressing her gratitude.


    ¡°I appreciate your concern, Mr. Adams. Thank you.¡±


    Vincent furrowed his brow as he read her message. Katelyn consistently maintained a formal distance by addressing him as Mr. Adams.


    It seemed she had established a personal boundary, clearly marking her space and keeping others at bay. He could tell it was because she had been hurt by Neil too deeply.


    Vincent typed back,


    ¡°I¡¯m attending a banquet tonight and need a date. Miss Bailey, are you free? Would you care to join me?¡±


    As Katelyn read the message, she hesitated.


    The pressures of her job basically left her no room to do anything else.


    Just as she was about to decline, another message popped up.


    ¡°The charity event tonight will showcase a unique jewelry piece called ¡®Star,¡¯ unseen for nearly a decade¡ªa piece every designer dreams of. Missing it might be something you¡¯d regret.¡±


    His message immediately piqued Katelyn¡¯s interest.


    The Star jewelry piece represented the pinnacle of aspiration for many designers.


    Katelyn was no different; she had been on a quest for this piece for years.


    And now it had resurfaced.


    A surge of excitement overwhelmed Katelyn.


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    ?Chapter 136:


    Katelyn immediately replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll join you.¡±


    She clutched her phone tightly, her heartbeat gradually settling as she processed the unexpected turn of events. Star, the elusive jewelry piece she had spent years searching for, had appeared out of the blue. If Star were an auction item at tonight¡¯s event, Katelyn knew she would stop at nothing to im it.


    Her phone buzzed once more. Vincent¡¯s message detailed the time and location of the banquet.


    She replied with ¡°OK.¡± Then, she selected a chic ck dress from her closet, seated herself at her vanity, and applied ayer of makeup.


    By the time she was finished, the clock was creeping toward 7 p.m.


    She slipped her car key into her handbag and stepped outside, spotting a ck Bugatti Veyron parked elegantly across the street.


    Vincent rested casually against the car, one hand tucked into his pocket, a yful glimmer dancing in his eyes.


    Katelyn glided toward him with poise. In his ck suit, Vincent exuded a striking intensity that made his presence even moremanding.


    He appraised her with a slow, appreciative look before saying, ¡°You look stunning in that dress.¡±


    Katelyn had opted for simplicity, wearing only small diamond studs that shimmered.


    The diamond studs were just enough toplement her outfit without overwhelming it.


    A warm smile spread across her face, and her eyes brightened. She replied, ¡°Thank you for the kind words, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent swung open the back door with a graceful gesture, allowing Katelyn to slide into the interior. He followed smoothly, settling into the seat beside her.


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    The back of the car was a haven offort, its ample space suggesting both elegance and ease. Katelyn leaned against the far door, the space between her and Vincent generously wide.


    Clutching her handbag, Katelyn worked to hide the flicker of anticipation in her eyes.


    Breaking the silence, she asked with genuine curiosity, ¡°How does the auction work at a charity event like this? Will Star be one of the items up for bid?¡±


    Vincent cast a rxed, almost amused nce her way.


    ¡°You seem quite captivated by this.¡±


    Katelyn offered a casual shrug, her voice light.


    ¡°As you mentioned, Star represents the peak of many designers¡¯ aspirations.¡±


    She downyed her deeper connection, though the Star series was closely tied to her friend¡¯s years of hard work. Years ago, someone had stolen the designs and concept drafts for the series, adding their own touches and turning it into a well-known line of customized jewelry. Yet, the fundamental act of theft and imitation remained unchanged.


    Katelyn was determined to recover her friend¡¯s work and hold the thief ountable.


    ¡°The charity banquet features items up for bid, mostly from anonymous collectors,¡± Vincent exined. ¡°The highest bidder wins the item, and all the money raised goes to charity, supporting education for underprivileged children.¡±


    Katelyn nodded thoughtfully, her eyes reflecting her determination.


    With the auction format, she felt confident she could win.


    Vincent rested his hands on his knees, a knowing smile hinting at his lips.


    The charity event had drawn almost every influential person in Granville.


    The scene was even more dazzling than Katelyn had imagined. Guests, clutching their invitation cards, moved past the velvet ropes, each card unlocking ess to the evening¡¯s splendor.


    Everyone was dressed to the nines, theirughter and conversation flowing with effortless charm. The clinking of champagne flutes added a melodic touch to the air.


    Although it was a charity event, the atmosphere radiated unmistakable affluence.


    As Katelyn approached the entrance to the hall, Vincent suddenly reached out and gently touched her arm. Katelyn¡¯s face tightened with a frown. Her hesitation was evident.


    Given the recent rumors about their rtionship, she worried that their appearance together, with linked arms, might only bring more trouble to Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams¡­¡±


    Before Katelyn could object, Vincent¡¯s smile widened, his tone light and teasing.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you¡¯re my date for the evening,¡± he said, almost as if it were a gentle reminder.


    Reluctantly, Katelyn linked arms with Vincent and strode into the hall. Almost immediately, she felt a piercing, resentful starend on her.


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 Chapter 137

    ?Chapter 137:


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes immediately found the source of the intense gaze.


    Amid the crowd of impably dressed guests, Lise was impossible to ignore. Her white dress stood out like a beacon, and with her head held high, she resembled a graceful swan.


    Standing next to her was Neil, whose face was a mask of frustration, his fingers gripping the goblet with noticeable tension.


    It was clear he was struggling to keep his anger in check. Katelyn observed his struggle, her surprise growing. Wheeler Group was on the brink of a major crisis, yet Neil had managed to attend this high-profile event.


    With Lise by his side, Neil seemed to be making a statement. Katelyn wondered if bringing her along was a tactic to address the swirling rumors.


    The media had been relentless, with constant headlines about Wheeler Group¡¯s possible copse. Some analysts had even predicted thepany might go bankrupt within a month.


    If these predictions held any truth, Katelyn had to admit Neil was showing remarkable poise.


    Despite the looming threat to hispany, he appeared more focused on his public image than on uncovering the hacker who had caused the turmoil.


    Vincent, catching the unspoken questions in Katelyn¡¯s gaze, offered a smooth exnation, his tone casual yet confident.


    ¡°This charity event draws the top yers in the business world. If Neil can make the right connections here tonight, he might just turn things around for Wheeler.¡±


    At present, Vincent had only cut off Wheeler Group¡¯s support in Granville. Neil still had a chance if he managed to secure backing from other cities.


    Vincent leaned in close, whispering in Katelyn¡¯s ear. To anyone watching, it looked as if they were two lovebirds, lost in their own little world.


    Neil¡¯s gaze was searing with anger as he watched them. His grip on the goblet was so fierce that his fingers turned pale, nearly crushing it in his frustration.


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    Vincent! Neil was fixated on making them pay tenfold for their audacity.


    Lise, standing nearby, wore a mask of jealousy that was more pronounced than her hatred.


    She had once thought Vincent¡¯s attention to Katelyn was a game or that Katelyn was just another of his conquests. Yet, Vincent had never rified their rtionship, a choice that felt out of character for him.


    What really frustrated Lise was that as long as Katelyn and Vincent stayed together, her schemes against Katelyn were bound to fail.


    Unfazed by the drama around her, Katelyn turned her attention back to Vincent.


    With a touch of yful surprise in her voice, she said, ¡°Mr. Adams, you always seem to read me like an open book. As always, your answers are right on target.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s lips curled into a slight, satisfied smile¡ªbarely noticeable but enough for Katelyn to catch the hint of his pleasure.


    ¡°It¡¯s actually easy to read your mind, Miss Bailey,¡± he said, a yful edge in his voice.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips parted in surprise, her brow creasing as she tried to understand.


    He had suggested that reading her thoughts was simple, yet she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced.


    Still, Vincent always seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, even before she voiced her own thoughts.


    Their appearance was striking enough to draw every eye in the room. As they moved through the crowd, Katelyn became the subject of hushed conversations.


    One guest, her fingers pressed to her lips, leaned toward her friend and whispered,


    ¡°Is she Mr. Adams¡¯ new¡­?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous. The rumor¡¯s been the talk of the town, and neither has confirmed anything. Is this for real?¡±


    ¡°I think so. She¡¯s the only person Mr. Adams has publicly acknowledged. He even brought her to tonight¡¯s event,¡± her friend responded.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? She¡¯s the ex-wife of the Wheeler Group¡¯s president. She¡¯s pretty and smart.¡±


    The quiet chatter, though meant to be discreet, was clearly audible. The once admiring gazes now held a sharp edge, focusing intently on Katelyn.


    Despite the growing murmur of disapproval, Katelyn remained calm, her face an impassive mask.


    Just then, Lise approached with a warm and radiant smile.


    ¡°Good evening, Mr. Adams.¡±


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 Chapter 138

    ?Chapter 138:


    Lise greeted Vincent with a perfect smile, her attention unwavering.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, it¡¯s been quite some time.¡±


    Neil joined them, his and Lise¡¯s expressions hiding their true feelings.


    As Neil¡¯s gaze lingered on Katelyn, he offered a chilly smile.


    ¡°Miss Bailey moving on quickly, I see. Aren¡¯t we still in the midst of our divorce?¡±


    The onlookers, drawn to the unfolding drama, watched the tense exchange.


    Neil¡¯s look was menacing, clearly aimed at undermining both Katelyn and Vincent.


    Meanwhile, Lise only had eyes for Vincent, as Neil¡¯s achievements seemed less significant in Vincent¡¯s shadow.


    Lise wondered, if even someone like Katelyn could capture Vincent¡¯s attention, why couldn¡¯t she?


    Katelyn¡¯s look was piercing as she noticed Neil¡¯s hand on Lise¡¯s waist.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, I thought you might have forgotten that we¡¯re going through a divorce after I caught you cheating on me.¡±


    She quickly cut through Neil¡¯s facade, unafraid to confront him.


    At her usation, Neil¡¯s eyes darkened with anger, caught off guard by her directness. The crowd was visibly shocked, sensing they were witnessing significant revtions.


    Online rumors had previously circted about Katelyn and Neil¡¯s tumultuous marriage, but nothing was aspelling as hearing it directly from them.


    Vincent watched silently, his admiration evident as he observed Katelyn¡¯s assertiveness.


    Now she was not the reserved friend he knew but someone who boldly defended herself.


    Even the gentlest could reveal their strength when cornered, a truth Neil visibly recognized, his rage intensifying.


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    With a strained smile, he retorted, ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t presume I¡¯m blind to your tactics. Do you really think you can salvage your reputation by pinning everything on me?¡±


    Neil hissed.


    Lise, drawn back to the moment, spoke softly,


    ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯ve exined my rtionship with Neil many times. You¡¯ve isted yourself in misunderstandings, and now you¡¯re using us wrongly. My presence today is simply because you were unavable, forcing Neil to seek assistance.¡±


    Her exnation seemed entirely rational, addressing any public doubts effectively.


    She imed to be stepping in for Katelyn, who was otherwise engaged as Vincent¡¯spanion.


    With measured words, Lise shifted the me onto Katelyn, showcasing her tactful maneuvering.


    Katelyn, amused, pped her hands, her gesture starkly out of sync with the surrounding tension, exactly as she intended.


    pping, Katelyn taunted, ¡°Your skill in twisting the truth remains unmatched. I might actually believe you if I hadn¡¯t seen the photos of you two in bed.¡±


    Lise tensed, her grip on her wine ss faltering, her confidence shaken by the uncertainty of Katelyn possibly possessing actual proof.


    Such evidence would devastate her, shattering her idyllic future aspirations.


    Neil, with a cold smirk, dismissed Katelyn¡¯s implications.


    ¡°You resort to lies to salvage your image. If such evidence existed, it would¡¯ve surfaced long ago. I regret deeply ever aligning with someone so deceitful.¡±


    Katelyn, unfazed and assertive, countered, ¡°The necessity of proof in this matter is irrelevant. I¡¯ll ensure the truth reaches those who need to see it.¡±


    At this, Lise¡¯s demeanor altered dramatically, her anxiety palpable.


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    ?Chapter 139:


    Lise¡¯s eyes betrayed a hint of unmistakable panic. She wasn¡¯t sure if Katelyn¡¯s ims were true or not¡ªit was, after all, a matter of chance.


    But what if they were true?


    She couldn¡¯t allow this uncertainty to ruin her life forever. With a sigh, Lise spoke as though she was still looking out for Katelyn¡¯s best interests.


    ¡°Katelyn, why do you have to act so childishly? Why do you impulsively hurt those who love you most? Do you think that benefits you? Truly loving someone means letting them have what they want. Don¡¯t you agree?¡±


    Katelyn nearlyughed out loud, her gaze as sharp as a knife.


    ¡°Really? So I should just step aside and give my blessing when my husband cheats on me, because that¡¯s what he really wants?¡±


    The world held many truths, but Lise¡¯s words just then weren¡¯t among them.


    If Katelyn were to break up with Neil amicably while he kept pestering her, that would be her fault.


    Yet, Neil had betrayed her first, and Lise had antagonized her. The two of them had ganged up on her.


    Katelyn had no choice but to fight back, yet Lise used her of being childish and impulsive. Wasn¡¯t that the world¡¯s biggest joke?


    Even Vincent couldn¡¯t help but give a sideways nce, his tone tinged with sarcasm.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, Miss Bailey, you two really are a perfect pair.¡±


    They were both disgusting and despicable, using the same pathetic tricks. They were indeed a perfect match. Vincent¡¯s tone was casual, but his words cut deep.


    The irony in his statement was evident to everyone there. Neil squinted, masking his boiling anger and disdain. In the past, he and Vincent had been merely businesspetitors, but now they were sworn enemies.


    Without Vincent¡¯s interference, Katelyn might not have had such a swift change of heart.


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    Things hadn¡¯t gone as Neil had nned, and he med it all on Vincent.


    Lise¡¯s smile was on the verge of faltering, and she struggled to maintain it.


    The atmosphere between the four people was tit for tat, indeed.


    Should things worsen, Katelyn would be the one most affected.


    Vincent nced toward the main hall, then turned to Katelyn and said softly, ¡°The auction is about to start. Let¡¯s go take our seats.¡±


    Katelyn agreed and proceeded alongside Vincent.


    She didn¡¯t even bother looking at Neil as she walked past him.


    They say there wille a day when someone you once loved deeply disgusts you, and for Katelyn, that day had alreadye.


    As she walked away, she felt Neil¡¯s intense stare on her.


    Her back was straight, and she didn¡¯t care about it at all.


    Lise gritted her teeth to keep herself together and nudged Neil,


    ¡°Let¡¯s go take our seats as well.¡±


    The event was packed today. The crowd wasn¡¯t just filled with celebrities, but also numerous reporters capturing every moment.


    Being seen at such a charitable auction would only boost their public image.


    Typically, everyone yed their part in such settings, an unspoken rule of adult interactions. Neil realized he had acted too rashly.


    He took a deep breath, downed his ss of wine, and followed suit.


    Guests¡¯ seats were designated on their invitations. Katelyn¡¯s and Vincent¡¯s seats were in the third row, offering an excellent view.


    Neil was sitting in the same row with them.


    There was only an aisle between them.


    Katelyn¡¯s attention was fixed on the stage; it was now half past seven.


    Guests had started to settle down, and the host burst onto the stage, full of energy.


    ¡°Wee to tonight¡¯s charity auction. Tonight¡¯s highlight, the Star jewel, has drawn many of you here. It¡¯s a privilege to join you tonight to celebrate the allure of exquisite craftsmanship.¡±


    As he finished his introduction, a box draped in ck cloth was slowly wheeled onto the stage.


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 Chapter 140

    ?Chapter 140:


    The spotlight instantly shifted to the stage, where the ck-clothed box captured everyone¡¯s attention.


    Katelyn¡¯s grip on her knees tightened. She was resolute in bidding on it.


    Just as she anticipated the reveal of the piece under the ck cloth, the host unexpectedly said,


    ¡°Let¡¯s hold off on the excitement a bit longer. This will close out tonight¡¯s event. First, let¡¯s take a look at the other items on offer.¡±


    Disappointment flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She had hoped to catch a glimpse of the jewelry at that moment. While some might not have cared for the host¡¯s tactics, the audience shifted their attention back to the auction. The items for bid were a collection of treasures¡ªantiques and paintings from major collectors.


    However, in terms of rarity and appearance, none of thempared to the Star series.


    Though bids were made here and there, the roomcked warmth, feeling chilly instead.


    Lise, sitting among the audience, was deep in thought.


    What worried her most now was that Katelyn really had the evidence of her affair with Neil. To avoid such a situation, she had to ruin Katelyn first. With this in mind, Lise discreetly sent a text from her phone.


    The auction dragged on, showcasing over a hundred items.


    Katelyn leaned against the seat,zily looking at the various disy articles on the stage. She was not interested in them at all.


    Currently, the host was enthusiastically presenting a porcin vase, iming it was exceedingly valuable. But Katelyn wasn¡¯t interested.


    Vincent looked over at Katelyn and asked casually, ¡°Isn¡¯t there anything else that catches your eye?¡±


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    ¡°No. I¡¯m only here for Star.¡± Katelyn shook her head, responding casually.


    If not for that reason, she wouldn¡¯t have attended.


    With the mood so somber, the host decided to lighten the atmosphere by suggesting a break for everyone to stretch or use the restroom.


    Katelyn got up and headed to the restroom.


    She was still preupied with thoughts of the Star series. She had yet to share the news with her friend, choosing to wait until she had sessfully bid on it, not wanting to disappoint her.


    After washing her hands at the sink and drying them, she was about to leave when she bumped into Lise.


    Alone together at the restroom door, Lise let her facade fall away, revealing her true, vile nature.


    With malice in her eyes, Lise stepped closer and said, ¡°Katelyn, you bitch! Why can¡¯t you just divorce Neil? You¡¯ve taken everything from me, and yet you continue to haunt him!¡±


    Katelyn narrowed her beautiful eyes slowly, her gaze cold.


    ¡°Neil is the one refusing the divorce. Apparently, you haven¡¯t charmed him enough to make him leave,¡± she replied, deliberately hitting where it hurt most, knowing Lise coveted the title of Mrs. Wheeler above all.


    As long as Katelyn remained married to Neil, Lise would be nothing more than the other woman, a stigma that would cling to her.


    As expected, Lise lunged at her upon hearing this.


    ¡°You bitch! I¡¯m in this mess because of you! You¡¯ve taken everything from me, and still, you stand there so self-righteously!¡± The hatred in Lise¡¯s eyes was like a poisonous snake.


    How she wished she could directly bite Katelyn to death! Lise attempted to p Katelyn, but Katelyn blocked her effortlessly.


    With a simple twist of Lise¡¯s wrist, she cried out in pain, her face contorting.


    But even so, she kept cursing.


    ¡°Katelyn, I swear I¡¯ll get you for this. Just you wait!¡±


    Katelyn merely scoffed. Before she could respond, Lise whipped out a spray bottle from her purse and sprayed it right in Katelyn¡¯s face.


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    ?Chapter 141:


    Lise attacked swiftly, catching Katelyn off guard. Katelyn repelled her, causing Lise to stagger back into the wall with a heavy thud.


    Katelyn, with her eyes shut, shook her head. When she opened them, her gaze was piercingly cold. ¡°What¡¯s in that spray bottle?¡± she demanded.


    Lise, struggling to rise from the ground and wincing from the pain in her back, forced a menacing smile.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t y nice with me, I might drag you down with me. Think you can me everything on me and be happy with Vincent? Keep dreaming,¡± Lise hissed.


    Katelyn¡¯s stare grew increasingly icy.


    Though the spray hadn¡¯t caused her any difort, and the liquid on her face didn¡¯t seem unpleasant, it was unlikely that the contents were just water.


    ¡°What¡¯s in this?¡± Katelyn pondered, noting Lise¡¯s animosity.


    As she advanced towards Lise, Katelyn¡¯s escting hostility visibly unsettled her.


    Lise, visibly shaking, felt overwhelmed by Katelyn¡¯s imposing aura, which reminded her of Neil¡¯s oppressive presence.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was chilling.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask you onest time. What¡¯s in the bottle?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough,¡± Lise replied through clenched teeth.


    ¡°You¡¯re sealing your fate,¡± Katelyn retorted sharply. With a scoff, Katelyn snatched the spray from Lise¡¯s hand and misted her own face with it.


    Lise shrieked, trying to shield herself, but Katelyn, overpowering her with one hand, kept her exposed. In that instant, Lise realized that her bold provocation of Katelyn had been foolhardy.


    Katelyn had outmatched her in both strength and wit.


    ¡°You need to understand the consequences of your actions,¡± Katelyn dered as she continued to spray Lise repeatedly.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t exhaust the spray entirely, nning to investigate its contentster.


    After Katelyn released her, Lise copsed to the floor, appearing enraged.


    Her makeup was smeared by the mysterious liquid, and her hair was disheveled. She looked like a spectral figure, filled with spite and rage.


    Lise¡¯s expression was strained as she spoke each word deliberately,


    ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯ll never forgive you. Never!¡±


    Katelyn gazed down at Lise, her expression one of detachment mixed with a hint of sympathy.


    ¡°I never intended to disrupt your rtionship, not after I decided to divorce Neil. You¡¯re seeking vengeance against the wrong person. Neil is the problem, not me. He refuses to let me go. Consider this a warning. I¡¯ll be lenient next time.¡±


    With that, Katelyn turned and left the room with determined steps. She had recovered from the betrayal on her own, and now, all she wanted was to distance herself from the pain.


    Lise and Neil were relentless in haunting her, and Katelyn knew that excessive kindness could invite perpetual mistreatment. This lesson was not lost on her.


    Upon Katelyn¡¯s return to her seat, Vincent immediately noticed her distress.


    ¡°You seem upset. What happened?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°A lunatic was harassing me,¡± Katelyn replied, pulling the spray bottle from her bag. She carefully opened it to inspect its contents.


    The liquid was odorless and clear, suggesting nothing immediately suspicious about its nature.


    Realizing the need for analysis, she decided to send it for expert examination.


    Just as she was preparing to message for help, she noticed Neil ring at her with fury as he approached.


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    ?Chapter 142:


    Neil¡¯s eyes zed with anger, his expression dark and stormy.


    Behind him, Lise appeared pitiful, clearly having voiced herints to him.


    The auction was on pause, leaving many seats empty. With a menacing re, Neil clenched his teeth and said, ¡°Katelyn, what was in that spray you used on Lise?¡±


    Lise, following behind, looked both vulnerable and distressed, her reddened face as though she had been greatly wronged.


    Observing her, Katelyn noticed that her hair was even more disheveled than it had been earlier in the restroom. Clearly, Lise had messed up her own hair to make her story more convincing in an attempt to smear Katelyn.


    Katelyn stood up, her stunning features set in an expression of cold irritation. ¡°You should be asking Lise what was in that bottle. I¡¯m curious as well.¡±


    Neil, taken aback by her response, clenched his fists in frustration.


    Vincent, standing nearby, watched thoughtfully. He had observed Katelyn examining the liquid in the spray when she returned.


    It was clear there had been an altercation between Lise and Katelyn in the restroom.


    Lise¡¯s voice broke as she spoke through sobs, ying the victim.


    ¡°You sprayed it on me! Why are you questioning me now?¡±


    She paused to wipe away her tears.


    ¡°I just wanted to clear up our misunderstandings with a calm discussion. Why would you do this to me? I¡¯ve always been sincere with you. Even though you¡¯ve taken everything from me, I held no resentment¡­ But you¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence, her voice choking on sobs.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was cold and mocking. ¡°You¡¯re really good at twisting the truth. It was you who approached me in the restroom and used the spray on me.¡±


    Katelyn realized that Neil had once again taken Lise¡¯s side based on her version of the story, prompting his confrontational approach. At times, she was truly confused. How had Neil ever managed to be CEO of Wheeler Group when he was so easily deceived?


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    He ruled the business world yet failed to see through Lise and her lousy tricks. If only she could manipte facts like Lise did, perhaps her marriage with Neil wouldn¡¯t have ended so tragically.


    Lise wiped away her tears as she sobbed.


    ¡°You use me of bringing the spray and using it on you, yet here it is in your hand. Look at the state I¡¯m in because of you. Don¡¯t you feel any shame attacking me like this?¡±


    Katelyn toyed with the spray bottle in her hand, aware of Lise¡¯s attempt to tarnish her reputation. Still, Lise¡¯s tactics were clumsy and ineffective.


    ¡°You imed the bottle was mine, so your fingerprints shouldn¡¯t be on it. With today¡¯s advanced forensic technology, we could easily have it analyzed to see who¡¯s really lying,¡± Katelyn pressed on.


    Lise¡¯s heart raced.


    Damn it! Why hadn¡¯t she thought of this sooner? But Katelyn was relentless, pressing further. ¡°What¡¯s in this?¡±


    Throughout the ordeal, Vincent remained silent, casually observing everyone¡¯s reactions. He then turned to look at the bottle in Katelyn¡¯s hand. He wasn¡¯t sure what the substance was, but he suspected it was something harmful.


    Lise faltered, struggling to find words.


    She gritted her teeth, remaining stubborn.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s clear that you¡¯ve hurt me. I¡¯ll find my own way to seek justice.¡±


    Katelyn, with a hint of sarcasm and looking toward Neil, asked, ¡°Now, do you see who¡¯s lying?¡±


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    ?Chapter 143:


    Initially, Lise confronted Katelyn with confidence, expressing her grievances. However, as the confrontation dragged on, her avoidance of eye contact and palpable guilt became evident, diminishing her earlier confidence¡ªa clear indication of deceit.


    If Neil failed to perceive this, he would truly be a fool. Anger was apparent in his eyes. At this moment, his frustration extended to both Katelyn and Lise. Yet, he refrained from confronting Lise, knowing it would only serve to humiliate him further.


    After some contemtion, Neil redirected his focus toward Katelyn, adopting a different approach since his initial attempts had been fruitless.


    ¡°Lise was merely jesting with you. However, your reaction is inappropriate. Are you aware of the number of reporters present? How could you justify spraying her face? Do you intend for her to be a mockery?¡± he questioned.


    Katelyn responded with a dismissive snort and a smile.


    ¡°She brought this upon herself. No one else is to me. She ought to reflect on her actions,¡± Katelyn retorted.


    Neil clenched his fists, overwhelmed by frustration and reluctance. Having known Katelyn for many years, he was unprepared for her assertive and contentious demeanor, which seemed unlike the person he once knew.


    He mused that if she had shown such assertiveness during their time together as a couple, he might never have found her dull, and perhaps their divorce would never have happened. Nheless, he still held her ountable.


    Just as Neil was about to voice his thoughts again, Vincent intervened with a rxed tone.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, how much longer will you harass her? The Wheeler Group¡¯s reputation is already nearly destroyed. Would you like to exacerbate the situation?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s tone carried a subtle trace of sarcasm. Meanwhile, the guests who had briefly departed had returned to their seats, drawn back by the ongoing dispute.


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    In the midst of such rapid esction, minor public controversies could quickly spiral into major bacshes.


    Neil¡¯s scandal had already tarnished the Wheeler Group¡¯s reputation. The potential fallout from today¡¯s events could be disastrous. Onlookers watched with keen interest, their eyes reflecting curiosity.


    Unable to contain his frustration, Neil gritted his teeth.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± he muttered before returning to his seat. Despite her reluctance, Lise had to control her anger. Her oversight in not wearing gloves had inadvertently given Katelyn the upper hand.


    As Katelyn watched Lise¡¯s resentful retreat, she felt a surge of unease.


    Lise had consistently refused to disclose the contents of the bottle, and despite being repeatedly sprayed, she hadn¡¯t made any effort to address the situation.


    Two possibilities came to mind¡ªeither the liquid was harmless, or even Lise herself was unaware of its contents. Vincent¡¯s interruption snapped Katelyn back to the present.


    ¡°Let me see the bottle,¡± he requested.


    Handing over the spray bottle, Katelyn replied, ¡°I¡¯ve checked it. It¡¯s colorless and odorless, but it¡¯s definitely not water.¡± Her gaze shifted back to Lise, who now sat disheveled but calm in her seat.


    Had she overthought the situation?


    Vincent examined the bottle, his expression turning into a frown as he sniffed the liquid. ¡°I¡¯ll get this tested,¡± he dered.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn acknowledged, just as the auction resumed its second half.


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 Chapter 144

    ?Chapter 144:


    Sensing the waning interest of the guests in the other items, the host elerated the auction process. Soon, the main attraction, Star, was up for bidding.


    Holding the microphone with excitement, the host announced, ¡°You may know Star as the King of Jewelry. It¡¯s aplete set, uniformly designed and immensely popr worldwide, spawning numerous imitations overnight¡ª a testament to its fame.¡±


    As he spoke, he lifted the ck cloth, revealing the set¡¯s brilliant sparkle under the lights.


    The design was inspired by time, with each piece reflecting personal creativity. The set included a ne, a ring, and earrings. Individually, each piece was valuable, but together, they were exceptional.


    Katelyn was no longer concerned with Lise. Her focus was entirely on the jewelry set before her¡ª a project her dear friend had dedicated her life to.


    In her final moments following a car ident, her friend had grasped Katelyn¡¯s hand and implored her to recover her life¡¯s work. Katelyn hadmitted to this promise for years.


    However, the anonymity of the auction meant that even the organizers might not know who had contributed the set. Katelyn¡¯s gaze remained fixed intently on the set, a detail not missed by Neil and Vincent.


    Neil¡¯s fists clenched as he recalled the warm light in Katelyn¡¯s eyes¡ª a stark contrast to the cold disdain she now showed him.


    Holding her bidding paddle, Katelyn waited in silence.


    Pleased with the energized crowd, the host dered, ¡°The opening bid for the Star series, the King of Jewelry, is 50 million dors. It goes to the highest bidder!¡±


    Immediately, paddles flew up in rapid session, with shouts of ¡°50 million dors!¡±, ¡°55 million dors!¡±, ¡°70 million dors!¡±, and ¡°80 million dors!¡± filling the room as the bidding escted fiercely.


    This auction proved that if collectors wanted to fetch a high price, bringing their valuables here could potentially double their worth.


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    Katelyn¡¯s mind was troubled by a lingering question. The Star series, renowned as the uncrowned king of jewelry, was coveted by all.


    Yet, why would a collector choose to auction such a prized set?


    After extensive efforts to track down the thief of the original designs, Katelyn was startled to learn that there was no individual credited as the designer when the series was released.


    It was said to be the work of a foreign design team, publicly celebrated as a collective achievement¡ª a fact insiders knew to be false.


    How could one deny such recognition?


    Especially when the acim was attributed to the group rather than to any one individual.


    Lost in these thoughts, Katelyn was brought back to the moment by Vincent¡¯s casual bid.


    ¡°100 million dors!¡± he dered, stunning the crowd.


    Whispers filled the room as everyone wondered who had made such a bold bid, only to nod in understanding upon realizing it was Vincent.


    Given his reputation and presence, such a grand gesture seemed fitting for him.


    Katelyn leaned closer to Vincent, her voice a soft whisper. ¡°Do you also admire this set?¡±


    Her warm breath, carrying the soft scent of gardenia, gently brushed against Vincent¡¯s ear.


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 Chapter 145

    ?Chapter 145:


    Katelyn felt a hint of unease.


    Under normal circumstances, she would be confident in outbidding others for the jewelry set.


    But she wasn¡¯t confident at all when facing Vincent. Despite his youth, Vincent dominated much of the economic backbone of Granville. His capabilities were truly astounding.


    Vincent noticed Katelyn¡¯s concerned expression and offered a smile.


    ¡°I see you¡¯re fond of it. Let me buy it for you as a gift.¡±


    Katelyn quickly shook her head and lifted her bidding paddle.


    ¡°No, thank you. I have my own funds. I¡¯ll buy it myself.¡±


    She had saved enough over the years to afford afortable life and, certainly, enough to secure this jewelry set.


    ¡°Just ept it as a gesture of gratitude for your brilliant design work,¡± Vincent urged gently, anticipating Katelyn¡¯s reluctance. He then added, ¡°I don¡¯t like being in debt to anyone.¡±


    Katelyn paused, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She was puzzled by his statement. After all, he didn¡¯t owe her anything.


    From the moment they signed their contract, Vincent had paid her an upfront deposit. After she submitted the initial designs, he promptly settled the remaining bnce.


    When she needed to redo all the design drawings, he deposited an additional sum into her ount¡ª40 percent of their total agreement¡ªas recognition of her extra effort.


    Moreover, he had saved her life and even had hiswyer assist her with her divorce.


    In every respect, she was the one indebted to Vincent. Katelyn was about to respond, but Vincent anticipated her words.


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    ¡°This is also my great opportunity to get one over on Neil,¡± Vincent remarked, his words carrying a deeper implication. Katelyn instinctively nced toward the aisle. Sure enough, on the opposite side of the hall, Neil had just increased his bid by twenty million dors.


    The battle in the business world didn¡¯t end at the negotiation table.


    These rivals would face off at every opportunity. Now, the auction house had be their battleground.


    It seemed as though everyone else in the room had vanished. Silence descended as Neil and Vincent locked horns. The auction had be just another arena for their ongoing rivalry.


    Katelyn now fully understood Vincent¡¯s intentions and chose to remain silent.


    She had decided not to ept the gift without reciprocation. Once Vincent won the bid, she nned to reimburse him by transferring the equivalent amount to his personal ount.


    Meanwhile, Neil was preparing himself for battle. Hispany had been under constant attacktely, with many tarnishing his reputation whileuding Vincent. He refused to be a stepping stone for Vincent¡¯s sess. Attending the auction was also a way for him to uphold his dignity.


    Despite the dwindling funds in hispany¡¯s ount, his pride and determination remained intact.


    Lise saw this as the perfect moment to support Neil and reinforce her own image. She encouraged him, saying, ¡°Neil, follow your heart. Whatever you decide, I¡¯ll stand by you and support your choices.¡±


    Neil was moved by her words and held her hand firmly. He thought to himself that he needed a supportive partner like Lise, unlike Katelyn, who always seemed to be withholding something from him.


    With a determined look, he reassured Lise, saying, ¡°Lise, even though mypany is facing challenges, I will resolve them. I promise you avish wedding once we get through this.¡±


    ¡°I believe in you,¡± Lise responded warmly. Their affectionate disy in public drew eye rolls from some of the other attendees, who couldn¡¯t help but scoff at the idea of a cheater unting their romance in front of others. ¡°Ugh!¡±


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 Chapter 146

    ?Chapter 146:


    The sarcasm hit its mark with sharp precision, slicing through the lively chatter like a cold de.


    Lise¡¯s eyes darkened with anger as she whipped around, silencing the room with a single, cold ¡°100k.¡± Her heart burned with bitterness, her anger toward Katelyn growing stronger.


    If Katelyn had divorced Neil sooner, how could Lise have been called a home-wrecker? One day, Katelyn would pay for all of this.


    At that moment, Vincent raised the paddle. His voice was calm, yet strong enough to echo through the room as he said, ¡°Two hundred million.¡±


    The crowd exploded, like cold water hitting a sizzling pan.


    Two hundred million! That was four times the original price! ¡°Mr. Adams holds back; his bids are impressive,¡± someonemented.


    Neil waspletely outmatched by Vincent. Even Katelyn¡¯s eyes showed a hint of surprise.


    With Vincent pushing the bid so high, who would dare raise their paddle now?


    Neil clenched his teeth, squeezing the bidding paddle tightly. It was obvious that Vincent was using this auction to humiliate him.


    But with the price already at two hundred million, raising it further would only make things worse.


    Usually, Neil wouldn¡¯t think twice about a sum like this, but with hispany crippled by Vincent¡¯s sanctions, he was nearly out of business partners and running low on cash. The only funds left were the ones in thepany¡¯s ounts.


    Neil couldn¡¯t help but nce at Lise.


    If he could get back the money he¡¯d lent her, it would solve hispany¡¯s financial mess right away. Plus, hadn¡¯t Lise just promised to stay with him and support him no matter what?


    Lise¡¯s heart sank as she realized what Neil was hinting at. She immediately regretted making that promise. She had only wanted to seem supportive, never expecting to actually dip into her own money.


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    With the Wheeler Group so vulnerable, Neil¡¯s stubbornness in going up against Vincent felt like a losing battle.


    Lise forced a smile and tried to downy it. ¡°Neil, the jewelry set really isn¡¯t our focus right now. We should be putting our money where it matters, right?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened, a sh of disappointment crossing his eyes as he looked at Lise.


    ¡°There are rumors everywhere that the Wheeler Group is on the verge of copse. If I don¡¯t make a strong move at this auction, even potential partners will start pulling away. Losing them will cost us much more than just this set of jewelry.¡±


    In the business world, things shifted fast, andpetition was cutthroat.


    What seemed like a simple charity event was actually a stage where many were watching, waiting for him to slip. Neil refused to let them see him fail.


    Winning the Star series with a bold bid wasn¡¯t just about proving Wheeler Group¡¯s power¡ªit was also about sending a message to Vincent.


    Neil was determined not to let Vincent get what he wanted.


    He made this clear to Lise.


    Under her sleeve, Lise¡¯s fist tightened.


    She didn¡¯t want to get involved in any of this, and she definitely didn¡¯t want to give up her money. But now, she felt cornered, with no way out.


    Neil looked at Lise with a meaningful stare. ¡°Lise, it¡¯s your turn to help me through this tough time.¡±


    When the Bailey family was in trouble, Neil had quickly transferred funds to his project to help them, saving them from bankruptcy.


    His words came across more like a reprimand than a reminder.


    Lise¡¯s anxiety deepened.


    The tension between Neil and Vincent was clear to everyone, including the auctioneer on stage. The auctioneer¡¯s eyes were fixed on Neil.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler,¡± he called out. ¡°Mr. Adams¡¯ bid has reached 200 million. Will you ce a higher bid? If not, the Star series will go to Mr. Adams.¡±


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 Chapter 147

    ?Chapter 147:


    Earlier, Lise was under pressure, but now the auctioneer¡¯s words had shifted the focus onto Neil as well.


    Neil, with a stern look and a n in mind, smirked and dered, ¡°I¡¯ll bid higher. How could I let such a rare treasure slip away?¡±


    As he made his statement, he confidently lifted his bid card. ¡°710 million.¡±


    What Neil considered a defensive move, Katelyn saw merely as pretense.


    During her college years, Katelyn interned at the Bailey Group, so she knew a thing or two about business management. Recently, Vincent had been assisting her with various inquiries as well. She knew the influence of the Wheeler Group was diminishing.


    Vincent cast a chilly look at Neil. ¡°Don¡¯t overextend yourself,¡± he warned, lifting his own bid card. ¡°250 million.¡±


    The auction had turned into an intense rivalry between the two men, though both remained outwardly calm.


    Neil clenched his teeth, frustrated. The auctioneer was undoubtedly the most pleased person here, having never expected such a fierce bidding war between the titans. Imagining the heftymission, the auctioneer grinned broadly, goading Neil further.


    ¡°300 million,¡± Neil responded, raising his bid card again.


    Lise, momentarily overtaken by anger, quickly pulled at Neil¡¯s sleeve. The Wheeler Group¡¯s finances were tight, showing only roughly a billion with many pending payments, and yet Neil was recklessly spending in a bidding contest with Vincent.


    Was this an attempt by Neil to show Katelyn he was Vincent¡¯s equal?


    Lise, struggling to control her anger, felt a growing despair over theck of prudence from the Baileys and Neil. To them, appearances mattered much more than the actual funds avable.


    Taking a deep breath topose herself, Lise advised Neil in a calm, soothing voice, ¡°Neil, please rx and think this through. The auctioneer is just baiting you to increase your bid. Ultimately, he¡¯s the one who stands to gain the most.¡±


    Read exclusive content at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s


    Neil¡¯s gaze hardened as he dered icily, ¡°Step back, woman¡ªI¡¯ve got this.¡±


    As he spoke, he raised his bid card once more. ¡°500 million!¡±


    The surge of anger nearly overwhelmed Lise. She thought, exasperated, Why must everyone act so irrationally? Why did no one heed my warnings?


    Neil was fully aware of Lise¡¯s apprehensions but found himself trapped in the momentum. Cornered by the auctioneer¡¯s provocations, he had no alternative but to continue, knowing any sign of hesitation would fuel the rumors swirling around him.


    While Neil was fraught with anxiety, Vincent looked on serenely, a faint smile curling his lips, clearly enjoying the moment.


    ¡°600 million!¡± announced Vincent, confidently lifting his bid card.


    His bid sent a wave of astonishment through the crowd once again.


    Katelyn feltpelled to step in, leaning over to whisper urgently in Neil¡¯s ear, ¡°Halt your bids. It¡¯s far too costly already.¡±


    She had previously calcted the auction¡¯s value at around 300 million, but now, as the bid reached 400 million with no end in sight, the stakes were climbing unexpectedly high.


    Vincent, as cool as ever, remarked softly, ¡°Let¡¯s see how long he can maintain this pace.¡±


    As Neil readied another bid, Lise felt herself teetering on the brink of despair. She thought, If only the world were devoid of such folly. My advice has been unequivocal.


    Why couldn¡¯t Neil see the peril? Was he really willing to gamble their funds on a chase? Did he desire to see his enterprise crumble?


    The chasm in understanding between them only deepened Lise¡¯s vexation.


    With finality, Lise warned, ¡°Neil, listen to me¡ªstayposed and avoid his bait. The entire future of yourpany rests with you. Don¡¯t squander it on a whim.¡±


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 Chapter 148

    ?Chapter 148:


    ¡°Even if I can¡¯t win the jewelry, I still want to see Vincent pay through the nose.¡±


    Neil had a clear expectation of the auction price, and it had now reached his limit. Even though it stretched his finances, he was determined not to let Vincent win easily.


    He lifted his paddle again, his eyes showing a hint of resolve. ¡°450 million.¡±


    His demeanor was entirely different now. Previously, when he raised his paddle, he had considered hispany¡¯s avable funds and what he could realistically afford. But now, his motivations had shifted. He simply wanted to annoy Vincent, without worrying about the financial repercussions.


    At that moment, Vincent raised his paddle again. ¡°500 million dors.¡±


    Neil scoffed. This was his chance for revenge. He was determined to make Vincent pay dearly.


    ¡°600 million dors!¡± Without hesitation, he shouted the amount, his voice booming.


    His extravagant bid caught everyone¡¯s attention. People around him began to murmur.


    ¡°I thought the Wheeler Group was almost bankrupt. How does their president have the money to bid on jewelry like this?¡±


    ¡°Rumors aren¡¯t facts. It¡¯s just spection. The Wheeler Group has been around for decades. It¡¯s not that easy for them to go under.¡±


    ¡°I agree. I heard Mr. Wheeler settled the Bailey family¡¯s troubles with his own money. If that¡¯s true, I doubt the Wheeler Group is close to copse.¡±


    Neil overheard their conversations. Though his face remained impassive, he was pleased inside. This was precisely his intention. He wanted the auction to change everyone¡¯s perception of the Wheeler Group.


    He had money, and hispany was solvent. The Wheeler Group was far from bankruptcy.


    L??t??st ch??pt??rs in g¦Ál??ovels.c?m


    As far as the auction was concerned, Neil nned to drive the price up to one billion dors. At that point, it would be reasonable for him to back down. After all, who would spend one billion dors on some stupid jewelry?


    Katelyn looked at Neil quizzically. ¡°What¡¯s up with him? Has he lost his mind?¡±


    This was the only way to make sense of his erratic actions.


    Her gaze was piercing, like a sword freshly drawn, gleaming with cold intensity.


    ¡°He¡¯s not crazy. He¡¯s trying to pull me into a trap.¡± As fellow businessmen, Vincent understood exactly what Neil was plotting.


    When the auctioneer nced his way, Vincent shook his head. ¡°Since Mr. Wheeler is so fond of this jewelry set, I won¡¯tpete with him for it.¡±


    These words caused Neil¡¯s smile to stiffen. He was no longer feeling triumphant.


    Didn¡¯t Vincent like the jewelry set? Why would he suddenly withdraw from the bidding? Now that Vincent had backed out, what was Neil supposed to do? The bid had soared beyond his wildest dreams¡ªit was at 600 million dors! Spending that much on a single collection of jewelry felt like a total waste!


    Lise was speechless at the moment. She took a deep breath to stayposed. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd around, she might have openly called Neil a fool. What should they do now?


    The auctioneer was already looking at Neil expectantly. ¡°Mr. Wheeler, if there are no further bids within the minute, I will dere you the winner. Please proceed backstage to finalize the payment and take the precious set.¡±


    Neil clenched his jaw.


    He had intended to back out, but instead, he had trapped himself.


    With a puzzled look, Katelyn watched Vincent. She didn¡¯t fully grasp his reasoning but simply remained silent.


    She knew Vincent well enough to trust that he would follow through with what he had promised her. While everyone¡¯s attention was on Neil, Lise suddenly threw herself at him, disregarding how it looked to others.


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 Chapter 149

    ?Chapter 149:


    Lise¡¯s cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were zed. She clung to Neil¡¯s neck with one arm while tugging at her clothes with the other.


    ¡°Neil, I want you,¡± she murmured, her voice heavy with longing.


    Those around them grasped what was happening, but they were shocked that Lise would express such desires so openly in that moment.


    Neil was taken aback.


    As he forcefully tried to detach Lise, he gritted his teeth and warned, ¡°Lise, control yourself! We¡¯re in public!¡±


    However, Lise, seemingly unaware of her surroundings, continued to press against Neil like a twisting snake. ¡°Neil, Neil, don¡¯t you desire me?¡±


    The scene left everyone around them stunned. Meanwhile, Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed as a realization struck her.


    Lise¡¯s behavior was unlike her usual self, and such public actions seemedpletely out of character. The only usible exnation was that she must have been drugged.


    Katelyn suddenly remembered the unidentified substance in the spray bottle¡ªcould it have been an aphrodisiac?


    Most of it had been sprayed on Lise, exining her immediate and intense reaction.


    What would be of Katelyn, who had also been exposed to the spray?


    As Katelyn pondered this, she began to feel a burning sensation in her lower abdomen that started to spread, threatening to overwhelm her.


    Her pupils dted, and her heart sank as she felt the drug¡¯s effects intensifying. The drug was powerful enough to strip her of self-control and induce such embarrassing behavior. Katelyn knew she needed to leave immediately.


    Katelyn straightened up, intent on getting out, but her legs gave way as soon as she tried to walk, causing her to stumble backward.


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    Thankfully, Vincent was quick to catch her, preventing her from falling.


    Yet, this contact only fueled Katelyn¡¯s growing disarray. In her current state, she felt like a live ember, and Vincent, like dry tinder, only worsened the mes. Thebination of dry tinder and a zing fire made the situation nearly unmanageable.


    Vincent quickly sensed that something was wrong with Katelyn. Her face was unusually flushed, and her eyes were misty. Her lips, slightly parted, were as inviting as ripe cherries, beckoning irresistibly.


    Katelyn¡¯s thoughts were scattered. All she could focus on was staying close to Vincent. His scent was overwhelmingly enticing, driving her to hold onto him tightly and seek even more closeness.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Vincent inquired, his face marked with concern as he gently touched Katelyn¡¯s cheek.


    But she seemed oblivious to his question, intent only on embracing him, mirroring Lise¡¯s behavior nearby. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Vincent scooped Katelyn into his arms and hurried toward the exit.


    Thankfully, themotion involving Neil and Lise had drawn the crowd¡¯s attention, allowing them some privacy. Samuel opened the door. As Vincent approached with Katelyn in his arms, he instructed sharply, ¡°To the hospital!¡±


    ustomed to the ruthlessness of corporate tactics over the years, Vincent quickly linked Katelyn¡¯s symptoms to the mysterious liquid in the spray bottle. Katelyn had obviously been drugged with an aphrodisiac.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Adams,¡± Samuel responded without further question, immediately heading for the hospital.


    However, they were on the outskirts of the city, and it would take at least half an hour to reach the nearest medical facility. Despite the urgency, Vincent found himself in a difficult position, unable to restrain Katelyn¡¯s advances.


    Katelyn, dressed in a sleeveless gown, now had no regard for modesty. Her legs were draped over Vincent as she clung to his arm. ¡°Mr. Adams¡­¡± she purred softly.


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 Chapter 150

    ?Chapter 150:


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was usually crisp and detached, akin to the precise notes of a violin. But now, under the influence of the drug, her voice became unusually soft. When she spoke to Vincent, her tone alone was enough to bewitch him, even without seeing her face.


    Vincent found himself tensing up, his restraint being tested as he took hold of her fidgeting hand. After all, he was a man with desires. Clearly, Katelyn was pushing him to his limits.


    ¡°We¡¯ll reach the hospital soon. Just hang in there,¡± Vincent replied, his voice icy as he turned his gaze to the window. ¡°Speed up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Adams,¡± Samuel responded, his curiosity piqued as he drove.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, has Bailey been drugged?¡± Samuel asked cautiously. ¡°I heard from a friend that some drug dealers are spiking their products with powerful aphrodisiacs to enhance their effects. Without a proper antidote, it could seriously affect her brain.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew even sterner. He had experienced the effects of an aphrodisiac before, but nothing like Katelyn¡¯s current ordeal. He recalled only a fiery sensation within himself, unlike Katelyn¡¯s apparent loss of mental control. This suggested that Katelyn had been exposed to a particrly potent aphrodisiac.


    ¡°Just drive,¡± Vincentmanded, his tone brooking no argument. Samuel focused back on the road, but Vincent remained preupied with handling the increasingly difficult situation with Katelyn.


    Her eyes now burned with wild desire. She positioned herself on Vincent¡¯sp, her hand wandering, tracing circles on his chest with a clumsy touch. Her attempts at seduction were awkward, clearly mimicking scenes she had seen in movies.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, do you like me?¡± Katelyn asked abruptly, her words causing Vincent¡¯s eyes to narrow as he looked at her sternly.


    ¡°Katelyn, I suggest you stay still,¡± he said firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t test a man¡¯s patience too far.¡±


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    Narrowing her eyes, Katelyn gestured for silence and pressed her finger to Vincent¡¯s lips.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that. Just answer my question.¡±


    She was so confused that her eyelids fluttered closed. Still, she ced a hand on Vincent¡¯s shirt, her fingers yfully edging towards slipping inside.


    Vincent watched her fidgeting form, growing concerned that she might topple over. He ced his hands on her waist to steady her. Yet, his touch seemed to excite her further.


    She pouted, gazing up at him, her face radiant and her skin as smooth as porcin.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, do you like me? Do you, or don¡¯t you?¡± Katelyn was insistent, busily working at the buttons on Vincent¡¯s shirt. She squinted and muttered to herself, struggling with the buttons for an unusually long time.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t I unbutton this? It¡¯s just buttons! Why is it so hard?¡±


    Vincent pinched the bridge of his nose, at a loss for words as Katelyn continued her strange behavior.


    Now she clung to him, yful and alluring like a siren, yet as delicate as a vibrant poppy swaying in the breeze. She was captivating.


    Normally, Katelyn was distant and reserved, as unyielding as the tallest pine on a snowy mountaintop. And now, she was just¡­ adorable.


    Vincent was at a loss for how to handle such a stark contrast in her behavior.


    Left with no other option, he gently held her wandering hand and took a deep breath.


    ¡°Just hang in there. We¡¯re almost at the hospital.¡±


    She nestled her head against his chest and shook her head.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared of needles. I don¡¯t want to go. Just answer me.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s demeanor had turned childlike.


    After a moment of silence, Vincent relented with a resigned nod.


    ¡°Yes. I like you.¡±


    As he spoke, his lips were suddenly met with a soft touch.


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 Chapter 151

    ?Chapter 151:


    A flicker of pure astonishment shed in Vincent¡¯s eyes. Katelyn¡¯s hands covered his lips, her body leaning against his chest as she adopted a childlike demeanor.


    ¡°I won¡¯t hear it. I won¡¯t hear it. I won¡¯t hear it!¡±


    She kept repeating the same sentence over and over, leaving Vincent at a loss for words.


    She had demanded answers from him moments before, but now she refused to hear them.


    For a moment, Vincent stood bewildered, unsure how to respond to her sudden defiance. He kept his hand on her to steady her, his sigh betraying both exasperation and tenderness.


    ¡°Alright, then I won¡¯t answer.¡±


    Katelyn looked up at him, her eyes bright with a mixture of challenge and curiosity. Her lips pursed in frustration as she murmured, ¡°Vincent, I feel so ufortable.¡±


    As she spoke, her fingers absentmindedly toyed with Vincent¡¯s shirt again, fiddling with the tiny metal button that seemed annoyingly stubborn to undo. She wrestled with the button for what felt like an eternity, but it stayed put. Frustrated, she yanked it off with a decisive pull.


    Just as her fingers moved to the next button, Vincent¡¯s hand closed around her wrist, holding her in ce. His dark eyes glinted with suppressed intensity, reaching out to her.


    He swallowed hard, his throat working as he kept his gaze fixed on her. His eyes never blinked.


    ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯re ying with fire now.¡±


    He knew the aphrodisiac was scrambling her thoughts, yet he struggled to keep his own desires in check as well. In the cramped back seat, their bodies were pressed so close that the summer heat and their thin clothes made every touch feel magnified. He could distinctly feel the curve of her body against him.


    Everything about the moment was pushing him to his limits.


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    Katelyn stared at him with a nk expression, her eyes reflecting a mixture of confusion and uncertainty. ¡°Vincent¡­¡± she murmured, her voice soft.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice, typically cold and distant, now carried a soft, sweet tone that tugged at Vincent¡¯s heartstrings. Her voice floated like a tender blossom on a warm breeze, soothing and sweet.


    Vincent felt his heart melt under the weight of her gentle tone. He clenched his teeth, feeling a surge of helplessness, and turned to Samuel.


    ¡°Drive faster.¡±


    Despite Katelyn being drugged and dazed, Vincent felt as though he was the one truly being tortured in that moment.


    ¡°Yes, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Samuel pressed the elerator, reducing a trip that should have taken thirty minutes to barely fifteen. Vincent flung open the car door and scooped Katelyn into his arms, rushing her into the emergency room.


    Inside, as Katelyn was hooked up to an IV and gradually stabilized, Vincent¡¯s tension eased into a sigh of relief.


    Samuel was right¡ªif they had been anyter, the damage could have been irreversible.


    The doctor studied Katelyn closely, adjusting his sses as he turned to Vincent.


    ¡°This is one of the most potent aphrodisiacs avable,¡± he said, his voice measured. ¡°It¡¯s not sold through legitimate channels, only on the ck market. If you¡¯d arrived anyter, the consequences could have been dire.¡±


    Vincent nced at Katelyn, his gaze firm. ¡°I understand.¡±


    The doctor gave a few final instructions before walking out of the room.


    Vincent retrieved the nearly empty spray bottle from his pocket, noting the small amount of liquid left inside. He handed the bottle to Samuel and issued a direct order.


    ¡°Find out what¡¯s in this, where it was purchased, and who the buyer is.¡±


    Though Lise had been the one to spray Katelyn¡¯s face, Vincent was convinced there was someone else orchestrating this behind the scenes.


    The ck market was a tightly guarded world, inessible to ordinary people. It seemed nearly impossible for someone like Lise to have direct ess. With her background as a wealthy girl, it seemed unlikely she was involved in such underground transactions.


    Samuel carefully put the spray bottle away and nodded with resolve. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡±


    Vincent approached Katelyn¡¯s bedside, his gaze fixed as he studied her face, worry etched on his features. In that tense moment, Katelyn¡¯s voice broke through with a frantic plea.


    ¡°No! Please, don¡¯t leave me!¡±


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 Chapter 152

    ?Chapter 152:


    Katelyn¡¯s brow was furrowed deeply, her breathing quick, as if trapped in a nightmare. She looked distressed, continuously shaking her head.


    Vincent, with a grave expression, bent down to observe Katelyn closely, his mind swirling with confusion. Who was Katelyn afraid of? Her fear was evident in her dream. Could it be Neil?


    Katelyn was still hooked up to an IV drip, but her constant thrashing threatened to reverse the flow of blood into the tube. Vincent grasped her gently and reassured her with a deep, soothing voice, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here with you, and I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    His voice seemed to bring Katelyn somefort. Gradually, she calmed down, though she continued to frown and mumble.


    ¡°I¡¯ll behave. Please don¡¯t cast me out¡­ Your daughter too¡­ I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened as he pieced together Katelyn¡¯s connection to the Bailey family. She had quickly cut ties with the Baileys after the incident, but she had been part of their lives for over two decades. From her first words to adulthood, she had spent nearly every day with the Bailey couple. These memories were deeply etched in her mind. For Katelyn, losing these memories was as excruciating as having her heart carved out. Amplified by the drug, her hidden grief had surfaced, leading to her current distressed state.


    Vincent looked at Katelyn with a touch of sympathy. What she was undergoing was a betrayal of both familial and romantic bonds. Such a blow could devastate anyone. He lifted his hand and gently used his slender fingertips to smooth out the frown between her brows. This was clearly a tender gesture usually shared between lovers, yet it feltpletely natural to him. His right hand continued to cover Katelyn¡¯s, and he spoke softly to reassure her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here with you, and I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    It seemed Katelyn might have heard him. Her tense body gradually loosened, and she eventually drifted off to sleep. Her brows softened, and the sunlight streaming through the gauzy curtain cast a soft, glowing outline over her figure.


    L?t?st ?h??¦Ñt?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?ls.??0??


    Vincent lingered quietly in the hospital room for a while before finally turning to leave.


    When Katelyn woke up, it was already noon the next day. She opened her eyes, gazing at the ceiling as the sharp scent of hospital antiseptics filled her senses, leaving her momentarily disoriented.


    Memories of what had happened just before she passed out returned. She lifted her hand to her throbbing head, recalling that she had been at the auction. Beyond that, her memory was foggy.


    She sat up and reached for the ss on the bedside table, but just then, the nurse entered the room.


    The nurse¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise upon seeing Katelyn awake. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake,¡± she said.


    Katelyn nodded, her voice husky from just waking up. ¡°Could you get me some water, please?¡±


    The nurse quickly approached and nodded. ¡°Of course. Stay still.¡± She filled the empty ss with water and handed it to Katelyn.


    The cool water soothed Katelyn¡¯s dry throat and brought her some relief.


    Looking puzzled, she asked the nurse, ¡°What happened to me?¡±


    ¡°You were affected by a strong aphrodisiac. You were expected to wake upst night, but you¡¯ve only juste around.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s hand tightened around the ss.


    Lise had been cruel enough to drug her with an aphrodisiac. With so many people at the auction, any leaked video or photo could have destroyed her reputation.


    Before she could fully gather her thoughts, someone burst into the room, visibly upset.


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 Chapter 153

    ?Chapter 153:


    Neil¡¯s eyes burned with rage as he confronted Katelyn.


    ¡°What did you do to Lise?¡±


    Neil was close to losing hisposure. He had never expected Lise to behave so forwardly in public, even going so far as to try to tear off his clothes. Photographers had captured every moment. Had he not subdued Lise, she might have undressed him entirely. Yet, the footage had already circted, making him and Lise the subject of ridicule among the elite, all because of Katelyn.


    Katelyn, leaning back against the headboard, scoffed with evident disdain and coldness.


    ¡°Do you really think you have the right to question me? Maybe you should ask Lise how she got her hands on such strong aphrodisiacs.¡±


    Neil immediately sensed that Katelyn¡¯s sharp reply hinted at something deeper. His attention had been so focused on Lise that he had failed to notice Katelyn¡¯s condition. Only then did he spot Katelyn¡¯s strikingly pale face and the hospital gown she wore. A shocking thought crossed his mind.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice then confirmed his suspicion. ¡°The spray bottle was filled with a powerful aphrodisiac. Lise intended to use it to destroy my reputation, but it backfired on her.¡±


    Katelyn believed that Lise got exactly what she deserved. She had caused her own downfall.


    Neil responded coldly. ¡°That¡¯s absurd. Lise wouldn¡¯tmit such a vile act. It¡¯s clear that you orchestrated this to embarrass her publicly. If Lise suffers any serious psychological damage or harms herself, I¡¯ll hold you responsible.¡±


    Katelyn almostughed at Neil¡¯s reaction. She had never encountered anyone as naive and self-righteous as him. Despite the evidence, he continued to defend his wed perspective. Her eyes sparkled with mockery.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be saying that. I will uncover the truth, and the perpetrator will face the consequences they deserve.¡±


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    Neil¡¯s hand, which hung by his side, balled into a fist, though his face remained impassive. His eyes were cold and stern as he said, ¡°I want you to publicly apologize to Lise and admit to all the harm you¡¯ve caused her. Lise has seen the online attacks and now wants to take her own life.¡±


    The repercussions of this incident extended beyond just Lise. They now involved him as well.


    With the Wheeler Group already unstable, this scandal was only worsening the situation.


    The only solution he saw was for Katelyn to confess to orchestrating the affair, thereby diverting the public¡¯s focus from hispany¡¯s troubles.


    For a moment, Katelyn wondered if she was hearing things, or perhaps Neil was losing his grip on reality¡ªhow else could he demand such a thing?


    Neil¡¯s dedication to defending Lise seemed to know no bounds, consistently challenging Katelyn¡¯s patience.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never encountered someone as devoid of shame as you, demanding that a victim apologize to shield the real culprit. If Lise threatens tomit suicide, then so be it. Let¡¯s see if she¡¯s truly prepared to abandon everything she¡¯s taken from me.¡±


    Neil red at her words. His face stern, and his tone cold, he said, ¡°How can you be so cruel? All of Lise¡¯s suffering has been caused by you. Don¡¯t you think you owe her some ountability?¡±


    Katelyn, tired of wasting her time with such foolishness, shot Neil a dismissive look.


    She gestured towards the door, her contempt clear.


    Neil¡¯s face darkened as he retorted sharply, ¡°If you don¡¯t make amends willingly, I will take this story to the media.¡±


    In response, Katelyn snatched the ss from the bedside table and hurled it at him with all her might.


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 Chapter 154

    ?Chapter 154:


    If Neil hadn¡¯t dodged quickly, the ss would have hit him directly in the face.


    With an expression of utter disgust and iciness, Katelynmanded, ¡°Get out!¡±


    She had no desire to exchange words with Neil, whom she considered a nuisance.


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened.


    He felt the situation with public opinion spiraling out of control. Katelyn needed to own up to her actions. Why was that so hard for her?


    People forget quickly. A few days of criticism was surely manageable. Why fight it? Unlike Katelyn, he had apany and thousands of employees to think about.


    If the Wheeler Group suffered from bad publicity, it would be a disaster.


    Neil narrowed his eyes and gave Katelyn a cold, warning look before turning away.


    Katelyn leaned back on the bed and took a deep breath. She now realized that marrying Neil had been the biggest mistake of her life.


    Every time he approached her, trouble followed.


    Meanwhile, in the next room, Lise was fixated on the high-definition video from the charity event, visibly upset.


    The drugs had clouded her judgment; she never would have behaved so indecently in public otherwise.


    Compounding the issue, she had worn a revealing dress that day. She had climbed on top of Neil, much of her chest exposed, and now photos were circting online.


    The onlinements only infuriated her further. Someone said, ¡°She¡¯s so desperate. Can¡¯t she wait until they¡¯re alone? Is this supposed to be a live stream?¡± Anothermented, ¡°Why did they take her away? I wanted to see what would happen next. Lise is so attractive. She¡¯s up there with those morous car show models.¡±


    Yet another added, ¡°Something seems off. Was she drugged? It¡¯s hard to believe someone from such a prominent family would act like this publicly.¡±


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    Lise¡¯s grip on her phone tightened as her anger escted. She logged off the app and quickly dialed a number.


    As soon as the connection was made, she burst out angrily, ¡°What the f**k? Why didn¡¯t you warn me that the spray bottle had such a strong aphrodisiac?¡±


    She had paid a lot for it, believing the seller¡¯s im that it would help eliminate Katelyn, unaware that it contained an aphrodisiac. And then she got dosed herself!


    Had she known, she would have fled before it all spiraled out of control. Then she wouldn¡¯t be the butt of everyone¡¯s jokes. The person on the line was clearly annoyed.


    ¡°You never asked. Plus, how was I supposed to know you¡¯d mess up this badly? Did you get drugged? Really?¡± Lise enunciated every word, adding, ¡°Given everything that¡¯s happened, how am I supposed to fix this? I don¡¯t care, you owe me. Either help me salvage my reputation or get rid of Katelyn.¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey, just a reminder: our deal is done. You screwed up. It¡¯s not my fault you blundered.¡± With that, the man hung up.


    No matter how many times Lise tried to call back, he didn¡¯t pick up.


    She had been cklisted! Clutching her hair with both hands, her face twisted in rage, her voice shrill. ¡°Katelyn, I swear I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    Just then, she heard footsteps outside the door. Quickly, she jumped out of bed and grabbed the fruit knife from the table. Before Neil could enter, she already had the knife pressed against her wrist.


    Neil burst in, his eyes widening in shock as he rushed over. ¡°Lise, don¡¯t do anything rash!¡±


    Lise sobbed through her pain. ¡°I can¡¯t bear the shame of what¡¯s happened!¡±


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 Chapter 155

    ?Chapter 155:


    Neil¡¯s heart clenched as he saw Lise in distress. He tried to soothe her gently.


    ¡°Lise, please calm down and put the knife away. I¡¯ve made arrangements for the trending topic to be removed. No one will talk about it anymore.¡±


    Tears streamed down Lise¡¯s face, her emotions conveying deep pain and despair.


    ¡°What¡¯s the use, Neil? Most people have already seen the spectacle I made. How could I behave like that in public? It¡¯s clear someone set me up.¡±


    Her sobs grew heavier, filled with a sense of profound injustice.


    ¡°Nobody¡¯s trying to investigate. They¡¯re allughing at me. I¡¯d rather die than live with this humiliation forever.¡±


    The more Lise spoke, the more agitated she became. Determination flickered in her eyes as she moved to cut her wrist.


    At that crucial moment, Neil quickly took action, snatching the knife from her hand and tossing it far away. He then turned his attention back to Lise.


    His eyes filled withpassion as he saw Lise sobbing uncontrobly.


    ¡°Lise, I understand this is a terrible ordeal for you. Just calm down. We¡¯ll find a way to handle this properly.¡±


    As Lise leaned into his shoulder, crying uncontrobly, a glint of calction appeared in her eyes.


    She subtly pinched her thigh to intensify her tears, making them seem more genuine and poignant.


    Incredulously, she asked, ¡°What more can you do now? I was forced into doing something so embarrassing, and it¡¯s not just me¡ªit¡¯s affected my family. I¡¯d rather be dead.¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression was grim as he held Lise¡¯s wrist tightly. His eyes hinted at a cunning n.


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for the topic to be taken down. Moreover, I¡¯ll organize a press conference to clear the air. Katelyn was behind this¡ªshould you suffer for it?¡±


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    Lise bit her lip, uncertain.


    ¡°But¡­ Katelyn behaves this way. We don¡¯t have proof, and she won¡¯t admit to anything. Maybe we should just let it go. I don¡¯t want to drag you into a conflict with her.¡±


    At this moment, she was still looking out for him, softening his heart once more.


    The love he sought was always meant to be reciprocal. Only a woman like Lise could truly return his feelings, unlike Katelyn.


    He gazed at Lise with warmth and conviction.


    ¡°No matter what, I will make sure Katelyn takes the me. Your reputation will be restored.¡±


    Lise appeared hesitant but ultimately nodded in agreement.


    Neil was just as easily swayed as she had anticipated.


    Now, she would wait to see his next move.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn was in the hospital.


    She worked with the doctor toplete a thorough physical examination.


    Fortunately, she was detoxified quickly, so her health didn¡¯t suffer.


    After thanking the doctor, she prepared to leave the hospital.


    Just then, she remembered something crucial.


    Where was the Star series jewelry?


    She had been drugged and unconscious at the time, unaware of the unfolding events.


    She needed to ask Vincent what had happened afterward. Pulling out her phone, she sent him a message. He was the one who had brought her to the hospital, if her memory served her right.


    She wrote, ¡°Mr. Adams, thank you for taking me to the hospital.¡±


    Vincent responded promptly, ¡°Do you still feel unwell?¡±


    She replied, ¡°The doctor haspleted a full check-up. I¡¯m ready to be discharged.¡±


    She paused for a moment, unsure how to transition the conversation to the jewelry.


    ording to herst recollection, Neil had sessfully bid 600 million dors for it.


    Just then, the door to her room swung open.


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 Chapter 156

    ?Chapter 156:


    Katelyn spun around to find Vincent at the door. Her eyes lit up with surprise. She had just been about to message him.


    She straightened up and greeted him warmly, ¡°Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent entered, clutching an elegantly wrapped gift box.


    He cast a concerned look at Katelyn.


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s nothing serious. I think they¡¯ll discharge me this afternoon,¡± she responded.


    While speaking, she noticed the gift box in his hand, piquing her curiosity. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she asked.


    ¡°The gift I promised,¡± Vincent replied with a smile, opening the box to reveal the Star series.


    Instantly, Katelyn¡¯s demeanor shifted to one of solemnity. She gingerly touched the jewelry known as the uncrowned king.


    The series had be a global sensation upon its release due to its unique design and exquisite details. Eventually, its value increased after a private collector acquired it, and it vanished from public view.


    Katelyn gazed at the round pearl on the ne, her expression filled with mixed emotions. This piece was her friend¡¯s life¡¯s work.


    Now, it was finally in her hands again.


    Her friend would have been thrilled to see it.


    Vincent watched as various emotions yed across Katelyn¡¯s face, especially when she reached out to touch the ne. She seemed both exhrated and nervous, as if reiming a long-lost treasure.


    ¡°Does this set of jewels hold special significance for you?¡± he asked.


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    She quickly returned to the present and nodded emphatically.


    ¡°This set was designed by my friend, but it was stolen, leading to the creation of the renowned Star collection,¡± she exined.


    To designers, their creations were more akin to offspring than mere objects.


    Katelyn¡¯s friend had hoped to recover her design, but Katelyn aspired to more¡ªshe aimed to apprehend the thief and ensure justice was served.


    Vincent nodded thoughtfully, understanding the depth of the situation. ¡°I see.¡±


    After securing the jewelry back in its box, Katelyn looked at Vincent with a probing question.


    ¡°I thought Neil won the auction for this set, correct?¡± Though she knew Vincent was cautious and reliable, her curiosity got the better of her.


    Vincent remarked nonchntly, ¡°His main focus was on Lise at the time. He forfeited his bid and incurred a penalty. I secured the jewelry at its bid price.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze dimmed.


    Neil was as ubiquitous and bothersome as a fly. At the auction, his spiteful bidding against Vincent had driven the price sky-high.


    She withdrew her phone, transferred the funds to Vincent¡¯s ount, and then gave it a shake.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, thank you. I want to present this to my friend, so I should pay for it myself.¡±


    Vincent remained silent, understanding Katelyn¡¯s decision, and did not object.


    Shifting the conversation, he mentioned, ¡°I¡¯ve submitted the aphrodisiac for analysis. I¡¯ll update you once I have the results.¡±


    Katelyn, leaning against the bed¡¯s headboard, nodded firmly.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    She had nearly forgotten her resolve to confront Lise.


    Vincent seated himself on the sofa, his legs elegantly crossed¡ªa simple pose, yet filled with grace and distinction.


    He gazed at Katelyn with tranquility.


    ¡°Do you think Lise is responsible for this?¡±


    After a moment of contemtion, Katelyn shook her head. ¡°Probably not. This came from the pharmacy. She couldn¡¯t know how to procure such drugs.¡±


    They were in agreement.


    Lise excelled only at ying the victim and deceiving people like Neil. Beyond that, shecked the courage or capacity for much else.


    Should her facade crack, she would likely face imprisonment.


    As she reflected on this, Katelyn nced at Vincent. A sudden realization made her cheeks flush, leaving her momentarily speechless.


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 Chapter 157

    ?Chapter 157:


    Katelyn nervously bit her lower lip, her eyes swimming with uncertainty. She remembered Lise¡¯s behavior at the charity event after being drugged¡ªhow she lost control and attempted to undress Neil in public. Katelyn wondered if she might have behaved simrly towards Vincent.


    She paused, unsure whether to voice her concern. What if she had indeed acted inappropriately? If that were the case, it would surely be awkward for both her and Vincent.


    Katelyn¡¯s emotions were visible on her face, prompting Vincent to furrow his brow.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you feel okay?¡±


    Katelyn blinked, wrestling with her thoughts for a long while before she finally ventured the question.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, did I do anything inappropriate towards you after I was drugged?¡±


    Before Vincent could respond, Katelyn¡¯s cheeks flushed deeply, and even her earlobes turned a bright red. Vincent recalled the button that had been torn off and how Katelyn had asked if he cared for her while pressing close to him. Her mischievous expression reminded him of a yful young fox.


    Such behavior was entirely out of character for her when sober. Once the effects of the drug wore off, she had returned to her usualposed and distant self.


    Katelyn carefully watched his face. As Vincent remained silent, her anxiety grew. She feared she might have done something simr to Lise¡¯s actions. She silently scolded herself.


    In silence, Katelyn contemted all the potential negative consequences. Then, she steeled herself and added, ¡°Mr. Adams, whatever I might have done, it was under the influence of the drug and not a reflection of my true intentions. Please forgive me, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent, sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, stood and approached Katelyn with feigned curiosity. ¡°Miss Bailey, have you really forgotten everything that happened?¡±


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    Katelyn faltered, avoiding his gaze. She genuinely couldn¡¯t remember anything. Herst clear memory was being at the charity event.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew more yful as he moved closer to her. Katelyn averted her eyes, unable to meet his gaze. As he approached, the room seemed to grow warmer, and her cheeks flushed deeper.


    Clutching the nket, Katelyn coughed awkwardly. ¡°Mr. Adams, please stop teasing me. I really can¡¯t remember anything. If I did something inappropriate, I apologize.¡±


    Vincent looked at her meaningfully and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid an apology won¡¯t suffice.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face registered shock. She stared at him, suddenly considering a bold possibility. She wondered if she had impulsively kissed Vincent. After all, Lise had done that to Neil.


    Otherwise, why would Vincent suggest such a thing if an apology wasn¡¯t enough?


    Realizing what he might mean, Katelyn felt a wave of embarrassment and wanted to hide away to escape it.


    Vincent¡¯s smile widened, enjoying the yful tension. Observing Katelyn¡¯s difort and her reddened earlobes, he could tell she was exceedingly embarrassed.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, don¡¯t forget to reimburse me for the shirt after you leave the hospital. You ripped it.¡±


    Hisment momentarily froze Katelyn¡¯s thoughts. It felt as if her mind had been struck by a bat, struggling to make sense of his words with the few brain cells that were still active.


    What did Vincent mean by that?


    She couldn¡¯t fathom how she could have been so bold as to tear his shirt. How could such a thing have happened? The effects of the drug were truly dreadful.


    Katelyn pursed her lips, her mouth parting for a long time without producing a sound.


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 Chapter 158

    ?Chapter 158:


    When Samuel stormed into the room, he was taken aback to find his boss, Vincent, pressing Katelyn against the headboard in a firm embrace. The sight was so unexpected that Samuel could hardly believe it. Vincent¡¯s expression, however, was one of satisfaction, with a satisfied grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, clearly in a good mood.


    Samuel¡¯s heart sank instantly. Had he walked in on a private moment? Was he about to be sent on an assignment as a result? Vincent straightened, shooting Samuel a dismissive look that conveyed both pressure and irritation.


    Katelyn¡¯s face was bright red.


    Samuel felt a wave of shock wash over him. This was it¡ªhis career might be over. He forced a shaky smile, barely concealing his distress, and stammered, ¡°Sorry for interrupting, Mr. Adams. There¡¯s an urgent issue¡­¡±


    Vincent¡¯s voice was t but carried an icy tone. ¡°What is it?¡±


    Samuel understood the gravity of those words. If what he was about to report wasn¡¯t serious enough, he might find himself on a flight to an overseas mission by tonight. He hurriedly exined, ¡°Mr. Adams, the Wheeler Group is holding a press conference. They¡¯re using Miss Bailey of all the misconduct and ming everything rted to Lise on her.¡±


    The moment the words left his lips, a chilling stillness gripped the room, as if the very air had turned to ice. Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed into cold slits, and a bitter smile twisted on her lips.


    She recognized this familiar tactic¡ªa favorite move by Neil and Lise to manipte and provoke.


    Earlier that morning, Neil had boldly confronted Katelyn, demanding that she confess to setting up Lise.


    Katelyn pulled out her phone and checked the trending news. As she expected, Neil¡¯s press conference was all over the top headlines,plete with a live stream.


    She tapped the live stream and watched closely. Neil had invited nearly every media outlet in the city for this announcement. On stage, with a serious expression, he addressed the cameras.


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    ¡°Today, we are here to rify the situation regarding Miss Lise Bailey¡¯s misconduct at yesterday¡¯s charity auction. Our investigation has revealed that Miss Bailey had a significant amount of illegal substances in her system, having been deliberately drugged with an aphrodisiac.¡±


    Neil let his statement hang in the air, giving everyone a moment to absorb the news.


    A reporter quickly asked, ¡°The use of such harmful methods is truly disturbing. Have you identified any suspects?¡±


    Neil¡¯s smile turned cold and mocking.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not Katelyn Bailey, then who else could it be?¡± he sneered. ¡°Before this incident, Lise had only had a brief interaction with Katelyn in the restroom. When I questioned Katelyn, she admitted to the encounter but didn¡¯t mention that the substance was an aphrodisiac. I expect Katelyn to make a public apology. This incident has caused Lise severe distress, even leading her to self-harm.¡±


    As Neil wrapped up his statement, a flurry of documents appeared on therge screen behind him. They were confirmation reports detailing the illegal drug found in Lise¡¯s system, each page emzoned with official stamps, underscoring their legitimacy.


    Alongside the reports, a video yed. It showed Lise in a stark hospital room, her face twisted in anguish as she screamed and relentlessly attacked her wrists with a knife.


    The camera zoomed in on Neil¡¯s face, capturing the seething anger and scorn etched into his features.


    ¡°I never imagined such a despicable act urring right under my watch. I am deeply ashamed to have been married to a woman as malevolent as Katelyn.¡±


    Katelyn turned away from the live stream, her gaze icy and filled with contempt.


    ¡°What a ssic case of a viin shifting the me!¡± she muttered.


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 Chapter 159

    ?Chapter 159:


    Lise had made the first move to hurt Katelyn. Yet now, ording to Neil and others, Katelyn was being portrayed as the instigator rather than the victim. Key images from the press conference video went viral online, each garnering over ten million views. Someizensmented, ¡°It makes sense why Bailey would act this way in public; she was drugged.¡± Others harshly criticized Katelyn for her alleged cruelty. It was unusual to seeizens united in thements section, all condemning Katelyn.


    Vincent looked at Katelyn with a serious expression.


    ¡°Do you want help dealing with this?¡±


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, her fists clenched on top of the nket.


    ¡°No, thanks. If they aim to tear me down with public opinion, I¡¯ll respond in kind.¡±


    ¡°They held a press conference, didn¡¯t they?¡± Katelyn resolved to do the same.


    Moreover, she had more evidence to present than Neil had offered.


    A significant look passed over Vincent¡¯s eyes.


    Neil was particrly ruthless this time. Not only had he tried to manipte Lise, but he had also attempted to deeply tarnish Katelyn¡¯s reputation.


    If the situation didn¡¯t turn around, it would permanently damage Katelyn¡¯s reputation and devastate her life. Even relocating to another city wouldn¡¯t ensure her escape from the rumors.


    Though initially enraged, Katelyn had steadily regained herposure.


    Her countermeasure was ready to begin.


    Seeing her determination, Vincent didn¡¯t push and anticipated how Katelyn would manage the crisis. He prepared to support her no matter what. This way, Katelyn wouldn¡¯t have to bear the burden alone.


    Katelyn picked up her phone and texted Aimee.


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    ¡°Aimee, reach out to all the local reporters. Make sure to invite those who covered Neil¡¯s press conference this morning. I need them all at mine.¡±


    Aimee responded quickly, ¡°You saw the video, then? I was just about to tell you how despicable they were, pretending to be victims and shifting the me onto you.¡±


    Katelyn reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. They¡¯ll end up tripping over their own mistakes.¡±


    Neil, foolishly, tried to clean up Lise¡¯s image but overlooked the fact that their marriage was still legally binding. His actions at the press conference could indirectly serve as evidence of infidelity in their divorce proceedings. Katelyn tapped swiftly on her phone, hatching a n. Due to the distance, Vincent failed to read it.


    He didn¡¯t intend to watch what she was doing, but he believed in Katelyn¡¯s cleverness.


    Suddenly, a furious shout echoed down the hallway.


    ¡°Katelyn, you bitch! Come out here!¡±


    The voice was particrly loud, filled with deep-seated loathing.


    Unsurprisingly, it was Sharon.


    Momentster, the door to the ward burst open with a crash, and Sharon and Jeff stormed in. Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened slightly.


    She had anticipated Sharon causing a scene, but Jeff¡¯s presence was unexpected.


    Thest time Jeff was in the hospital was when Sharon confronted his mistress.


    Eventually, the Baileys had put aside their mutual animosity for the sake of mutual benefit, spending heavily to suppress the media and paying off Vivian to keep quiet.


    Netizens quickly forgot about the incident, and soon after, their attention had shifted. The Bailey couple still pretended to be a loving pair.


    Upon noticing both Sharon and Jeff, Katelyn hesitated.


    A fleeting look of apprehension crossed Sharon¡¯s face. However, thinking about Lise¡¯s current status, she became riled up again, ring at Katelyn.


    Pointing at her, Sharon shouted in a fury, ¡°How many more times must you hurt Lise before you¡¯re satisfied? How could you drug her? You monster! A bitch like you belongs in hell! Stop tormenting her!¡±


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 Chapter 160

    ?Chapter 160:


    Sharon¡¯s anger intensified as she spoke.


    Since their past troubles, the Bailey family¡¯s influence had weakened significantly, and now their future hingedrgely on Lise. If Lise¡¯s reputation was damaged, it could spell the end for the Baileys.


    Jeff stood resolutely, his hands sped behind him. His expression was stern, and his gaze held a forewarning intensity.


    He was aware that the situation was moreplicated than it appeared, but it had reached a point where someone needed to be held ountable. Katelyn seemed like the perfect scapegoat.


    He cleared his throat before speaking.


    ¡°Considering the history, I¡¯m offering you onest opportunity. If you publicly confess your actions and kneel to apologize to Lise, we might consider dropping this issue.¡±


    Before Katelyn could respond, Sharon¡¯s voice cut in, sharp and filled with venom.


    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®dropping the issue¡¯? Haven¡¯t you noticed Lise¡¯s mental breakdown and self-destructive behavior? I want that bitch imprisoned for life, never to breathe free air again!¡±


    Katelyn watched as the couple united in their usations, her expression growing colder.


    ¡°Lise got what she deserved. She orchestrated a plot to hurt me in the process. I haven¡¯t held you responsible, and yet you dare confront me in the hospital and me me?¡±


    Sharon¡¯s face twisted in fury, and she lunged toward Katelyn.


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who hurt my Lise! I want your life as payment for what you¡¯ve done to her!¡±


    Just half a year ago, Sharon had the poise of a refined, affluentdy. But now, she looked more like a venomous shrew.


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    It was shocking how much her demeanor and personality had shifted in such a short time.


    Katelyn, already disconnected emotionally, sidestepped Sharon¡¯s advance.


    ¡°If you try to touch me again, I¡¯ll definitely call the police.¡± The ties of their past had long since frayed.


    While Katelyn harbored a deep-seated gratitude for Sharon¡¯s care over the years, if given the choice, she would have preferred never to have returned to the Bailey family.


    Sharon, unable to understand Katelyn, clenched her teeth tightly, filled with intense hatred.


    ¡°You bitch, how dare you speak to me like that? Now go and make a public apology, confess in front of Lise!¡± Her sharp voice was piercing, slightly painful to the ears.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze,ced with a subtle warning, swept across the room. Though his voice remained calm, it bore an unmistakable weight.


    ¡°Mrs. Bailey, you need to calm down.¡±


    The sudden surge of Vincent¡¯s chilling,manding presence silenced Sharon abruptly, making her step back in involuntary fear, her eyes wide.


    After wielding power for many years, Vincent had developed an aura that was yet exceptionally intimidating. Even a single nce from him could send shivers down one¡¯s spine.


    Though Sharon remained furious, she visibly rxed under his gaze.


    Gripping her hands tightly, she said, ¡°Mr. Adams, this is family. Do you, outsider, really think you have any say in this? My daughter is nearly having a mental breakdown. Shouldn¡¯t the person orchestrating this be held ountable?¡±


    ¡°Family issue?¡± Vincent looked at her with slight contempt, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t it true that Miss Bailey cut ties with you quite some time ago?¡±


    ¡°Y-you!¡± Sharon found herself at a loss for words.


    Jeff approached with a stern face. Though hecked Vincent¡¯s intimidating aura, he stood firmly as a father defending his daughter.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯m not sure of your rtionship with Katelyn, but given how things have escted, she bears significant responsibility and cannot be let off easily. Given our past rtionship, I offered her a solution. If she refuses to apologize, I¡¯ll have to resort to legal means.¡±


    His arrogant speech almost made Katelynugh.


    She leaned back against the headboard, her expression detached and serene, as if she were merely a spectator in this drama.


    ¡°Well, I too n to settle this legally¡­ but in the end, it will be Lise who ends up behind bars.¡±


    Jeff¡¯s heart faltered at Katelyn¡¯s words.


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 Chapter 161

    ?Chapter 161:


    Jeff had somehow maintained hisposure when it was revealed that Katelyn wasn¡¯t biologically rted to the Baileys.


    He had raised Katelyn and knew her well enough to be certain that she wouldn¡¯t have drugged Lise. He refused to believe that Katelyn could have done such a thing.


    Sharon, on the other hand, had never considered this possibility and was focused only on her own agenda.


    ¡°Enough lies! We¡¯re taking this to court. Just you wait!¡± Sharon screamed.


    Katelyn faced her with a mocking smile in her eyes. Even under threat, she remained unfazed, almost enjoying the confrontation.


    ¡°I¡¯m waiting eagerly,¡± she replied coolly.


    Sharon¡¯s frustration grew with Katelyn¡¯s undaunted demeanor.


    She shot Katelyn a fierce look. ¡°You will see!¡±


    With that, Sharon stormed off.


    Jeff paused, casting a nce at Katelyn. He almost spoke but chose silence instead, following Sharon out of the room.


    The ward fell silent the moment the Baileys departed.


    Katelyn then checked her social media and, unsurprisingly, found herself the subject of harshments and personal attacks. Meanwhile, trolls dominated the trending discussions.


    Vincent, sitting next to her, observed her carefully.


    ¡°What¡¯s your next move?¡± he asked.


    ¡°They¡¯ll get a taste of their own medicine,¡± she texted back, detailing her strategy to Aimee.


    By afternoon, reporters were set to cover her press conference.


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    She had the power to call a press conference too.


    Post-hospital, Katelyn conducted the press event.


    She positioned herself exactly where Neil had been and weed the same media personnel who had attended his session.


    The event attracted a vast crowd and was also streamed live.


    Despite her gaunt and weary appearance, Katelyn stood firm before the reporters. They pressed eagerly.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, will you address Mr. Wheeler¡¯s allegations from this morning? It is illegal to maliciously drug someone. Are you aware of the seriousness of these usations?¡±


    ¡°Did your dissatisfaction with Miss Lise Bailey and her family lead you to act? We need a direct response, as there is significant public concern over this issue.¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey, the severity of this incident is rming. Are you considering making a public apology? We have heard that Miss Lise Bailey is deeply affected because of this ordeal. Do you acknowledge your responsibility?¡±


    The questions came harshly,ced with pointed malice.


    Everyone seemed to have taken Neil¡¯s side.


    Indeed, from another perspective, Katelyn could be seen as having both motive and opportunity.


    By then, the controversy had escted, with several witnesses reporting Sharon¡¯s aggressive confrontation with Katelyn.


    Katelyn, keeping herposure, surveyed the crowd of journalists.


    Below the stage, Aimee watched the continuous stream of hostilements flooding the live feed, echoing the sharp tone of the reporters.


    Katelyn responded with grave sincerity, ¡°Now, I see the truth in the saying ¡®the first to offend is the first toin,¡¯ reflecting on Neil Wheeler¡¯s actions. The conflict started when Lise Bailey assaulted me in the bathroom. Unaware of the contents of the spray, I defended myself by grabbing the bottle and doing the same to her. This led to her current condition, which, in my view, is a deserved oue.¡±


    Her statement caused a wave ofmotion among the journalists.


    The room buzzed with intense discussions. What Neil had imed that day was in stark contrast to Katelyn¡¯s ount.


    This left everyone questioning who the real victim was and where the me trulyy.


    After allowing a moment for the room to absorb her words, Katelyn concluded, ¡°I will pursue legal action regarding this affair. I trust Lise Bailey will reconsider her actions once my attorney contacts her.¡±


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 Chapter 162

    ?Chapter 162:


    The media were momentarily stunned, as if they had entered a standby mode.


    Once they regained theirposure, they pressed on. ¡°Mr. Wheeler provided strong evidence during the press conference. Do you have any proof to back up your ims, Miss Bailey?¡±


    Katelyn lightly tapped her fingers on the podium, clearly anticipating this question.


    Aimee quickly yed a pre-recorded audio file through the loudspeakers, filling the room with sound. The recording captured Katelyn¡¯s argument with Lise in the restroom.


    Frequently targeted by Lise¡¯s schemes, Katelyn had adopted the habit of carrying a recording device. This small habit had equipped her with vital evidence when the narrative shifted against her.


    Even though it was merely an audio recording, the audience could visualize Lise¡¯s expression from her harsh tone and relentless curses.


    Since her debut, Lise had been perceived as a graceful and refineddy. It was unexpected that she would behave so differently in private. The release of this recording utterly shattered Lise¡¯s facade.


    For a brief moment, profound silence enveloped the room.


    The audio rity captured not only Katelyn¡¯s inquiries but also the activation of the spray can. The prior usations that distorted the truth were now rendered invalid.


    After the recording concluded, the audience remained in shock, struggling to process what they had just heard. Katelyn observed everyone¡¯s reactions and then calmly picked up the microphone and asked, ¡°Does anyone have any further questions?¡±


    With such decisive evidence at hand, no one harbored any doubts.


    Silence pervaded the room, with only Katelyn¡¯s steady voice breaking the quiet.


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    Therge screen disyed her visage¡ªher face was strikingly pale, her light-colored eyes showing no emotion. She seemed entirely unmoved by the proceedings.


    Standing serenely on the stage, her slender figure and upright posture projected an unmistakable authority. When she spoke, her words carried a weight thatmanded belief.


    This was the essence of Katelyn¡¯s unique charisma.


    ¡°I hope there will be no further malicious rumors about me online. I have tolerated past harassment, but from now on, I will take legal action against anyone who maligns my character or distorts the truth. Thank you for your cooperation.¡±


    With these words, Katelyn stepped back, bowed slightly to the audience, and then walked directly offstage. The entire press conference, aimed at clearing her name,sted no more than ten minutes.


    Katelyn¡¯s statements were incisive, her words clear and easy to grasp.


    This stood in sharp contrast to Neil¡¯s verbose and irate allegations from the morning session.


    Lise, too, watched the live stream from her hospital room. Though her wrist was encased in thick bandages, the wound beneath was merely a superficial scratch.


    This was clearly a theatrical attempt to elicit sympathy.


    She had no intention of truly harming herself. Upon seeing the audio evidence, Lise could no longer hide her panic.


    Her thoughts scattered, unable to think clearly, she whispered to herself repeatedly, ¡°What should I do? What am I supposed to do now?¡±


    Had it not been for the audio evidence, her act of sympathy might have initially shifted the me towards Katelyn.


    Now, the public saw her as deserving of the consequences and likely to be held ountable for her deceit.


    Her meticulously crafted image of elegance andposure waspletely ruined. What were her options now?


    After momentarily breaking down, rage filled Lise¡¯s eyes.


    All because of Katelyn, that damned woman!


    She resolved to find a thorough solution to this debacle.


    After the press conference, as Katelyn stepped through the back exit, she found Vincent¡¯s car waiting beside the road.


    ¡°You really nailed the press conference,¡± he praised.


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 Chapter 163

    ?Chapter 163:


    Vincent¡¯s eyes gleamed with clear admiration.


    He had been watching the live stream intently since the moment Katelyn stepped onto the stage.


    Katelyn remained calm the entire time, never letting the online rumors affect her. Every word she spoke hit the mark perfectly.


    Even if the press conference video was chopped into countless clips and shared online, her clear words would still tell the full story.


    Katelyn casually pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her smile soft and natural.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams, for thepliment,¡± she said with easy grace.


    Vincent, ever the gentleman, swung the car door open for her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get in the car first,¡± he said.


    Katelyn nodded, and as soon as she was seated, she grabbed her phone to check the trends.


    Just as she expected, her speech was already all over the inte.


    Here and there, posts popped up questioning and condemning Neil.


    Each post racked up millions of views, far outshining the attention Neil¡¯s own press conference had received.


    Katelyn had timed her press conference wlessly. Neil¡¯s earlier spotlight on the issue had unwittingly drawn attention right where she wanted it.


    When she stepped outside to address the confusion, the reversal hit even harder.


    After scanning thements briefly, Katelyn snapped her phone shut.


    She turned to Vincent, who sat beside her. ¡°If I had nned the press conference for tomorrow, the impact might have been even stronger.¡±


    That had been her initial thought¡ªletting the situation sit for a while and waiting for public opinion to reach its peak.


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    Her focus had shifted entirely to the pressing demands of her work. With her time and energy stretched thin, she couldn¡¯t afford to squander them on trivial concerns.


    Vincent gave a thoughtful nod, his voice steady and reassuring.


    ¡°You can amplify this impact significantly by investing a bit of money,¡± he said, his tone measured and confident. ¡°It¡¯s like achieving double the results with half the effort.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a pleased smile as she rxed into her chair, her bodynguage radiating contentment. But in her mind, echoes of the harsh criticisms fromizens about the Wheeler Group persisted¡ªrelentless and biting.


    At that moment, Neil¡¯s predicament seemed like a cruel twist of fate.


    First, Vincent had dealt him a severe blow, and now, Neil¡¯s attempt to salvage his reputation through a press conference had only served to unravel the carefully constructed image he had so painstakingly built.


    As Katelyn mulled over this, an idea suddenly sparked in her mind. She turned to Vincent, her curiosity piqued.


    ¡°Did Neil tell you about the hacker incident?¡± she asked, her tone sharp with interest.


    Vincent nodded, though his eyes remained distant and cool.


    ¡°He mentioned they uncovered several hidden servers in thepany and are investigating the suspects. ording to Neil, someone used hacking techniques to mess with the signal transmitter, which led to the false location being traced back to hispany.¡±


    Neil¡¯s reply came as no surprise to Vincent and Katelyn. Whether or not he was actually involved, it was clear he would go to great lengths to defend his reputation.


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed as she considered this. Her silence stretched before she finally spoke.


    ¡°Perhaps this situation has nothing to do with Neil after all. It¡¯s possible someone is deliberately trying to stir up trouble between you two.¡±


    Vincent cast a sidelong nce at Katelyn, noting herpleteck of concern for Neil. Oddly enough, this seemed to lift his mood.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already lifted the sanctions on the Wheeler Group,¡± he said, his voice calm. ¡°The situation is bad enough for him as it is.¡±


    With both internal and external crises tearing at him, and public opinion in tatters, Neil must be on edge by now. Still, Katelyn¡¯s curiosity remained¡ªwould Neilsh out at Lise because of this mess?


    Her thoughts were interrupted by Vincent¡¯s voice, yanking her back to the present.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go. First, we¡¯ll head to thepany and set up an office for you.¡±


    Katelyn blinked, caught off guard, and replied automatically,


    ¡°I can work from home.¡±


    Vincent, shrugging casually, exined, ¡°The design team hase up with some new ideas. I want you to have enough time to discuss everything with them. With only a few days left, we need to pick up the pace.¡±


    From his point of view, it was all about speeding up the work. But for Katelyn, remembering her stolenptop stirred up a new wave of anger.


    Suddenly, she felt that her revenge against Neil had been far too lenient.


    The sleek Bugatti arrived at thepany building in no time.


    When Katelyn stepped into her new office, she was momentarily awestruck, her gaze lingering in surprise.


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 Chapter 164

    ?Chapter 164:


    The new office was spacious and well-lit. Although the decor was understated, it embraced light colors and featured a green potted cactus on the desk, adding a touch of coziness.


    It was, indeed, a pleasant office.


    Yet, Katelyn¡¯s attention was drawn to the right, where Vincent¡¯s office was decorated in ck, white, and gray. It turned out their offices were actually part of a shared space, divided by a ss partition that Vincent had installed.


    From her spot, she could easily see Vincent at work on the other side.


    The way he had created two distinct office styles within one area was quite remarkable.


    She paused, then expressed her confusion. ¡°Mr. Adams, aren¡¯t there any other offices avable?¡±


    Vincent gave her a brief look and responded with a question of his own. ¡°Do you like the setup here?¡±


    The question made Katelyn hesitate. She found it odd to work so closely with Vincent, always within view of each other.


    She chose her words carefully. ¡°When Ist visited the design department, I saw some open spaces. I could work there and coborate closely with the team.¡±


    ¡°The design department is at full capacity,¡± Vincent quickly said, picking up on Katelyn¡¯s hesitation. He faced her, his hand casually in his pocket.


    ¡°You can discuss the details directly with me, since I need to approve all final designs.¡±


    Vincent firmly shut down both options, interrupting Katelyn before she couldplete her sentence.


    Katelyn simply nodded in eptance.


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    ¡°Alright. I hope my presence here won¡¯t be a disturbance, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°No trouble at all,¡± Vincent reassured her and went back to his work.


    His approach was clearly aimed at pushing the project forward and prioritizing thepany¡¯s interests. From this angle, it was hard for Katelyn to maintain any reservations.


    She took a moment to reflect.


    With only a third of the design projectplete, Katelyn tapped her cheek to refocus.


    Faced with looming deadlines and substantial tasks, Katelyn decided to prioritize finishing her work.


    Despite being separated by only a ss partition, the office was remarkably soundproof.


    As soon as Katelyn powered up herputer, she dove deep into her tasks.


    She needed to finish at least ten more drawings that day, meaning workingte was unavoidable.


    As she immersed herself in her work, Katelyn lost track of time,pletely unaware when Vincent left his office.


    After meeting her objectives, Katelyn looked up and massaged her stiff neck, realizing it was already ten at night.


    The building was silent, except for the soft light in her office. Katelyn looked to the right and noticed that Vincent was no longer there.


    Checking her phone, she read a message from Vincent: ¡°I have some matters to handle. Thepany closes at five. You can leave at your regr time, Katelyn.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± she replied.


    Quickly gathering her belongings, she headed to the elevator and pressed the button.


    Still contemting her designs, she muttered to herself, ¡°How should I incorporate the concept of eternity into my design?¡±


    As she stepped into the elevator, Katelyn continued to think about her work.


    The elevator began its descent smoothly but then abruptly jerked sideways, ending with a loud crash.


    The lights inside went out immediately! Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in fear.


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 Chapter 165

    ?Chapter 165:


    The elevator was exceptionally cramped and pitch ck. Vincent¡¯s office was situated on the building¡¯s highest level, and Katelyn had no idea on which floor the elevator had stopped.


    She retrieved her phone from her purse, attempting to illuminate the cramped space.


    Just as her luck would have it, her phone alerted her that the battery was about to die soon.


    Before she could think of a n, Katelyn quickly sent a message to Vincent with the remaining battery power: ¡°Help.¡±


    Right after sending the message, her phone screen went dark.


    In the pitch darkness, every human sense was heightened. The only sound was the deafening silence and Katelyn¡¯s heartbeat.


    She groped around, pressing the elevator buttons repeatedly, hoping for a response.


    Though she knew the power was out and it might be futile, she had no other options left.


    ¡°Help! Help! Anyone out there?¡± Katelyn shouted.


    Sadly, it was 10 p.m., long after office hours, and it was unlikely anyone was still around.


    She inhaled deeply, gripped the elevator wall, and slowly crouched down.


    The fear she had been holding back seemed to surge, threatening to overwhelm her.


    With a look of anguish, Katelyn clutched her head, hoping Vincent woulde to her aid soon.


    Typically, argepany¡¯s electrical circuits were separated.


    Updates always live at gal¦Ç¦Òv??ls


    Even in a power outage, there should be an emergency power supply.


    Katelyn clenched her eyes shut, unable to remainposed. The trauma from an incident at the age of six plunged her back into a terrifying abyss.


    Meanwhile, Vincent had just left a cocktail party. Upon receiving Katelyn¡¯s message, his expression turned grave, and he quickly dialed her number. But he got voicemail.


    ¡°Hello, this is Katelyn. Please leave your message, and I¡¯ll call you back.¡±


    A wave of irritation immediately overtook Vincent.


    He loosened his tie and called Samuel.


    The phone connected almost immediately.


    Vincentmanded in a firm tone, ¡°Give me Katelyn¡¯s location. ASAP.¡±


    The urgency in his voice made it clear to Samuel that something was wrong.


    ¡°OK, Mr. Adams,¡± he responded.


    Within ten minutes, Samuel called back.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, Miss Bailey¡¯sst known location was at ourpany, Adams Group.¡±


    Vincent started his car, pressed the elerator, and rushed toward his office.


    Normally, the drive from the restaurant to hispany would take at least thirty minutes, but Vincent drove so fast that he made it in just ten.


    Arriving to find thepany gate locked and the building dark, Vincent¡¯s anxiety grew. He wondered why Katelyn was still at thepany sote.


    What could her message mean?


    Had someone taken her hostage at thepany?


    A flood of dark thoughts swirled through his mind. He remembered the murder of the head of the design department, which had been targeted at them.


    Regrettably, he hadn¡¯t yet identified the mastermind behind it.


    He feared that this time, that person might be targeting Katelyn.


    Samuel hurried to thepany as well.


    He said, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ll call security to open the door.¡±


    Trying to control his rising panic and fury, Vincent nodded.


    A security guard soon arrived with the key.


    Vincent immediately tried to press the elevator button, but it wouldn¡¯t respond no matter how many times he pushed it.


    For the first time ever, he felt utterly out of control.


    He red at the security guard and said, ¡°How could thepany¡¯s power go off like this? Activate the backup power!¡±


    The security guard quickly set off to handle it.


    It would take him ten minutes to reach the backup power room, even if he ran.


    But Vincent couldn¡¯t stand the wait.


    He nced at the staircase and dashed up without a second thought.


    Samuel shouted behind him, ¡°Mr. Adams, this building has over a hundred floors!¡±


    Vincent didn¡¯t even turn back; he just kept running as fast as he could.


    His mind was nk, driven by a single thought¡ª


    All he wanted was for Katelyn to be unharmed.


    Katelyn, cramped in the elevator, had no idea how long she had been there. Suddenly, she heard faint cracking sounds from above.


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 Chapter 166

    ?Chapter 166:


    Katelyn nced up without thinking, her eyes quickly adjusting and tightening into focus.


    A faint zap of electricity crackled in the air. Suddenly, the elevator was filled with bright light.


    The searing brightness forced Katelyn to shield her eyes, huddling in the corner until her legs grew numb. The fear still lingered in her eyes; the terror hadn¡¯t left her. She felt as if she were still trapped in a childhood nightmare, unable to escape.


    It was as if an invisible force was pulling her into a dark void.


    Even though the elevator was now lit, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to calm down.


    She felt as if she had merged with her six-year-old self, the same suffocating fear gripping her tightly.


    Suddenly, anxious voices came through the elevator door.


    ¡°Katelyn? Are you there, Katelyn?¡±


    The voice trembled with unconcealed anxiety. For a moment, Katelyn was stunned, but then she recognized it¡ªVincent¡¯s voice.


    ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she shouted.


    She heard hurried footsteps, and the elevator doors slid open.


    Still crouched on the floor, Katelyn looked up.


    A soft light from behind Vincent bathed him in a warm glow.


    The noise andmotion in her head seemed to fade away in an instant.


    At that moment, Vincent was the only person left in Katelyn¡¯s world.


    His face was etched with worry, sweat beading on his forehead. He looked her over with a tense, concerned gaze. When their eyes met, his relief was palpable. He let out a deep breath, finally finding her.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were red and puffy, making her look like a scared little girl.


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    Vincent moved closer and asked softly, ¡°Are you okay?¡± His question pulled Katelyn out of her tangled thoughts, bringing her back to the moment.


    Katelyn sprang to her feet and threw herself into his arms.


    The tension in her body seemed to dissolve all at once, and a wave of suppressed emotions flooded out. Vincent had not only rescued her but also broughtfort to her heart.


    The frightened six-year-old she once was seemed to resurface. The sudden self-pressure against him made Vincent stiffen in surprise.


    After a moment¡¯s pause, he gently wrapped his arms around her waist, his voice full of concern. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid,¡± he said softly.


    Katelyn hugged him tightly, resting her head against his chest.


    She kept trembling, and the tears that had been waiting in her eyes finally began to stream down her cheeks.


    With a mix of concern and tenderness, Vincent gently parted from her, trying to calm her. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here.¡±


    Katelyn squeezed her eyes shut, lost in thefort of his voice.


    Vincent stayed silent, holding her close as if the world outside had disappeared.


    He held her quietly, letting her take the time she needed to calm down.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t tell how long they stayed like that. Eventually, she pulled away, stepped back, and gave a small sniff.


    Her eyes were even redder now, clearly showing she had been crying hard.


    Despite this, Vincent hadn¡¯t heard a single sound from her.


    She was so controlled that even in her tears, she remained silent.


    Vincent watched her, his emotions a mix of concern and curiosity, but he chose not to ask about her tears. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home,¡± he said gently.


    Katelyn nodded in silent agreement.


    The shadow in her heart had faded with Vincent¡¯s arrival, but she still walked a step behind him. She had been frightened earlier, but now she felt a twinge of embarrassment.


    As her mind cleared, she wished she hadn¡¯t cried in front of Vincent.


    At least she hadn¡¯t made any sound; otherwise, her embarrassment would have been even worse.


    Lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t notice that Vincent had stopped.


    Unaware, she bumped into his broad back.


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 Chapter 167

    ?Chapter 167:


    Katelyn clutched her forehead and collided with an invisible barrier.


    Vincent observed her with a frown of concern. ¡°Sorry, are you feeling any better?¡±


    Katelyn merely nodded, her gaze drifting beyond Vincent. Samuel had brought the car over, which exined Vincent¡¯s sudden stop.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes remained fixed on Katelyn, filled with apprehension. He sensed an unease in her demeanor, as if she were a tightly wound spring forced into a semnce of calm.


    Though Vincent was familiar with Katelyn¡¯sposure and her bouts of instability induced by the aphrodisiac, her current vulnerability was new to him.


    At that moment, she seemed as fragile as a ss doll, vulnerable to the faintest breeze.


    Vincent softly instructed, almost without realizing his gentle tone, ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    Katelyn, lips pursed, obediently climbed into the vehicle. Sitting beside her in the backseat, Vincent¡¯s gaze was tender, filled with concern.


    ¡°Where do you live now?¡± he inquired.


    ¡°South Bay,¡± she responded.


    Upon hearing her answer, Samuel immediately turned the car towards South Bay.


    This location was her new residence, unknown even to Aimee. Katelyn lowered the window, letting the cool night air waft in.


    With her eyes shut, she was swept into a nightmarish memory.


    At six years old, she had been confined to the attic for an entire week¡ªa haunting memory she would never shake. Even as a child, the impact of that event had dug deep into her psyche.


    Though she was older now, the shadows of her traumatic past still visited her intermittently.


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    Vincent watched her silently, now certain that she was grappling with deep-seated psychological scars, possibly triggered by being enclosed in small spaces like elevators. The journey continued, the soft strains of piano music filling the car.


    They arrived at South Bay.


    This area consisted of standalone residences, each set apart from the others, featuring small gardens and fountains that enhanced the picturesque setting. Katelyn¡¯s apartment was in the second building, though it sat dark and uninviting.


    Her home loomed ominously, like a somber giant. As she stepped toward it, hesitation overcame her, and she recoiled.


    Unbeknownst to others, Katelyn harbored a fear of the dark, often sleeping with a nightlight on. Typically indifferent to such fears, her recent panic attack had revived her old anxieties.


    Vincent picked up on her hesitation and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you in and stay until you fall asleep.¡±


    With a worried nce, Katelyn hesitated before eventually nodding.


    Vincent led the way, using his phone¡¯s shlight to light their path. He opened the door, illuminating her living space. This was his first visit to her home, and he was greeted by its warm decor.


    The house radiated warmth with its color scheme. The sofa was adorned with several charming throw pillows.


    Despite therge space being densely decorated with numerous small items, it surprisingly didn¡¯t feel cluttered. Standing next to Katelyn, Vincent noticed her tiredness and said sternly, ¡°Go to bed.¡±


    She nodded, trying her best toply.


    Her bedroom, located on the first floor, matched the home¡¯s warm aesthetic.


    After a taxing day and a stressful experience in the elevator, Katelyn was physically tired but found herself unable to sleep, no matter how long she tossed and turned.


    Clutching a pillow, she was reminded of a scene where Vincent hade to her rescue, simr to moments in romance films.


    Previously, Katelyn had dismissed such scenes as dramatic fiction, but now she recognized their basis in reality.


    After a lengthy period of restlessness, she got up and left the bedroom.


    In the living room, the light was on. Vincent was engaged in a video call, headphones on.


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 Chapter 168

    ?Chapter 168:


    Katelyn stood quietly to the side, making sure not to interrupt Vincent.


    The living room was softly lit, the gentle glow outlining Vincent¡¯s silhouette.


    His eyes, cold and piercing, held an unblinking precision as he focused on his online meeting. She waited in silence, her presence a calm backdrop.


    The air between them was filled with an unexpected peace, even though no one spoke.


    When Vincent¡¯s meeting finally wrapped up, he took off his earphones and noticed that Katelyn had fallen asleep on the sofa.


    Shey curled up, her brow still furrowed. A strand of hair had fallen across her pale face, reminding him of morous movie posters. He didn¡¯t know when Katelyn had arrived or when she had fallen asleep beside him.


    Moving softly, he approached her and reached out, but then pulled his hand back, careful not to wake her after a long night.


    With gentle care, he bent down to lift her, sliding his arm carefully under her knees.


    He handled her as if she were a fragile treasure, making sure not to disturb her sleep.


    Luckily, Katelyn stayed asleep as heid her gently on the bed.


    The bedroom light was still on, casting a soft glow. Vincent stood off to the side, his eyes gently tracing the outline of Katelyn¡¯s features as she slept.


    Outside, the rain drizzled steadily, mingling with the soft rustle of the leaves.


    The tree by the door swayed with the wind, its shadow intermittently flickering across the screen. Vincent looked away, lost in thought.


    Katelyn, nestled in a rare, deep sleep, awoke promptly at 7 a.m., her internal clock still sharp.


    She rubbed her stiff neck, struggling to piece together the previous night¡¯s events.


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    She remembered waiting for Vincent during his meeting and then falling asleep on the sofa, only to find herself now in the bedroom.


    She climbed out of bed, and as she passed the kitchen, she was greeted by the inviting scent of food.


    On the coffee table, Katelyn found a note written in bold, strong script:


    ¡°I made breakfast. Eat it after you wake up¡ªVincent.¡±


    The few words, though simple, brought a warm feeling to Katelyn¡¯s heart.


    She often skipped meals while caught up in work, leading to ongoing gastric problems.


    In the three years of her marriage, Neil had never cooked for her or reminded her to eat on time. Vincent, however, showed a level of care she hadn¡¯t known before.


    He looked after her like a true friend.


    Holding the note close, Katelyn felt a surge of gratitude. At that moment, she felt the cold barrier inside her heart begin to soften.


    It was as if a cier had melted into refreshing spring water.


    Vincent appeared distant and reserved, but his actions revealed surprising kindness.


    In contrast, Neil, though outwardly polite, was deeply selfish and uncaring.


    Katelyn noticed the indentations on the sofa¡ªsigns that someone had been there recently. It was clear Vincent had spent the night on the couch.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine how Vincent had managed to sleep therefortably.


    Seated at the table, she ate a bowl of oatmeal.


    It was in, but Vincent had added berries and nuts. Since the partnership had begun, Vincent had gone out of his way to look after her. Now, Katelyn felt it was time to return the favor.


    Pushing aside her swirling thoughts, she resolved to head to work and figure out how to show her gratitude.


    She put on light makeup and changed into casual clothes. Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang. Aimee¡¯s name shed on the screen. As soon as Katelyn answered, Aimee¡¯s anxious voice filled the line.


    ¡°Kat, have you seen thetest news? You¡¯re in it again, and not good for your divorce case.¡±


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 Chapter 169

    ?Chapter 169:


    Aimee¡¯s voice trembled with anxiety.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze turned icy as she responded tersely, ¡°I see.¡± She then ended the call and checked the trending topics online. As she suspected, her and Vincent¡¯s names were circting widely.


    Just yesterday, paparazzi had covertly snapped photos of her and Vincent as he dropped her off, capturing them entering South Bay together.


    The images, likely due to the shooting angle or intentional editing, featured only Katelyn and Vincent. Samuel was conspicuously absent.


    Despite not having divorced Neil, these photos portrayed her as unfaithful.


    Katelyn was indifferent to personal nder but was concerned about Vincent being dragged into this scandal. The photos had been uploaded overnight, each garnering over 100 million views, apanied by a mix of supportive and criticalments.


    One person remarked, ¡°I¡¯ve been following celebrity rtionships for years, and it¡¯s clear who¡¯s together. They match perfectly in height and looks.¡±


    Another countered, ¡°Katelyn has always pointed fingers at Neil for cheating. Now, it seems she¡¯s no different. It¡¯s always Neil who ends up med. Poor guy.¡±


    A frustratedment read, ¡°Enough already, are you part of Neil¡¯s troll army? Let¡¯s not forget, Neil was the first to stray. What is fair is fair, right? Stop defending him blindly.¡±


    Yet another added, ¡°Everyone should just stop arguing. They¡¯re both to me. They should just split and end this drama. Their tumultuous rtionship is more gripping than a soap opera.¡±


    Among these, there were harsher criticisms that Katelyn chose to ignore.


    Katelyn was deeply concerned about Vincent bing entangled in the scandal.


    To her dismay, the situation escted when their photographs continued to circte with increasing poprity.


    Amid the frenzy, images from a previous incident once again surfaced of Vincent dining with an unidentified woman, whomizens were quick to assume was Katelyn.


    This misidentification led to rumors iming the dinner date was the exact moment she allegedly betrayed Neil. This sparked a wave of support for Neil, transforming his image from betrayer to victim overnight.


    Katelyn was all too aware of the orchestration behind the scandal¡¯s virality.


    That morning, already fraught with stress, became even more overwhelming for her.


    Her phone rang¡ªit was Vincent.


    With a heavy heart, she answered, apologizing profusely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams. This mess is my fault, and I¡¯m dragging you into it. I¡¯ll make it right and address those spreading these lies.¡±


    Guilt consumed her.


    Vincent had done nothing but support her, yet now he was caught up in this unwarranted drama.


    Known in Granville as a charismatic figure and a dream for many, Vincent was now unjustlybeled as an adulterer.


    Vincent, everposed, reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t me yourself. I¡¯ve already taken steps to handle this situation. Let¡¯s focus on work, shall we?¡±


    His nonchnt response suggested he wasn¡¯t overly concerned.


    As Katelyn was about to respond, a ck car abruptly pulled up beside her.


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 Chapter 170

    ?Chapter 170:


    Katelyn instantly recognized the man who burst out of the car¡ªit was Neil.


    His eyes, concealed with rage, locked onto her. As soon as he emerged, he grabbed Katelyn¡¯s arm, clutching his phone tightly in the other hand.


    His expression was icy and menacing, his tone venomous.


    ¡°I should have realized this sooner! How else could Vincent always have been your protector? How could you use me of cheating in front of all those reporters? You¡¯ve betrayed me too.¡±


    Neil had woken up that morning and seen the reports. He had seen photos of Katelyn and Vincent entering a house together, which set off rms in his mind. It was nearly midnight¡ªwhat else would a man and a woman be doing at that hour?


    Besides, Vincent always protected Katelyn when he was around her. Neil suspected that hispany had faced a crisis because Vincent was seeking revenge for Katelyn.


    Things shouldn¡¯t have been like this!


    Katelyn should have chased after him, trying to change his mind by loving him, reminding him of what she had done for him in the past three years, and convincing him to return to her.


    He had even been prepared to give Katelyn a second chance.


    But now, he had clear evidence proving that he had been cheated on.


    Hearing his angry words, Katelyn thought Neil must be out of his mind.


    As for how Neil had found her current home address, Katelyn believed the credit should go to the paparazzi who had been following her.


    It was early morning, and here was Neil, causing a scene like a lunatic.


    Katelyn¡¯s good mood waspletely shattered. She looked down, watching Neil¡¯s hand grip hers tightly. Anger flickered in her eyes.


    Her voice was cold and sharp as she shouted, ¡°Let go of me!¡±


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    Katelyn red at Neil, her eyes filled with disgust.


    Neil felt a sharp pain in his heart.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t supposed to look at him like that.


    In the photos covertly taken by the paparazzi, she and Vincent had exchanged affectionate nces, but now, Katelyn¡¯s eyes showed nothing but disgust and impatience toward Neil.


    Neil was beyond furious. To put it inly, he had lost his mind when he saw those news reports.


    ¡°You imed to love me, but you were unfaithful while we were still married. You cheap slut!¡±


    A cold look overtook Katelyn¡¯s face. Without hesitation, she raised her right hand and delivered a sharp p across Neil¡¯s face.


    The p resonated crisply, echoing its full strength. Simultaneously, she seized the opportunity to kick Neil¡¯s leg.


    Neil frowned in pain.


    Katelyn retracted her arm, gazing at the red mark forming on his cheek. Her anger boiled over as she said coldly, ¡°You should probably see a psychiatrist, you lunatic! I can¡¯t believe a man who cheated on his wife has the nerve to question her so self-righteously.¡±


    When Katelyn had caught Neil in bed with Lise, she had decided to end the marriage. From that point on, they were meant to have nothing to do with each other.


    Yet Neil, still seething with anger, seemed to believe she still had feelings for him. Perhaps he expected her to want him back. Maybe he even thought she had engaged with Vincent just to make him jealous. Realizing this, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help butugh at the absurdity.


    How shameless of Neil to assume she still held any love for him.


    A mix of cruelty and mockery flickered in Neil¡¯s eyes. Clutching his cheek, he sneered.


    ¡°So this is your love? It¡¯s so cheap. Why did I ever marry someone like you? Have you forgotten how you professed your love for me over the past three years? You couldn¡¯t wait to jump into bed with another man even before our divorce proceedings began.¡±


    Neil was visibly enraged.


    In Katelyn¡¯s eyes, Neil had always maintained a certain charm, something that had initially drawn her to him.


    However, now, with his reddened eyes and harsh words, he seemed more like a lunatic. An arrogant smile crept across the corner of Katelyn¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°Did you ever think a day mighte when you would cheat on me?¡±


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 Chapter 171

    ?Chapter 171:


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was unnervingly calm. She stared at Neil with the cool detachment reserved for an insignificant stranger. Yet, Neil couldn¡¯t shake the strange sensation of seeing his own reflection in her eyes.


    He couldn¡¯t understand why seeing those news reports had filled him with such anger, or why he had thrown reason aside to confront Katelyn right away. A voice in his head kept insisting that things shouldn¡¯t have ended this way¡ªKatelyn should have always loved him.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curved into a faint, mocking smile. ¡°Whether or not those news reports are true, you should have realized that whatever we had ended the moment you betrayed me. The trial is tomorrow. I expect to finalize everything as soon as possible.¡±


    With that, Katelyn turned on her heel and walked away without a second nce. She looked down at her wrist, which had just been in his grasp, and then pulled out a disinfecting wipe from her bag. Her face showed clear disgust as she cleaned her wrist and tossed the wipe into a nearby trash can.


    Neil watched all of this in stunned silence. Had Katelyn really be so repelled by him? Could it be that her earlier words were not just an act, but that she had truly given up on him and their years together?


    Rage simmered in Neil¡¯s chest. How could Katelyn be so selfish and cold, changing her feelings so abruptly?


    Neil stood by the roadside, his face dark with anger,pletely unaware that someone inside a nearby building had been watching him.


    Seeing Neil distressed over Katelyn, Lise clenched her fists in frustration. Even now, did Neil still have feelings for that despicable woman?


    Lise knew she couldn¡¯t just stand by; she had to secure her ce as the future Mrs. Wheeler, no matter what. At that moment, Katelyn was driving toward Adams Group. Her face showed a tangled mix of worry and determination.


    Her recent actions had caused Vincent significant trouble, even impacting his reputation. How could she possibly fix this?


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    The car came to a halt at Adams Group¡¯s entrance. Katelyn stepped out, her bag slung over her shoulder, and headed straight for the CEO¡¯s office. But Vincent wasn¡¯t there. He was in a meeting in the conference room.


    Katelyn pulled out herptop and began examining the post that had shared the secretly filmed photos and videos, scanning through thements. She quickly identified several new, private ounts that had been stirring up negative opinions. It was clear someone was manipting the situation to make it worse.


    A sharp focus came into Katelyn¡¯s eyes as her fingers flew over the keyboard. She logged into her social media ount, which had seen a surge in followers thanks to the recent media storm. Katelyn posted a rification, stating that she and Vincent were just friends and that others had been present when the photos were taken.


    But her rification barely made a dent. Public opinion was sharply divided. Some thought that even if Katelyn had been unfaithful, it was ultimately still Neil¡¯s fault. Others used her of ying the victim and twisting the story to me Neil.


    The public¡¯s focus shifted away from the press conference Neil had held earlier, diminishing its impact. Katelyn zeroed in on a few especially harshments and began crafting her replies. Her mind raced as she tried to find a way to clear up the confusion.


    Even though her rtionship with Vincent was nothing more than a casual friendship¡ªwithout even a hint of handholding¡ªmalicious rumors had blown things out of proportion.


    Just then, Katelyn received a message from Aimee. ¡°Kat, don¡¯t worry about those nastyments. People have already made up their minds, and no amount of exining will change that. I¡¯ve got some gossip about some celebrities and their romances. Once they¡¯re out, people will forget all about you.¡±


    Usually, scandals among high society didn¡¯t grab as much attention as those in the entertainment world, and this one was purely an ident.


    Katelyn responded with a simple, ¡°Okay.¡±


    After that, she verified her suspicions once again. Just as she reached a conclusion, the office door was pushed open.


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 Chapter 172

    ?Chapter 172:


    Katelyn looked up as she saw Vincent approaching after his meeting. She instinctively stood, appearing anxious and unsettled. All along, she had been pondering what to say when facing Vincent. Now, overwhelmed by guilt, she couldn¡¯t stop ming herself.


    Katelyn then apologized, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams. I¡¯ve dragged you into this again. I promise to find out who the paparazzi were that took those photos.¡±


    Vincent casually ced several documents he was holding on the table. He seemed unfazed by the public¡¯s reaction. Instead, his attention was on Katelyn¡¯s pale face.


    ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± he asked.


    Caught off guard by his off-topic question, Katelyn was stunned. She searched Vincent¡¯s face for any sign of anger but found none. The public opinion outside was extreme, yet he remained concerned about her health. This only deepened Katelyn¡¯s sense of guilt.


    She nervously clutched the hem of her blouse and nodded. ¡°I think it¡¯s best for our future to send the designs through email. We should avoid meeting in private to prevent this kind of issue from recurring. I will also return the advance you paid me aspensation for this scandal.¡±


    After some thought, that seemed like the best course of action to her. Vincent was wealthy and influential. Repaying him was the least she could do to apologize.


    Vincent sat on the sofa with his slender legs slightly curled. Though his movements were rxed and simple, he unintentionally conveyed a sense of dignity. He still hadn¡¯t addressed her previousments, instead revisiting a question from the night before.


    ¡°Do you have ustrophobia?¡±


    It was yet another seemingly unrted question. Katelyn felt disconnected, as though they were not quitemunicating effectively. She bit her lip. Vincent had asked this after witnessing her distress the previous evening.


    She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath. This was the first time she had openly acknowledged a deep-seated trauma she had hidden for years.


    ¡°When I was a child, my parents¡ªI mean, Mr. and Mrs. Bailey¡ªwere always busy. They frequently went on business trips, leaving me in the care of different babysitters. I was just six years old at the time. To avoid looking after me, the sitter locked me in the attic. That week was the darkest time of my life.¡±


    Many people carry psychological scars from traumatic or intense experiences in their childhood. For Katelyn, at the tender age of six, being locked in the attic for an entire week became a nightmare that cast a shadow over her entire life. She even took psychology courses in college, hoping to heal her emotional wounds.


    Vincent nodded, signaling her to continue. ¡°And then?¡±


    ¡°Eventually, they returned home and discovered what had happened. Mrs. Bailey immediately dismissed the sitter and gave up a lot of her work to spend time with me.¡± At this memory, Katelyn felt a pang of bitterness.


    Although Sharon had recently done many things to hurt Katelyn, her first memory of Sharon was that she had once been a good mother. Sharon had once treated Katelyn like a princess, only toter push her away harshly. With these conflicting emotions swirling inside her, Katelyn felt overwhelmed.


    ¡°I see,¡± Vincent said, tapping his fingers gently on his knees. ¡°The elevator outage was an ident, but the real problem was that the backup power didn¡¯t kick in right away. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this and provide you with an exnation.¡±


    With those words, Vincent stood and picked up the documents, clearly ready to return to work. He had not once mentioned the public fallout from the scandal, which only added to Katelyn¡¯s growing unease. She gripped the fabric of her blouse tightly, not caring that it wrinkled.


    With mixed emotions, she looked at Vincent¡¯s tall figure.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± she started, her voice low. The root of the issue was her, and that was why Katelyn couldn¡¯t stop feeling guilty.


    Yet, she was puzzled by Vincent¡¯s silence, especially since he hadn¡¯tmented on thepensation she offered. She worried it might be insufficientpared to his loss. Regrettably, she couldn¡¯t think of a better solution.


    At her words, Vincent abruptly stopped and turned to face her.


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 Chapter 173

    ?Chapter 173:


    Katelyn raised her eyes to meet Vincent¡¯s, their gazes intertwining. Her eyes betrayed a hint of worry, while Vincent¡¯s were shadowed, concealing any trace of his true feelings. She gripped the edge of her clothing tightly with her right hand, a small detail that Vincent¡¯s keen eyes noticed.


    He spoke in a calm, measured tone. ¡°I told you before not to get too worked up about what people are saying online. What matters more to me is your physical and mental health.¡±


    The first part of his statement had already taken Katelyn by surprise, but the second part left her utterly stunned. In the digital age, shouldn¡¯t he be worried about how these issues could affect hispany? Yet Vincent¡¯sposure never wavered. He even said that her well-being was more important than any financial setbacks thepany might face. The more she thought about his words, the more personal they seemed.


    Katelyn then remembered how Vincent had shown her care from the beginning. Could it be that he had feelings for her? Just as this thought began to form, she quickly pushed it away. Impossible. She wasn¡¯t one to indulge in self-delusion. Vincent was likely just trying to ease her guilt and self-me.


    Katelyn bit her lower lip, her eyes determined as she tightly clenched her fist. ¡°What about Mr. Adams? After this project ends, if you¡¯re pleased with my work, I¡¯ll design for yourpany next quarter,pletely free of charge.¡±


    Earlier, when Vincent had helped Katelyn secure the Star Series jewelry, she had sent money to his ount, but he had quickly returned it. If she tried to pay him again, he would certainly refuse. But if it was framed as part of their ongoing project, he might ept.


    Vincent hesitated for a moment before nodding and pulling a document from his desk. He ced it in front of Katelyn.


    ¡°Take a look at this employment contract.¡±


    Katelyn picked up the contract and skimmed through it before looking up at Vincent, stunned. The document was a formal offer from the Adams Group, inviting her to join as a full-time employee¡ªthe manager of the jewelry design department,plete with an impressive sry and benefits.


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    She had always worked as a frencer and had never signed such a contract before.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, this¡­¡± Katelyn¡¯s voice faltered, hesitation clear in her eyes.


    She had spent years avoiding long-term contracts to maintain her freedom. For a designer, inspiration was everything. A flexible lifestyle and a calm mind were crucial for creating great work, unlike a rigid job that drained creativity. Though Katelyn¡¯s designs were few, each was a perfect creation.


    Noticing her unease, Vincent said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t set demanding targets or strict standards. As long as you help lead the team to meet project goals when needed, you¡¯ll have plenty of freedom the rest of the time.¡±


    His words made it even harder for Katelyn to refuse. She had been looking for a chance to repay Vincent for his support after all.


    Katelyn¡¯s grip on the contract tightened. ¡°I¡¯ll sign it.¡± She picked up the pen and signed at the bottom of the document.


    Katelyn¡¯s handwriting was strikingly beautiful. It was often said that handwriting reflects the person, and this was certainly true for Katelyn. Her writing was elegant and fluid,bining grace with firm strength, much like her own nature¡ªcalm and collected, but with clear personal boundaries.


    A woman¡¯s beauty could be a powerful advantage, but on its own, it was not always enough.


    As Katelyn focused on signing, she missed the slight curve of Vincent¡¯s lips¡ªa barely visible smile that anyone close to him would recognize as a sign of satisfaction.


    After she finished, Katelyn handed the document back to Vincent. He took the pen and signed the contract with his bold, confident handwriting.


    His script was a sharp contrast to Katelyn¡¯s delicate penmanship.


    Their names, side by side, felt as if they were momentarily united in that shared space.


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 Chapter 174

    ?Chapter 174:


    The employment contract Katelyn signed with Vincent would bind them for a minimum of five years. Although Katelyn wasmitted to the long-term agreement, she still felt a sense of anxiety when she considered the public¡¯s reaction online.


    Her marriage to Neil had drawn more attention than she had anticipated. Vincent was a powerful figure, and whenever someone held such a position, there were always hidden agendas. Vincent had many rivals eager to find fault with him and bring him down. They might use this situation to sway public opinion against him. This was Katelyn¡¯s greatest fear.


    After thinking it over, she couldn¡¯t hold back her worry. ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ll handle the online bacshter and do my best to reduce any damage,¡± she said.


    Vincent¡¯s smile was gentle but carried an edge of amusement at her concern.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you not to worry about it. If it troubles you so much, I¡¯ll have someone take care of it,¡± he said.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes revealed her inner conflict.


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried about the issue itself, but I¡¯m concerned it might harm your reputation and affect yourpany. With theunch eventing up, I¡¯m afraid it could cause unnecessary problems,¡± she said.


    Vincent¡¯s voice was firm, his gaze steady. ¡°I¡¯m not worried, and neither should you be. Let it go,¡± he said.


    Katelyn was momentarily jolted by his calmness, which helped her regain her focus. Hisck of concern reassured her that her anxiety was misced.


    She nodded quietly and turned toward her office, determined to focus on her work. Taking care of her responsibilities was far more important than dwelling on these minor concerns.


    As Katelyn buried herself in her work, the Adams Group released a formal statement:


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    ¡°We are excited to announce that Miss Katelyn Bailey has been appointed as the new manager of our design department. We encourage everyone to follow thetest projects from the Adams Group,¡± the statement read.


    The online crowd, who had been waiting eagerly all morning, were met with just Katelyn¡¯s brief exnation and the official announcement of her employment from the Adams Group.


    For a moment, confusion set in. What was happening here?


    Instead of clearing up the online buzz, Vincent had officially hired Katelyn. Was this his new method of distracting people?


    Vincent¡¯s own name would have been enough to grab attention. So why this? Did Vincent really not care about the online chatter?


    Thement section was aze with spection. People wereing up with theories, but what intrigued them most was still the connection between Katelyn and Vincent. This was the second time they had been spotted together alone.


    A striking pair¡ªa handsome man and a beautiful woman¡ªalways draws attention, especially with Katelyn in the spotlight. Anyone linked to her would quickly be a trending topic.


    It wasn¡¯t until Neil arrived at his office that he noticed the Adams Group¡¯s recruitment announcement. He grabbed his phone and read the statement over and over.


    It was posted from the official Adams Group ount,plete with thepany¡¯s stamp. Everything seemed in order, which only added to Neil¡¯s confusion.


    His face grew serious as he tried to make sense of it all.


    Katelyn had just begun her role in the design department at Vincent¡¯spany, despite having no background in design. For three years, Neil and Katelyn had lived together as a married couple, and during that time, he had never seen her draw a single line. Yet now, she not only ran the department but was its manager.


    This new role meant Katelyn would oversee the entire design team and shape the future of the Adams Group with her decisions. The choice to put someone with no experience in charge of such a critical area was bewildering.


    As a businessman, Neil knew this was an unusual move. Still, Vincent¡¯s decision suggested that Katelyn¡¯s design skills were far more advanced than anyone had realized. Herck of visible work didn¡¯t mean shecked talent; it just meant her abilities had been hidden until now.


    If Katelyn were his, everything would make sense. With these revtions, Neil couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he had been misled by Katelyn. At that moment, a soft¡­


    A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, followed by a gentle voice. ¡°Neil?¡± the voice said.


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 Chapter 175

    ?Chapter 175:


    The speaker was none other than Lise. She entered, holding a thermos container and wearing a gentle smile.


    ¡°Neil, I made some soup. It¡¯s really good for you. Haven¡¯t you beenining about stomach painstely? This should help nourish you.¡±


    Neil looked up and met Lise¡¯s caring eyes. Her entire being seemed devoted to him, her eyes brimming with affection. Her look reminded him of how Katelyn used to gaze at him three years ago.


    It was often said that the eyes were the window to the soul; emotions could escape through one¡¯s gaze, even if they tried to hide them with words.


    Neil found himself momentarily lost in thought. The warm looks from Katelyn in the past now contrasted starkly with her recent cold and distant manner. It seemed clear that Katelyn didn¡¯t love him anymore. Noticing Neil¡¯s distraction, Lise felt a twinge of irritation.


    Was he still hung up on Katelyn? Was heparing her to Katelyn? Lise knew she could be many things, but a stand-in for the offensive Katelyn was not one of them.


    Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Lise waved her hand in front of Neil¡¯s face.


    ¡°Neil, what¡¯s on your mind? The soup will get cold.¡±


    This snapped him back to the present. He looked at the thermos with mixed feelings. Due to frequent social gatherings and unhealthy dining habits, his stomach had suffered. Once Lise found out, she started making it a routine to bring him homemade soup daily.


    This affection deeply moved him, causing him to suppress his deepest thoughts. Only a woman like Lise could truly be his partner.


    With his emotions in check, Neil regained hisposure, and a smile appeared on his face.


    ¡°Lise, I appreciate you making soup for me, but it¡¯s a lot of effort. Why not have my assistant order from the restaurant nearby?¡±


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    Lise immediately responded with warmth, ¡°No, I¡¯ll keep making it myself. Did you know? There¡¯s something truly joyful about watching someone enjoy the food you¡¯ve made.¡±


    How could she agree to let Neil get soup from a restaurant? That would reveal that she had been buying soup from outside all along and pretending she made it herself. Lise¡¯s thoughts raced, fearing Neil might dwell on this. So, she quickly shifted the conversation.


    She sat down on the sofa next to him and asked cautiously, ¡°Neil, have you seen today¡¯s trending topics? It¡¯s all about Katelyn and Vincent. Do you think there¡¯s real affection between Katelyn and Vincent?¡±


    She paused deliberately to gauge Neil¡¯s reaction before continuing.


    ¡°In a way, this is actually good news. It seems both you and Katelyn have found new happiness. Seeing her happy, I genuinely feel like giving her my blessings. You feel the same, right?¡±


    Herst question was clearly a probe. Under typical circumstances, Neil would have quickly grasped Lise¡¯s subtle hint. However, his mind was already troubled by the idea of mutual affection between Katelyn and Vincent. He immediately sneered.


    ¡°Katelyn has been ruining my reputation, making me out to be the viin. Now she wants to be with someone else? How can I just let her have her way?¡±


    Lise¡¯s heart skipped a beat at his words. She sighed softly, trying to sound generous as she said, ¡°I understand you have grievances against Katelyn, but she¡¯s still young and may not be very mature in her thinking. If you keep clinging to this, neither of you will find happiness. It¡¯s better to let go.¡±


    ¡°Never!¡± Neil replied without hesitation, his eyes cold. ¡°I won¡¯t let Katelyn have it easy either.¡±


    As he spoke, the anger in his eyes was clear. To Lise, it looked like he was determined not to let Katelyn be taken by Vincent.


    Lise inhaled deeply, trying to curb her annoyance. It seemed her earlier attempts to stir trouble for Katelyn had not been harsh enough.


    ¡°Neil¡­¡±


    Before Lise could continue, Neil cut her off. ¡°We don¡¯t need to discuss this further. I have my own thoughts.¡±


    Lise had to bite back her remaining words. Instead, she pulled out some documents from her bag andid them on Neil¡¯s desk.


    ¡°Neil, please take a look at these first.¡±


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 Chapter 176

    ?Chapter 176:


    Neil nced over, confused.


    His astonishment grew as he viewed the design sketches, his eyes widening in surprise. He stared at Lise in disbelief.


    ¡°Lise, this is¡­¡±


    Lise appeared a bit shy, biting her lip as she said, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been stressed about the businesstely, so I made some sketches. Do you like them?¡±


    Holding the designs, Neil visibly excited, inhaled deeply while looking at her, trying topose himself. ¡°They¡¯re perfect. Even without Iris, these give me the confidence topete with the Adams Group. The sketches came at a crucial time and were a significant help.¡±


    He gently grabbed Lise¡¯s wrist and pulled her onto hisp, his expression warm with affection.


    ¡°Once thepany is stable, I¡¯ll make sure to repay you.¡± Resting against his shoulder, Lise smiled sweetly and said, ¡°I don¡¯t need anything in return. I just want to be with you.¡±


    Neil smiled, satisfied.


    He then picked up the sketches again, examining them intently several times. However, they seemed familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint where.


    Deciding not to worry about it, he focused on the benefits they brought.


    With these designs, working with Iris seemed less critical.


    Yet, he still needed to verify Katelyn¡¯s identity.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn was at the Adams Group.


    Katelyn was still working overtime. Up to now, she had redrawn the designs for three themes, and there was only another week left.


    She needed toplete all the sketches and also allow Vincent time to get them to the factory for customization.


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    As she massaged her neck to ease the tension, Vincent¡¯s voice unexpectedly came from nearby.


    Holding the documents to be approved, Vincent said casually, ¡°Remember to look after yourself, even while you¡¯re working. The food is quite good. Have something to eat before you get back to work.¡±


    She rubbed her somewhat t stomach and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± The staff cafeteria was on the twenty-third floor. Katelyn took the elevator down. However, since it was lunchtime and there was a long line, she decided to go to the bathroom first and then join the line when she returned.


    No sooner had she locked the stall door behind her than she heard mocking voices outside.


    ¡°Personally, I don¡¯t think Katelyn¡¯s work is all that impressive. She slept with Mr. Adams to get the job and took Celia¡¯s ce. Celia has said she¡¯ll teach Katelyn a lesson once this project is over.¡± The tone was bitter and envious.


    Another woman said, ¡°I can¡¯t stand women like that. They have no real talent. They just charm their way into better positions. Did you know Katelyn is divorced? Maybe we should learn from her. What if it helps us get promoted or get a raise someday too?¡±


    Then both womenughed loudly, their cackles sounding particrly harsh.


    Unbeknownst to them, the subject of their gossip was right behind the door they were standing next to. Katelyn furrowed her brow, thinking about the woman they mentioned. She vaguely remembered Celia Jennings. Thest time she interacted with the design department at Adams Group, Celia had been one of the people who seemed antagonistic towards her, following the previous department head, who hadter died.


    The only problem was that Katelyn hadn¡¯t been in the design departmenttely, so she wasn¡¯t familiar with all the employees there. From the women¡¯s conversation, it was clear that she had inadvertently taken Celia¡¯s position.


    Lost in thought, Katelyn listened as the women continued their ridicule.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t fate give me a seductive face? Then I could be living in a mansion and driving a fancy car. Life is so unfair.¡±


    ¡°How do you think Katelyn got all she has? Through underhanded tactics. It¡¯s revolting just looking at her. Would you want to wake up in a different man¡¯s bed every day?¡±


    In the next instant, Katelyn kicked open the door of the cubicle.


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 Chapter 177

    ?Chapter 177:


    The abrupt noise from behind took the two women by surprise. They turned around, their faces draining of color at the sight of Katelyn.


    What could be more embarrassing than being caught badmouthing someone, only for that person to overhear?


    Katelyn looked at them with a cold expression. One woman had short, meticulously styled curly hair, while the other had long hair with subtle makeup. One of them wore so much perfume that it made Katelyn feel a bit itchy.


    ¡°If you have issues with me, why note to me and address them directly? Why talk behind my back?¡± Katelyn had once interned at the Bailey Group for a while, so she had a good idea of how rough things could be at the workce.


    When she arrived, she already had a vague sense of the kind of situation she would face. She had never intended to just endure it. Why cover her ears when she could silence the attackers¡¯ mouths instead?


    Clearly, Katelyn¡¯s words signaled that she had overheard their entire conversation.


    At first, the two women felt embarrassed and guilty, but then they remembered their own confidence. They even ced their hands on their waists and stared at Katelyn with cold looks.


    ¡°Did we say anything untrue? You got these things by sleeping with Mr. Adams. So what if you can design? Who are you to take over Celia¡¯s rightful position?¡± Once again, they brought up Celia, defending her.


    Katelyn reflected on their words. Following the previous department head¡¯s death, it seemed likely that Celia was expected to be the next head.


    ¡°No matter the role, it¡¯s filled by those who arepetent. If Celia hasn¡¯t reached the position of department head after all these years, it must mean she¡¯s not as capable as the previous one. On the other hand, Ipeted with the former department head and surpassed her. Why would you think someone less capable than her could outperform me?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s logic was sound and direct, leaving the two women speechless.


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    The corporate environment was darker than Katelyn had realized. Often, entire departments would conspire to bully neers.


    With her sudden entry, Katelyn had be the target of the entire design department. She felt fortunate that her office wasn¡¯t located within the design department, or she couldn¡¯t imagine the extent of the hostility she would face.


    The woman with short hair fixed Katelyn with a re but couldn¡¯t manage toe up with anything to say. The woman with long hair smiled with disgust.


    ¡°What¡¯s the point of all this talk? It doesn¡¯t change the fact that you got ahead by getting into Mr. Adams¡¯ bed. Thispany has been around for many years, and no one has ever done what you did. You¡¯re only here because of who you know. Everyone else has to climb thedder step by step. How did you get lucky enough to be a manager?¡±


    It seemed less like she was defending Celia now, and more like she was voicing her own grievances. Katelyn casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, unfazed by the usation.


    ¡°Your position isn¡¯t determined by how long you¡¯ve been here or by waiting your turn, but by your abilities. If you¡¯re not outstanding enough, you won¡¯t get promoted, even if you stay here for twenty years.¡±


    She was frustrated that instead of improving themselves, they spent their time maligning others. This was precisely the kind of behavior Katelyn despised and one of the reasons she was maintaining her arrangement with Vincent.


    Once again, her pointed words left them speechless. Losing patience for further argument, Katelyn fixed them with a cold stare.


    ¡°Apologize to me!¡± The sudden emphasis and cold tone startled the two.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn¡¯s sudden burst of icy aura was, to some extent, as chilling as Vincent¡¯s, making them tremble with fear. They didn¡¯t even dare to look into her eyes and instead looked away in panic.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew colder. ¡°This is yourst chance. Are you going to apologize, or not?¡±


    The woman with long hair said angrily and stubbornly, ¡°Why should we apologize? We haven¡¯t said anything untrue. Haven¡¯t you achieved what you have by seducing Mr. Adams? You¡¯re still involved with your ex-husband, and now you¡¯re trying to seduce Mr. Adams. A tramp like you doesn¡¯t belong here at all!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile was extremely cold.


    ¡°In that case, I guess I¡¯ll just have to discuss this with Mr. Adams.¡±


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 Chapter 178

    ?Chapter 178:


    Katelyn focused on her work and remained determined to carry out her duties without letting irrelevant issues distract her. She had always viewed herself as someone who worked best quietly and independently.


    The two women¡¯s faces turned pale. They had been defiantly challenging Katelyn, but now, the thought of her reporting them to Vincent caused panic to set in. What would happen if she did? Could they even handle being fired?


    Whether Vincent was fond of Katelyn or not, he definitely despised employees who engaged in gossip and spread rumors in the workce. And they¡­ they had just vited his policies.


    The women were trapped in their own thoughts. What options did they have left? The idea of apologizing seemed demeaning¡ªafter all, they were all equals. Why should they be the ones to apologize and humble themselves?


    Suddenly, a new voice filled with sarcasm rang out from the doorway.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, quite impressive. You¡¯ve only been here a short while and already you¡¯re exerting your influence, intimidating the design department staff.¡±


    Katelyn and the two women turned to see who it was.


    The woman who approached had short hair and metallic essories, her style somewhat resembling Aimee¡¯s. She carried herself with undeniable authority. The two employees looked at her as though she was their savior.


    ¡°Celia!¡± they both eximed.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. So, this was the ¡°Celia¡± they had been talking about.


    She remembered correctly¡ªthis was the ally of the previous design department head, who had consistently opposed her in meetings.


    ¡°Even though you¡¯ve been appointed the new head of the design department, your personal life is quite controversial. Aren¡¯t others allowed to talk about it? If you¡¯re worried about gossip, perhaps you shouldn¡¯t give them something to talk about in the first ce,¡± Celia remarked, her voice filled with malice.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned mocking. ¡°Oh, you seem quite familiar with my personal matters.¡±


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    Celia was clearly more challenging to handle than the earlier two employees.


    She scoffed disdainfully, her expression full of scorn. ¡°Your scandals are all over the Inte. Like I said, if you don¡¯t want people talking, don¡¯t give them something to talk about. You climbed thedder by sleeping your way up. It¡¯s vile to use your role to silence others.¡±


    ¡°Anyone withmon sense knows not to take everything online seriously. However, meeting someone this gullible in person, like yourself, was unexpected.¡± Katelyn had no intention of holding back her thoughts. She stared at Celia with disdain.


    ¡°I heard you were next in line for the managerial role. So why didn¡¯t you get promoted when the position opened up? Could it be that you¡¯re not skilled enough, or maybe you¡¯re not even as good as your predecessor?¡±


    This remark struck Celia deeply, disrupting herposed demeanor. She momentarily revealed her irritation. ¡°You only got ahead because you charmed Mr. Adams. Had you not gotten involved with him, none of this would have happened.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face remained calm, unaffected by the usation. She even reminded her, ¡°What you¡¯ve just used me of is nderous without proof. I could sue you for that. And as far as I know, Mr. Adams particrly dislikes rumors within thepany. Should I mention yourments to him?¡±


    A hint of fear flickered in the eyes of all three women. They knew Vincent well enough to understand his disdain for office politics.


    Indeed, Vincent couldn¡¯t stand office gossip. He had even fired several employees in the past for spreading rumors, restoring peace in the workce. But ever since Katelyn¡¯s arrival, rumors had started swirling again.


    Celia gritted her teeth, her voice filled with hatred. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can silence us by bringing up Mr. Adams. Right now, he¡¯spletely under your spell. So of course, he¡¯ll support you. But I¡¯m confident your true colors will show eventually.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin, and her brows furrowed slightly. ¡°That¡¯s my concern, not yours. Right now, I want an apology!¡±


    ¡°You¡ª!¡±


    Celia was so furious that she was momentarily speechless, her fists clenching tightly, her eyes burning with anger and jealousy. If she had a face as attractive as Katelyn¡¯s, would she have been the one promoted instead? But there was no way she would apologize.


    ¡°What we said is the truth. Why should we apologize? Go on, report us to Mr. Adams! Let him fire the entire design department. Let¡¯s see how you manage Adams Group on your own!¡± Celia¡¯s confidence surged as she made this bold deration.


    The design department employed dozens of people. No matter how much Vincent favored Katelyn, he wouldn¡¯t fire anyone just for her.


    The two employees standing behind Celia also regained their boldness, their expressions turning smug.


    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s see if Mr. Adams really fires all of us!¡±


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 Chapter 179

    ?Chapter 179:


    These three seemed sure of one thing¡ªthat Vincent would never dismiss the entire design team just for Katelyn¡¯s sake. Yet, they overlooked a critical fact¡ªeven if all of them toiled all night on designs, their collective efforts wouldn¡¯t match the quality of Katelyn¡¯s single sketch. Her exceptional talent had won her widespread admiration from many experts.


    Katelyn, also known by her pseudonym, stood at the summit of the domestic jewelry design field. She was in a league of her own¡ªunmatched and unparalleled.


    After a three-year break at her peak, Iris returned to a world where demand for her designs skyrocketed, creating a massive backlog.


    Celia, watching Katelyn with barely hidden envy, couldn¡¯t suppress a mocking smile.


    ¡°Rightfully yours,¡± she said scornfully. ¡°But if you can¡¯t withstand the criticism, perhaps you should reconsider your methods?¡±


    Unperturbed, Katelyn offered a slight smile, gracefully tucking a stray hair behind her ear. Her beauty remained undiminished by the simplicity of the action.


    ¡°Bold of you to spread rumors. You know how much Mr. Adams values me,¡± Katelyn replied, her voice calm. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about his reaction? ndering colleagues and stirring up trouble could sh your sry for at least six months. Maybe I should make your time here even more challenging. Do you think you could handle that?¡±


    Her direct approach caught Celia and the others off guard. As the head of the design department and a favorite of their boss, Katelyn wielded significant influence, and none could evade her watchful eye.


    The two colleagues who had been whispering suddenly looked regretful, while Celia¡¯s expression remained bitter.


    ¡°Mr. Adams has little patience for people like you,¡± Celia snapped. ¡°You¡¯ve just started here, and already you¡¯re stirring things up. Doesn¡¯t that worry you?¡±


    With confidence, Katelyn replied, ¡°Who do you think Mr. Adams will lose faith in first¡ªme or you?¡±


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    Throughout the exchange, Katelyn remainedposed, her confidence evident in her poised demeanor and firm stance.


    Anxiety surged among the two female colleagues, who regretted their failure to apologize to Katelyn sooner. Had they done so, they would have been entangled in the conflict between Celia and Katelyn.


    ¡°You!¡± A wave of fear washed over Celia as well. Vincent had maintained a professional distance from all female staff, except for Katelyn, during his tenure. It was no surprise then that Celia felt boldly challenged by her.


    Celia¡¯s frustration was evident as she tightly clenched her fists, each small gesture observed by Katelyn. Katelyn¡¯s grin widened yfully, as if she had read Celia¡¯s mind.


    Celia and her cohort clearly aimed to push Katelyn out with their harmful rumors and divisive tactics within the design team. Katelyn resolved not to let their ns seed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you three seconds to think it over. Apologize now.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s warning trailed off, leaving a palpable tension in the air. Her implied threat only heightened their unease. Fear had a way of ballooning into nightmares, leading many to crumble under the strain of their own thoughts. Katelyn was adept at manipting these fears.


    Her face remained serene, a trace of amusement ying across her features, starkly contrasting with the displeasure etched on Celia and the others. She slowly uttered, ¡°Three.¡±


    As Katelyn counted down, panic gripped the first two colleagues. The promise of high wages and benefits at Adams Group usually drew intensepetition for positions. Their intention had been merely to bolster Celia¡¯s position quietly without truly provoking Katelyn and getting themselves into trouble.


    Resentment flickered in Celia¡¯s eyes, barely masked. Katelyn was infuriatingly untouchable.


    Why hadn¡¯t she been the target of that earlier assassination attempt?


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 Chapter 180

    ?Chapter 180:


    Katelyn maintained a serene smile.


    ¡°Two.¡±


    The nonchnt responsended like a heavy blow on the hearts of the three women.


    They could vividly imagine the retribution Vincent would exact once Katelyn reported them. Given Vincent¡¯s favoritism toward Katelyn, their dismissal would likely be the mildest consequence.


    The two women exchanged uneasy nces, each detecting hesitation in the other¡¯s eyes. One of them tentatively pulled at the sleeve of herpanion, her gaze filled with uncertainty as she briefly nced at Katelyn, silently questioning whether they should apologize and retreat.


    The woman with short hair, signaling with her eyes, appeared to be the most timid of the trio, something Katelyn had observed.


    The woman with long hair clenched her teeth as she nced at Celia standing next to her. If they surrendered to Katelyn now, Celia would likely take issue with them as well. It seemed wiser to antagonize just one party rather than both.


    With Celia¡¯s side providing sufficient support, Vincent would undoubtedly weigh the potential consequences. Celia tightened her fists and took a deep breath.


    Katelyn was applying psychological pressure. If they yielded now, they would likely face further intimidation from her in the future.


    Confident in her design skills, Celia believed Vincent would want to retain her services.


    Katelyn observed them closely, particrly their covert whispers, which only intensified her smile. She masked her feelings and icily stated, ¡°One.¡±


    The three women wavered for a moment but ultimately chose not to apologize.


    Katelyn had anticipated this oue.


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    Though the two women had shown some hesitation, they ultimately aligned with Celia, making themselves her allies.


    In that case, Katelyn would not be lenient. As someone in a leadership role, ensuring effective management of her team was crucial. If she couldn¡¯t manage these few individuals, her future at thepany would be increasingly challenging.


    ¡°Think carefully about your choice today. I will be informing Mr. Adams right away.¡± Katelyn gave them a significant look.


    She suddenly regretted epting Vincent¡¯s job offer so quickly; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be dealing with such bothersome issues.


    Katelyn was merely trying to intimidate them and had no real intention of involving Vincent. With Vincent swamped with work daily, she didn¡¯t want to burden him with such minor conflicts.


    Katelyn began to turn away, but Celia, begrudgingly watching her leave, shouted, ¡°Do you really think Mr. Adams won¡¯t harbor secret resentment when you turn on us like this? To Mr. Adams, you are just a ything. Don¡¯t overestimate your importance.¡±


    Celia¡¯s words brimmed with anger and an underlying fear that only she knew.


    Everyone in thepany feared Vincent. Even a mere frown from him could instill terror in many.


    Katelyn faced Celia, her patience wearing thin. Celia spoke through clenched teeth, her voice fierce.


    ¡°If Mr. Adams holds us ountable, we will not let you off easily either. If necessary, we will all strike back. No one wille out unscathed.¡±


    Unmoved by the tant threat, Katelyn remained calm, her demeanor unaffected by their words.


    ¡°Looking at you now, I can only think how incredibly foolish you are. Despite knowing Mr. Adams favors me, you still choose to provoke me. Your actions against me and your scheming within thepany are clear vitions of Mr. Adams¡¯ standards.¡±


    Katelyn paused before altering her tone.


    ¡°For you, being dismissed might be the least of your worries. I believe I should report this to Mr. Adams. It would be best if you had trouble finding employment at Granville. If news of this spreads, do you really think anypany would want to hire you?¡±


    In contrast, Celia¡¯s threats seemed insignificant. The prospect of being unable to find work at Granville was what truly struck them with fear.


    Vincent¡¯s influence was such that he could easily ensure no otherpany would consider hiring them. Should that happen, they would be left with no means of staying in the city and would be forced to leave. The two female employees, who had previously been resolute, now had their mental defensespletely broken.


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 Chapter 181

    ?Chapter 181:


    These two women had climbed the ranks over the years, and they weren¡¯t about to let anyone push them out now.


    They exchanged a knowing look, no longer caring if they upset Celia, and leaned in closer to whisper.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Bailey,¡± one of them said softly, the words carrying weight as they finally grasped Katelyn¡¯s real ce in all of this.


    Celia whirled around, her face twisting with shock and disbelief. How could they? They had actually turned their backs on her.


    Katelyn nced at them, a small smile ying on her lips.


    ¡°What was that? Didn¡¯t catch it. Speak up, or I can¡¯t hear you.¡±


    Her words stirred frustration in the two women, who clenched their jaws and forced themselves to speak louder this time.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Bailey.¡±


    Katelyn gave a nod of approval, her attention shifting to Celia.


    With an arched brow, she asked, ¡°What about you? Still not ready to apologize? Or are you prepared to be kicked out?¡±


    Celia¡¯s face grew serious as the reality of her situation sank in. She lowered her head, her eyes shadowed by the weight of her emotions.


    ¡°I was wrong,¡± she said quietly, her voice trembling with the effort to keep herposure.


    As Celia bowed, a fierce determination to seek revenge burned within her.


    Katelyn noticed the brief sh of distress on Celia¡¯s face as she stepped closer.


    She spoke softly, but her words carried a deep sense of significance.


    ¡°I¡¯m not one to dig up details, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m out of the loop. If I catch any whispers around the office, you¡¯ll be the first to know,¡± Katelyn said, her voice firm but calm.


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    ¡°Do you get some kind of kick out of forming cliques and pushing people aside?¡± she added, her gaze sharp.


    From now on, Celia knew she would tackle any issues directly with Katelyn.


    She looked up, stunned by the unexpected turn of events.


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated Katelyn addressing her so openly. Katelyn gave her shoulder a light pat and spoke with an easy, rxed tone.


    ¡°Be careful with what you say and work hard if you want to stay here for the long term. Remember this warning: if you don¡¯t follow my rules, I can have Mr. Adams remove you from the city,¡± Katelyn said, her tone sharp and clear.


    Celia¡¯s fists clenched tightly as she replied through gritted teeth,


    ¡°I understand, Miss Bailey.¡±


    After delivering her stern warning, Katelyn turned and walked away.


    The three women¡¯s faces darkened with growing frustration as Katelyn left the room.


    The woman with the flowing curls kept her gaze fixed on Katelyn¡¯s retreating form until she was certain she could no longer be overheard. With a hint of frustration, she leaned closer and whispered,


    ¡°Celia, don¡¯t you think Katelyn is going too far? Are we supposed to just ept this?¡±


    Celia looked up, her face set in a hard line.


    ¡°Not a chance,¡± she answered, her tone decisive.


    Katelyn walked back to the CFO¡¯s office, blissfully unaware that, even though she was ready to move on, Celia had already rallied the entire design team to file aint against her.


    Vincent¡¯s office was huge; it still felt open even with more than ten people squeezed inside.


    He nced at Celia¡¯s resignation letter and then turned his attention to Katelyn, who sat quietly on the other side of the room.


    Celia¡¯s eyes were red and swollen, clearly showing her frustration.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve dedicated over ten years to thispany, treating it like my own home. I always thought I¡¯d keep contributing to this team, but I never imagined management would turn against me. Our team only had a brief exchange, but Katelyn made us apologize. She threatened us with resignation and imed she was more crucial to you than our entire department.¡±


    Celia¡¯s voice quivered with intense emotion and sharp usations, leaving Katelyn speechless. How could she do this?


    Katelyn had nned to let the matter go, but Celia had escted things.


    Now, Vincent had to decide whether to stand with Katelyn or with the entire design department.


    Vincent studied the resignation letter quietly, his gaze shifting to the group of staff standing behind Celia. They stood firm, their expressions resolute, clearly prepared to quit if needed.


    Vincent, familiar with Katelyn¡¯s character, saw this for what it was: in workce bullying.


    With a measured move, he ced the resignation letter aside and fixed his gaze on Celia.


    ¡°So, what¡¯s really behind all this fuss?¡± he asked, his voice steady and direct.


    Celia spoke up quickly, her frustration clear.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to resign, but Katelyn is making it impossible for us to stay. We¡¯re all dedicated to our work and to thepany¡¯s sess. Is she targeting us? Does she really want to see thepany fall apart?¡±


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 Chapter 182

    ?Chapter 182:


    Katelyn could barely keep a straight face as she listened to Celia. Her eyebrow arched in disbelief.


    She was a neer, having joined only three days earlier, swamped with deadlines and piles of designs yet to be finished. She hadn¡¯t even visited the design department or attended any meetings. Yet here she was, being used of forcing several employees to resign, as if she wielded such influence.


    As soon as Celia finished, another disgruntled worker jumped in.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, do you think it¡¯s wise to entrust her with such a crucial department? I¡¯d rather resign than work under her leadership.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face hardened slightly, a sign of displeasure only noticeable to those familiar with him.


    Samuel, having overheard the entire conversation, looked at Celia and her allies with a trace of pity. They had clearly angered Vincent.


    Vincent loathed being cornered, especially with threats of a collective resignation from his staff. Did they really believe the Adams Group would crumble without them?


    Thepany¡¯s design department was highly sought after, with countless applicants each year. Yet here they were, threatening to quit as if they held all the cards. They seemed to have a misguided sense of their importance.


    Watching Celia and her group swell with indignation, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but apud softly.


    The sound wasn¡¯t loud, but in the quiet office, it drew everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Stop portraying yourselves as victims,¡± Katelyn said. ¡°Why not share with Mr. Adams what was said in the bathroom? If you¡¯re resigning,e clean about everything.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s tone was rxed, and she appeared disinterested, showing no response to theirints. After exiting the bathroom earlier, Katelyn had pondered resigning herself.


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    The corporate environment didn¡¯t seem right for her, nor did she appreciate the constant office politics dampening her spirits.


    Now, even though she was considering leaving, she was determined to clear her name first.


    Katelyn¡¯s words left the group that had seemed so confident now visibly unsettled, particrly the two instigators of the bathroom gossip.


    Their difort was evident under Vincent¡¯s intense scrutiny.


    Vincent seemed to grasp the gist of the matter, and his piercing gaze unsettled them further.


    Under his watchful eye, it felt as though no secret could remain hidden.


    The tension was so palpable that theypletely forgot the statements and discussions they had nned earlier in the design department.


    Katelyn looked disdainfully at the woman with short hair. From their earlier encounter in the bathroom, Katelyn had identified her as the weakest link¡ªsomeone who would fold under a bit of pressure.


    ¡°So, who will speak up, you or me? Choose wisely, because if I start talking, I might just exaggerate your mistakes the way you exaggerated mine.¡±


    Her statement was both a reminder and a threat, and it quickly broke the woman with short hair.


    Vincent¡¯s stare felt like a looming guillotine, its unseen de ready to drop at any moment.


    Overwhelmed with fear and eager to escape scrutiny, she quickly confessed everything.


    As she spilled the details, the atmosphere in the office turned colder, prompting everyone to shiver and rub their arms as goosebumps appeared. Celia¡¯s face darkened with each passing moment.


    This woman had clearly crumbled under the pressure.


    They had spoken ill behind the supervisor¡¯s back, spread rumors about her personal affairs, engaged in defamation, hurled direct insults, and now resorted to threatening resignation to intensify the situation.


    Nopany would tolerate such behavior, especially one under Vincent¡¯s leadership.


    He ran thepany with a firm hand and always prevented any negativity or collusion among the staff.


    Realizing the seriousness of her predicament, the woman with short hair was on the verge of tears, scrambling to defend herself.


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 Chapter 183

    ?Chapter 183:


    They Were Now Turning on Her


    The woman with short hair was on the verge of tears, inwardly berating herself for her stupidity.


    This could have been easily settled with an apology, but the situation had escted beyond repair. How was she to mend things now?


    ¡°Mr. Adams, we were just letting off some steam; we didn¡¯t actually n to resign. It was Celia who gathered us to push Katelyn out. She even made us prepare resignation letters, but I didn¡¯t really want to leave.¡±


    As she confessed, others quickly chimed in.


    While their initialints had been directed at Katelyn, they now turned their attention to Celia.


    They noticed Vincent¡¯s mood was changing.


    Even if Vincent had sided with them over Katelyn, it would not have been favorable for them in the long run. The most sensible strategy now was to exin their side to Vincent and try to mitigate their losses.


    The woman with long hair stepped forward, her face a mix of distress and me.


    She looked at Vincent, her voice shaky.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, resigning was not my intention either. Celia was behind it. She threatened us, saying if we didn¡¯t resign, she¡¯d make our time here miserable. She¡¯s always manipted us; we had no choice but to go along with her demands.¡±


    The agreement among them was clear.


    Moments before, they were all set to resign under Celia¡¯s lead, but now they were backtracking. They were no longer willing to endure her maniption. They quickly pointed fingers at Celia for years of coercion, dumping all the me onto her.


    Suddenly, it seemed as if everyone had be a ¡°good actor.¡± Filled withints and charges, they portrayed themselves as victims in an effort to secure their ces within thepany.


    Latest chapters ?¦Áln¦Ò¦Íe??s


    Celia stared at them in disbelief, her eyes wide.


    ¡°You! You guys¡­¡±


    She was utterly astounded.


    What was going on with these fools? They had resolved to stand together against Katelyn, but why were they all now turning on her?


    Vincent calmly set the resignation letter down on the table, his expression grave.


    ¡°I waspletely unaware of the extent of such office bullying urring in our design department.¡±


    His tone was even, yet it sent shivers through the room.


    Celia, trembling yet defiant, was not ready to give up.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve dedicated many years to thispany and have never harassed anyone. I can¡¯t understand why they would make such usations; perhaps they¡¯re attempting to curry favor with you.¡±


    A sudden realization seemed to dawn on her, stiffening her resolve. ¡°I¡¯m prepared to resign, but I refuse to ept these unfounded usations.¡±


    Katelyn observed Celia with a contemtive look. This scenario felt strangely familiar, as though she had encountered something simr in a story read by Lisp. Was it possible that these ¡°vani girls¡± worldwide were all following a simr script?


    Celia appeared genuinely aggrieved, even beginning to wipe away tears.


    Normally portrayed as strong-willed, her tears now seemed unexpectedly sincere.


    At that moment, Katelyn, having been quietly watching the events unfold, turned her gaze to the woman with long hair.


    ¡°We need concrete evidence here,¡± she said slowly. ¡°If you¡¯re using Celia of bullying, can you prove your im?¡±


    Celia¡¯s heart sank.


    Crap. She had underestimated how difficult Katelyn would be.


    It was clear that Celia was orchestrating the narrative, trying to ensure her own removal while securing the others¡¯ stay. The others seemed to grasp Katelyn¡¯s intent.


    The woman with long hair, sensing an opportunity to distinguish herself, quickly intervened.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,st month I submitted a design that was praised. However, to my astonishment, when it went public, Celia received the credit. You can verify this; the original draft is still on myputer.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ve experienced the same,¡± the woman with short hair chimed in.


    ¡°From the start of our tenure here, we¡¯ve all suffered under Celia, with each of us having our creations taken by her!¡±


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 Chapter 184

    ?Chapter 184:


    usations echoed through the room.


    Everyone saw calling out Celia as their final opportunity to secure their positions at thepany. Comints about Celia¡¯s oppressive behavior poured in. Some usations were real, while others were clearly exaggerated.


    They needed to position themselves as victims to gain sympathy.


    The CEO¡¯s office had never been as chaotic as it was now. It appeared as though everyone had endured much and was eager to air their grievances. Celia was left speechless.


    As the usations piled on, she was overwhelmed and unsure where to begin her defense.


    More importantly, some of what was said had a basis in truth.


    Perhaps this was her reckoning.


    Katelyn observed that some were visibly angry, while others seemed relieved as they hurriedly finished their statements.


    Yet, a few appeared rxed, seemingly enjoying the unfolding drama.


    Katelyn was convinced that Celia had been mistreating her colleagues, although she doubted Celia would have targeted so many people simultaneously. Despite Celia¡¯s long tenure, no one had dared to report her until now.


    It was clear, however, that some of the usations contained lies.


    Vincent narrowed his eyes, the coldness in his gaze like a knife slicing through the air, making the temperature in the office drop even further.


    ¡°Do you have anything else to say?¡± he asked.


    At this point, Celia was genuinely distressed. She turned, tearful, facing her users.


    ¡°You¡¯re all aiming at me to save yourselves. You¡¯re ming me for everything you¡¯re using me of. If that¡¯s how it is, we might as well sink together. I¡¯ll spill everything about you too.¡±


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    She realized her days at thepany were numbered.


    Her initial n had been to manipte Vincent into dismissing Katelyn, but instead, she was the one who ended up in disaster.


    Now, it wasn¡¯t just Katelyn who infuriated her; it was the traitors among her colleagues.


    Pointing usingly at the woman with short hair, who had first spoken out, she said bitterly,


    ¡°She¡¯s been giarizing and cheating. I caught it in her design drafts.¡±


    ¡°She considered reporting it to Mr. Adams, but she pleaded with me not to. Out of pity, I kept quiet.¡±


    The woman with short hair responded quickly, a trace of panic visible in her eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying! You¡¯re just trying to bring me down with you! I have never giarized. This is just your revenge.¡±


    As she spoke, she swiftly turned to address Vincent, her voice filled with urgency.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I uphold the highest standards as a designer. giarism is something I would never do.¡±


    Vincent looked on with a cold gaze, choosing to remain silent.


    Celia, however, scoffed at her.


    ¡°giarized or not, you know the truth. I still have the documents on myputer, ready to back my words up right here and now.¡±


    Then Celia turned her gaze sharply toward the woman with long hair, her eyes shing with animosity.


    ¡°And you, always scheming to win Mr. Adams¡¯ favor, even sneaking into his room during the team-building retreat. Remember how I caught you and brought you back? Have you forgotten how you begged on your knees for me to keep your secret?¡±


    Trying to seduce Vincent was deemed more scandalous than giarism.


    The woman with long hair paled, her words faltering as she tried to defend herself.


    ¡°I have never done such a thing. I¡¯ve never tried to seduce Mr. Adams.¡±


    Celia sneered once more, this time with a hint of scorn.


    ¡°I have a recording of you pleading with me, and I can find it right now.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s mouth twitched at the unfolding drama.


    She hadn¡¯t anticipated that the collective usations against her would spiral into a full-blown showdown within the design department, filled with such dramatic revtions.


    No wonder these two women had seemed so devoted to Celia.


    It turned out that she had dirt on them.


    Now that she was cornered, Celia was determined to drag them down with her.


    Katelyn nced at Vincent, curious about how he would handle this chaos.


    When the woman with long hair was about to defend herself again, a cold voice suddenly sounded.


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 Chapter 185

    ?Chapter 185:


    A single word hushed the bustling CEO¡¯s office.


    It was as if someone had hit the mute button.


    The room fell into an unsettling silence. All eyes instinctively turned to Vincent.


    He surveyed the room with a piercing gaze before settling on Samuel.


    ¡°Take these individuals away and verify their statements. We will not tolerate hidden agendas. If their guilt is confirmed, dismiss them.¡±


    ¡°Understood, Mr. Adams,¡± Samuel responded promptly.


    The previously vocal group now erupted in panic. Celia, in particr, was resistant and appealed desperately.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, please trust me. I have dedicated myself wholeheartedly to thispany, and I have not mistreated anyone.¡±


    Vincent did not even nce her way.


    Samuel, with a forced smile, said, ¡°Let¡¯s move on. Any dys, and I will call security.¡±


    Feeling cornered, Celia had no choice but to follow him.


    Everyone from the design department apanied Samuel to the adjoining office. Their ims would all need to be backed by proof.


    Resentful res were cast toward Katelyn. If not for her, they believed they wouldn¡¯t be facing such dire circumstances. It was all her fault!


    Even if they were dismissed, they would not forgive her.


    With the departure of the crowd, tranquility reimed the CEO¡¯s office.


    Vincent leaned back in his chair and massaged the bridge of his nose, showing signs of frustration.


    He had typically focused on expanding the business and neglected internal management, which had led to these issues.


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    Katelyn watched him, feeling somewhat responsible.


    After all, this turmoil had started because of her.


    She paused.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, perhaps I should just work from home instead.¡±


    She recalled how peaceful and fulfilling it was to focus on her work and designs at home, away from the office politics and noise.


    Vincent turned to face her.


    ¡°Dismiss those concerns. Once this project isplete, you¡¯ll need to learn to manage the entire department. Where there are people, there will inevitably be issues. Complications often lead to frustrations, and many vested interests are usually at y. For managers, understanding and influencing people¡¯s attitudes is a crucial skill.¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t express all she wanted to say. She bowed her head and sighed.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m cut out for staying at the office.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s tone was even, yet she feltpelled to listen to him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on these matters. Concentrate on your work, and let me handle the rest.¡±


    Once more, Katelyn found herself at a loss for words. She simply nodded in agreement.


    She decided she would avoid the cafeteria from now on. Maybe she would start bringing her own lunch.


    Katelyn spent the afternoon focused on her drawing. It wasn¡¯t until the end of the day that she thought about the consequences she had imposed on Celia and the others. Those involved in the misconduct were dismissed.


    Following Samuel¡¯s investigation, those who were not part of the office bullying received a warning, and their monthly bonus was deducted.


    Vincent began by cleaning up the design department. Immediately, the office felt calmer.


    He removed the troublemakers and supported Katelyn. This action clearly demonstrated Katelyn¡¯s importance to Vincent.


    Everyone understood that while they could offend anyone else, Katelyn was off-limits.


    The sudden dismissal of over half the design staff created a lot of chaos. The Adams Group had no choice but to recruit more people.


    Neil noticed the changes.


    Since Katelyn had joined the Adams Group, Neil had been keeping a close watch on thepany¡¯s activities.


    Just three days after her arrival, the Adams Group had dismissed a lot of employees. Was Katelyn somehow connected to this?


    As he pondered this, Neil stumbled upon a harshment beneath the post.


    Someonemented, ¡°Iris is a bitch. She¡¯spletely unfit for her position. Her fans are clueless. They don¡¯t realize how awful she truly is.¡±


    Thisment stood out sharply, quickly drawing the attention of many.


    One person inquired about who Iris was.


    The person then responded, ¡°Iris is Katelyn Bailey!¡±


    Neil was shocked to see this response.


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 Chapter 186

    ?Chapter 186:


    Neil¡¯s fists tightened gradually as they pressed against the desk.


    The only logical reason for this was that Katelyn and Iris were indeed the same person.


    Atst, he had received the answer he had been waiting for.


    He was eager to see how Katelyn would continue her falsehoods.


    Time flew by, and at six in the evening, Katelynpleted the final design sketch and sent it to Vincent¡¯s inbox.


    She gathered her belongings and stood, her eyes lingering on Vincent, who was still immersed in his paperwork beyond the ss door.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I have just sent you the most recent design. Let me know if there is anything that needs fixing. That is all, I will head out.¡±


    While speaking, she nced at her wrist to check the time.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes lit up as he watched her.


    ¡°Do you have nster?¡±


    He was not trying to make her stay; it was just surprising to see her leave on time for once. She had always been a workaholic.


    Katelyn lifted her hand, massaging her forehead with a weary tone.


    ¡°Aimee invited me to dinner.¡±


    Vincent gave a brief nod, his gaze shifting elsewhere.


    ¡°Take care on your way.¡±


    ¡°All right.¡±


    As Katelyn was about to leave, she paused, nced back at Vincent, and something came to mind.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, just one thing. How soon can I get the divorce proceedings underway?¡±


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    Vincent replied in a single word.


    She gave a quick wave, signaling ¡°OK¡± before striding out of the building.


    Aimee chose a restaurant that was about a thirty-minute drive from the Adams Group.


    While stopped at a red light, Katelyn turned on some soft music, asionally tapping her fingers along with the melody.


    ncing at the rearview mirror, she noticed a white car had been tailing her for two blocks already.


    Thest time someone had followed her, she had been robbed of herptop. That thought made her immediately alert.


    Was she being tailed again?


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, her expression growing intense. Just then, the light ahead switched to green.


    She had nned to turn right, but instead, she veered left, driving straight down Spring Road toward the outskirts.


    With most people heading home from work, the route to the suburbs was nearly deserted.


    As soon as she rounded the corner, the white car reappeared in her rearview mirror.


    It was clear to Katelyn that she was being followed once more.


    With one hand gripping the wheel and the other on the gearshift, she repeatedly pondered who might be trailing her. In the end, she could only think of Neil and Lise.


    They were the only suspects that came to mind.


    She grew increasingly frustrated, wondering when she could finally rid herself of these persistent followers. Their constant presence was infuriating.


    Katelyn floored the elerator and sped up, far beyond what an ordinary car could match.


    Before long, the white car vanished from view.


    Ahead, she reached an intersection nked by abandoned warehouses on either side. She was deep in the suburbs now.


    Even though the white car was no longer visible in the rearview mirror, Katelyn pressed the elerator and then abruptly braked. She deftly turned the steering wheel to the right, executing a smooth drift and bringing the car to a precise halt behind one of the warehouses. The car was hidden from view in a blind spot on the road.


    After shutting off the engine, Katelyn rolled down the window and peered outside.


    As expected, the white car followed her.


    From this crossroad, there was no way to discern her direction of travel.


    A man emerged from the car in frustration, ncing around.


    To her surprise, it was Neil who had been tailing her. With a dark expression, Neil pulled out his phone and dialed a number.


    ¡°Find out where Katelyn is right now,¡± he instructed. ¡°And make it quick.¡±


    Katelyn watched his actions and overheard hismand. With a furrowed brow, she wondered why he was still pursuing her, especially since he was supposed to be with Lise.


    At that moment, Neil suddenly moved forward, scrutinizing the direction boards with careful attention. Granville boasted an advanced transportation system, serving as a key transportation hub. Each direction led to a different city.


    Standing still, lost in thought, Neil suddenly snapped his head around, his gaze growing icy as he surveyed the rows of old warehouses.


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 Chapter 187

    ?Chapter 187:


    Neil then walked toward the warehouses.


    Katelyn had not anticipated that Neil would see through her ruse. She did not try to evade him; instead, she exited the car directly.


    Her expression was icy and filled with anger.


    ¡°Your methods are getting increasingly pathetic, Neil. Did you follow me? Is this the same kind of game for you?¡±


    Their cars were separated by a considerable distance. She couldn¡¯t make out who was behind the wheel until the driver stepped out.


    Neil¡¯s gaze was cold and oppressive, carrying a heavy sense of authority.


    ¡°Why do you always conceal your true self from me? You¡¯d rather team up with Vincent than with me. If you help me win this project tender, I promise I wille back to you.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened, her eyes reflecting her confusion.


    Her concern was not how he had discovered her real identity, but rather the source of his misced confidence.


    What made him believe she was still so invested in him? What gave him the idea that she would ever ept him again after discovering his betrayal with Lise?


    Arms crossed and a cold smile on her lips, Katelyn looked at him with a hint of boredom.


    She conceded that Neil was attractive and talented in business.


    Yet, infidelity was inexcusable, particrly for someone like him who refused to acknowledge his wrongdoing.


    With curiosity, she inquired, ¡°If you were toe back to me, what would happen to Lise? Are you nning to end things with herpletely, or would you just keep us both?¡±


    Neil was caught off guard by the question.


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    Under normal circumstances, she would have suggested he visit a hospital to check if he was out of his mind.


    But her current question indicated that she was actually considering his proposal. That her feelings for him were not entirely gone.


    Neil¡¯s confidence wavered as he appeared a bit self-assured.


    ¡°I have my ns. If you help me, I will honor my promises.¡±


    Katelyn gave a defensiveugh, extending a finger and shaking it slowly.


    ¡°Quit with the lofty promises. What are your real ns? I know Lise¡ªshe would never ept this arrangement. Are you seriously proposing that you want to maintain rtionships with both me and her simultaneously?¡±


    Neil spoke with a chilling tone, his eyes narrowing.


    ¡°Lise is pragmatic. She will understand my situation. But first, you need to assist me in winning this project. Given your skills, it should not be hard; otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have remained on the list for so long. After all, you are renowned as Iris.¡±


    Katelyn frowned, puzzled.


    ¡°When did I ever admit to being Iris?¡±


    She had never made such a im.


    Seeing her feigned innocence, Neil clenched his teeth in frustration.


    He felt like a mouse trapped in Katelyn¡¯s game, continuously deceived by her skillful pretense.


    ¡°You are still trying to fool me. If you¡¯re not Iris, why did you entertain the idea of helping me and then getting along with Lise as I suggested?¡±


    Katelyn spread her hands and shrugged, her eyes wide and innocent.


    ¡°You are so stubborn. You are convinced I am Iris despite my numerous exnations. What else can I say? If you¡¯re convinced I am Iris, then so be it.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s demeanor was utterly indifferent, as if she did not care in the slightest.


    It was as if she was signaling that he could believe whatever he wished.


    Her nonchnce only frustrated Neil more, but he soon regained hisposure.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re just putting on an act. You want to trick me.¡±


    Everyone online is calling you¡ª


    Katelyn nodded dismissively.


    ¡°And?¡±


    Neil¡¯s anger red.


    ¡°So you have been deceiving me all along! You are hoping to see the Wheeler Group falter so you can seize the chance to get back at me.¡±


    Katelyn curled her lips, offering a serious suggestion.


    ¡°You really should seek help. Do you not get exhausted from living in your delusions? Even a three-year-old wouldn¡¯t take online rumors seriously, yet you, the CEO of a majorpany, believe them? It just makes you look foolish.¡±


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 Chapter 188

    ?Chapter 188:


    Neil¡¯s words also addressed the question Katelyn had not asked.


    It became clear that he had discovered her true identity through online information.


    Immediately, Katelyn thought of Celia and the others who got fired.


    From the resentful nces they had cast as they departed, she realized the situation was far from over.


    ¡°You!¡± Neil was momentarily rendered speechless by his fury, his anger boiling over at Katelyn¡¯s sarcasm. He could not recall when he had be so infuriatingly smooth-talking. Compared to her, he was nothing. Losing all patience, he strode forward, gripping her wrist tightly, and said in a cold, harsh tone,


    ¡°Katelyn, do you find it amusing to deceive me with these lies? I should have realized it when Vincent promoted you to the head of the design department in hispany. You are Iris, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    She yanked her arm away with force and stepped back a few paces.


    What infuriated her most was any form of physical contact with Neil. Even something as minor as holding hands made her seethe with anger.


    ¡°Touch me again, and you will regret it, Neil.¡±


    With a dark look in his eyes, he moved closer, step by step.


    ¡°You are pushing me into this. I promised that if you helped me with the project, I would consider taking you back. But it seems you are still not content.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯sughter brimmed with anger.


    ¡°Just who do you think you are? Return to you? To me, you are nothing but trash now. Just the thought of you makes my stomach turn.¡±


    Her eyes clearly conveyed her disdain.


    How could someone be so utterly foolish?


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m fuels your imagination


    ¡°And I am not Iris. If you keep harassing me with these absurd usations, don¡¯t be surprised if I have you locked up.¡±


    As she made to turn and leave, Neil seized her arm with a firm grip.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Before Neil could finish speaking, Katelyn¡¯s eyes hardened with icy resolve.


    With a swift motion, she hurled him to the ground. A thud echoed as he hit the ground heavily, and the impact contorted his face with pain.


    When had Katelyn be so skilled inbat? Neil gritted his teeth, his eyes zing with fury. It was as if he wanted to devour her alive.


    Katelyn gazed down at him with disdain, brushing off her hands as if disposing of trash.


    Her expression was unyielding and frigid.


    ¡°If you try to harass me again, I promise you will be treated even worse. Expect to spend at least a few weeks in the hospital.¡±


    Neil struggled to get up, but Katelyn had already ced her foot on his chest.


    Her two-inch stiletto was firmly nted there.


    From a different perspective, the scene might resemble something from a melodramatic idol drama. Yet, the contempt in Katelyn¡¯s eyes and the rage in Neil¡¯s were palpable.


    ¡°Remember my warning. Do not test my limits again,¡± she warned.


    Neil¡¯s face was twisted with hostility.


    ¡°So this is your true self. I can¡¯t believe you deceived me throughout our rtionship.¡±


    ¡°The Katelyn you knew is gone. You and Lise destroyed her. Have you forgotten? She died the night she discovered you with Lise in bed.¡±


    As Katelyn spoke, a hint of self-mockery flickered in her eyes.


    In the past, she had been so naive and gullible. Despite hearing countless tales of romantic betrayal, she had believed Neil was different.


    In reality, the signs had been clear for a long time. Her regret wasn¡¯t seeing it sooner¡ªwasting time had been her mistake.


    Katelyn strode away in her high heels, and the red sports car¡¯s tail created a graceful arc as she drove off.


    Neil awkwardly picked himself up, clenching his fists and brushing the dust off his chest.


    Though he had not fully uncovered her true identity, he was convinced that her prolonged association with him, without being honest, concealed ulterior motives.


    Katelyn had spent a significant amount of time dealing with Neil. By the time she arrived to meet Aimee, she was alreadyte.


    cing her bag down, she apologized.


    ¡°Aimee, I got caught up in something.¡±


    Aimee waved away the apology nonchntly, her attention drawn to the private room at the back with a spark of intrigue.


    ¡°No problem at all. But guess who I just spotted?¡±


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 Chapter 189

    ?Chapter 189:


    Katelyn turned, a bit perplexed.


    The door to the private room remained shut, leaving no clue as to who was inside.


    They had selected a newly opened upscale restaurant for dinner. While the food was praised, the prices bordered on extravagant.


    Only people with significant influence or deep pockets could reserve a private room in such a restaurant.


    Katelyn gave a slight shake of her head, curiosity in her voice.


    ¡°Did you n this?¡±


    ¡°Vincent? Of course! Did you n this or what? It¡¯s almost like you run into each other by sheer fate every time.¡±


    After finishing her exnation, Aimee turned her gaze to Katelyn, her interest piqued.


    No matter how she viewed it, Aimee couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Katelyn and Vincent made an ideal pair.


    If Vincent had been the one Katelyn met years ago, perhaps her love life would not have spiraled into such confusion.


    Noticing the gleam in Aimee¡¯s eyes, Katelyn quickly caught on to her thoughts and shut it down.


    ¡°Aimee, don¡¯t even start. He¡¯s just a business associate. Maybe he¡¯s here for work.¡±


    She had already been burned by love once. Why would she willingly walk into that trap again?


    Moreover, Katelyn respected Vincent deeply but had never entertained any improper feelings for him.


    Aimee gave a smile.


    g?a?l?n?o?v?e?l?s?.?c?o?m? = ?????


    ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡±


    Katelyn raised an eyebrow.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Aimee, in no rush, cleared her throat and replied with deliberate slowness,


    ¡°A man who truly loves you can take a bullet for you and still pick up your breakfast.¡±


    Without meaning to, Katelyn¡¯s mind drifted to the breakfast he made her the other day.


    She still hadn¡¯t figured out whether Vincent had ordered it or made it himself.


    He had taken a bullet on her behalf and then made sure she had breakfast.


    Katelyn¡¯s hands balled into fists without her realizing it, her mind elsewhere.


    Noticing her distraction, Aimee waved her hand in front of Katelyn¡¯s face, snapping her back to reality.


    With a more serious tone, Aimee, who had plenty of rtionship experience, offered her advice:


    ¡°Overthinking won¡¯t get you anywhere. A failed rtionship is not the end of the world. It simply teaches you what to look for and helps you understand who is truly worth your time.¡±


    Katelyn quickly cut her off, sighing in exasperation.


    ¡°Aimee, enough already.¡±


    She had no interest in hearing any more talk about rtionships.


    Her past experience burned, now making her overly cautious.


    Katelyn had already resigned herself to a life of independence. Who said solitude equaled loneliness? It could just as easily mean freedom¡ªa kind of romance in itself.


    Aimee sighed in resignation and nodded.


    They decided to order the restaurant¡¯s signature set meal. After a few bites, Katelyn excused herself and headed to the bathroom.


    As Katelyn washed her hands at the sink, hushed conversation from one of the stalls caught her attention.


    ¡°Mr. Marrow, you can rx. Everything¡¯s been set in motion. Vincent doesn¡¯t stand a chance this time. Once we have gathered enough dirt on him, he will bepletely under our control.¡±


    The woman¡¯s voice brimmed with excitement,pletely unaware of the ears listening outside. Katelyn felt a heavy weight settle in her chest.


    Vincent was in the farthest private room, and considering his position, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he constantly had to navigate through plots and betrayals.


    Katelyn quickly wiped her hands and slipped out quietly. She sent Vincent a warning message that read:


    ¡°Someone is scheming to harm you. They could be tampering with your wine. Stay vignt.¡±


    When he didn¡¯t respond for a while, Katelyn¡¯s anxiety deepened.


    Katelyn concealed herself in the corner and watched as a woman exited the bathroom, carrying something in her hand.


    The woman was headed directly toward the private room where Vincent and his guests were. Katelyn¡¯s pulse quickened.


    Without a moment to spare, she frantically tried to call Vincent, but all she received was the impersonal, automated message:


    ¡°Sorry, the subscriber you dialed is busy. Please try againter.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s heart dropped in an instant.


    Gripping her phone tightly, she hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to approach the woman.


    As she burst through the door, every gaze in the room locked onto her.


    And the individual seated at the head of the table was¡­


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 Chapter 190

    ?Chapter 190:


    It was Vincent.


    He waspletely unscathed, sitting alert andposed. Only then did Katelyn breathe a sigh of relief.


    Whispers sparked among the crowd.


    Though Katelyn was dressed simply today in a casual dress with no makeup, her striking features shone through, especially her eyes.


    The simpler the attire, the more striking her face appeared.


    Her beauty was so radiant that it made everyone overlook her simple outfit: a white short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.


    The private room was crowded with many familiar faces from the local financial newspapers, all acquaintances of Vincent.


    Several flirtatious women were also present, seemingly invited to join the gathering for drinks.


    Among them was a chubby man with a noticeable belly who ogled Katelyn with desire.


    ¡°Is she a waitress here? Quite pretty. Why don¡¯t you join me for a drink?¡±


    His eyes and words made Katelyn¡¯s skin crawl. She approached Vincent and stood before him with respect.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, there¡¯s been an incident at thepany.¡±


    Vincent caught on to her concerns immediately. He nodded indifferently and said, ¡°Come here.¡±


    Katelyn moved closer to Vincent, leaned down, and whispered into his ear, shielding her mouth with her hand.


    ¡°I heard someone might be trying to set you up at this event. Please be careful.¡±


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    A deep, thoughtful expression crossed Vincent¡¯s face.


    It all made sense now¡ªKatelyn¡¯s unexpected presence had not been for nothing.


    This realization brightened his mood, and he found himself smiling, though he hadn¡¯t nned to.


    All eyes were now fixed on them.


    Katelyn had made it clear she was with Vincent, ensuring they would treat her with respect. However, their nces still carried a hint of lust.


    Some ogled her with unmistakably vulgar intent, their lecherous stares making her ufortable even before they spoke.


    Katelyn¡¯s unexpected arrival swiftly captured the attention that had previously been directed at the other women.


    A woman with long, curly hair held something in her hand and looked at Katelyn with evident displeasure. Where did this womane from? She seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.


    This unexpected intrusion disrupted the woman¡¯s ns. Narrowing her eyes, Katelyn ryed to Vincent what she had overheard and then gave him a nod.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± As she spoke, she turned to leave.


    Vincent responded with a casual nod.


    As Katelyn approached the door, she failed to notice the woman with long, curly hair secretly extending her foot. Caught off guard, Katelyn stumbled forward instinctively. Just when she thought she would fall to the floor, a strong hand reached out from behind and caught her arm.


    Vincent pulled her back, and Katelyn ended up in his arms, seated on hisp.


    The entire incident unfolded in an instant, too quick for anyone to react.


    Katelyn was shaken, her heart pounding.


    Instinctively, she ced her hands on Vincent¡¯s shoulders, looking into his eyes, which held a significant gaze.


    As their gazes met, Katelyn caught a faint whiff of tobo from him.


    Vincent¡¯s hands rested naturally on her waist. Their closeness appeared deeply intimate, and their gazes toward each other were filled with affection. To the onlookers, Katelyn seemed more than just an employee.


    That realization dawned on everyone present. It was clear that this woman who had appeared so suddenly was important to Vincent.


    The room fell into an awkward silence. The woman with long, curly hair watched them, her eyes shing with jealousy.


    She had originally nned to be the one next to Vincent, but now her ce had been taken by this woman who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.


    Momentster, Katelyn became aware of their intimate positioning.


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 Chapter 191

    ?Chapter 191:


    Katelyn quickly got to her feet.


    Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes shimmering with a gentle softness.


    She quickly remembered where she was and hastily said,


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams. That wasn¡¯t intentional.¡±


    Vincent responded nonchntly,


    ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and then turned her gaze sharply towards the woman with long, curly hair.


    She realized that this woman had intentionally stretched out her leg to trip her.


    She also noticed it was the same woman who had been talking about drugging Vincent in the restroom.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze weighed heavily, causing the woman with long, curly hair to panic suddenly. She scrambled to mask the difort on her face.


    ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? You tripped over my foot just now.¡±


    With a taunting smirk, Katelyn advanced toward her, step by step.


    To the woman with long, curly hair, it felt like every step Katelyn took weighed heavily on her conscience.


    She had seen Katelyn as just another bar girl like herself, but Katelyn¡¯s overpowering presence was impossible to ignore.


    Stopping right in front of her, Katelyn, standing 5¡¯7¡å tall and though in t shoes, seemed to loomrge over her.


    ¡°Say that again, I dare you.¡±


    The woman with curly hair was sweating heavily but tried to maintain herposure, stuttering,


    Step into new worlds at g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s?conn


    ¡°I¡­ I said you bumped into my leg yourself.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, Katelyn delivered a swift p across her face.


    The p resonated sharply, its sound echoing before the onlookers could even grasp what had urred.


    Only one person was not surprised.


    Vincent watched Katelyn with a slight, almost unnoticeable smile, appreciating the sight.


    Having been through so much, Katelyn had be a rose with thorns, protecting herself. Vincent was d to see how she had changed.


    He preferred her not as someone fragile, but as someone who could stand up for herself if wronged.


    The woman with long, curly hair stood in shock, her hand covering her pped cheek, staring at Katelyn in utter disbelief. Before she could utter a word, the man who had been ogling Katelyn lewdly earlier lost his temper. He mmed his hand on the table and stood up.


    ¡°How dare you hit her on such an asion!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips twisted into a subtle smile, her gaze filled with disdain.


    ¡°Why are you in such a hurry to defend her? Is she your woman?¡±


    Katelyn was not one to act on impulse. In the restaurant, she had heard the woman¡¯s voice but hadn¡¯t seen who she was speaking with over the phone. However, knowing the woman was part of the dinner party, she felt justified in pping her.


    The man was so angry that he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.


    ¡°There¡¯s no excuse for hitting someone like that.¡± Yet Katelyn remainedposed, responding coldly and dismissively,


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice her trying to trip me just now?¡±


    Pretending to be aggrieved, the woman with long, curly hair retorted with tearful eyes,


    ¡°You tripped over me while I did nothing, and now you¡¯re ming me for it. Mr. Adams, how can your woman be so arrogant?¡±


    Her usation shifted everyone¡¯s attention to Vincent. Vincent, sitting back rxed, exuded an intimidating presence.


    ¡°She has every right to be arrogant.¡±


    His words widened Katelyn¡¯s smile.


    She couldn¡¯t deny the satisfaction of having such steadfast support.


    The woman with long, curly hair grew visibly frustrated, her eyes wide, speechless.


    The fat man, outraged at seeing his woman being beaten, blurted out impulsively,


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I never thought you¡¯d be so unreasonable. It seems the rumors were all true.¡±


    Katelyn casually wiped her hands with a napkin and said with a slight smile,


    ¡°Even a three-year-old knows not to believe everything online. Are you less discerning than a child?¡±


    The man was speechless, his eyes bulging with frustration.


    Just then, Katelyn¡¯s attention was drawn to something in the hands of the woman with long, curly hair. With a knowing smile, she asked,


    ¡°Was it you who was talking about how to drug Mr. Adams earlier in the restroom?¡±


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 Chapter 192

    ?Chapter 192:


    Katelyn¡¯s words shifted the mood dramatically.


    Everyone tensed up immediately.


    It was a rare asion to have Vincent at a dinner party, and someone had the audacity to pull such a stunt.


    The woman was instantly caught off guard and appeared flustered. Though previously angered by the p, her anger now faded.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s that thing you¡¯re holding?¡±


    Katelyn edged closer. She had observed, upon entering, that the woman had approached Vincent.


    If her suspicions were correct, they were attempting to drug Vincent, likely with something unsavory like an aphrodisiac.


    At that moment, Katelyn felt sorry for Vincent. The higher the status, the greater the risks one must endure.


    Upon hearing Katelyn¡¯s usation, all eyes turned to the woman¡¯s hand.


    Caught in the act, she tried to conceal whatever she was holding, but it was already toote.


    ¡°Show your hands,¡± Katelyn ordered coldly, her voice full of authority.


    The woman with long, curly hair started to retreat, ncing towards the man who had defended her earlier.


    At first, the fat man had strongly backed her, but when he saw their scheme had been uncovered, he quickly sat down, clearly anxious about getting himself into trouble.


    All eyes were now fixed on the woman with long, curly hair.


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    The room fell silent, heavy with tension and anxiety. Some guests were even afraid to make a sound.


    ¡°Who dares to target Vincent so shamelessly?¡± They were truly digging their own graves.


    Katelyn narrowed her eyes and offered a way out.


    ¡°Show it, and you might just get another chance.¡±


    The woman with long hair looked around the room, her eyes pleading for assistance, but no one moved to help. She finally understood the gravity of her situation.


    With a shaky hand, she extended it.


    It was then clear to everyone that a white pill was in her palm.


    Katelyn quickly intervened, preventing the pill from ending up in Vincent¡¯s drink.


    ¡°What is this intended for?¡±


    Suddenly, Katelyn¡¯s voice, once soft and gentle, dropped to a hauntingly seductive tone.


    ¡°I believe you were manipted into this. Just tell us who coerced you and the purpose of this pill. This is your only chance to clear your name. The instigator is probably sitting right here at this table, pretending not to see your distress, right?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s words were carefully chosen to steer the conversation.


    The woman with long, curly hair was visibly petrified.


    She shuddered and cast a nce back at the fat man. Although she didn¡¯t say anything, everyone present was observant enough to piece things together.


    Katelyn¡¯s previous statements had made the instigator of the plot painfully obvious to everyone.


    Some guests turned their gazes toward the fat man in confusion.


    The man stood up in an instant, his face filled with anger.


    ¡°Are you using me? I defended her because she was being mistreated! How was I supposed to know she was nning to harm Mr. Adams?¡±


    His re intensified at the end of his rant, a clear signal for her to keep quiet.


    Vincent had consistently rejected the man¡¯s project proposals, leading him to n to manipte Vincent into signing a contract for his own gain.


    But his methods were underhanded, and if Vincent were to learn the truth, his downfall was inevitable. The man¡¯s growing panic made him appear even more threatening.


    The woman with long, curly hair was stunned, feeling utterly abandoned.


    Katelyn said deliberately as the woman teetered on the edge of despair,


    ¡°It looks like the mastermind has abandoned you. Are you still willing to protect his malicious scheme? Now that you¡¯ve offended Mr. Adams, do you think you can stay in this city?¡±


    Each word from Katelyn was suffocating, relentlessly wearing down the woman¡¯s defenses.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 193

    ?Chapter 193:


    ¡°As long as youe clean, Adams will likely drop his pursuit. The choice to change your life is yours alone,¡± Katelyn said, a subtle weight in her voice, hinting at the power she held.


    Katelyn then fell silent, her gaze drifting to Vincent. Their eyes met in a silent exchange of mutual respect and understanding.


    Vincent tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, lost in thought.


    For as long as he could remember, he had admired how Katelyn could dismantle an opponent¡¯s resolve with such precision.


    This skill was what he cherished most about her. Sometimes, it seemed necessary to shatter an opponent¡¯s spirit to win.


    The woman¡¯sposure shattered. She flung the pill onto the floor and pointed an using finger at the fat man.


    ¡°It¡¯s him. I¡¯m his mistress. He instructed me to drug Mr. Adams secretly. He needed me to gather proof of Mr. Adams¡¯ errors to negotiate a deal forpany benefits. I was merely carrying out his orders. I don¡¯t know anything more.¡±


    She confessed in a flood of words, betraying the fat man without hesitation.


    Katelyn¡¯s words had seized on a deep-seated human w.


    Everyone understood the heavy price of angering Vincent Adams.


    Still, this woman was ready to risk everything for the fat man. If their connection weren¡¯t so profound, no reward would be worth such a gamble.


    With her betrayal now exposed, she was left as nothing more than a discarded pawn¡ªan unbearable situation for anyone in her position.


    Anyone in her shoes would seek revenge immediately, even at the risk of their own life.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze locked onto the fat man, his voice dripping with sarcasm.


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    ¡°Mr. Marrow, I didn¡¯t realize you were such a master at staging covert dramas,¡± he said.


    His tone was calm, but simmered beneath the surface.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were cold, promising swift and certain retribution.


    Over the years, he had faced countless schemes and deceptions.


    He had even dealt directly with some of the most audacious offenders.


    He thought his warnings had been clear, but he never imagined people would still resort to such desperate tactics for a chance at resources.


    When the stakes are high, everyone bes a gambler, driven to madness.


    The fatty crumpled to the floor, his bravado melting away in an instant.


    Tears streaming down his face, he pleaded,


    ¡°Adams, you have to believe me. No matter how reckless I may be, I would never do this. This woman is lying. Just give me a chance, and I¡¯ll expose who¡¯s really behind this. She¡¯s only using me to protect the true culprit.¡±


    As his plea ended, the fatty¡¯s face twisted with rage. He leaped to his feet and stormed toward the woman with long, curly hair.


    ¡°Damn you! Who put you up to this? Was this your n all along? From the start, you meant to make me a scapegoat. Tell me who¡¯s really behind this!¡± he demanded.


    His voice was wild with desperation. The woman with the curly hair stood frozen, too terrified to even respond. Confronted with her impending doom, the woman fought back with frantic desperation.


    ¡°You forced me into this. I¡¯m just a barmaid¡ªhow could I ever muster the courage to harm Mr. Adams?¡± she cried.


    Katelyn¡¯s cunning maniption had ensnared both the woman and the fatty.


    At that moment, their minds were fixated on a single idea¡ªonly one of them could make it out alive.


    The opportunity for survival was within reach, and they were willing to drag each other down to ensure their own escape.


    Their partnership, based purely on self-interest, was incredibly fragile and couldn¡¯t withstand any pressure.


    The air was thick with tension, pressing down on them with weight. Their thoughts were clouded by fear and desperation.


    In their panic, they iled about, their actions turning them into mere actors in a chaotic farce.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was sharp andmanding,


    ¡°Where¡¯s the proof? Show us,¡± she ordered.


    The woman, her face etched with worry, pulled her phone out of her pocket with trembling fingers.


    [¡°I recorded our conversation when he asked me to do this,¡± she said, her toneced with frustration. ¡°I anticipated this situation. I have proof against him. It¡¯s not really my problem.¡±]


    She scrambled to find the recording on her phone, her eyes darting nervously.


    In her distraction, she didn¡¯t notice the fatty beside her, his cold stare filled with chilling determination.


    Before she could react, he moved with sudden urgency.


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 Chapter 194

    ?Chapter 194:


    The fat man grabbed the bottle from the table and smashed it violently toward the woman¡¯s head. In that critical moment, Katelyn swiftly lifted her leg.


    She kicked the fat man¡¯s wrist hard.


    The man cried out in pain, his face contorting as he staggered backward uncontrobly, dropping the bottle to the floor.


    Had Katelyn been even slightly slower, the bottle would have hit the woman¡¯s head.


    Nobody anticipated that the fat man would resort to such drastic measures to silence the woman with long, curly hair. Katelyn¡¯s fast reaction also caught them off guard. She sprang into action in an instant. Her quick kick to the fat man showcased her impressive agility and power.


    Vincent watched the scene unfold with a significant expression in his eyes.


    The woman with long, curly hair let out a scream, relieved she had been spared.


    Her relief quickly turned to anger.


    She had put herself on the line for the fat man, and now he had tried to end her life!


    With this realization, she quickly pulled out her phone and essed a previous recording.


    Upon ying it, the room filled with the fat man¡¯s voice detailing their scheme.


    ¡°I will arrange for you to sit next to Vincent, find an opportunity to drop this into his drink. I¡¯ll handle the rest, and you¡¯ll be well rewarded afterward.¡±


    His voice was unmistakable and resounding, providing undeniable evidence.


    The fat man tried to rise from the floor, looking noticeably pale, yet he remained defiant.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, clearly this malicious woman is attempting to frame me. I would never do such a thing. Please investigate if you doubt me. How could I possibly wish to harm you?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s attention instinctively shifted to Vincent.


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    He got to his feet. Dressed in a customized suit that fit him wlessly, his stern expression and piercing gaze added to his imposing presence.


    As Vincent stood, a heavy aura filled the room. The atmosphere seemed to grow colder with each passing moment.


    The woman with long, curly hair appeared terrified. She rubbed her arms, covered in goosebumps, regretting her reckless actions.


    How could she have been so foolish as to plot against Vincent?


    Vincent moved toward her with deliberate steps, his gaze briefly meeting hers as he passed.


    The woman shuddered more intensely, feeling as if an invisible de pressed against her throat.


    Yet, Vincent¡¯s real target was not her, but the fat man. Even now, the fatty was desperately defending himself, his voice quivering as he verged on tears.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, please, you have to believe me!¡±


    Before he could finish, Vincent swiftly kicked him in the chest.


    The fat man was sent crashing against the wall with such force that he coughed up blood.


    Vincent approached him casually, standing on his wrist, which elicited a horrifying scream from the man.


    As the scream rang out sharply behind him, Vincent scanned the room with an air of detachment. His voice sliced through the chaos with rity.


    ¡°I hope this is thest time.¡±


    He had issued multiple warnings against such ruthless tactics, yet some still dared defy him. Their fate was sealed.


    His voice and cold eyes made everyone present shudder, and they quickly nodded.


    With a sickening crack, the fat man¡¯s screams intensified. Vincent had broken his wrist.


    Katelyn watched from the sidelines, her gaze filled with mixed emotions.


    This was the first time she had witnessed his ruthless, almost merciless side.


    His expression remained stoic, his dark eyes indifferent.


    To him, crushing a man¡¯s wrist seemed as trivial as stepping on an ant.


    To be more urate, in his eyes, human life might as well be as insignificant as an ant¡¯s.


    Memories of a previous incident shed in Katelyn¡¯s mind¡ªthe day Vincent had coldly shattered a man¡¯s wrist. She suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.


    .


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 Chapter 195

    ?Chapter 195:


    To Katelyn, Vincent always appeared to be the very image of gentleness, humility, courtesy, and cleverness. It was at that moment she recognized the extent of his cruelty and finally understood why people quivered at the mere mention of his name, some even shaking uncontrobly.


    The horrifying incidents suggested that Vincent¡¯s cruelty went beyond mere callousness; he had an appetite for bloodshed.


    Katelyn questioned how she had ever believed he was a rxed and courteous man.


    At the same time, Vincent shifted his stance. Blood poured from the fat man¡¯s wrist, with jagged fragments of bone barely visible beneath the torn flesh. Vincent called out in a rxed tone,


    ¡°Samuel.¡±


    Without hesitation, Samuel, who had been standing by the door, stepped in. Vincent gave a brief nce at the white pill beneath the table.


    Catching the signal, Samuel grabbed it and shoved it into the fat man¡¯s mouth, silencing his screams.


    With his hand mped firmly over the man¡¯s mouth, Samuel dragged him out of the room.


    Vincent and Samuel exchanged nothing but nces, yet it was clear to everyone just how seamless their understanding was.


    Samuel, in particr, moved with sharp precision. Once the fat man was dragged out, a heavy silence settled into the private room.


    The woman with long, curly hair shook with terror after seeing everything unfold.


    She broke into tears but did not dare provoke Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I only did it because he threatened my entire family.¡±


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    Vincent¡¯s brow furrowed faintly.


    ¡°Leave,¡± hemanded, his voice cold.


    The woman with long, curly hair felt a wave of relief and bolted for the exit.


    Unbeknownst to her, Vincent¡¯s men were stationed just outside.


    As soon as she stepped out, the bodyguards swiftly covered her mouth and pulled her away. Her fate was easy to imagine.


    Katelyn turned her eyes away, her expression remaining calm.


    They brought it upon themselves.


    Leaning back in his chair, Vincent cast another nce at the partners in the room, their faces drained of color. Any doubts they had about Vincent¡¯s methods were now gone, reced with pure fear. They understood now that Vincent was every bit the ruthless monster they feared.


    ¡°Let what just happened serve as a warning,¡± Vincent said, his voice chilling. ¡°If it happens again, I¡¯m sure the man will be more than happy to wee you to Hell.¡± His casual tone sent a wave of chilling murderous intent through the room.


    Lifting his head, Vincent downed the champagne in his flute in a single gulp before leaving, with Katelyn trailing behind.


    Once they were nearly out of sight, the people in the private room finally snapped back to reality, gasping for air, their faces flushed.


    ¡°That is the real Vincent Adams. He has a taste for blood.¡±


    With her head lowered, Katelyn followed in silence, ying the obedient assistant she was expected to be. She did not raise her eyes to look at him until they had left the restaurant.


    He stood tall and straight, reminiscent of a proud pine atop a snow-capped mountain.


    Vincent turned and met her gaze, his eyes showing indifference but softening with a hint of tenderness.


    ¡°How did you realize those people wouldce the wine with the drug?¡±


    ¡°I happened to overhear their conversation while I was in the bathroom. I tried to alert you by sending a message, but you probably didn¡¯t see it. Worried about the potential danger, I came rushing in.¡±


    Katelyn found it difficult to articte her actions. At that instant, her sole thought was that she could not allow anything to harm Vincent.


    Vincent responded with a thoughtful nod and a hint of a yful smile.


    ¡°You rescued me this time.¡±


    Katelyn promptly gestured dismissively. ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to the way you moved earlier.¡±


    Earlier, Vincent had shielded her by taking a bullet. Her swift entry into the private room was merely an act of kindness, and Vincent was astute enough to avoid being drugged.


    The yful glint in Vincent¡¯s eyes grew warmer as he opened the door for her with a touch of chivalry.


    ¡°Regardless, you came to my aid today. Let me drive you home.¡±


    Katelyn nced toward the restaurant and quickly responded,


    ¡°Aimee is still waiting for me inside, Mr. Adams. I need to go back. Please drive me.¡±


    Inside, Katelyn chastised herself for almost neglecting her friend.


    She had informed Aimee that she was heading to the bathroom, but her prolonged absence made her wonder if Aimee was still waiting.


    As Katelyn was about to walk away, she noticed, out of the corner of her eye, that Vincent was shaking and copsing to the ground.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


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 Chapter 196

    ?Chapter 196:


    ¡°Vincent!¡±


    Katelyn moved quickly, catching him just as he started to fall.


    His entire weight¡ªa man¡ªpressed hard against one of her shoulders, nearly making her stumble. She tightened her grip around his waist, her eyes darting to his face. His eyelids were squeezed shut, showing no sign of awareness. She quickly nced over at Samuel.


    ¡°Get him to the hospital.¡±


    ¡°On it,¡± Samuel replied, rushing into action.


    The hospital was a forty-minute drive from the restaurant. Katelyn nced at Vincent, unconscious beside her, unsure of what to do.


    She had acted quickly to stop him from being drugged, but now, out of nowhere, he had copsed. What had gone wrong?


    Was there actually another hidden danger at the dinner? Samuel pushed the car faster, focusing on getting Vincent to the hospital as quickly as possible.


    Noticing the light above the operating room door, Katelyn dropped into the nearest bench, her fingers instinctively twisting together in a tight grip.


    What had gone wrong?


    She probably didn¡¯t even realize it, but the panic was rising, creeping from the depths of her chest, threatening to consume her.


    It was suffocating. She had felt the same way the day Vincent took a bullet for her and was rushed into surgery.


    How long would this operation take? How much more could she bear?


    Katelyn shut her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos inside her.


    She nced at her watch¡ªit was already eleven o¡¯clock at night.


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    Turning away, she made her way down the corridor where the balcony offered a quiet nook, perfect for catching the evening breeze.


    With a deep breath, she picked up her phone and called Aimee.


    The call connected right away. Katelyn¡¯s voice held an apologetic edge as she said, ¡°Aimee, so sorry, something came up, and I couldn¡¯t get back on time. Once things are sorted, I promise I¡¯ll treat you to three big meals to make up for it.¡±


    Aimee¡¯s reply was matter-of-fact. ¡°It¡¯s okay. No worries. I¡¯m heading home now.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Katelyn said.


    After hanging up the phone, Katelyn instinctively ran her fingers over her forehead, rubbing the spot between her eyebrows with an anxious rhythm. She didn¡¯t stop until her skin was rxed, but the frustration in her eyes remained.


    Vincent¡¯s operation stretched through the night, leaving Katelyn to wait alone on a hard bench in the hallway. It wasn¡¯t until the first light of dawn broke through that Vincent was finally rolled out of the operating room and moved to the VIP ward. Katelyn approached with a furrowed brow and a visible sense of exhaustion.


    ¡°Doctor, what happened to him? Why did he just copse like that?¡±


    The doctor, peering over his sses, replied in a gentle, measured tone.


    ¡°It looks like he was affected by an aphrodisiac. Combined with the alcohol he consumed, it¡¯s no wonder he passed out. He¡¯ll need to rest properly for a while. And no more wine for him.¡±


    Katelyn stood in stunned silence, her shock evident. Slowly, she pulled herself together and nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±


    Vincent wouldn¡¯t have been drugged with an aphrodisiac casually. She was certain it happened at the party, but where had things gone wrong?


    She reyed the events in her mind, carefully considering every detail and ruling out each possibility as she tried to uncover the truth.


    The attempts by the heavyset man and the woman with long, curly hair to drug Vincent were so awkward that they were almostughable. Their efforts were obvious and poorly executed.


    It was clear that more than one person had plotted against Vincent at the dinner, using methods that were both borate and unpredictable, leading to his sudden fainting.


    Katelyn took a deep breath to calm herself and then gently pushed open the door to look at Vincent.


    Hey unconscious, his face drained of color. Even in his sleep, his expression was tense, and his lips appeared dry and cracked.


    Katelyn turned to the nurse and requested a cup of water. With gentle precision, she dabbed at Vincent¡¯s parched lips, her movements tender and deliberate.


    The longer she stayed with Vincent, the more she realized the depth of the dangers he faced.


    The threats lurking in the shadows were the hardest to confront.


    After tending to him, she left and drove home.


    Knowing Vincent might not wake until noon, she nned to prepare some soup for him and take the opportunity to rest in the meantime.


    Katelyn had stayed awake all night, her constant alertness leaving her drained.


    It took her five hours to prepare the bone soup, Vincent¡¯s favorite dish.


    After putting everything into the pot, she set the rm clock.


    She took a short break, and then carefully packed the soup and drove back to the hospital.


    When she pushed open the door, she saw Vincent lying in bed, his back facing her as he scrolled through his phone.


    Katelyn exhaled, her tension easing as she spoke gently,


    ¡°You¡¯re awake. I brought you your favorite soup.¡±


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 Chapter 197

    ?Chapter 197:


    ¡°Would you like some soup now?¡± Katelyn asked, her voice gentle as she opened the thermos. ¡°I¡¯ll get you a bowl.¡±


    The lid popped off with a hiss, releasing the rich aroma of the soup that filled the sterile hospital room. Shedled the steaming broth into a bowl, her movements calm and precise.


    The man on the bed suddenly turned to face her, his gaze piercing and intense.


    ¡°You still care about me, don¡¯t you?¡± he asked.


    The voice was unmistakably not Vincent¡¯s. Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened, confusion and wariness crossing her face as she looked at Neil.


    ¡°Why are you here? Where¡¯s Vincent?¡± she demanded.


    Neil¡¯s smile disappeared instantly. He shifted to sit up, leaning against the headboard as he watched her intently.


    ¡°How am I supposed to know?¡± he replied. ¡°What¡¯s clear is that you wouldn¡¯t havee here with soup if you didn¡¯t still care. You rushed over the moment you heard about my car ident.¡±


    A subtle hint of satisfaction crept into his voice, an emotion he seemed only half aware of.


    He had been in a car ident when running a red light, leading to his unexpected stay in the hospital. He had juste out of his anesthetic fog when he was startled to see Katelyn beside him, holding a steaming bowl of his favorite soup. The sight hit him hard¡ªshe still cared. How could she so easily forget the deep connection they once shared?


    ¡°It¡¯s been ages since I had your soup,¡± Neil said, his voice tinged with a mix of longing and nostalgia. ¡°Could you get me some?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes shed with sudden coldness. She was sure she was in the right ward, so why was Neil here instead of Vincent?


    ¡°I need to know¡ªwhere is Vincent?¡± she asked.


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    Her icy tone made Neil¡¯s realization hit him like a punch.


    ¡°Do you mean to say that Vincent is also here?¡± he asked, his voice dropping. ¡°That the soup is for him?¡±


    His voice lowered further, a mix of disappointment and anger recing his usual confidence.


    Katelyn¡¯s face hardened with contempt. Could it be? Do you really think I¡¯d bother making soup for someone like you? she snapped.


    Neil¡¯s fists clenched as he spoke, his voice heavy with bitterness. You promised you¡¯d only cook for me.


    Everything is different now, she replied coldly.


    Katelyn¡¯s patience snapped, and a sharp edge crept into her tone. I¡¯m asking you a question¡ªwhere is Vincent? This is his room, she demanded.


    Neil¡¯s face flushed with anger, his teeth grinding. How am I supposed to know? he snapped. Katelyn, you¡¯ve disappointed me. I gave you a chance toe back, and you threw it away.


    The affection he once had for her was now directed at Vincent¡ªa thought that made Neil feel as if he were crumbling. He struggled to understand how their rtionship had deteriorated sopletely. Her derations of love now felt like cruel deceit.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze hardened, her disdain unmistakable. I¡¯d never have stooped to that, scavenging for trash, she said, her voice dripping with scorn, clearly aimed at Neil and Lise.


    Neil¡¯s eyes zed with cold anger as he pushed aside the nket and slowly got out of bed. Each step he took toward her was deliberate, his rage palpable in every movement. You¡¯re treating me like this because you¡¯re in love with Vincent, he hissed, his voice a harsh whisper. If he weren¡¯t in the picture, would you still be so cruel?


    His eyes spoke volumes of hurt and betrayal, more than his words could convey.


    Katelyn stepped back, her face a mask of bitter irony. Even if Vincent weren¡¯t here, I¡¯d nevere back to you. The Katelyn you knew is gone, buried by you and Lise. Have you forgotten that?


    She picked up the thermos with determination and moved toward the door, intent on finding Vincent. His surgery had ended in the early morning. Surely, he wouldn¡¯t leave without telling anyone, would he? Katelyn was so wrapped up in her anxiety about Vincent that Neil¡¯s troubled face barely registered with her.


    Katelyn, you¡¯re the biggest liar ever, Neil said, his voiceden with hurt. I¡¯ve been deceived by you for so long. You want to go find Vincent? Fine. But this soup is mine. Only mine. You¡¯re not giving it to him.


    He snatched the thermos from her grasp with a swift, angry motion.


    He was determined that no one, especially not Vincent, would take what he considered his alone.


    .


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 Chapter 198

    ?Chapter 198:


    Katelyn jerked back, startled by Neil¡¯s sudden move, her eyes cold and hard as she stared at him. ¡°Let go.¡±


    ¡°You think you can rise above this? That¡¯s up to me. As long as I don¡¯t let you, everything you¡¯re doing is no different from cheating. Don¡¯t even think about having a good life if I can¡¯t have one,¡± Neil spat, his jaw tight as he forced the words through clenched teeth.


    When Katelyn first stepped into the hospital room, she hadn¡¯t recognized him from his back. Her voice had been soft, the same gentle tone she used when they had just gotten together. It made Neil remember those early days, a time when they were happy.


    But the second she saw his face, her expression shifted instantly. All Neil could see now was the disgust she didn¡¯t even bother to hide.


    The change in her was as clear as night and day. She had given all her love to Vincent, hoping to be his wife. What a foolish dream!


    Neil tightened his grip on the thermos, his anger boiling beneath the surface. Without thinking twice, Katelyn swung her leg, kicking him hard in the shin. Weakened from the car ident, Neil immediately felt the pain shoot through him, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.


    Katelyn, still gripping the thermos, fixed her eyes on him. ¡°You think everyone is as disgusting as you and Lise? Try bothering me again, and I¡¯ll tell her everything.¡±


    Neil gritted his teeth, fury shing in his eyes. She¡¯d kicked with more force than she realized, and now he couldn¡¯t even stand.


    ¡°Look at yourself before you start ming me. Don¡¯t you feel gross pretending to be the victim? Everyone makes mistakes. I gave you chance after chance toe back to me. Did you ever appreciate even one of them?¡±


    As Katelyn listened to him, she froze for a second, utterly shocked. How could he be shameless enough to say something so disgusting?


    She couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around why a wife was expected to forgive her husband after he cheated. It was ridiculous. She med herself again for being blind enough to stay with someone like him.


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    And now, he had the audacity to im he¡¯d given her chances.


    He only said that because she wasn¡¯t chasing after him anymore, wasn¡¯t begging him to take her back. His pride couldn¡¯t take it.


    The clearer things became to Katelyn, the more sickened she felt.


    ¡°Neil Wheeler, you really need to get your head checked. You cheat on me, and I¡¯m supposed to just forgive you?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was sharp, her anger barely contained. ¡°Maybe I should cheat on you too, so you¡¯ll know how I felt!¡±


    Neil¡¯s face flushed with anger. He snapped, each word sharp and bitter. ¡°Go ahead, dare you. I cheated because you were boring. If you¡¯d changed sooner, I wouldn¡¯t have done it!¡±


    Katelyn almostughed, gripping the thermos in her hands so tightly that her knuckles ached. She briefly imagined hurling it at Neil¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re pathetic,¡± she muttered.


    No other words came to her. His absurdity had left her speechless.


    Casting him a final nce, she turned to leave. As soon as she swung the door open, she ran straight into Lise.


    Surprise flickered across Lise¡¯s face. Her eyes quickly darted between Katelyn and Neil, finallynding on the thermos in Katelyn¡¯s grip.


    Lise forced a smile, though it barely reached her eyes. ¡°Katelyn, I didn¡¯t expect you to visit Neil after the ident. You always talk tough, but deep down, I know you¡¯re soft-hearted.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes drifted to Neil¡¯s hospital gown, and it finally hit her why he was here.


    ¡°You¡¯re mistaken,¡± Katelyn said with a cold smile. ¡°I didn¡¯te to visit him. I wanted to see if he was dead.¡±


    She let out a smallugh, adding, ¡°But no such luck. Looks like we¡¯re stuck with him for a little longer.¡±


    Lise quickly adjusted her expression, her face tightening as she frowned.


    ¡°Katelyn, you should be careful with what you say,¡± Lise scolded gently. ¡°You and Neil were in love for so many years. He¡¯s in the hospital, and I¡¯m d to see you here, but your words¡­ they must really hurt him.¡±


    That familiar fake kindness made Katelyn¡¯s stomach turn. Lise had always been a master at pretending to care, acting like she understood everyone¡¯s pain.


    Katelyn¡¯s smile grew colder, her gaze cutting through Lise. ¡°Do you know what he said to me in there?¡± she asked with a smirk.


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 Chapter 199

    ?Chapter 199:


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she involuntarily clenched her fists.


    An idea suddenly struck her, and Katelyn¡¯s sarcastic words soon confirmed her suspicion.


    ¡°Just now, Neil confessed that he still loves me. He said he¡¯d do anything to get me back. That¡¯s why he keeps badgering me and refuses to proceed with our divorce.¡± Katelyn paused, fixing Lise with a piercing gaze.


    ¡°To him, his affair with you was just a minor slip in our marriage. He believes I should forgive his infidelity and that he cane back to me whenever I say yes.¡± Katelyn¡¯s expression was filled with mockery.


    Since Lise had the audacity to provoke her on such an asion, Katelyn decided to hit where it would hurt the most.


    Lise¡¯s greatest concern was Neil¡¯s lingering feelings for Katelyn and whether or not she could one day be Mrs. Wheeler. Katelyn¡¯s words cut directly to Lise¡¯s deepest fear.


    Neil, overhearing Katelyn, reacted with indignant denial. ¡°I never said any of those things. Katelyn, if you¡¯re trying to drive a wedge between us, at least be clever about it.¡±


    Katelyn smiled leisurely. ¡°So, what are you trying to say? Do you back down? Just admit it, and I might consider it.¡±


    Katelyn had learned from Neil just how deceitful men could be.


    They failed to appreciate the women who loved them. Only after these women walked away did they begin to regret it.


    Neil¡¯s ideal scenario was to maintain rtionships with both Katelyn and Lise, hoping they could somehow coexist peacefully. Despite his betrayal, he expected Katelyn to forgive him effortlessly, perhaps even ming herself for not being attractive enough to him.


    The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she felt.


    Discover new books g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s


    Neil might seem like a gentleman¡ªhandsome, sessful¡ªbut at his core, he was nothing but a scoundrel.


    For a moment, Neil was at a loss for words. Looking into Katelyn¡¯s eyes, he couldn¡¯t discern whether she was telling the truth or not.


    He had nearly confessed his true feelings moments earlier, but catching sight of Lise¡¯s pale face, he bit back his words.


    ¡°I¡¯ve never thought that way. Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡±


    ¡°Really? You¡¯ve been pestering me toe backtely. Why is that? Lise doesn¡¯t know about this, does she?¡± Katelyn¡¯s expression was cold, her intent clear¡ªshe was indeed trying to stir up trouble. And why not?


    ¡°I was distracted by other things!¡± Feeling somewhat guilty, Neil¡¯s voice grew louder, as if trying to convince not just Katelyn but himself too.


    He then turned to Lise, who looked increasingly distressed, and quickly rified, ¡°Lise, listen, I¡¯ve never said those things to Katelyn. I don¡¯t want to get back with her.¡±


    Lise clenched her teeth, forced to suppress her feelings. ¡°I trust you, Neil. I¡¯ll be happy for you if you and Katelyn get back together. It seems Katelyn misunderstood everything. It¡¯s important that you two sort things out.¡±


    At that moment, Lise aimed to appear forgiving and supportive, but her clenched fists betrayed her true feelings. Deep down, she believed every word Katelyn said, not Neil¡¯s denials. Over time, she had observed his behavior and reactions¡ªit was clear he still had feelings for Katelyn, the woman he couldn¡¯t forget.


    Neil¡¯s voice trembled as he responded, ¡°Lise, do you really mean that?¡±


    Tears gathered in Lise¡¯s eyes. Even as she internally seethed at him, she maintained aposed facade. ¡°I just want to see you happy. Perhaps all of this is my fault, and we should fix it.¡±


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 Chapter 200

    Chapter 200:


    More Respect In The Future¡­


    Neil couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty as he observed Lise¡¯s vulnerable expression.


    Lise seemed like an angelpared to Katelyn. How could he hurt Lise, who cherished him so deeply? He constantly reassured himself internally that his desire for Katelyn¡¯s return was because he still had feelings for her.


    His only motive was to determine if she was indeed Iris, and to seek vengeance.


    Katelyn watched the change in Neil¡¯s expression. At the same time, she felt like apuding Lise¡¯s exceptional acting skills.


    She relied on her own acting to stir feelings of guilt andpassion in Neil.


    This might have been why she managed to keep Neil under control. Katelyn was sure shecked even a small portion of Lise¡¯s dramatic talent.


    Seeing the same scene unfold again, Katelyn stayed calm, casually tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I hope you¡¯ll agree to the divorce soon so I can obtain the decree. Otherwise, if you keep bothering me like this, I might start to think you¡¯re still hung up on me.¡±


    Neil clenched his teeth, preparing to respond, but Katelyn turned to Lise.


    ¡°And you, keep your dog on a leash. If he approaches me again, I¡¯ll handle it.¡±


    With that, Katelyn walked away without a backward nce.


    She knew Lise was probably aware of Neil¡¯s continual harassment but had always chosen to conceal it to avoid conflict.


    Despite her frustration, Lise had to bear it, as she was not yet Neil¡¯s legal wife.


    This time, Katelyn had not only uncovered but also intensified their underlying disputes.


    Though Lise managed to resolve it for now, the incident had created a rift between them.


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    After leaving the room, Katelyn didn¡¯t look back. She pulled out her phone and called.


    The phone was answered swiftly, Vincent¡¯s voice raspy.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Katelyn slightly frowned. ¡°Are you still in the hospital?¡±


    Vincent answered softly, ¡°I am.¡±


    Katelyn let out a sigh of relief, d he hadn¡¯t left unannounced like before.


    ¡°Which ward are you in?¡± she asked, her concern evident.


    ¡°3319,¡± he replied.


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Katelyn hung up the phone and looked over at Neil¡¯s ward number. It was 2500.


    It seemed that these two men might have switched rooms while she was away.


    Upon reaching Ward 3319, Katelyn knocked, and hearing Vincent¡¯s permission, she opened the door and stepped inside.


    Vincent appeared frail but noticeably better than the day before.


    Samuel was also in the room, and Katelyn sensed she might have interrupted their discussion. Samuel stepped aside and remained quiet.


    Katelyn examined Vincent with concern and frowned. She inquired, ¡°How are you feeling? I brought some tonic soup for you.¡±


    Vincent eyed the insted container and gave a slight nod. ¡°I see. Thanks.¡±


    He then turned to Samuel. ¡°Please, continue.¡±


    Samuel gave Katelyn a reluctant look.


    Katelyn quickly caught on.


    ¡°Sorry to interrupt your meeting. I cane backter,¡± she said. As she got up to leave, Vincent spoke up again.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need. We don¡¯t need to keep secrets from you.¡±


    Katelyn paused, surprised by his insistence, while Samuel internally faced turmoil.


    They had been talking about thepany¡¯s strategic ns and Vincent¡¯s ordeal the night before¡ªmatters that were supposed to remain confidential for now.


    Yet, Vincent chose not to hide anything from Katelyn. Samuel guessed that Vincent truly trusted her.


    Realizing that Vincent was serious about Katelyn, Samuel epted the situation and decided to show her the future.


    Since Vincent asked her to stay, Katelyn did not press to leave and remained in the room.


    Clearing his throat, Samuel continued, ¡°Regardingst night¡¯s event, I retrieved everything you had touched from the private room for examination. There were traces of a substance in the champagne ss. Theb results came in this morning. They confirmed the presence of a substance, but it¡¯s neither harmful nor does it affect libido. Under normal circumstances, it shouldn¡¯t have caused the symptoms you experienced.¡±


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    Message from Noah: New novels in a few hours, hope you like them dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (?? ? ??)?


    .

 Chapter 201

    ?Chapter 201:


    Samuel¡¯s observation was spot on.


    Someone had indeed drugged Vincent at the dinner, and it had been done quite discreetly.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was icy. ¡°Look into it. After we uncover the truth, remove them all.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Samuel nodded before exiting, leaving Vincent and Katelyn alone in the room.


    Katelyn, seated next to Vincent, looked at him worriedly.


    ¡°Do you still feel ufortable? Should I call the doctor?¡±


    Vincent, resting against the bed¡¯s headboard, slowly shook his head. Hisplexion was pale, and his expression grave, yet his eyes remained piercingly sharp.


    He nced at her, his voice softer as he smiled.


    ¡°Thank you for yesterday.¡±


    Vincent was unaware of the exact moment he had been drugged. He was relieved that Katelyn had helped him sidestep a trap that could have had graver consequences.


    Katelyn responded warmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You saved my life after all.¡±


    Vincent, raising an eyebrow, smiled back. ¡°Does that mean we¡¯re even?¡±


    ¡°To be exact, I¡¯m still in your debt. You saved my life more than once, and I doubt I could ever fully repay you,¡± Katelyn replied, smiling.


    Vincent¡¯s smile widened, though he remained silent.


    He found himself in a high-end VIP ward, spacious and well-appointed.


    Silence filled the room, yet it felt far from empty. Neither of them felt awkward. They seemed to understand each other¡¯s thoughts, sharing smiles.


    This was an intimacy Katelyn had never felt with Neil, even when they were married.


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    Theirmunication resembled two people who had met long ago.


    She treasured having a friend who understood her so deeply.


    She retrieved herptop from her bag and eyed the thermos.


    ¡°I brought soup for you. Have some while I keep working,¡± Katelyn said, thoughtfully serving him a bowl of soup.


    The broth filled the white porcin bowl, scenting the ward with its robust aroma.


    The door remained slightly ajar.


    From the hallway, Neil watched Katelyn and Vincent interact. His mood darkened, feeling trapped and irritated. He was seething, barely containing his desire tosh out.


    Katelyn¡¯s calm demeanor left him feeling utterly powerless. After hesitating for a moment, he pushed the door open with decisive force.


    His gaze swept coldly from Vincent to Katelyn, his anger barely masked.


    ¡°Katelyn, have you forgotten? I¡¯m your husband, and you¡¯re flirting with another man while I¡¯m right next door?¡±


    A look of revulsion crossed Katelyn¡¯s face, and she scoffed disdainfully.


    ¡°With you?¡±


    Holding the bowl, Vincent shot Neil a sharp look. He was taken aback to realize they were in the hospital, on the same floor.


    Neil¡¯s tone was usatory, as if he had caught them in an act of betrayal. ¡°How can you equate the two? You¡¯re my wife, yet you neglect me and care for another man. Isn¡¯t that proof of your unfaithfulness?¡±


    Impatiently, Katelyn snapped back, ¡°Think what you will. From your perspective, we¡¯re both unfaithful. So, let¡¯s end this. I don¡¯t want your money anyway.¡±


    Seeing Neil always stirred her anger. She detested his greed the most. He seemed to expect both Lise and her to attend to him.


    Unable to take it anymore, Neil spoke icily.


    ¡°You think divorcing me to be with him is an option? Never. I¡¯ll expose you to the world for this affair.¡±


    It was clear to him now that his emotions stemmed from a desire for revenge against Katelyn.


    At that moment, Vincentmented calmly, ¡°The soup you made is really delicious.¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 202

    ?Chapter 202:


    Give Me Half of Your Money


    Vincent¡¯s words immediately grated on Neil.


    Neil may not have realized just how possessive he had be over Katelyn, bordering on obsession. Of course, he couldn¡¯t stand by and watch another man im what he considered his.


    Neil¡¯s eyes hardened, his smile dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Mr. Adams, it surprises me that you have a taste for leftovers. I¡¯ve had my fill of the soup she made over thest three years. It seems you¡¯re content with something quite pathetic.¡± At that point, Neil didn¡¯t care about maintaining any respect toward Vincent. He was ready to unleash all the pent-up anger he had been harboring.


    Neil smirked. ¡°Had you told me sooner, I would¡¯ve handed it over. It¡¯s worthless to me anyway.¡±


    He was referring to both the soup and the woman who made it. This disy of cynicism and spite only deepened Katelyn¡¯s aversion to him.


    Katelynmented her choice, recalling how thrilled she had been at their wedding. She felt she deserved the ensuing sorrow.


    Vincent¡¯s expression remained icy. ¡°Is that so? You excel at bluffing, Wheeler. You are undoubtedly the most obstinate man I¡¯ve met.¡±


    Neil retorted defiantly, ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you two end up together. I¡¯ll drag you both down to hell if necessary.¡±


    ¡°Now, looking at you only disgusts me. Your relentless badgering will make me regret ever marrying you, Neil. You don¡¯t get to control the divorce. This is your final warning.¡± Katelyn¡¯s expression wasposed as she coldly met Neil¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°If you refuse to agree to the divorce, then I won¡¯t pursue it further.¡±


    The men present were momentarily taken aback.


    Neil hadn¡¯t had a change of heart, but he quickly grasped the implications. This was her form of retribution. As long as there was no divorce, any future children he might have with Lise would be considered illegitimate.


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    Vincent¡¯s grip on the spoon tightened. He understood well that Katelyn despised Neil.


    Even if she pursued this path for revenge, she would remain bound to Neil as his wife.


    Clearly, it was not worth risking her happiness forever over a scoundrel.


    Katelyn spoke with a slow, deliberate smile.


    ¡°This is your final opportunity. Change your mindter and decide to divorce, and I¡¯ll demand over half your wealth. Fail to meet my terms, and you¡¯ll never be free of this marriage.¡±


    Katelyn was prepared to divorce without any financial gain, though the legal proceedings had been frustratingly slow. Given Neil¡¯s ignorance, she might as well im half his assets. Neil was undoubtedly in their filing marriage. Details of his affair had flooded the inte. Should they proceed to court, Katelyn would undoubtedly prevail.


    Neil, feeling cornered, red at her with fiery anger.


    ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve really surprised me. It appears you were merely pretending throughout our years together. So this is your true self?¡±


    He was perplexed. She had once been so sweet and tender. What had changed her? His infidelity had been a singr mistake. Could one misstep have altered her so profoundly, this woman who had once deeply loved him? Yet, he believed his actions weren¡¯t gravely wrong¡ªafter all, all men made mistakes.


    Katelyn would surely scoff if she knew his thoughts. She had never encountered such shamelessness.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice carried a trace of scorn. ¡°You fail to see things clearly, and you me me. Consider this advice¡ªdecide whether you want a divorce or to pay me off before we part ways.¡±


    Neil clenched his fists, unwilling to concede. Just as he was about to respond, the door swung open once more¡­


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 Chapter 203

    ?Chapter 203:


    Lise entered the room, biting her lip as she addressed Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, I didn¡¯t mean to overhear, but isn¡¯t your demand excessive? Rtionships can¡¯t be coerced. And with Neil¡¯spany in crisis, how can you justify such a request?¡± Lise spoke with sincerity, seemingly concerned for Neil.


    Katelyn, tired of Lise¡¯s repeated old tricks, responded with a mocking sneer.


    ¡°I want him to truly value this final opportunity for a divorce. You should try harder as well. If I decide against it, you¡¯ll never be his wife.¡± Katelyn¡¯s tone dripped with sarcasm.


    Ultimately, the decision for divorce rested with Neil. Considering his attitude, his affection for Lise seemed questionable. Why else would he want a divorce from Katelyn and marry her after all this time?


    Lise, overwhelmed by resentment, remained silent, internally rebuking Katelyn. She exhaled a defeated sigh.


    ¡°I just hope you two can resolve this without bitterness. It¡¯s unhealthy for both of you.¡±


    Katelyn quickly retorted, ¡°You should ry that to Neil. I¡¯ll get my divorce, along with his money.¡±


    If Lise truly desired to be Neil¡¯s wife, she needed to persuade him to divorce sooner rather than spitefully antagonizing Katelyn.


    Neil narrowed his eyes, his voice thick with anger.


    ¡°A divorce? It¡¯s not going to happen, Katelyn. I¡¯ll make sure you face public scorn.¡±


    Consumed by bitterness, Neil was determined to retaliate against Katelyn, no matter the cost. Did she think she could easily be with Vincent? Neil was determined to prevent that possibility.


    Katelyn dismissed them with a smile, ¡°Whatever. Can you leave now? You¡¯re spoiling the air here. I can¡¯t stand phonies and jerks.¡± As she spoke, she held her nose, visibly repulsed.


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    Vincent watched, impressed by Katelyn¡¯s newfound assertiveness.


    These nuisances had persisted in harassing her at the hospital, and now they were finally getting what they deserved.


    ¡°YOU!¡± Neil seethed, unable to articte his fury. Katelyn, out of patience, approached them and gestured dismissively, ¡°Scram!¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression grew even darker.


    Lise clenched her teeth and grabbed Katelyn¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯re obviously upset. Let¡¯s talk when you¡¯ve calmed down.¡±


    Katelyn reflexively jerked her hand away, her eyes filled with aversion. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    Lise stumbled backward despite the slight force and copsed, clutching her stomach. ¡°My stomach¡­ it hurts so much.¡±


    Disgust flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she coldly addressed the fallen Lise.


    ¡°You¡¯re bing increasingly sloppy at your cons.¡±


    The force Katelyn had used was minimal, but Lise¡¯s fall seemed exaggerated. It appeared Lise was setting a trap, hoping Katelyn would reach out to her.


    Her face ashen, Lise gripped her stomach, speechless and dripping with cold sweat.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze narrowed, suspicion flickering in her eyes.


    Was Lise pregnant?


    Neil quickly scooped Lise up, his face etched with worry and fear. As he left, he shot a threatening look at Katelyn.


    ¡°If anything happens to Lise, I¡¯ll hold you ountable!¡±


    With that, he hurried away.


    Katelyn watched them leave, deep in thought.


    .


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 Chapter 204

    ?Chapter 204:


    Won¡¯t Be Bullied Again


    If Lise was indeed pregnant, it could simplify matters significantly.


    Her pregnancy would likely prompt Neil to pursue a divorce from Katelyn, relieving her of some of the burdens.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The divorce proceedings will start soon,¡± Vincent interjected, capturing Katelyn¡¯s attention with his calm words.


    Turning to face him, the remorse evident in Katelyn¡¯s gaze, she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams. Neil¡¯s been irrational, casting aspersions on anyone he encounters. I can¡¯t fathom his staunch belief or how it damages your reputation.¡±


    Vincent set a bowl on the bedside table, responding with equanimity. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize. None of this is your fault.¡±


    Katelyn simply nodded in response.


    Vincent was scheduled to remain in the hospital until hepleted a thorough physical examination that afternoon. Meanwhile, Katelyn sat quietly at a nearby table, sketching. Though they shared the room, each was absorbed in their own activities.


    Their silence wasfortable, not strained.


    asional nces exchanged between them lightened the mood, a mutual enjoyment of the peaceful coexistence. Later, noticing the absence of fruit in Vincent¡¯s room and his need for vitamins, Katelyn decided to step out and buy some.


    However, she ran into Sharon just as she approached the elevator.


    Sharon reacted with shock, her face contorting with anger upon seeing Katelyn. Her eyes reddened as sheshed out, ¡°Katelyn, you vicious bitch! How could you attempt to harm Lise? Are you aware she¡¯s pregnant? If anything happens to the baby, you¡¯ll be held ountable!¡±


    Sharon¡¯s harsh words momentarily took Katelyn aback.


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    The revtion of Lise¡¯s pregnancy surprised her the most. Despite being pregnant, Lise showed no physical signs yet. The early months are often the most precarious, yet even under these delicate circumstances, Lise risked everything¡ªpotentially sacrificing her unborn child to frame Katelyn.


    Katelyn quickly pieced together Lise¡¯s strategy. From Neil¡¯s reaction, it seemed he hadn¡¯t known about the pregnancy until now.


    Realizing this, Neil would undoubtedly be ted at Lise¡¯s pregnancy, and Katelyn¡¯s supposed role in endangering the baby would only fuel his revulsion toward her.


    Lise¡¯s ploy was clever, aiming to expedite the divorce while painting Katelyn as the viin¡ªhitting two targets with one shot.


    Katelyn had to acknowledge the clever improvement in Lise¡¯s schemes.


    With a stoic expression, she gripped her cup tighter and faced Sharon. ¡°Since she¡¯s pregnant, she ought to rest at home instead of causing trouble here. Rather than confronting me, perhaps you should advise Lise to keep her distance.¡±


    As Katelyn turned to leave, Sharon blocked her path, her voice filled with venom.


    ¡°You witch! You knew about the pregnancy and still pushed her, trying to induce a miscarriage, didn¡¯t you? How can you be so cruel?¡±


    Sharon¡¯s fury grew as she recalled the joy of learning she would be a grandmother, which contrasted sharply with her rage upon discovering Katelyn¡¯s supposed attempt to harm Lise.


    She hade to the hospital to ensure the baby¡¯s safety, and now she was determined to confront Katelyn¡ªfate seemed to have guided her to this encounter.


    In her anger, Sharon raised her hand to strike Katelyn.


    But Katelyn was no longer the passive victim she once was. She swiftly caught Sharon¡¯s wrist.


    The days of being manipted and bullied were behind her.


    She had toughened up after repeated betrayals.


    ¡°Enough already. When will you stop acting like a madwoman?¡± Katelyn challenged, her tone firm.


    Sharon¡¯s eyes bulged with shock, her voice bing piercing and distorted.


    ¡°A madwoman? You¡¯re the real evil one here, Katelyn! How dare you! Today, you will regret crossing me!¡±


    As Sharon cursed, her anger boiled over. She tried to yank her hand free and managed to scratch Katelyn¡¯s face.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson you won¡¯t forget and make things right for Lise. Why didn¡¯t I strangle you when I had the chance?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 205

    ?Chapter 205:


    Sharon was tall and strong, easily overpowering her husband.


    Yet her physical strength paled inparison to Katelyn¡¯s, no matter how loudly Sharon yelled.


    Katelyn gripped Sharon¡¯s wrist firmly, causing her to scream in pain as she tried to move.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes reflected a mixture of anger and disgust. She yearned for a quiet life, but it seemed elusive. Her icy gaze pierced Sharon like an invisible de, her overall presence sending shivers down Sharon¡¯s spine.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had no dealings with you for a long time. Mind yournguage,¡± Katelyn retorted sharply.


    Sharon, bewildered by the change in Katelyn, questioned her own perceptions. When did Katelyn adopt such a formidable demeanor?


    ¡°Do you speak to your mother like this? Katelyn, who nurtured you and taught you through the years¡ªIs this how you repay me? Now you resort to turning against me? It¡¯s unfortunate to have raised such an ungrateful child,¡± Sharonmented.


    Despite her frustration, Sharon couldn¡¯t free her wrist from Katelyn¡¯s strong grip, which seemed to tighten even more, frustrating her further.


    Their confrontation drew the attention of many bystanders in the crowded hospital corridor.


    Seeing the moment, Sharon addressed the onlookers, ¡°Everyone, behold! This woman is supposedly my daughter, whom I¡¯ve cared for over twenty years. I¡¯ve devotedly raised her from childhood, yet she has usurped my biological daughter¡¯s ce and even stolen her husband.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s usations escted.


    ¡°She¡¯s more malevolent than I imagined! She endangered my daughter¡¯s pregnancy, causing a near miscarriage, demanded an apology, and she responded with curses!¡±


    The anger in Katelyn¡¯s eyes deepened.


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    It was clear where Lise had learned to blur the lines between truth and deception¡ªSharon was a master maniptor.


    Their loud dispute captured the audience¡¯s attention, and many seemed inclined to believe Sharon¡¯s dramatic portrayal.


    For a moment, everyone turned against Katelyn.


    An elderly woman pointed directly at Katelyn¡¯s nose and remarked, ¡°A word of advice? Don¡¯t be so cruel. It¡¯s truly unfortunate for this family to have adopted someone like you. Karma will catch up with you sooner orter.¡± The crowd murmured in agreement.


    ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve never encountered someone so shameless,¡± another onlooker added. ¡°We need to share this online and show the world her true colors. Despite her young face, her actions are appalling.¡±


    Subconsciously, Katelyn raised her hand to shield her face from the shing cameras, but Sharon seized the moment to pull her hand away.


    The growing malice in Sharon¡¯s eyes became evident as she listened to the crowd¡¯s harsh words.


    The usations continued unabated, and eventually, Katelyn could no longer bear it.


    She lowered her hand, revealing her face, and dered, ¡°You¡¯ve all epted one side of the story and condemned a stranger without knowing the full facts. Is this how you uphold justice?¡± Her gaze, icy and resolute, swept across the corridor filled mostly with fellow hospital patients.


    These people, desperate for diversion from their monotonous hospital stay, eagerlytched onto the drama. The truth or details of the situation mattered little to them. They were simply entertained by the spectacle.


    The elderly woman scoffed and looked at Katelyn disdainfully. ¡°Your mother ims you¡¯re exceedingly wicked. What else should we expect? If you dislike being criticized, perhaps you should examine your own actions!¡±


    Katelyn responded coolly, ¡°I¡¯ve severed ties with her by giving her a billion dors to ensure it¡¯s final.¡±


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 Chapter 206

    ?Chapter 206:


    Katelyn¡¯s deration stunned everyone in the corridor. They even wondered if they had misheard the figure.


    Did she really just say a billion dors?!


    A billion?


    Most people could never dream of earning that amount in a lifetime, no matter how diligently they worked. Given this, it seemed Katelyn was justified.


    The expressions of the bystanders shifted continuously as Sharon argued with stubbornness, shooting a spiteful re at Katelyn. ¡°So what if you gave me that much? I raised you! I¡¯ve put in years of effort for you. You owe me this much!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin. She frowned and said, ¡°Just admit it. We¡¯re done here. Now, please move.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just making excuses! You pushed Lise and nearly caused her to lose her baby!¡±


    Sharon¡¯s voice grew louder and more piercing as she became agitated.


    As she spoke, she pointed a finger at Katelyn, saying fiercely, ¡°Get on your knees and apologize to Lise right now, or this won¡¯t end.¡±


    Katelyn swiftly pulled away and stepped back, her gaze cold. ¡°I haven¡¯t even pressed charges for the scam, and you expect me to apologize? Never.¡±


    The chill in Katelyn¡¯s eyes made Sharon shudder. She realized she might have underestimated how much Katelyn had changed after everything that had happened.


    Katelyn was no longer the easy target she once was, which infuriated Sharon even more.


    ¡°Think carefully. This is yourst chance. If you don¡¯t apologize, you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Whatever,¡± Katelyn was unfazed. She stared at Sharon coldly. ¡°If you have evidence, arrest me. Otherwise, step aside. And let me make this clear onest time: we have nothing to do with each other anymore. You¡¯re harassing me.¡±


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    Sharon was speechless at Katelyn¡¯s retort.


    Even those who had initially sided with Sharon couldn¡¯t help but reconsider their stance.


    ¡°She handed over a billion dors to cut ties with her mother?¡±


    ¡°Who does that?¡±


    ¡°She gave her mother that money to cut her off. Her mother took the money, so she should just leave. She¡¯s only making a fool of herself.¡±


    Sharon retorted, ring at the onlookers. ¡°What do you know? Money can¡¯t buy everything. Besides, if it weren¡¯t for her, how could my daughter have been taken away from us and endured so much hardship for all these years?¡±


    By now, Sharon had dropped enough hints.


    A few younger bystanders quickly pieced together their identities and asked in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯re the Bailey family that¡¯s been all over the newstely?¡±


    Sharon puffed up with pride upon being recognized. She gestured toward the cameras capturing the scene and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Everyone, look closely at her. This is the ungrateful woman I raised for years. Remember her face.¡±


    Katelyn gave a mocking smile and coldly met Sharon¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°Mrs., you admit to taking my money, and now you¡¯re lecturing me? You¡¯re as unpredictable as ever.¡± She then turned to face the cameras, imitating Sharon¡¯s tone.


    ¡°Everyone, take a good look at her. This is Sharon Bailey, the notorious Mrs. Bailey. She¡¯s never satisfied, always wanting more.¡±


    Sharon retorted with a cold, ¡°YOU!¡±


    Katelyn had no more time or energy to spend on Sharon. She shot her a final cold look and returned to Vincent¡¯s ward. She didn¡¯t care about those people¡¯s discussions at all. It wasn¡¯t worth her concern.


    However, she couldn¡¯t ignore Lise¡¯s pregnancy. In a way, it was a blessing¡ªit might just be the push needed to free her from Neil.


    When Katelyn returned to the ward, Vincent was finishing up some paperwork. He looked up at her concerned expression.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Katelyn brushed it off with a casual shrug.


    She was never one to divulge her personal troubles readily. Vincent didn¡¯t press further, but just then, an unexpected visitor appeared at the door.


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 Chapter 207

    ?Chapter 207:


    It was Neil. His expression, as furious as Sharon¡¯s, clearly indicated he was here for Lise.


    His re at Katelyn was particrly intense as he beckoned her.


    ¡°Come outside. We need to talk,¡± he demanded.


    Katelyn, already weary from her earlier encounter with Sharon, met Neil¡¯s gaze with a frown of impatience. She assumed he was here to discuss the divorce.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she followed him, unaware of the nce Vincent gave her from behind.


    They reached a secluded spot at the end of the corridor, a quiet ce ideal for private conversations.


    ¡°Is this about the divorce?¡± Katelyn asked directly, hoping to address only that issue with him.


    Neil¡¯s eyes narrowed as he fixed his gaze on her. ¡°Did you know Lise was pregnant when you pushed her? Were you trying to harm the baby?¡± he used.


    Katelyn responded coolly, her eyes tinged with disgust. ¡°Think before you speak. Lise isn¡¯t even showing. How would I know?¡±


    Neil, voice icy, pressed further. ¡°Then why target her stomach specifically? Was that all staged by her?¡±


    Katelyn retorted, growing increasingly repulsed by the conversation. She distanced herself, her voice firm. ¡°Her being pregnant is actually good for both of us. I expect us to get divorced as soon as possible.¡±


    Neil, undeterred, dered, ¡°It¡¯s not going to be that easy to dismiss me. I¡¯ll make sure you understand what I¡¯ve endured.¡± His expression hardened as he stepped closer, a question burning in his eyes.


    ¡°I need to know one more thing, Katelyn¡ªare you really Iris?¡±


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    This question had been tormenting him for some time, driving him to the brink of desperation.


    Every time Neil presented what he thought was conclusive evidence, Katelyn deflected with a myriad of excuses and reasons.


    His doubts lingered, unresolved.


    Katelyn responded with a cool expression, ¡°I¡¯ve exined myself repeatedly. If you¡¯re still confused, perhaps you should consult a doctor. Please, don¡¯t bother me again.¡±


    Her tone softened slightly as she continued, ¡°I want the divorce to proceed soon. If I change my mindter, it might be toote. Divorcewsuits take time. We might still be legally married when Lise has her child, which would render the baby illegitimate.¡±


    Neil clenched his fists, feeling conflicted and confused by his own emotions. The more Katelyn tried to distance herself from him, the more he resisted letting her go.


    ¡°If you want a divorce, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll divorce you if¡ª¡± he trailed off intentionally, leaving his sentence hanging to keep her attention.


    Curiosity piqued, Katelyn asked, ¡°If what?¡±


    ¡°If you admit you are Iris and promise there will be no romantic ties with Vincent post-divorce,¡± Neil stipted.


    Katelyn was momentarily astonished by his audacity.


    ¡°What an absurd demand,¡± she remarked, touching her temples as if pained by his irrationality. ¡°You might want to get your head checked. There¡¯s definitely something off.¡±


    Their divorce would sever their tiespletely. Even if she and Vincent were to enter a rtionship afterward¡ªthough they weren¡¯t¡ªNeil would have no say as her ex-husband. What right did he have to make such demands?


    Neil¡¯s face darkened as he stepped closer, grabbing her wrist and pulling her in¡ªa proximity they hadn¡¯t shared in a long time.


    ¡°You¡¯re leaving me because you¡¯ve fallen for him, haven¡¯t you?¡± he used, struggling to recall thest time they had been this close.


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 Chapter 208

    ?Chapter 208:


    They stood ufortably close.


    Neil could make out the faint fuzz on Katelyn¡¯s face and the unmistakable disgust in her eyes.


    The subtle scent of gardenias lingered around her.


    He fixated on her full, red lips, which seemed as tempting as ripe apples ready for picking.


    Despite the estrangement of the past three years of marriage, a sudden urge to kiss her surged within him. Just as he leaned in, a sharp p echoed through the air. Katelyn¡¯s hand struck his face forcefully, turning his head to the side. Seizing the moment, she then stomped hard on the back of his foot.


    Neil winced from the instant pain. Katelyn, distancing herself, looked at him with overt disgust.


    ¡°Are you trying to hurt me?¡± she demanded, her tone icy.


    What was he thinking, attempting a kiss after such betrayal?


    Rubbing the stinging on his face, Neil clenched his fist, frustration mounting.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯m afraid to retaliate, Katelyn,¡± he warned. ¡°Push me again, and you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Katelyn responded with a snort of disdain and crossed her arms, her posture rxed yet defiant. She wasn¡¯t intimidated by his threat and even found humor in his audacity.


    ¡°You¡¯re a joke, Neil. You had an affair and fathered a child with another woman, yet you dare to make advances on me now. Shame on you!¡±


    Her face clearly expressed her revulsion.


    Neil clenched his fists, his voice tight with tension.


    ¡°Katelyn, your aversion to my touch must be because you¡¯ve fallen for someone else. You flinch even from a simple touch. Is all this really for Vincent? To me, you¡¯ve be nothing more than a ything I¡¯ve tired of.¡±


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    As soon as he finished, Katelyn¡¯s response was swift and sharp¡ªshe pped him across the cheek once again.


    The sound of the p echoed.


    Her palm throbbed from the force of her blow. Katelyn sighed, frustrated by Neil¡¯s shamelessness.


    Rage burned in Neil¡¯s eyes as he bit out, ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t raise my hands on you?¡±


    Katelyn faced him squarely, her expression steely. ¡°Try it, and you might not get out of bed for months.¡±


    Despite her firm response, Neil¡¯s understanding remained unchanged.


    ¡°You¡¯re worthless to me now. One word from you, and Lise is all yours¡ªshe suits you perfectly.¡± Katelyn dismissed him coldly. Indeed, Neil and Lise were alike in their deceit, both masking their vile natures behind a veneer of respectability. Katelyn scorned their pretense.


    Neil¡¯s frustration mounted.


    He longed for the return of the gentler Katelyn, but her current defiance was cutting.


    ¡°This is your final warning¡ªif youy a hand on me again, you¡¯ll regret it,¡± she said firmly, a clear deration of fact.


    Neil sneered, his old perceptions shing with the present. ¡°It¡¯s amazing how unpredictable women are. You once showed me kindness, and now you treat me with cold indifference. If only I¡¯d seen your true nature earlier. I wouldn¡¯t have wasted so many years on you.¡±


    ¡°I was gentle because I was naive,¡± Katelyn replied coolly, her voice devoid of warmth. ¡°Talking to you now feels beneath me.¡± Her gaze was intense yet empty, reflecting no emotion¡ªno love, no hate¡ªjust the detachment one might show to a stranger.


    Neil had more to say, but the look in her eyes silenced him.


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 Chapter 209

    ?Chapter 209:


    Neil would rather have Katelyn hate him than look at him with those detached eyes. Hate, after all, often stemmed from deep love.


    At that moment, her expression stirred a growing panic within him.


    The fear of losing her was more intense than ever.


    He feltpelled to reach out and grasp her desperately, yet he knew that, like sand slipping through his fingers, the tighter he held on, the quicker she would slip away.


    Resigned, he could only look at her with cold detachment.


    ¡°I promise to make things difficult for you, even if it means suffering in the process,¡± he dered.


    Katelyn responded with anguid smile, as if she were merely an observer to a farce unfolding before her.


    ¡°I have all the time in the world to entertain your threats, but Lise¡¯s baby will not. If your name isn¡¯t on the divorce papers by tomorrow morning, expect awsuit demanding half of everything you own.¡±


    Katelyn remained silent after her deration, ready to forfeit any im to his assets. She had never cared for his wealth, only seeking to sever their ties swiftly.


    Yet, Neil¡¯s provocations necessitated a harsh response. As frustration took hold, Neil clenched his teeth, thrown off bnce by the leverage Lise¡¯s pregnancy gave Katelyn. In that moment, he resented the impending arrival of the baby¡ªnot because of his disdain for the child, but because of the unfortunate timing.


    Caught in a vulnerable moment, Neil realized his disadvantage was all too apparent to Katelyn.


    Katelyn, about to exit, suddenly paused, her attention caught by a faint sound¡ªthe distinct click of a camera shutter.


    The sound was subtle, but her acute hearing pinpointed its source precisely.


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    Memories of past public confrontations with Vincent, spurred by opportunistic photographs, shed through her mind. If this argument were also captured, she knew it could be used to fabricate narratives for those seeking fame or profit at her expense.


    Katelyn reached a blind corner of the staircase, a spot where she couldn¡¯t see if anyone was lurking below, but someone could easily photograph from such a hidden angle.


    She moved silently, her t shoes making almost no sound on the floor as she cautiously proceeded.


    Suddenly, she heard the distinct click of a camera shutter. Without hesitation, she sprinted down the stairs, chasing the sound.


    The photographer, realizing he had been spotted, quickly fled. They were a considerable distance from the elevator, turning their pursuit into a test of stamina and speed.


    With just one floor separating them, Katelyn¡¯s swift response allowed her to catch a glimpse of the man.


    Dressed in ck with a hat obscuring his face, his camera was the most telling sign of his activities.


    This man was likely the secret photographer who had been capturing images of her. Catching him could lead her to the mastermind.


    ¡°Stop!¡± she yelled, elerating her pace.


    The man sped up, but Katelyn was determined not to let him escape.


    The distance between them began to widen as her energy gged. Gritting her teeth, she nced at the stair handrail and made a split-second decision.


    With extraordinary agility, she leaped down two flights of stairs, one hand steadying herself against the handrail.


    The risky move was fraught with danger. A misstep could lead to severe injury.


    Even professional stunt performers would practice extensively to perfect such a jump, adjusting their trajectory for a safending. Katelyn had no such preparation. The stairwell was exceptionally long, making her leap akin to jumping from a ten-meter height.


    Landing in front of the startled photographer, she confronted him with a confident smile.


    ¡°Gotcha.¡±


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 Chapter 210

    ?Chapter 210:


    Katelyn¡¯s demeanor was casual, almost yful, as she faced the photographer with a half-smile. Yet, her eyes betrayed a stark coldness.


    Without the myriad of covert photos and rampant rumors, Vincent would never have been dragged into such a public controversy.


    The man who had taken the photos seemed disoriented, his shock apparent even behind the mask and hat he wore to conceal his identity.


    He was baffled by Katelyn¡¯s sudden appearance. Did she leap from the staircase? he wondered silently, dismissing the thought as too fantastical, something more suited for a film scene.


    Katelyn advanced toward him deliberately. With each step, it felt as if she were literally stepping on his heart, his anxiety escting rapidly.


    He retreated, trembling, as Katelyn cornered him against the staircase.


    Katelyn extended her hand authoritatively.


    ¡°Hand it over and answer my questions. Then, perhaps, I¡¯ll let you go,¡± she stated firmly.


    The man resisted, clenching his teeth and concealing the camera further behind him.


    ¡°What do you mean? I don¡¯t understand,¡± he replied, feigning confusion.


    Recognizing his foreign ent, Katelyn¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°We need to talk now. If you won¡¯t cooperate, expect consequences,¡± she warned.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Just let me go. Don¡¯t block my way,¡± he responded, his tone shifting from hesitant to assertive.


    Despite witnessing her daring jump, he remained defiant, convinced that his physical prowess gave him an edge over her.


    He thought to himself, dismissing her as no real threat simply because of her gender.


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    He scanned the area quickly¡ªno cameras or bystanders in sight. He believed that if he could just force Katelyn away, he could escape this predicament unscathed.


    Katelyn observed every shift in the man¡¯s expression, a yful gleam in her eyes as she adjusted her stance.


    It had been some time since she encountered someone bold enough to confront her directly. Recently, her interactions had been dominated by Neil and Lise¡¯s provocations.


    The presence of this new adversary was somewhat refreshing. The man wasted no time,unching a forceful punch aimed at Katelyn¡¯s face.


    With years ofprehensive training behind him, he was confident in his abilities. A hint of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, believing he could swiftly end the confrontation.


    However, Katelyn effortlessly dodged, tilting her head slightly before counterattacking with a powerful punch directed at his armpit.


    Her movements¡ªher dodge, her counterstrike, her rapid execution¡ªsurpassed the man¡¯s expectations, drawing a pained cry from him.


    The blow left him reeling, erasing any previous smugness and recing it with outright horror.


    ¡°You¡ª¡± he gasped, unable to form a response, astounded by herbat proficiency.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, her expression mocking. ¡°Wanna continue?¡± she taunted.


    Trained in martial arts from a young age, Katelyn had mastered techniques designed to incapacitate an opponent swiftly. Her instructor had emphasized precision and efficiency¡ªtargeting the most vulnerable parts for maximum effect. Despite the physical strength disparities typically cited between men and women, Katelyn focused on skill over sheer force, a strategy that served her well in such confrontations.


    The man, driven by desperation and perhaps a bruised ego, ignored his difort and lunged at her again.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for it,¡± Katelyn dered coolly, just before delivering a swift kick to his chest. The impact sent him sprawling backward. Before he could recover, Katelyn moved decisively.


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 Chapter 211

    ?Chapter 211:


    Katelyn, dressed in t shoes, stood over the man, who was still feebly attempting to resist. As she pressed down harder, his face shifted from pale to a deep purple, and he moaned in agony.


    Just moments before, he had been defiant, but now he was reduced to pleading at Katelyn¡¯s feet. The thought of being defeated by a woman had never crossed his mind.


    ¡°Please¡ªjust let me go. Someone hired me. I really know nothing.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained icy as she retorted sharply, ¡°I gave you a chance, but you squandered it.¡±


    The man winced, grimacing under her relentless pressure. ¡°I¡¯ll give you whatever you ask for, just spare me.¡±


    ¡°Hand over your camera,¡± Katelyn demanded, gesturing imperiously.


    With a quick motion of her finger, Katelyn signaled, and he quickly handed over the camera.


    She scrutinized every image on the memory card, finding herself in each one.


    Photos of her with Vincent and Neil were plentiful, including recent ones that he had cleverly angled to misrepresent the situation.


    For instance, although she was arguing with Neil, the images suggested they were sharing a flirtatious moment.


    These deceptive photos, aligned with harmful rumors spread by certain marketing ounts, made the gossip about her and Vincent increasingly believable.


    The extent of her suffering from these fabrications¡ªand Vincent¡¯s inadvertent involvement¡ªonly fueled her anger.


    She demanded coldly, ¡°When did you start taking these photos of me covertly? Who is behind this?¡±


    The man faltered, ¡°I can¡¯t recall exactly.¡±


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    Her re intensified.


    ¡°You¡¯ve sealed your fate by wasting your final chance. The me is yours alone.¡±


    As she intensified the pressure on his chest with her foot, he cried out in pain. Eventually, he conceded.


    ¡°Alright. I confess! Truthfully, I don¡¯t know who it is. He always contacts me through email. He pays me each time I send him photos. This has been going on for nearly two years.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as thoughts consumed her.


    That was when she first broke up with Neil.


    ¡°Did you take those photos in the restaurant too?¡±


    The photographer clenched his jaw and nodded.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know much. I just get paid for my work. Find the one who hired me if you want more details. Please, don¡¯t bother me again.¡±


    The man, on the verge of tears, cursed his misfortune.


    All he wanted were quick bucks, yet here he was, confronting Katelyn, whom he now saw as malevolent.


    ¡°Hand over your email address and camera. If you¡¯re smart, you¡¯ll understand the real suffering,¡± Katelyn¡¯s oppressive aura made the man shiver with fear. He couldn¡¯tprehend it¡ªwasn¡¯t she just a housewife before? How had she managed to capture the affection of two outstanding men?


    Her presence made him shudder as though a de were against his throat.


    Without hesitation, he quickly assured her, ¡°I swear I¡¯m telling the truth.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s wise of you. Now, give me your name and address. I¡¯ll find you if necessary. If you think of vanishing, I¡¯ll search every corner of Granville for you.¡±


    Her piercing gaze was a clear warning¡ªhe was the mouse, and she was the cat.


    Fear gripped him so tightly he nearly gave in.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never lie to you, I promise. My name is Denis White. I¡¯ll give you my number and address. Call me if you want to discuss further.¡±


    Once she sensed his sincerity, Katelyn withdrew her foot.


    Her expression was one of cool indifference.


    ¡°Leave.¡±


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 Chapter 212

    ?Chapter 212:


    Denis fled without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    As if pursued by a terrifying creature, he seemed certain that any slowdown would lead to his demise at the hands of his pursuers.


    Katelyn watched his desperate escape, a slow smile creeping across her face, thinking she would certainly teach him a lesson if he tried any deceit again.


    Once more, she inspected the camera. To her surprise, all the controversial photos, including those from the restaurant, were still on the memory card, revealing that Denis hadn¡¯t wiped it. However, she noticed an anomaly. Why were there no photos of her and Vincent at the banquet appearing intimate? Why weren¡¯t they there? Had he moved them from the card after returning home, or were there other photos hidden somewhere?


    Pushing these thoughts aside, Katelyn prioritized uncovering the mastermind.


    From the beginning, this person had manipted public opinion to tarnish both her and Vincent¡¯s reputations, aiming to force Neil into taking sides in their conflict.


    The plot ensured that the public saw both parties as equally culpable, leaving no ¡°innocent side¡± to root for. That being said, Lise now became a suspect.


    As Katelyn began to head back, she encountered Vincent at the end of the corridor. His smile was faint yet meaningful.


    He appeared more rxed than earlier in the day and offered a slight smile that softened his usually stern demeanor, suggesting approachability.


    Surprised, she questioned, ¡°Mr. Adams, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Staying in the ward gets dull after a while,¡± he replied. ¡°I decided to take a walk. I would have missed this intriguing spectacle otherwise.¡±


    He widened his eyes and pondered, ¡°Miss Bailey, have you always excelled in such confrontations?¡±


    Vincent referenced the moment she had just struck the photographer, and Katelyn responded, ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing variousbat techniques since I was young. He underestimated me, and that was his mistake.¡±


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    While Katelyn¡¯s reply was humble, Vincent could tell, from an observer¡¯s perspective, just how formidable her kick had been.


    Her appearance was unassuming, yet her prowess inbat was apparent.


    Vincent found himself increasingly intrigued by the depth of secrets Katelyn might hold.


    To him, she was a puzzle, each piece revealing more than thest.


    Unraveling these mysteries was not only crucial but captivating.


    ¡°You move with such grace. I doubt even Samuel could best you,¡± he remarked.


    Katelyn quickly dismissed thepliment. ¡°Really, it¡¯s basic skills. Nothing extraordinary.¡±


    She clearly preferred to steer away from that topic. She had been aware of Vincent¡¯s presence when she confronted Denis earlier.


    Any discovery by Vincent couldplicate matters further.


    Holding the camera, she decided to shift the focus.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, please review the images on this camera. Since we¡¯ve been working together, someone has been ndestinely snapping photos to nder us,¡± she exined. The photographer had imed ignorance about his employer, and she intended to delve deeper into this mystery.


    Vincent examined the images carefully.


    The photos captured Denis, and they actually had a romantic quality that could captivate many if shared online. People might even mimic their poses or specte about which soap opera these scenes could have been taken from.


    Thebination of a striking man and an elegant woman, set against just the right backdrop, made the photographs beautifully poignant.


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 Chapter 213

    ?Chapter 213:


    Vincent hesitated when he came across a particr photo.


    Curious, Katelyn leaned over to take a peek.


    This photo had been taken the night Vincent had escorted her home after she was rescued from the malfunctioning elevator. The entrance to themunity where Katelyn lived featured a grand staircase leading up to a gate. With its unique design, it resembled a manor more than a simple house. A small fountain sat at the center, nked by gardens.


    That day, Katelyn wore a simple one-shoulder dress, which draped elegantly over her figure.


    In the photo, Katelyn was walking ahead, with Vincent half a step behind her, his demeanor protective.


    The moonlight that night was bright, casting halos around them both.


    The photo was a bit blurry, making it hard to distinguish their faces. Still, their height and posture made them easily recognizable.


    There was an undeniable chemistry between them. The image captured a moment in which a woman walked ahead, slowly, with a tall man behind her, guarding her.


    Against the setting of the scenery, they resembled a princess and her knight.


    Katelyn¡¯s cheeks blushed instantly.


    The next morning, when she woke up, she had forgotten much of what had happened in the elevator, only remembering that Vincent had taken her home.


    The photo seemed to unlock a treasure chest of memories.


    Vincent stared at it for a long time, a shadow of contemtion in his eyes.


    Seeing it firsthand, he realized for the first time that maybe Katelyn truly was special to him.


    The camera often captured the most genuine moments. He wondered if he had always been so protective of Katelyn. In that case¡­


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    Just as Vincent was piecing his thoughts together, Katelyn fixed him with a serious look and pressed her lips together.


    She said, ¡°Thank you for helping me through so much, Mr. Adams. I¡¯m not great at sharing my feelings, but know that you can count on me whenever you need.¡±


    Vincent raised an eyebrow and nced back at Katelyn.


    Her eyes shimmered likekes in autumn.


    She wore minimal makeup, yet her beauty was striking.


    Her red lips were particrly captivating.


    Katelyn was sincere.


    After thinking for a while, she acknowledged how much she had relied on Vincent.


    She realized the need to repay his kindness and knew she couldn¡¯t keep bothering him all the time.


    In any rtionship, whether romantic or tonic, one-sided sacrifice was never sustainable.


    ¡°As I mentioned, you shouldn¡¯t worry about this,¡± Vincent said, his tone calm and controlled. He casually picked up the camera.


    ¡°Focus on your design work for now. I¡¯ll handle the investigation and keep you updated.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, not overthinking it.


    ¡°Alright. I just recalled the man¡¯s name and phone number. I¡¯ll send them to youter. He mentioned theymunicated through emails. That might be our way in.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Vincent nodded casually, seemingly distracted by thetter part of her words.


    Though he turned off the camera, his gaze lingered on the screen for a moment.


    Katelyn and Vincent returned to the ward.


    Vincent said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m going to change. Please excuse me.¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Katelyn stayed outside to give him privacy. As she looked up, she noticed Lise walking toward her. Lise looked exhausted, her face pale, almost blending into the wall behind her.


    She had one hand pressed against her waist, a typical posture for pregnant women to relieve back pressure. However, seeing Lise adopting this stance so early¡ªbefore her belly was even noticeable¡ªseemed almostical.


    Lise called weakly, ¡°Katelyn¡­¡±


    Katelyn frowned, her expression clearly showing distaste. She could hardly tolerate it any longer. The Bailey family seemed united in making trouble for her at every turn.


    She was so fed up with everything.


    With a stern expression, Katelyn inquired, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Lise managed a softer smile, her hand resting on her waist as she let out a sigh.


    ¡°Katelyn, I can tell you¡¯re upset. I wanted to apologize.¡±


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 Chapter 214

    ?Chapter 214:


    Confusion flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she looked at Lise. Lise gently caressed her t belly and smiled tenderly.


    ¡°You know, Katelyn, discovering I was pregnant was such a shock. It was a blessing. Neil was overly protective because of the baby and me, which led him to treat you harshly. I¡¯m truly sorry on his behalf.¡±


    Her words, dripping with insincerity, thinly veiled her boast about the pregnancy.


    Katelyn looked at her with disdain and pursed her lips. ¡°Lise, it must be exhausting constantly changing your facade. Aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    Lise looked up, feigning innocence and confusion.


    ¡°What do you mean, Katelyn? I¡¯m only seeking your genuine blessing. After all, we¡¯re sisters, and my child will call you Aunt Katelyn.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze hardened, seeing through Lise¡¯s deceit.


    ¡°It¡¯s quite ironic. You, a home-wrecker, unting your illegitimate child in front of your lover¡¯swful wife. Isn¡¯t that just absurd?¡±


    Lise¡¯s smile faltered, and her eyes filled with resentment.


    ¡°Please, Katelyn, watch your words in front of the baby. I¡¯m only here for blessings, nothing more.¡±


    Katelyn raised her eyebrows, her voice icy.


    ¡°I cannot bless a child born from an affair, especially when the mother willingly seduced my husband, knowing he was married. Do you ever wonder if your child will resent you for the circumstances of his birth?¡±


    ¡°YOU!¡±


    Lise¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a stark realization of Katelyn¡¯s contempt, as if physically struck by it.


    She was baffled by Katelyn¡¯s calm demeanor, contrary to the anger she had anticipated. Lise felt foolish under Katelyn¡¯s unyielding gaze, realizing her maniption had failed.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze hardened as her smile grew more ironic. She spoke in a chilly tone.


    ¡°You¡¯re a home-wrecker now, and because of your actions, your child is doomed even before he¡¯s born. If I were in your shoes, I¡¯d seek seclusion rather than unting myself before my lover¡¯s wife.¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression grew tense. Her lips quivered as resentment built in her eyes.


    Katelyn¡¯s calm reaction to her provocations was a stark reminder of her increasingly challenging demeanor. How could Katelyn remainposed? Without reacting strongly, Lise found herself at a loss for how to proceed.


    ¡°Katelyn, I¡ª¡± Words failed Lise abruptly.


    Katelyn responded slowly, ¡°Nevertheless, it¡¯s fortunate that you¡¯re pregnant. Use it to persuade Neil to divorce me. Have you not noticed his hesitation? He once vowed to leave and marry you, yet he hasn¡¯t fulfilled his promise.¡±


    She paused, her expression turning mocking.


    ¡°Had he married you, your child would bebeled illegitimate.¡±


    Truthfully, if Neil had divorced Katelyn, the child Lise was carrying would not bear such a stigma.


    Katelyn¡¯s words seemed to strike a nerve in Lise, prompting a flurry of memories.


    Repeatedly, Lise had pressed Neil for a divorce from Katelyn, but he continually evaded the issue.


    Katelyn advanced slowly, her silent steps building palpable tension around Lise.


    It felt as though an invisible de hovered over her neck, her pulse pounding dangerously.


    ¡°You truly are pitiful. You believe Neil loves you, yet you have to coerce him into marriage with your pregnancy. Pathetic, isn¡¯t it?¡± Katelyn¡¯s voice was light, her demeanor detached and serene. To her, Neil and Lise were mere annoyances, akin to bothersome insects.


    What concern was it of hers if an insipid fly bore offspring?


    .


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 Chapter 215

    ?Chapter 215:


    Lise cowered in the corner, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out.


    She hade with the intention of provoking Katelyn, yet Katelyn¡¯sposed defiance left Lise feeling outmatched. Internally, Lise questioned whether Katelyn¡¯s feelings for Neil had truly faded.


    Suddenly, Vincent¡¯s voice, detached and indifferent, interrupted from behind Katelyn.


    ¡°Are you discussing something?¡±


    Vincent had shed his patient¡¯s gown and was now dressed in a ck shirt and dark trousers. His striking presence cast a chill. His very appearance intimidated those around him into silence. Katelyn responded with a nonchnt twist of her lips.


    ¡°Miss Bailey was just unting her pregnancy, as though bearing an illegitimate child were a badge of honor.¡±


    Vincent nced at Lise coolly, his casual look sending a shiver down her spine.


    Even skilled at maniption, Lise felt crushed under Vincent¡¯s stern gaze, requiring her to muster significant resolve to continue. Lise inhaled deeply, lifting her tear-filled eyes.


    ¡°Katelyn, please be mindful of your words. I merely wanted to share what should have been a joyful milestone.¡±


    She continued, her voice tinged with desperation, ¡°This conflict is ours alone¡ªwhy involve an unborn child?¡±


    Katelyn barely nced at her, her disgust evident.


    ¡°So, you acknowledge your actions have shamed the child, do you?¡±


    Lise was left speechless once more, overwhelmed by the reality of her actions: seducing a married man and now expecting his childbels that would follow her and her child indefinitely. Resentment surged within her, paralleled by a growing contempt for Neil as well.


    Had Neil divorced Katelyn sooner, Lise wouldn¡¯t be facing such disgrace.


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    Vincent watched the exchange with measured calm, offering Katelyn an amused smile after his initial nce at Lise.


    Lise¡¯s jealousy red upon seeing this, convinced that Katelyn was unworthy of such a man.


    Previously, Katelyn had married Neil, a decent man, but no match for Vincent. Clearly, choosing between them should be obvious to any discerning observer.


    In Lise¡¯s view, she was better than Katelyn in every possible way. More importantly, she was the true Bailey daughter, while Katelyn¡­


    It pained her that Vincent paid Katelyn earnest attention, while hardly noticing her.


    Driven nearly to madness by jealousy, Lise watched as Vincent¡¯s yful gleam in his eyes softly suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s¡­¡±


    Katelyn merely nodded and walked past Lise with an airy step, unaffected by her anger. Seething, Lise retreated to her room, pausing before the mirror to scrutinize her reflection. Her features were delicate, and her tear-stained eyes lent her an air of vulnerability that might evoke sympathy in anyone who saw her.


    Yet, despite her distress, Vincent seemed more interested in Katelyn. This deepened Lise¡¯s resolve to bring her down. In the parking area of the hospital, Vincent and Katelyn got into the backseat of his car.


    Katelyn retrieved herptop from her briefcase, and a chat notification popped up, indicating activity on the other end. Her fingers fluttered over the keyboard, moving so rapidly that it almost seemed choreographed.


    Vincent watched her work in silence, intrigued. Once she pressed the enter key, he asked, ¡°What are you busy with?¡±


    Katelyn replied calmly, ¡°I asked a friend to look into the email ount of the person stalking me, and they discovered transaction records with the maniptor.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 216

    ?Chapter 216:


    As Katelyn exined, she turned herptop screen towards Vincent, showing him a screenshot of a recent bill. The photographer had been truthful. Someone had employed him for cross-border work, and he emailed the photos to his employer each time.


    Vincent squinted as he noted the bank details silently. ¡°I¡¯ll have Samuel look into this,¡± he dered softly.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn responded, giving him a nod. She continued, ¡°I suspect he might not be the only one snapping photos of us, though I don¡¯t have solid proof yet.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll uncover the truth and update you as soon as possible.¡± Vincent, leaning back, tapped his knee thoughtfully, his eyes shadowed with concern.


    Katelyn closed herptop with a nod and signaled okay with her hand.


    The car was filled with the soft strains of piano music, providing a soothing backdrop to their silent journey. She didn¡¯t find the silence awkward, lost in the music¡¯s flow. The car pulled up to the Adams Group building shortly after. ¡°I need to pick up some documents from my car. You go ahead upstairs,¡± Katelyn said as she searched her bag.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Vincent agreed with a nod.


    They parked at the gate. Katelyn headed directly to the underground parking lot. Her garage housed a collection of luxury cars worth millions, and she drove a different one each day, even keeping one at thepany¡¯s parking lot.


    Today, she was headed for the Maserati, where thetest design drafts were stored. It was nearing evening, and the parking lot was sparsely popted. As Katelyn walked through the dimming light, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that someone was following her.


    Katelyn deliberately slowed her walk, noticing her stalker mimicking her pace, thinking it would keep them hidden. Instead, it made them more noticeable.


    Katelyn nced down at the approaching shadow, pulling out her phone to send a quick message. She intended to alert Vincent.


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    Before she could send it, the stalker burst forward, a bottle in hand.


    Reacting swiftly, Katelyn turned to face her assant. She recognized the attacker as the woman thepany had dismissed just days ago.


    The woman¡¯s bottle was uncapped, reeking of a strong chemical.


    Through clenched teeth, the woman spat out, ¡°You bitch! It¡¯s all your fault. Why don¡¯t you go to hell?¡±


    Gripping the bottle, Katelyn retorted coldly, ¡°You deserve it.¡± Though an apology might have resolved their conflict, the woman had chosen confrontation.


    ming Katelyn for her dismissal, the woman was now frantic, having spent over a decade building a life here, only for it to crumble to dust.


    Samuel had exposed her crimes, leaving her with nowhere to go in the city.


    Driven by desperation, she screamed, ¡°Bitch, go to hell! Go to hell!¡± over and over.


    She lunged, aiming to pour the bottle¡¯s contents¡ªhigh-concentration sulfuric acid¡ªonto Katelyn¡¯s face, trying to disfigure her and prevent any further influence at their workce.


    Convinced of her twisted sense of justice, the woman¡¯s attacks grew fiercer.


    Katelyn wrestled for control of the bottle, their hands grappling and jostling, causing some of the acid to spill and hiss against the ground.


    Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Katelyn delivered a forceful kick to the woman¡¯s stomach.


    .


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 Chapter 217

    ?Chapter 217:


    Katelyn¡¯s kick was so quick and forceful that the short-haired woman had no chance to react. She copsed to the ground, screaming in agony. The bottle ttered to the side, its contents spilling out. It was a corrosive liquid that could destroy even concrete, and one could only imagine the damage it would cause to the skin.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew colder as she looked down at the woman, her eyes shing with disdain. ¡°Why do you despise me so much?¡± she asked.


    Cradling her stomach, the woman attempted to get up, her voiceced with anger. ¡°If not for you, I¡¯d have a promising future. You ruined it, you bitch. Don¡¯t I have the right to retaliate?¡±


    Katelyn stood firm. ¡°You chose to do wrong, and now you me others for your choices.¡±


    Her anger had eased, and she stared at the short-haired woman with a flicker of doubt in her eyes. Thepany had dismissed all the employees who caused trouble. If the woman really wanted revenge on someone, Katelyn thought, Celia should have been her target.


    Katelyn asked coldly, ¡°Did youe up with this n yourself, or is someone else involved?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all I hate you. I can¡¯t get another job in this city. Are you happy now?¡± the woman retorted sharply. She scoffed and added, ¡°You may have escaped this time, Katelyn, but I¡¯ll haunt you even in my death.¡±


    Katelyn, no longer willing to endure her threats, called the police. The woman¡¯s actions werepletely uneptable and would surely attract legal consequences.


    The police responded quickly, arriving to take the woman into custody. Katelyn apanied them to give her statement. By the time everything was resolved, it waste into the night.


    Even though it was summer, a cold breeze swept through the air. As Katelyn reflected on the recent events, she sighed and pulled her jacket tighter around herself.


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    She suddenly felt overwhelmed by fatigue. The relentless pace of events had drained her both physically and emotionally. Just then, her phone rang, breaking into her thoughts. Vincent¡¯s name appeared on the screen.


    She hit the ¡°answer¡± button, and Vincent¡¯s anxious voice came through immediately. ¡°Where have you been?¡± He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. This was Vincent¡¯s third attempt to reach Katelyn tonight, with no response to his earlier calls.


    He had been in back-to-back online meetings with foreign clients since returning to the office, and it was only now that he found a moment to himself. He had learned from Samuel that Katelyn hadn¡¯t returned to her office.


    A sense of dread crept into his heart. If this call went unanswered, he nned to have Samuel track Katelyn¡¯s location through GPS.


    Katelyn roughly exined what had happened that night in a tired voice. She added, ¡°I¡¯ve just given my statement and left the police station. I¡¯m heading home now. Regarding the sketches I promised, I¡¯ll finish them at home tonight.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s worry eased slightly, knowing she was fine, but then his expression hardened. He was shocked that the employees who had been fired would go to such lengths to target Katelyn.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the sketches. Just go home and rest. Do you want me toe and get you?¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s okay,¡± she replied, ncing at her watch.


    Vincent insisted firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll have Samuel drive you. It¡¯s toote for taxis.¡± His tone left little room for argument, forcing her to agree.


    ¡°Alright. Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Actually, this is partly my fault. I didn¡¯t manage their feelings properly, which led them to target you,¡± Vincent said quietly, his voice tinged with remorse.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn responded. Just after she ended the call, she noticed a figure across the street.


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 Chapter 218

    ?Chapter 218:


    The figure standing there was none other than Celia.


    Katelyn spotted her, and without attempting to hide, Celia approached with a mocking look in her eyes. Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened as she watched Celia approach with intent.


    Despite the earlier attack from the short-haired woman, Katelyn had always suspected that someone was orchestrating things from behind. With a scornful look, Celia said, ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯re luckier than I thought. Don¡¯t expect that luck to hold next time.¡±


    Katelyn responded coldly, ¡°You were behind her actions, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    With a sneer, Celia bluntly admitted, ¡°So what if it was me? You¡¯ve made our lives miserable. You deserve whateveres your way.¡±


    As she said this, she could hardly suppress her hatred. As a former leading designer at Adams Group, Celia should have had a promising career. But after she was let go, even the smallestpanies wouldn¡¯t hire her, fearing they might upset Vincent.


    Vincent held significant influence in the city. Offending him meant facing severe consequences. Lacking the courage to confront Vincent directly, Celia resorted to harming Katelyn instead.


    A flicker of irony sparkled in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Although her lips curled slightly, the expression conveyed nothing but cold mockery¡ªfar from a genuine smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re in this mess because of your own greed and stupidity. Do you really think you can put all the me on me and get away with it? How absurd!¡±


    Celia felt these words pierce her like a dagger. Her pupils constricted, and her jaw clenched tightly.


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been exposed! Katelyn, you will always be my enemy. I¡¯ll make your life miserable as long as I breathe.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained unmoved. She scoffed. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll make you pay for what you¡¯ve done.¡±


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    ¡°Fine. Just wait and see.¡±


    Celia gave Katelyn a fierce re before turning and storming off.


    Katelyn stood still with a cold expression. Deep in her light-colored eyes, there seemed to be an endless abyss. No one could see clearly what she was thinking.


    Soon after, Samuel arrived and escorted her home from the police station.


    Stepping out of the car, Katelyn thanked him for the ride. She rushed into her room and immediately took a quick, hot shower. The night air had been too cold.


    She took some immune-boosting vitamins and drifted off to sleep.


    However, it proved ineffective.


    The next morning, she woke up feeling dizzy with a congested head. She touched her forehead with a hand and sighed helplessly. It was clear¡ªshe had caught a cold.


    She tossed some cold medicine into her bag and drove to work. She had already taken some medicine earlier that morning, but it hadn¡¯t helped. Her head still felt like it was spinning heavily.


    She entered the CEO¡¯s office, which she shared with Vincent, where he was already busy with paperwork.


    He noticed her condition right away. His brow furrowed with concern as he looked her over.


    ¡°You don¡¯t look well at all. Are you sick?¡±


    ¡°I think I caught a coldst night after leaving the police station. I should be fine soon. I¡¯ve taken some medicine,¡± she exined casually, putting her bag on the seat. Despite it being summer, she was wearing a jacket.


    Without a word, Vincent turned off the air conditioning. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, you should go home and rest. Don¡¯t overdo it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m okay, really. Just a bit dizzy, but it will pass soon.¡±


    She was determined, not yet ready to leave her unfinished work behind. For her,pleting her tasks was the most important thing. Besides, it was just a cold¡ªsomething she felt she could easily handle.


    With that, she powered up herputer and started working.


    Vincent, seeing her resolve, chose not to press further.


    While drawing, she sniffled asionally.


    Now, a severe headache and dizziness gued her as she stared at the screen. She took a few sips of warm water and mentally urged herself to keep going.


    Engrossed in her work, she didn¡¯t notice Vincent slip out.


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 Chapter 219

    ?Chapter 219:


    Katelyn didn¡¯t notice anything until Vincent ced several white boxes on her desk, pulling her attention back to the present.


    She looked up instinctively and realized they were cold medicines.


    She quickly rified, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve already brought medicine with me.¡±


    ¡°Keep these as a backup. If your condition gets worse tonight, make sure you go to the hospital,¡± Vincent replied in a tone that left no room for disagreement.


    From what he could tell, she didn¡¯t appear to have a fever at the moment.


    He had been thinking about sending her home to rest, but he had not anticipated that she would be somitted to her work. Katelyn put the medicine into her drawer, looking at him with a serious expression. ¡°I appreciate it, Mr. Adams,¡± she said sincerely.


    As Katelyn spoke, she stood up and started to walk toward the break room with her cup in hand, but her legs suddenly gave out, and shepletely lost consciousness.


    In thest moments before she fainted, she thought she heard Vincent¡¯s voice filled with concern.


    ¡°Katelyn!¡±


    Without a second thought, Vincent drove her to the hospital as fast as he could.


    The doctor conducted a thorough examination, prescribed medication, and administered an injection.


    After everything wasplete, Vincent sat quietly in the chair next to her, watching her silently.


    She didn¡¯t sleep peacefully. Even while resting, her brow was slightly furrowed, as if she were caught in a bad dream.


    Vincent made no sound. He simply stayed by her side and waited for her to wake up.


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    When she finally opened her eyes, it was already afternoon. The strong smell of disinfectant filled the room, sharp and unpleasant. Katelyn looked up at the white ceiling above, then noticed the IV drip attached to her hand.


    It was then that she remembered fainting suddenly at the office. She looked around and noticed Vincent, who was still focused on his work.


    He was sitting nearby, hisptop positioned on hisp, rapidly typing away.


    Since she couldn¡¯t view the screen, she managed to call out in a raspy voice, ¡°Mr. Adams?¡±


    Her voice alerted Vincent that she was awake. He immediately set aside hisptop and approached her. ¡°How are you feeling? Do you feel any better?¡±


    Katelyn lifted her hand to her forehead and sighed in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m dealing with a headache.¡±


    She had assumed it was just a cold with a stuffy nose that had bothered her. How had she ended up fainting?


    ¡°The doctor mentioned you¡¯re running a mild fever. You shouldn¡¯t be working while you¡¯re ill. From now on, please take sick leave if you¡¯re not feeling well.¡±


    After a moment of hesitation, she began, ¡°But what about my designs?¡±


    ¡°Your health is more important than any design work. If you¡¯re not feeling well, the quality of your work could suffer. Please prioritize your health over work, for both your sake and thepany¡¯s.¡±


    Vincent looked at her intently, and hisst words carried a weight of emphasis.


    At first, his words seemed straightforward, but upon reflection, they resonated with care and concern. Particrly at that moment, the usual sternness and distance in his eyes seemed to vanish, reced by deep concern.


    Vincent¡­


    She quickly dismissed the thought. As her employer, it was natural for him to be concerned about her health, especially after she fainted.


    She hadn¡¯t considered any other implications.


    Finally, she nodded and gratefully responded, ¡°I understand. Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee. Feel free to rest a bit longer. You might need toe in for an infusion tomorrow,¡± he said, his tone returning to its usual detachment.


    She nodded in agreement, feeling exhausted.


    Ever since receiving the assignment from the Adams Group, she had faced daily pressure, which only intensified as theunch event approached.


    Moreover, Neil and Lise asionally caused her distress, adding to her troubles.


    Just as she gathered her thoughts and prepared to rest, she experienced a sudden sharp pain in her lower abdomen, as though an unseen knife had stabbed her.


    Then she felt something warm and sticky between her thighs, causing her body to tense and her face to flush instantly.


    A sense of dread washed over her.


    What could she do? Was it her menstrual period? It seemed about the right time, though.


    ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Vincent asked, noticing her pale face.


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 Chapter 220

    ?Chapter 220:


    Vincent was about to return to his work when he noticed that Katelyn seemed ufortable.


    Her face was pale, but there were a few suspicious patches on her cheeks.


    Her eyes seemed to be filled with guilt as they flicked away from his.


    Katelyn¡¯s cheeks were burning with embarrassment, and beneath the covers, her toes curled into the bed. How could she possibly handle such an awkward moment?


    The more embarrassed Katelyn appeared, the more Vincent¡¯s worry and concern grew.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are you feeling sick? I¡¯ll call a doctor for you,¡± Vincent said, beginning to walk away.


    Katelyn quickly stopped him, anxiously pulling the covers higher to hide her flushed face, leaving only her eyes visible.


    The situation was incredibly difficult to exin, and even though she searched for the right words, Katelyn couldn¡¯t find her voice. She hesitated for a moment before finally stammering, ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing, Mr. Adams. Could you just call a nurse for me? I need some help.¡±


    Vincent looked back at her, still unsure of what she meant.


    ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need, just tell me.¡±


    Katelyn shook her head, trying to gather herself.


    She forced a smile and tried to stayposed. ¡°Please, Mr. Adams, could you just call a nurse for me?¡± she pleaded.


    Vincent¡¯s confusion was evident in his eyes, but he nodded and soon returned with a nurse.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw them, and she quickly raised her hand toward the nurse.


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    ¡°I really need your help,¡± she said.


    Looking equally confused, the nurse stepped closer and asked, ¡°What do you need?¡±


    Katelyn motioned for the nurse to lean in, and then covered her mouth with her hand before whispering something quietly.


    Vincent stayed calm, but he kept a careful eye on Katelyn, trying to make sense of what she was saying.


    He couldn¡¯t hear her words from where he stood, and curiosity began to gnaw at him.


    Katelyn¡¯s flustered reaction flickered in his eyes.


    What could she possibly need that he couldn¡¯t handle? As he thought back to Katelyn¡¯s flustered reactions, the realization hit him¡ªshe was probably dealing with her period.


    That would exin why she seemed so embarrassed.


    A slight smile tugged at his lips. He was a little surprised that Katelyn was so shy about something so normal.


    After hearing Katelyn¡¯s request, the nurse shook her head with an apologetic look.


    ¡°I just ran out of mine yesterday, but I can pick some up after my shift. If you can¡¯t wait any longer, I think you should ask your boyfriend to buy some for you right away.¡±


    Katelyn had spoken quietly before to avoid being overheard, but the nurse didn¡¯t lower her voice at all.


    As she continued speaking, she nced over at Vincent, who stood by the door, clearly under the impression that they were a couple.


    Her words were loud and clear, causing Katelyn¡¯s cheeks to turn an even deeper shade of red.


    Katelyn quickly told the nurse, ¡°No, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. He is not my boyfriend. He¡¯s my boss.¡±


    The nurse looked at Katelyn with a puzzled expression and asked, ¡°Really? He¡¯s not your boyfriend? When you fainted from the fever, he carried you straight into the hospital. We could all see how worried he was. We even joked that you two seemed like the perfect match.¡±


    The nurse continued talking, leaving Katelyn momentarily speechless.


    She knew Vincent had brought her to the hospital, but she hadn¡¯t realized he had carried her in himself.


    With his hand casually in his pocket, Vincent stared at Katelyn¡¯s embarrassed face, then turned to the nurse and asked, ¡°What does she need? I¡¯ll go get it.¡±


    The nurse answered without a moment¡¯s pause, ¡°She needs sanitary pads. And she probably has cramps from her period. Some ginger tea would help with the pain.¡±


    Vincent gave a quick nod of understanding.


    Katelyn wished she could disappear under the covers and stay hidden forever.


    Sanitary pads weren¡¯t a big deal anymore, but the thought of Vincent buying them was unbearable. He was always soposed and serious, and imagining him picking out pads for her felt incredibly awkward.


    She couldn¡¯t even begin to picture Vincent standing in front of a shelf at the supermarket, carefully selecting the right type and size of pads.


    The thought was so absurd that it felt impossible. Even her soon-to-be former husband, Neil, had never once bought them for her during their years of marriage.


    .


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 Chapter 221

    ?Chapter 221:


    The nurse finished speaking and exited, leaving behind an awkward silence that filled the room.


    The difort Katelyn felt now surpassed the initial awkwardness of her first meeting with Vincent to discuss their joint venture.


    Katelyn could barely bring herself to look at Vincent, wishing she could disappear under the covers. Speaking from beneath them, she said, ¡°It would be best if Samuel or anyone else handled this, Mr. Adams. You don¡¯t have to do this yourself.¡±


    The thought of Vincent shopping for sanitary products was simply beyond herfort zone. It was more terrifying than any horror film.


    Vincent¡¯s face showed no reaction. ¡°I understand. Rest for now.¡± With those words, he left.


    Once she was sure Vincent was well away, Katelyn peeked out from under the covers and exhaled a sigh of relief. She touched her chest, soothing her racing heart, still feeling a bit dizzy.


    Having her period while being sick and in the hospital felt like a stroke of bad luck.


    Vincent returned, setting the bag down in front of Katelyn and saying in a deep voice, ¡°Check if there¡¯s anything else you need.¡±


    Katelyn looked at the bag in surprise.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, did you pick up one of every type from the store?¡±


    ¡°You normally use,¡± Vincent exined with a slight frown, admitting he was unfamiliar with such products and had just made his first purchase of them.


    Standing before the colorful array of items, he had been overwhelmed by the vast number of brands, sizes, and types avable. With no clear choice, he ended up selecting one of each type. Despite receiving many curious nces at the checkout, it didn¡¯t bother him in the slightest.


    Katelyn found herself speechless for a moment. She shifted her gaze from the sanitary pads to Vincent¡¯s earnest expression and asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, did you actually go to the store yourself to buy these?¡±


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    Vincent nodded and said, ¡°Yes, I did. If there¡¯s anything else you need, just tell me. It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡±


    Katelyn was at a loss for words again. What else could she do? She still felt the urge to find somewhere to hide, but the cramps in her abdomen were worsening, making it difficult for her to even lift the covers and get out of bed.


    Vincent instinctively moved to assist her, but he hesitated and withdrew his hand instead. He then left the room, giving Katelyn some privacy.


    This gesture allowed Katelyn to feel a slight ease in her tension. She was breaking out in a sweat from the pain, her lower back throbbing as if it were about to break. Her menstrual pain was unusually intense this time,pounded by recent stress and neglect of her health, especially due to the issues with Neil.


    Katelyn had just exited the bathroom when the nurse came back in, carrying a fresh set of hospital clothes.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, Mr. Adams sent me with a clean set of clothes for yourfort,¡± the nurse said.


    Katelyn managed a grateful smile and nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± She leaned against the bed, massaging her abdomen to soothe the stabbing pains.


    Her eyes caught the neatly folded clothes on her bed, and it struck her why she and Vincent worked so well together. He always kept a distance yet showed genuine concern and attentiveness.


    Vincent was remarkably attentive, often catching the small details Katelyn might miss and addressing them in advance.


    Initially, anyone would notice Vincent¡¯s striking looks. However, once Katelyn became acquainted with him, she found that his physical appearance was overshadowed by his character, sharp intellect, and rational judgment.


    It was clear why Vincent was often dubbed the most eligible bachelor in Granville.


    Katelyn held her belly and adjusted herself to a morefortable position.


    As she braced herself for the wait until she could leave, the door to her hospital room swung open once more.


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 Chapter 222

    ?Chapter 222:


    Vincent entered the room carrying an insted lunch bag.


    Surprise spread across Katelyn¡¯s face when she saw him. ¡°Mr. Adams?¡±


    She recalled how she had always been the one to bring things to Vincent when he was hospitalized, but today, it was Vincent who had brought something for her. This made her wonder if he also knew how to cook.


    Vincent approached her and exined in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°I had someone pick up some carrot ginger soup, good for you.¡±


    As soon as he lifted the lid, the scent of ginger wafted up, causing her face to twist with displeasure. There was no other ingredient she despised more than ginger, especially in ginger soup. She would rather drink anything else than a single drop of this putrid dish.


    She immediately retreated under the quilt, leaving only her eyes visible, struggling to find her voice.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, please leave the soup on the table. I¡¯ll have itter.¡±


    Though her response was odd, to say the least, Vincent decided not to dwell on it. He set the soup on the table and looked at her.


    ¡°How many have youpleted?¡±


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she replied, ¡°I¡¯ve sent each finished drawing to your email. I¡¯vepleted six themes so far, and there are still two more, which I can finish by tomorrow at thetest.¡±


    He nodded and leaned back in his chair, a shadow passing over his eyes.


    ¡°Alright. Theunch event might be moved up. I¡¯ll inform you as soon as it¡¯s decided.¡±


    She gave him a thumbs-up. ¡°Okay, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Realizing the subject had changed, she exhaled quietly in relief. Afterward, he stood up to leave, but he suddenly paused and turned back to look at her again.


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    ¡°Make sure to drink the soup.¡±


    A trace of bitterness crossed her face. She forced a smile and asked, ¡°Do I really have to drink it? Just the scent of ginger is enough to make me puke!¡±


    Ginger had always been the spice she hated since she was a child. Every time she caught a whiff of ginger, it made her feel nauseous. She always admired people who could eat ginger as a snack.


    Seeing the miserable look on her face, Vincent chuckled and said, ¡°Yes, but ginger is good for your health.¡±


    She remained curled up under the quilt, trying to negotiate with him. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the soup to cool down, then.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± he replied.


    Meanwhile, in the next ward, Neil opened the door and entered, noticing Lise, dressed in a hospital gown, sitting in front of aputer, focused on her work. He decided not to interrupt her. Instead, he quietly walked over and saw that she was drawing something. She was carefully adding details to the design.


    The drawing was intricate and well-crafted, and a hint of admiration appeared in his eyes. He wondered why he had never known that Lise was such a talented designer. Although she had shown him a few sketches before as backups, it still amazed him to see her drawing them herself.


    Lise waspletely absorbed in her work. The sunlight streamed in through the window, and her focused expression struck him deeply. But what truly caught his eye was a small red logo in the bottom right corner of theputer screen.


    A wave of shock ran through him, causing his body to tremble. He recognized it the second he saw it. That logo was Iris¡¯s signature.


    This could only mean that Lise was the real Iris. Otherwise, how could she have such a high level of design skill? The logo was undeniable proof.


    She seemed unaware of his presence, continuing to draw with full concentration. It wasn¡¯t until he could no longer contain his excitement and called out that she finally turned around.


    The moment she caught sight of him, panic briefly crossed her face. Her hand moved almost reflexively to shut down theputer.


    With guilt flickering in her eyes, she forced a bright smile and said, ¡°Neil, when did youe in? You made no sound at all. You scared me!¡±


    That one simple action was enough to confirm his suspicions. He stepped closer, excitement clear in his voice. ¡°Lise, tell me the truth, you¡¯re Iris, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Her distress became more evident as anxiety took over. Her eyes darted from his, too unsettled to hold his gaze. ¡°Neil, umm¡­¡± Lise struggled to find the right words to say.


    The look of astonishment in his eyes grew stronger. Just as he began to speak again, her phone abruptly rang.


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 Chapter 223

    ?Chapter 223:


    Lise casually pressed the answer button and heard a voice on the line, attempting to persuade her.


    ¡°Lise, please ept this order. The clientes from a major corporation and has been very persistent in raising the offer. They are desperate to work with you and are prepared to pay whatever it takes.¡±


    Lise instinctively tightened her grip on the phone, her eyes shing with hesitation.


    ¡°Just decline the order. I¡¯m too busy and drained to handle it right now.¡±


    The woman on the other side of the call let out a helpless sigh. ¡°He¡¯s been looking for you for a year. I¡¯m at a loss for how to reject him anymore. It¡¯s been three years since you retired, yet he still managed to find a way to reach me.¡±


    Neil, who was standing next to Lise, could hear the conversation clearly even though it was on speaker.


    Three years after her retirement, a well-paid order came in, and everything started to make sense. Joy surged in Neil¡¯s heart.


    Lise was indeed Iris.


    Even as the woman on the call continued to argue her point, Lise was not swayed. ¡°I really can¡¯t do it. There are more pressing matters I need to attend to.¡±


    ¡°Alright then,¡± the woman finally relented, hearing the resolve in Lise¡¯s voice.


    After hanging up, Lise locked eyes with Neil, who was visibly excited.


    Taken aback, she cautiously called out, ¡°Neil?¡±


    ¡°Lise, are you still trying to fool me? I know already¡ªyou are Iris. But why have you kept your real identity a secret all this time?¡±


    Neil struggled to understand.


    Lise knew well how much pressure hispany had been under, and she had watched him wrestle with the confusion of Katelyn¡¯s identity for so long. Why had she never thought to speak up and clear things up?


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    A flicker of guilt and regret passed through Lise¡¯s eyes as she took a seat and began to exin.


    ¡°Neil, I didn¡¯t mean to keep this from you. I just couldn¡¯t find the right words. I¡¯ve been out of the game for three years, and I know yourpany has been under strain. I was worried my designs wouldn¡¯t measure up and would let you down.¡± As she spoke, Lise paused briefly, her eyes reflecting her difort.


    This was the exnation she had prepared from the start, and it should be convincing enough for Neil.


    ¡°I wanted you to find a more capable designer. However, as theunch event approached and thepany was still struggling, I drew up a few designs for you. If they met your approval, my n was to keep refining them.¡±


    Lise portrayed her actions as being in Neil¡¯s and thepany¡¯s best interest. How could Neil not see her good intentions?


    A wave of warmth flooded his heart, but another question persisted.


    ¡°When I was looking into Katelyn, suspecting she was Iris, why didn¡¯t youe forward to clear things up?¡±


    Lise sighed deeply, her voice tinged with helplessness. ¡°I never thought Katelyn would boldly impersonate Iris. But I felt sympathy for her. If assuming my identity brought her some sce and boosted her confidence, why should I reveal her?¡±


    Neil nodded thoughtfully, his eyes locked on Lise.


    ¡°Lise, you¡¯re trulypassionate. But can you make me a promise? No matter what happens, don¡¯t keep secrets from me again. I don¡¯t want any secrets between us.¡±


    Lise lowered her head and nodded in agreement. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to mislead you. I was just scared of disappointing you.¡±


    Neil¡¯s gaze softened, filled with affection. ¡°How could I ever be disappointed in you? A powerhouse in the design industry, even your initial sketches surpass many established designers. You should believe more in your talents.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I get it now.¡±


    Lise nodded meekly, resting her head on Neil¡¯s shoulder. Her tone was gentle and mellow. ¡°I don¡¯t care much for fame or wealth. As long as I can support you, that¡¯s all I need.¡±


    Neil tenderly kissed her forehead, his love evident. ¡°I¡¯m so lucky to have you here.¡±


    At that moment, Neil felt incredibly blessed. He gently patted Lise¡¯s shoulder, his thoughts whirling with ns.


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 Chapter 224

    ?Chapter 224:


    The woman he loved was carrying his child, and even more¡ªshe was the famous Iris.


    When Neil thought about how Katelyn had deceived him, rage ignited in his eyes. Because of that, he resolved to expose Katelyn entirely.


    That evening, after she was discharged from the hospital, Katelyn went straight home to find the dysmenorrhea medicine she had prepared specifically for her condition. It had always been effective in easing her menstrual pain.


    The sudden fainting at the office hadpletely caught her off guard, as she hadn¡¯t anticipated her period arriving early, which caused her intense difort.


    After taking the medicine, Katelyn felt as if she had been instantly rejuvenated. She brought herptop into the living room and was just about to start working overtime when her phone began buzzing with a flurry of notifications.


    It appeared that something had been posted online and rapidly gone viral, causing the system to trigger frequent alerts.


    Katelyn opened the notification, and when she saw the content, she froze in shock.


    The Wheeler Group¡¯s official ount had released a statement dering that Iris had entered into a stable, long-term partnership with thepany. The statement mentioned that Iris¡¯s new designs would be showcased at an uingunch event.


    Katelyn reread the statement several times, her mind swirling with confusion.


    When had she ever worked with Neil? He didn¡¯t even know her real identity yet, so why would he issue such a strange announcement?


    As she looked closer, she noticed that the wording of the statement resembled the one issued by the Adams Group. This seemed like Neil¡¯s way of challenging Vincent in a different manner.


    Since Vincent had lifted the sanctions against Neil, his overseas ventures had steadily grown more profitable. Recently, Neil had earned a substantial amount of money.


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    This had reignited the rivalry between the twopanies, bringing them back into fiercepetition for dominance. However, Katelyn was still unable to grasp Neil¡¯s motive for releasing such a statement.


    This strategy would certainly build excitement among consumers, but if the reality of theunch didn¡¯t live up to the hype, the initial excitement could quickly turn into disappointment and bacsh.


    Katelyn doubted that Neil would be reckless enough to make such a blunder. There had to be something she didn¡¯t know, something that had pushed Neil to act so suddenly and boldly.


    In thements section, many people were buzzing with curiosity.


    ¡°Iris must have been working with the Adams Group for a while? How is she also coborating with the Wheeler now? Can one designer really work for two majorpanies at the same time?¡±


    ¡°That seems impossible. Both of thesepanies are at the top of the industry, and this time, they¡¯re fighting over some very high-profile projects. What do you make of this? It¡¯s like bothpanies are just using Iris¡¯s name for publicity.¡±


    One of thements on the Wheeler Group¡¯s official ount responded:


    ¡°Just wait until theunch event, everyone. Once you see the real Iris, you¡¯ll know whichpany has her loyalty. Her true identity wille with an enormous surprise.¡±


    This reply quickly gathered tens of thousands of likes.


    The message behind the statement was obvious. It directly challenged the Adams Group by suggesting that the Iris affiliated with the Adams Group was an imposter and that Iris was actually with the Wheeler Group.


    Asizens grasped this implication, they rushed to the Adams Group¡¯s official ount, flooding it with questions and demands for answers.


    However, the Adams Group¡¯s public rtions team stayed silent, providing no response to the Wheeler Group¡¯s provocative im. Generating buzz and building expectations would inevitably backfire if those expectations were not met in the end.


    This principle applied equally to both the Wheeler Group and the Adams Group.


    The Adams Group¡¯s refusal to reply only piquedizens¡¯ curiosity even more, sparking a flurry of discussions.


    The debate over whichpany truly had Iris¡¯s loyalty intensified, but one thing was evident¡ªwhicheverpany was caught deceiving the public would face severe bacsh.


    After reading through all the posts andments, Katelyn felt a heavy sense of unease settle over her. At that moment, her phone rang.


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 Chapter 225

    ?Chapter 225:


    As Vincent¡¯s name appeared on her phone screen, Katelyn hesitated before answering. She gripped her phone tightly and cautiously asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, have you noticed the chaos online? Does thepany n to address these rumors?¡±


    Rumors had a tendency to snowball¡ªgrowingrger and more distorted as they spread. What might start as a simple incident could easily be twisted into something unrecognizable. nder, after all, was a dangerous thing.


    Topics rted to Adams Group had spiraled into countless discussions.


    Vincent didn¡¯t directly answer her question. Instead, he asked, ¡°Has Neil figured out who you really are?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Katelyn responded instinctively, her mind racing as she tried to recall any possible mistakes. After a short pause, she added with confidence, ¡°I¡¯ve managed to deflect most of the suspicions. He shouldn¡¯t be able to uncover my identity so easily, especially since I never signed any cooperation contract with him.¡±


    Katelyn emphasized herst sentence deliberately, anxiously waiting for Vincent¡¯s response.


    She just couldn¡¯t understand what hade over Neil¡ªmaking a statement like that and involving Adams Group in yet another public rtions fiasco.


    Vincent¡¯s voice was calm and controlled. ¡°I¡¯ll take it from here.¡±


    As he slipped his phone into his pocket and moved toward the floor-to-ceiling window, Katelyn could see thete afternoon sun setting, casting long shadows across the room. The orange light illuminated his sharp, sculpted features. He gazed up at the cloudy sky, anticipating a heavy downpourter. It seemed like a storm was brewing, not just in the weather, but for Granville as well.


    His tone remained even, as if he still had everything under control.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Alright, just let me know if you need my help.¡±


    After ending the call, Katelyn leaned back on the sofa, ready to return to her sketches. However, after a moment of contemtion, she decided to send a message to Neil instead.


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    When are we going to finalize the divorce?


    Now that Lise was pregnant, she would likely urge Neil toplete the divorce with Katelyn quickly, giving Katelyn the perfect opportunity. The thought of severing all ties with Neil made her feel remarkably lighter.


    The rash decision she made years ago had led to three years filled with tears and regret. This painful experience served as a warning to all women¡ªmarriage should not be taken lightly. It was a significant decision that shaped one¡¯s future and required great care.


    Dating should be about careful assessment and judgment. Once you realize someone is not the right match, you should leave them immediately. Otherwise, falling deeply and blindly in love could result in a painful situation like hers, where divorcing felt like peeling away half of oneself.


    Neil didn¡¯t reply with a text. Instead, he called her directly. Katelyn hesitated briefly before picking up. She got straight to the point. ¡°When are we going to finalize the divorce? I¡¯d say tomorrow morning.¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice was subdued, as though he was trying to contain his anger. With his words clenched, he burst out, ¡°Do you find it amusing to toy with me? Does seeing me squirm under your maniption give you a sense of satisfaction?¡±


    Remembering the times he confronted Katelyn, Neil felt stupid. Perhaps all the inconsistencies he had uncovered had been deliberately leaked by Katelyn to provoke him into questioning her. Or maybe all along, Katelyn had been putting on an act, creating a persona as Iris to make him return to her. And to think he had been manipted for months by such a plot.


    Neil¡¯s anger erupted uncontrobly, and his voice came out in sharp, venomous tones, as if each word was forced through clenched teeth.


    ¡°Katelyn, you are nothing but a liar. How could I have taken your words seriously? How could a simple housewife like you ever be the designer Iris? You created this borate persona just to sway my decision, didn¡¯t you? Well, I¡¯m telling you now¡ªit won¡¯t¡­¡±


    Neil didn¡¯t give Katelyn a chance to speak, quickly using her of her supposed crimes. Confused, Katelyn stared at the phone. Had Neil lost his mind?


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 Chapter 226

    ?Chapter 226:


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Had she not made her desire for a divorce clear enough to Neil, or had there been some sort of misunderstanding between them? But then, as she listened to his words, a new realization struck her.


    ¡°So, who do you think Iris is?¡± she asked.


    Neil scoffed and replied, ¡°I already know the truth. Iris is¡­¡±


    His words instantly dispelled the confusion in Katelyn¡¯s mind. She reclined against the sofa, a sarcastic smile appearing on her lips. No wonder Neil seemed so certain of his stance; this also made sense of the public announcement from the Wheeler Group. She had no idea what tricks Lise had used to convince Neil of this, but for Katelyn, it was actually a stroke of good fortune since it shifted some of Neil¡¯s focus away from her.


    ¡°Believe whatever suits you. When do you intend to handle the divorce?¡± she asked.


    Neil sneered, feeling utterly manipted. Even now, Katelyn continued to try and mislead him. She really thought he was a fool.


    ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯m warning you, this is far from over,¡± he growled.


    With that, he ended the call.


    The darkened screen on Katelyn¡¯s phone reflected her face, showing a particrly distressed expression. What was going on with Neil? When would he finally go to the hospital and get his head examined? He had already slept with Lise. He even had a child with her now, yet he still refused to divorce Katelyn. Was he out of his mind?


    Katelyn took a deep breath to steady herself, then returned to her work on the designs. That evening, she managed to submit two new theme designs before she went upstairs to sleep.


    The following day, as Katelyn walked through the employee lounge on her way to her office in the morning, she noticed a group of people still discussing the coboration between Iris and the Wheeler Group. She had initially joined the design department under Iris, and now, Neil¡¯s sudden post was clearly meant to put Katelyn in the spotlight.


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    A chubby man with sses nced around nervously, then turned to the person next to him. ¡°Did you see today¡¯s trending topic? Who is the real Iris? Miss Bailey can¡¯t be working with both ourpany and the Wheeler Group at the same time, can she? How could Adams allow this kind of behavior? It¡¯s like being in two rtionships at once. Honestly, I think it¡¯s fake news. How could Mr. Adams be tricked like that? Maybe it¡¯s just a scheme they¡¯ve cooked up together.¡±


    The conversation was whispered, but not too quietly¡ªjust loud enough for Katelyn, who was standing at the corner of the corridor, to hear every word clearly. She had already anticipated this kind of reaction. After all, bothpanies were major publicly listed firms, and both ced great importance on the uing jewelry project. Any change in the situation was bound to spark endless discussions.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t pay much attention to the issue, not noticing that the edge of her sleeve was visible. The chubby colleague with sses, who had started the gossip, noticed this and immediately fell silent. His small eyes darted around, and he discreetly tugged on the sleeve of the person next to him, as if issuing a quiet warning.


    Katelyn remained silent. She simply turned and walked straight into the CEO¡¯s office. As she walked, she nced again at the trending topics. People were still intensely focused on the matter.


    Vincent was lounging on the sofa with aptop resting on hisp. When Katelyn entered, he lifted his eyes to look at her with azy expression. Meanwhile, Katelyn wasn¡¯t sure how to approach Vincent. She felt that ever since she joined the Adams Group, she had caused a lot of trouble. The recent waves of public opinion swirling around the Adams Group werergely connected to her.


    She tightened her grip on her bag without realizing it.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡ª¡±


    Before she could continue, Vincent cut her off in a calm tone.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let the online rumors affect your mood.¡±


    Katelyn looked down, feeling helpless, and said, ¡°Neil thinks Lise is Iris, which is why he made that post.¡±


    Yesterday, on the Wheeler Group¡¯s official website, they had only mentioned their coboration with Iris. However, in their second post, they hinted that the Adams Group had not hired the real Iris.


    They suggested that everything the Adams Group did was just a publicity stunt to gain attention and traffic. They even went as far as hiring online trolls to paint Vincent as a fraud.


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 Chapter 227

    ?Chapter 227:


    Vincent nodded with apparent indifference, showing little concern for the public scrutiny.


    ¡°Just focus on your work and leave the rest to me.¡±


    As Katelyn nodded in agreement, she identally caught Vincent¡¯s dark gaze. Despite his unreadable expression, Katelyn found an odd sense offort in his eyes.


    She dismissed her wandering thoughts and returned to her desk to concentrate on her work.


    Engrossed in her drawing, the only sound in the office was the stroke of her brush.


    By the time shepleted hertest theme around noon, Katelyn stretched her arms and checked her phone.


    She then realized that Vincent hadn¡¯t made any public rtions efforts regarding the recent controversy. Instead, he seemed to be letting it unfold on its own.


    It was still unclear how Lise had convinced Neil that she was Iris. However, no amount of deception could transform a counterfeit into the real thing.


    Neil¡¯s efforts were likely to intensify the controversy.


    Katelyn decided to disregard it and continued to focus on her designs.


    The next few days passed without incident. Neil was probably preupied with the conference and Lise¡¯s pregnancy, leaving him no time to hassle her.


    Just when Katelyn thought she¡¯d be left alone, a group of paparazzi ambushed her as she left work that evening. They had been hiding nearby and swarmed her as soon as she stepped outside, thrusting microphones in her face.


    Caught off guard by the sudden uproar, Katelyn¡¯s eyes flickered with worry.


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    One of the reporters at the front eagerly asked, ¡°Miss Bailey, could you respond to Wheeler Group¡¯s statement about you using someone else¡¯s identity for publicity?¡±


    Another reporter chimed in, ¡°Reliable sources im Lise Bailey is the true Iris, and you are just impersonating her. How does it feel to take over her privileged life and now attempt to steal her professional identity? Don¡¯t you feel any guilt?¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey, please respond directly. Many people online are eager for your answer.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyebrows knitted tightly together.


    She hadn¡¯t checked her phone yet, but judging by the situation, it seemed Neil and Lise had likely devised a new plot.


    She fixed a cold gaze on the reporter in front of her and said, ¡°When have I ever said I am Iris?¡±


    Her question struck at the heart of the matter, silencing the reporter, who had been vying for sensational headlines. Indeed, neither Katelyn nor the Adams Group had ever officially confirmed her identity as Iris.


    For a moment, the biting questions the reporters had prepared seemed to choke them.


    They exchanged nces, their expressions a mix of confusion and helplessness.


    ustomed to thriving on controversy, they had rushed here at the first whiff of scandal, only to have their aggressive questioning turn against them, leaving them dumbfounded.


    Upon seeing the reporters at a loss for words, Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a mocking smile.


    ¡°Whether you¡¯re here on your own or someone sent you, make sure to check your facts before you question me. Any further harassment or defamation will prompt a response from Adams Group¡¯s legal team.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s warning was sharp and effective, sparking traces of fear in some of the reporters¡¯ eyes.


    Those in the media knew well that Adams Group boasted a formidable legal team, renowned for their sess in court over the years.


    One reporter, gritting his teeth and refusing to back down, kept asking, ¡°But some sources im that¡­¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t let him finish his question but regarded him coolly. ¡°You might be better informed than I am about the reliability of what¡¯s posted online.


    In the past, the information people posted might have mostly been correct, but it often carried the author¡¯s personal bias. In the fast-paced inte era today, though, even a single phrase can be twisted in countless ways.¡±


    Without altering her expression, Katelyn gave the reporters onest look and turned to walk away, leaving them to exchange confused nces.


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 Chapter 228

    ?Chapter 228:


    When one of the reporters reviewed the storage card from the camera, it became clear that the entire interview had barelysted two minutes from beginning to end.


    A frustrated remark was made. ¡°Our goal was to gather enough material for a sensational story, but with this brief recording, we have nothing to work with. I didn¡¯t anticipate Katelyn would be so challenging to manage.¡±


    More than a dozen reporters had shown up, only to be left utterly speechless by Katelyn¡¯s answers. Every face carried a deep look of defeat.


    One of them offered a cold smile, filled with disdain. ¡°I¡¯ve caught wind that Adams Group and Wheeler Group have scheduled their press conferences for the same day. We can focus on stirring up drama instead.¡±


    After Katelyn left the office and had just walked through the door of her home, her phone buzzed. Briar¡¯s name appeared on the screen.


    She answered the call as she entered her home. ¡°Briar.¡±


    Briar¡¯s voice, rxed and unhurried, responded, ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯ve uncovered something from the investigation you asked me to do. The photographer was hired by someone named Lise, who seems to be that prominent young heiress. She¡¯s had conflicts¡­¡±


    A sharp glint appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She had already suspected Lise, but hearing her name confirmed it. Lise was certainly someone who would go to such lengths.


    Briar¡¯s tone remained calm as he asked, ¡°Would you like me to take care of it for you?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile as she slowly replied, ¡°No need. I will take care of it myself. I appreciate your help, Briar.¡± She had already decided how she would escte the situation.


    Briar responded, ¡°Alright, let me know if you need anything further.¡±


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    ¡°Thanks, Briar.¡± She ended the call, a contemtive look appearing in her eyes.


    The press conference was scheduled for tomorrow, and Wheeler Group would no doubt try to capitalize on the situation. Adams Group had originally set their press conference for tomorrow, and now Wheeler Group had intentionally picked the same day to stir up trouble.


    But Katelyn had a new question. Neil had only recentlye to believe that Lise was Iris. Could they have truly developed aplete design in such a short time? The Adams Group¡­


    The Group¡¯s press conference was set for 10 a.m., and nearly all the media outlets in the city were in attendance. Katelyn made a point of waking up early to apply light makeup. She traded her usual casual look for a form-fitting bodycon dress, with her long hair flowing down her back.


    Her subtly made-up face looked breathtakingly beautiful.


    Katelyn went to the office first. Vincent had ced significant emphasis on the press conference, organizing it a month ahead of time. When he caught sight of Katelyn¡¯s carefully chosen attire, a momentary flicker of astonishment crossed his face. Despite knowing Katelyn for quite some time, it was umon for him to see her dressed up like this.


    She was already captivating with her natural look, but with the addition of light makeup, she appeared extraordinarily morous.


    Katelyn meticulously checked the backup design files on theputer before stepping forward to ask, ¡°Mr. Adams, is there anything else that needs to be prepared?¡±


    Vincent shook his head slightly, a subtle smile ying at the corners of his lips. ¡°No.¡±


    Though a crease of concern remained on Katelyn¡¯s brow, she nodded.


    ¡°Today¡¯s press conference is likely to be an intense confrontation.¡±


    Having spent so much time with Neil in the past, she knew all too well how vindictive he could be.


    Vincent had previously dealt a severe blow to Wheeler Group, and Neil would undoubtedly see this as the perfect opportunity for payback.


    To Neil, it was the ideal moment to strike back at Adams Group. Vincent casually adjusted his cufflinks and replied with calm assurance, ¡°Do not worry. We will handle whateveres our way.¡± Hisposed demeanor implied he had everything under control.


    Katelyn chose not to add anything further.


    ¡°Let us head to the venue,¡± Vincent suggested.


    Katelyn nodded in agreement and followed him.


    The press conference setup was impressive, featuring a colossal stage, arge LED screen at the back, and thousands of seats arranged below for the media and spectators. By the time Katelyn and Vincent arrived, nearly every seat was upied, and cameras were positioned all around. They entered the venue, only a half-step apart.


    Their simultaneous arrival triggered an immediate surge of gasps from the audience.


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 Chapter 229

    ?Chapter 229:


    No media outlet had ever managed to capture a clear photograph of Vincent and Katelyn together, despite the constant swirl of rumors surrounding them.


    The only identifiable image was taken at a restaurant, while another¡ªshowing Vincent escorting Katelyn home¡ªwas so dimly lit that their faces were barely visible.


    People had doubted the legitimacy of that image, but neither Vincent nor Katelyn had ever addressed the spection. For now, they were seen together in public, standing side by side for all to witness.


    Whispers moved through the audience below the stage.


    ¡°Look at them. Their presence and appearance together just seem perfect.¡±


    ¡°A good-looking man with a beautiful woman. They¡¯re incredibly striking. In my honest opinion, it feels like these two belong together.¡±


    The murmurs, though spoken nearby, didn¡¯t reach Katelyn and Vincent on stage.


    As they settled into their seats, therge screen behind them illuminated, presenting nned graphics and text: ¡°Adams Group¡¯s New Jewelry Series Launch.¡±


    Vincent sat at the head of the table and looked around the room with a focused, steady gaze. His presence seemed to carry an unseen force, causing the loud crowd to fall silent as if a mute button had been pressed.


    ¡°The Adams Group¡¯s new productunch is starting now. You are wee to ask any questions.¡±


    His clear, firm voice resonated through the speakers.


    At the same time, the Wheeler Group¡¯sunch event had also just begun. The twopanies had chosen locations only ten minutes apart for their events.


    Neil stepped onto the stage, dressed in a gray suit, with Lise walking beside him in a gown that matched his attire. They no longer hid their connection and walked together, hand in hand, in front of all the spectators.


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    Their actions made Neil¡¯s position clear.


    Lise greeted the media with a warm smile, appearing gentle and poised.


    Because of Wheeler Group¡¯s earlier announcement, many people now believed that Iris was working with them. As soon as Neil and Lise took their seats, the reporters began firing questions.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler, can you tell us if you¡¯ll reveal who Iris is today?¡±


    The public is eager to know.¡±


    Neil wore a sly smile and answered, ¡°Yes, I will.¡±


    He turned his gaze toward Lise, as if waiting for her consent. Lise responded with a shy nod, though she felt an overwhelming sense of pride within herself.


    She knew that with the design she had ¡°created¡± for this event, she could im to be Iris without anyone doubting her. Neil¡¯s skills and reputation would be more than enough to silence any critics.


    The idea of being recognized as a top-tier designer filled her with a sense of triumph that she could hardly contain.


    She felt certain that, with this deration, Neil would never think of that other woman again.


    Neil cleared his throat and signaled for the crowd to quiet down.


    ¡°I would like to introduce Miss Lise Bailey,¡± he announced. ¡°She is the rightful heir of the Wheeler Group, my fianc¨¦e, and the true designer known as Iris.¡±


    Lise rose from her chair and gave a polite nod to the reporters in front of her.


    ¡°I am grateful that so many of you have continued to value my work, and that, even after years of remaining out of the spotlight, my name is still recognized. From this point forward, I will be working closely with Wheeler Group, and I hope you will all keep an eye on the projects we release together.¡±


    The crowd responded with audible gasps. Herposed and confident words left asting impression. Until now, Wheeler Group had been hinting at their partnership with Iris, repeatedly suggesting a coboration without ever mentioning her name. Now that the designer had directly addressed it, the reaction was far more powerful.


    ¡°So, Miss Lise Bailey, are you truly the real Iris? Can you exin what happened with the Adams Group¡¯s im that they were working with Iris? Does this mean you¡¯re partnering with bothpanies at once?¡±


    A reporter asked this question, which was exactly what Neil had wanted. He aimed to seize this moment to publicly shame Vincent.


    ¡°That idea ispletely ridiculous,¡± Neil replied. ¡°Miss Bailey is my fianc¨¦e. Why would she be working for any otherpany? As for those other statements, I believe they are nothing but cheap marketing tactics.¡±


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 Chapter 230

    Chapter 230:


    Neil¡¯s statementnded like a bombshell.


    For a moment, everyone was stunned. It was clear that an open conflict between the twopanies had begun.


    With bothpanies being top-tier, the press conference was swarming with journalists and media, many of whom were broadcasting live.


    As soon as Neil finished speaking, the reporters at Adams Group¡¯s event could no longer remain seated. Katelyn stayed on stage, presenting theirtest designs and concepts.


    Despite the sporadic questions, neither Vincent nor Katelyn paid much attention to Neil¡¯s press conference. Their primary aim was to deliver a thorough and detailed presentation of their jewelry designs to the audience.


    When a reporter raised his hand for the third time, Vincent finally took notice.


    ¡°What is the issue?¡± he inquired.


    The reporter stood up, microphone in hand, and asked loudly, ¡°Mr. Adams, Mr. Wheeler has publicly dered at their press conference that Miss Lise Bailey is indeed Iris and that she has never worked with you. He dismissed yourpany¡¯s previous statements as rumors. What is your response to this?¡±


    The reporter¡¯s words reverberated through the hall, akin to dropping ice into a pot of boiling oil. The resulting stir was immediate.


    Only Katelyn¡¯s eyes betrayed a flicker ofplexity. Was Lise out of her mind? Or were her schemes so audacious that they bordered on recklessness?


    To lie so tantly at such a high-profile event would invite unimaginable consequences if exposed.


    Yet, this was precisely what Katelyn had anticipated.


    1@?€?? ¡é??t?¨º§ñ$ ¨ª§Ú gal??ovels.??om


    Without this move, they would lose their momentum.


    Just then, Samuel leaned over and stepped onto the stage, setting a tablet in front of Vincent. The tablet disyed a live feed of Neil¡¯s press conference.


    From Katelyn¡¯s vantage point, everything was perfectly visible.


    Neil remained energetic on stage, repeatedlyuding the excellence of their designs while taking asional jabs at Adams Group. In his bid to grab more attention, he did¡­


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed with coldness, though his demeanor remained impassive. ¡°I can confirm that the true Iris is the one coborating with Adams Group. From the project¡¯s inception to the press conference, Adams Group has consistently led the way. Wheeler Group has relied on poor imitations and even deliberately timed their press conference to coincide with ours. Their motives are clear.¡±


    Vincent rarely spoke at length, and his detailed exnation seemed intended to rify the situation for those struggling to grasp it. The conflicting statements from bothpanies left everyone puzzled. Who was the genuine Iris?


    ¡°Authenticity is determined not by our ims, but by the quality of the designer¡¯s work. I¡¯m sure everyone is familiar with Iris¡¯s designs. So why notpare our jewelry designs directly?¡± Vincent¡¯s tone grew noticeably colder. Neil¡¯s tactics were bing increasingly tant and despicable, leaving a sense of disgust in the air.


    Neil, engrossed in the live broadcast of Vincent¡¯s side, was closely monitoring the situation. Confident in Lise¡¯s design, Neil was prepared to present solid evidence. Yet, he was so absorbed in the excitement of imminent victory that he failed to notice Lise¡¯s anxious demeanor.


    Vincent¡¯s calm demeanor frightened her. Had Vincent found the real Iris?


    At this juncture, there was no turning back for her. She could only watch as Neil presented thepany¡¯s new jewelry designs, with the LED screen disying a range of detailed design images.


    ¡°Now, please wee Miss Iris to present the overall design concept of these pieces.¡±


    Neil¡¯s smile radiated confidence. He was resolute in his intention to make Vincent suffer.


    Lise managed a forced smile and rose to her feet. Today, she was determined to prove she was Iris, no matter what. Disying strong psychological resilience, she swiftly regained herposure and, with confidence, began to present the various designs behind her.


    Her clear, logical speech and wless designs quickly earned apuse from the audience.


    However, as Katelyn examined the detailed drawings, her eyes widened in surprise.


    .


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    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: Have a nice week dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?


    .

 Chapter 231

    ?Chapter 231:


    Weren¡¯t those disyed on screen Katelyn¡¯s own original designs?


    After Neil had taken herputer, it seemed all her designs had been exposed. With no other option, she had to create everything from scratch again, never expecting that Lise would stoop so low as to steal her earlier work and present it as her own.


    At that moment, everything made sense to Katelyn. It exined why Neil was so certain that Lise was Iris.


    Katelyn turned her head slightly to nce at Vincent, who sat beside her. His eyes were narrowed, and his expression carried a sharp hint of coldness. He had clearly recognized the truth as well.


    They had decided to discard all their previous designs and start fresh. Otherwise, Neil could have now used them of giarism.


    Vincent¡¯s lips twisted into a smile that was cold and full of disdain.


    ¡°They¡¯re setting themselves up for disaster,¡± Vincent said quietly, though his words were soon lost in the noise of the crowd.


    Almost everyone in the audience, holding their electronic devices, was following the live stream of the Wheeler Group¡¯s event and listening to Lise¡¯s confident remarks.


    Some viewers who were familiar with Iris¡¯ style reacted with surprise.


    ¡°These distinctive design elements match Iris¡¯s style perfectly. It seems Neil was telling the truth. Lise really is the real Iris.¡±


    Others, while closely examining the designs, expressed confusion.


    ¡°Iris has remained at the top for so long because she could transform jewelry into wless works of art. But there¡¯s something strange about these pieces. Has Iris¡¯ talent faded over the years?¡±


    ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s obvious now. Neil¡¯s side is genuine, and Vincent¡¯s side is just¡­¡±


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    The murmurs grew louder and spread through the room, and soon the situation seemed to be slipping out of control.


    Katelyn¡¯s fists clenched, and anger shed in her eyes. Neil and his group had made their move first.


    She turned to Vincent and asked quietly, ¡°Mr. Adams, should we reveal their deception now?¡±


    Vincent leaned back in his chair, appearingpletely at ease even as the tension in the room increased. With a rxed expression, he calmly said, ¡°Hurry. The more impatient a person bes, the more mistakes they¡¯re likely to make.¡±


    Neil was already celebrating what he believed to be his win. He would surely be in a rush to secure his supposed victory.


    To truly destroy a person, you first needed to drive them to madness. Let them believe they were just one step away from sess, only to watch them copse. That was the real form of cruel punishment.


    Vincent nced at Samuel, who stood nearby, and gave a quiet instruction.


    ¡°Hype this up and increase the viewership of their live stream. Make sure it reaches everyone in the country.¡±


    Katelyn immediately grasped Vincent¡¯s n. Her initial anger disappeared, reced by steady determination.


    The more the lies spread, the stronger the bacsh would be when the truth came out.


    She nced at Neil¡¯s smug expression on the screen, and a sharp, cold look appeared in her eyes. Neil should enjoy his moment while he still could. Soon, no one would be there to help him.


    Meanwhile, at the other venue, Lise finished exining the design concepts for the jewelry. She let out a deep breath of relief.


    Lise had carefully prepared this script in advance to ensure everything would go ording to n. No matter how Katelyn or Vincent responded, they wouldn¡¯t be able to frame this.


    Neil couldn¡¯t hide his excitement as he looked out at the reporters in front of him.


    ¡°I have always spoken based on facts. I never rely on cheap tricks. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll all see the truth now,¡± he dered. Several reporters nodded in agreement, while others voiced their anger.


    ¡°I never thought the Adams Group would sink to such a level, trying to get ahead with lies. Being exposed like this is disgraceful,¡± one said.


    ¡°Regardless of how great their designs are, no one will want to buy them after this. If anyone holds stock in the Adams Group, they should sell it now before they suffer losses,¡± added another.


    ¡°I used to respect them, but it¡¯s shocking to see them take such desperate actions,¡± someone else muttered.


    Neil felt a surge of satisfaction watching the chaos unfold, and a darker idea formed in his mind. He would make sure Vincent faced the worst possible oue.


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 Chapter 232

    ?Chapter 232:


    Neil spoke with confidence on stage, delivering what felt like a harsh blow to the Adams Group.


    The general consensus was now that Vincent had resorted to dishonest methods against the Wheeler Group, which was utterly uneptable. Some reporters did not hesitate to challenge Vincent directly.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, you may be a significant figure, but using such disgraceful methods to mislead consumers? Isn¡¯t that crossing the line?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze turned icy as he looked at the reporter. ¡°Who exactly have I misled?¡±


    ¡°Everyone,¡± the reporter replied. ¡°Until now, we believed you were genuinely coborating with Iris, and there were high hopes for this collection. But it seems this was all just a stunt to grab attention.¡±


    Katelyn remained seated, showing no reaction to the usations. She believed Vincent had already prepared for this situation.


    An idea suddenly came to Katelyn¡¯s mind. She gestured for Samuel, who had just returned, and quietly whispered something to him.


    A hint of surprise shed across Samuel¡¯s face, but he nodded and slipped away without a word. No one else seemed to notice their brief interaction, as they were all focused on the ongoingmotion.


    As the first reporter finished speaking, others quickly followed, standing up to voice their criticisms against Vincent.


    Vincent continued to show no emotion, acting as though he waspletely unaffected.


    ¡°Everyone has seen what Wheeler Group has presented, but it seems fair to show what mypany has created. Maybe then you¡¯ll start questioning who the real Iris is,¡± Vincent announced.


    Explore fresh tales at g aln ov el s ;


    As he finished speaking, therge screen behind him began to disy the new designs the Adams Group was releasing. Before even the first design had fully appeared, a disturbance broke out at the entrance.


    Vincent and Katelyn turned to see Neil and Lise standing in the doorway.


    The two entered the room with the air of victorious champions, eager to unt their recent sess. Their arrival added fuel to the already chaotic scene, escting it into a frenzy.


    Journalists and photographers rushed toward them, capturing as many shots as they could.


    Neil shed a slight grin, his eyes fixed on Vincent. He remembered how Vincent had once tried to crush him, nearly forcing hispany into bankruptcy. Now, he saw this as the perfect opportunity to get his revenge, striking Vincent while he appeared vulnerable.


    Lise stood beside him, her face adorned with a self-satisfied smile. Her expression radiated confidence.


    She wondered how Katelyn would manage to bounce back from this blow. Most importantly, she believed this situation would finally force Vincent to see her true abilities. He would finally recognize the difference between her and Katelyn¡ªthe authentic talent and the imitation.


    For Vincent to choose Katelyn instead of her, without even giving her a second thought, Lise could only think of him as aplete fool.


    Lise spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Mr. Adams, I understand how important this project is to you and recognize the time and money you¡¯ve invested in it. But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to spread lies and mislead consumers. I have never worked with yourpany. So why are there so many rumors circting about me?¡±


    As she spoke, she confidently embraced the identity of Iris.


    She lifted her head high, like a peacock unting its feathers, reveling in the attention and admiration from those around her. Young, sessful, an heiress with a wealthy background, engaged to a prominent man, and iming the status of a top designer¡ªLise¡¯s self-assurance had reached new heights.


    She felt as if she had finally crushed Katelynpletely beneath her.


    Lise looked straight at Katelyn, her voice filled with a mix of false sympathy and arrogance. Speaking in the condescending tone she always used, she said, ¡°And as for you, Katelyn, I warned you before¡ªvanity is not something you should chase. You¡¯ve spent your life building yourself up with lies, but do you realize that one lie can lead to a lifetime of deceit? This time, you chose to impersonate me, and I¡¯m willing to overlook it. But what if you had pretended to be another designer? You¡¯d be facing awsuit then.¡±


    Lise¡¯s ¡°sincere¡± words almost made Katelynugh out loud.


    She found it more and more apparent that Neil and Lise were made for each other; they were always ready to perform for an audience.


    Especially now, with Lise pretending to be Iris. Katelyn rose from her seat, locking her eyes directly on Lise with a sharp, questioning look. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re truly Iris?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 233

    ?Chapter 233:


    Katelyn¡¯s demeanor was sharp, filled with deep suspicion.


    It seemed her eyes could see through any deception, causing Lise to feel a surge of fear, as though her secrets were exposed to Katelyn.


    She tried to maintain herposure, offering a calm, collected smile.


    ¡°If it¡¯s not me, then who? You?¡±


    Her response was clever, deftly shifting the focus back onto her user.


    Though the confrontation between the two was hidden beneath the surface, the air was thick with tension. Everyone present could feel the undercurrents, and the sound of camera shutters clicking filled the room.


    Katelyn said slowly and purposefully, ¡°I know Iris¡¯ work well. And I¡¯ve reviewed everything shown today. At best, these are mere imitations¡ªor better yet, cheap copies.¡±


    Her statement resounded like thunder, leaving everyone in shock.


    The terms ¡°imitations¡± and ¡°cheap copies¡± stunned the crowd, especially those who had been admiring Lise¡¯s designs moments earlier. Their expressions turned to disbelief.


    Could the designs they had admired actually be wed? Did this mean Lise had copied someone else¡¯s work?


    The word ¡°imitation¡± triggered another question¡ªhad Lise copied someone else¡¯s work?


    Katelyn¡¯s critique struck a painful chord with Lise.


    Neil quickly intervened to defend Lise, his gaze icy as he confronted Katelyn.


    ¡°Do you not see the irony in your words? Everyone acknowledges Lise¡¯s work as wless, yet you, who have appropriated someone else¡¯s identity, dare to criticize her? Youbel her creations as imitations and substandard¡ªso what does that make your own work?¡±


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    Katelyn didn¡¯t even look at Neil. Instead, she turned straight to therge screen behind her and pressed the y button to continue the slideshow.


    The full design drawings, previously interrupted by Neil, were now disyed prominently for all to see.


    Katelyn allowed each design to linger on the screen for a full half-minute, giving everyone ample time to scrutinize them closely.


    The artistry and care captivated the audience, plunging them into stunned silence.


    The room fell quiet, everyone deeply engrossed in the visual disy.


    Exceptional design always delivered a powerful impact, leaving viewers speechless with its sheer beauty and wlessness. While Lise¡¯s designs didn¡¯t achieve that effect, Katelyn¡¯s work did.


    Standing next to the screen, Katelyn made sure she wasn¡¯t blocking the view. Vincent, watching her with a slight smile, admired her quietly, his eyes conveying deep appreciation. His fingers tapped softly on the table, reflecting his belief that Katelyn had yet to be fully recognized.


    For nearly ten minutes, the audience was mesmerized by the breathtaking designs being showcased.


    Eventually, someone whispered in amazement, ¡°Such beautiful designs.¡±


    This remark eased the room¡¯s tension, prompting a round of apuse from several attendees.


    In a side-by-sideparison, it became evident that Katelyn¡¯s designs, both in concept and execution, outshone Lise¡¯s.


    While Lise¡¯s designs were notable, they seemedckluster in contrast.


    The difference was starkly obvious when ced side by side.


    Katelyn had Samuel adjust the timing, ensuring that Lise¡¯s and her designs were disyed simultaneously on the screen. This unavoidableparison highlighted the disparities even more clearly.


    Lise¡¯s face grew paler by the second, and her growing sense of dread was clear. Danger was on the horizon.


    Katelyn faced Lise and Neil calmly, her voice steady. ¡°These are my designs. So, when I say her work is a mere imitation, do you still have a problem with that?¡±


    Her voice was soft but carried a confidence so bold it almost seemed arrogant. It was as if she had pped both Neil and Lise across the face.


    Lise, iming to be the brilliant designer Iris, was clearly outmatched by Katelyn, a rtively unknown designer.


    If the Adams Group had not recently announced Katelyn as the new head of their design department, her name might have remained obscure. But now¡­


    After this press conference, Iris would be dethroned from her pedestal once and for all.


    Neil and Lise were visibly shaken, clearly not expecting this turn of events.


    Just then, someone in the audience eximed, ¡°Katelyn¡¯s designs really resemble Iris¡¯ style!¡±


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 Chapter 234

    ?Chapter 234:


    The unexpected voice broke through the noise, capturing everyone¡¯s attention once more.


    Just moments earlier, they had been astonished by Katelyn¡¯s impressive work, but no one seemed to notice how closely her style resembled Iris¡¯.


    In fact, when theypared the designs, Katelyn¡¯s work appeared even more simr to Iris¡¯ than the woman iming to be Iris herself.


    The crowd began to whisper among themselves.


    Many in the audience weren¡¯t just reporters or members of the media; they were also individuals who hade specifically because of Iris¡¯ name.


    These sharp-eyed observers quickly noticed the simrities in style.


    Lise¡¯s expression briefly faltered, but she quickly adopted a look of wounded disappointment.


    ¡°Katelyn, even now, you refuse to ept your mistakes? Why do you continue down this path?¡± she asked.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes revealed nothing but disdain as she answered coolly, ¡°What mistake are you using me of?¡± Her brows furrowed slightly, anger shing in her eyes. This insolent woman wouldn¡¯t back down! Why did Katelyn always have to challenge her? Why couldn¡¯t she just disappear?


    Lise quickly regained herposure and spoke with a self-righteous tone. ¡°Everyone here noticed that your design style is exactly like mine. You visited my house once, and myputer was on my desk. You must have copied my designs at that time. You know that giarism can destroy your career, so why do you keep doing this?¡±


    While standing off to the side and watching, Neil felt a dark sense of unease creeping in. Why did it seem like things were starting to slip out of his control?


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    Unable to shake this feeling, he nced over at Vincent, who appearedpletely unbothered by the unfolding situation. Instead, Vincent¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Katelyn, and that unwavering attention intensified Neil¡¯s anger.


    He wanted to see if Vincent would still stand by Katelyn when she was exposed as a giarist.


    He was certain that if that happened, Katelyn woulde crawling back to him¡ªbroken and desperate for forgiveness. With this thought in mind, Neil decided to join the fray.


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey, this is your chance. If you admit your wrongdoing now, maybe the public will forgive you and give you a chance to make things right,¡± he dered.


    Katelyn¡¯s smile widened, and soon she burst intoughter.


    Herugh was clear and bright, like the sound of ringing bells.


    Unlike Neil¡¯s angry tone, her voice was calm and almost serene. She pped her hands, her eyes filled with disdain, and said, ¡°I have to admit, the two of you really are a perfect pair.¡±


    Lise and Neil were caught off guard by Katelyn¡¯s sudden remark, unsure of what she meant.


    Katelyn then continued, ¡°Two scheming viins¡ªmade just for one another.¡±


    Thatment was almost enough to make Lise lose her temper.


    How dare this insolent woman insult her so openly?


    She struggled to keep her anger in check, gritting her teeth as she responded, ¡°Katelyn, we¡¯re only doing this to help you. Are you truly willing to ruin your entire future for a fleeting moment of fake glory? You have stolen my design, and it¡¯s exposed, yet you still refuse to admit what you¡¯ve done?¡±


    Vincent was sittingfortably in his chair. He shifted slightly and turned his gaze toward the furious Lise.


    Watching the situation unfold was bing more entertaining by the second.


    He decided not to step in, trusting that Katelyn could handle things herself.


    Of course, if anything did go wrong, he was ready to step in and set things right.


    But he knew that wouldn¡¯t be necessary.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were filled with clear disdain as she slowly wagged her finger.


    ¡°Did you not hear what the person in the audience just pointed out? They said my design style is almost identical to hers. But since you¡¯re not the real Iris, what right do you have to use me of copying her?¡±


    Her voice took on a cold, cutting edge as she finished, like a knife slicing through the tension in the room.


    Lise¡¯s heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, she felt a wave of fear that her secret had beenpletely exposed.


    But she quickly dismissed the thought. It was just her nerves ying tricks on her.


    Her designs were on disy for everyone to see, serving as solid proof of her im to be Iris.


    Katelyn turned her attention to therge screen and gave Samuel a meaningful look. He immediately understood and changed the slideshow to disy the designs that Lise had presented.


    These were originally Katelyn¡¯s creations¡ªones she had crafted with great care¡ªbut Lise had altered them to make them nearly unrecognizable.


    Katelyn¡¯s distinct style was so unique that, in Lise¡¯s attempt to hide her theft, she had awkwardly made a few modifications. These changes only ended up diminishing the quality of the designs.


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 Chapter 235

    ?Chapter 235:


    A flicker of disappointment passed through Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Such wonderful creations, yet you¡¯ve destroyed them,¡± she said. Her words left Lise puzzled, but she instinctively retorted,


    ¡°These were my creations from the start.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡±


    Seeing Lise persist in her denial, Katelyn said nothing more and promptly brought out her original design drafts.


    The two sets of designs wereid side by side, making the differences stark for everyone to see.


    Katelyn¡¯s designs were on the left, and Lise¡¯s on the right. Both designs shared a strikingly simr concept and structure, differing only slightly in details.


    This clear disy allowed the audience to easily judge the quality of each design, instantly revealing which was superior and which wascking.


    Lise¡¯splexion turned pale, her breathing grew uneven, and she unconsciously clenched her fists.


    How had Katelyn gotten these original drafts?


    Wasn¡¯t theputer supposed to be Iris¡¯? How did Katelyn end up with these?


    Lise¡¯s expression turned somber as she recognized that she had seen these original designs before.


    That exined why the designs Lise had presented seemed familiar to him. It turned out Lise had secretly modified these and passed them off as her own.


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened, as though she wanted to defend herself, but she found herself speechless.


    Katelyn paid her no mind and kept showcasing theparative images.


    Step into fiction with g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s


    For every design Lise presented, Katelyn had the original.


    Of the twenty or so designs, none were Lise¡¯s genuine creations. They were all giarized.


    The audience, sharp and discerning, quickly grasped what was being demonstrated.


    Those who had supported Lise now reversed their views.


    They understood why Katelyn had called Lise¡¯s work ¡°cheap copies,¡± and theyprehended her earlier expression of grief over the ruined creations.


    The excellent original designs had been tarnished by Lise¡¯s modifications.


    After presenting all the images, Katelyn didn¡¯t rush to speak; she simply observed Lise with a faint smile, evidently waiting for her to exin herself.


    She was intrigued to see what kind of oundish excuse Lise would offer.


    Furious, Lise pointed at Katelyn and, through clenched teeth, said, ¡°So you¡¯re indeed the one who stole my designs. When I caught onto your ns, I modified the originals to handle the situation, and now you use me of giarism? Isn¡¯t that absurd?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile widened, her eyes curving into crescents. ¡°Lise, it seems you won¡¯t admit defeat until you see the repercussions. I¡¯ve never seen a designer ruin their designs so thoroughlypared to the originals.¡±


    Despite the evidence, Lise continued to deny any giarism. Her adamant denial caused some previously skeptical audience members to doubt again. ¡°I was pressed for time, so I had to make some quick adjustments, but the designs are truly mine.¡±


    ¡°You seem to only learn the hard way,¡± Katelyn said pointedly.


    At that moment, the screen changed to disy email exchanges between Katelyn and Samuel.


    She had arranged for Samuel to prepare this, intending to reveal Lise¡¯s deceit inly.


    Vincent looked at the screen, his expression one of dawning realization.


    It seemed Katelyn had foreseen these events and prepared meticulously.


    As the email records were disyed, Lise felt a surge of panic, as though a hand was clenching her heart, making it difficult for her to breathe.


    Lise had a strong sense that once Katelyn disclosed the emails, she would lose everything she had worked for!


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 Chapter 236

    ?Chapter 236:


    The screen showcased a high-definition 4K disy, making the email¡¯s timestamp¡ªthree months earlier¡ªclear to everyone present.


    Katelyn casually disyed a series of images, revealing her original designs, eachbeled with its title and overall design concept.


    The emails, including Vincent¡¯s replies, contained his feedback and suggestions on these designs.


    A review of the timeline showed that Katelyn and Vincent¡¯s coboration began shortly after Katelyn¡¯s breakup with Neil.


    Neil, his fists clenched, was too stunned to speak.


    He had suspected that Katelyn and Vincent were nning a coboration when he had seen them together.


    After much confusion, Neil finally understood everything. Katelyn was indeed Iris, and Lise was merely a deceitful imposter!


    ¡°I started working with Mr. Adams three months ago, as you can see from the timestamps. The emails also outline my design ideas and overall concepts. If anyone doubts,pare my ideas to Lise¡¯s, and you¡¯ll find even more intriguing differences.¡±


    Her designs sprung from spontaneous inspiration. Every detail in her work, from each tiny gem to every line, was infused with her distinct ideas and could be clearly exined to the audience.


    In contrast, Lise¡¯s exnations were just attempts to retrofit existing designs, which might seem credible at first but fell apart under scrutiny.


    By this point, the audience had no doubts left.


    Lise swayed unsteadily. She had once stood confidently, but now she was engulfed by fear.


    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s is your fiction sanctuary


    A single thought dominated her mind¡ª it was over. Completely over.


    She had hoped to use this event to establish her own reputation, but instead, Katelyn had unveiled her deceit right there in front of everyone.


    She had toyed with the idea that Katelyn might be Iris but ultimately dismissed it.


    After all, how could Katelyn, a mere housewife, be Iris?


    The dread of imminent ruin drove Lise to keep arguing, saying, ¡°Maybe, maybe you took my designs beforehand and presented them to Mr. Adams as if they were yours.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with scorn.


    ¡°Then bring out yourputer records and check the timestamps on the designs. As a designer, you wouldn¡¯t have failed to save your original drafts, would you?¡±


    Lise was about to say that she had identally deleted all her records.


    However, Katelyn¡¯s casualment cornered her, leaving no room for escape.


    She gritted her teeth and stubbornly retorted, ¡°Myputer had issues before and was sent for repairs. I don¡¯t have ess to it right now.¡±


    Then, Vincent¡¯s cold and somewhat mocking voice filled the air, ¡°Miss Bailey¡¯s excuses are quite weak.¡±


    His voice was slow and measured, but his stare was as heavy as lead.


    Katelyn looked at the still-puzzled audience and gently rified, ¡°Since finding out I was not truly a Bailey, I haven¡¯t been back to the Bailey residence. So, I can¡¯t have stolen any designs from Lise¡¯sputer. How these drafts ended up with Lise is a question for Mr. Wheeler. Could he have had someone steal myputer just to give the designs to Lise to replicate?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s question turned the spotlight directly on Neil. If Neil hadn¡¯t orchestrated the theft of herputer, how could Lise have had the chance to giarize?


    All eyes in the room shifted to Neil.


    His face was stern and unyielding. ¡°The thief who took yourputer has been caught. Don¡¯t try to pin this on me.¡±


    Katelyn responded with a sarcastic smile, ¡°Whether he was truly responsible or a fall guy, Mr. Wheeler, I¡¯m sure you know the truth.¡±


    She didn¡¯t possess concrete proof and chose not to linger on that point, but she wanted everyone to understand how the drafts might have reached Lise.


    Lise clenched her fists, her eyes brimming with deep resentment.


    She wanted to retaliate but found herself speechless. The tables had turned, and even with Katelyn¡¯s clear exnations, some remained baffled.


    Suddenly, a reporter stood up, microphone in hand, and boldly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the point of all this? In the end, aren¡¯t both of you just giarizing Iris¡¯s designs? Two thieves¡ªdoes it really matter who stole first and who stole second?¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 237

    ?Chapter 237:


    Katelyn nced up at the reporter who had shouted the question, her head tilted slightly with a yful look that carried a hint of confusion. ¡°Couldn¡¯t you catch that? These designs are all mine. That only means that I am Iris.¡±


    Thetter part of her statement sent yet another shockwave through the room.


    Throughout the day, the scene had unfolded in twist after twist. First, Lise imed to be Iris. Then, she was exposed as a giarist. Now, Katelyn was dering herself to be Iris.


    The ongoing back-and-forth between the two had left the audience more bewildered than ever.


    Neil¡¯s pupils narrowed, and fury surged within him, threatening to overflow.


    He should have trusted his instincts and acted sooner to corner Katelyn. Now, she was openly dering herself as Iris!


    Lise, teetering on the edge of a breakdown, was consumed by the fear of losing everything.


    With her voice trembling in hysteria, she shouted, ¡°You are lying! I am the real Iris! Katelyn, you stole my identity once before, and I will not let you do it again!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes hardened. That usation had wounded her too many times before.


    Though those wounds had healed and hardened into thick armor, hearing those words still sent a shiver through her heart. Katelyn advanced toward Lise, her steps measured andposed, while Lise grew increasingly frantic and uneasy. In that moment, Katelyn¡¯s presencepletely eclipsed Lise¡¯s.


    ¡°I am a victim too, but everyone insists on making me the viin,¡± Katelyn continued. ¡°I was just a baby back then¡ªhow could I have known? I wasn¡¯t even their biological daughter. Mrs. Bailey could not recognize me, and finally reuniting with you, someone had to be med for all this. So, they chose me to bear that burden.¡±


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    For the first time, Katelyn addressed the issue publicly, after letting it fester for so long.


    Before, whenever the media probed for her thoughts, Katelyn always sidestepped their questions.


    There was a time when she truly believed it was all her fault.


    If not for her, everything might have followed its rightful course. She would never have be the Bailey family¡¯s daughter, nor would she have been tied to Neil in marriage.


    It was as if fate had dealt her a cruel hand, with one mistake setting off a chain of events that spiraled beyond her control.


    Until one crucial moment, everything unraveled, and she was brutally cast down from the pinnacle of sess to the lowest point of despair. The sudden fall and the apanying pain nearly broke her.


    But she endured.


    Katelyn even found a sliver of sce, grateful that this trial came in her twenties and notter in life.


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed as she inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. ¡°But the fact remains, you stole my life. If not for you, I would have grown up with my parents, enjoying the privileges of wealth, and I wouldn¡¯t have faced all this misery. Neil should have been my husband, not yours!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 238

    ?Chapter 238:


    ¡°Are you really going to hold a newborn responsible for everything that happened?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned even colder.


    After discovering the mix-up, she thought deeply about where the mistake could have originated, and it seemed likely that it had happened at the hospital. Indeed, once Sharon had taken her home, she was so well-protected that a switch there seemed out of the question.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained neutral. Having been exposed to the harsh realities of human nature, she had be quite discerning.


    ¡°If me is to be assigned, it should be directed at Mrs. Bailey for failing to recognize her child. I¡¯m merely a diversion for your wrath.¡±


    Lise looked utterly shocked. She had never expected Katelyn to see things this way. Wasn¡¯t Katelyn supposed to ept the me and live out her days in regret and self-me?


    Everyone present was engrossed in the conversation, but only Vincent caught Katelyn¡¯s words, letting out a discreet sigh of relief. It was as if she had finally shed a great weight, and now her steps could be lighter than ever.


    Unnoticed by the others, a brief smile crossed his face. He was about to witness Katelyn as she truly was¡ªunaffected by any external pressures.


    Meanwhile, Neil had a realization.


    His fate was now inseparably linked to Lise¡¯s. Both their reputations were hanging in the bnce. If Lise werebeled a thief, it would greatly affect his business as well. He could not let this scenario y out.


    Even if it meant pinning everything on Katelyn, even if she were the actual Iris, it would only mean a small injustice for herpared to the loss he might suffer. Neil quickly moved to defend Lise.


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    ¡°Katelyn, mere words can¡¯t transform a falsehood into truth. The evidence shows that Lise is the genuine Iris, and you are the impostor.¡±


    Neil¡¯s words ignited a flicker of gratitude in Lise.


    She hadn¡¯t misjudged him. Despite all odds, he was unwaveringly supportive.


    A subtle feeling of guilt began to surface within Lise.


    She briefly nced at her abdomen but quickly reced the uncertainty with a firm expression. Nothing would stop her from getting what she wanted.


    Noticing the unwavering stance of the two, Vincent casually interjected, ¡°I remember that Iris has an agent, Aimee Stephens, who has been handling things for her throughout the years. Shouldn¡¯t she be here for such an important asion?¡± His questionpletely shattered their facade.


    Lise lost herposure, cursing herself for forgetting about Aimee. Struggling to find an exnation, she turned to Neil for support. At this critical moment, he was her only ally.


    Neil cursed himself for missing such a crucial detail. Everyone knew Aimee was Iris¡¯s capable agent, and her absence wasn¡¯t a viable excuse. He quickly concocted a believable exnation, ¡°Aimee had to return to her hometown a few days ago, so she couldn¡¯t make it.¡±


    Katelyn marveled at their ability to twist the facts. She picked up her phone, dialed a number, and stared intently at Neil. Deliberately and clearly, she said, ¡°Aimee, get here quickly before someone starts spreading rumors that you¡¯ve gone back to your hometown.¡±


    She made sure her voice carried through the microphone for everyone to hear. It was a decisive move.


    By now, Neil and Lise were sure that Katelyn was the real Iris. Their previous ims had been desperate attempts to mislead the audience. But with Aimee¡¯s impending arrival, their fabrications were about to unravel.


    Despite their frantic efforts to prevent Aimee from showing up, they couldn¡¯t stop the sharply dressed figure from confidently approaching the stage.


    When Aimee appeared, all of Iris¡¯s fans cheered loudly. Long-time supporters knew that Aimee had been instrumental in defending Iris from numerous attacks early in her career, solidifying a bond that was more familial than professional.


    Once Aimee reached the stage, she embraced Katelyn. They spoke in hushed tones, audible only to each other. ¡°You didn¡¯t want me on stage initially because you were setting up this moment to reveal their deceit, weren¡¯t you?¡±


    At such a critical event like a press conference, it was unthinkable for Aimee not to be there.


    Katelyn had nned to make Lise believe she had deceived the audience, which would only make their eventual unveiling more dramatic.


    This approach was central to Katelyn¡¯s strategy¡ªstaying one step ahead of Neil and Lise, ensuring they yed right into her hands.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes twinkled with suppressed amusement as she whispered, ¡°Isn¡¯t today¡¯s drama quite the spectacle?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s utterlypelling. Watch as we unveil the truth about these frauds,¡± Aimee responded, rising to address the energized crowd.


    ¡°Hello, everyone, I¡¯m Aimee.¡± Her introduction drew an even louder cheer.


    She then fixed her gaze on Neil and Lise, microphone in hand, and asked, ¡°Tell me again, did I return to my hometown? Why didn¡¯t I know about this?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 239

    ?Chapter 239:


    Aimee¡¯s rhetorical questionnded like an unseen blow, cutting sharply across Neil and Lise.


    Even as Aimee stepped onto the stage, they still clung to the feeble belief that public opinion could ruin Katelyn.


    But the truth struck them with brutal force.


    Neil¡¯s fists tightened, knuckles cracking under the pressure, and he locked eyes with Katelyn, his stare cold and unyielding.


    ¡°This was all your doing, wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    The representative for Iris had been noticeably absent from such a critical press conference at the beginning.


    Though some in the audience had noticed Aimee¡¯s absence, Neil had dismissed it as insignificant.


    Now, it was obvious that Katelyn had meticulously set the stage, waiting for them to falsely im Iris¡¯ identity, only to shatter their facade with one crushing revtion.


    Regret flooded Lise, draining the color from her face as panic settled in her eyes.


    With the crowd of reporters and attendees, the story would soon spread across the inte.


    She would be forever marked as a fraud.


    Lise¡¯s regret wasn¡¯t in pretending to be Iris, but in not silencing Katelyn sooner.


    If only she had dealt with Katelyn before, none of this would have happened.


    Katelyn met Neil¡¯s re with wide, innocent eyes, a subtle smile curling at the corner of her lips.


    ¡°Exactly what did I n? I foresee the future, predicting that Lise would masquerade as Iris today?¡±


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    Her tone was airy, yetced with a biting undertone.


    If they were bold enough to fabricate lies, they should have been prepared to confront the aftermath when those lies unraveled.


    Katelyn found herself thinking that once this was behind her, she might finally enjoy some tranquility.


    After all, with Lise having ensnared Neil sopletely in her deceit, it seemed unlikely she would have the energy to bother Katelyn again.


    The massive screen behind them abruptly switched to a live feed, zooming in on Neil and Lise, amplifying their expressions to an exaggerated degree. At this point, any attempt at defense was pointless. Their reactions spoke volumes.


    Vincent admired Katelyn¡¯s profile, a subtle smile ying at the corner of his lips. Once again, Katelyn had exceeded his expectations. Partnering with her had proven to be the best decision of Vincent¡¯s business career.


    Aimee, microphone in hand, surveyed Neil and Lise with a mocking look.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Running out of words, or struggling to maintain the charade of being Iris?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened further. This was the most humiliating moment he had ever faced.


    Aimee¡¯s smile widened with increasing mockery as she approached Katelyn and spoke loudly for everyone to hear.


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce someone to you. Miss Katelyn Bailey here is the true designer Iris. We have stood together through countless challenges to reach this point. Her brilliance cannot be imed by mere words from anyone else.¡±


    These words touched Katelyn deeply. From obscurity to the heights of sess, the hardships and struggles were known only to those who had endured them. In moments when giving up seemed inevitable, their mutual support had been their strength. The apuse and des they received were truly theirs.


    Katelyn moved over and embraced Aimee warmly, resting her head on Aimee¡¯s shoulder, her eyes misting slightly.


    ¡°Thank you for always being there for me.¡±


    Katelyn, deeply passionate about design, preferred to stay away from managing people or dealing with challenging coborators. Aimee took care of all these aspects, focusing on creating the optimal environment for Katelyn¡¯s creativity.


    Aimee gently patted Katelyn, her smile warm.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not get too sentimental on such a great day.¡±


    Katelyn nodded enthusiastically, taking a deep breath to steady her emotions.


    ¡°I¡¯m just feeling a bit emotional, thinking about how tough our journey has been.¡±


    Aimee¡¯s smile was gentle and reassuring.


    ¡°But now, we¡¯re at the top.¡±


    Their heartfelt friendship and mutual respect touched the audience deeply, leading to a resounding round of apuse.


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 Chapter 240

    ?Chapter 240:


    Katelyn and Aimee, through their actions, demonstrated to everyone that true friendship was just as precious.


    Lise was boiling with anger, her teeth gritted in frustration. If stares had the power to destroy, Katelyn would have been nothing more than a pile of dust. That detestable traitor! Lise fumed silently.


    Katelyn shifted her gaze to Lise, her eyes going from warm to icy cold. ¡°Lise, this matter is resolved, but there is another we need to discuss.¡±


    Lise¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and dread flooded over her. What more could Katelyn have on her?


    These words also captured the attention of everyone around them.


    Katelyn locked eyes with Lise, enunciating each word distinctly. ¡°You had someone shadow me and secretly record my private life, then maliciously edited the footage to stir up online harassment against Vincent and me, using us of having an illicit affair.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed, suddenly too nervous to meet Katelyn¡¯s stare. She faltered, her voice tinged with disbelief.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°You always have to learn the hard way.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression was frosty. She had expected Lise¡¯s denial and chose this moment to reveal her misconduct.


    While public opinion could be managedter, if the initial reaction was strong enough, even the most powerful PR team couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    As Katelyn spoke, therge screen behind her shifted again. It showed a man, his face obscured.


    Although his features were hidden, his voice was clear. ¡°I was paid by Lise Bailey to secretly record Katelyn¡¯s private life and deliverpromising material. Themunications were through emails, and I can provide all records of our transactions and the emails exchanged. I am ready to assume full responsibility for my statements.¡±


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    This revtion stunned everyone present.


    Vincent also nced at the screen, his expression growing stern.


    He and Samuel looked into the matter, uncovering some details with additional clues.


    It appeared there was more than one person involved in tracking Katelyn. Another individual was using much more sophisticated tactics, possibly linked to an international organization known for its covert operations. Samuel had spent a week following these clues but had yet to identify the mastermind.


    Given the seriousness of these activities, Vincent had chosen not to tell Katelyn about them yet. He nned to inform her once he had more definitive information.


    The release of this video made it clear why any public interaction between Katelyn and Vincent attracted such heavy media and public attention. Even their casual dinners were often misconstrued by the media. In contrast, despite frequent public outings and affectionate disys between Neil and Lise, these events barely caught the media¡¯s eye.


    The underlying problem was exposed¡ªLise had been manipting public opinion to damage Katelyn¡¯s and Vincent¡¯s reputations.


    Neil¡¯s expression showed his shock. He was taken aback that Lise had never discussed such a crucial issue with him. Lise quickly interjected, ¡°I¡¯ve never done any of these things. This is just malicious nder. Katelyn, if you keep making these groundless ims, I will definitely sue you.¡±


    A hint of irony shed in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She had shed with Lise many times, yet Lise still hadn¡¯t grasped her approach and style. Without solid and precise evidence, Katelyn wouldn¡¯t have yed her hand.


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s look at more tangible proof.¡±


    The screen shifted again, now showing a series of transaction records. Each video captured of Katelynted a payout of fifty thousand dors from Lise.


    Although Lise had attempted to obscure her identity in these transactions, how could she possibly escape the scrutiny of a skilled hacker?


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 Chapter 241

    ?Chapter 241:


    Every piece of evidence Katelyn presented was clear and irrefutable, leaving Lise with no way to argue against it, no matter how hard she tried.


    Her face turned pale, and her body shook, as if the slightest breeze might knock her over.


    At that moment, the only thought running through Lise¡¯s mind was that everything was ruined. It was all over for her. She feltpletely defeated.


    Everything she had carefully built was now in ruins. Her well-maintained image and the future she had nned were now subject to endless judgment and criticism. Even worse, she had manipted Neil to elevate her status.


    If he decided to abandon her too, she would be left with nothing.


    Lise¡¯s hands trembled as she looked over at Neil. She saw the look of disappointment in his eyes, just as she had feared.


    In desperation, she reached out and grabbed his hand.


    ¡°Neil, you have to trust me. I swear, I¡¯m innocent. Someone is trying to frame me on purpose. Are you going to doubt me as well?¡± she pleaded.


    Losing everything would be hard enough, but the idea of losing Neil was something she could never ept. It wasn¡¯t love that drove her, but the benefits she stood to gain.


    Being Mrs. Wheeler promised far more advantages than she could ever hope for as merely the Bailey family heiress. Every move she had made was designed to capture Neil¡¯s favor.


    Under normal circumstances, Neil would have responded to Lise with sympathy,forting her and assuring her of his support. But this time, he stepped back and pulled away from her touch. He remained silent, but the disappointment and hurt in his eyes only made Lise more desperate.


    Her voice shook as she tried to catch his attention again. ¡°Neil¡­¡±


    Discover new content now g?ln¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m


    Neil gave Katelyn a long, hard look, seeming to hold back words he wanted to say, before turning his focus back to Lise. ¡°From start to finish, you had everything under your control. This time, I have to admit, you¡¯ve beaten me.¡±


    He could clearly see now that Vincent had mostly stayed in the background, just setting up the scene for Katelyn to take the lead.


    Neil and Lise had been nothing more than puppets in their twisted y.


    Every twist and turn, every argument Lise tried to make, it all seemed like Katelyn had anticipated it from the start.


    Neil had always seen Vincent as his main enemy, but he hadpletely underestimated Katelyn, thinking she was just a simple housewife who couldn¡¯t cause him any real problems.


    That narrow-minded thinking hade back to p him hard.


    Katelyn stared at him with icy disdain, her red lips barely moving as she said, ¡°You brought this on yourselves.¡±


    Barely holding back the rage building inside him, Neil countered in a cold tone, ¡°See about that.¡±


    With those words, he angrily shook off his sleeve and stormed out of the room.


    Lise hurried after him.


    The spectacle, which had dragged on for nearly three hours, finally wrapped up. Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but savor the taste of victory. She had finally paid them back for all the pain and humiliation they had put her through.


    The productunch had turned into an unbelievable sess. Vincent¡¯s earlier marketing efforts had already brought in huge profits, but they were nothingpared to the chaos of two ¡°Iris¡± figures shing on stage and the CEO of Wheeler Group storming in to stir things up even more.


    After the press conference ended, Katelyn went back to thepany with Vincent.


    The footage from the live stream was quickly edited into countless short clips, which were shared widely. Each one racked up tens of millions of views.


    The Adams Group¡¯s stock shot up in a matter of moments. It was obvious this was a clear and decisive win, with no doubt about the oue.


    Katelyn leaned back in her chair and stretched with a sigh. ¡°Finally. That tough fight is over. I can actually rx now.¡±


    She had been pushing herself like a machine, working nonstop. Now that she could finally pause, she felt aches and pains all over.


    She¡¯d need to get some medicine when she got home to help with the soreness.


    In an amused tone, Vincent said, ¡°We¡¯ve set up a celebration¡­¡±


    ¡°A dinner party for tonight.¡±


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 Chapter 242

    ?Chapter 242:


    A celebration dinner party?


    Katelyn¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and it seemed like Vincent could read her mind.


    ¡°You need to be there as the key contributor to our sess this time,¡± he told her.


    A flicker of hesitation crossed Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she asked, ¡°Am I expected to give a speech or something?¡±


    Interacting with people had always been a struggle for her, even with those on her own team. Despite being a leader, she often struggled to recall everyone¡¯s names.


    ¡°It¡¯s just an office celebration with our team. Don¡¯t stress about it,¡± he reassured her.


    Thisforted Katelyn. She had often felt more at ease as a team member rather than in a leadership role. Her focus had always been on the tasks at hand, leaving personal matters for after hours. As an ordinary employee, there was no need to stress over trivial issues or managing office dynamics.


    She was grateful to Vincent for allowing her to use half his office so she wouldn¡¯t have to interact with people all the time.


    The celebration was set for 7 p.m. at Granville¡¯s finest restaurant, with the grandest private room reserved just for them. Following Vincent, Katelyn entered the room to find it filled with their design team.


    Warm greetings were exchanged as they walked in.


    ¡°Herees Miss Bailey, our ster contributor!¡±


    ¡°Miss Bailey is the reason for our sess today.¡±


    Though the praises were heartwarming, Katelyn felt a tinge of difort but managed a smile. ¡°Thank you for the kind words. This was a collective effort. We all share in this sess, and it¡¯s not just my own. Let¡¯s keep up the teamwork and aim for even greater achievements.¡±


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    The room erupted in cheers as she finished. Smiling, Katelyn took her ce in a nearby chair. Vincent offered a faint smile and turned toward her.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention you usually steer clear of formality?¡±


    Katelyn returned the smile. ¡°Seems I can¡¯t escape it after all.¡± She wasn¡¯t fond of formalities but knew how to navigate social norms.


    She had an instinct for societal manners yet remained down-to-earth and sincere.


    That was simply Katelyn being herself. The moment passed quickly.


    The conversation soon shifted to discussing the day¡¯s sessful press conference in smaller groups.


    The dinner ambiance grew lively.


    Katelyn observed everyone, her eyes twinkling with amusement at their jokes. Such moments added to the beauty of life.


    Vincent was equally reserved, embodying the evening¡¯s intent¡ªto provide a well-deserved break for the team.


    At one point, a young woman wearing sses rose, her hand clutching a wine ss as she addressed Katelyn. Her excitement was evident, much like a recent graduate.


    ¡°Miss Bailey,¡± she began, ¡°I¡¯ve admired Iris for years, and it was her influence that drew me to this field. I never dreamed I¡¯d get to work so closely with someone I¡¯ve looked up to.¡± Her voice quivered at the end, her eyes glistening. She was new to the job and thrilled by the proximity to her role model. Only a true fan could rte to her exhration.


    Katelyn gently handed her a tissue and offered aforting look.


    ¡°Take it slow. There¡¯s no rush to express yourself,¡± she reassured her.


    The young woman quickly dried her eyes and said, ¡°I struggle with words, but I want to toast to your future sess.¡± She then confidently finished her ss of wine in one gulp. The wine, a mild fruit variety chosen by Vincent, was ideal for the asion¡ªlight and enjoyable.


    Katelyn got up, poured a drink for herself, and, with a warm smile, she looked first at the young woman and then over the entire design team.


    ¡°Mr. Adams and I appreciate the dedication and effort everyone has put in recently. Thank you all for your hard work. Let¡¯s continue to strive for even greater achievements. As I¡¯m new to leadership, I wee your honest feedback on any area for improvement. Don¡¯t hold back on yourments. It¡¯s by recognizing our shorings that we can grow.¡±


    After her speech, Katelyn toasted the gathering and drank her wine all at once.


    Her confident and rxed manner prompted cheers from the crowd.


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 Chapter 243

    ?Chapter 243:


    Vincent paused and pulled back his hand, which had been ready to stop the drink. He wasn¡¯t sure how much alcohol Katelyn could handle. She had been to bars a few times before, so she probably had a decent tolerance. A light drink like this shouldn¡¯t be enough to knock her out.


    Katelyn had already brought a lively energy to the room. Vincent grinned and announced, ¡°This month, everyone in the design department will get triple your usual bonus. Keep that energy and drive going strong. The rewards will always be there for you to earn.¡±


    The room burst into cheers once more.


    Vincent had a reputation for being tough in the way he managed things, but he never messed with the bonuses. He knew what motivated most people¡ªthey worked hard for money, and keeping them loyal and motivated was important. He made sure the payment was worth it.


    Katelyn sat back in her chair and turned to Vincent with a bright smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams. Your generosity just makes you even more irresistible,¡± she bantered. She was well aware that Vincent¡¯s words were meant to help her gain the team¡¯s trust. No matter how persuasive someone might be, words alone couldn¡¯t drive a team¡¯s ambition. A bigger bonus would be the best motivator.


    Vincent, who rarely showed a lighter side, replied, ¡°Oh, really? Was there ever a time I wasn¡¯t charming?¡±


    The unexpected remark took Katelyn by surprise. She had heard Vincent joke around before.


    After a moment, she replied, ¡°Mr. Adams, you¡¯re always charming. That¡¯s why they call you the ¡®National Dream Lover.¡¯¡±


    Vincent¡¯s brow furrowed slightly.


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    ¡°National Dream Lover? What was that about?¡±


    One of the employees managed to muster the courage to exin, ¡°Mr. Adams, you might not be aware of this, but there¡¯s an online poll in Granville every year for the most desirable man. You¡¯ve been winning for years, and that¡¯s how you got the title.¡±


    Vincent nodded slowly and leaned back in his chair.


    The dinner continued.


    After the young employee¡¯s bold move, the others grew braver and started offering their toasts. Katelyn didn¡¯t hesitate and epted every single one. The wine had a light, fruity taste without any harshness, which she found quite enjoyable.


    Vincent eventually lost track of how many sses she had and asked, ¡°How well can you handle your alcohol?¡± Katelyn smirked and held up one finger.


    Vincent looked puzzled. ¡°One ss?¡±


    Katelyn shook her head, still holding up the finger.


    ¡°One bottle?¡± he guessed again.


    Katelyn raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. When he couldn¡¯t figure it out, she decided to give him the answer. ¡°I meant that I can drink for one whole night without stopping.¡± Her cheeks had turned rosy, adding a soft blush to her cheeks. Her usually sharp eyes now had a hazy look from the alcohol. With one hand propping up her face, her smile was both bright and slightly teasing. Her expression carried a yful, almost mischievous charm.


    While drunk, Katelyn had an allure that seemed natural, as if she was captivating without even trying.


    Vincent¡¯s mind drifted back to the time when Katelyn had been¡­


    ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, tomorrow,¡± he warned.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, as long as everyone¡¯s having a good time!¡± Katelyn replied, waving her hand with a dramatic flourish. Her usual restraint was nowpletely gone.


    The room cheered in response, and Vincent decided not to stop her again. The celebration was meant for everyone to enjoy, and stepping in would just ruin the mood.


    He nced at Katelyn, noticing the bright smile on her face. Before the whole switched-at-birth situation hade to light, she had been this cheerful. Then, everything had changed, and a shadow seemed to hang over her. Now, that shadow had finally lifted, and she seemed to be in the light again.


    Vincent thought it might be time to make the Bailey family face some real consequences.


    Meanwhile, Lise hurried to Neil¡¯s office as fast as she could.


    Her face was pale, and she looked utterly worried.


    After the press conference, Neil had walked out without waiting for her¡ªsomething he had never done before, not even when he was angry.


    He wasn¡¯t answering her calls or replying to her messages, and Lise felt her anxiety growing by the minute.


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 Chapter 244

    ?Chapter 244:


    Right now, regret surged through Lise.


    She had never once regretted her decisions. But now, with her n in ruins because of Katelyn, she simply wished she had acted sooner when the opportunity had presented itself.


    If losing Neil became the oue of her ns¡¯ downfall, she would make Katelyn suffer for everything.


    The assistant nervously nced at Lise again, checking the clock once more.


    ¡°Miss, it¡¯s already eight. He¡¯s tied up in a meeting with a client somewhere else. Staying here won¡¯t get you a chance to see him.¡±


    Everyone in thepany was well aware of Neil and Lise¡¯s rtionship. It was only a matter of time before she officially became his wife.


    The assistant, not wanting to provoke her, was struggling to convince her to leave.


    He hadn¡¯t anticipated Lise remaining seated there for five hours.


    Lise¡¯s face briefly showed her anger, but she quickly masked it. ¡°He¡¯s in a meeting? Alright, I¡¯ll wait in his office. He can¡¯t dodge me forever.¡±


    The assistant, still trying to persuade her, spoke softly.


    ¡°The workday¡¯s almost over. Why not head home ande back tomorrow?¡±


    Lise was unwavering. She clenched her teeth and dered, ¡°No, I have to see him today.¡±


    The ideal moment to handle any issue, particrly something crucial, was always immediate.


    Dying, even by one night, was too dangerous¡ªanything could shift by morning.


    Your escape begins at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s


    The mere thought of losing Neil further aggravated Lise. Her anger only grew as she red at the assistant, who remained rooted in ce, reluctant to speak.


    ¡°Why are you still standing there? Leave, I¡¯m not holding you back.¡±


    The assistant sighed inwardly.


    Why was she venting her frustration on him?


    With the tension between Neil and Lise now obvious, if he really abandoned her in the office, Neil might hold him ountable once they patched things up.


    He found himself uncertain whether to stay or leave.


    Suppressing his irritation, the assistant carefully inquired, ¡°How long do you intend to stay?¡±


    That question triggered Lise. Without a second thought, she snatched a ss from the table and flung it at him. ¡°I told you to get out! Are you hard of hearing?¡±


    The ss was solid, and if it had connected, it could have caused a serious head injury, possibly with blood.


    Thankfully, the assistant reacted swiftly, narrowly avoiding disaster.


    The ss hit the floor, shattering on impact, the sharp sound echoing through the room.


    Lise had no interest in maintaining her gentle facade anymore. Her thoughts were consumed with finding a convincing excuse to win Neil over.


    But as she reflected, a wave of anger surged within her. She had done everything for Neil¡¯s sake and the good of hispany.


    Now she was being vilified online, treated like a filthy rat scurrying in the streets. Instead offorting her, Neil avoided her, leaving her toe to him instead.


    Lise was furious.


    Sensing her growing anger, the assistant wisely stayed silent. Just as he was about to leave, Lise¡¯s voice cut through the tension. ¡°Stop right there.¡±


    He froze, dread washing over him as he slowly turned back.


    ¡°What is it, Miss Bailey?¡±


    Lise took a steadying breath, forcing her anger down. ¡°Call Neil. Do it now. If he picks up, let him know I¡¯m here at the office, waiting. I need to talk to him and straighten things out.¡±


    The assistant wavered for a moment, but her piercing gaze left him no room to refuse.


    He dialed Neil¡¯s number, but no one picked up.


    Turning to Lise, feeling defeated, he said, ¡°Miss Bailey, Wheeler is not answering.¡±


    Grinding her teeth, Lise barked, ¡°Keep trying until he finally picks up.¡±


    Neil could not avoid her forever.


    Just then, the office door abruptly swung open.


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 Chapter 245

    ?Chapter 245:


    Neil stood in the doorway, his gaze cold as he looked at Lise, uncertain of which emotion to express in facing her.


    Today¡¯s press conference had triggered an unexpected wave of public scrutiny.


    Shares in thepany had plummeted, there was a flood of negativements online, and Katelyn had even used their new jewelry line of being a direct rip-off of her designs. It was clear that this jewelry line would struggle to attract buyers.


    This meant that all the time and money invested had been wasted. While the financial loss was bearable, the damage to their reputation was far more severe.


    The crisis had escted rapidly, resembling a wildfire. Numerous international partners had terminated their contracts with the Wheeler Group, not to mention the local business partners. All these disastrous oues traced back to Lise.


    Neil masked his true feelings with a nk stare, while Lise seemedpletely unaware of it.


    She moved forward and embraced Neil tightly, her tears soaking his suit.


    Through her tears, Lise managed to say, ¡°Neil, you¡¯re here atst. I was afraid I¡¯d lose you forever.¡±


    From his angle, Neil could see the cold detachment and the brief flicker of disgust in his eyes.


    Neil understood Lise¡¯s superficiality and her aspirations to match Iris¡¯s status.


    She knew how vital this press conference was for the Wheeler Group. Yet, she chose to lie tantly, twisting the narrative to her favor and using the Wheeler Group as a stepping stone.


    And the moment she tried to climb higher, she was knocked down hard.


    Your next chapter is here g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s


    Lise had managed to fool everyone at first, including him.


    Had he known earlier about the giarized designs and Lise¡¯s deceit, he would have never lowered himself to such disgraceful acts.


    Unfortunately, life didn¡¯t offer second chances.


    ¡°Let go,¡± Neil said, his voice chillingly steady and emotionless.


    Lise held on tighter, shaking her head.


    ¡°NO, I¡¯m scared that if I let go, you¡¯ll vanish from my life forever.¡± She cried harder, deliberately positioning herself so her tearsnded on Neil¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Neil, this disaster is my fault. You have every right to be angry with me, but please, don¡¯t leave me. Don¡¯t vanish from my life. Do you have any idea what I¡¯ve been through this afternoon?¡±


    A slow, mocking smile appeared on Neil¡¯s lips.


    In the span of a single afternoon, a devastating defeat hadpletely changed him.


    His feelings for her had shifted, along with his entire demeanor.


    He pushed Lise away. ¡°I said, let go.¡±


    ¡°No way.¡±


    Neil¡¯s patience snapped. He firmly grasped Lise¡¯s arm, pulling her away, and then pushed her onto the couch.


    The usual gentleness he showed Lise had vanished. This was the first time he had physically pushed her.


    Though he pushed her onto the couch instead of the floor, Lise looked at him in shock.


    ¡°Neil, are you trying to cut ties with me? Have you given up on us?¡±


    Looking down at Lise, Neil¡¯s face was expressionless and cold. ¡°Your single lie cost the Wheeler Group over 20 billion today, and that¡¯s just the local impact. Internationally, it¡¯s even worse.¡±


    Hearing this, Lise felt her heart sink.


    She had only recently rejoined the Bailey family and hadn¡¯t realized the massive financial impact a scandal could have on a major publicly tradedpany.


    Stock losses ounted for half of that enormous amount. A foreignpany had faced a simr crisis, losing 17 billion in one day due to a PR disaster.


    Neil wasn¡¯t exaggerating; it was all because of Lise¡¯s dishonesty.


    Realizing the full extent of the crisis, Lise¡¯s face turned pale. She broke down crying.


    ¡°Neil, I didn¡¯t realize it would escte to this. I just wanted to cheer you up, to ease your stress.¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression remained unchanged.


    Lise¡¯s tears no longer moved him.


    ¡°Is that how you justify lying to me?¡± he asked.


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 Chapter 246

    ?Chapter 246:


    Neil¡¯s cold and disdainful gaze filled Lise with terror.


    For a brief moment, she was too stunned to cry, her eyes locked on his, unblinking. ¡°Neil¡­¡± she murmured.


    Neil¡¯s voice trembled slightly as he spoke, ¡°If only you had been honest with me, and not nned to use the Wheeler Group¡¯s press conference¡­ I could have forgiven your actions.¡± He inhaled sharply, struggling to control his rising anger. ¡°You know this conference is vital for the Wheeler Group,¡± he reminded her sternly.


    Lise was well aware of what was at stake, but her concern wasn¡¯t for thepany¡¯s future¡ªit was for her own ambitions. It was then that Neil recognized how selfish and foolish Lise truly was.


    Did she really believe a few photos could steal Iris¡¯s identity and her reputation?


    Unable to face Neil, Lise shook her head wildly, desperate for an exnation.


    ¡°Neil, it wasn¡¯t my intention. I just wanted to help you. I never anticipated it would end up like this.¡±


    Despite how sorry she looked, Neil felt no pity.


    When she reached out to him, he instinctively withdrew his arm. ¡°Lise, you¡¯ve terribly misjudged this.¡±


    His hands balled into fists. Neil felt engulfed by the enormity of Lise¡¯s betrayal.


    He gave her one final look filled with emotion before turning to leave.


    Suddenly, a loud thud and Lise¡¯s scream made him spin around.


    His eyes widened in shock as he saw Lise clutching her stomach, squirming in pain.


    ¡°My baby¡­ my baby!¡± she cried out, her voiceced with panic.


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    Without hesitation, Neil scooped her into his arms and hurried downstairs.


    He was furious with Lise, but he would never risk the life of his child.


    Meanwhile, the Adams Group¡¯s celebration party was in full swing.


    After a few rounds of drinks, Katelyn was tipsy, her cheeks glowing red.


    Most of her colleagues were well beyond tipsy at this point.


    Vincent was the calmest of them all.


    He looked into Katelyn¡¯s misty eyes.


    ¡°Are you drunk?¡± he whispered gently.


    Katelyn shook her head, massaging her forehead. ¡°No, I¡¯m just a little dizzy. I think I need to go home.¡±


    Vincent picked up his jacket and approached her.


    ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡±


    Katelyn agreed and followed Vincent, keeping a slight distance between them. She focused on her feet as they walked, absorbed in the familiar rhythm of her steps. She used to y this game a lot when she was younger. So distracted was she by the motion of walking that she didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d bumped directly into Vincent¡¯s solid chest.


    Vincent, who was very muscr from years of exercise, caught Katelyn just as she was about to lose her bnce. He swiftly supported her, grabbing her arm and waist.


    It all happened so quickly. Before Katelyn could react, she found herself looking up into Vincent¡¯s face, their faces only a few inches apart.


    In that brief moment, the space between them was so small that if Vincent had leaned in, he could have kissed her full lips.


    The night air brushed past them, and a stray lock of Katelyn¡¯s hair tumbled across her face, adding to the chaos of the moment.


    The silence around them was only broken by their quickening heartbeats.


    Vincent¡¯s deep gaze seemed to pull her in even more. ¡°Are you all right?¡±


    Once Katelyn regained herposure, she slowly shook her head, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Vincent said softly.


    This time, Vincent didn¡¯t keep any distance. He walked closely beside her, matching her pace.


    He could tell she had drunk too much and was struggling to keep herselfposed.


    The drive to Katelyn¡¯s house would take nearly an hour.


    Once they reached the car, Vincent held the door open for her.


    ¡°If you¡¯re tired, feel free to sleep. I¡¯ll wake you when we arrive.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, more subdued than usual in her drunken state.


    She rested her head against the window, but soon, her fatigue overwhelmed her. Before long, she leaned against Vincent¡¯s shoulder instead.


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 Chapter 247

    ?Chapter 247:


    The luxury car¡¯s back seat offered ample space. Katelyn, with her eyes shut, wriggled slightly until she found afortable position to rest her head. Her breathing soon became steady, indicating she had fallen asleep. Unbeknownst to her, she was resting on Vincent¡¯sp. Though he appeared helpless, his eyes disyed unmistakable tenderness.


    He moved with caution, careful not to wake her, and gently swept a strand of hair from her forehead. Katelyn remained asleep, unaffected by his touch.


    Vincent then turned his attention to thendscape passing by, while the soft piano music in the background brought him a sense of profound tranquility.


    Before long, Samuel drove up to the front of the vi. Despite the numbness in his legs, Vincent hesitated to disturb Katelyn¡¯s peaceful slumber.


    Turning down the music, Samuel nced at Vincent and asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, are you going to wake Miss Bailey?¡±


    He wondered if his boss would prefer to let Katelyn rest and spend the night in the car. Over time, Samuel had be ustomed to Vincent¡¯s entricities, always considering Katelyn¡¯sfort.


    After a moment of silence, Vincent gently nudged Katelyn. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived,¡± he whispered.


    Blinking open her groggy eyes, Katelyn felt disoriented from the effects of the alcohol. She sat up, rasping, ¡°Where am I?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re home,¡± Vincent reassured her softly.


    Still foggy-headed, Katelyn clumsily exited the car. Vincent, concerned about her unsteady movement, followed closely behind. Her home was the second vi to the right, surrounded by a cluster of trees.


    Vincent watched as Katelyn wavered on her feet. Just as he was about to assist her, she veered suddenly towards the trees.


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    Her next actions caught both Vincent and the onlooking Samuel off guard. Katelyn squatted down and gently picked two small flowers from the bushes, holding them yfully in front of her face.


    Vincent and Samuel watched in bewilderment, unsure of what to make of her behavior. Normally, Katelyn carried herself with poise and reserve, but in her inebriated state, she appeared endearingly goofy. With a mix of amusement and concern, Vincent squatted beside her.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked softly.


    Katelyn pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. ¡°I need to stay hidden. You see, an apple¡­ and my enemies might eat me if they see me,¡± she whispered, her words slurring slightly.


    Confused, Vincent tried to reassure her. ¡°There are no enemies here, and you¡¯re certainly not an apple. You¡¯re just a little tipsy. Let¡¯s head inside so you can rest.¡±


    But Katelyn resisted, her voice dropping to a murmur. ¡°I¡¯m well hidden now, and they can¡¯t find me here. You hide as well. You¡¯re a big pear, and they¡¯re after you too.¡±


    Vincent was at a loss for words.


    Meanwhile, Samuel struggled to contain hisughter, biting his hand to suppress his chuckles. This was perhaps the most amusing thing he had witnessed in a long time.


    Vincent, puzzled by Katelyn¡¯s earnestness, felt like he was dealing with a child. His tone softened as he decided to y along.


    ¡°How long must we hide, then?¡± he asked gently.


    Katelyn, still clearly confused, slowly shook her head.


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 Chapter 248

    ?Chapter 248:


    Vincent¡¯s eyes twinkled with amusement.


    ¡°What does shaking your head mean?¡± he asked softly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure when the threat will clear, so we need to stay put for safety. Stick with me; I¡¯ll keep you safe.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s tone turned serious as she spoke. ¡°We need to stay hidden until it¡¯s clear.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s smile widened even more. He walked over to Katelyn, crouched beside her, and picked up two flowers, just like the ones she had, holding them in his hands. ¡°By doing this, we¡¯re hidden from the enemy, right?¡±


    Katelyn beamed at him, clearly pleased. ¡°You¡¯re so clever! The smartest pear I¡¯ve ever seen!¡±


    Vincent¡¯s smile faltered slightly. The first part of the praise was enough; the second half was really unnecessary.


    There they were, crouched side by side, each holding flowers. Anyone who saw them would surely be puzzled by the sight. Meanwhile, Samuel was utterly dumbfounded.


    One was a billionaire CEO, the other a renowned designer. Here they were, two professionals at the top of their careers, squatting like children. Were they ying some sort of game? They really did look like children, though children nowadays might disy more sense.


    As Samuel observed them, he felt a stir of emotion. Even with Katelyn¡¯s drunken antics, Vincent remained fully indulgent, joining in her yful fantasy without showing any irritation. She was acting silly, yet he was still smiling and ying along. Samuel began to wonder if this might be the moment when Vincent¡¯s feelings for Katelyn started to deepen.


    Katelyn, still crouching, scanned her surroundings vigntly, but fatigue was starting to win over. She yawned, unable to hide her tiredness.


    Find the magic on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s???????


    Vincent chimed in promptly. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, you should head back to rest. The threat has passed.¡±


    But Katelyn stubbornly shook her head. ¡°No, the threat¡¯s still out there.¡±


    With that, she quickly scooted further into the corner, her gaze locked on where Samuel stood.


    Vincent suddenly realized something. Could Katelyn be mistaking Samuel, who had been merely observing from a distance, as the enemy she was worried about?


    Samuel stood frozen, struck by the thought. Was his presence so intimidating that Katelyn saw him as a threat? Vincent subtly caught Samuel¡¯s eye with a meaningful nce. Samuel quickly caught on, heading toward the car while dramatically eximing, ¡°Ah! I¡¯m the bad guy! I wanted some apples, but just couldn¡¯t find any!¡±


    With that, he jumped into the car and sped away.


    Katelyn let out a sigh of relief, cautiously checking her surroundings once more. Assured that Samuel had indeed left, her face brightened with a smile. ¡°Great! We are safe.¡±


    Seeing her happy, Vincent¡¯s smile grew even wider. ¡°Shall we head back and rest now?¡±


    Katelyn nodded enthusiastically.


    Vincent then said, ¡°I know where you live. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± With that, he gently tugged on Katelyn¡¯s sleeve and guided her to her front door.


    Katelyn¡¯s door was secured with a fingerprint lock. After her print was verified, they quickly stepped inside.


    Vincent hurriedly turned on the lights in the living room, worried that Katelyn might stumble in the dark.


    Katelyn flopped down onto the sofa and shuffled to find afy spot. ¡°A soft cushion!¡± she eximed.


    Vincent listened to Katelyn¡¯s ramblings, intrigued by her thoughts in this moment. Standing by the door, he looked at her and said, ¡°Now that you¡¯re home safely, I¡¯ll head back to mine.¡±


    As he was about to leave, Katelyn looked up at him, visibly puzzled.


    ¡°Big pear, aren¡¯t you supposed to be at your ce?¡± she asked.


    Vincent paused, taken aback by her question. ¡°I am on my way there now.¡±


    Katelyn tilted her head, her eyes filled with doubt. ¡°But isn¡¯t your ce just upstairs?¡±


    ¡°Upstairs?¡± Vincent¡¯s expression shifted from surprise to amusement, mixed with slight confusion.


    ¡°Do apples and pears grow on the same tree?¡± he asked.


    He struggled to follow Katelyn¡¯s line of thinking.


    Katelyn gazed at him with wide, innocent eyes, even more baffled. ¡°Aren¡¯t apples and pears supposed to be neighbors?¡±


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 Chapter 249

    ?Chapter 249:


    Vincent finally understood Katelyn¡¯s point.


    His ce was upstairs, and hers was directly below. That made them neighbors, indeed.


    He quirked an eyebrow and moved toward her, closing the gap between them.


    The atmosphere warmed as he drew nearer.


    Katelyn sat on the couch, watching hime closer until their breathing almost mingled.


    She remained seated, her eyes clouded with confusion.


    ¡°Why are youing so close all of a sudden?¡±


    Under normal circumstances, being this near him would make her cheeks flush and her heart race.


    Now, however, her eyes merely showed uncertainty.


    With a smile, Vincent reached out to tousle her hair.


    ¡°Just seeing if you¡¯re still drunk.¡±


    Clutching a pillow, Katelyn replied immediately, ¡°How could an apple drink too much?¡±


    Vincent found himself at a loss for words. She had a point. He considered that she might not be fully sober yet¡ªfancying herself an apple¡ªbut her mind was still sharp. Was she always like this when tipsy?


    Vincent rified calmly, ¡°Apples can¡¯t get drunk, indeed. But you¡¯ve mixed something up. You live up here, and I¡¯m downstairs.¡±


    Vincent knew his boundaries. Her bedroom was on the second floor, a space he wouldn¡¯t invade.


    Katelyn considered this and nodded. ¡°That does make sense.¡±


    Keep reading at g¦Ál¦Çovels?c©–m


    She stood and started toward the stairs.


    Vincent kept an eye on her, prepared to assist if necessary. Fortunately, she ascended without any trouble. Reaching the top, she looked back at him.


    ¡°Oh, and you haven¡¯t said goodnight to me yet.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s smile broadened slightly, and his gaze softened, filled with a tenderness that was unmistakable. ¡°Goodnight, apple.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight, pear,¡± Katelyn responded, content, and proceeded upstairs.


    Vincent walked over and turned off the main light in the room, leaving only the soft glow of themp.


    He then texted Samuel, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t wait up for me. Head back and get some rest.¡±


    Samuel, who was drinking water, almost spat it out when he saw the message.


    He had returned Katelyn¡¯s pick-up and Vincent after they went inside, but Vincent¡¯s message was unexpected.


    ¡°Does this mean things are finally moving forward between Miss Bailey and Mr. Adams?¡± Samuel thought, grinning. He quickly sent a reply.


    ¡°May you and Miss Bailey have a memorable night!¡±


    Vincent¡¯s reply was brief and to the point: ¡°Fuck off!¡±


    Vincent settled on the sofa, staying alert in case Katelyn needed his help again.


    Luckily, Katelyn¡¯s couch was spacious enough to amodate his tall framefortably.


    Vincent ced his hands behind his head, using them as an improvised pillow, yet he couldn¡¯t help but picture Katelyn¡¯s inebriated antics from earlier that night.


    He made up his mind then: he would not let Katelyn drink so much again. What if she mistook herself for an apple and wandered into some real danger?


    The next morning, Katelyn awoke with a splitting headache. She massaged her temples, trying to piece together the events of the previous night.


    How on earth did she get so drunk on fruit wine, which was so lightly alcoholic? Perhaps the refreshing taste had masked the alcohol, causing her to underestimate its effects.


    Despite her efforts, she couldn¡¯t recall anything after the party. Either Vincent or another colleague must have escorted her home.


    Descending the stairs in her slippers, Katelyn noticed a note on the living room table, simr to one Vincent had left previously. Vincent¡¯s handwriting was unmistakable and bold.


    ¡°Take the day off and rest. Don¡¯t need to go to work today.¡±


    It appeared he had granted her the day off.


    She was in no shape to work today anyway. Just then, the doorbell chimed.


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 Chapter 250

    ?Chapter 250:


    Katelyn approached the door with caution. Instead of opening it right away, she peered through the peephole first.


    A man in a delivery uniform was standing outside. ¡°Miss Bailey, your takeout is here.¡±


    She saw it was just a delivery person and unlocked the door, still feeling a bit puzzled. She hadn¡¯t ordered any takeout.


    Keeping the chain on, she eyed the man cautiously. ¡°Are you sure this is for me? I didn¡¯t order anything.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no mistake. It was orderedst night to be delivered this morning. It¡¯s hangover soup,¡± he replied, ncing at the receipt before holding it up for her to see.


    Katelyn quickly realized this had to be Vincent¡¯s doing.


    ¡°Got it. Thanks.¡±


    She took the soup from him and closed the door, heading back inside.


    The soup had been ordered the night before but made fresh that morning. Its warmth felt just right in her hands.


    As Katelyn sipped the soup, she felt herself bing more awake, and the dizziness started to fade.


    There was something soothing andforting about having something warm in the morning.


    Feeling much better, she decided to send a quick message to Vincent.


    ¡°Thanks, Mr. Adams.¡±


    She barely had time to wait for a reply when the doorbell rang again, sounding more urgent than before.


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    ¡°Is this more random deliveries?¡± Katelyn wondered with a frown. She went to open the door, but when she saw who was standing there, her mood instantly soured.


    Seeing Neil first thing in the morning was enough to ruin her day. Without a word, she tried to close the door in his face, but Neil stuck out his foot to stop it. His expression was a mix of emotions.


    ¡°Hold on. There¡¯s something we need to talk about,¡± he said.


    ¡°I have nothing to say to you. Go now, or I¡¯ll call security.¡±


    Katelyn pushed harder to close the door, but Neil kept it open with a firm grip. She gave up, staring at him warily. ¡°What do you want from me?¡±


    ¡°I want to talk to you about the partnership,¡± said Neil. He had realized the previous night that the Wheeler Group couldn¡¯t afford to pull out of the jewelry market.


    He had invested heavily, pouring resources and pulling strings to break into this market. Abandoning it now would make all his efforts go to waste.


    Yes, the press conference had caused significant damage, but if they kept going, there was still a chance to recover their losses.


    Katelyn let out a sneer, her eyes turning cold.


    ¡°Why on earth would I work with you? You know I¡¯ve already signed on as the Adams designer, right?¡±


    Neil¡¯s hands tightened into fists. He understood this was hisst opportunity. He couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch the Wheeler Group copse under his leadership.


    ¡°I get it,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m willing to pay double. You set the terms, and I¡¯ll meet them, no matter the cost.¡±


    ¡°Not interested. If you don¡¯t leave now, I¡¯ll call the police on you.¡± She then moved to shut the door.


    However, Neil¡¯s next words stopped her in her tracks, catching herpletely off guard.


    ¡°Mypany is facing a serious crisis, and you¡¯re the only one who can turn it around.¡± Neil took a deep breath, clearly struggling with the decision he was about to make. ¡°If you agree to help me, I¡¯ll give you a share of mypany¡¯s stock.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed with suspicion, but she quickly understood the situation.


    Both the Adams Group and Wheeler Group had a lot riding on this project because the jewelry design was crucial for their smooth entry into the market.


    With rumors spreading online and pressure building, Neil was desperate to deliver the promised designs and salvage hispany¡¯s reputation.


    It was no wonder he was willing to offer shares.


    Though the Wheeler Group wasn¡¯t as powerful as the Adams Group, it was still a publicly listedpany and a key yer in the industry.


    Even owning just one percent of thepany¡¯s shares would bring in millions in dividends every year.


    Katelyn¡¯s curiosity sharpened, though there was a touch of doubt in her voice.


    ¡°If I go along with this, how much are you willing to give me?¡±


    ¡°Five percent,¡± Neil replied immediately.


    As thepany president, he only had control over fifty-two percent of the shares. Offering shares wasn¡¯t just a one-time deal; it promised continuous profits.


    Katelyn appeared to consider his offer before saying, ¡°I might be open to working with you, but you¡¯ll need to agree to three conditions first.¡±


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 Chapter 251

    ?Chapter 251:


    Katelyn¡¯s words sparked a final ray of hope for Neil amidst his dire circumstances. Without wavering, he said, ¡°Tell me. Commit to doing it, even if it means returning to your side.¡± His gaze was filled with resolve.


    However, his deration swiftly cooled the warmth in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Lise was expecting his child. How could he make such a promise?


    The mockery in her eyes was unmistakable. Neil grimaced, realizing his mistake.


    ¡°Don¡¯t fret. Lise and her child won¡¯tpromise your position. But then again, had you revealed your true self sooner, I would have avoided such profound losses.¡±


    It seemed as though he wasying all the me on Katelyn. The figure was not insignificant. It stretched into the tens of billions.


    A smaller firm would have folded under such a burden.


    Only the strong foundation and international investments of the Wheeler Group kept him afloat.


    While he resented Lise for her betrayal, his deeper animosity was directed towards Katelyn. Had she disclosed her identity sooner, perhaps they wouldn¡¯t have faced all the troubles that followed.


    Katelyn recognized his intentions, her scorn growing sharper, her stare cutting like ice. ¡°So you¡¯re saying this is all my fault?¡±


    Neil tensed, his fists clenching at his sides, then gradually rxed. ¡°I just can¡¯t grasp why you¡¯ve kept your real identity hidden all this while.¡±


    Katelyn replied, ¡°That¡¯s my affair. I don¡¯t owe you any exnations.¡± She was running out of patience, but remembering her goals, she endured and continued engaging with Neil.


    A glimmer of bitterness and reluctance shed in Neil¡¯s eyes as he intently observed her face.


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    Recent stresses had noticeably thinned her out.


    Her face was small and exquisitely refined, her eyes gleaming like precious stones.


    Her features were so wless and striking that even in in pajamas, she still appeared stunning.


    Since their separation, Katelyn had blossomed anew¡ªnow more vibrant and striking than ever.


    Had she shown such vibrance sooner, Neil would never have cheated on her with Lise.


    Though reluctant, he kept his business priorities in mind. ¡°What were those three conditions you mentioned?¡±


    Regardless of Neil¡¯s internal struggle, Katelyn said inly, ¡°It¡¯s straightforward. I¡¯m not after the shares of yourpany, but I want double the previous price.¡±


    Neil clenched his jaw in frustration.


    The usual price for coboration with Iris was five billion dors. Doubling that would push it to ten billion dors.


    Neil¡¯spany was already facing chaos. Where would he find such a vast amount?


    He wouldn¡¯t have offered her hispany¡¯s shares if he had any other ess to more funds.


    A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, which Katelyn picked up on instantly. Her smile was sharp with mockery. ¡°If you can¡¯t pull it together, you might as well leave.¡±


    Neil bit back his irritation. ¡°No. Transfer the funds to your ount after we sign the contract.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, taking her time. ¡°The second condition is for you to hold a press conference to confess your infidelity in our marriage and offer a sincere apology for the damage you¡¯ve caused me.¡±


    She was tired of the rampant online spection.


    Many even suggested she was the one who cheated first, prompting Neil¡¯s infidelity as retaliation.


    She was bothered by the gossip, but she couldn¡¯t let Vincent¡¯s reputation suffer because of her.


    This demand was clearly easierpared to the first. Given the Wheeler Group¡¯s current standing, what more did Neil have left to lose?


    Even if his reputation soured further, what difference did it make? At worst, people wouldbel him unfaithful.


    Without hesitation, Neil agreed and inquired, ¡°And the third?¡±


    Katelyn stood with her arms folded, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°I want a divorce right now.¡±


    The moment Katelyn spoke those words, Neil¡¯s fists tightened at his sides.


    His eyes, deep and troubled, locked onto Katelyn. His voiceced with reluctance. ¡°Are you certain? Once the papers are signed, it¡¯s irreversible.¡±


    ¡°Since the day you cheated, there¡¯s no reversing course for us.¡± Katelyn scoffed, still baffled by Neil¡¯s thoughts. Did he really expect her to remain loyal while he was already with Lise?


    Jerks always failed to see how despicable their actions were and how repulsive their thoughts could be.


    ¡°Do these three things, and I¡¯ll work with you,¡± Katelyn said gravely.


    Her conditions wereid out, and now the decision was entirely in Neil¡¯s hands.


    After a long pause, Neil finally clenched his jaw and said, ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    Katelyn checked her watch. It was nearly nine o¡¯clock. ¡°The divorce court opens soon. If we leave now, we can be the first ones there.¡±


    With that, she closed the door, quickly returning dressed in casual attire.


    Neil looked on, mixed emotions crossing his face, as if he wanted to say more but ultimately held back.


    His car was right outside. He walked over, opened the door, and with a note of surrender, said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Katelyn took the car keys and headed the other way. ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself.¡±


    The thought of Neil and Lise possibly being intimate in his car disgusted her.


    This was her final interaction with Neil. With that thought, she felt a burden lift.


    Their cars arrived one after the other at the divorce court. It was still early, and they were indeed the first ones there for the divorce.


    Katelyn handed the necessary documents to the clerk through the window.


    The clerk looked at them, taken aback, and couldn¡¯t resist saying, ¡°You both look so young and seem like such a good match. Are you sure about this? I think you should go back and think it over carefully.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s response was firm. She had been waiting for this day and was eager to move on. ¡°We¡¯re certain. We want a divorce.¡±


    The clerk remained silent but nced at Neil.


    It was obvious that Neil was holding back his emotions. It was clear that Katelyn was determined to go through with the divorce.


    To the clerk, Katelyn and Neil seemed like they were meant to be together. How could they be heading for a split after three years of marriage? ¡°Why not think it over? This isn¡¯t child¡¯s y.¡±


    Neil¡¯s hands tightened at his sides, as if grasping for ast flicker of hope. He knew plenty of CEOs who had done worse, yet their spouses had chosen to stay with them. Only Katelyn deemed it inexcusable. Couldn¡¯t she show some leniency?


    Before Neil could utter a word, Katelyn said firmly, ¡°A man who cheats on his wife is repulsive to even look at.¡±


    Her eyes were full of scorn and disdain. To her, loyalty was a fundamental moral requirement. Compromising her principles was not an option.


    Neil¡¯s expression darkened further. The clerk sighed in resignation and stamped their documents.


    Clutching the newly issued divorce certificate, Katelyn felt genuinely free for the first time, like a bird finally escaping its cage. She had once been so naive, believing she could win Neil¡¯s heart with sincerity and love.


    She had even thought that divorce was a simple solution when love faded. It always seemed so wless, yet facing the reality of divorce showed her just how arduous it was. Every divorcee felt as though they had been put through the mill.


    She walked briskly, unburdened, and even snapped a selfie with her divorce certificate.


    She wanted to proim her newfound freedom to the world! Neil trailed behind, and with each joyful step she took, his difort intensified.


    Just as Katelyn reached for her car door, Neil called out from behind, ¡°Wait!¡±


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 Chapter 252

    ?Chapter 252:


    Katelyn turned to face Neil, her eyes clouded with confusion. ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    Neil hurried over and looked her in the eye.


    ¡°How soon can you sign the contract? Time is running out. I have less than two weeks to fix things.¡±


    With a casual toss, Katelyn slipped the divorce papers into her purse and smiled. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss it after you¡¯ve handled the remaining tasks.¡±


    She opened the car door, climbed in, and drove off in an instant.


    Neil stood frozen, engulfed by the car¡¯s exhaust, staring down at the divorce papers. A crushing pain filled his heart, as if it had been physically struck.


    Overwhelmed by a suffocating panic, he realized¡ªhe was really losing her.


    Upon returning home, Katelyn immediately logged into her social media and uploaded a ¡°divorce selfie.¡± The caption read, ¡°Atst, everything is settled.¡±


    Her love for Neil had burned fiercely for many years, but their three-year marriage had crumbled.


    Years of passion and resentment now seemed like a fading dream, finally over.


    Her post went viral instantly, with countlessizens celebrating her newfound liberty.


    Aimee, the moment she saw the post, was brimming with more joy than Katelyn.


    ¡°Congrattions! You¡¯re finally free from that jerk. Embrace your new life,¡± Aimee cheered.


    A broad smile spread across Katelyn¡¯s face, growing with each passing second. ¡°I should have done this sooner, or I might have wasted even more years.¡±


    ¡°Choosing the wrong partner can really ruin you for life. Luckily, you¡¯re young enough to cut ties and start anew. No need to dwell on it. Let¡¯s go celebrate your newfound freedom tonight!¡±


    Read all updates at g?ln¦Òv?ls


    ¡°Sounds good to me.¡±


    After a lengthy chat, Katelyn hung up, feeling lighter than she had in years.


    Katelyn received an unexpected notification from the bank about a substantial money transfer. It was from Neil.


    Surprise flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Neil had acted quickly this time.


    Before she could fully process the situation, Neil held another press conference.


    At the heart of public scrutiny, the Wheeler Group was buzzing with discussions about Neil¡¯s alleged deceit involving Lise. In thements, spections swirled about whether he would apologize for the deception.


    Katelyn joined the live stream of the press conference. Under the harsh lights, Neil appeared more worn than usual. A stern nce from him silenced the swarm of reporters eager for answers.


    His expression was weary.


    ¡°Everyone, please. Today¡¯s conference is to extend my apologies to Miss Katelyn Bailey,¡± Neil began, his voice firm. ¡°I confess to having had an affair during our marriage, and the fault is entirely mine. Our marriage concluded officially at 9:10 AM today. I hope we can all move forward and improve ourselves.¡±


    He swiftly exited the stage, surrounded by bodyguards, leaving the audience without a moment to react.


    The press conference was brief,sting only five minutes. The media, caught off guard, was silent.


    They had expected an apology regarding the jewelry lineunch event, but instead, they were met with a confession. And Neil had mentioned that he had divorced Katelyn!


    The revtion stunned everyone, and the story quickly dominated social media.


    The drama surrounding their high-profile lives overshadowed even showbiz scandals, marking the end of the prolonged spectacle.


    Lise felt a deep satisfaction upon hearing about their separation.


    Reclining in bed, she caressed her belly, her eyes gleaming with smugness.


    The timing of her pregnancy was perfect. She believed Neil would pardon all her mistakes for their child¡¯s sake.


    If everything went well, she was certain she would be his rightful spouse.


    Her long-awaited dreams were bing a reality, reflected in her joyful smile, just as the ward door suddenly burst open.


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 Chapter 253

    ?Chapter 253:


    When Lise saw who had walked in, her smile faltered, though the confusion and frustration in her eyes remained.


    ¡°Neil, why did you go ahead with the press conference? Thepany is already on the verge of copse due to all the negative attention. What you did might have just ruined any chance we had for recovery.¡±


    She had put in so much effort to manipte the media and make Katelyn appear guilty.


    Now, with Neil publicly admitting fault, all her efforts seemed wasted.


    Neil feltpletely drained at that moment, both physically and emotionally, as if he had nothing left to give.


    Instead of responding directly, he turned his gaze to Lise¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°How is the baby?¡± he asked.


    Lise¡¯s expression softened, a small smile forming as she ced a hand on her still-t belly, her face showing a touch of motherly warmth.


    ¡°The doctor says the baby is doing fine, but I have to stay calm for the first three months. Too much excitement could put the baby at risk.¡±


    Neil kept his tone steady. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you have the best care. There will also be a nutritionist to help you through the pregnancy.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes lit up, her hand moving gently over her stomach as she spoke in a soft voice.


    ¡°Did you hear that, baby? Daddy is so eager for you to arrive. He¡¯s already making ns to take good care of us.¡±


    Her voice was filled with sweetness, but Neil remained unaffected.


    Discover more at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??s


    ¡°After the baby is born, I will take full custody, and I¡¯ll arrange a settlement for you.¡±


    Lise¡¯s smile vanished, reced by a look of shock. Her voice grew louder as she questioned him. ¡°What do you mean, Neil? Are you saying you¡¯re going to take the baby and leave me?¡±


    Neil sat quietly on the sofa for a moment before replying, ¡°Right now, this is the only option. Thepany is close to going under, and I¡¯ve just paid Katelyn arge sum. I can¡¯t afford to support you anymore, so it makes sense for me to keep the baby.¡±


    Lise didn¡¯t catch the w in his exnation. She stared at him, disbelief in her eyes.


    ¡°Why would you give money to Katelyn? Didn¡¯t she already agree to divorce you without getting anything? What happened to that?¡±


    Or was it possible that Neil felt guilty and gave her money out of his own pocket? Did he still have feelings for that woman?


    ¡°I¡¯ve made an arrangement with her. The details don¡¯t concern you. Your only focus should be on delivering this baby. Everything else is out of your hands.¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice carried no room for discussion; it was simply a statement of fact.


    Lise¡¯s face grew more troubled as she realized his stance. Had Neil not forgiven her after all?


    Her eyes widened in disbelief, and a sense of being cast aside overwhelmed her.


    She struggled to get out of bed, desperate to confront him. ¡°Neil, what are you saying? Are you telling me you¡¯ve given up on me?¡±


    Neil¡¯s expression remained cold and distant,cking the warmth he once showed her.


    ¡°There is nothing left between us except for being the parents of this child.¡±


    With those words, Neil turned and walked away without a second thought.


    Losing Lise hurt him, but he couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that thepany¡¯s downfall was tied to her actions.


    He would still be there for his child, but he was prepared to walk away from the child¡¯s mother.


    ¡°Neil! Come back here!¡±


    Lise ran after him, but she couldn¡¯t even catch the edge of his coat.


    She copsed to the floor, overwhelmed by the sheer disgrace of it all, her heart consumed with a burning fury.


    And it was all because of Katelyn¡ªthat insufferable woman had ruined everything!


    Meanwhile, Katelyn decided to call Vincent.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Neil to make his move so quickly this time, and since she had already signed a contract with the Adams Group, she knew she needed to inform Vincent before even considering any further dealings with Neil.


    The call connected almost immediately, and Vincent¡¯s voice came through the line. The tone of his voice made it seem like he was in a good mood.


    ¡°Congrattions on finalizing your divorce,¡± he said.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but smile as she responded, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams. There¡¯s something important I need to discuss with you before we proceed.¡±


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 Chapter 254

    ?Chapter 254:


    Vincent¡¯s voice carried a hint of confusion as he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Katelyn responded, ¡°I¡¯ve made a deal with Neil. If he agrees to sign the divorce papers, I¡¯ll assist him with his jewelry design project. However, I¡¯ll make sure our coboration only takes ce outside my working hours, so it won¡¯t interfere with my usual responsibilities.¡±


    She emphasized the final part of her exnation.


    As an employee of the Adams Group, she was now preparing to work with a business rival of Vincent¡¯s, and she wanted to ensure Vincent wouldn¡¯t misinterpret the situation.


    Vincent showed no particr concern and replied, ¡°That¡¯s fine by me.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡± Katelyn expressed her gratitude, relieved. As long as Vincent didn¡¯t overthink the situation, she felt at ease.


    Nheless, the Wheeler Group had already faced substantial setbacks. If this design project helped them recover, they could rise aspetitors to Vincent once more.


    Despite her reluctance, she knew that cooperating was the only way to persuade Neil to finalize their divorce.


    Katelyn set aside her tangled thoughts and fetched herptop from upstairs.


    Just as she was about to begin, a message popped up on her phone.


    It was from an ubeled number, but she recognized it instantly.


    The message was from Lise.


    ¡°Do you have a moment? I¡¯d like to talk about something.¡±


    Katelyn dismissed the message and ced her phone face down on the desk.


    More content now at g?l¦Ç¦Òv???s


    She didn¡¯t want to engage with Lise in any way. Lise¡¯s constant interference was the root of much of her suffering.


    While Neil was certainly to me, it was Lise who truly fueled her anger.


    Despite this, Lise was persistent, continuously sending more messages.


    ¡°I genuinely don¡¯t have any other intentions. I just want to apologize for my past mistakes.¡±


    ¡°Now, I¡¯m facing the consequences and realize just how wrong my actions were. I¡¯m hoping for a chance to make amends.¡±


    Katelyn eyed the flood of messages with increasing annoyance.


    What was Lise plotting now?


    Katelyn replied, ¡°If you send another one, I¡¯ll block you.¡±


    Lise responded, ¡°I¡¯m sincerely apologizing, and to make amends, I can share something about your true origins.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened, and her heart began to race. She had thought about looking for her biological parents when she first discovered that she wasn¡¯t really a Bailey, but she had feared they might be gone or unaware that she was missing. What if, like the Bailey family, they didn¡¯t know their daughter had been switched?


    What if they had another daughter and weren¡¯t open to weing her?


    The fear of rejection and abandonment loomedrge again.


    Also, with her life now peaceful, Katelyn didn¡¯t want to stir up new troubles for herself. Even though the idea of meeting her biological parents had often crossed her mind, she had always pushed it aside.


    Yet, with Lise¡¯s message right before her, those buried feelings started to resurface.


    Katelyn responded, ¡°Send me the address.¡±


    Lise quickly sent the location of a nearby cafe. Katelyn drove there straight away.


    Throughout the drive, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what her biological parents might look like and if they were still alive.


    Why did Lise know about them?


    Katelyn¡¯s mind swirled withplex, entangled questions, making her heart feel heavy.


    Katelyn arrived at the cafe swiftly and saw Lise by the window, calmly enjoying her coffee.


    Despite the chaotic noise around and the harsh critiques online, Lise looked rxed and cheerful.


    Katelyn entered and sat directly opposite her.


    Straight away, she inquired, ¡°What do you know?¡±


    Lise took her time to answer, saying, ¡°You got here fast. Before we dive into the serious stuff, how about a coffee?¡±


    That was when Katelyn noticed Lise was drinking an iced Americano.


    Didn¡¯t she realize that pregnant women should avoid coffee?


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 Chapter 255

    ?Chapter 255:


    They¡¯ve Been Looking For You


    Katelyn didn¡¯t immediately respond but instead let her eyes wander to Lise¡¯s stomach.


    Lise wore loose-fitting clothes today, and the idea of her being pregnant simply seemed far-fetched.


    Maybe her belly just wasn¡¯t showing yet, or perhaps she was simply wearing baggy clothes for a change.


    Katelyn chose not to mention what she had just observed.


    She leaned back in her chair, keeping a cautious eye on Lise.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to waste time. Just tell me what you know.¡±


    Lise remained calm as she reached into her bag and pulled out a document, cing it on the table in front of them.


    The document was carefully sealed, its contents hidden from view.


    Lise wore a slight smile, tapping her fingers slowly on the document¡¯s surface. ¡°This is what you¡¯ve been looking for. You¡¯re free to take it whenever you want.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face grew colder. She knew that Lise wouldn¡¯t just hand over what she wanted without some strings attached. She let out a mockingugh. ¡°What¡¯s the catch?¡±


    Lise¡¯s smile widened as she slowly stirred her coffee.


    Katelyn noticed the ice in Lise¡¯s drink, and doubt crept into her mind again. Didn¡¯t Lise know that caffeine could be harmful during pregnancy?


    Wouldn¡¯t her doctor have warned her about that during her checkups?


    A sudden, unsettling thought then came to Katelyn.


    Full chapters on g???????¦Í?????c????


    Was it possible that Lise wasn¡¯t pregnant at all?


    ¡°I enjoy dealing with someone as straightforward as you,¡± Lise continued. ¡°Here is everything I¡¯ve found about your biological parents. It took a lot of time and effort to gather this information.¡±


    She paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on Katelyn, making sure she had herplete attention before adding more.


    ¡°You can have it, but only if you give back all the money Neil paid you.¡±


    Katelyn instantly realized that this was the real reason behind Lise¡¯s offer.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Completely,¡± Lise replied without hesitation, staring deep into Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°You know how much trouble hispany is in, yet you¡¯re trying to use this to squeeze out more money. You and Neil were in love once. How can you betray him like this? Don¡¯t you care if thepany copses? Won¡¯t all his hard work go to waste?¡±


    Lise¡¯s sudden attempt to y on Katelyn¡¯s emotions made Katelyn feel a wave of disgust.


    What was all this talk about ¡°love¡± and ¡°betrayal¡±?


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your games. That money was part of my agreement with Neil. If you want it back, then I¡¯m done with the partnership,¡± Katelyn replied bluntly.


    The only reason she had agreed to work with Neil was to secure the divorce and get him to admit his wrongdoings.


    Now that she had aplished both goals, the money wasn¡¯t really a concern. She had more than enough saved to livefortably. Still, that didn¡¯t mean she would let Lise have what she wanted.


    Lise clenched her teeth, feeling utterly frustrated.


    She couldn¡¯t understand when Katelyn had be so tough to deal with.


    ¡°I want the money returned, and I want the partnership to continue.¡±


    Katelyn rolled her eyes and snapped, ¡°You expect me to hand over money and keep working with him when I can¡¯t even be sure this information you provide is real? Are you out of your mind?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t believe Lise had shown up alone, thinking she could make demands and negotiate like this. It was clearly just another trick to manipte her.


    ¡°This document ispletely genuine, I promise you. After tracking down your biological parents, I had someone look into their background. They really did lose a daughter twenty-five years ago, and they¡¯ve never stopped searching for her. The incident almost crushed them,¡± Lise stated in a steady, self-assured voice.


    ¡°They¡¯ve done everything to find you, and you¡¯re going to let that chance slip away just because you won¡¯t give up some money? Can you imagine how devastated they¡¯d be if they found out about this?¡± she continued.


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 Chapter 256

    ?Chapter 256:


    Lise had been emphasizing the authenticity of the document with a confident tone.


    Yet Katelyn remained skeptical.


    She suspected Lise hade solely for financial gain.


    Perhaps she hadn¡¯t even informed Neil.


    The funds might represent thest remaining assets of the entire Wheeler Group.


    Without any assets left, Lise stood to gain nothing.


    ¡°This agreement involves Neil and me. Was he aware that you approached me?¡± Katelyn asked, curious.


    With a heart full of resentment, Lise clenched her teeth. ¡°Neil, bless his kind and softhearted nature, has been deceived by you. If you had any regard for your past, you wouldn¡¯t strike such a harsh deal now.¡±


    Lisemented Neil¡¯s naivety. How could he overlook discussing such a critical issue with her?


    Their entire enterprise risked copse at Vincent¡¯s hands without the funds.


    Irony yed on Katelyn¡¯s smile.


    ¡°It appears he¡¯s unaware. If you want the deal to proceed, Neil must speak with me himself.¡±


    As Katelyn rose to leave, Lise¡¯s anxiety surged.


    She fixed her gaze on Katelyn¡¯s departing figure, teeth gritted. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about your real parents? They¡¯ve searched for you for years, yet you¡¯ve consistently avoided them.¡±


    Katelyn paused, then turned slightly. ¡°Should I choose to learn about them, I¡¯ll investigate on my own terms. It¡¯s none of your concern.¡±


    ???????? ?????????? ? ????????????????£®?????


    ¡°You!¡± Lise blurted out in rage.


    In her fury, Lise swept everything from the table to the floor, causing amotion that drew the attention of other patrons. She kept ring at Katelyn as the woman left.


    She was determined to exact retribution on Katelyn.


    Upon returning to the coffee shop, Katelyn¡¯s nervousness was palpable, and her mood grew increasinglyplex.


    Katelyn wrestled with the decision to verify the authenticity of the document Lise held.


    Fear gripped her, leaving her paralyzed and unable to act. She was acutely aware of her limits. Discovering any hint about her origins wouldpel her to explore further, despite knowing the agony it could bring, reminiscent of what had happened with the Baileys.


    On her drive home, the day¡¯s events at the caf¨¦ haunted her thoughts.


    Aware of Katelyn¡¯s vulnerability, Lise had intentionally stirred the issue of her biological parents.


    Katelyn feltpelled to act, prompting her to call Neil directly.


    The connection was quick, and Neil¡¯s voice soon filled the line. ¡°I just wanted to touch base,¡± Neil began. ¡°I¡¯ve done as you requested. When do we finalize the contract?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s reply was icy, her smile sharp. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush the contract just yet.¡±


    Anger was palpable in Neil¡¯s response, apanied by the loud crash of something hitting the floor.


    It sounded as if he had knocked over a chair in his frustration.


    ¡°Katelyn, are you trying to manipte me?¡± he challenged. Trapped and desperate, Neil was stunned by her hesitation now after he had done everything she had asked.


    ¡°I was willing to work with you initially, but Lise just confronted me, demanding I return your deposit. How about I just return the money, and we end our agreement? Please, no more interference from her.¡±


    As Katelyn¡¯s demeanor grew increasingly frosty, she reclined against the sofa, her gaze piercing.


    The debacle with the Wheeler Group had escted dramatically. Regardless of Neil¡¯s feelings for Lise, this conflict was bound to provoke a fierce reaction from him. With Lise stirring up a sensitive issue, Katelyn was prepared to retaliate without a second thought.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± she said sharply.


    Frustration was evident in Neil¡¯s clenched jaw and the fierce look in his eyes.


    Why must Lise keepplicating things?


    It had been a struggle to get Katelyn on board, and Lise¡¯s actions had nearly jeopardized everything.


    ¡°Give me some time. I¡¯ll handle this to your satisfaction,¡± Neil promised.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Katelyn replied coolly, ending the call. Just then, the doorbell echoed through the house.


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 Chapter 257

    ?Chapter 257:


    A flicker of uncertainty crossed Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    Today, her home was unusually bustling. Very few people knew her new address. Could it be Vincent wanting to talk to her?


    Katelyn went to answer the door. To her surprise, she was greeted by an elderly woman with gray hair and a middle-aged man supporting her.


    Both appeared exhausted, as if they had been traveling for a long time.


    ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes showed a hint of caution. She didn¡¯t recognize these two.


    ¡°You! Are you Mia?¡±


    The elderly woman¡¯s voice shook with excitement as she tried to grasp Katelyn¡¯s hand, but Katelyn quickly pulled away. She then responded sharply, ¡°You have the wrong person.¡±


    The elderly woman insisted, ¡°No. I am certain you are Mia. When you were a newborn, you were as tiny as a kitten. I feared such a fragile baby might not survive. I never imagined that was thest time I would see you.¡±


    Her voice broke into sobs, her face etched with deep sorrow.


    The man behind her quickly added, ¡°Mia, you may not use this name now, but you are our Mia. You have a red mole on your waist. Do you know about that?¡±


    Instinctively, Katelyn¡¯s hand went to her waist, where there indeed was a red mole.


    From their demeanor, it seemed they were here to reconnect with a family member.


    Could they really be her rtives?


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    With skepticism in her gaze, she kept her hand on the door, ready to shut it quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. I don¡¯t know you. If you¡¯re looking for a rtive, you¡¯ve got the wrong ce.¡±


    The elderly woman grew more distraught at Katelyn¡¯s words, tearfully pping her thighs.


    ¡°We could never mistake you. You look just like your mother. Don¡¯t you want to reunite with us? Your own family? We¡¯ve been searching for you for years.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened. The more the pair spoke, the less she trusted them, and her suspicion only grew.


    Just as Lise had mentioned finding her biological parents, these two strangers appeared, iming to recognize her.


    Katelyn scrutinized the middle-aged man¡¯s face intently. He and the woman next to him bore no resemnce to each other.


    Moreover, her current residence was in one of the most exclusive and highly-secured areas in town. Without explicit directions, it would be nearly impossible to find. She sensed a conspiracy at y.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, you¡¯re mistaken about who I am.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin, her irritation clearly visible. The middle-aged man, his eyes reddened, pleaded, ¡°I understand our family isn¡¯t as wealthy as the Bailey family that raised you, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can deny your own father. If you¡¯re skeptical, we can go for a DNA test right now.¡±


    Katelyn crossed her arms and looked at them icily, demanding, ¡°How did you know about me? How did you find this ce?¡±


    The man, previously forceful, now stammered.


    The elderly woman also looked taken aback. Clearly, they hadn¡¯t anticipated such a direct question from Katelyn.


    ¡°If you im we¡¯re rted, you need to provide convincing proof. Then, I might consider going to the hospital with you for that test.¡±


    Watching their reactions, Katelyn grew even more convinced there was a deception involved.


    She suspected Lise might be orchestrating this.


    It wasn¡¯t that she looked down on the two before her. Back in the day, the Bailey family had been affluent, and Sharon had her baby at the finest private hospital in town.


    If a baby switch had urred, it would have had to happen there.


    Given the duo¡¯s modest appearance, it seemed unlikely they could afford even a night¡¯s stay in such an establishment.


    The entire situation just felt off to her.


    And her own identity mix-up with Lise added anotheryer of doubt.


    ¡°I have proof!¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 258

    ?Chapter 258:


    The middle-aged man¡¯s sudden outburst caught Katelyn off guard.


    As she turned towards him, her expression was one of confusion.


    ¡°What kind of proof are you referring to?¡± she asked.


    ¡°The red mole on your waist and the crescent-shaped birthmark on your shoulder are undeniable proof,¡± he dered confidently.


    Katelyn responded with a dismissive sneer.


    ¡°Those marks are known by everyone close to me.¡±


    Had Lise sent these two to pretend to be Katelyn¡¯s family, she surely would have inquired about any distinguishing marks on her beforehand. Sharon, privy to all details, would have briefed her thoroughly.


    His confidence shattered, the man fell silent, his forehead beading with sweat.


    Katelyn¡¯s resilience was unexpected.


    Under normal circumstances, discovering one¡¯s long-lost family should spark immediate joy.


    Yet, Katelyn¡¯s disdain was evident from the outset, possibly due to their in attire.


    Reflecting on this, the man shot a reproachful nce at the elderly woman beside him.


    He had advised purchasing respectable attire for this significant meeting, but she had resisted.


    The elderly woman stared back at Katelyn, her eyes wide with hurt.


    ¡°What does this mean? Are you refusing to acknowledge us? Do you have any idea of the life we¡¯ve endured, always hoping for this reunion? How can you dismiss us so?¡±


    Her voice grew increasingly frantic, her body teetering on the brink of copse.


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    Katelyn, observing the scene, felt a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. Was this woman, like Lise, attempting to emotionally manipte her?


    The man gripped the old woman with a sorrowful expression.


    ¡°Mother, let it go. She¡¯s ustomed to city life and won¡¯t return to the vige with us. Our presence only brings disgrace. It¡¯s better we leave.¡±


    As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, and his gaze fixed on Katelyn.


    ¡°We may be poor, but we¡¯re perceptive. We understand you despise us. Rest assured, you won¡¯t have to endure ourpany again.¡±


    Their performance was convincing. They seemed well-rehearsed.


    Yet, Katelyn¡¯s gaze remained icy.


    ¡°If I¡¯m truly your daughter, exin the events at the hospital that year,¡± she demanded.


    She hesitated and then pressed further.


    ¡°Why isn¡¯t my biological mother here?¡±


    The man shifted ufortably. ¡°Your mother longed for you and wept until her passing, a few years after your disappearance.¡±


    His evasive eyes betrayed his fabrication, opening more gaps in his story.


    Katelyn¡¯s patience thinned.


    ¡°Tell me, how was I lost?¡±


    The elderly woman sighed deeply before responding, ¡°Your greed-driven mother, working as a nurse in a private hospital, saw an opportunity for a better life for you in the wealth of Mrs. Bailey, who had just given birth. She secretly ced you in Mrs. Bailey¡¯s room.¡±


    She paused, weighed down by the gravity of her recollection.


    ¡°Despite my initial protest, I rationalized that being raised by the Bailey family was an advantage for you. It wasn¡¯t until your identity was exposed by the Baileys that we sought you out.¡±


    Her narrative seemed genuine at first, tinged even with maternal concern, yet upon closer reflection, it reeked of self-interest.


    Katelyn remained silent, letting the woman¡¯s ¡°guilt¡± pour out.


    ¡°Had I foreseen these consequences, I would have reimed you, regardless of the circumstances,¡± the womanmented.


    Katelyn, observing the woman¡¯s tearful facade, interjected sharply, ¡°Did you rehearse this act beforehand?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 259

    ?Chapter 259:


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was icy, her voice tinged with scorn, sending a shiver through both the old woman and the middle-aged man.


    Panic flickered across their faces.


    The old woman, dabbing at her tears once more, sighed deeply. ¡°Mia, I get why you¡¯re resisting. You have no desire to return to our vige,¡± she began.


    Katelyn cut her off sharply. ¡°Enough with the performance.¡±


    Katelyn watched the old woman¡¯s skilled tearful act, initially swaying her belief.


    Their stories seemed rational, yet they were riddled with inconsistencies.


    She looked at them steadily, speaking deliberately.


    ¡°So, my mother secretly moved me into Mrs. Bailey¡¯s room? Evading all the other nurses and even cameras couldn¡¯t have been simple.¡±


    Katelyn continued evenly, ¡°And if my mother had just given birth, how was she physically capable of orchestrating such a scheme? If I had actually been born earlier, wouldn¡¯t the hospital or the Baileys have noticed I wasn¡¯t their newborn child?¡±


    She added, ¡°Moreover, few know where I now live, yet you found me effortlessly. Knowing about my birthmark and mole doesn¡¯t prove anything significant. You might as well have asked Lise.¡±


    Mentioning Lise was strategic, aiming to gauge their reaction.


    As expected, the middle-aged man appeared increasingly nervous, ncing away and subtly reaching for the old woman. Katelyn caught the slight gesture, and her suspicion that Lise was orchestrating this deepened.


    Her eyes conveyed deep disdain. Without fully distancing herself from Lise, peace seemed unattainable. It was clear Lise intended to unsettle her using supposed family ties.


    Discover where it all happens: g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s?c?m


    The old woman, energized by desperation, eximed, ¡°You refuse to return with us! We¡¯ve searched for you for years, yet you disappoint us! If you doubt us, let¡¯s verify it with a paternity test.¡±


    She advanced suddenly, grasping Katelyn¡¯s hand as though to drag her to the hospital for the test.


    Katelyn immediately stepped back, avoiding the old woman, her expression growing even icier.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. I don¡¯t know you. I may have to call the police,¡± she warned.


    The old woman¡¯s tears vanished, reced by a fierce scowl as she clenched her teeth.


    ¡°So, you want proof? Is a paternity test what you¡¯re after?¡±


    Katelyn narrowed her eyes, skeptical.


    Their evident guilt when she confronted them made it clear they were definitely lying, but now they were relentlessly pushing for a paternity test.


    Perhaps they had already manipted the hospital records. Even if Katelyn wasn¡¯t actually rted to them, the fabricated test results could bind her to them.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was scornful.


    ¡°Seek me out for a paternity test once you¡¯ve refined your deception. Continue this harassment, and I¡¯ll involve the police.¡±


    She then shut the door sharply, cutting off any further dialogue.


    Exchanging nces of frustration, the middle-aged man and the old woman knew that Katelyn¡¯s wealth as a renowned designer named Iris could solve all their financial worries if they maintained their connection to her.


    Missing such an opportunity was unthinkable to them. Quickly devising a new strategy, the old woman whispered urgently to herpanion.


    That evening, Katelyn enjoyed a nice dinner with Aimee, dismissing the earlier confrontation.


    She resumed her work routine the next day, her life seemingly returning to normal after a sessful press conference and an uptick in her social media following.


    Yet, an unexpected disturbance awaited her after work.


    Samuel, knocking at her office door, brought unsettling news.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, there¡¯s a disturbance downstairs. Someone iming to be your rtive is causing a scene.¡±


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    Katelyn¡¯s expression sharpened immediately.


    It became clear that the duo hade to herpany deliberately to cause trouble.


    The potential damage from public scrutiny and rumors would surely ruin her.


    She chose not to disclose the previous day¡¯s events to Vincent when she came to work today.


    His puzzled reaction to Samuel¡¯s report prompted him to ask, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Nothing significant, just Lise scheming against me once more,¡± Katelyn replied tersely, then directed her gaze towards Samuel.


    ¡°Could you have security remove those two? They¡¯re here to extort me.¡±


    Samuel acknowledged with a nod.


    Despite this, Katelyn decided to step outside herself. The duo¡¯s act couldn¡¯t go on if she withdrew and merely watched from the shadows.


    Walking alongside her, Vincent¡¯s expression was tinged with concern.


    He sensed a shift in her demeanor.


    She was less forting than before.


    ¡°You know I¡¯m here if you need assistance,¡± he offered.


    Katelyn redirected her attention to him, shaking her head.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle this on my own. I prefer not to burden you further,¡± she admitted, reflecting on how much she had already leaned on him during their coboration.


    Unwilling to feel indebted, she insisted on independence.


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    Vincent paused, giving her a contemtive look.


    As they reached the ground floor, cries from outside halted them. The old woman was on the floor of the lobby, theatrically resisting the security guards attempting to escort her away.


    ¡°You can¡¯t make me leave! I¡¯m here to see my granddaughter. Don¡¯t touch me! Or do you want to be responsible for my demise?¡± she wailed.


    The man supporting her quickly chimed in, appealing to the guards¡¯ caution.


    ¡°My mother is frail, with serious health issues. Would you risk being ountable for any harm thates to her?¡±


    Their words momentarily stunned the security personnel, unsure of how to proceed without escting the situation. Handling the old woman proved difficult. There was a risk she might use any incident to extort them.


    Upon observing their hesitation, the old woman scoffed confidently, ¡°Challenge me if you dare. I¡¯ll leave the moment I see her. Don¡¯t you have anypassion? I¡¯m merely an old woman searching for my granddaughter, missing for over two decades. What have I done wrong?¡±


    Her voice boomed through the lobby, catching Vincent¡¯s attention, who quickly discerned their true intentions.


    ¡°They came to extort Katelyn,¡± he mused.


    ¡°Did they visit you yesterday?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn¡¯s hands involuntarily formed fists at her sides, her expression one of revulsion and cold.


    ¡°Yes, and I sent them away. I didn¡¯t think they would follow me here.¡±


    Vincent responded firmly, ¡°It¡¯s best you keep your distance. Let Samuel handle this.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Katelyn replied, her grip tightening as she mulled over Lise¡¯s maniptions.


    She realized Lise exploited her deepest concerns to torment her, intending to entangle her in a web of deceit that could prevent her from meeting her real parents forever.


    Lise¡¯s cruelty was apparent.


    Samuel approached the duo briskly. His years as Vincent¡¯s assistant had honed his judgment and diplomacy.


    Despite that Katelyn revealed little, he had deduced enough from the old woman¡¯s derations to confront her directly.


    ¡°Your antics here disrupt our workce and threaten ourpany¡¯s environment. Persist, and I assure you, the police involvement will not end in your favor.¡±


    With that, he pulled out his phone.


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    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: Hope you liked the chapters dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (¡ä?? ? ??`) ?


    .

 Chapter 261

    ?Chapter 261:


    The elderly woman, who had been feigning illness on the floor, sprang up suddenly and tried to snatch the phone from Samuel, her demeanor shifting rapidly.


    ¡°This is arge corporation. Don¡¯t you have anypassion? Can¡¯t you see the struggle of an old woman trying to find her granddaughter? Do you really want to throw me out? Let me make myself clear. Even if you call the police, they couldn¡¯t do anything to me. If you infuriate me, I¡¯ll end my life right here!¡±


    Samuel swiftly avoided the old woman¡¯s grasp.


    The elderly woman, previously acting sick, rolled up her sleeves as though readying for a confrontation.


    Her sudden transformation startled many employees present.


    The middle-aged man seized the moment and yelled, ¡°Katelyn, won¡¯t youe out? I¡¯m your father! And she¡¯s your grandmother! How can you stand by and watch us being treated like this?¡±


    Samuel, seeing through their act, sneered. ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to end it, I might just help you along. I¡¯m not averse to adding more to the tally.¡±


    The old woman¡¯s face fell, and her eyes darted about anxiously.


    No! This couldn¡¯t be happening!


    Katelyn was wealthy. If she backed down now, she¡¯d lose out on a life of luxury!


    Plus, this was a bigpany, known for its reputation. They wouldn¡¯t dare really harm her!


    The old woman¡¯s demeanor hardened, and with a defiant tone, she said, ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere until I see Katelyn.¡±


    Samuel had no patience left for her antics. He signaled to the security guards.


    Unforgettable stories on g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s??o??


    There was no need for politeness with people like them. As the security guards moved in, the old woman¡¯s screams intensified.


    ¡°The Adams Group is viting thew! This is illegal! How dare you bully an old woman like me! I¡¯ll expose everything you¡¯ve done!¡±


    The middle-aged man, suppressing his own fear, also cried out. ¡°You bullied us because wee from a small vige. Yet, everyone¡¯s ancestors started in viges. Karma will catch up to you for this!¡±


    The two continued their tirade, which almost pushed Katelyn to the brink of revealing herself.


    Where did Lise dig up these two maniacs?


    Just as she was about to step out from behind the corner, Vincent swiftly caught her wrist, giving her a disapproving shake of his head as he coldly watched the elderly woman.


    ¡°Just let them continue their performance.¡±


    Katelyn looked unsure, expressing her concern. ¡°I¡¯m worried this might impact thepany.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to bring any more trouble his way, but things weren¡¯t going as she¡¯d hoped.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s see how long they can keep this up.¡± Vincent sneered. With years of business experience, he had encountered many types of people, yet this old woman was particrly audacious, exploiting her age. These people didn¡¯t warrant any serious attention.


    After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Katelyn nodded. Stepping out now would only escte their antics.


    Work hours were ending, and the Adams Group¡¯s office was located on a bustling street.


    Thepany¡¯s doors were wide open, attracting the gaze of many onlookers.


    Suddenly, a group of reporters materialized and began interviewing the old woman.


    ¡°Why are you crying here? Has someone mistreated you? We¡¯re from the TV station. Feel free to tell us your story.¡±


    The elderly woman seemed to have found a lifeline and began airing her grievances to the cameras.<fn4987> Original content can be found at FindN()vel</fn4987>


    ¡°I¡¯m relieved to finally have some help. We¡¯re from a small vige, and we¡¯re here because we¡¯ve been searching for my granddaughter, who¡¯s been missing for many years. We¡¯ve spent years looking for her.¡±


    Tears welled up in the old woman¡¯s eyes again. She dabbed them with her sleeve before continuing.


    ¡°We finally located her, but when we approached her yesterday, she attacked us and threw us out. She even told us we were too poor to be considered her family. We¡¯re at our wit¡¯s end. This is ourst resort. Now, even the employees of thispany are trying to send us away. Please, we need assistance.¡±


    The middle-aged man nodded with sorrow. ¡°Actually, my mother is critically ill. Her final wish is to reunite with her granddaughter. I never imagined that after all these years, my daughter would deny even knowing me.¡±


    As he spoke, he managed to squeeze out a few insincere tears.


    The reporters quickly asked, ¡°Who is your daughter, sir?¡±


    ¡°Katelyn Bailey, the design manager at thispany!¡±


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 Chapter 262

    ?Chapter 262:


    The old woman dered with certainty, ¡°I¡¯m shocked by how she¡¯s treating me. After all, I¡¯ve been searching for my granddaughter for over twenty years.¡±


    Her deration stunned the gathered reporters.


    Insiders had hinted that a significant event was unfolding at the Adams Group, though specifics remained unclear.


    The revtion was explosive. Despite the long-standing public spection about Katelyn¡¯s origins, the sudden appearance of these alleged rtives was bound to dominate headlines. The journalists, barely containing their excitement, pressed on, ¡°Is this the truth? Then why hasn¡¯t Katelyn recognized you?¡±


    The man responded quickly, a mix of desperation and frustration in his tone, ¡°We¡¯re just too poor. She prefers her life with the wealthy Baileys. Why would she choose us instead?¡±


    Vincent and Katelyn, standing aside, overheard everything. The look in Katelyn¡¯s eyes grew increasingly icy.


    Lise¡¯s efforts to damage her reputation seemed relentless. If this episode became public, Katelyn would be vilified as heartless.


    Fed up, Katelyn stepped forward decisively, remarking, ¡°What a scene here!¡±


    Her emergence prompted the reporters to immediately point their cameras at her.


    The old woman, tearing up again, pleaded with a tremble in her voice, ¡°Katelyn, please understand. We have to take this approach. We¡¯re desperate to reconnect with you.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened with ridicule. ¡°You clearly know whether you¡¯re here to reconcile or to tarnish my name.¡±<fnb630> This content belongs to </fnb630>


    L?t?st ?h¦Ápt?rs in g??lnov??l??.??o??


    The man retorted sharply, ¡°What are you talking about? We are your family. How could we possibly harm you? Just agree to a paternity test, and you¡¯ll understand everything. You¡¯ve been avoiding this test because you¡¯re afraid of the truth.¡±


    Katelyn responded with a frosty re, ¡°First, provide solid evidence to convince me. Then we can discuss the paternity test. And you used me of assaulting you yesterday¡ªwhere is your evidence? Without proof, that¡¯s defamation.¡±


    She nced toward Samuel, her voice icy. ¡°You heard her usations, right? We have surveince in the lobby as well. Submit it to the court if necessary.¡±


    Samuel responded promptly, ¡°I¡¯ll secure the bestwyer and ensure they face the consequences behind bars.¡±


    The old woman¡¯s anxiety escted. The threat of jail hadn¡¯t urred to her just for making those ims.


    The middle-aged man also appeared troubled, realizing their quick scheme for money could lead to serious legal trouble.


    Katelyn turned to leave, disinterested in further discussion, but the reporters eagerly followed her.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, isn¡¯t your response too harsh towards your family? Do you disdain them because they¡¯re poorer than the Baileys?¡± one reporter asked boldly.


    Katelyn gave the reporters a cold, narrow-eyed stare.


    The timing was too precise; just as the old woman began causing a scene, the reporters arrived and intensified the situation.


    It seemed orchestrated, and Katelyn could only suspect Lise was behind it¡ªthe woman who was adept at maniption.


    In a biting tone, her gaze mocking, Katelyn challenged, ¡°Do you take her word as gospel? If she ims the world ends tomorrow, would you just believe her?¡±


    Typically mild-mannered, this was uncharacteristically direct for Katelyn.


    The reporter, taken aback, was visibly embarrassed, his face flushed with confusion.


    Katelyn¡¯s disdain for these reporters was evident.


    Just then, the old woman sprang up from the floor and charged toward Katelyn.


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 Chapter 263

    ?Chapter 263:


    The old woman reached out her frail hand to grab Katelyn¡¯s sleeve.


    Caught off guard by the sudden move, Katelyn couldn¡¯t react in time. Just then, arge hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her aside, evading the old woman¡¯s grasp.


    It was Vincent. He red at the old woman with chilling intensity, his formidable presence causing her to cower and instinctively retreat a few steps.


    The man was terrifying.


    At over sixty years old, she had never encountered a man with such a fearsome presence and piercing eyes, as if his gaze alone could kill her.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was as cold as ice. The oppressive atmosphere he created left the old woman stammering, unable to speak clearly.


    ¡°I just don¡¯t want her to get away. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll vanish again if I lose sight of her this time.¡±


    Vincent scoffed, clearly disgusted by the maniption.


    ¡°Do you have any proof that Miss Bailey is connected to you?¡±


    Initially timid, the old woman then recalled something and said with newfound confidence, ¡°I have no proof, which is why I¡¯m asking for a DNA test. If she cares about us, her own family, why wouldn¡¯t shee with me?¡±


    ¡°Should I submit to a DNA test with anyone who approaches me?¡± Katelyn¡¯s reply was cold and mocking. She shot Vincent a thankful look, but when she faced the old woman again, her expression turned icy.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of who sent you. I suggest you leave now, or I¡¯ll ensure you regret evering to Granville.¡±


    Her stance was authoritative. Although her voice was calm, her eyes hinted at potential ruthlessness. She meant every word. She had pieced together the situation the day before, and considering the woman¡¯s age, had initially decided to let it go.


    L¦Á¦Ó??¦Ó ?§ß¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.??om


    Now, however, she recognized that the old woman¡¯s age was her greatest advantage. The moment she imed to be sick and copsed, no one would dare confront her.


    Suddenly, Katelyn regretted not resolving the issue yesterday, realizing it had escted into today¡¯s chaos.


    Confronted by the formidable Katelyn and Vincent, the old woman lost herposure, her eyes filled with fear.


    She had thought Katelyn was tough to handle, yet the man at her side was even more intimidating. His mere nce silenced her. Could this be Vincent Adams, the CEO of the Adams Group?


    Just as the old woman was about to back down and abandon her scheme for money, the middle-aged man with her charged forward.


    He used Katelyn, saying, ¡°You¡¯re just avoiding the truth of who you really are, aren¡¯t you? Come with us and take a paternity test. If it shows you¡¯re not my daughter, we¡¯ll leave you alone for good.¡±


    They brought up the paternity test so often that Katelyn waspletely certain something was off.


    Yet, if she refused, the disruption would persist, potentially harming herpany¡¯s reputation due to their frequent disturbances.


    She noticed the reporters around them, cameras in hand, capturing every moment.


    They might exaggerate the details to spice up the story.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn said softly.


    The old woman and the middle-aged man¡¯s faces lit up with triumph.


    But Katelyn¡¯s next words abruptly wiped the smiles off their faces.


    ¡°If the paternity test shows we¡¯re not rted, I¡¯ll press charges against you for harassment, defamation, and causing a disturbance. I hope you¡¯re ready to serve your time.¡±


    It was a clear threat and a stern warning.


    Despite her fear, the old woman persisted stubbornly.


    ¡°You are my granddaughter, I¡¯m sure of it.¡±


    Vincent approached Katelyn and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the hospital.¡±


    .


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    .<fna256> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? findnovel</fna256>

 Chapter 264

    ?Chapter 264:


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes showed a brief hint of surprise, which she quickly concealed. She didn¡¯t expect Vincent to offer his help in this situation.


    Her debt to him seemed to grow deeper every day.


    Still, she nodded and agreed to let Vincent go with her to the hospital. She knewplications awaited them there.


    If things were to get even more difficult, she might need his support again. At worst, she would owe him a bit more when it was time to repay what she owed.


    The old woman quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Hearnd Hospital. I¡¯ve been treated there before, and I trust the doctors. They don¡¯t make mistakes.¡±


    The Hearnd Hospital?


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned colder at the old woman¡¯s words. The insistence on that particr ce revealed everything.


    It seemed the scheme was tied to that hospital. They had probably bribed the doctors to alter the paternity test results, even if the test didn¡¯t confirm their ims.


    Katelyn and Vincent understood this immediately.


    Lise had hired an aplice to deal with her, but the choice seemed poorly thought out.


    ¡°There¡¯s a hospital near thepany, Central Hospital. We could go there instead,¡± Katelyn suggested.


    The old woman answered, ¡°No, we¡¯re going to the Hearnd Hospital. I don¡¯t trust any other ce. What if you try to tamper with the test results in secret?¡±


    Herment shocked everyone. Anyone listening closely could pick up on the scheme behind her words.


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    Even the middle-aged man with her noticed the issue and quickly tugged at her sleeve, realizing the mistake.


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t she think before speaking? Katelyn is so hard to deal with. If she figures out our maniptions at the Hearnd Hospital, it will be problematic,¡± the man thought.


    Trying to cover up the slip, the man smiled and added, ¡°Yeah, the Hearnd Hospital is the best choice. We¡¯ve been there, and we know their doctors are reliable.¡±


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a knowing look, both recognizing the thinly veiled agenda behind their insistence.


    Since these two were determined to stick with their n, she decided to y along and said, ¡°Fine, the Hearnd Hospital it is.¡± The old woman and the man visibly rxed.


    They believed their n was unfolding just as they wanted and that they were close to getting what they came for.


    Katelyn and Vincent climbed into the car, with Vincent taking the wheel this time instead of Samuel.<fnd127> Content originallyes from find(?)ovel</fnd127>


    He navigated the evening traffic with ease, guiding the vehicle smoothly through the congested streets.


    Keeping one hand on the wheel, Vincent shot a sidelong nce at Katelyn with a faint smile ying on his lips.


    ¡°You¡¯ve already got someone in mind, don¡¯t you? Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Who else could it be but Lise? I never expected her toe this far.¡±


    Katelyn clenched her fists in secret. She was determined to repay Lise tenfold for this.


    It seemed the bacsh from thest public scandal hadn¡¯t done much to deter Lise, as she still had the nerve to plot against Katelyn.


    Vincent nodded, keeping his eyes on the road, while his fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Samuel to investigate which doctors at the Hearnd Hospital might have been bribed or are working with them,¡± he said.


    His thoroughness in handling every aspect of the situation made Katelyn feel even more indebted to him.


    She leaned back in her seat, her expression a mix of gratitude and uncertainty.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, you¡¯ve done so much for me. I honestly have no idea how to even begin to repay you.¡±


    Vincent didn¡¯t need money, nor did he require more influence. The usual ways of showing appreciation seemedpletely out of reach.


    She wanted to express her thanks properly, but finding a meaningful way to do so felt almost impossible.


    ¡°Are you always this worried about such little things?¡± Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow, feeling a surprising sense of ease in his chest.


    It seemed this was how Katelyn truly felt.


    Her intentional distance was her way of avoiding the feeling of owing him even more.


    Katelyn sighed, looking slightly downcast. ¡°Ever since we¡­¡±


    Since we started working together, it feels like all I¡¯ve done is bring you trouble. I haven¡¯t been able to offer much help, apart from the design work.¡±


    Her nature made it hard for her to feel at ease when she felt indebted to someone.


    She was always trying to find a way to repay her debts, but when it came to Vincent, it felt especially difficult since he truly didn¡¯t need anything she could offer.


    Sensing her unease, Vincent spoke slowly, but with a lighter tone. ¡°If you feel like you owe me, then just do me a small favor in return.¡±


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 Chapter 265

    ?Chapter 265:


    Vincent actually needed her assistance?


    Without a moment¡¯s dy, Katelyn responded, ¡°I¡¯m at your service, Mr. Adams.¡±


    This was a golden opportunity for her to show her gratitude. There was no way she could ever fully repay him for all his past support, but this was a good start.


    Vincent nodded and offered a smile. ¡°Okay.¡±


    Yet, as time passed, he remained silent about the favor he needed.


    Katelyn held back her curiosity.


    When the time was right, Vincent would surely let her know.


    They reached Hearnd Hospital quickly.


    The elderly woman and the middle-aged man with her hailed a cab and trailed behind them, apanied by a swarm of paparazzi eager to capture the unfolding drama.


    Katelyn had just divorced and suddenly found herself confronted by unexpected rtives.


    The paparazzi were convinced that staying on Katelyn¡¯s trail would lead to juicy headlines.


    Katelyn nced back at the old woman and then entered the hospital without further interaction.


    To secure an urate oue for the paternity test, blood samples were taken directly.


    After the procedure, Katelyn pressed a cotton swab against the puncture site and looked over at the man undergoing the same process.


    ording to their ims, he was Katelyn¡¯s biological father, and the elderly woman was her grandmother.


    ?????????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ??????????¦Í????????????


    The nurse finished collecting the blood samples and said, ¡°It will take at least three days to get the results of the paternity test. Please be patient in the meantime. We¡¯ll contact you as soon as we have the results.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    With a dismissive wave, the nurse responded, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡±


    The bleeding from the needle site stopped quickly.


    Just as Katelyn was about to leave, the old woman approached and blocked her path.


    ¡°Mia, will you ept us as your family if the test confirms that we are rted?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely, if the results are urate. However, if they¡¯re not, rest assured I will hold you ountable through legal means,¡± Katelyn replied calmly.


    The elderly woman seemed to anticipate this response and nervously rubbed her hands.<fnaed4> For more chapters visit find?novel</fnaed4>


    ¡°Well, Mia, we¡¯ve traveled here from our vige and spent all our money. Plus, everything in Granville is so expensive. We¡¯re broke. Could you help us out with some cash?¡± As she spoke, her eyes clearly disyed her greed.


    The middle-aged man chimed in, ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? Once the results confirm she¡¯s part of our Miles family, it¡¯s only fair she supports us financially. We¡¯ve endured a lot trying to find her. It¡¯s her turn topensate us.¡±


    Katelyn understood their motives immediately.


    They had justpleted the blood draw, the results were still pending, yet they were already convinced of her familial ties and demanding money.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes briefly shed with disdain; he despised such greed.


    The old woman quickly added, ¡°Yes, indeed. Mia, we never imagined you¡¯d be so sessful. Surely, the Bailey family¡¯s influence was significant, right? We deserve some credit. If we hadn¡¯t ced you in Sharon Bailey¡¯s care, would you have achieved so much?¡±


    Upon hearing the old woman¡¯s shameless words, Katelyn¡¯s gaze turned cold.


    She tossed the cotton swab into the trash bin.


    Her face showedplete indifference.


    ¡°Firstly, the test results aren¡¯t even back yet. Stop calling me Mia. Secondly, if you indeed reced the true Bailey daughter with me, as you say, that was illegal. If the Bailey family chooses to pursue legal action, none of you will be spared.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s tone grew even colder as she continued, ¡°And thirdly, what you did back then was legally considered abandonment. I haven¡¯t even pressed charges against you, yet here you are expectingpensation from me? That¡¯s utterly shameless. Moreover, what the Bailey family has contributed to my upbringing has already deeply affected me, and yet you pressure me even more. Did the Bailey family put you up to this?¡±


    She had already repaid the Bailey family with a billion dors for the resources they had poured into her over the years, but their demands persisted. Was it really all her fault, though?


    The old woman was left speechless. Just then, the sound of angry footsteps approached from down the corridor.


    .


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 Chapter 266

    ?Chapter 266:


    It was Sharon.


    Katelyn had given her the heads-up on the way to the hospital. The Bailey couple had lost their biological child due to someone¡¯s greedy scheme.


    Ever since she found out the truth, Sharon had built up a lot of anger, and now she finally found a way to release it.


    Katelyn reached out to her, betting that Lise had kept quiet about herpleted n.


    As expected, Sharon fixed a fierce re on the old woman as soon as she arrived. ¡°Did you sneak into my room and switch my child all those years ago?¡±<fnd9aa> ?????? ???? find(?)ovel</fnd9aa>


    The old woman was taken aback. Confused, she blurted out, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the reason I¡¯ve been apart from my daughter for all these years. You¡¯re doomed, you wicked old bitch!¡±


    Seething with anger, Sharon seized the old woman¡¯s arm and delivered a fierce p across her face.


    She was tall and strong and had been leading a good life for many years. Hence, she naturally used a lot of strength. Her p could even knock down Jeff; the frail old woman didn¡¯t stand a chance and copsed to the ground instantly.


    Katelyn quietly stepped back, distancing herself from the altercation.


    With Lise having orchestrated such a drama, Katelyn saw no reason to suppress her own anger any longer.


    Vincent stepped back alongside Katelyn, giving her a significant look.


    He had underestimated Katelyn¡¯s readiness to retaliate; he thought she would wait until the DNA results were out.


    Sharon¡¯s swift actions redirected the conflict at once.


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    Vincent realized that Katelyn was smarter than he had thought.


    After the old woman was knocked down to the ground, shey there, covering her face and screaming, ¡°Help! She¡¯s trying to kill me! Someone, please help! Call the cops! I need justice!¡±


    The middle-aged man snapped to reality and positioned himself defensively in front of his mother while ring at Sharon.


    ¡°Have you lost your mind? How dare you hit my mother!¡±


    ¡°Regret this.¡±


    As he spoke, he seemed poised to confront Sharon, but she remained unfazed.


    She stood there with her head held high, emanating a powerful presence.


    ¡°If you even think about touching me, I¡¯ll make sure you and your mother regret ever stepping foot in Granville! I mean every word I say! How dare you conspire against me? Go to hell!¡± Sharon clenched her teeth as she spoke.


    Her re was so fierce that it seemed as if it could reduce them to ashes.


    If not for their actions, she wouldn¡¯t have lost so many years without Lise.


    The middle-aged man finally caught on, his voice filled with disbelief, asking, ¡°Are you from the Bailey family?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve swapped my child. I¡¯ll see you both in jail.¡±


    Sharon was about to call someone as she pulled out her phone. Despite the years that had passed, with the Bailey family¡¯s influence, she could definitely ensure that these two would end up in jail.


    The old woman and the middle-aged man exchanged worried looks, seeing fear mirrored in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Indeed, they had been manipted by Lise to set up Katelyn.


    Sharon¡¯s unexpected intervention shocked them.


    They didn¡¯t want to go to jail.


    The old woman urgently signaled to her son.


    The man immediately rushed over, grabbed Sharon¡¯s phone, and smashed it.


    ¡°Bitch! What are you talking about? You hurt my mother, and now you¡¯re making false usations against us? You think being part of the Bailey family gives you the right?¡±


    Sharon was seething with anger andpletely disregarded the paparazzi tailing her as she lunged at the man. ¡°I¡¯ll fight you to the end, you son of a bitch!¡±


    As they scuffled, the old woman got up and grabbed Sharon¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Bitch! How dare you attack my son! I¡¯ll rip your face off.¡±


    For a moment, the three of them fought fiercely, and the paparazzi couldn¡¯t stop taking photos and videos.


    They were confident this spectacle would dominate the headlines for the next week.


    Despite the chaos, Katelyn made no move to intervene. She preferred to watch the drama unfold; the bigger the spectacle, the better.


    There was even a ghost of a smile on Vincent¡¯s lips. Tilting his head, he stared at the charming woman standing beside him with increasing admiration. She was indeed brilliant. Suddenly, a voice filled with shock and panic cut through the chaos.


    ¡°What are you doing? Stop it!¡±


    .


    .


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 Chapter 267

    ?Chapter 267:


    When Lise burst into the room and saw the brawl, she was so shocked she nearly passed out. She hadn¡¯t anticipated this at all!


    Why had Sharon unexpectedly shown up at the hospital to cause a scene?


    And now she was embroiled in a fight¡ªhow humiliating! Feeling too ashamed to even mention her ties to the Bailey family, Lise was bewildered.


    She had just been reunited with her parents. How had everything gone so wrong?


    Sharon wasn¡¯t known to be this aggressive before!<fn683d> Read full story at findnovel</fn683d>


    Lise attempted to break up the fight.


    ¡°Stop! Can you hear me? Stop, now!¡±


    But Sharon continued, grabbing the old woman¡¯s hair andnding a solid kick on the man.


    ¡°Lise, stay out of this. These people tore our family apart. I¡¯m going to make them pay today!¡±


    Not to be subdued, the old woman jumped up and scratched Sharon¡¯s face fiercely.


    ¡°A troublemaker like you wouldn¡¯tst a day in our vige! I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson today. You can¡¯t mess with me!¡±


    The man also kept cursing. ¡°You¡¯re insane. Let go of me! Or I swear I¡¯ll beat you up!¡±


    Lise¡¯s efforts to intervene only escted the chaos. The fight only subsided with the arrival of security guards.


    Sharon ended up with chunks of her hair yanked out and numerous scratches on her face.


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    The old woman and the man were no better off; they were all gasping for breath and looked ready to dive back into the fight. Lise felt a headacheing on.


    She had always prided herself on her intelligence, yet Sharon¡¯s actions seemed so foolish!


    She quickly positioned herself in front of Sharon, worried about another outbreak. Then she asked urgently, ¡°Mom, what brought you here to fight with them? Did someone provoke you?¡± As she spoke, Lise shot a ferocious nce at Katelyn, suspecting she had something to do with this chaos.


    Katelyn responded with a mocking smile.


    Lise¡¯s meticulous ns were thwarted by Sharon¡¯s actions. Now, Lise was definitely furious but still had to stay calm to sort out the mess.


    To Lise, Katelyn¡¯s look seemed tantly provocative, but she couldn¡¯t focus on Katelyn at the moment.


    Sharon, seething with anger, ran her fingers through her hair and clenched her teeth.


    She gripped Lise and said, ¡°They kidnapped you from the hospital. I¡¯ll make sure they pay dearly. They¡¯re going to rot in jail!¡±


    Lise, struggling to contain her own anger, tried to calm Sharon with patience.


    ¡°Mom, please rx. What if there¡¯s more to this story? We shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions and y into someone¡¯s trap.¡±


    Sharon brushed Lise aside and retorted, ¡°They just confessed. They¡¯re guilty. Don¡¯t interfere, Lise. I¡¯m going to set this right.¡±


    Sharon approached the old woman and said, word by word, ¡°If you end up in my hands, I promise your life will be a living nightmare. Expect a call from mywyer.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s menacing tone and re finally intimidated the two. How could they possibly stand against the powerful Bailey family, especially here in Granville?


    The old woman protested quickly, ¡°You attacked us first. We were only defending ourselves. What¡¯s that legal term again?¡± After a moment of thought, she remembered. ¡°Yes! Self-defense! Even if you sue, we¡¯re not at fault. Why should we be arrested?¡±


    ¡°You kidnapped my child, causing us years of separation. Don¡¯t you think you should face consequences? Once you¡¯re behind bars, I¡¯ll make sure your life is miserable,¡± Sharon said bitterly.


    For Sharon, making such threats was well within her capabilities. A simple phone call could spell doom for the pair in Granville, going unnoticed.


    She preferred not to get her hands dirty herself.


    The old woman¡¯s face turned pale, and she looked at Lise at once.


    She was begging for help with her eyes. She and the man had made a deal with Lise, who never mentioned anything about prison.


    Lise, panicking as her scheme was about to copse, looked desperately at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, they¡¯re your family. Won¡¯t you step in and calm things down?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 268

    ?Chapter 268:


    Lise had convinced herself that her n was wless.<fndb93> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? </fndb93>


    She had even paid off the hospital staff, believing that once the DNA results came through, she would have Katelyn trapped with no way out.


    However, Sharon¡¯s unexpected appearance had thrown everything into chaos. Now, the public¡¯s attention had shifted, and instead of focusing on Katelyn, everyone was looking at Sharon and the elderly woman.


    This was far from the oue Lise had nned. With no way to exin everything clearly, she had no choice but to try and pull Katelyn back into the mess.


    Just as she¡¯d hoped, her words immediately caught Sharon¡¯s attention again.


    Sharon shot Katelyn a furious re.


    ¡°What did I do in my past life to deserve this now? I swear I won¡¯t ever forgive you or your family. You¡¯re all disgusting!¡±


    Katelyn remained calm. The look in her eyes made it seem like she was simply an observer, amused by the drama unfolding before her.


    ¡°The results of the DNA test aren¡¯t in yet, so we have no idea if they¡¯re actually my family. But there¡¯s one thing that¡¯s clear¡ªyou and your daughter have been kept apart for all these years because of them.¡±


    Katelyn let a faint smile curl on her lips as she finished speaking. Lise must have been blinded by her own anger toe up with such a foolish n.


    She knew how deeply Sharon cared about this, yet she had still dared to stir up trouble.


    In the end, it wasn¡¯t Katelyn who would suffer from this, but Sharon.


    When the old woman heard Katelyn¡¯s response, she rushed toward her, visibly panicking.


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    ¡°Mia, what are you saying? Are you still refusing to acknowledge us?¡±


    With the Bailey family¡¯s wealth and influence, there was no way they could fight them head-on.


    If they wanted to avoid retaliation, they had to use Katelyn as their shield.


    As she spoke, the old woman reached out eagerly to grab Katelyn¡¯s arm, desperate to confirm their connection.


    But Katelyn didn¡¯t give her the chance. She swiftly turned away, dodging the old woman¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°The DNA test results aren¡¯t back yet. I am not your Mia.¡±


    The old woman gritted her teeth in fury and spat out, ¡°You¡¯re clearly just after the Bailey family¡¯s money! You have no intention ofing back with us, do you? You ungrateful brat!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned cold at those words.


    These two were nothing but frauds hired by Lise. Even if they had been her real family, they had never cared enough to raise her. Now, they showed up wanting to take advantage of her.


    They had absolutely no right to call her ungrateful!


    ¡°You should worry about dealing with the Baileys first. Just a friendly reminder: if you¡¯re found guilty, you¡¯re looking at a prison sentence of anywhere from five to twenty years. And if Mrs. Bailey decides to make things worse for you, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if you end up dying there before you¡¯ve even served your full sentence.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s words drained the color from their faces. The arrogance on their faces had disappeared, now reced by fear of the punishment ahead.


    The old woman, especially, looked terrified. She seemed to realize that she might not even live long enough to finish her time in jail, let alone make it through her full sentence.


    Katelyn watched their faces closely, observing their reactions, and her smile grew even wider.


    She hadn¡¯t gone tow school, and the numbers she had thrown out werepletely made up.


    But as long as she could break down their psychological defenses, they were bound to slip up and expose more of their lies.


    ¡°You¡ª!¡±


    The old woman¡¯s eyes widened, and she looked like she wanted to argue but couldn¡¯t find the words.


    Even the middle-aged man¡¯s face had turned bright red.


    At that moment, they both felt a wave of regret wash over them. They hade here looking for a quick payout and a wealthy benefactor, but now they faced the unexpected threat of prison.


    Sensing that things were getting out of hand, Lise quickly jumped in.


    ¡°Katelyn, stop trying to scare them. They are still your family. Even if you don¡¯t want to ept them, you shouldn¡¯t say such things.¡±


    While Lise spoke, she gave a quick wink to the old woman.


    She had already decided she would find a way to calm Sharon downter. For now, her priority was pulling Katelyn deeper into the mess.


    ¡°It looks like you¡¯re determined to push this duo on me. I¡¯ve already told you a few times¡ªthe DNA results aren¡¯t even in yet. Do you have trouble understanding English?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened as she moved closer to Lise, each step slow and deliberate.


    ¡°By the way, I forgot to ask you something,¡± she continued. ¡°Did you leak the address of my new house? Your online reputation is in ruins, and people are tearing you apart on every tform, but somehow, you still find time for these underhanded games. I have to say, you¡¯re really something.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s words struck a nerve, and Lise¡¯s face was marred with fury.


    .


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 Chapter 269

    ?Chapter 269:


    Lise¡¯s face twisted with anger, unable to hide her fury.


    Over the past few days, her private and public ounts on every social media tform had been bombarded with insults. People seemed determined to attack her wherever they could. Every morning when she opened her eyes, Lise was greeted by a flood of messages calling her a ¡°thief¡± orbeling her a ¡°bitch.¡± She had never been on the receiving end of this kind of online abuse before, and it infuriated her. What made it worse was that, in the past, the insults had always been directed at Katelyn, not her. Now that she was the target, her resentment had only grown deeper.


    With her fists clenched tightly, Lise nced at the cameras and finally spoke, though her voice was strained with reluctance.


    ¡°Katelyn, we¡¯re supposed to be talking about your family situation now.¡± Lise forced a smile, desperate to steer the conversation away.


    However, Katelyn wasn¡¯t going to let her do that. Her voice was filled with contempt as she cut in with a sneer.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already said it. I don¡¯t have any family until those test results are in. Nevertheless, you decided to pretend to be me and twist public opinion to suit your needs. Don¡¯t you think you owe me a personal apology for that?¡±


    Lise¡¯s sharp nails dug deep into her palms as she cursed silently.


    ¡°Damn it! This vile bitch!¡±


    How dare Katelyn use this situation to humiliate her?


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Lise, her words pressing her harder with every moment.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you face the reality of your actions? Lise, do you have any idea how much suffering your lies have caused?¡±


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    Lise found herself at a loss for words.


    Vincent¡¯s cold voice suddenly cut through the tension. ¡°Miss Bailey, you seem to believe you¡¯ve done nothing wrong, and that¡¯s why you won¡¯t apologize. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± His simple question weighed heavily on Lise, cornering her. She knew that a public apology would destroy her future, but both Katelyn and Vincent were leaving her with no way out.


    Unfortunately, Katelyn and Vincent weren¡¯t giving Lise any room to escape.


    Sharon noticed Lise¡¯s hesitation and felt confused.


    She had just returned from a new cosmetic treatment program abroad and was unaware of thetest developments online. Seeing Lise being cornered like this, Sharon immediately jumped to her defense.


    ¡°Katelyn, why on earth should Lise apologize to you? Did youe up with another scheme to trap her?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile was cold, and her eyes were filled with unmistakable derision.


    ¡°Your precious daughter pretended to be me and manipted public opinion online, but she got caught red-handed. You seriously haven¡¯t heard about it?¡±


    A look of shock shed across Sharon¡¯s face. How could she not have known?


    Even so, she continued defending Lise without a moment¡¯s hesitation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous! Why would Lise pretend to be you? Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re the real thief here.¡±


    In the past, hearing the words ¡°thief¡± and ¡°ungrateful¡± had always cut Katelyn deeply.


    But after all the pain and suffering she had been through, those words barely fazed her anymore.


    ¡°Actually, your daughter is the one being called a thief now. Her reputation is in shambles, and people absolutely despise her.¡± Katelyn¡¯s response was calm and unwavering.


    She and Lise were nothing alike.


    She had been the victim in the case of the fake daughter, but Lise had never been one.<fnbd92> This content belongs to F?nd-Novel</fnbd92>


    Sharon couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. She turned to Lise and asked, ¡°What is happening? Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Lise bit down on her lip, nearly driven to madness by Sharon¡¯s cluelessness.


    Instead of helping, Sharon was only making things worse. She struggled to keep her voice low, whispering through clenched teeth, ¡°Mom, please stop asking questions.¡±


    She had been hiding away at home to avoid exactly this kind of situation.


    If Sharon hadn¡¯t shown up at the hospital and stirred things up, Katelyn wouldn¡¯t have had this chance to strike back.


    Upon noticing the frustration on Lise¡¯s face, Sharon¡¯s voice rose as she stated, ¡°I¡¯m only trying to help you. Just tell me if that woman hase up with another scheme to hurt you!¡±


    Lise was so furious she could barely speak. She turned on her heel, ready to leave, but Katelyn stepped directly into her path. Lise¡¯s expression was clouded with anger. She gritted her teeth as she growled, ¡°Katelyn, what are you after now?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face remainedpletely cold as she replied in a firm voice, ¡°Apologize. Now.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 270

    ?Chapter 270:


    Since Sharon¡¯s arrival, the situation in the hospital had shifted dramatically.


    Initially, the issue centered around Katelyn and the old woman, but now Lise was back in the spotlight.


    Lise clenched her teeth in anger.


    Eventually, she stuttered, ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡±


    Inwardly, she was determined to make Katelyn pay a bloody price.


    Katelyn looked at her with a cold, contemptuous gaze.


    ¡°What was that? I didn¡¯t hear it. Or do you still believe you¡¯ve done nothing wrong?¡±


    Lise red back, her eyes seething with hostility.


    After taking a few deep breaths, Lise said through clenched teeth, ¡°I apologize.¡±


    Katelyn sneered. ¡°Stop trying to deceive people. Next time, you won¡¯t be able to handle the consequences.¡±


    The paparazzi quickly grasped the situation. In that instant, they all aimed their cameras at Lise, eager to capture every flicker of emotion on her face.


    Lise, itching to destroy their cameras and phones, managed to restrain herself. With her head down, she hurried out of the hospital.


    Humiliated like never before, she naturally med Katelyn for her plight.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed as she watched Lise run away. She then turned her attention to the old woman, remaining silent, deep in thought.


    Vincent walked to her. His strong aura scared the onlookers¡¯ malicious gazes away.


    He knew what the paparazzi were thinking; they were eager to stir up a scandal involving him and Katelyn.


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    Now that Katelyn had publicly announced her divorce, they were both single¡ªno one could say anything even if they were really seeing each other.


    Vincent remained unfazed by it all.


    He stood resolutely by Katelyn, offering his protection.


    ¡°Everything¡¯s settled here. Shall we head back?¡± he asked, lowering his gaze to meet hers.


    Katelyn nodded in agreement and followed him out of the hospital.


    They reached their car parked downstairs.<fn1bd8> Official source is </fn1bd8>


    Vincent, ever the gentleman, opened the car door for her and inquired with curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s your n now?¡±


    He found it intriguing to see how Katelyn handled adversity. He always respected her choices, offering silent support to manage any unforeseenplications.


    This approach gradually deepened Katelyn¡¯s reliance on him. With a hint of mischief in her voice, Katelyn turned to him and said, ¡°I¡¯ll show you something interestingter.¡±


    Her eyes twinkled with amusement, signaling to Vincent that she was plotting something new.


    He nodded and replied with a smile, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Vincent didn¡¯t drive far but instead found another spot to park nearby as instructed.


    They watched intently from their new vantage point.


    Shortly afterward, the old woman and her son also exited the hospital.


    A ck car pulled up next to them.


    The two got in the car, which then headed northward through the city.


    Vincent steered their car to follow discreetly.


    Katelyn knew the scene Sharon had caused must have frightened the old woman and her son.


    If Lise intended to maintain her act, she¡¯d need to reassure and convince them.


    Though just a theory from Katelyn, events soon seemed to confirm her suspicions.


    The most bustling spot of Granville was located in the west of the city center. The northern part of the city had been gradually abandoned, and very few people went there nowadays. The ck car eventually stopped, let the old woman and her son off at their destination, and then drove off.


    Katelyn and Vincent quietly parked their car in a concealed spot nearby. Shortly after, Lise arrived.


    With no one else around, Lise dropped all pretense.


    She rushed up to them and shouted, ¡°What the hell are you two idiots doing? I told you to focus on Katelyn Bailey. What have you done? Attacking my mother? If she presses charges, even I won¡¯t be able to save you. Fools!¡±


    ¡°Your mother started it by attacking me first. You know what? If we get into trouble, we¡¯ll drag you down with us.¡±


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 Chapter 271

    ?Chapter 271:


    The man had been suppressing his anger for quite some time. With Lise poised to provoke him further, his patience wore thin. He advanced and red at her with fierce intensity.


    ¡°I mean it. If your mother actually tries to put us behind bars, you go down with us. I¡¯ll expose how you orchestrated this scheme against Katelyn.¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression darkened significantly, and she clenched her fists tightly.


    How dare these two low-lives threaten her?


    Lise raised her voice sharply, her expression matching her harsh tone, saying, ¡°Watch how you speak to me! Remember who you¡¯re working for!¡±


    ¡°Keep up with your payments, and we¡¯ll do what you say. But if your mother causes more trouble¡­¡± The man left his sentence hanging, his eyes full of threat.


    Lise¡¯s fists remained clenched, anger evident in her eyes.


    ¡°These two idiots!¡± she thought.


    Suddenly, the old woman intervened, pulling the middle-aged man back slightly. She fixed Lise with a threatening look.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, we¡¯re here on business terms with you. You¡¯re supposed to handle anyplications. Make sure Mrs. Bailey watches what she says. We may be from the vige, but we won¡¯t be pushed around.¡±


    The old woman and the man clearly knew how to present a united front.


    Lise was so pissed off.


    She forced a sneer and responded, ¡°I see. Just do your job.¡± With that, she turned to leave, but the man stepped in front of her again after a quick nce at the old woman.


    Lise¡¯s eyes flickered with caution.


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    ¡°What now?¡±


    They were in a deserted part of the city, and Lise realized she was vulnerable if they decided to turn on her.


    ¡°Nothing. We just want some guarantee for ourselves,¡± the man said as he walked toward Lise.


    ¡°What¡¯s to stop you from abandoning us once you¡¯ve got what you need?¡±


    A flicker of fear passed through Lise¡¯s eyes, and she subtly stepped back.


    ¡°I will do what I have promised you. But if you try any tricks, the Bailey family won¡¯t let it slide.¡±


    The man responded with a sneer, ¡°Miss Bailey, your threats don¡¯t concern me. If you wish to continue our arrangement, transfer the remaining amount now¡ªand double it. If not, I¡¯ll take your secrets to the media.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes red with anger, and she clenched her teeth. ¡°You¡¯re just trying to rip me off! If you¡¯re not willing to y fair, we¡¯re done here. I¡¯ll find someone else.¡± She gritted her teeth in hatred.


    Had she known their true nature, she would never have entered into an agreement with them.


    The man scoffed, ¡°We¡¯re in this together now. I suggest you pay up. Don¡¯t push me to go public; it¡¯ll likely ruin us all, which I don¡¯t really care about anyway. But you? I believe that¡¯s a different story.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Lise clenched her fists, with a murderous look in her eyes. These two were nothing but obstacles. She should find a way to get rid of them once and for all.


    Amid the escting conflict, the old woman stepped in to calm things.


    She gave the man a disapproving look. When she turned around and faced Lise, she wore a ttering smile.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, we had an arrangement. If you¡¯re thinking of backing out, what should we do? You wouldn¡¯t want this to look bad. There¡¯s a way we can still resolve this.¡±


    ¡°You ckmail me, overcharge me, and still expect me to work with you? No way!¡± Lise clenched her teeth, with anger in her eyes.


    ¡°Do you want me to go public with everything? Your reputation is already tarnished online; imagine if this gets out¡­¡±


    The old woman hesitated, then rolled up her sleeve to reveal a bruise.


    ¡°Look at what your mother did to me. I¡¯m old, yet I was beaten up. I think you really should pay us a little extra; it¡¯s merelypensation.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 272

    ?Chapter 272:


    Lise countered, ¡°We¡¯ve signed an agreement, and I¡¯ll pay you the amount we agreed on. If you¡¯re thinking about getting more, you¡¯re dreaming!¡±


    She was starting to regret hiring these two fools to help her.


    Why was it so hard to findpetent people?


    A cruel look shed in the eyes of the middle-aged man. He rolled up his sleeves and smirked. ¡°Miss Bailey, we¡¯re trying to settle this the easy way. You¡¯d better take the opportunity and think carefully.¡±


    Lise¡¯s grip tightened around the strap of her bag, wishing she could stab these two idiots right then and there.


    But when she remembered her n, she forced herself to stay calm.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send the money to your ountter. But if you mess up again, you¡¯ll pay for it, and it won¡¯t be pretty.¡±


    With that, she turned on her heel, got into her car, and drove away.


    As she left, the old woman spat on the ground.


    ¡°Stupid bitch! She¡¯ll find out what we¡¯re capable of once we have the money.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯ve already got a n for dealing with her,¡± the man said with a sneer.


    To him, Lise was merely another sheltered woman who had grown up in wealth and privilege. He thought that once her reputation was destroyed and he had some leverage over her, they would have free rein to do whatever they wanted. When the DNA test results were finally in, he believed they would also be able to tie Katelyn to their scheme.


    If that happened, they could really live a life without worry or hardship.


    g???????¦Í??????.??0??. ???????????? ????????


    While they were busy fantasizing about their future gains, they failed to notice that Katelyn and Vincent were watching them from the shadows.


    Every word they spoke and every move they made had been recorded by Katelyn on her phone. A cold glint flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    Lise¡¯s schemes were bing more and more daring. She was even prepared to use this situation to hurt Katelyn.


    To ensure they wouldn¡¯t be seen, Katelyn and Vincent stayed hidden until the old woman and the man left the area.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew darker, his eyes deep and unreadable. ¡°Lise certainly knows how to plot and manipte. But it seems like she always picks the dumbest partners,¡± he remarked.


    ¡°Lucky for us they¡¯re fools. Otherwise, this wouldn¡¯t be nearly as entertaining,¡± Katelyn replied coolly as she began making copies of the video clip they had just captured. She knew this footage would serve as more ammunition against Lise when the time came to fight back.


    Vincent¡¯s lips curled into a sly smile. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Katelyn agreed.


    Thereafter, Vincent got behind the wheel and drove her back to her ce.


    It had been a long day, and after a quick shower, she copsed onto her bed, eager for sleep. But just as she closed her eyes, her phone began to ring.


    The call came from an unknown number. Katelyn hesitated for a moment before swiping to answer.


    A woman¡¯s voice greeted her from the other end. ¡°Hello, is this Miss Katelyn Bailey?¡±


    Frowning in confusion, Katelyn asked, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m calling from a hotel,¡± the woman exined. ¡°There¡¯s a man and an elderly woman here who im to be your father and grandmother. They¡¯re causing a scene and trying to check in, but they don¡¯t have money for the deposit. They¡¯ve asked us to contact you.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fists tightened as irritation surged through her. Those two troublemakers were at it again. She was certain Lise had put them up to this.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know them. If they don¡¯t have the money, then just kick them out,¡± she replied sharply.


    The woman on the other end sounded uncertain. ncing over at themotion, she could see the old woman rolling on the floor, making quite a scene.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, could you pleasee and handle this situation yourself? The olddy keeps insisting she has all sorts of health problems, and our security staff doesn¡¯t feelfortable taking action.¡±


    Even through the phone, Katelyn could hear the old woman shouting and cursing.<fn4798> Get full chapters from find?novel</fn4798>


    ¡°Go ahead, try to touch me! Do you know who my granddaughter is? She¡¯s Iris, the most famous designer around!¡± The shouting was sharp and grating, cutting through the air.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes turned as cold as ice.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡±


    After all, they were causing trouble in her name. The hotel wasn¡¯t at fault here.


    She hurried to the hotel as quickly as possible. Stepping out of the car, she immediately saw the old woman and her son sprawled out on the floor, creating a scene.


    ¡°Touch me if you dare! Do you think you can push me around just because I¡¯m old? My granddaughter has plenty of money. Of course, she can cover our stay!¡±


    The hotel staff and security guards stood around them, exchanging uncertain nces. None of them seemed willing to make a move, too worried about the possible consequences.


    ¡°If they don¡¯t have the money to pay, call the police,¡± Katelyn instructed calmly.


    .


    .


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 Chapter 273

    ?Chapter 273:


    Katelyn¡¯s voice immediately captured everyone¡¯s attention.


    She burst through the door and marched into the hotel lobby, her nce at the old woman and the man carrying a clear expression of contempt.


    Their behavior was bing increasingly intolerable. Upon seeing Katelyn, the old woman¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly stood up, her smile beaming.


    ¡°Mia, you¡¯re here! Tell these snobs that our family is rich! It¡¯s just the charge for one night¡¯s stay! So what if we charged it to our ount? They¡¯re trying to kick us out! It¡¯ste, and they expect us to sleep on the streets!¡±


    Katelyn was so pissed off she nearlyughed. What were they thinking, asking for hotel credit?


    ¡°This hotel isn¡¯t a charity. Why should they extend credit to you?¡± A hotel staff member approached with a look of relief, as if seeing a lifeline in Katelyn.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, could you please escort them out? Their stay here could tarnish our reputation.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll take them away immediately,¡± Katelyn said apologetically.


    As she spoke, she opened the hotel¡¯s ss front door and left. The old woman and the man exchanged nces and quickly followed her.


    Despite her age, the old woman kept up with Katelyn.


    ¡°Mia, why are you just walking away? Your father and I have nowhere to sleep tonight. Do you really want us on the streets? If you don¡¯t want to pay for the hotel, we can stay at your ce just for tonight.¡±


    The man agreed eagerly, his eyes brightening at the thought of Katelyn¡¯s luxurious vi.


    ¡°I did some research beforeing here. You live in the most prestigious area in Granville. We can manage there for a few days. Living in such a big vi by yourself seems like such a waste.¡±


    Katelyn stopped abruptly and fixed them with a piercing look.


    ¡°How many times do I have to say this? Until the paternity test results are confirmed, I have nothing to do with you. Where you stay in the meantime is none of my concern.¡±


    She didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for the hotel staff, or she wouldn¡¯t have bothered toe over.


    They imed to be her family, yet their only aim was to strip her of everything she owned.


    And the worst part was, they weren¡¯t even her family. They acted righteously, taking advantage of their seniority. How disgusting!


    Upon hearing Katelyn¡¯s words, the old woman frowned, looking displeased.


    ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re going to leave us here? I¡¯ve already told you that you¡¯re my granddaughter. The paternity test results won¡¯t change that!¡±


    The old woman scoffed. ¡°Anyways, we have nowhere to stay tonight, so it looks like we¡¯ll have to stay at your ce. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d actually leave us to sleep out here on the streets.¡±


    Once again, she was being unreasonable.


    With her arms folded, Katelyn looked at them with clear disgust. ¡°There¡¯s a shelter for the homeless in Granville. You won¡¯t have to sleep on the streets.¡±


    The man immediately responded, ¡°Absolutely not! We are your family. How can you expect us to sleep in a shelter with those homeless people?¡±


    The old woman quickly added, ¡°Exactly. We came all this way to see you and haven¡¯t even asked for travel reimbursements. And now you want to send us to a ce like that! I¡¯m warning you, if you abandon us, we¡¯ll take our story to the media.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes shed with deeper disdain.


    She detested threats above all.<fn439b> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? f?ndnovel</fn439b>


    There was no way she would be coerced into submission like this.


    The fierce colding from her frightened the old woman and the man, making their eyes widen in fear.


    What the hell was happening? The chill emanating from Katelyn was the same as that man¡¯s.


    The old woman swallowed hard to calm her nerves.


    ¡°We are your family. If you don¡¯t treat us well, people will judge you.¡±


    ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll arrange a ce for you to stay,¡± Katelyn replied coldly.


    .


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 Chapter 274

    ?Chapter 274:


    Suddenly, Katelyn adjusted her tone, seemingly forced into a reluctant agreement. As a result, the cold vibe she had been projecting diminished somewhat.


    The old woman felt a surge of triumph, convinced that girls from the city like Katelyn were too soft. As long as she caused a scene, they would yield.


    ¡°That¡¯s more like it! It¡¯s gettingte. Hurry up, take us to your ce. I¡¯m exhausted,¡± the man chimed in impatiently. ¡°We¡¯ll take your bedroom for the next few days. You can manage with the living room sofa.¡±


    Katelyn inwardly scoffed at their audacity.


    She had never encountered such shameless people before. Katelyn wondered where Lise hade across such fools.


    Nevertheless, Katelyn absentmindedly nodded in response. She had rushed over earlier, so her car was still at the hotel entrance¡ªa glossy red Maserati.


    As Katelyn approached the car with the keys, the middle-aged man followed, admiringly stroking the car.


    ¡°This is a really fancy car. Amazing! Mia, you must have more than one car. How about giving me one? Driving it back to our vige would make everyone so jealous.¡±


    ¡°The car is from mypany,¡± Katelyn replied evenly. She opened the door, and the old woman and her son quickly got inside.


    Their interest was piqued by the mention of Katelyn¡¯spany. The old woman asked, ¡°The man you were with earlier is your boss, isn¡¯t he? I can see he¡¯s quite interested in you. You¡¯re divorced but still manage to attract such a sessful man. You should hold on to him. Get as much as you can from him.¡±<fn7866> Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel</fn7866>


    While exploring the car¡¯s interior, the old woman gave her advice.


    ???????????? ???? ?????? ???????? ¡ú g???????¦Í???????????????


    ¡°The amount he offers will show how much he values you. For a boss of his stature, even 10 million dors isn¡¯t asking too much. I can hold onto the money for you. If you need anything, I¡¯ll hand it over.¡±


    As she spoke, the old woman wore a grin, clearly envisioning the wonderful life she could have with 10 million dors.


    She doubted she¡¯d even manage to spend all that money in her lifetime.


    Before Katelyn could respond, the middle-aged man chimed in excitedly, ¡°Mom, times have changed. Why cling to old-fashioned ideas? I¡¯ve done some digging on that man.¡±


    He¡¯s incredibly wealthy. Ten million is a drop in the bucket for him. Mia is exceptional. She should ask for as much as she can.


    Katelyn gripped the steering wheel tighter, wishing she could silence them permanently.


    ¡°He¡¯s just my boss. Don¡¯t get ahead of yourselves.¡±


    The old woman mistook Katelyn¡¯s frustration for modesty and insisted, ¡°Why are you so shy? That man is clearly interested in you. This is an incredible opportunity. It¡¯s rare to find such a wealthy man right after a divorce. Don¡¯t let this chance slip by.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience wore thin, and she was in no mood to entertain their chatter. She tightened her grip on the steering wheel and pressed down on the gas.


    The luxury car immediately picked up speed, silencing the old woman and her son as their faces turned white. Their fear of the sudden burst of speed left them speechless. Katelyn relished the silence. But once they got used to it, the old womanined again, ¡°Why did you drive so fast just now? I¡¯ve told you I have heart problems. What if something bad happened to me?¡±


    Katelyn remained expressionless and elerated again.


    Each time the old woman spoke, Katelyn would speed up. After several such jolts, the old woman finally stopped talking but continued to re at Katelyn with resentment.


    She silently vowed to get back at Katelyn once the DNA results were in.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t drive them to her vi but instead headed north.


    Eventually, she parked in front of another grand vi.


    The architecture and d¨¦cor resembled her own residence. With shaky legs, the old woman exited the car, and upon seeing the house, she eximed, ¡°Mia, is this your ce too?¡±


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 Chapter 275

    ?Chapter 275:


    The old woman could immediately tell that the property here was incredibly expensive. Katelyn was still young, and yet she already owned not one, but two high-end mansions.


    If that were the case, the old woman thought, she¡¯d have nothing to worry about for the rest of her life.


    Before Katelyn could respond, the old woman¡¯s excitement overtook her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need all these ces! Why not give one to your father? Our house in the vige is practically falling apart. I¡¯ve wanted to rebuild it for years. With a ce like this, we¡¯d never have to return to that old vige again.¡±


    Katelyn forced a smile, almost lost for words in front of such tant shamelessness. She leaned casually against the car and replied in a calm tone, ¡°This house did belong to me once. It was a gift from the Bailey family. My name is still listed as the legal owner.¡±


    The property had been a present for her eighteenth birthday, and she had personally designed all the interior decorations. It had been a project she poured her heart into. However, after the truth about her identity came out, the Bailey couple took it back and gave it to Lise. The ownership just hadn¡¯t been formally transferred yet.


    ¡°Lise is the one living in that house now. If you manage to get it back from her, I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s transferred to you.¡±


    Both the old woman and the man lit up with excitement. Their eyes gleamed with greed. A house worth tens of millions of dors felt like an unbelievable stroke of luck.


    The man couldn¡¯t contain his grin as he turned to Katelyn for confirmation. ¡°Are you serious? If we manage to move in, the house will be ours?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± she replied calmly. ¡°The house is still under my name, so I have every right to decide what to do with it.¡±


    g?????0¦Í??????.??????, ?????????? ???????????????? ????


    After a pause, she added, ¡°But just so you know, Lise isn¡¯t someone you can easily handle. Whether you even step inside the house will depend entirely on what you¡¯re capable of.¡±


    The old woman rolled up her sleeves and sneered. ¡°She¡¯s just a young girl. How hard can it be?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes turned icy as she watched the woman¡¯s boldness. ¡°Best of luck,¡± she said, before getting into her car and driving away.


    From that point on, whatever happened was no longer her concern. They were now Lise¡¯s problem.


    Although she drove off, she didn¡¯t go far. At the next intersection, she turned the wheel and parked a little further down the street. She pulled out a pair of binocrs, ready to enjoy the scene that was about to unfold. She was curious to see how Lise would handle these two troublemakers.


    The old woman began shouting loudly, repeatedly pressing the doorbell.


    ¡°Open up! Open the door!¡±


    Her sudden yelling startled Lise, who was in the middle of applying a facial mask. She frowned in confusion, wondering who would be knocking at this hour.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± she called out, clearly irritated.<fn9c63> Newest update provided by F?nd-Novel</fn9c63>


    The old woman ignored her question and pounded on the door even harder. ¡°I said, open this damned door!¡±


    Reluctantly, Lise walked over to see who it was. The moment she recognized them and tried to close the door, it was already toote.


    The man quickly reached out and held the door open, ring at Lise with frustration. ¡°What¡¯s your problem?¡±


    Still furious from dealing with them earlier in the day, Lise growled through clenched teeth, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She had sent them to stir up trouble for Katelyn, so what were they doing here at her ce?


    The old woman ced her hands on her hips and said with a smug tone, ¡°This house is ours now. Get the hell out!¡±


    For a moment, Lise wondered if she had misheard them. She let out a mockingugh and replied, ¡°Have you gone insane? This is my house, and you want me to leave and give it to you?¡±


    The old woman spat on the ground and countered, ¡°This ce isn¡¯t yours. Katelyn said she¡¯d give it to us if we can make you leave. So get lost, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression grew grim. That damn Katelyn had figured out a way to turn the tables on her.


    ¡°Leave right now, or I¡¯m calling security,¡± Lise warned.


    The old woman scoffed, ¡°Stop pretending. You don¡¯t own this ce!¡±


    With that, she reached out and grabbed Lise¡¯s wrist.


    .


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 Chapter 276

    ?Chapter 276:


    Even at her age, the old woman had spent years working on the farm and was still quite strong. When she gripped Lise¡¯s wrist, Lise winced in pain, and herposure faltered.


    Lise shouted in pain, ¡°Let go, you old hag!¡±<fn5106> Discover more novels at Find1Novel</fn5106>


    The old woman scowled and shouted, ¡°Watch your mouth! Get out of my house, now!¡±


    ¡°Let go of me, or I¡¯m calling security.¡± As Lise reached for her phone, gritting her teeth, the middle-aged man snatched it from her hand.


    ¡°Leave the house. We don¡¯t want to hurt you, but we will if we have to.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Lise was furious, but facing the two of them alone, she felt powerless. She wasn¡¯t even sure she could handle the old woman by herself, much less both of them together.


    The old woman forcefully pushed Lise out of the house, then kicked her in the back, nearly sending her tumbling to the ground.


    Lise¡¯s eyes burned with anger. She desperately wanted to get rid of the two fools.


    She said through clenched teeth, ¡°Think! This is my house. Katelyn has manipted this whole situation. She set you up to create this mess.¡±


    The old woman waved her off dismissively. ¡°I don¡¯t care about your squabbles. As far as I¡¯m concerned, this is my house now. Cause a scene again, and I¡¯ll tear your face apart.¡±


    With that, she arrogantly mmed the door shut.


    Lise stood there stunned, never imagining she¡¯d be thrown out of her own home by such shameless intruders who then imed it as their own.


    Fuming, she retrieved her damaged phone and attempted to call security. As she dialed, she muttered, ¡°Katelyn Bailey, you¡¯ll regret this.¡±


    Th3 l4t3st upd4t3s 4v41l4bl3 0n g4ln0v3ls.c0m


    Just then, Lise noticed the Maserati parked by the roadside. With fury surging through her, she marched toward it without a second thought.


    From the driver¡¯s seat, Katelyn shed a smug smile, observing Lise¡¯s furious approach.


    ¡°Do you like the surprise I arranged for you tonight?¡±


    ¡°Bitch! Get those people out of there now!¡± Lise was on the brink of a meltdown, having never encountered such shameless people before.


    ¡°You hired them. It¡¯s your job to deal with them. How does it feel to sabotage yourself?¡± Katelyn¡¯s words dripped with disdain.


    Noticing Lise¡¯s thin pajamas, Katelyn¡¯s smile widened. She had seen earlier how Lise was forcefully dragged out of her own home.


    ¡°You should try to rx. Remember, you¡¯re pregnant, and your stress could affect the baby.¡±


    ¡°Bitch! Bitch! Bitch!¡± Lise was too enraged to say anything more.


    When she noticed the car window was down, she raised her hand, aiming to p Katelyn. But as her arm reached inside, Katelyn caught her wrist.


    In retaliation, Katelyn pped Lise back. The force was so intense that her palm stung from the impact.


    Releasing two days¡¯ worth of pent-up anger with that p, Katelyn suddenly felt a wave of relief.


    Lise covered her cheek, her pupils narrowing in fury. She raised her voice, screaming, ¡°You bitch! How dare you hit me!¡±


    ¡°I wanted to, so I did. What are you going to do about it?¡± Katelyn responded coolly.


    Katelyn pushed Lise¡¯s hand away and stepped out of the car. Standing much taller than Lise, her imposing figure remained unaffected by her t shoes.


    ¡°You reap what you sow. That¡¯s your karma.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Lise clenched her teeth, feeling as if she might explode with anger at any moment. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Unable to control herself, she lunged to strike Katelyn.


    ¡°Bitch! Go to Hell!¡± Lise cursed, but before she couldnd a blow, Katelyn pped her again.


    .


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 Chapter 277

    ?Chapter 277:


    Katelyn stretched her wrists and admired her work with a satisfied grin. Lise¡¯s cheeks were now evenly swollen, giving her an oddly symmetrical appearance.


    ¡°These two ps are your lesson. If you provoke me again, expect more,¡± Katelyn warned.


    Lise was seething with fury. Damn bitch! Bitch! Bitch! How was Katelyn still standing? She should have copsed by now! ¡°You¡¯ll regret this. The Bailey family won¡¯t let you get away with it! You¡¯ll pay dearly!¡±


    Hatred zed in Lise¡¯s eyes, sharp as an invisible knife.


    Katelyn responded with a casual smile. ¡°Maybe you should focus on dealing with those two troublemakers you hired. It¡¯s your mess, after all.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed, and her heart raced. It felt like Katelyn could see right through her. Her anger began to subside slightly as she snapped, ¡°They¡¯re your rtives. Katelyn, I¡¯m calling the police right now. If you don¡¯t handle them, you¡¯ll be dragged down with them.¡±


    ¡°Do what you feel you must. You and I both know the truth about their connection to me,¡± Katelyn replied coolly.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze hardened, the chill in her eyes growing. ¡°You orchestrated this against me. You¡¯re setting yourself up for a long fight.¡±


    With a knowing smile, Katelyn gave Lise a meaningful look and walked away leisurely. Katelyn was confident that she wouldn¡¯t be the one losing sleep over tonight¡¯s events.


    She then pressed the gas pedal, speeding off. ncing in the rearview mirror, she could still see Lise stomping her foot and cursing in fury. Her smile grew even wider.


    Having dealt with the situation, Katelyn looked forward to a peaceful night¡¯s sleep at home. The next morning, she woke up to headlines ring about Lise¡¯s midnight confrontation with the old woman, calling security to handle a domestic dispute over the house. Lise was not one to suffer in silence.


    Don¡¯t miss it: g?l§Úov???.c§àm


    Katelyn learned what happenedst night through the gossip circting in the media.


    The four security guards did their best to persuade the old woman and the man to open the door, but to no avail. The two simply ignored them.


    In the end, despite the police being called, the old woman insisted that the house didn¡¯t belong to Lise. She kept iming that she was on her deathbed and, being elderly, evaded the authorities¡¯ attempts to intervene. The negotiations dragged on without much progress.


    In this confrontation, Lise was the one who ended up defeated. The two were unyielding and paid no attention to the bacsh online. However, Lise still had to be concerned about her already tarnished reputation.


    Katelyn leaned back against her bed, nearlyughing out loud. Viins were indeed each other¡¯s best opponents. Lise was good at exploiting others¡¯ morals, but she was helpless when faced with people like the old woman. At that moment, Katelyn felt a sense of satisfaction.


    Then, unexpectedly, she received a document from Vincent.


    With a mix of curiosity and skepticism, Katelyn opened it, only to discover it containedprehensive details about the old woman and the man¡ªeverything from their ages and addresses to other personal data.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew serious. The old woman¡¯s story wasn¡¯t entirely fabricated. Her daughter-inw had been a nurse at the private hospital where Sharon had her baby, and that nurse had indeed passed away from an illness a few years ago.


    Katelyn gripped her phone tighter. Could they actually be her family? Or had Lise orchestrated this by finding two people with perfect backgrounds to fit her scheme?


    If the paternity test confirmed their rtion,bined with this background, everyone would be convinced of a genuine familial connection.


    Vincent texted her, saying, ¡°This is too coincidental. There must be more to this story. I¡¯ve already asked Samuel to look into it.¡±


    Katelyn responded, ¡°Okay, thanks, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent quickly replied, ¡°I saw today¡¯s news. They¡¯re utterly shameless. If you need a safe ce, you¡¯re wee to use one of the houses I own.¡±


    .<fnae2c> Original content can be found at f?ndnovel</fnae2c>


    .


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 Chapter 278

    ?Chapter 278:


    Katelyn felt a warmth spread through her as she read Vincent¡¯s message. He was always looking out for her, ensuring that everything was taken care of.


    Over the past few days, she had wanted to dig into the background of those two troublemakers, but she hadn¡¯t had the time. Now, she was certain that there was no blood rtion between her and those two, so why did the documents im otherwise?


    She hadplete faith in Samuel¡¯s ability to uncover the truth. If the information in the file was urate, it might suggest that her biological parents had some kind of connection or history with these two.


    It seemed the old woman and her family had nned to use this scheme to switch Lise with their daughter, but due to some twist of fate, Katelyn had ended up switching identities with Lise instead. She had done some research on the couple who had adopted Lise; they imed they had found her abandoned in a trash bin. The whole situation was a tangled mess. It felt like a mystery wrapped inyers of secrets, and nobody seemed to know the real truth.


    Eventually, Katelyn decided to push these thoughts aside for now and turned her attention to her phone, beginning to type. ¡°Thank you for your help, Mr. Adams. But I think I can manage this on my own.¡±


    Vincent quickly replied, ¡°If you need anything, just let me know.¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but feel a little overwhelmed. She felt like she owed Vincent more and more, and repaying him seemed increasingly impossible.


    She put her phone down, got up, and went to freshen up, preparing to head to work like any other day.


    Just as she was about to step out the door, her eyesnded on someone she had no desire to see¡ªNeil. He was leaning against his car, dressed in a gray suit, looking as if he had been waiting there for quite some time.


    Katelyn¡¯s first thought was that he was here to talk about the contract.


    ???????????????? ????????: g??????????¦Í???£®????£®???£®??


    Her second thought was that Neil hade because of Lise. He held a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers, and when he saw her, he casually put it out.


    Neil walked up to her with a determined stride, his eyes fixed on hers, and immediately began demanding answers.


    ¡°Why did you send those two people to harass Lise? You know she¡¯s pregnant, and those two are aplete nuisance. There¡¯s no one more difficult to deal with than them. Now they¡¯ve even taken over Lise¡¯s house. Is this really what you wanted?¡±


    Katelyn could easily imagine how Lise must haveined to Neil about everything that had happened the night before, cing all the me squarely on Katelyn¡¯s shoulders.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression hardened, and a look of disdain crossed her face. ¡°Lise is the one who invited them into this mess. Since they had nowhere else to stay, it makes sense they ended up at her door.¡±


    Neil¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion. ¡°What are you saying? Aren¡¯t they your rtives?¡±<fn85d9> For original chapters go to FindN()vel</fn85d9>


    News of the incident at the hospital had spread like wildfire, and the media had been quick to cover every detail. Everyone was waiting to see the results of the paternity test, and some were already convinced those two were, in fact, Katelyn¡¯s family. It seemed Neil had fallen for that assumption as well.


    Katelyn gave a sharp, mocking smile before she replied bluntly, ¡°Have I not made myself clear? Lise hired those two jerks to cause drama. She¡¯s always trying to ruin my life. All I did was retaliate, as any normal person would.¡±


    Without missing a beat, Neil asked, ¡°How is that even possible? Lise isn¡¯t that kind of person. If you¡¯re trying to frame her, you shoulde up with a better story.¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but narrow her eyes. It was clear that everything that had happened before still hadn¡¯t opened his eyes to the kind of person Lise truly was.


    No matter the situation, as long as Lise spoke, Neil would always stand by her side. Even after Lise¡¯s lies had driven hispany to the brink, Neil still chose to believe her without a second thought whenever something went wrong. If that wasn¡¯t true love, Katelyn didn¡¯t know what was.


    Katelyn felt her patience running thin. There was no point in reasoning with someone who refused to see the truth, no matter how obvious it was.


    ¡°Think what you want; it¡¯s your choice. This was just a minor retaliation on my part. Instead of wasting time arguing with me, maybe you should convince Lise to stop¡­¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s getting herself into more trouble. She should really focus on her pregnancy. If shees after me again, I guarantee the consequences will be far more severe.¡±


    As Katelyn started to walk away, Neil quickly stepped in front of her. His expression turned icy as he said, ¡°You need to take those two away. They mentioned that you personally promised to hand over the house to them.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 279

    ?Chapter 279:


    Neil¡¯s gaze was cold, and his voice carried authority. He found Katelynpletely unreadable. Though she was right there, her thoughts remained a mystery to him.


    Everything seemed to trace back to their divorce. No, more precisely, his inability to understand Katelyn began the moment she found out about his affair.


    If Neil could turn back time, he would have regrets. But his remorse wasn¡¯t for cheating itself; it was for his carelessness. If Katelyn had never discovered the affair, perhaps things would have stayed as they were.


    In that case, Katelyn would still be looking after him at home, and Lise would be avable whenever he wanted. If Katelyn knew what Neil was thinking now, she would likely burst intoughter. Such thoughts from a scoundrel seemed absurd.


    Katelyn nodded with a radiant smile. ¡°Yes, I did tell them that. They¡¯re in the house now. There¡¯s nothing I can do about it. Mr. Wheeler, aren¡¯t you also helpless in this situation?¡±


    Neil pulled a long face, replying, ¡°That¡¯s your problem. You got Lise into this mess, so you should be the one to fix it.¡±<fn54f7> Content originallyes from FindN()vel</fn54f7>


    Katelyn sneered, ¡°That¡¯s my take as well. Lise started this mess. She needs to sort it out.¡±


    As she spoke, her eyes shimmered, like sunlight dancing on water. Yet, her face remained expressionless. Upon closer inspection, Neil saw nothing but disdain and coldness in her gaze.


    ¡°I¡¯ll remind you once more. We are divorced. If you approach me again like this, don¡¯t be surprised if I hold a press conference and use you of harassment.¡± Her message was crystal clear.


    Without another nce at Neil, Katelyn turned and walked away.


    Explore more chapters on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s?c?m


    She moved swiftly, and her sports car traced a graceful arc as she sped away.


    Neil clenched his fists, feeling a sharp ache in his heart. He was now truly experiencing the pain of losing her.


    Katelyn headed straight for herpany. The old woman and her son would now be preupied with securing their home. Until the DNA results came through, they likely wouldn¡¯t be bothering Katelyn again. There were two days left, and Katelyn needed to be fully prepared.


    After parking her car, she headed directly to the CEO¡¯s office. As she walked, shepletely ignored the curious stares and whispers from those around her. She knew exactly what they were gossiping about¡ªher suddenly resurfaced family.


    Vincent had already arrived in his office. When Katelyn pushed open the door and walked in, he was reviewing a contract. Their eyes met, and a subtle smile tugged at his lips.


    ¡°I hear you¡¯ve managed to shift the me onto Lise and her hired fakes.¡±


    A flicker of surprise crossed Katelyn¡¯s face. She hadn¡¯t mentioned anything to Vincent yet, but it seemed he already knew everything.


    On second thought, though, she understood. He was Vincent Adams, a man capable of uncovering anything. Nothing escaped his notice.


    Katelyn smiled gracefully and nodded. ¡°Exactly. Those two fools should teach Lise a valuable lesson.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve sent someone to monitor the DNA test at the hospital and have your samples sent to anotherb. There¡¯s no way for them to manipte the results.¡±


    Vincent casually tapped his fingers on the table, his tone slow and confident. ¡°Focus on your ns. I¡¯ll take care of the rest.¡± He had once again helped her, thinking through every possible risk and oue.


    Touched, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but recall what the old woman had said in the car the day before. She had imed that Vincent had a soft spot for Katelyn.


    Now, with him so thoroughly looking out for her, Katelyn felt a flicker of doubt. Could it be true? Did Vincent really have feelings for her?


    Katelyn quickly dismissed the thought. They were just friends. It was probably just her imagination running wild.


    Before she could think on it any further, her phone suddenly rang.


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 Chapter 280

    ?Chapter 280:


    Once again, it was an unknown caller. A wary expression crossed Katelyn¡¯s face. Were those two causing trouble again?


    As soon as she pressed the answer button, the old woman¡¯s crying filled her ear.


    ¡°Mia, hurry over here. These ruthless people are trying to kick me out of the house!¡±


    The background noise on the call was chaotic. Alongside the old woman¡¯s crying, there were various mechanical sounds, suggesting a forceful entry.<fn39cd> Read full story at ?ovelFind</fn39cd>


    Their shameless tactics hadn¡¯t fooled the Bailey family in the slightest.


    ¡°I¡¯m not involved anymore. I¡¯ve given you the house. Whether you can hold onto it is your problem,¡± Katelyn said calmly.


    ¡°How can you abandon us? You¡¯re the only one who can help us now!¡± The old woman¡¯s voice was desperate, teetering on the edge of tears. ¡°Figure something out, or we¡¯ll end up at your ce tonight.¡±


    A chill passed through Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she realized the old woman was trying to manipte her again.


    ¡°We¡¯ll see about that.¡± With that, she ended the call abruptly.


    Knowing the old woman and the man had her address, she instructed the security guards not to let them through.


    Although Katelyn hadn¡¯t put the old woman on speaker, her wails were so piercing that even Vincent, who was simply standing nearby, could hear them distinctly.


    With a probing look, he turned to Katelyn.


    ¡°When will you sort this out?¡±


    Lat3zt chapt3rz found at g??l??ovels.??????


    ¡°Once the test results are in. I¡¯m curious to see their next move.¡± With a cool, detached expression, Katelyn sat backfortably, giving the impression that she had everything under control.


    Vincent offered a smile and a nod.


    ¡°I¡¯m intrigued as well.¡±


    Katelyn suspected that it was Sharon who had likely driven the two out.


    Those two were sure to cause more trouble, always leaving her to clean up their mess.


    She had considered blocking their numbers but ultimately decided against it.


    How else would she be able to witness their antics the moment they unfolded?


    The morning had been quiet, but by afternoon, the two started causing trouble again.


    This time, Katelyn received a call from an unfamiliar number.


    It was someone calling from a shopping mall.


    ¡°Is this Miss Katelyn Bailey? Your grandmother has picked out a jade bracelet here, but she doesn¡¯t have the money to buy it. She¡¯s asking if you could pay for it.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze grew colder by the moment. Those two were the epitome of greed. They even had the nerve to visit a mall and expect her to pay!


    Weren¡¯t they kicked out of the house? How could they be in the mood for shopping? Or had Lise backed down again?


    Katelyn responded coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t know them. You should send them away if they can¡¯t pay for it.¡±


    The sales assistant replied with uncertainty, ¡°We¡¯ve tried everything, but they refuse to leave. They¡¯re leaning over the disy case now, and it¡¯s really disrupting our business. It might be best if you came down.¡±


    Before the associate could finish, the old woman grabbed the phone and eximed, ¡°Mia, this bracelet is gorgeous. My birthday¡¯sing up. Wouldn¡¯t it make a wonderful birthday gift?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile wasced with sarcasm. The bracelet they picked would definitely be expensive. Did they think she was an idiot?


    ¡°I don¡¯t have money,¡± she retorted sharply, and the old woman lost her temper.


    ¡°How can you not have money? You¡¯re Iris, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re so famous. Basically, you just don¡¯t want to spend your money on me, your own grandmother. You¡¯re so ungrateful! This amount is nothing to you, and yet you¡¯re too stingy to part with it?¡±


    Katelyn held the phone, her tone growing even colder.


    ¡°When I was kicked out of the Bailey family, I left with nothing, and I paid them a billion dors to cut all ties. How would I have any money left? If you really want the bracelet, ask the Bailey family for the money.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the old woman¡¯s voice turned shrill and somewhat bitter.


    Subconsciously, Katelyn frowned and covered her right ear.


    The woman was unbearably loud.


    The old woman continued to berate her, ¡°Have you lost your mind? A billion dors, and you gave it all to strangers just like that! What about me? I¡¯m your grandmother! You won¡¯t even spend a dime on me!¡±


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 Chapter 281

    ?Chapter 281:


    One billion dors!


    The old woman couldn¡¯t believe her own ears. How many homes could that buy? How many bracelets could that purchase?


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°I¡¯ve already given the money to the Baileys. There¡¯s nothing more I can do. If you want, you can ask them for a refund. Then you can keep the money for yourselves.¡±


    She had never considered reiming that money. It was the price she paid to sever ties with the Bailey family. She mentioned the money on purpose now, though. If the old woman and her son harassed Sharon instead, they would leave Katelyn alone, allowing her to enjoy the drama.


    Vincent quickly caught on to Katelyn¡¯s strategy. He tapped his knee lightly, a knowing look in his eyes. As Katelyn spoke, Vincent could almost see a yful glint in her eyes. She was quite the character.


    The old woman, enticed by the prospect of more free money, was more cautious this time due to her previous experience with the house.


    ¡°Is that really true? It better not turn out like the house situation.¡±<fn6a36> This text is hosted at F?nd-Novel</fn6a36>


    ¡°I¡¯m a woman of my word,¡± Katelyn replied coolly. ¡°I told you the house was legally mine, and it¡¯s yours to keep if you can manage to stay there. But you couldn¡¯t manage that. It¡¯s the same with the money. Whether you get it back depends on your efforts.¡±


    Katelyn added after a brief pause, ¡°Do you need the Bailey family¡¯s address?¡±


    The old woman replied, ¡°Give it to me now. I want to see where they live. How shameless of them to take all that money!¡±


    ¡°Sure thing.¡±


    ?????????v?????.co?? for more reading


    Katelyn provided the address and hung up the phone.


    The very next moment, she sent a message to someone else: ¡®Big news about the Bailey family. It needs to go live on the broadcast.¡¯


    Bobbi responded promptly, ¡°No problem.¡±


    Bobbi was Katelyn¡¯s go-to person in the media. Previously, during press conferences and media alerts, Bobbi had been very helpful.


    Once she received a positive response, Katelyn promptly transferred a deposit to Bobbi, eagerly anticipating the unfolding events.


    Whenparing the value of a house to a billion dors, even the simplest person would know which was more appealing, especially to someone as greedy as the old woman.


    Sharon had be increasingly shrewish in recent weeks, but she still couldn¡¯t outmatch the old woman¡¯s sheer audacity.


    As expected, the old woman and her son made their way to the Bailey family¡¯s home as soon as they received the address. Meanwhile, Bobbi arrived with a group of reporters, broadcasting the event live with professional equipment. The old woman didn¡¯t care about the cameras, convinced that the greater the public exposure, the better.


    Standing in front of the Bailey residence, she banged on the door. With her hands on her hips, she shouted, ¡°Sharon Bailey, you shameless bitch! Come outside! How dare you demand so much money from Mia! Disgraceful! You think that money is yours? You better hope you live long enough to spend it.¡±


    The Bailey residence,plete with a vi and courtyard, meant Sharon stayed inside while the butler responded.


    The butler, clearly annoyed, inquired, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Dismissive, the old woman continued her tirade, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business! Get Sharon Bailey out here! She struck mest time. She owes me for medical bills. I¡¯m here to settle both ounts.¡±


    The butler¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Watch your tone. Leave now. If you insult Mrs. Bailey again, I¡¯ll have the security guards escort you out.¡±


    Marlon Miles stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves with a smirk.


    ¡°You people in the city are always like this, huh? Always threatening to call security. Well, listen up. My mother has heart problems, among other illnesses. If you touch her, it might kill her.¡±


    The butler was speechless, never having seen such tant disrespect for proper behavior.


    Watching the live feed, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. The old woman often used her ¡°illnesses¡± to intimidate others, knowing they wouldn¡¯t dare touch her.


    However, Sharon was too short-tempered to tolerate such antics. This time, the old woman was likely to face a setback.


    The butler, too furious to speak, remained silent.


    Marlon scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re just a watchdog. Stop wasting our time and bring Sharon Bailey out!¡±


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 Chapter 282

    ?Chapter 282:


    The butler clenched his jaw, turned sharply, and signaled for the Bailey family¡¯s security. ¡°Get these two troublemakers out of here! Keep them as far away as possible.¡±


    A group of burly security guards appeared immediately. Standing next to them, Marlon seemed frail and hesitant.


    Marlon clenched his fists, ready to confront the guards, but when he saw their numbers, his resolve faltered.


    At that critical moment, the old woman stepped forward boldly. She threw herself onto the doorway with a determined thud. With her eyes tightly shut, she began yelling. ¡°Touch me if you dare! I¡¯ll sue everyone! Bring Sharon out here right now!¡±


    The butler discreetly signaled the security guards with a frown.


    The audacity of this woman to create a scene right at the Bailey family¡¯s doorstep was outrageous. If the butler couldn¡¯t manage the situation, he might as well resign.


    ¡°Get them out of here. Maybe if they¡¯re lucky, a car will hit them. Then they¡¯ll get the money they want.¡±


    With those instructions, the guards cracked their knuckles and moved in, determined to be firm.


    Marlon¡¯s eyes widened with fear. He swallowed hard and yelled, ¡°What do you want? Would you really attack an elderly woman? Just so you know, there are reporters here taking photos. If you touch us, theizens will criticize you!¡±


    He gestured toward the reporters, including Bobbi.


    The more influential the family, the more sensitive they were to public opinion. Marlon was well aware of this fact.


    Find more books at g?ln¦Ò¦Í??ls<fn7763> For original chapters go to findnovel</fn7763>


    Therefore, with the presence of the reporters, he felt more confident.


    Meanwhile, over a hundred thousand viewers were tuned into Bobbi¡¯s live stream. Thement section was buzzing.


    One viewer remarked, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen such shameless people in¡­¡±


    Thements in the livestream section were pouring in rapidly.


    ¡°Years. It¡¯s astonishing how boldly they try to extort the Bailey family. Aren¡¯t they scared of repercussions?¡±


    Another viewer added, ¡°They look so familiar. Weren¡¯t they in the news recently? Are those Katelyn¡¯s rtives?¡±


    Someone else responded, ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s them. I saw them at the hospital for a paternity test not long ago. They¡¯re quite something.¡±


    Another viewer asked, ¡°Can someone fill me in? Why did they show up at the Bailey family¡¯s doorstep? What¡¯s themotion about?¡±


    Thements and questions flooded the chat, each viewer eager to learn more.


    Suddenly, the old woman on the ground began to cry. ¡°Will no one defend me? Even though I¡¯m old, the Bailey family still keeps pushing me around. Look at these bruises! They did this! And they¡¯ve taken money from Mia. Is there anyw in the world? Is there any justice?¡±


    Tears streamed down her face as shey on her stomach, wailing as if she had been deeply wronged.


    Marlon, too, cried out from the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t poor people like us have the right to live? Why did they take so much from us? If you don¡¯t give back the money today, I¡¯ll die right here!¡±


    Both of them burst into tears.


    Bobbi, who had been capturing their faces closely the whole time, couldn¡¯t help but smirk. With their antics, they were sure to be a viral sensation.


    The butler¡¯s eye twitched at the spectacle. In all his years, he had never encountered anyone as shameless as these two.


    He turned and yelled at the security guards, ¡°What are you waiting for? Do something now! Do you want them to keep causing trouble here?¡±


    The security guards exchanged nervous looks and finally moved to act.


    But as they reached for the old woman, she screamed again. Clutching her chest, she copsed to the ground, iling her arms.


    ¡°I¡¯m having a heart attack. You all are ountable for this. If I die, it¡¯s on your heads.¡±


    The old woman¡¯s over-the-top performance drew not only the attention of everyone present but also captivated the viewers in the livestream.


    Sharon, who had been inside the vi the entire time, could no longer sit still and walked out, fuming with anger. Seeing the two of them, she nearly passed out from rage. Gritting her teeth, she demanded, ¡°What in the world do you two scoundrels want?¡±


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 Chapter 283

    ?Chapter 283:


    As Sharon arrived, the elderly woman immediately spoke up, ¡°Finally, you¡¯re here. Enough of your nonsense. Give me my money back!¡±


    Her voice was so loud that it seemed she was no longer in any pain. Sharon, grinding her teeth in anger, responded, ¡°Nonsense! Since when do I owe you anything?¡±


    Marlon chimed in, ¡°Katelyn told us everything. She gave you a billion dors to sever her ties with the Bailey family. A billion! How could you take so much from her? Shameless bastards!¡±


    Previously, Katelyn had announced she had severed her ties with the Bailey family but hadn¡¯t disclosed the amount she paid them, leaving everyone stunned by this revtion. A billion dors was an unimaginable sum. Even the hardest-working office employee wouldn¡¯t earn that much in a lifetime.


    Marlon continued, his anger escting, ¡°Now that Katelyn has given all her money to you, how are we supposed to survive? I¡¯m not leaving until you return the money!¡±


    The butler muttered under his breath, ¡°You shameless scoundrels!¡±


    The old woman spat on the ground in disdain. ¡°You¡¯re the ones without shame. Who do you think you are, taking so much money from others?¡±


    Sharon, already familiar with their audacity, scoffed. ¡°Trying to be unreasonable now? You¡¯re asking for trouble.¡±


    With a confident grin, Marlon gestured to the gathered paparazzi. ¡°We have plenty of witnesses here. Think about attacking us? We haven¡¯t forgotten yourst act of violence.¡±


    Marlon grew even bolder, turning directly to the cameras. ¡°Look, everyone! This is the true nature of the so-called wealthy. She attacked my mother and me without any remorse and even took a fortune from us!¡±


    He pointed to the scratches Sharon had inflicted on him earlier. ¡°These rich families are all talk¡ªnothing but heartless crooks!¡±<fnef45> Newest update provided by </fnef45>


    ???????????? ???? ???????? ?????????????? @ ?????????¦Í??????©q?????


    Sharon was seething with rage, to the point of nearly passing out. However, with so many paparazzi present, she was powerless to act against the two troublemakers and had to restrain herself. Despite the Bailey family¡¯s heavy investment in public rtions to manage their previous crisis, it didn¡¯t mean thatizens had forgotten the past. If anything further happened to the Baileys, their previous scandals would resurface.


    Now, Sharon had no choice but to endure everything. She clenched her teeth and shot an angry look at the butler. ¡°What are the security guards doing? Didn¡¯t they see these people causing trouble here? Get rid of them!¡± The butler answered promptly, ¡°Right away, Mrs. Bailey.¡± Yet, before the security guards could act, the elderly woman was on the ground again.


    ¡°Go ahead, try me. I dare you. If I die here, none of you will get away with it.¡± Her words made the security guards hesitate once more.


    While they were employed by the Bailey family, they didn¡¯t want to face any legal consequences. For a few moments, no one moved. They simply watched as the elderly woman made a scene.


    Watching the drama unfold on her phone, Katelyn couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. Despite Sharon¡¯s arrogance and assertiveness, she was powerless against the elderly woman.


    The elderly woman said proudly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to cause trouble either. Just return the money and we¡¯ll leave right away.¡± Sharon scoffed.


    ¡°I¡¯ve spent so much time and effort raising Katelyn over the years. Why shouldn¡¯t I ask for somepensation? Besides, she gave me the money willingly. Why should I give it back to you?¡±


    The elderly woman rolled her eyes at Sharon. ¡°How utterly shameless! Did you really raise her with a billion dors?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Sharon was too angry to respond. Gritting her teeth, she shouted, ¡°You shameless bastards!¡±


    With a smirk, Marlon responded calmly, ¡°Compared to you, we¡¯re actually much better. At least we didn¡¯t ask for so much money. And don¡¯t forget to include our medical bills when you repay the moneyter.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s breathing became heavier with rage. She wished she could just get rid of those two troublemakers. Lise, arriving in a hurry, nearly copsed from anger.


    .


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 Chapter 284

    ?Chapter 284:


    Lise finally managed to evict the troublesome duo from her house and secured them temporary amodation. To her surprise, they soon began causing more trouble for the Bailey family, even demanding money from them.


    Now, she regretted her earlier decision. Initially, she had coborated with them because of their bold and unscrupulous nature, thinking it would give Katelyn a headache. However, she had never anticipated that they would end up causing trouble for her own family.<fnfc7c> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F¦ÉndNovel</fnfc7c>


    Despite her frustration, Lise felt powerless. Clenching her teeth, she approached Sharon.


    Seeing Sharon nearly copse with rage, Lise gently patted her back to help her regain herposure.


    ¡°Rx, Mom. There¡¯s no point in losing your temper over these bastards.¡±


    Sharon clenched her teeth and red at them with unbridled hatred.


    ¡°Get them out of my sight. I never want to see them again.¡±


    Lise, concerned for Sharon¡¯s well-being, nodded. ¡°Of course, Mom. Why don¡¯t you go inside and rest? I¡¯ll handle everything.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s face turned bright red from anger. She reluctantly nodded in agreement.


    Even when Jeff had been unfaithful, and his mistress had taunted her, Sharon had never felt such overwhelming anger. This only highlighted just how detestable Marlon and his mother were.


    As Sharon tried to leave, the elderly woman blocked her path.


    ¡°You¡¯re feeling guilty and trying to escape. No way! Pay us back first!¡±


    Marlon quickly chimed in, ¡°Exactly! You think you can leave without paying? Keep dreaming!¡±


    Sharon turned toward them, her eyes burning with murderous intent.


    She honestly wished she could find someone to send those two straight to hell.


    Perhaps the sheer menace in Sharon¡¯s gaze was so intense that they instinctively fell silent. In the past, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to hassle the Bailey family, but the lure of a billion dors had clouded their judgment.


    Lise inhaled deeply, ring at them.


    She realized Katelyn had manipted them once again. Although they were employed by Lise, Katelyn had used them for her own purposes. How could Lise tolerate this?


    But with so many journalists watching, even if Lise wanted to express her fury, she had to restrain herself. Though desperate to discipline them, she had to wait for the results of the DNA test.


    ¡°Katelyn wanted to sever her rtionship with us and willingly gave us the money. Now you¡¯re here. Did Katelyn send you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not the point! Katelyn has given away all her money and is penniless now. Why would I want to reconnect with such a granddaughter?¡±


    The elderly woman clenched her teeth, seething with anger. This was a significant issue, yet Lise hadn¡¯t informed them. She suspected Lise intended to keep the money for herself after exploiting her and her son. She was determined not to let Lise¡¯s n seed.


    ¡°Lise Bailey, you¡¯d bettere clean. Hand over the money, or I won¡¯t hesitate to expose all your secrets.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes narrowed. She hadn¡¯t expected the elderly woman to make such usations in front of so many journalists. She held back her anger and managed a forced smile.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t the ce for such discussions. Let¡¯s find somewhere more private to sort this out. If you continue causing a scene, it¡¯ll only embarrass us both.¡±


    Marlon scoffed, his gaze fixed on Lise.


    ¡°We¡¯re not afraid of a scandal. Want to settle this? Transfer the money. And just to rify, we¡¯re not leaving without it.¡±


    His mother immediately supported him. ¡°Exactly. We¡¯ll only leave once we have the money.¡±


    Lise clenched her teeth so tightly it almost hurt. If looks could kill, her re would have shredded them to bits¡ªbut even that wouldn¡¯t have satisfied her fury.


    With those two idiots, Lise could almost picture Katelyn enjoying the spectacle. Calling the press conference earlier had been a terrible mistake. Hiring these two was even worse.


    Lise desperately tried to think of a way to get rid of them.


    Suddenly, several minibuses pulled up. A group of men dressed in ck, armed with submachine guns, stepped out and immediately aimed their weapons at the elderly woman and her son.


    .


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 Chapter 285

    ?Chapter 285:


    The sudden intervention left the elderly woman and her son instantly silent. The barrels of the guns were pointed directly at their heads, and it seemed they could be shot at any moment.


    Their previous arrogance vanished, reced by submission, and they looked ready to drop to their knees.


    ¡°Do whatever you want, just please don¡¯t kill us!¡± The elderly woman cried in terror, while Marlon visibly shook, his eyes wide with fear.


    The paparazzi, who had been eagerly capturing the scene, quickly stepped back, not wanting to get involved.


    Watching this unfold, Katelyn¡¯s expression turned serious. Her eyes narrowed as she pondered, ¡°Who are these people? Why are they helping Lise? Was it Neil who hired them? Or had Sharon finally reached her limit and decided to intervene?¡±


    At that moment, Lise was equally confused. Her eyes filled with uncertainty.


    It seemed the men in ck hade specifically for the elderly woman and Marlon. They herded them into a car at gunpoint and drove off without another word.


    Lise let out a sigh of relief.


    While she was unsure who had orchestrated this, at least she was relieved to see them gone.


    With the main drama over, the live stream lost its appeal, and Katelyn turned it off.


    She then texted Briar, ¡°Briar, could you do me a favor? Find out who took that woman and her son away.¡±


    Briar responded promptly with a simple, ¡°OK.¡±


    Every story unfolds at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s£®??????


    Katelyn had a sense that arger conspiracy was at y, but she couldn¡¯t pinpoint the root of the problem just yet.


    Vincent spoke softly as he viewed the live stream.


    ¡°I believe those are trained mercenaries. Only the very wealthy or powerful could afford to hire them.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression hardened as she made a silent vow. ¡°I¡¯m going to investigate this. I need to find out who is helping Lise.¡± She had a nagging feeling that the people helping Lise this time were also the ones who had given her the aphrodisiac.


    Briar quickly got back to Katelyn with an update.


    ¡°I discovered something. The people helping Lise must be members of T Organization.¡±


    Katelyn asked, ¡°T Organization?¡±


    She mulled over the name for a moment, then a realization dawned on her. Her eyes narrowed sharply.


    The T Organization was known as the best mercenary group worldwide. To them, legal boundaries meant little. They would take on any task, as long as the price was right.


    However, hiring people from such an organization was far beyond the means of ordinary individuals due to the heftymissions involved. Could Lise actually afford to hire the T Organization?<fnc6b6> ?????? ???? fin?novel</fnc6b6>


    Briar confirmed, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure of it. If they are after you, you need to be very careful.¡±


    Katelyn acknowledged, ¡°OK. I understand.¡±


    Briar¡¯s findings did little to reassure Katelyn; instead, they only heightened her anxiety and unease. It felt as though she were caught in an unseen trap, lurking in the shadows.


    But she still couldn¡¯t tell who was the real predator behind it all.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but turn to Vincent again. She spoke in a serious tone, ¡°Mr. Adams, I need your help to find out where Marlon and his mother went after they were taken away.¡±


    Vincent responded with a rxed nod. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll have Samuel look into it immediately.¡±


    Themotion with the two demanding money at the Bailey family¡¯s doorstep had ended with the direct involvement of the T Organization. Yet, the live stream footage had already sparked widespread spection online.


    On the inte, there was a flurry of guesses and discussions, but no one knew the exact details.


    At six in the evening, Katelyn finished her workday as usual.


    She drove her usual route and approached a critical intersection on her way home. Suddenly, a white van tantly ran a red light, heading straight toward her. It was clear she was the target.


    Everything unfolded in an instant. The van¡¯s driver mmed on the elerator, speeding toward her at full throttle.


    Katelyn¡¯s car was the first in line at the traffic light, surrounded by other vehicles. She had no room to move forward or back.


    Given the van¡¯s speed, if it hit her, the collision would be catastrophic!


    .


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 Chapter 286

    ?Chapter 286:


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply, rms ring in her mind, urging her to escape, but she felt paralyzed. All she could do was watch as the van sped toward her, rapidly gaining momentum.


    In the nick of time, Katelyn flung open her car door and dove toward the safety of the green belt.


    As she leapt, the van collided with her Maserati, causing a massive explosion that turned the car into a zing fireball. Though she narrowly avoided the direct impact, the st¡¯s force knocked her to the ground. From her position, Katelyn stared in disbelief at the fiery wreckage.


    She was certain the van had been aiming for her.


    Who could be bold enough to attempt murder in broad daylight, right in the heart of the city?


    Before she could process her thoughts, two ck cars screeched to a halt nearby. Armed men leaped out and began firing at the green belt where she had taken cover. Chaos erupted on the road.


    Car rms, gunfire, panicked screams, and children crying blended into a deafening roar, all set against the backdrop of the zing wreckage. It felt like hell had broken loose.


    Katelyn moved swiftly, dodging and rolling as the assants relentlessly pursued her. Every moment felt critical¡ªjust a second¡¯s dy could have meant another bullet finding its mark.<fnc4f2> This content belongs to fin?novel</fnc4f2>


    The overwhelming number of gunmen left her no opportunity to fight back.


    She found refuge behind the corner of a building, peeking out cautiously. The gunmen, masked and heavily armed, kept their identities hidden.


    She muttered a curse under her breath, ¡°Damn it!¡± She had no clue who her attackers were.


    Check out more on g???????¦Í?????????o??


    Who would dare such a brazen attack in broad daylight? Could it be the T Organization?


    Clenching her teeth, Katelyn sprinted forward. Her only chance was to oust their ammunition supply as they continued to shoot.


    But just as she neared what seemed like a dead end, a distinct gunshot echoed behind her. This time, the shot sounded like it came from a pistol, not the rifles the mercenaries had been using before.


    A surge of hope coursed through her. She nced back to see Vincent, dressed in a bulletproof vest with a pistol in hand. With each precise shot, another mercenary dropped.


    His uracy was remarkable¡ªswift and lethal. Each bullet found its mark, leaving the enemy no chance to retaliate. Even alone, he exuded the presence of a formidable force. No elite mercenary group could withstand him.


    A wave of relief washed over Katelyn¡ªshe was safe.


    Behind Vincent, Samuel and arge squad arrived, their firepower evident. The tide of the battlepletely shifted. The mercenaries chasing Katelyn were now outmatched and quickly taken down by Vincent and his team.


    After eliminating another enemy, Vincent¡¯s pistol ran out of bullets. He hurried over to Katelyn, his expression full of concern as he checked her for injuries. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Katelyn nodded weakly, her face pale from the shock. She hadn¡¯t yet shaken off the terror of being hunted.


    She stood, surveying the fallen enemies around them. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t arrived when you did, I would be dead.¡±


    The attack had been meticulously nned, executed with high-grade weapons. Whoever was behind this had invested heavily in trying to kill her.


    Vincent extended his arm to support her. ¡°They¡¯re all dealt with. You¡¯re safe now.¡±


    Katelyn took a deep breath, nodded, and then followed Vincent out from behind their cover. Meanwhile, Samuel and his team began investigating the attackers.


    Suddenly, Samuel looked up and called out, ¡°Mr. Adams, we¡¯ve got a live one here.¡±


    .


    .


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 Chapter 287

    ?Chapter 287:<fnbf5b> Newest update provided by find?novel</fnbf5b>


    Katelyn hurried to the scene.


    The mercenary Samuel had tracked down appeared to be wounded in the abdomen. Hey on the ground, struggling to breathe, each inhaleing in ragged gasps. A dark pool of blood had already spread beneath him.


    He was in a dangerously critical state. Without immediate help, he could slip away at any moment.


    ¡°Who sent you here?¡± Katelyn asked through gritted teeth, gripping his cor tightly.


    The only ones she had crossed recently were the Bailey family and Lise, but neither seemed capable of hiring mercenaries like this.


    The mercenary¡¯s face was ghostly white, drained from the rapid loss of blood. He gasped for air, each breath sounding like a fish flopping on drynd. ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± He could barely string a sentence together.


    Katelyn bit her lip, feeling the urgency of the situation. She pulled a small white pill from her pocket and pressed it against his lips.


    ¡°Hold this in your mouth. Don¡¯t swallow it. It should keep you alive,¡± she instructed.


    The mercenary gave a weak nod, following her orders.


    As the drug began to take effect, his condition visibly improved. His breathing steadied, and he seemed much better than before.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained serious. She was determined to find out who was behind this attack.


    Vincent had been watching her closely, observing every move she made. He noticed the pill she gave the man looked like a standard white tablet¡ªsomething as ordinary as cold medicine. However, it was potent enough to keep him alive. Soon, the ambnce and police arrived, clearing the scene and removing the bodies.


    The surviving mercenary was rushed to the hospital without dy.


    L?¦Ó??¦Ó ch?¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?ls.????


    Thankfully, the pill had kept his heart going. Without it, he might not have survived the gunshot wound for so long.


    As they waited in the hospital corridor for the oue of the surgery, Vincent kept his eyes fixed on Katelyn, observing her expressions and reactions with curiosity. ¡°What kind of medicine did you give him?¡± he finally asked.


    Trying to keep her impatience in check, Katelyn replied in a calm tone, ¡°It¡¯s just a simple pill to staunch the bleeding. Given his condition, if we hadn¡¯t managed to stop the bleeding in time, he would¡¯ve died¡ªeven if no major organs were hit.¡±


    Puzzled, Vincent asked, ¡°Why do you carry something like that with you?¡±


    ¡°I developed this habit after thest time I was ambushed. These pills can save someone¡¯s life if they¡¯re badly injured or in a critical situation,¡± Katelyn exined with a straight face. ¡°Mr. Adams, you might want to carry a few yourself. They can be incredibly useful.¡±


    Vincent nodded, deciding not to press her further. Katelyn¡¯s exnation seemed reasonable, though he found it a bit unusual. He couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint why, but there was something about it that didn¡¯t sit entirely right with him. Still, there was no direct connection between Katelyn and the mercenaries who had carried out the attack.


    Samuel came running down the corridor, urgency in his steps.


    While panting, he managed to report, ¡°Mr. Adams, we¡¯ve noticed distinctive tattoos on their arms. We¡¯re working to identify which organization they belong to.¡± In the underworld, every group or organization had its own symbols and beliefs, often visible in their tattoos.


    For example, the men in ck who hadunched the surprise attack all had the same unusual tattoo on their arms¡ªtwo intertwined fish. The two fish formed a circle, each biting the tail of the other. One was ck, the other red.


    The design and colors were unsettling.


    The criminal underworld operated by its own strict set of rules, and those who broke them faced severe consequences. Vincent held powerful positions in both the business world and the underworld, and almost everyone knew of his connection to Katelyn.


    Even though it was just a rumor, anyone considering harming her would usually think twice if they knew he was involved. Still, the attacker had gone through with it, indicating that someone clearly wanted Katelyn dead.


    Vincent¡¯s voice turned ice-cold as hemanded, ¡°Find out who they are, and eliminate everyst one of them.¡±


    In his mind, the attack on Katelyn was a direct challenge to him. Frustrated, Katelyn ran a hand through her hair and suddenly looked up.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible they¡¯re from the T Organization,¡± she suggested.


    .


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 Chapter 288

    ?Chapter 288:


    Hearing Katelyn¡¯s words, both Vincent¡¯s and Samuel¡¯s faces grew tense. They were fully aware of what involvement with the T Organization implied. The reality that such a formidable group had been mobilized to target Katelyn raised a critical question¡ªWas Katelyn the true target, or was it actually Vincent?


    The situation remained unclear.


    Vincent¡¯s voice was soft but firm. ¡°Go home and rest. I¡¯ll keep you informed as soon as I learn anything new.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, her expression clouded with concern. She understood the danger was far from over.


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze met hers, his voice cool yet strangely soothing. ¡°Let me take you home.¡±


    Katelyn agreed once more.


    This assault had left a profound psychological impact on Katelyn, one deeper than any previous encounter. These criminals treated human lives as mere pawns in their games.


    The earlier attack had targeted Vincent directly, with Katelyn as merely coteral damage. But this time, she had felt death¡¯s breath on her neck, teetering on the edge of mortality. Bullets whizzed by, mere inches from her back. A single misstep could have meant herst.


    Her eyes were filled with various emotions as she looked at Vincent, pausing before voicing her question. ¡°Do these kinds of dangerous attacks happen often to you?¡±


    With one hand on the wheel, Vincent was momentarily taken aback by Katelyn¡¯s sudden question. He then responded with a casual nod. ¡°The higher your position, the greater the risk. However, those who lurk in the shadows, those plotting against me, they¡¯ve been cautious.¡±


    Fresh chapters uploaded on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv??ls?c?m


    Resorting to violence wasn¡¯t always the solution, but in some cases, it proved incredibly effective. If he hadn¡¯t taken such drastic measures over the years, with anyone daring enough to strike at him facing ruthless revenge once discovered, there was no way he could have had a rtively peaceful time in the past two years.


    His reputation as a ruthless force had spread far and wide, and over the years, he still had countless enemies.<fn32d6> Th?s chapter is updated by Find[F]ovel</fn32d6>


    Katelyn tightened her grip, her resolve solidifying. ¡°I want to learn how to shoot.¡±


    While she was proficient in hand-to-handbat, she felt vulnerable when facing opponents with firearms.


    Vincent regarded her calmly. ¡°Shooting requires precision and concentration. If you¡¯re serious about this, I¡¯ll take you to a training facility to practice. You can count on me to guide you.¡±


    He thought it was a wise decision. It would at least provide her with a means to defend herself in dangerous situations.


    ¡°Alright.¡± Katelyn nodded resolutely.


    She was eager to acquire the skills necessary to protect herself.


    Vincent drove her home safely, but the terror of the day didn¡¯t fade easily; she had a restless night, tormented by nightmares of the attack.


    In her dream, the relentless white van never missed. After a violent impact, she slumped against the seat, dying.


    A figure approached, gun in hand, and without hesitation, pressed the gun against her forehead and fired. The sound of the gunshot echoed, and suddenly, everything went silent.


    Katelyn woke up with a start, drenched in sweat and her heart pounding. Before she could calm her thoughts, her phone rang from the bedside table. It was Vincent.


    Still rattled, Katelyn picked up, her voice shaky.


    Given the early hour, Vincent¡¯s call likely meant something urgent had happened.


    ¡°Mr. Adams?¡±


    ¡°Last night, someone infiltrated the hospital and murdered the survivor.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s tone was crisp and to the point.


    Aputer screen disying the previous night¡¯s surveince footage from the hospital ward was in front of him.


    The footage was clear. At three in the morning, someone disguised as a nurse entered the ward and tampered with the man¡¯s IV bottle, injecting an unknown substance.


    The assant was efficient, spending less than a minute in the room¡ªentering, injecting the substance, and leaving without being noticed.


    Without saying a word, Katelyn hurried to the hospital. Upon seeing the footage, she was stunned.


    .


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 Chapter 289

    ?Chapter 289:


    Katelyn clenched her fists tightly, her eyes fixed on theputer screen, refusing to blink.


    The person in the security footage had gone to great lengths to hide her identity. She wore a mask and a hat that obscured her face, even taking care to avoid the cameras as she moved. But while she could hide her appearance and even her build, there was no way topletely disguise her walking posture. Something about it felt familiar, and in an instant, it reminded Katelyn of someone she knew all too well.


    It was Sophia Spencer.


    She had vanished without a trace over three and a half years ago!


    Katelyn tried to convince herself that she was just overthinking it, but her gaze remained glued to the screen.


    How could this be?


    The person moved exactly like Sophia.


    Vincent noticed the change in her expression and turned to study her, his eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°Do you recognize the person in the video?¡±


    Katelyn shook her head and replied, ¡°No. I just thought of a friend, that¡¯s all.¡±


    She quickly shifted her attention back, trying to divert the conversation.


    Changing the subject, she asked with curiosity, ¡°Did you find out what was in that injection?¡±


    ¡°It was lethal snake venom. Death would be almost instant,¡± Vincent replied in a cold tone.


    The previous day, he had deliberately kept the man alive during the fight.<fn2f16> Find the newest release on Find?Novel</fn2f16>


    ???????? ???????????? ?????????? ????: g???????¦Í????????????


    However, he hadn¡¯t expected T Organization to be so ruthless, eliminating their own without hesitation.


    To prevent something like this, he had arranged extra security around the ward, but the attacker managed to sneak in during the middle of the night and deliver the fatal blow. They hadn¡¯t gotten a chance to extract any information from the man.


    Katelyn sat in front of theputer, reying the surveince footage. ¡°Do you think this person belongs to T Organization?¡± she asked.


    The woman on the screen kept her head down as she passed the cameras, concealing her face.


    But judging by the way she moved, it was clear she wasn¡¯t concerned about being identified. She seemed confident, decisive, andpletelyposed.


    A feeling of unease settled in Katelyn¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Could it really be you, Sophia?¡± she thought to herself.


    ¡°I think so,¡± Vincent replied, following her gaze and noticing theplicated expression on her face.


    He had already asked Katelyn once if she recognized the woman, but since she seemed unwilling to discuss it or share more details, he decided not to press further.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start looking into who might have been frequently contacting T Organizationtely,¡± he added.


    Katelyn gathered herposure and responded calmly, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Just then, her phone rang. It was Briar calling. After a brief moment of hesitation, she stepped into the corridor to take the call.


    Briar¡¯s voice sounded serious, tinged with concern. ¡°I heard someone from T Organization tried to attack you. Are you okay?¡±


    Katelyn rubbed the bridge of her nose and replied casually, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Briar continued, ¡°The people in T Organization are relentless; they won¡¯t stop until they achieve their goal. If someone has hired them to take you out, you need to be extra cautious whenever you leave the house. I¡¯ll also keep investigating until we find out who¡¯s behind this.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and said, ¡°Alright. I understand.¡±


    ¡°If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out to me.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Katelyn replied.


    She ended the call and put her phone down.


    Her thoughts were consumed by the mystery of the masked woman¡¯s identity, making it hard to focus on anything else.


    Gripping her phone tightly, she stared at Sophia¡¯s contact, a sense of unease growing in her. It had been four years since shest tried calling that number.


    Sophia had left in a burst of anger back then.


    No matter how many times Katelyn had tried to reach out, she never got through.


    What could have happened over those four years? Could Sophia have really joined T Organization and be a merciless killer?


    Katelyn let out a deep sigh and tried to steady herself. When she opened the door to the ward, she saw that Vincent was already standing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for us to visit the shooting range owned by a friend of mine. You have the day off today, so let¡¯s go out and unwind for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good.¡± Katelyn nodded in agreement.


    In her current state, she knew that even if she tried to force herself to work, she wouldn¡¯t be able to produce anything worthwhile.


    She figured she might as well get some fresh air and clear her mind.


    The shooting range Vincent mentioned was located in the suburbs. It was well-equipped, offering a wide variety of firearms, including some light weapons.


    As she sat in the back seat of the car, she rolled down the window, letting the wind rush in and blow through her hair. Despite the breeze, the tension in her eyes remained evident.


    ¡°If something is weighing on your mind, you¡¯re wee to share it with me. I¡¯m here to listen if you need to talk,¡± Vincent said, his voice steady and reassuring.


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 Chapter 290

    Chapter 290:


    Vincent suddenly spoke up as he observed Katelyn.


    He had noticed a shift in her demeanor inside the hospital ward. He had often remarked that Katelyn was like an open book to him, her emotions as clear as a gentle breeze. But this time, he saw a profound sadness in her eyes, something he had never seen before. She seemed burdened, weighed down by something unspoken.


    Katelyn turned to him, her eyes widening in surprise at his observation. Instinctively, she asked, ¡°Do I really look that upset?¡±


    ¡°Your feelings are always quite transparent,¡± Vincent replied, his tone gentle.


    He leaned back in his seat and met her gaze directly. ¡°If you feel like talking, I¡¯m here to listen. But if you don¡¯t want to, that¡¯s fine too. Just don¡¯t let these negative thoughts consume you. It¡¯s a waste of energy.¡±


    His usual calm, respectful demeanor made him approachable, and Katelyn appreciated that he wasn¡¯t pushing her to open up. He was simply offering his presence, his support, without pressure.


    It was rare to meet someone like Vincent, someone who could blend so seamlessly into her life. It felt even rarer than finding a once-in-a-lifetime love.


    Katelyn felt a wave of emotion stir within her. Normally reserved with her feelings, she found herself hesitating for a moment before speaking.


    ¡°If you found out that a close friend, who¡¯s been missing for years, might now be a killer working for a dangerous organization, what would you do?¡±


    Vincent understood immediately. He knew exactly what had triggered Katelyn¡¯s unease. She must have recognized the person in the security footage.


    Instead of expressing surprise, he considered her words carefully. ¡°I¡¯d meet with my friend first, try to understand what happened. If they really chose this path, I wouldn¡¯t interfere. People make their own choices for reasons we may never fully understand.¡±


    ???????? ???? ???????? ???????? ¡ú ??a???????¦Í???????????????


    His calm and reasoned response brought a sense of relief to Katelyn, soothing the turmoil inside her.


    Katelyn nodded, absorbing his words. ¡°I see.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s message was clear.


    If it were him, he would try to reason with his friend. If that didn¡¯t work, he¡¯d ept it and move on.


    Katelyn tended to mix personal feelings with other matters when it came to people she cared about, oftenplicating things. After reflecting on Vincent¡¯s words, she felt significantly more rxed.


    She turned her attention to the view outside as they neared the shooting range.


    The facility they were heading to was somewhat exclusive, often frequented by affluent individuals for practice or leisure shooting.


    Upon their arrival, a man in a ck suit greeted them with a courteous demeanor.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, our boss is currently abroad on business, but he asked me to ensure you¡¯re well taken care of during your visit.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Vincent replied evenly.


    The man gestured politely and led the way toward the range. ¡°Please, follow me.¡±


    Vincent walked ahead confidently, with Katelyn following closely behind him.<fneafb> Follow current nov?ls on Find_Novel(.</fneafb>


    She looked around, intrigued. The shooting range was expansive, nearly the size of two football fields.


    It had not only shootingnes but also a station for weapons.


    Katelyn was fascinated by the variety of firearms on disy. She hadn¡¯t realized there were so many different types.


    Among the impressive collection, she immediately recognized the type of guns used by the T Organization mercenaries who had attacked her.


    These weapons weren¡¯t just designed for long-range shooting; they were clearly very powerful.


    Vincent approached her, his voice calm. ¡°Pick one that you like. I¡¯ll teach you how to aim and fire.¡±


    Katelyn agreed, selecting a small handgun.


    ¡°Glock 43,¡± Vincent noted with interest as he expertly loaded the magazine into the pistol.


    ¡°Why did you choose this one?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn replied quickly, ¡°It¡¯s small enough to conceal under clothing.¡±


    She thought to herself that having such a weapon in the past might have changed the course of events.


    ¡°She thought to herself that having such a weapon in the past might have changed the oue of herst encounter with her attackers.¡±


    .


    .


    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: Have a great week dear readers, new chapters this friday and new novels tomorrow. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ????(? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?


    .

 Chapter 291

    ?Chapter 291:


    Vincent nodded and quickly loaded all the bullets into the gun, then handed it to Katelyn.


    ¡°This pistol ispact, with an effective range of about thirty meters. It holds a maximum of six bullets, but you can carry a spare magazine if needed.¡±


    Katelyn took the gun from him, inspecting it with curiosity. She could feel the weight of the gun noticeably increase once the bullets were loaded.


    Across from them, several shooters were practicing on a series of targets set at varying distances¡ªten meters, twenty meters, and even as far as two hundred meters. Each target had ten rings, with a small red dot marking the bull¡¯s-eye in the center.


    Katelyn squinted one eye and stretched out her arms, carefully aiming at the target, just like the others around her. She squeezed the trigger with confidence, but nothing happened.


    Perplexed, she looked down at the gun, then turned to Vincent.


    ¡°Is this gun broken?¡± she asked.


    Vincent stepped closer with a small smile and exined calmly, ¡°You forgot to disengage the safety. You have to do that before firing. It¡¯s a design feature to protect the shooter.¡±


    As he spoke, Vincent demonstrated in detail how to disengage the safety mechanism.


    Katelyn carefully mimicked his movements.


    Just as she raised her hands again to take another shot, Vincent suddenly ced something over her ears.


    She realized they were earmuffs.


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    ¡°These are soundproof earmuffs, meant for beginners. Guns can produce a loud noise when fired, and the impact can damage your eardrums.¡±


    He paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Once you get more ustomed to it, you won¡¯t need them anymore.¡±


    At that moment, Katelyn felt like a student on her first day of school, absorbing everything Vincent was teaching her as brand-new information.


    She smiled and replied, ¡°Alright, got it.¡±


    No sooner had she spoken than her attention was drawn to a sniper rifle resting in the corner.


    ¡°Can I try out all the guns here?¡± she asked, her eyes still fixed on the sniper rifle.


    Vincent followed her gaze and noticed the rifle. It appeared to have been untouched for quite some time, a thinyer of dust settled on its surface. He picked it up, wiped away the dust, and adjusted the scope carefully.


    ¡°This type of gun has pretty strong recoil when you fire it,¡± he warned.


    Katelyn took the rifle from him. Its weight was several times more than the pistol, catching her by surprise. She nearly dropped it but quickly regained her grip and adjusted her stance.


    Vincent, always attentive, set up an auxiliary shooting frame in front of her. This frame was designed to help stabilize and aim with sniper rifles.


    Katelyn took a deep breath, ced the rifle on the frame, and focused through the scope, aligning it with the small red dot.


    Just as she was about to pull the trigger, Vincent moved behind her, his body gently pressing against her back, offering a steadying presence.


    Her body tensed at once, and she could catch the subtle scent of mint and tobo from Vincent, enveloping her senses.


    Though he hadn¡¯t done anything inappropriate, the closeness of his actions made her cheeks flush. With his arms around her, he guided her hands, helping her steady the rifle and press the trigger.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted. Keep your eyes on the target. Picture it as your enemy. You only have one shot, so make it count,¡± he instructed, his voice serious.


    Vincent nced at her face, noticing the flush spreading across her cheeks, the redness creeping up to her ears. He chuckled softly, as if amused by his discovery.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why is your face so red?¡± he teased, pretending not to know.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes darted around nervously, and she stammered, ¡°Mr. Adams, I can handle this myself. You¡¯re standing too close.¡±<fnc5d7> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fnc5d7>


    Although they had been this close before, it was during a time when she was injured and unable to care for herself.


    Now, however, she waspletely alert and aware.


    Katelyn felt as though Vincent was guiding her thoughts, drawing her into his orbit.


    .


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 Chapter 292

    ?Chapter 292:


    Katelyn found it difficult to focus on the rifle she was holding, let alone the target ahead.


    The air around her seemed to grow hotter by the moment, almost as if it were going to burn away her breath.


    ¡°It¡¯s your first time handling a sniper rifle. It might be tough for you,¡± Vincent remarked.


    He adjusted his stance, lowering himself to align his eyes with Katelyn¡¯s at the same level. Their bodies were closely pressed together.


    The heat of the summer day intensified, separated only by their thin clothing.


    Vincent¡¯s tone became firm, like a teacher instructing a student. ¡°Now concentrate. You¡¯ve only got one shot at this.¡±


    Katelyn took a deep breath, pushing aside all distractions from her mind.


    She lined up her shot as best as she could, with Vincent helping to adjust her grip.


    The target, 20 meters away, appeared clearly defined through the scope.


    Narrowing her eyes, Katelyn pulled the trigger with determination.


    Bang!


    The gun discharged, and the recoil knocked Katelyn off her feet, causing her to let out an involuntary groan.


    While she had mentally braced herself for the rifle¡¯s kick, the actual force was stronger than she¡¯d anticipated.


    A single shot from such a rifle could easily leave a bruise on the shoulder.


    Instead of crashing to the ground, Katelyn found herself caught by a soft, human shield.


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    Vincent had positioned himself to cushion her fall.


    After a brief moment of disorientation, Katelyn realized what had happened.


    She had just fired the shot when the recoil sent her tumbling. As a result, Vincent had ended up falling with her.


    Typically, those who handle such powerful rifles have strong core muscles or arger physique.


    Katelyncked both.


    Feeling the ache in her shoulder, Katelyn looked at Vincent with concern. ¡°Mr. Adams, are you alright?¡±


    Vincent, lying on the ground, smiled indulgently with a touch of resignation.


    ¡°Do you understand now why I didn¡¯t want you to shoot on your own?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s cheeks flushed bright red, and she nodded, her lower lip caught between her teeth.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it would be that powerful.¡±


    Had Vincent not been right behind her, she would have hit the ground hard after the shot.


    At that moment, Katelyn felt a mix of gratitude and self-me. Herck of inquiry about the potential effects and her impulsiveness had led to the mishap.


    Vincent seemed unfazed by the incident, offering a slight smile. He said to Katelyn, ¡°Your right shoulder might bruise over the next few days and may not handle stress well. This is quitemon, so don¡¯t be too upset about it.¡±


    At his words, Katelyn suddenly became conscious of the pain in her shoulder.


    ncing down, she noticed the skin around her shoulder was reddening.


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll switch to a smaller handgun. This sniper rifle doesn¡¯t suit me.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. But could you please get off me first?¡± Vincent¡¯s smile broadened. He couldn¡¯t help but find Katelyn endearing at that moment.


    Katelyn quickly snapped out of her thoughts and hastily stood up.


    She had been so preupied with concern for Vincent that she hadn¡¯t realized she was still on top of him. In essence, Vincent had been cushioning her fall.


    Vincent got to his feet and brushed off his clothes casually.


    Katelyn, looking somewhat sheepish, apologized once again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Adams. I didn¡¯t realize what I was doing.¡±


    Vincent responded calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    He then nced toward the target. ¡°You scored a nine. That¡¯s actually quite impressive for a beginner. Want to try another shot?¡±


    Katelyn chewed on her lip, eyeing the sniper rifle next to her with a mix of desire and hesitation.


    Unbeknownst to them, two pairs of eyes from nearby had witnessed the entire scene.


    ¡°One seethed with anger, while the other simmered with jealousy and resentment.¡±


    .


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    .<fn098f> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? FindN0vel</fn098f>

 Chapter 293

    ?Chapter 293:


    Neil and Lise were there.


    The shooting range, a popr spot for the wealthy, had be a ce of sce for Lise, thanks to Neil¡¯s decision to take her there and help her unwind after the recent turmoil.


    Neil clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Katelyn¡¯s reddened face. A deep anger red in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t remember thest time he had seen Katelyn look so shy. It must have been on their wedding day. She had looked at him with a bashful expression, her cheeks glowing with a soft blush, softly calling him ¡°honey¡± in that sweet voice of hers. Even though those days were years behind them, they felt as if they had just happened.


    Lise¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred, impossible to ignore. Katelyn had nearly ruined her life, and now, she had the audacity to flirt with Vincent as if she were having the time of her life. That woman disgusted Lise. She saw her as aplete hypocrite.


    Seeing the anger on Neil¡¯s face made Lise¡¯s resentment grow even more. What did Katelyn have that was so special? Why were these two men so captivated by her?


    Lise turned to Neil with a hesitant look, speaking softly, ¡°Neil, maybe we should go somewhere else. Vincent and Katelyn seem so happy together. We shouldn¡¯t interrupt them.¡± She intended to provoke him further.


    Neil¡¯s face grew darker, and instead of responding, he headed straight toward Katelyn and Vincent.


    ¡°Katelyn.¡±


    His voice shattered the moment, instantly breaking the intimate atmosphere between her and Vincent.


    Katelyn had been feeling cheerful, but her mood shifted the moment she saw Neil. Annoyance washed over her, and her eyes betrayed a hint of disdain. It felt like the world had grown too small.


    L??t§Öst ch¦Ápt?rs in g??l??ov???s.??????


    Vincent cast a cold nce at Neil.


    While his face showed little emotion, his calm eyes retained their usualmanding presence.


    Neil continued to walk toward them, staring at Katelyn with gritted teeth.


    ¡°You¡¯re here ying with guns while we still have a deal pending? When will the contract be signed?¡± Neil demanded.


    Katelyn calmly wiped down the sniper rifle in her hands. The sunlight hit her face, making her icy expression even more striking.


    ¡°You should sort things out with Lise before we finalize anything. I¡¯m worried she mighte asking for your money back again once I sign,¡± she replied with an indifferent tone.


    Her casual words felt like a p in Lise¡¯s face.


    Lise found it hard to maintain herposure. She cursed Katelyn silently, furious that Katelyn had the nerve to bring up their private conversation to Neil.


    Lise had quickly covered her tracks by pretending she was only thinking about thepany¡¯s future, which had finally soothed Neil. She hadn¡¯t expected Katelyn to bring it up again, and with such a mocking tone.


    Lise forced herself to smile and stepped forward.


    ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯ve already exined everything to Neil. There¡¯s no need for you to try to create problems between us. Everything I¡¯ve done has been for hispany¡¯s growth. But you, on the other hand, seem to be using this to bleed us dry. The money Neil gave you came from thepany¡¯s limited funds. Do you even realize that?¡±


    Though Lise spoke directly to Katelyn, her eyes kept darting toward Vincent.


    She believed that by making things so clear, Vincent would finally see how malicious and maniptive Katelyn was. However, to her surprise, Vincent showed no interest in anything she said.


    He appeared more concerned about which ring on the target Katelyn had hit.


    Katelyn, on the other hand, lookedpletely unconcerned.


    Katelyn raised an eyebrow and asked with a hint of curiosity, ¡°And¡­?¡±


    Lise struggled with Katelyn¡¯s casual response, her frustration evident as she clenched her teeth.


    ¡°I hope, for the sake of your past with Neil, you won¡¯t keep pressuring him during such a critical time. There¡¯s no reason to push him into a corner.¡±<fnb0ed> Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnb0ed>


    She maintained a gentle andposed demeanor, seemingly concerned about Neil¡¯s well-being.


    Neil¡¯s expression softened, and a trace of regret crossed his face. He felt sorry for having been upset with Lise just a few days earlier.


    After all, what had Lise done wrong? Everything she did, she did for his benefit, didn¡¯t she?


    .


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    .

 Chapter 294

    ?Chapter 294:


    Katelyn¡¯s smile widened, tinged with coldness and mockery.


    She regarded Lise and Neil as though they were fools. ¡°So, you expect me to work with the Wheeler Group and lower my rates? Or better yet, you want me to assist him for free?¡±


    It was exactly what Lise meant, but the way Katelyn phrased it made it sound so harsh.


    Lise forced a smile and replied, ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯m aware of your standard rates, but Neil isn¡¯t just anyone to you, right? We¡¯re not asking for free help. We¡¯re simply hoping you can defer the payment until hispany stabilizes.¡±


    As she spoke, Lise clenched her fists, her voice faltering.


    ¡°If we drain thepany¡¯s ounts to pay you, the Wheeler Group could copse if anything unexpected happens.¡±


    Lise exaggerated the potential consequences deliberately, trying to paint Katelyn as ruthless and maniptive in front of the two men, especially Neil.


    Even if Katelyn agreed to cooperate, Lise was certain her intentions weren¡¯t genuine. She¡¯d be happy to see the Wheeler Group fail¡ªit was all part of her n!


    Vincent looked at Lise with cool detachment. His gaze was unreadable, his thoughts hidden.


    ¡°Mr. Wheeler hasn¡¯t made anyments about the Wheeler Group¡¯s situation, but you, Miss Bailey, seem very vocal. Are you acting as his spokesperson? Or is it because the Wheeler Group can¡¯t afford the high design fees, so they¡¯ve turned to you for assistance?¡±


    Katelyn felt like cheering for Vincent.


    ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????¦Í??????©q??????


    She knew he was usually reserved, but she had never seen him this sharp. He had precisely pinpointed their vulnerabilities.


    Neil shot a reluctant look at Vincent. Though he was annoyed, he had to maintain an air of humility.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, this matter is between Katelyn and me. You seem to be taking too much interest.¡±


    Vincent replied casually, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand watching someone being morally manipted.¡±


    His demeanor remained calm and controlled, a stark contrast to Neil¡¯s suppressed fury.


    ¡°Design fees are meant for designers. In all my years, I¡¯ve never encountered anyone as shameless as you two.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s sarcasm hit the mark. His use of the word ¡°shameless¡± was perfectly fitting.


    At first, Neil and Lise tried every method to get Katelyn to sign the contract, only toterin that she was asking for too much.


    Once word got out, Neil¡¯s reputation would be ruined if public opinion shifted even slightly.


    However, Neil¡¯s reputation was already in tatters, so what did it really matter?


    Vincent¡¯sments were straightforward but devastating. Lise clenched her fists, unsure of what to do next. This was not the oue she had anticipated.


    Moreover, Vincent had never openly supported Katelyn before. While he had hinted at it asionally, he had never been this direct.


    What had changed today?


    Had his rtionship with Katelyn evolved? Were they now a couple?


    Neil was pondering the same questions. He stepped forward, his teeth clenched in frustration.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, this is a personal matter. Why are you interfering?¡±


    Vincent, with one hand casually in his pocket, responded in aid-back tone that only fueled Neil¡¯s anger.


    ¡°Just helping out a damsel in distress.¡±


    Katelyn silently apuded Vincent.


    It turned out that Vincent, who seemed so reserved, could actually be quite biting.


    She enjoyed watching Neil squirm.


    Realizing they were losing control of the situation, Lise quickly regained herposure and tried to steer the conversation back to calmer waters.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. We¡¯re not trying to manipte anyone here. We¡¯re simply looking to make some adjustments based on the current situation. Ultimately, it¡¯s Katelyn¡¯s decision. If she wishes to see the Wheeler Group fail, that¡¯s her prerogative.¡±


    Lise¡¯s words shifted the focus back to the main issue. She was intent on showing Neil just how ruthless and merciless Katelyn could be.


    With a mocking glint in her eyes, Katelyn looked at Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, you heard her, right? This might be your chance to take over the Wheeler Group. Let¡¯s not miss out.¡±


    Neil clenched his teeth in anger at her words.


    .


    .<fna933> Official source is F?nd-Novel</fna933>


    .

 Chapter 295

    ?Chapter 295:


    Katelyn¡¯s response took everyone by surprise. She now regarded Neil as an enemy and seemed determined to see him face financial ruin as soon as possible. Her thoughts were clear, with no attempt to conceal them. Her expression made it evident, and she didn¡¯t care what anyone else thought.


    Standing with her arms crossed, Katelyn positioned herself as a mere spectator, watching the drama unfold.


    ¡°If you choose not to work with me, I can refund the deposit at any time. However, there will be a 30% penalty fee for breaching the agreement. If we continue working together and I hear any more attempts to manipte me, I will terminate the contract on my own, and the deposit will not be returned.¡±


    Lise red at Katelyn, unable to believe what she was hearing. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You haven¡¯t even signed a formal contract with Neil¡ªjust a verbal agreement. How can you enforce such one-sided terms?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s voice remained calm and detached as she replied, ¡°The name ¡®Iris¡¯ carries its own reputation. You can ask anyone about the contracts I¡¯ve been involved with over the years. Isn¡¯t it standard practice to deduct a penalty fee when someone breaks an agreement?¡±


    Lise was so enraged that she could barely find her voice. Her thoughts were a torrent of curses.


    She cursed inwardly, This woman! How dare she act so arrogantly?


    Lise believed Katelyn was being bold only because she knew the Wheeler Group urgently needed her designs. Silently, she vowed that once they were past this crisis, she would make Katelyn pay double for the insult.


    Still, Katelyn¡¯s defiant stance should have made it clear to Neil that things between them were finished.


    Neil¡¯s eyes were filled with anger, and his voice was strained as he spoke through clenched teeth.


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    ¡°And what if you¡¯re the one who breaks the contract?¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Instead of waiting for me to slip up, you¡¯d be better off making sure Lise stops targeting me again. When I say the deposit is non-refundable, I mean it.¡± Katelyn¡¯s words were firm, but a sh of regret flickered in her eyes. Why did I even bother to warn them? she thought.


    Walking away with arge sum without having to design anything would have been perfect!


    If things yed out that way, Katelyn might even find herself thanking Lise.


    Lise forced herself to take a deep breath, holding back the angry words she longed to unleash.


    Putting on her best act, she spoke in a soft, wounded tone. ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯ve misunderstood me from the start. No matter what I say, you always twist my words, even when I¡¯m just trying to offer some friendly advice.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in your friendly advice,¡± Katelyn replied, cutting her off sharply before she could continue.


    She still held the sniper rifle effortlessly, her gaze calm and almost indifferent.


    ¡°Are you done talking? If so, get out of here. Don¡¯t spoil my mood.¡±


    She would rather face a year of nonstop overtime at thepany than spend another moment looking at Neil and Lise.


    Neil took a deep breath, his teeth clenched, and turned to Vincent, who seemed lost in thought.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, can¡¯t you see what¡¯s happening here? Katelyn is far from simple. She¡¯s a master maniptor who deceived me for three years. My painful experience should serve as a warning to you. Don¡¯t let yourself be fooled.¡±


    His words,den with the tone of a victim, only deepened the disgust in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Before Vincent could respond, she interrupted, her voice cold and sharp.


    ¡°Neil, your shamelessness truly knows no limits.¡±<fn90df> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on fin?novel</fn90df>


    Her tone was heavy with sarcasm and bitterness. At one point, Katelyn had thought Neil was simply clueless about rtionships, but now she saw just how despicable he had be.


    ¡°You deceived me for three years. Do you really think I can just let that go?¡± Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Mr. Adams, you should consider this carefully. Not only is Katelyn a liar, but she¡¯s also a divorced woman with a tarnished reputation. What will people think if you two be involved? How will the public perceive it? Can the Adams family truly ept someone like her?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s thoughts were spinning with confusion.


    This was supposed to be a discussion about their issues, so how had it suddenly turned into an attack on her rtionship with Vincent?


    .


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 Chapter 296

    ?Chapter 296:


    As Lise spoke, she let out a mock sigh and closely observed Vincent¡¯s reactions. She appeared utterly disappointed, as if she wanted to guide Katelyn but found it impossible.


    ¡°Just like this recent incident. Katelyn¡¯s rtives came to her, but instead of weing them, she allowed them to stir up trouble at the Bailey estate. She gave away her money and then devised a n for her rtives to reim it. Now they¡¯re the talk of the town and a joke to everyone.¡±


    Lise paused, seemingly unsure of how to continue.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean to drive a wedge between you. It¡¯s just that some things should be rified in advance. Katelyn, you¡¯re still so naive and impulsive. You¡¯re not looking out for your family.¡±


    Katelyn responded with a cold stare. ¡°My so-called family? You of all people should know who they truly are and what they¡¯re really after. Whatever they did had absolutely nothing to do with me.¡±


    Lise bit her lip, her voice filled with concern.


    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you intervene? Do you realize the chaos this has caused for the Bailey family?¡±


    ¡°Why should I be concerned?¡±


    Katelyn stared back at Lise, her gaze sharp and silencing.


    ¡°Why not? Do you really want to see the Bailey family disgraced and condemned by everyone?¡± Lise persisted, not ready to back down.


    What she truly wanted was to see Katelyn lose herposure. That way, she might gain some leverage over her.


    In the past, even a hint from Lise would agitate Katelyn. But now, no matter what Lise said, Katelyn seemed indifferent. She only returned Lise¡¯s remarks with a look of sarcasm.


    ???????? ???????????? ????????: ??????????¦Í?????????????


    This made Lise feel like aplete fool.<fnc53b> This update is avable on f?ndnovel</fnc53b>


    This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to be.


    To Katelyn, Lise was indeed nothing more than a fool. She didn¡¯t even bother to look her way.


    ¡°If it were up to me, I¡¯d love to see the day the Bailey family falls into bankruptcy. After all the torment you¡¯ve caused me in the past, don¡¯t you think this might be your payback?¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Lise was speechless. How could Katelyn remain so calm and detached in this situation?


    Neil positioned himself in front of Lise, giving Katelyn a cold stare.


    ¡°Lise, don¡¯t bother. She¡¯s so selfish. To her, nothing matters more than her own gain.¡±


    Anger burned in his eyes. Even he couldn¡¯t tell why he was so furious.


    Maybe it was Katelyn¡¯s mockery of Lise or her closeness with Vincent that upset him.


    Overwhelmed with frustration, his words grew sharper. ¡°Katelyn, sometimes I feel sorry for you. Your life is just a series of deceptions and betrayals. You don¡¯t always have to y the victim. You¡¯ve brought it upon yourself.¡±


    ¡°Really? Then why do you keep bothering me?¡±


    A taunting smile yed across Katelyn¡¯s face, her expression tinged with bewilderment.


    Their usations left her unfazed. She merely found them absurd, even amusing.


    Katelyn ridiculed both of them.


    Lise, unable to contain her frustration, retorted, ¡°Katelyn, I just don¡¯t understand. What do you want? You always act as if the Bailey family owes you something, yet you were the one who wanted to cut ties with them.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin. With clear revulsion in her gaze, she retorted, ¡°From that day, I stopped seeing them as my family. It¡¯s you guys who keep trying to drag me back into your lives.¡±


    Their presence was spoiling her mood.


    She had neither the time nor the inclination to continue this conversation. She turned to Vincent and said in a noticeably softer voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go elsewhere to practice. The atmosphere here is tainted.¡±


    Vincent, with a hint of amusement in his eyes, agreed. ¡°There¡¯s a private area over there. We won¡¯t be disturbed.¡±


    She nodded, ready to leave with him, but Neil called out to her, ¡°Katelyn!¡±


    Just as he spoke, a gunshot rang out.


    He screamed and copsed, clutching his knee.


    Katelyn looked on, her expression cold, the barrel of the sniper rifle in her hand still warm from the shot.


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 Chapter 297

    ?Chapter 297:


    Katelyn¡¯s shot was swift and precise, executed withplete confidence.


    It happened so fast that no one had a chance to react.


    Her gaze fell on Neil, who was now drenched in sweat, and her expression was as icy as if she were looking at aplete stranger.


    No.


    Katelyn realized she would have shown morepassion even to a stranger.


    ¡°If youe after me again, the next bullet won¡¯t just graze your leg,¡± she warned.


    Lise finally snapped out of her shock a momentter. She immediately shouted, ¡°Katelyn, have you lost your mind? How could you shoot Neil?¡±


    Lise hurried over to Neil, her eyes filled with tears as she shot a look of pure loathing at Katelyn.


    Neil pressed both hands against his injured knee, his breathsing in ragged gasps. His expression showed a mix of pain and anger as he tried to confront Katelyn with his words. ¡°You hate me so much that you¡¯d wish me dead?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. The thought of my life being tangled with someone as corrupt as you for three whole years makes my skin crawl. If I could, I would erase that entire chapter from my memory.¡±


    Katelyn then shifted her aim directly toward Lise. The barrel was still hot from the earlier shot, releasing the sharp scent of gunpowder into the air.


    Realizing the gun was now pointed at her, Lise felt a tight grip of fear around her chest. Her legs turned to jelly, and she almost stumbled where she stood.


    She swallowed hard, clenching her teeth in a desperate attempt to stayposed.


    Keep reading at g???????¦Í???????co??


    ¡°Katelyn, what you¡¯re doing is a crime. Are you aware of that? If you actually pull that trigger, the Bailey family will make sure you face the consequences.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes grew colder with disgust, and she chose not to respond. Instead, she adjusted her aim with deliberate calmness, directing the barrel of the gun straight at Lise¡¯s chest. Her finger rested on the trigger, and only a small amount of pressure would send a bullet tearing through, ending everything in an instant.


    Lise¡¯s panic set in the moment she realized that Katelyn wasn¡¯t bluffing. She closed her mouth, paralyzed with fear.


    The sensation of having a gun pointed at her was as terrifying as a de pressed to her throat.


    Her entire existence now hung in the bnce, entirely controlled by Katelyn¡¯s decisions.


    Vincent kept his eyes fixed on Katelyn. His gaze was serious, and he subtly shook his head at her.


    He knew how much she despised the two standing before her, but he also recognized that now was not the time for impulsive actions. If a life was taken, Katelyn would end up in jail, and for these two, it simply wasn¡¯t worth the cost.


    Vincent knew the gun was loaded with nks, but even a nk round could be deadly if aimed directly at the heart.


    Katelyn nced at him with a faint smile and nodded slightly. She was fully aware of what she was doing and had no intention of making a reckless mistake.


    She took a certain satisfaction in watching Lise¡¯sposure disintegrate.


    In a low voice, Katelyn said, ¡°There¡¯s still one bullet left. You tell me¡ªshould I save it for you or Neil?¡±


    As she spoke, she moved the barrel of the gun back and forth, pointing it alternately between them.


    Furious, Neil tried to push himself up, using his uninjured leg for support. He had never experienced such humiliation, not even at the hands of Vincent.


    His voice came out strained with rage as he growled, ¡°Katelyn, how dare you?¡±


    ¡°It seems the first shot didn¡¯t teach you enough,¡± she replied, her gaze sharp and filled with contempt. Katelyn¡¯s eyes were icy, filled with disdain.


    Lise forced herself upright, taking an unsteady step forward. She spread her arms wide and positioned herself in front of Neil, cing herself between him and Katelyn¡¯s aim.


    ¡°If someone has to die here today, let it be me. Let all your anger and hatred toward me end with this bullet. Leave Neil out of this. You were married to him for three years, but you never truly understood who he was.¡±


    Tears flowed down Lise¡¯s face as she turned to Neil.


    ¡°Neil, if there is a next life, I only hope that we find each other sooner¡ªmuch sooner than we did in this one. If the timing had been right, we could have been the couple everyone admired and blessed.¡±


    Neil stared at her, stunned into silence. He couldn¡¯t believe that Lise would actually use herself as a shield for him.


    ¡°Lise¡­¡±


    She forced a teary smile, as if making a final, unwavering choice. Turning back to Katelyn, her expression remained resolute.


    ¡°Go ahead, shoot me, but keep your word and leave the Bailey family and Neil alone.¡±


    Watching Lise¡¯s grand disy of devotion, Katelyn saw an opportunity to let the drama unfold.


    Without a moment of hesitation, she pulled the trigger.<fn98aa> Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel</fn98aa>


    .


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 Chapter 298

    ?Chapter 298:


    Another shot echoed through the air.


    Lise let out a scream.


    Katelyn had just fired at her leg without hesitation.


    Pain twisted Lise¡¯s face, her eyes wide with shock and anger. How could Katelyn, this lunatic, actually shoot her?


    Neil quickly caught Lise as she stumbled, ring at Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, have you lost your mind?¡± he snarled.


    Katelyn casually blew the smoke away from her gun¡¯s barrel. ¡°She put on quite the performance. How could I just let that go to waste?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you regret this,¡± Neil said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched.


    With the rifle now resting on her shoulder, Katelyn gave a nonchnt shrug. ¡°Suit yourself. Hopefully, these two shots give you a lesson. If not, I can¡¯t say where the next one might go.¡±


    The gun was only loaded with nks. Katelyn had no real intention of harming them; she merely wanted to make a point. She needed them to understand that she wasn¡¯t to be messed with.


    Lise, looking pale and distressed, managed a strained smile tofort Neil. Her eyes were teary, but she tried to show forgiveness.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Neil. I¡¯m just d Katelyn¡¯s getting her anger out¡­ Katelyn, can we now move past this? Can you drop your grudge against Neil and the Bailey family?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smirk was cold as she replied, ¡°Not a chance.¡±


    She moved a step closer to Lise, her tone chilling.<fn5903> Original content can be found at FindN0vel</fn5903>


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    ¡°Stay out of my way, and I¡¯ll leave you alone. But if there¡¯s a next time, the rounds won¡¯t be nks.¡±


    At that, Lise instinctively looked down at her leg.


    The bullets had been nks all along. That exined why there was no actual wound.


    Had she really been overacting?


    At that moment, Lise realized she¡¯d beenpletely fooled by Katelyn.


    ¡°Idiot.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s cold stare captured every shift in Lise¡¯s expression. Her words cut deeper than any physical blow could have.


    Lise clenched her teeth in anger.


    Why couldn¡¯t this woman just disappear?


    Before Lise could retort, Katelyn turned and walked away. Vincent stayed behind for a moment, offering Lise a meaningful nce. That look reignited a spark in her heart, washing away her frustration and igniting a flicker of thrill.


    What did that look mean? Was Vincent impressed by her willingness to sacrifice for others, showing her admiration in his gaze?


    Could this mean she had a chance at winning Vincent¡¯s affection?


    Vincent escorted Katelyn directly to the VIP area.


    Once out of Neil¡¯s and Lise¡¯s sight, Katelyn set the rifle down and checked her shoulder.


    The initial shot had already left red marks. Firing two more consecutive shots had caused additional bruises to form on her shoulder.


    Now that she was rxed, Katelyn noticed she could barely lift her arm.


    Vincent also saw the bruises on Katelyn¡¯s shoulder. The marks were quite noticeable.


    ¡°Rub some ointment on those bruises. With proper care, they should heal within a week.¡±


    Katelyn grimaced as she shifted her shoulder, the pain knitting her brows together.


    ¡°It¡¯s painful, but¡­ shooting felt satisfying.¡±


    Vincent, seated casually, gave a nonchnt nod. ¡°You seem naturally skilled with a rifle. You look like a professional when you¡¯re aiming.¡±


    A spark of happiness appeared on Katelyn¡¯s face. ¡°Really? It¡¯s actually my first time holding a gun. Although they were just nks, it felt good to shoot.¡±


    ¡°nks or not, it hardly matters. You should improve your aim. Someday, those skills mighte in handy for your self-defense.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s resolve deepened with his words. That was precisely why she had taken up shooting.


    She didn¡¯t want to be left defenseless, waiting for rescue in a crisis again.


    She needed to be able to defend herself, to retaliate when necessary.


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 Chapter 299

    ?Chapter 299:


    Due to the bruise on her shoulder, Katelyn opted for a smaller pistol for the remainder of the practice, though she still preferred the sniper rifle.


    She equipped herself with noise-canceling earmuffs and protective eyewear, dedicating the entire afternoon to target practice.<fne566> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN0vel</fne566>


    The intense training was a true test of her physical capabilities and stamina.


    It was crucial for the gun sights to align perfectly with the target for the best uracy. Maintaining a steady grip was essential for consistent shooting.


    Vincent watched her closely, asionally stepping in to adjust her posture or correct her form.


    At first, Katelyn felt a bit self-conscious, but she quickly became absorbed in the excitement of firing.


    After a three-hour session, her shooting uracy had improved impressively¡ªshe hit the bull¡¯s-eye with nine out of ten shots.


    It was no overstatement to say her uracy was on par with a prodigy.


    Vincent was impressed by Katelyn¡¯s sharp, efficient movements. ¡°You¡¯re doing exceptionally well¡ªbetter than I did when I first started. Had you begun firearms training a few years ago, you might not have been a designer but perhaps a sniper.¡±


    Flustered by the praise, Katelyn coughed lightly.


    She responded, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to be any burden to you. You wouldn¡¯t have been injuredst time if I knew how to fire a gun.¡±


    She was still troubled by the memory of Vincent stepping in front of a bullet for her.


    Vincent, however, shook his head and gave her a serious look.


    ???????????????? ??????????????: ??????????¦Í????????????


    ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, let that go. It was my mistake to involve you.¡±


    ¡°But if I hadn¡¯t been there, you could have easily escaped.¡± The bullet had missed Vincent by merely an inch¡ªa narrow escape.


    ¡°It¡¯s really nothing.¡±


    Just as Vincent finished speaking, a group of people burst into the shooting range.


    At the front was a man with striking blue hair. He looked young, and his rxed stance made him appear careless. The people following behind were clearly hisckeys.


    The man with blue hair, casually holding a gun, sauntered up to Katelyn. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet such a beautiful woman here today.¡±


    Rond Bernard focused his attention on Katelyn, visibly struck by her beauty. She was far more captivating than any woman he had met before. Her grace andposure outshone the usual young models he mingled with.


    Suddenly, he felt that all his previous affairs had beenpletely meaningless.


    Hepletely ignored Vincent. As he spoke, he made a move to touch Katelyn¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°You¡¯re new to shooting? Let me show you how. I¡¯m a pro with all kinds of guns.¡±


    Katelyn quickly stepped back, her expression one of undisguised disgust. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±


    It was clear to her that Rond was the kind of wealthy yboy she loathed¡ªsomeone who reveled in his luxuries and thought himself irresistible.


    Rond, unfazed, let out a heartyugh. ¡°Feisty. I like that.¡± He was ustomed to women who sought his attention, eager to be near him. But this one, so fiercely indifferent, was something new. He figured Katelyn might be ying hard to get to capture his interest. Regardless of her tactics, he was eager to engage.


    ¡°I mean it. If you need help, just say the word. I¡¯m well-connected here. Stick with me, and you¡¯ll have free reign of this ce.¡±


    Katelyn looked at him with a mix of skepticism and disdain, debating whether he was serious or just in stupid. She scanned the room, seemingly in search of something. Rond, misunderstanding her intentions, eagerly moved closer with a fawning smile. ¡°What are you looking for? Can I help?¡± He attempted to reach for her waist.


    Before his handnded, Katelyn swiftly countered with the butt of her gun.


    ¡°I was wondering if there¡¯s a mental hospital nearby. And how did they ever let you out?¡±


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 Chapter 300

    ?Chapter 300:


    Katelyn¡¯s harsh words made Rond¡¯s expression darken immediately.


    Before Rond could reply, one of his minions, unable to hold back, stepped forward and yelled at Katelyn. ¡°Do you have any idea what you just said? You should be thankful that Mr. Bernard even notices you! Stop pretending you¡¯re so superior. We¡¯ve seen countless women try to y hard to get with Mr. Bernard, thinking it¡¯ll get them closer to him. Tell you what, just drop it!¡±


    The man¡¯s outburst was so fierce that he nearly spat on Katelyn. Appalled, Katelyn recoiled. Unbeknownst to her, Rond interpreted her reaction as a sign of fear.


    Rond cast a stern nce at his minion to silence him. With a smirk, he cleared his throat and attempted to appear amiable. ¡°I am sorry about that. My man got a bit overzealous. However, he spoke the truth. I appreciate a spirited woman, but there is a limit.¡±


    As each word left his mouth, Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed further, and an uneasy shiver coursed through her. Her mind raced with a barrage of questions. Was he genuinely serious, or was he simply delusional? In either case, he seemed entirely unhinged.<fnc7e2> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? FindN0vel</fnc7e2>


    Holding her gun firmly, Katelyn¡¯s expression hardened into a sneer. ¡°Do you not have a mirror at your ce? Maybe you should go back and see what you really look like.¡±


    Rond, as usual, thought his money could buy him anything, believing women would juste running to him. Katelyn¡¯s interest was genuine. What was it about men like him that made them so full of themselves?


    Her biting words made Rond feel both ufortable and annoyed. With a sneer, he said, ¡°You are walking a dangerous line. Is that how you like it? Do you want me to be rough with you?¡±


    Without saying a word, he shrugged off his jacket and tossed it to hisckey, gearing up to face Katelyn head-on. But as he moved to grab her, a stronger, unyielding hand seized him from behind.


    Stay connected through g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s


    Vincent seized Rond¡¯s wrist, stopping him in his tracks. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Rond, his voice cold and menacing. ¡°It is you who is flirting with danger.¡±


    With a slight twist of Vincent¡¯s hand, Rond let out a bloodcurdling scream that echoed through the room like the cry of a ughtered animal. The sickening creak of bones straining under pressure sent a cold shiver down everyone¡¯s spine. The faint cracking sound was enough to make the entire room¡¯s stomachs churn.


    Katelyn stood back, her eyes wide with astonishment at Vincent¡¯s swift and decisive response.


    Rond¡¯s wrist would be useless for at least a month.


    ¡°It hurts! You fool, let go!¡± Rond screamed, his voice filled with rage and disbelief. ¡°I will make you pay for this!¡± Even in his pain, Rond couldn¡¯t grasp the gravity of the situation, still barking out hollow threats.


    But Vincent remainedposed, his face betraying nothing. He tightened his grip on Rond¡¯s wrist, and with a crisp, unsettling sound, the bone snapped. The sickening crack was loud and unmistakable, filling the room.


    Everyone in the room heard it clearly. Rond¡¯s followers stared in shock and fear, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. This man, who had appeared out of nowhere, had snapped Rond¡¯s wrist as if it were nothing.


    Rond¡¯s face drained of color, and sweat began to bead on his forehead as he gasped for air. He struggled violently, attempting to wrench himself free, but Vincent¡¯s grip was unyielding, as solid as steel.


    Seething with rage, Rond turned to his men, his teeth grinding and eyes wild with desperation. ¡°What are you idiots waiting for? Get over here and help me!¡±


    But fear and hesitation had already gripped their hearts. Not one of them had the courage to step forward or face Vincent.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze swept over them, and it felt as though an invisible de was pressed to their throats. The intensity of his presence was overwhelming, crushing any desire they had to act. They didn¡¯t dare even breathe too loudly.


    They had no idea who Vincent was, but they had never encountered anyone like him before. His power was something they couldn¡¯t begin toprehend.


    Rond, furious and writhing in pain, barked orders. ¡°Take him down, all of you, now! What the hell are you waiting for? If any of you back down, I will break your legs myself!¡±


    Hisckeys exchanged uneasy nces, hesitation flickering across their faces, but they quickly realized they had no choice. Steeling themselves, they surged forward.


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 Chapter 301

    ?Chapter 301:


    Despite being somewhat daunted by Vincent¡¯s imposing presence, theckeys realized they significantly outnumbered him. Could they really be defeated by just one person?


    ¡°Release Mr. Bernard now, or we won¡¯t hesitate to rough you up,¡± one of Rond¡¯sckeys threatened as he advanced.


    Vincent, however, regarded them with derision. ¡°Pathetic losers.¡±


    These two simple words struck a nerve, fueling their anger. Fuming with rage, they lost control, and two of them charged at Vincent, fists clenched.<fn648a> Readplete version only at find~novel</fn648a>


    Vincent stood his ground, calmly maintaining his hold on Rond¡¯s wrist. In one precise motion, he kicked one attacker in the stomach. The man copsed, groaning in agony, unable to get up. Katelyn dealt with the second assant just as swiftly, taking him down with a single kick.


    She casually flicked imaginary dirt off her pants, her expression cold. She had wisely chosenfortable athletic wear for the day¡ªperfect for handling physical confrontations.


    ustomed to lives of luxury, these wealthy heirs werepletely outssed by Katelyn and Vincent¡¯s superior skills. Witnessing theirrades¡¯ downfall, the remaining underlings shuddered in fear. Terror and reluctance marked their faces, and they were unwilling to advance another step.


    At that moment, Rond fully realized the gravity of the situation. His former arrogance hadpletely dissipated.


    With uncertainty, he asked, ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡±


    How had he managed to anger someone so powerful? With a chilling tone, Vincent responded, ¡°You do not deserve to know my name.¡±


    With that, he brushed off Rond¡¯s hand, and at the same time, Katelyn expertly timed a sharp kick to his butt.


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    Had his henchmen not reacted quickly, Rond might have found himself sprawled on the ground, nursing a more severely injured wrist. The arrogance he had earlier disyed was now nothing but a farce.


    Katelyn pulled a packet of disinfectant wipes from her pocket and handed them to Vincent with concern. ¡°Make sure to clean that properly. We don¡¯t want any germs from them.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s lips twisted into a subtle smile as he methodically cleaned his hands. He said nothing, but his derisive look conveyed a message far more intimidating than any words could.


    The message was so clear that even someone as clueless as Rond could understand it. His eyes burned with rage.


    He realized that, to the duo, he was nothing more than a fool.


    Rond seethed. ¡°Do you know who I am? Ever heard of the Bernard Group? That¡¯s my family¡¯spany. I could make you regret this with just one phone call.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed in slight confusion, her gaze puzzled. She wasn¡¯t really familiar with the local business elite.


    ¡°Is the Bernard Group really that remarkable?¡± she asked, still unsure.


    In her mind, the leading firms were the Adams Group, Wheeler Group, and Johnson Group. Even the Bailey Group wasn¡¯t in the top three, yet Rond spoke as if his namemanded ultimate respect.


    Vincent discarded the disinfectant wipes into a nearby trash can and replied, ¡°It¡¯s a trashpany, not even in the top ten.¡±


    Katelyn added sharply, ¡°So it¡¯s a minorpany. No wonder their heir acts like this. Only a minor leader would run a minorpany like that.¡±


    This repeated insult pushed Rond¡¯s anger over the edge. ¡°How dare you insult me like this? I wish you would just drop dead!¡±


    As he spoke, he reached for a spare gun from the arsenal, but his right hand was disabled, and his leftcked the strength to properly hold a weapon.


    Noticing this, one of his henchmen quickly stepped in, murmuring, ¡°Mr. Bernard, please calm down. These two are clearly extraordinary. We should hold back for now. What if they¡¯re too powerful for us?¡±


    Individuals capable of such confidence and poise likely wielded power equal to theirs. Yet, the noble demeanor and distant air surrounding Vincent were unlike those of a typical business leader.


    The henchman was perceptive, but with Rond¡¯s anger at its peak, rational thoughts fell on deaf ears.


    ¡°Get out of my way!¡± he hissed.


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 Chapter 302

    ?Chapter 302:


    Rond had his eyes fixed on the heavy machine gun stored above.


    All the bullets on the training field had been nks to prevent any idents from friction-induced fires. Being hit by one of these bullets wouldn¡¯t be lethal; it would simply cause brief pain and possibly lead to internal issues. Despite the strict rules against weapon misuse on the training grounds, Rond was too furious to consider such regtions. His only goal was to get back at Katelyn and Vincent.


    He struggled with one hand for a long time before he finally managed to lift the heavy machine gun. Exhausted, he gasped for air, the machine gun weighing a hefty twenty pounds.


    His eyes were red as he red at Vincent and Katelyn. ¡°Get on your knees and apologize to me now, or go to hell.¡±


    Unshaken, Katelyn responded coldly, ¡°You might want to get your head checked at a hospital for brain damage. Get treatment before it¡¯s toote.¡±


    ¡°You bitch! I¡¯ll shut your mouth for good!¡±


    Bearing the pain in his wrist, Rond mustered all his strength to hoist the gun with his left hand. As he took aim, he encountered a more pressing issue. His left hand was supporting the entire weight of the gun, leaving him no free hand to fire it.


    A sharp glint appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Taking advantage of the moment, she delivered a powerful kick to Rond.


    He hit the ground swiftly, the heavy machine gun adding to his misery. Rond coughed up blood.


    ¡°Mr. Bernard!¡±


    ¡°Mr. Bernard!¡± his henchmen cried out.


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    Using all their strength, they managed to lift the gun off Rond. However, Rond was gravely injured and couldn¡¯t even stand without the help of two people.<fn92fe> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find¡¤novel</fn92fe>


    With an icy stare, Katelyn warned, ¡°I¡¯ll give you three seconds to vanish. Next time, it won¡¯t just be your arm that gets broken.¡±


    Shaking with rage, Rond looked as if he wanted to retort, but instead, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted.


    ¡°Mr. Bernard!¡± his men cried.


    His followers called out once more, leaving Katelyn somewhat at a loss for words. When would these fools finally leave her life?


    As Rond¡¯s crew rushed him to the emergency room, they issued a threat to Katelyn. ¡°You¡¯ll be in trouble when Mr. Bernard wakes up. If you¡¯re brave enough, tell us your name!¡±


    Katelyn replied calmly, ¡°My name is Lise Bailey. I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the Bailey estate.¡±


    ¡°Just you wait!¡± they spat, scrambling off, ncing over their shoulders as if pursued by some unseen threat.


    Katelyn shifted her gaze, stooped to lift the heavy machine gun off the ground, and returned it to its ce.


    Puzzled, she turned to Vincent and asked, ¡°Haven¡¯t they heard of your name? Don¡¯t they recognize you?¡± In theory, Vincent¡¯s name was well-known in the business world. Though he kept a low profile, his name frequently made headlines, and his photos often appeared in the public eye.


    Vincent responded with a hint of disapproval, ¡°I¡¯m not a celebrity. How would so many people recognize me?¡±


    Katelyn nodded. Thinking back to Rond¡¯s earlier arrogance, she almostughed.


    ¡°He still doesn¡¯t realize he¡¯s crossed a major yer in the business world. When he finds out who you really are, he¡¯s going to regret it immensely. Don¡¯t you think?¡± Vincent¡¯s influence and capabilities were clear. Even Neil, who wielded considerable power, had nearly faced bankruptcy under Vincent¡¯s pressure.


    And indeed, Vincent could easily dismantle the Bernard Group, a minor entity. At hismand, the Bernard Group would vanish from Granville.


    Instead of responding to herment, Vincent asked, ¡°Did this upset you?¡±


    Katelyn shook her head and replied nonchntly, ¡°No. On the contrary, I was amused by their ignorance. Truly fools.¡±


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 Chapter 303

    ?Chapter 303:


    Vincent gave a firm nod, signaling his agreement.


    Without Rond¡¯s interruptions, the two of them continued practicing for a while longer. Afterward, Vincent drove Katelyn back.


    The moment Katelyn stepped through her front door, her phone buzzed with an iing video call from Aimee.


    Katelyn ced the phone on the table, propping it up casually. She then leaned back against the sofa, sinking into its cushions, and greeted, ¡°Hi, Aimee.¡±


    On the screen, Aimee¡¯s studio came into view, cluttered with stacks of paperwork spread across her desk. The slight slump in her posture and the furrow in her brow betrayed her frustration.


    ¡°Girl, you¡¯ve made it! Like, you¡¯re really blowing up!¡±


    Iris had always been a recognized name within the designmunity, her work admired by those with a keen eye for creativity. asionally, even someone outside that niche would stumble upon her creations and be an instant fan. After thest press conference, things hadpletely shifted. Each video about her skyrocketed in views, with nearly a hundred million people watching.


    This overwhelming attention became the biggest boost to Katelyn¡¯s growing fame, making her a household name. Now, it seemed like everyone knew who she was. Her poprity even outpaced some of the most well-known A-list stars. As Aimee spoke, she pulled out a towering stack of papers, her lips curling into a strained smile.


    ¡°These,¡± she said, gesturing to the pile, ¡°are frompanies that reached out in just the past three days. They all want to work with you, and there are at least a hundred offers here.¡± She let out a soft sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve turned down even more. Honestly, at this rate, you¡¯re going to be tied up for at least the next ten years trying to get through all these.¡±


    Katelyn hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction to the press conference. Noticing Aimee¡¯s tired expression, she offered a warm smile.


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    ¡°Thanks so much for handling all this for me, Aimee,¡± she said. ¡°But I¡¯ve recently made a deal with Vincent, and now I¡¯m a contributing designer for the Adams Group. I think we should cut back on these orders from otherpanies.¡±


    In the past, she had been a frence designer, enjoying the freedom to choose any business partner she wanted without limitations.


    Now, as a contracted designer for the Adams Group, Katelyn felt the weight of her responsibilities. Her schedule was packed, and managing so many orders was bing overwhelming. Aimee¡¯s expression shifted to one of sudden concern.


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot something important,¡± she said, her voice quickening. ¡°Neil called me today, pressing us to finalize our deal with him right away. At first, I thought he was being unreasonable and gave him a piece of my mind. It was onlyter that I realized you¡¯d already made an agreement. Whenever you have the chance, let¡¯s visit the Wheeler Group and sign the contract with him.¡±


    Katelyn rxed into the sofa, making herselffortable, and spoke slowly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush. I¡¯d like to see what Lise cane up with first.¡±


    Aimee nodded in understanding. ¡°We¡¯ll schedule everything based on your timing then. The contract is all set, so we can sign it whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±


    Katelyn smiled and gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Thanks, Aimee.¡±


    Aimee sighed deeply. ¡°Life sure can be tough.¡±


    Meanwhile, at her own home, Lise examined the bruise on her knee with a mix of frustration and rage. She gingerly applied medicine to the swollen spot, her anger boiling over.


    She muttered bitterly, ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯m not letting this go. You¡¯re going to pay for this.¡±


    Her words were filled with deep-seated bitterness. Without her usual calm demeanor, her expression was dark and menacing, revealing the full extent of her anger.


    At that moment, a loud, urgent knock sounded at the door.


    The banging was so intense that it felt as though the door might break.


    Annoyed by the racket, Lise gritted her teeth and shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s knocking? Stop it!¡±


    The knocking stopped for a moment, but then started up again, even more aggressively.


    Furious, Lise dragged her sore leg to the door, her face twisted with irritation.


    This time, Lise took precautions. Instead of opening the door immediately, she nced through the peephole. An elegant woman stood on the other side, someone Lise had never seen before.<fn3a14> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on f?ndnovel</fn3a14>


    With a cautious tone, Lise asked, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    The woman outside casually smoothed her hair and offered a rxed smile.


    ¡°Miss Bailey? Could you open the door, please? I¡¯d like to speak with you in person. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not here to cause any trouble.¡±


    Lise hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering across her face. Then, cautiously, she unlocked the door.


    But the second she cracked it open, two men¡ªwho had been hidden just out of sight¡ªlunged forward, grabbing her arms before she had a chance to react.


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 Chapter 304

    ?Chapter 304:


    The abrupt confrontation took Lise by surprise. She struggled fiercely and yelled, ¡°Who are you? Let go of me! Do you hear me?¡± Given the inherent physical differences between genders, and considering Lise¡¯s slight build, she was no match for the two bodyguards, who restrained her effortlessly.


    They held Lise¡¯s arms firmly, giving her no opportunity to break free.


    The woman, previously poised and graceful, transformed drastically. She advanced, seized Lise by the hair, and without hesitation, struck her face twice, hard.


    Her curses were harsh and venomous. ¡°You bitch! You injured my son! He¡¯s still in the hospital! I¡¯ve finally caught you. Today, I will avenge him!¡±


    The intense loathing and rage in the woman¡¯s eyes momentarily chilled Lise. Confused, she responded, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Stop ying dumb! I¡¯ve figured it all out. You conspired with that man to torment my son. Right after he came back from abroad, he ended up in the hospital. You should know, he¡¯s my only son. If anything happens to him, you¡¯re finished!¡±


    The more Emberly Bernard spoke, the angrier she became. She struck Lise a few more times, each p filled with force.


    After four ps, Lise¡¯s face was visibly swollen. At that moment, she felt a mix of bewilderment, anger, and a strong desire for revenge.


    Lise suspected that Katelyn was behind this once again.


    As Emberly raised her hand for a fifth p, Lise, enduring the pain, quickly defended herself. ¡°You¡¯re after the wrong person. I¡¯ve never harmed your son. I don¡¯t even know him. It¡¯s Katelyn Bailey you should be confronting.¡±


    Emberly paused, taken aback.


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    All the elites knew of the ongoing disputes between Lise and Katelyn.


    Even though speaking pulled painfully at her swollen face, Lise did her best to exin. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, have¡­¡±


    ¡°Someone investigate. I don¡¯t know your son at all. Was the conflict at the shooting range? Katelyn was there too. She hurt me as well.¡±


    Emberly paused, clearly doubting Lise¡¯s words.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I swear. She was with Vincent. That bitch likely felt emboldened to harm your son because of Vincent¡¯s support.¡±


    ¡°Liar!¡± Emberly suddenly recalled something, and her expression shifted swiftly to one of scorn. ¡°I¡¯ve already investigated. You were the one who attacked my son.¡±


    Lise was nearly ovee with rage. The woman waspletely clueless!


    She opened her mouth to rify further, but Emberly signaled to the bodyguards.


    ¡°Gag her and take her to the hospital. I want her to kneel and apologize to my son!¡±


    With that, Emberly turned away as one of the bodyguards efficiently stuffed a cloth into Lise¡¯s mouth. He moved with such precision, it was as if he were abducting a hostage.


    With tear-filled eyes, Lise struggled to break free, but it was futile. She couldn¡¯t overpower him or flee, and now, she couldn¡¯t even speak with her mouth gagged.<fn5b65> ?????? ???? find[f]ovel</fn5b65>


    She was forcibly coerced into the car.


    Upon arriving at the hospital where Rond was staying, she still thought of escaping.


    At that moment, Rondy in the hospital bed, one arm in a cast suspended in the air, the other attached to an IV drip. Hisplexion was ashen.


    Upon seeing him in this state, Emberly¡¯s heart ached again. ¡°My dear, I¡¯ve brought back the woman who attacked you. I will make sure she pays for this!¡±


    Rond was Emberly¡¯s only child. Their lives had both been at risk during his birth, which had led her to spoil him immensely since he was an infant, always giving him whatever he desired. Now, witnessing him so battered, she found it unbearable. Her gazended on Lise, filled with intense loathing.


    .


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 Chapter 305

    ?Chapter 305:<fnbc07> Discover more novels at F¦ÉndNovel</fnbc07>


    Emberly¡¯s eyes brimmed with undisguised malice as she red at Lise, her look as chilling as if she were staring at a corpse. What did the power of the Bailey family matter to her? Anyone who harmed her son deserved the worst fate.


    ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Emberlymanded. ¡°Make this bitch apologize to my son!¡±


    Lise¡¯s mouth was gagged, silencing any attempt to speak. She shook her head frantically in protest, overpowered by the two men pinning her down.


    Her head was violently pushed to the floor, and blood began to trickle from her forehead.


    Lise¡¯s hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms until they bled, but the physical pain paled inparison to the fury surging within her. She vowed to herself that if she didn¡¯t avenge this day¡¯s humiliation, she wouldn¡¯t be Lise Bailey. Despite her efforts to escape, her struggles were in vain.


    ¡°If my son suffers any harm, your life is forfeit!¡± Emberly warned severely, clearly dissatisfied with the bodyguards¡¯ ¡°gentle¡± approach. She stepped forward to take control.


    Lise, mute and suffering, felt her head spin with dizziness, her thoughts consumed by vengeance against Katelyn.


    At that moment, Rond, stirred by the noise, regained consciousness. Blinking in confusion, he managed to croak out, ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡±


    Emberly rushed to his side, her face etched with concern. ¡°Rond, my baby, how do you feel? Are you feeling any better?¡±


    Hearing this, Rond clenched his jaw in fury. He had never felt so humiliated. Boiling with rage, he spat out, ¡°That damn woman! I¡¯ll make her pay!¡±


    Emberly nodded, gesturing toward Lise, who was on the brink of copse. Her tone was icy. ¡°I¡¯ve brought this bitch here for you. Do with her as you please.¡±


    ???????? ???????????????? ???????? g???????¦Í????????????


    A gleam of vengeance lit up Rond¡¯s eyes as he struggled to sit up. Each time he shut his eyes, the scene from the shooting range reyed, haunting him.


    Katelyn¡¯s face, though undeniably beautiful, was etched with an expression of cold, ruthless disdain that now burned into Rond¡¯s memory. She had struck him with such precision, showing absolutely no mercy. But what infuriated him the most was the way she looked at him¡ªlike he was nothing more than garbage.


    Yet now, with time to cool off, Rond found himself strangely drawn to Katelyn. He longed for that very look. He was used to being adored by women, but he had never experienced the thrill of beingpletely disregarded. This new sensation was both exhrating and addictive.


    Regaining hisposure, Rond quickly said, ¡°Mom, I can handle this myself. You don¡¯t need to step in.¡±


    The thought of Katelyn¡¯s pretty face being marred was unbearable to him. He didn¡¯t want her spirit to break¡ªhe wanted her to keep looking at him with that same disdain.


    Rond swiftly instructed the two bodyguards, ¡°Release her and help her stand!¡±


    The bodyguards hesitated, looking to Emberly for approval.


    Emberly gestured nonchntly, signaling them to step back.


    At that moment, Lise could barely breathe. The cloth in her mouth was choking her, but she couldn¡¯t spit it out. The cut on her forehead was burning with pain. Her arms were painfully restrained behind her, and the agony was overwhelming. Her head hung low, her messy hair partially covering her face.


    Weakly, Lise reached up and pulled the cloth from her mouth.


    Seeing the injuries on her body, Rond was flooded with guilt. If not for the cast on his wrist, making movement difficult, he would have rushed to help her himself.


    Rond cleared his throat awkwardly, then said, ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯m sorry¡ªmy bodyguards were too harsh. They don¡¯t know their own strength. If you¡¯re in pain, I¡¯ll have a doctor check you thoroughly.¡±


    Emberly,pletely stunned by his words, retorted, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s your arm that¡¯s broken and not your head?¡±


    Ovee with concern, she raised her hand to check his forehead for a fever.


    Rond sighed and responded helplessly, ¡°Mom, I can handle this. Please, don¡¯t interfere next time.¡±


    All Rond could focus on was the woman before him. He hadn¡¯t even figured out what to say next when she suddenly lifted her head.


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 Chapter 306

    ?Chapter 306:


    The woman¡¯s face was streaked with tears, a pitiful sight, with blood from the wound on her forehead mingling with the tears as they fell.


    Rond had to admit that Lise¡¯s face was attractive, but next to Katelyn¡¯s, it seemed somewhat gaudy, no different from the other women who surrounded him.


    Lise bit her lower lip, looking utterly helpless as she whimpered, ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. I don¡¯t know what you are talking about. You¡¯ve made a mistake.¡±


    Emberly, seeing this, was furious. She shot a withering re at Lise and snapped, ¡°You little tramp, how dare you deny it! I¡¯ve already asked around. It was you who tormented my son.¡±


    Lise cried harder and shook her head, but her eyes remained fixed on Rond. ¡°It truly wasn¡¯t me. I don¡¯t know anything about this.¡±


    Emberly gritted her teeth, her hand poised to strike again, but Rond caught her arm just in time.


    ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not the one.¡±


    He stepped closer, gripping Lise¡¯s chin, turning her face as if inspecting a piece of property. ¡°But this woman is rather stunning.¡±


    Emberly waved him off, her tone sharp with impatience. ¡°If she catches your eye, then keep her. But those other two, I won¡¯t let them go unpunished.¡±


    Rond¡¯s brow furrowed, a sudden realization hitting him as he asked, ¡°Who did you say could be the culprit?¡±


    ¡°That was my sister, Katelyn,¡± Lise quickly confessed, her tone filled with grievance.


    ¡°She¡¯s always been that way. If someone gets on her bad side, she responds with violence. These bruises on my leg? They¡¯re from when she shot me.¡±


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    Rond released his grip on her chin, his face unreadable as he quietly repeated the name to himself.


    ¡°Katelyn? That is a lovely name.¡±


    Lise studied Rond¡¯s face closely, her heart skipping a beat.


    She had initially intended to use the tension between Rond and Katelyn to turn things in her favor. But now, why did it seem like this man was intrigued by Katelyn?


    Well, perhaps there was another way to y this.


    She quickly pressed on.


    ¡°She is my sister. I will take the me for anything she has done. If you want revenge, target me instead. Please don¡¯t harm her. She¡¯s just gone through a divorce because of an affair, so she might not be in the best frame of mind.¡±


    Rondtched onto the critical detail, his voice suddenly filled with excitement.<fn982a> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? f?ndnovel</fn982a>


    ¡°Wait, what did you just say? She¡¯s gone through a recent divorce?¡±


    Lise feigned a troubled sigh and nodded.


    ¡°She was the one who cheated, but she¡¯s clever. She knows exactly how to twist the narrative, making herself look like the victim and her ex-husband like the one who strayed. You don¡¯t stand a chance against her.¡±


    Emberly snorted, her eyes brimming with scorn.


    ¡°That kind of shameless woman needs to be taught a lesson. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to fetch her immediately.¡±


    Just as Emberly prepared to rush off and exact her revenge, Rond stopped her again.


    He sat on the hospital bed, looking resigned.


    ¡°Mom, I will take care of this myself. There¡¯s no need for you to get involved.¡±


    Emberly arched an eyebrow, clearly irritated.


    ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯m just trying to help.¡±


    Rond sighed and gave a brief, dismissive nod.


    ¡°I understand, but let me handle this. I already have a n in mind.¡±


    Emberly hesitated, her unease evident. She knew her son¡¯s weakness for beautiful women.


    But seeing that Rond was firm, she refrained from pushing further. Before departing, she gave Lise a fierce re and warned her,


    ¡°Keep quiet. If I hear anything circting outside, I¡¯ll make sure to tear your face apart.¡±


    Lise stifled her resentment and nodded submissively. The more she outwardlyplied, the more her internal resentment simmered.


    She vowed to get her revenge on Emberly when the opportunity arose.


    Once Emberly had left the room, Rond adjusted his position on the bed, crossing his legs and holding a cigar in his left hand as he regarded Lise.


    ¡°Now, tell me about Katelyn.¡±


    Lise rose from the floor and began spinning an borate, fabricated tale.


    .


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 Chapter 307

    ?Chapter 307:


    After delivering her lengthy speech, Lise let out a weary sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t pinpoint when Katelyn became such a stranger,¡± she said. ¡°She¡¯s almost unrecognizable.¡±


    She maintained an air of sympathy, her eyes flicking to Rond¡¯s face, searching for any sign of emotion.


    Lise had carefully crafted an image of Katelyn as maniptive and merciless¡ªsomeone who thrived on deceiving and exploiting others. She had expected Rond to be eager to take revenge, driven by the vivid portrayal of Katelyn¡¯s wrongdoings.


    Instead, after finishing his cigar, Rond looked at Lise with casual indifference.


    ¡°Now leave,¡± he said curtly.


    His abrupt dismissal left Lise gaping, her mind racing with confusion. This was not the response she had anticipated. Why wasn¡¯t Rond seizing the opportunity for retribution against Katelyn?


    With a nervous bite of her lower lip, Lise tried again, her voice edged with urgency. ¡°If you want revenge on Katelyn,e to me instead. I¡¯m willing to pay any price for what she¡¯s done.¡±


    Rond¡¯s irritation was palpable. ¡°Who said I¡¯d be seeking revenge?¡±


    He had spent years surrounded by women who eagerly catered to his whims, responding to his every beckoning. Katelyn, however, was a stark contrast¡ªher presence added an unexpected spark to his life. The challenge of winning her over fascinated him.


    He imagined the thrill of her scornful gaze, and the thought stirred a thrilling, almost intoxicating anticipation within him.


    Lise, on the other hand, felt a wave of revulsion, as if something distasteful had invaded her senses. She was baffled by Rond¡¯s strange behavior. Was he really this odd? Why did he have that gleam of excitement in his eyes?


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    Before she could react, Rond¡¯s gesture was swift and dismissive, pointing firmly toward the door.


    ¡°Get out. Now,¡± hemanded.


    Lise took a deep breath, clenched her jaw, and walked away.


    Her heart heavy with disappointment, Lise believed that Rond wouldn¡¯t let Katelyn slip away.


    Outside, she snapped photos of her injuries and used editing software to make them appear more severe. With a few quick clicks, she sent the doctored images to Neil.


    Their rtionship was still on shaky ground. Despite their recent trip to the shooting range together¡ªsomething she had begged him for¡ªthere was no real improvement. She needed a new approach to win him back. This was her chance.


    Back at home, Katelyn sat at herptop, her fingers racing over the keyboard as she searched for any updates. A day had passed, and still, neither the elderly woman nor her son, who had been taken by the T Organization, had shown up.


    The fact that they hadn¡¯t been killed on the spot suggested that the person behind their capture wasn¡¯t nning an immediate execution. If that were the case, they must be after something else entirely.


    Still, no one could say for sure if they were alive or dead.


    With the DNA test results due the day after tomorrow, Katelyn felt a pressing need to find them quickly. Otherwise, the public would forever link her to their fate.


    After an exhaustive search, she was still empty-handed. It felt as though they had vanished without a trace.


    She let out a frustrated sigh and massaged her temples. The frustration of being exposed while her opponents remained hidden was suffocating.


    With no new leads and exhaustion setting in, Katelyn shut down herptop and headed to bed. She needed to be at work as usual the next day.


    When she arrived at the office the next morning, everything seemed normal. By midday, a crowd of employees had gathered near the entrance of her office. They were eagerly discussing something that had clearly captured their attention.


    The CEO¡¯s office was perfectly soundproofed, but even with the door shut tight, Katelyn could still hear snippets of loud conversations drifting in from outside.


    Her frown deepened as she heard her name mentioned in passing. Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a call from an unknown number.


    She answered, and a smooth, confident voice came through.


    ¡°I¡¯ve finally tracked you down,¡± the voice said.


    Katelyn leaned back in her chair, bewildered. ¡°Who am I speaking with?¡± she asked.


    ¡°We met just yesterday. Don¡¯t you remember?¡± the caller replied, the impatience growing in their tone.


    ¡°Look downstairs!¡± the voice urged.<fnefc6> ?????? ???? find?novel</fnefc6>


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze instinctively moved to the window, and her eyes widened in shock as she looked out below.


    .


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 Chapter 308

    ?Chapter 308:


    From the twenty-second floor of the CEO¡¯s office, the city sprawled out in a hazy blur, its details swallowed by the distance. Yet, amidst the indistinctndscape, one sight stood out to Katelyn¡ªan expansive field of red roses below. Beside them, a gigantic LED screen shed with a message so bold it seemed to leap off the screen: ¡°Katelyn, I love you!¡± The letters,rge and unmistakable, were clearly meant to be seen from far above.


    Katelyn¡¯s mind raced with questions. What on earth was this borate disy of flowers and the ring message all about? The man on the phone had mentioned they had crossed paths just yesterday. Aside from Lise and Neil, the only other person she¡¯d recently dealt with was the fool who had ended up in the hospital after Vincent had broken his wrist. Could he be behind this grand gesture?


    Katelyn¡¯s face darkened, her teeth clenched as she addressed the person on the phone. ¡°Did you have anything to do with setting up all this downstairs?¡±


    Rond, basking in his own satisfaction, leaned back with a smug grin. ¡°Absolutely! I know a grand gesture is every woman¡¯s dream. What do you think? I had over ten thousand roses delivered just for you. Even from up here, they¡¯re impossible to miss.¡±


    Katelyn shut her eyes tightly, her face a mask of frustration. She didn¡¯t need to see Rond¡¯s face to imagine the annoying, self-satisfied smirk he was surely wearing. In that moment, she regretted not being tougher on him the day before. She wished she had left him nursing injuries for a while.


    ¡°Were you the one who ended up in the hospital yesterday?¡± she asked.<fn1400> For more chapters visit Find[F]ovel</fn1400>


    ¡°That¡¯s me! Rond Bernard, in the flesh.¡± Rond leaned back further, crossing his legs and letting them swing as he shed a confident smile. ¡°Even though you gave me a rough time yesterday, I don¡¯t hold grudges against beautiful women. Juste downstairs, take the flowers, and we¡¯ll call it even.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles turning white as she nearly crushed it in her grip. Her voice, barely contained, sliced through the silence. ¡°You have¡­¡±


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    ¡°Ten minutes to clear that mess, or I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re out ofmission for three months.¡±


    Rond¡¯s reply was swift and indignant. ¡°How can you call them a mess? Do you know how much work I put into gathering all those flowers? I¡¯m being generous here. Shouldn¡¯t you be the one making amends for what you did?¡±


    It was Rond¡¯s first attempt at winning a woman¡¯s favor with flowers, convinced that this grand gesture would be foolproof. Typically, a flirtatious smile or a wink was all it took for women to fall for him. He was certain no woman could resist such a romantic disy. Even if Katelyn was different, surely she wouldn¡¯t reject a public gesture of affection.


    Caught up in his own fantasy, Rond ignored the seriousness of Katelyn¡¯s threat, misinterpreting her anger as shyness. Her voice turned cold once again. ¡°You have exactly ten minutes. The time starts now.¡±


    She cut the call abruptly, not waiting for his reply. Katelyn sank back into her chair, rubbing her temples in frustration. After yesterday¡¯s events, she had assumed Rond came from money and would see through her bluff. She had expected some sort of retaliation, but this was beyond anything she had imagined. If this was his idea of payback, it left herpletely stunned.


    At that moment, the office door creaked open. Vincent walked in, returning from a meeting. Already, Rond¡¯s over-the-top stunt had be the office¡¯stest gossip. Vincent set a folder on the table and studied Katelyn¡¯s troubled expression.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already sent Samuel to take care of it,¡± he said, his tone rxed.


    Katelyn released a weary sigh, her frustration palpable. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid he¡¯ll retaliate with something even more outrageous.¡±


    She could handle a direct confrontation, but Rond¡¯s odd and irritating antics were another matter. She dreaded that the sea of roses might be just the beginning.


    Vincent, mildly entertained by her frustration, took a seat and slid a file toward her.


    ¡°I looked into this guy. He¡¯s recently returned from abroad and is known for his love of fine food, drink, women, and gambling.¡±


    Katelyn nced out the window. The roses still covered the ground, but Samuel and the security team were already on site, beginning to clear away the mess.


    .


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 Chapter 309

    ?Chapter 309:


    As the bodyguards began to dismantle the setup, Rond threw his arms out, positioning himself in front of the roses like a human shield. His right arm, still in a ster cast, moved awkwardly, and his efforts looked almostical.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? If you want to destroy my roses, you¡¯ll have to go through me first!¡± he shouted.


    Samuel felt a mixture of irritation and disbelief, especially when his gaze fell on the enormous LED screen.


    Vincent had been single for years, and now that he was finally showing interest in Katelyn, Samuel had no intention of letting Rond ruin this. Not interested in wasting time on Rond¡¯s antics, Samuel signaled to the bodyguards, who immediately advanced to deal with the situation.


    Rond¡¯s eyes widened in outrage. ¡°How dare you!? Don¡¯t you know who I am? If you dare cross me, I¡¯ll make sure you regret it!¡±


    Samuel¡¯s face was a mask of disdain and mockery as he pointed toward the Adams Group logo.


    ¡°Has the Bernard Group grown tired of livingfortably?¡± Samuel sneered. ¡°You must be crazy to cause trouble here at the Adams Group! Are you looking for a death wish?¡±


    His words were sharp, his tone cutting, and his eyes gleamed with mockery.


    Having risen quickly through the ranks at Adams Group, Samuel had earned his position as Vincent¡¯s personal assistant in just a few short years. He was known for being sharp and decisive¡ªsomeone no one dared to underestimate. Even the slightest look from him made Rond freeze in fear.


    Samuel hade prepared, backed by more than twenty bodyguards, while Rond only had three. A confrontation between them was no contest. Rond¡¯s side would be crushed in moments.


    Rond gritted his teeth in frustration, trying to hold hisposure as he muttered under his breath, ¡°You¡¯ll regret this! I¡¯ll make sure you pay for it!¡±


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    Samuel didn¡¯t flinch. He countered calmly, ¡°Hang around for another second, and you¡¯ll end up in the trash with the rest of your mess.¡±


    Rond opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His mouth worked soundlessly, and realizing he had no other choice, he turned and stormed off, feeling humiliated.


    Katelyn exhaled deeply, feeling a wave of relief as she watched the roses being cleared from the area. A peculiar thought then shed through her mind. Was there something even more twisted about Rond? Could he be a creep on top of everything else?


    It seemed clear that he enjoyed being humiliated. The more cruelly people treated him, the more it seemed like he liked them.


    The unsettling thought made Katelyn¡¯s skin prickle with goosebumps, and she instinctively began rubbing her arms.


    Vincent noticed the subtle shift in her expression and asked with curiosity, ¡°What just crossed your mind? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost.¡±


    She sighed and replied, ¡°It seems like I¡¯vended myself in yet another mess. This one might be bigger than usual.¡± Katelyn let out another sigh, feeling the absurdity of it all. Rond disgusted her, and she even felt a bit sorry for the roses he had ruined.


    But then, something unexpected happened.


    Rond¡¯s over-the-top confession caused a stir online. He even created a new ount with a more attention-grabbing name. Under the name LoveKate, he posted: ¡°I won¡¯t give up. Even if you send more bodyguards to remove my roses, I¡¯ll always stay by your side and protect you.¡±


    That new ount belonged to Rond, and he had even spent money to boost its visibility and gain more attention.


    Within minutes of his tweet, it shot to the top of the trending list, bing a hot topic in less than ten minutes.


    Katelyn had been trending quite a bit recently. Just after she announced her divorce, Rond had decided to publicly dere his love for her. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine how theizens would react.


    One user wrote, ¡°This is so immature! He¡¯s like a middle schooler. But even back then, I wasn¡¯t this corny. How embarrassing!¡±


    Another chimed in, ¡°From the way he¡¯s dressed, he¡¯s clearly some rich kid. His arm is still in a cast, yet he couldn¡¯t wait to make his big confession. He spent so much on roses, but he should¡¯ve invested more in improving his approach to women.¡±


    A third added, ¡°You have to admit, Katelyn Bailey sure has a lot of admirers. But honestly, some of these guys are just pathetic.¡±


    Another user asked, ¡°Can anyone exin what¡¯s going on here? Out of nowhere, this guy is dering his love. This is more dramatic than any soap opera I¡¯ve seen.¡±


    Katelyn scrolled through the endlessments on her Twitter feed, many of which tagged her while sharing Rond¡¯s post. After reading what he had written, she feltpletely at a loss for words.<fnc769> Content originallyes from F¦Énd£Îovel</fnc769>


    She quickly typed a response to Rond¡¯s post:


    ¡°If you dare to harass me again, I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t be able to walk again.¡±


    LoveKate responded almost immediately:


    ¡°I adore it when you act cold and irritated. The more you push me away, the deeper my feelings grow.¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t hold herposure any longer. Feeling a wave of disgust, she threw her phone aside.


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 Chapter 310

    ?Chapter 310:


    At that moment, Katelyn waspletely at a loss for words about Rond.


    He struck her as the type of person who, even after being pped, woulde back to tenderly kiss the hand that had struck him.


    Katelyn let out another deep, resigned sigh.


    Meanwhile, Vincent gave her a subtle smirk and a knowing look.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone off the deep end on social media again. I can¡¯t handle it anymore. Should I just get someone to hack his ount and delete everything? His posts are unbearable.¡± Though Katelyn spoke these words aloud, she was secretly nning to handle the situation herself.


    Katelyn had always stuck to her role in front of Vincent¡ªa simple designer who knew nothing about hacking.<fnf27d> Newest update provided by find{n}ovel</fnf27d>


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone take care of it,¡± Vincent said, his frustration evident. ¡°But first, you need to calm down.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, knowing there was nothing more she could do for now. She reminded herself that ignorance could be afort. After all, Rond hadn¡¯t broken anyws yet, so she couldn¡¯t just go to the police.


    Just as she was about to power on herputer and dive back into work, Neil¡¯s call came through.


    His voice was seething with anger and loaded with usations.


    ¡°Katelyn, what¡¯s the story with Lise¡¯s injuries? How could you be so cruel? Are you really going to me her for something you did?¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice was filled with anger, his teeth nearly grinding with frustration.


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    When he saw the photos of Lise covered in bruises, he was initially in shock. But after seeing her in person and hearing her out, he understood the full story.


    The Bernard family¡¯s revenge was meant for Katelyn, but Lise was the one who suffered.


    And the worst part? Lise was pregnant! What if something happened to the baby?


    Neil¡¯s barrage of questions hit Katelyn so suddenly that she was momentarily stunned.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand,¡± Katelyn said.


    ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me! You angered the Bernard family, and now Lise is paying the price. She¡¯s in the hospital because of you. Come over here and apologize right now, or don¡¯t me me for what happens next!¡±


    Neil¡¯s voice was filled with fury, but even through the phone, Lise¡¯s anxious voice could be heard in the background.


    ¡°Neil, maybe we should just drop this. I don¡¯t think Katelyn meant any harm. I¡¯ve already taken on so much¡ªshe shouldn¡¯t have to deal with any more trouble,¡± Lise said.


    ¡°You¡¯re pregnant! What if something happens to the baby? I won¡¯t stand for this!¡± Neil growled, his frustration clear.


    ¡°If you don¡¯te and apologize today, I¡¯ll make sure you face serious consequences,¡± he added, addressing Katelyn again.


    As Katelyn listened, the situation started to make sense. She had mentioned Lise¡¯s name casually when they asked, never expecting her to actually end up injured. But what about Rond¡¯s strange behavior?


    With a deep frown, Katelyn finally spoke up.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d actually go through with it,¡± Katelyn said, her voice a mix of shock and regret.


    ¡°You did this on purpose! I don¡¯t want to hear any excuses. Get to the hospital right now!¡±


    With that, Neil ended the call abruptly.


    Looking at Lise, bruised and lying in bed, Neil felt deep worry for their unborn child. The results of the prenatal exam weren¡¯t even in yet. This was his first child. He couldn¡¯t let anything go wrong.


    Katelyn put her phone down, her face shadowed with concern. The Bernard family¡¯s swift actions had dragged Lise into the mess. Regardless of how things turned out, Katelyn knew she needed to go to the hospital. After all, this whole situation had started because of her.


    Katelyn grabbed her bag and turned to Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, Lise was hurt because I mentioned her name yesterday. I need to go to the hospital to check on her,¡± she said.


    Vincent, who overheard parts of the phone call, stood up and said casually, ¡°I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    Katelyn nodded briefly, not saying anything more.


    With the press conference having gone smoothly and the project secured, Katelyn felt a sense of relief. The design team was also unwinding from the earlier stress, allowing her some time off.


    By the time Katelyn and Vincent arrived at the hospital, Lise was in the middle of a medical exam.


    Lise anxiously clutched her stomach, her face etched with worry as she repeatedly asked the doctor, ¡°Doctor, how is my baby?¡±


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 Chapter 311

    ?Chapter 311:


    The doctor looked at the test report in his hand with a troubled expression.


    ¡°The baby¡¯s condition is not ideal. The first three months are the most delicate. You need to be cautious and avoid anything that might cause stress or upset.¡±


    Lise nodded with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever is necessary to keep my baby safe.¡±


    Neil nced at her still-t belly, his voice softening. ¡°I will protect both of you, no matter what.¡±


    Feeling emotional, Lise leaned into him for support.


    Katelyn stood in the doorway, watching the warm disy with suspicion. Her eyes stayed fixed on Lise. Despite having no concrete evidence, she felt something was off about Lise¡¯s pregnancy. Katelyn knew she needed to observe more closely to uncover the truth.


    Neil noticed her presence and sneered. ¡°Did youe here to apologize?¡±


    ¡°I never thought the Bernard family¡¯s retaliation would happen so quickly,¡± Katelyn remarked calmly.


    ¡°Cut the crap. Apologize to Lise, or this isn¡¯t over,¡± Neil said in a domineering tone, as though Katelyn were his enemy.


    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± Katelyn retorted sharply. ¡°If the Bernard family attacked her, why aren¡¯t you asking them to apologize?¡±


    Neil¡¯s gaze burned with anger as he responded, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! If it weren¡¯t for you, she never would¡¯ve crossed paths with them.¡±


    He hated the defiant look on Katelyn¡¯s face more than anything. ¡°Lise has tried to undermine me too many times to count. Consider this just a little payback.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile was filled with amusement. She hadn¡¯te to apologize¡ªshe was here to enjoy the spectacle.


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    The wound on Lise¡¯s head had been treated and wrapped in gauze, but Katelyn couldn¡¯t see the full extent of the damage.


    She couldn¡¯t help but appreciate how the Bernard family handled things¡ªdecisive and efficient. In a way, they had helped her release some of her frustration.


    Neil¡¯s eyes burned with fury as he clenched his fists, shouting, ¡°Katelyn, I said apologize now!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t understand why Katelyn had changed so much. She had once been gentle, sensible, and kind. What had turned her into this?


    Now, Katelyn was cold, ruthless, self-centered, and calcting. There seemed to be nothing good left in her, yet he found himself wanting to see her more.<fnafc6> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fnafc6>


    It felt like he was losing his mind, and it was tearing him apart.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn stood confidently in the ward.


    ¡°And I said, that¡¯s not going to happen,¡± she replied calmly.


    Noticing the rising tension, Lise stepped in, coughing lightly before speaking in a gentle tone. ¡°Neil, I¡¯ve already said there¡¯s no need for Katelyn to apologize. As long as she¡¯s unharmed, I¡¯m relieved.¡±


    Then she turned toward Katelyn and continued, ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯ll handle the trouble you¡¯ve caused this time, but I hope you won¡¯t act so recklessly again. You always seem to create problems for the people around you, whether you mean to or not. That really needs to change.¡±


    Katelyn smiled, but her eyes were filled with nothing but disgust and coldness. ¡°Are you done talking?¡±


    Lise bit her lip, clearly more upset. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to look out for you. Why can¡¯t you see that?¡±


    ¡°The best thing you could do for me is to stay out of my life forever,¡± Katelyn replied coldly and directly.


    Katelyn still had one more question she needed to ask, and she took a step closer, watching every subtle change in Lise¡¯s expression.


    ¡°Rond suddenly lost his mind and started acting irrationally. Have you said something to him?¡±


    Katelyn still couldn¡¯t understand how everything had spiraled out of control like this. The Bernard family wanted revenge on her, but Lise ended up getting hurt by mistake.


    Later, Rond made a public confession of love.


    It felt like these actions came from twopletely different people.


    Perhaps Lise had stirred the pot. Other than that, Katelyn couldn¡¯te up with any other exnation.


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 Chapter 312

    ?Chapter 312:


    Lise put on an innocent expression, leaning back against the headboard and coughing softly, acting as though she were feeling weak.


    ¡°You always suspect me with these malicious ideas. I didn¡¯t say anything to anyone. The Bernards found out about you on their own. I also heard about what Rond did. I¡¯m just as surprised as you are.¡±


    Lise genuinely felt baffled and wished she could peer into Rond¡¯s mind to see if he had any sense at all.


    Katelyn had beaten him up, sending him to the hospital, yet he still dered his love for her and continued to pursue her so openly.


    What kind of logic was that? Did shamelessness make him fearless? It was simply absurd!


    This wasn¡¯t the oue Lise had been hoping for.


    Katelyn narrowed her gaze, studying Lise¡¯s face carefully. From the way Lise looked, it seemed she wasn¡¯t lying this time.


    Psychology offered many tips on how to tell if someone was being truthful or deceptive. Small, subconscious actions often revealed a person¡¯s true thoughts.


    ¡°You had iting this time,¡± Katelyn said, turning her gaze away from Lise, but her words sent Lise into a fit of rage.


    ¡°I had iting?¡± Lise thought.


    She had suffered bruises all over, and instead of apologizing, Katelyn mocked her.


    Lise¡¯s face contorted with anger. Neil, standing nearby, looked irritated as well.


    He stared at Katelyn and asked, ¡°Did you n this whole thing? Were you trying to use the Bernard family to cause Lise to lose the baby?¡±


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    The doctor had mentioned that Lise could have miscarried.


    That¡¯s why Neil suspected that Katelyn had orchestrated everything.


    Katelyn shot him a sharp look and stated tly, ¡°Are you paranoid? Do you really think I have some magical ability to predict that the Bernard family would strike so quickly?¡±


    Seething with anger, Neil asked back, ¡°Then how do you exin what happened?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already given an exnation. She had iting. I haven¡¯t even settled the real score with her yet. She was just unlucky this time.¡±


    Katelyn spread her hands, maintaining an innocent expression. She had gotten the answers she needed, and as she turned to leave, Neil stepped in front of her.


    His once gentle, handsome face now disyed only fatigue and anger. He had been strugglingtely, losing weight, and the dark circles under his eyes were evident. She couldn¡¯t see any trace of the qualities that had once captivated her. She still couldn¡¯t understand why she had been so blindly, madly in love with him back then.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t apologize, you¡¯re not leaving,¡± Neil growled, standing in her way.


    Katelyn looked back at him with a steady gaze. ¡°Are you looking for a fight? Still haven¡¯t learned your lesson from that shoulder throw?¡±


    Neil¡¯s face flushed with anger at her remark. He had worked out for years and believed Katelyn couldn¡¯t match his strength or physique. But when she had thrown him over her shoulder in the corridor, he had struggled to get back up. He considered that moment one of the most humiliating things that had ever happened to him.


    ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t hit you? I usually don¡¯t hit women, but you¡¯ve been pushing my buttons for too long, Katelyn.¡± He reached out suddenly, trying to grab her wrist and force her to kneel.


    At that moment, the door swung open with a loud kick. Vincent appeared, his expression dark and threatening. ¡°Mr. Wheeler, nning to assault a woman? Do you think you can handle the bacsh when the public finds out?¡±


    Katelyn quickly dodged Neil¡¯s grasp, taking advantage of the distraction. If Neil seriously tried to fight her, she wasn¡¯t sure she could win. She had simply been lucky before and caught him off guard with that shoulder throw. But when faced with brute strength, fancy moves wouldn¡¯t matter much.


    Neil¡¯s voice dripped with mockery as he sneered, ¡°Mr. Adams, why are you so obsessed with a woman who has already been with me? If you want, I can send every woman I¡¯ve ever slept with straight to your bed.¡±


    .


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    .<fn5e5a> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? F?nd-Novel</fn5e5a>

 Chapter 313

    ?Chapter 313:


    Right after Neil finished speaking, Vincent¡¯s fist shot out, striking Neil in the face with brutal force.


    Vincent, usually calm and controlled, had never allowed his anger to erupt like this before. He hit Neil with everything he had, his eyes cold and unfeeling, as if looking at someone he utterly despised. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re better than everyone when you insult Katelyn? The more you act like this, the more revolting you be. There¡¯s nothing more pathetic than making a woman who once loved you feel she was blind to do so.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s sudden outburst left everyone stunned, including Katelyn, who watched in shock. But as she processed what had happened, she couldn¡¯t help but mentally apud Vincent. His words echoed her own thoughts perfectly. Love had blinded her; it was only after she stopped loving Neil that she saw his true character.


    Lise, startled by the scene, instinctively reached out, her hand hovering uncertainly as if she might help Neil to his feet. ¡°Neil!¡± she called out.


    Neil stood up, wiping the blood from his nose with a careless swipe. With a sneer, he taunted Vincent further. ¡°You must be enraged by what I said. Seems like the great Mr. Adams is just a trash picker after all.¡±


    ¡°And you? You¡¯re the real trash here. Be sure to remember that!¡± Katelyn¡¯s voice was firm andced with resentment. ¡°I¡¯ve regretted marrying you more times than I can count. If I could turn back time, I¡¯d never choose you again.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Neil¡¯s face darkened with fury as he red at Katelyn.<fn0823> Updates are released by find{n}ovel</fn0823>


    ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t fool yourself into thinking I don¡¯t see through you. After getting involved with Vincent, you act like you¡¯re above me? You¡¯re just so cheap.¡±


    Without missing a beat, Vincent¡¯s fist shot out again, moving so quickly it seemed to blur in the air. Even though they were both men, Vincent found Neil¡¯s words utterly revolting.


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    ¡°You¡¯re not just unworthy of being called a man; you¡¯re not even fit to be called a human.¡±


    Hit twice in rapid session, Neil¡¯s anger boiled over. Heshed out in fury, and the two men engaged in a fierce, chaotic fight. Vincent didn¡¯t hold back; he had been itching to hit Neil for a long time. His fists flew with the speed and intensity of a furious lion,nding blow after blow.


    Neil managed to fight back at first, but soon Vincent¡¯s relentless attacks left him defenseless. Katelyn rushed in, quickly separating them. Seizing the opportunity, she delivered a few hard kicks to Neil¡¯s stomach.


    Her involvement with someone so vile felt like a deep stain on her conscience, a mistake she feared would haunt her forever. The fight had turned from a one-on-one into a chaotic sh, with two against one. Neil could barely defend himself. Lise wanted to step in, but she was too weak to make much of an impact. She could only do her best to break up the brawl.


    ¡°Calm down, Neil. Please, calm down.¡±


    Neil shook off Lise¡¯s hand and threw himself back into the fight with Vincent. Their sh was wild and relentless. It wasn¡¯t until the hospital security guards charged in that they were finally pulled apart.


    Vincent had been hit on the chin, and his arms were marked with fresh bruises. Neil¡¯s injuries were worse. His right eye was swollen shut, and blood poured from his nose and mouth. He wiped the blood from his face with a rough hand, his gaze locked onto Vincent with steely determination.


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget what you¡¯ve done to me. I promise you¡¯ll pay for this.¡±


    Vincent shrugged, his voice cold. ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you¡¯re ready.¡±


    Katelyn studied Vincent¡¯s injuries with a worried frown. ¡°You should definitely get a rabies shot. Who knows what kind of germs you might pick up from a lunatic like him?¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Neil¡¯s face flushed with anger at her words.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze darkened as he fixed Neil with a hard stare. ¡°If you insult Katelyn again,¡± Vincent warned, ¡°things will get worse for you.¡±


    Neil sneered, his teeth grinding with rage.


    ¡°How can you pretend there¡¯s nothing going on between you two?¡± Neil snapped. ¡°Look at how you¡¯re defending her. I bet you were already together before our divorce. Otherwise, why was she so determined to leave me?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes zed with fury as she clenched her fists. ¡°I was determined to leave you because it took me three years to see it clearly¡ªyou¡¯re a scumbag! Aplete jerk!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 314

    ?Chapter 314:


    Katelyn clenched her fists in anger, the sound of her knuckles cracking loudly in the silence. In that moment, she fully realized what a jerk Neil really was.


    The disgust in her eyes cut deeper than any words could have, piercing straight into Neil¡¯s heart.


    He forced a bitter smile, trying to mask his frustration. ¡°So, are you really not going to admit that your attitude towards me now is because you¡¯ve fallen in love with Vincent?¡±


    Katelyn nodded without hesitation, locking her gaze on him.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve fallen for Vincent. And what of it? Only after finding something real do you realize how vile the trash you¡¯ve been holding onto truly was.¡±


    Vincent was the treasure; Neil, inparison, was nothing but trash.


    That statement left Neil speechless. Katelyn didn¡¯t bother giving him another look as she turned and walked out.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew moreplex as he followed her.


    Outside, Katelyn asked a nurse for some disinfectant supplies. When she returned to the car, her gaze fell on the wound on Vincent¡¯s face from the recent fight.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I apologize. What I said earlier was only to provoke Neil. There wasn¡¯t any other meaning behind it.¡±


    She knew that the quickest way to unsettle Neil was by reminding him that, no matter what, he could never measure up to Vincent. His immature nature made him easy to manipte.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, but his voice remained calm as always. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and said, ¡°Let me treat your wound.¡±


    Next part is at g????????¦Í??????.co??


    Vincent gave a slight nod. She carefully picked up a cotton swab with tweezers and began gently dabbing at the cut on his face, her movements precise as though he were something delicate.


    Though the injury wasn¡¯t severe, it would still need a few days to heal properly.


    After Katelyn finished tending to the wound, she let out a quiet sigh.


    ¡°Engaging in a fight with someone like Neil is pointless. Next time, just treat his words like the noise of a barking dog.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile as he nced over at Katelyn. ¡°It¡¯s clear how much you despise him now.¡±


    ¡°Despise? I wish he¡¯d vanish from my life for good,¡± Katelyn replied, her expression bing even more conflicted.


    Despite her intense dislike, she had already epted a deposit from Neil for their business deal. No matter how she felt, she had to fulfill her end of the agreement. There was no telling what kind of trouble Neil might cause next, and the thought bothered her immensely.


    As they sat together in the backseat, Katelyn absentmindedly tossed the medical supplies back into her bag. She was about to speak when Samuel suddenly mmed on the brakes and swerved sharply to the right.


    The abrupt movement sent her lurching forward, then to the side.


    Luckily, Vincent was seated next to her and reacted quickly. He wrapped his arm around her waist, stopping her head from hitting the car door.


    Katelyn¡¯s heart raced as the unexpected jolt startled her.


    Vincent¡¯s voice broke the silence. ¡°What just happened, Samuel?¡±


    Samuel replied immediately, sounding apologetic, ¡°A car ran a red light at the intersection ahead. I had to swerve to avoid it.¡±


    Vincent responded with a steady voice, ¡°Keep your eyes on the road. Make sure it doesn¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Samuel answered quickly, ¡°Understood, sir.¡±


    When the car settled back to a normal speed, Katelyn realized how close she was to Vincent. She had nearly fallen against him, and his arm was still around her waist, holding her in ce. The way they were positioned made them appear closer than she feltfortable with.


    Feeling the heat rush to her face, Katelyn pulled away from him. She stammered, ¡°Mr. Adams, I wasn¡¯t trying to¡­ I¡­¡±<fn12fb> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN0vel</fn12fb>


    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Vincent replied with his usual calm tone, his hands sped together. The faint scent of gardenia filled the space between them, a fragrance that always seemed to belong to Katelyn. No designer perfume could ever replicate it.


    Katelyn subtly moved to the farthest edge of her seat, wishing for a wide river to separate them.


    Vincent noticed the gesture. Despite everything they had experienced together, it was clear that she still kept her distance. Katelyn¡¯s expression shifted slightly, as a thought suddenly crossed her mind.


    .


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 Chapter 315

    ?Chapter 315:


    Katelyn turned back to Vincent, grimaced, and asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, do you think there¡¯s something suspicious about Lise¡¯s pregnancy?¡±


    Even though they both went to the hospital together, Vincent had been a step behind when entering the ward. He had taken the time to speak with Lise¡¯s doctor about her condition while Katelyn went to confront Neil and Lise. Recalling that conversation, Vincent stated in a steady tone, ¡°The doctor answered all the questions smoothly, but something just seemed off. I felt like he was hiding something.¡±


    Katelyn nodded but kept her suspicions to herself. There wasn¡¯t enough evidence to support her theory yet. If Lise was hiding something, she would eventually reveal it on her own.


    Vincent made sure Katelyn arrived home safely. After such a long day, she felt drained and was grateful for her day off the next day. She had hoped to sleep in, but that small wish was shattered when her phone rang early in the morning.


    The phone beside her pillow rang incessantly. Squinting against the morning light, she groggily pressed the answer button.


    ¡°Miss Bailey? This is Hearnd Hospital. The paternity test results have juste in. Pleasee to the hospital.¡±


    These words snapped Katelyn out of her daze, waking her uppletely. She had almost forgotten the results were due today. However, Marlon and his mother were still nowhere to be found. Despite this, she quickly got dressed and headed to the hospital.


    Upon arriving at the hospital entrance, arge group of reporters had already gathered, their cameras aimed and ready. Clearly, they wouldn¡¯t pass up the chance to cover the oue of the test, certain it would be a trending story.


    Upon seeing Katelyn, they immediately began firing questions at her and pointing their cameras toward her.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, could you share your thoughts on the paternity test results being released soon?¡±


    ¡°If they turn out to be your real family, what will you decide?¡±


    ¡°We heard they¡¯ve disappeared and no one knows their whereabouts. Do you think they¡¯ll show up today?¡±


    The reporters bombarded Katelyn with questions, shoving their microphones so close that they almost seemed ready to push them into her face.


    Katelyn kept her expression firm, and her tone remained steady. ¡°I¡¯m only here to see the paternity test result. Now, step aside.¡± Shielding her face with her hand, she made her way toward the hospital entrance, her pace brisk and determined. Unwilling to give up, the reporters tried to follow her, but the security guards quickly moved in, blocking their path.


    Feeling a wave of relief wash over her, Katelyn turned and headed to the nurse¡¯s station to retrieve the test results. The nurse, however, looked surprised. ¡°Your paternity test report? It¡¯s already been taken.¡±


    A flicker of disbelief crossed Katelyn¡¯s face. ¡°What do you mean? Do you know who took it?¡±


    The nurse responded confidently, ¡°Your family took it.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s chest tightened. Was the nurse referring to Marlon and the old woman? But they had been taken by T Organization, and there hadn¡¯t been any news about them since. How could they just show up? Before she could make sense of it, her phone rang again. It was Vincent.


    Vincent said, ¡°Marlon and his mother are holding a press conference.¡±


    Katelyn immediately checked the trending news and saw their faces all over the most-viewed livestream. Though they had vanished for days after T Organization took them, they now seemed perfectly fine. The old woman held up a document and spoke confidently to the reporters.


    ¡°As you can all see, this is the DNA test we did a few days ago. The results show that Katelyn is my granddaughter. I want all of you to witness this, or she might deny our rtionship.¡±


    Fury surged through Katelyn as she clenched her fists. She had tried every method to find those two, but they had been hidden by T Organization. Now they had reappeared, aiming to publicly disgrace her.


    News would spread rapidly, especially with a press conference and livestream of this magnitude. Now that they had made the im first, everyone would believe there was a blood rtionship between them, especially with the DNA test report in their possession.<fn9dbe> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find~novel</fn9dbe>


    Vincent spoke again. ¡°I¡¯ming to pick you up right now.¡±


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 Chapter 316

    ?Chapter 316:


    After Katelyn ended the call, her thoughts remained chaotic. Too many unanswered questions swirled in her mind.


    Lise had initially hired those two people to mess with Katelyn, but when those armed men took them away, she seemed genuinely surprised. It was clear that she hadn¡¯t known that would happen.


    If T Organization had really taken Marlon and his mother, why would they target them? And why had they been released now?


    These tangled questions only gave Katelyn a headache.


    Thus, she forced herself to push the thoughts aside.


    She needed to find them first to understand what had happened during those missing days.


    Vincent arrived at the hospital as quickly as possible and picked up Katelyn.


    ¡°We need a n to handle this. They¡¯ve taken control of the narrative,¡± he said.


    Katelyn clenched her fists, and her eyes sharpened with fierce determination.


    ¡°They¡¯ve staged this spectacle to force a connection between us. There¡¯s definitely something wrong with that paternity test report.¡±


    Vincent kept his eyes on the road as he drove steadily. ¡°I¡¯ve had Samuel reach out to theb. We¡¯ll have the real results within an hour.¡±


    He was referring to theb at Central Hospital, where another test had been run. They had never intended to rely on the report from Hearnd Hospital.


    Katelyn nodded with determination and kept her fists clenched in silence.


    At first, she had tolerated Marlon and his mother to see what they were nning. But now, with the interference of that mysterious organization, everything was spiraling out of control. Vincent elerated, getting Katelyn to the press conference as quickly as possible.


    Inside, Marlon and his mother continued to proim loudly that they were Katelyn¡¯s blood rtives.


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    When Katelyn arrived, the cameras immediately turned toward her, shes illuminating the room.


    The old woman grinned, waving the document triumphantly in the air.


    ¡°Mia, the paternity test confirms it. You are truly my granddaughter.¡±


    Marlon chimed in, ¡°After so many years, we can finally reunite as a family.¡±


    With all eyes on her, Katelyn moved forward, taking each step slowly and deliberately toward the stage.


    The old woman kept her smile wide, masking the fear from their recent ordeal, during which they had been abducted at gunpoint. Katelyn stared at her with an unyielding gaze.


    ¡°Are you certain this report is genuine?¡±


    The old woman widened her eyes in mock surprise, her voice carrying an air of confidence. ¡°Do you doubt its authenticity? You did this test with us. I revealed the results to everyone the moment they were ready.¡±


    After saying that, the old woman stared at Katelyn with a hint of sharpness in her eyes.


    ¡°What are you implying? Do you think we fabricated the report?¡±<fnfbc4> Discover more novels at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnfbc4>


    ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I believe.¡±


    Katelyn remained unusuallyposed, not even ncing at the report the old woman held. She knew it was fake and saw no need to inspect it.


    The old woman¡¯s face shifted to one of irritation, and she huffed dismissively.


    ¡°At the end of the day, you just see us as a burden because we¡¯re poor, and you don¡¯t want us to drag you down. If you had said that earlier, we wouldn¡¯t havee all this way to see you. Mia, you¡¯ve really let me down.¡±


    Her words were a form of moral maniption.


    Katelyn smiled with a cold, calcting gaze.


    ¡°Your n seems wless, but it has too many gaps.¡±


    The old woman showed a moment of unease, while Marlon stared at Katelyn, anticipating her next move.


    The atmosphere between them felt strangely off to Katelyn, as if they were not truly mother and son but instead, Marlon was the woman¡¯s subordinate.


    They had vanished for just two days. Why had the dynamics between them shifted so drastically?


    Yet again, a lot could change in two days.


    Katelyn turned her gaze away from the stage and cleared her throat.


    She stepped forward to draw attention and announced, ¡°I would like to first present a video to everyone.¡±


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 Chapter 317

    ?Chapter 317:


    Vincent stood just offstage, giving Katelyn an ¡°OK¡± sign with a quick nod.


    Katelyn had done this many times before¡ªconnecting therge screen behind her to the evidence in her hand, ensuring that everyone had a clear view of what she was showing.


    The video she disyed was a secret recording of Lise and the duo¡¯s plot. Though the camera shook a little, the footage and sound were crystal clear. It was the kind of concrete proof that left no room for doubt, revealing that Lise had been behind everything from the start.


    Katelyn raised the volume, ensuring that everyone in the room could hear. Her eyes locked onto the old woman sitting nearby. Katelyn didn¡¯t know her personally, but she had a good instinct for people. And something about the woman today didn¡¯t feel right. An uneasy feeling crept over her, one that she couldn¡¯t shake.


    She chose to trust her instincts.


    Sure enough, as the video yed, the old woman¡¯s face changed. Her expression tightened, and she shot a look at Marlon, her eyes burning with silent fury.


    Marlon¡¯s face turned ghostly white. He stumbled back, his feet fumbling beneath him as if the ground had been pulled out from under him. One misstep, and he was dangerously close to tumbling off the stage.


    If the old woman was truly his mother, how could a single look from her fill him with so much fear?


    When the video ended, Katelyn turned off the screen and locked eyes with the old woman. ¡°This video alone shows you¡¯ve been lying from the beginning. Instead of pretending to be my family, how about you exin what really happened during the two days you disappeared?¡±


    Her question drew the crowd¡¯s attention to what truly mattered. They had been focused on the paternity test, but now a bigger question loomed. How had these two survived a run-in with an armed group?


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    The old woman¡¯s face tightened with shock. Her eyes darted around, panicked, unable to focus on anything.


    She muttered and fumbled, but nothing that came out made sense.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t backing down. Her voice sharpened, and her wordsnded with precision.


    ¡°Why were you attacked in the first ce? How did you walk away unharmed after they took you? Isn¡¯t it strange how you were freed just in time to pick up the test report?¡±


    The old woman had no answers. Her eyes darted around wildly, searching for something¡ªanything¡ªto say. Marlon stood beside her, his expression frozen,pletely taken aback.


    Without warning, the old woman gritted her teeth and copsed to the ground. Her body writhed, and she let out exaggerated wails.


    ¡°You¡¯re saying all this just because you refuse to ept me as your grandmother! We¡¯vee all the way from the vige to find you, and this is the thanks we get? Now that the test confirms our connection, you¡¯re still full of excuses. If I¡¯d known you were this ungrateful, I never would¡¯ve made the trip!¡±


    Katelyn stood still, her eyes narrowed with cold suspicion, watching the scene unfold. The old woman had used this shameless trick before, but this time, it only deepened Katelyn¡¯s doubts.


    Katelyn abruptly turned to Marlon, her gaze sharp.


    ¡°If she won¡¯t exin, maybe you can. What happened over thest two days?¡±


    Marlon¡¯s throat tightened, his eyes betraying a flicker of guilt. He shot a quick look at the old woman before his voice erupted in a panicked shout.


    ¡°Katelyn, it doesn¡¯t matter what you say¡ªyou can¡¯t deny we¡¯re blood rtives!¡± His voice was firm, and the smugness in it was impossible to miss. ¡°From now on, everyone will believe we¡¯re family. You¡¯ll never get rid of us!¡±


    The older woman didn¡¯t miss a beat. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly joined in.


    ¡°That¡¯s right! If you refuse to call us family, people will think you¡¯re cold and selfish. They¡¯ll talk, and you¡¯ll never hear the end of it. I¡¯m warning you¡ªif you try to cut us off, I¡¯ll hit my head against this wall and end it right here!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze stayed locked on them, her expression unreadable, but her eyes burned with quiet fury. It was as though she were watching a ridiculous y unfold before her.


    ¡°If you were really my family, I¡¯d acknowledge it and treat you right. But you¡¯re not. You¡¯re just fakes, bought by someone else.¡±


    As soon as Katelyn spoke, another voice rang out from the crowd, colder and harsher.<fn04c3> Checktest chapters at Find_Novel(.</fn04c3>


    .


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 Chapter 318

    ?Chapter 318:


    ¡°I have obtained thetest paternity test report, which confirms that Katelyn is not rted to you two by blood.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was cold and unwavering as he looked at the old woman. His voice carried a chilling tone that resonated throughout the room.


    A few minutes earlier, he had received an expedited paternity test report from Samuel. He forwarded the document to Katelyn, and soon it appeared on therge screen.


    The old woman immediately stood to refute this. ¡°This report must be a forgery. You must have gone to great lengths to fabricate evidence to deny any blood rtion.¡±


    Vincent responded firmly, ¡°You are the real forger.¡±


    He then stepped onto the stage, moving purposefully until he stood beside Katelyn. Hismanding presence and intense gaze offered her reassurance, while the old woman was struck by a fresh wave of fear and a deep sense of danger.


    Despite her outwardposure, her clenched fists and the dangerous gleam in her eyes betrayed her true feelings. She realized that Vincent was a threat that could not be ignored.


    Katelyn watched Vincent with keen interest. He was known for never making baseless usations. His public revtion indicated that he must have substantial evidence linking the old woman and Marlon to the forgery.


    At that moment, therge screen disyed yet another twist¡ªa recording.


    The recording featured the doctor who had administered Katelyn and the duo¡¯s paternity test. In it, the doctor admitted to being bribed by Lise to falsify the test results.


    The new evidence piled on top of the previous usations, further implicating the old woman and Marlon. The perceptive crowd now understood the magnitude of the deception that had been unveiled before them.


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    Marlon¡¯s face turned ashen, and he desperately wanted to flee the stage in that moment.


    Meanwhile, the old woman continued to protest stubbornly through gritted teeth. ¡°You fabricated all these things beforehand! They are all lies!¡±


    Upon observing her refusal to ept the truth, a trace of mockery appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She approached the old woman step by step and spoke sarcastically, ¡°You went to such lengths to try to tie me to your side. Unfortunately, your n is embarrassingly foolish and riddled with mistakes.¡±


    Exasperated by anger, the old woman red at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, you are nothing but selfish and hypocritical. You¡¯ve done everything possible to keep us at arm¡¯s length, fearful that we might lower your status. Had I recognized your spitefulness earlier, I would have ended you from the very beginning.¡±


    Katelyn frowned slightly. Those words sounded strangely familiar. After thinking for a moment, she remembered a simr sentiment expressed by Sharon in the past. Sharon had once said that she regretted not ending Katelyn¡¯s life sooner, her face filled with disgust, showing how much she wanted Katelyn dead.


    However, Sharon had indeed raised Katelyn. The old woman, on the other hand, was apletely different story.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes hardened with cold resolve. ¡°If you regret it now, you¡¯re far toote.¡±


    As soon as those words left her lips, Katelynshed out with a swift blow aimed straight at the old woman¡¯s face. Her sudden and fierce attack caught everyone off guard, leaving them stunned. Nobody had anticipated Katelyn would strike so quickly.


    Even Vincent was shocked. Still, he recognized that there was a deeper motive behind Katelyn¡¯s actions.


    Although Katelyn¡¯s attack came without warning and was carried out with blinding speed, the old woman reacted on instinct, intercepting Katelyn¡¯s hand with her wrist while stepping back.


    Her true abilities were now on disy for all to see.


    The strength and agility she demonstrated were far beyond what anyone would expect from someone of her age. Katelyn pulled her hand back, her eyes filled with a cold, piercing disdain.


    ¡°You are not the person you imed to be. Who are you, really?¡±


    From the moment she had stepped into the arena, Katelyn had felt that something was off.


    Her sharp instincts immediately told her that while the old woman appeared to be the same as before, there was a distinct gap between her real personality and the mere mimicry she disyed.


    This impostercked the sharpness that the real old woman had, and Marlon¡¯s behavior only heightened Katelyn¡¯s suspicions. The dynamic between the two¡ªthis so-called ¡°mother and son¡±¡ªnow seemed more like that of a superior issuing orders to an underling than a genuine family bond.


    Driven by this startling realization, Katelyn moved quickly to uncover the truth. Every clue she found seemed to confirm her instincts.<fn64b6> For more chapters visit f?ndnovel</fn64b6>


    Marlon had already begun quietly retreating to a shadowed corner, trying to distance himself from the confrontation that was unfolding. Meanwhile, the old woman continued to cling to her fabricated story, acting as though she knew nothing of what was truly happening.


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 Chapter 319

    ?Chapter 319:


    The old woman ced her hand over her chest and coughed violently, pretending to weaken once again. ¡°What are you saying? I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Enough with the act,¡± Katelyn said, her voice sharp. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll expose you.¡±


    With fiery determination in her eyes, Katelyn saw right through the woman¡¯s tricks.


    There was a medical technique known as face-changing. Simply put, it involved affixing a highly realistic human skin mask to someone¡¯s face, with fine details like intricate wrinkles. If the wearer could convincingly act their age, the disguise would be wless and fool almost anyone.


    Crafting such a mask was no simple task. If one was made in just two days, the creator would have to be both a skilled doctor and an expert artist. This uniquebination instantly made Katelyn think of Sophia. Sophia was the only one who could pull something like this off.


    The human skin mask was an assassin¡¯s secret weapon. Once it was revealed, the old woman dropped her act.


    She straightened her back, no longer pretending to alter her voice. Though her face stayed aged, her voice suddenly sounded youthful.


    She gave Katelyn a mocking look and pped her hands.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, well done. You¡¯ve figured it out.¡±


    The old woman¡¯s sudden shift to a youthful voice and her drastic change in demeanor stunned the onlookers. Some reporters froze, missing their opportunity to snap photos.


    It was true¡ªhuman skin masks were real and not just something from fiction. Even Vincent was taken aback.


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    He had heard of these masks but had never witnessed one in real life. Since Katelyn had figured it out so quickly, it was clear she was familiar with, or had encountered, such methods before. Vincent¡¯s gaze grew deeper. He had always suspected there was more to Katelyn than met the eye.


    Katelyn¡¯s hands balled into fists, ready to strike at any moment.


    ¡°Cut the crap,¡± she said. ¡°Where is she? What do you want?¡±


    The only logical exnation was that after Marlon and his mother had been captured by the organization, this woman had disguised herself as the old woman to attend the press conference. And there was only one reason she would do that.


    At that moment, Marlon, who had been hidden in the shadows, suddenly stood up, pointing at the woman impersonating his mother and crying out loudly.


    ¡°They murdered my mother! They forced me here to participate in this press conference!¡±


    Instinctively, Katelyn¡¯s hands clenched into fists once again. She had already suspected as much.


    The woman spun around in fury and shouted, ¡°Be quiet, you fool!¡±


    ¡°You murdered my mother. I¡¯ll never let you get away with this, even if it costs me my life!¡± Marlon shouted, his voice thick with bitterness and pain, as if triggered by something deep inside him.


    The woman stood motionless, regarding him with scorn and mockery. With a casual flick of her wrist, something flew out of her sleeve.


    Before Marlon could reach her, he froze in ce and copsed without a sound.


    In an instant, he hit the floor, and everyone saw a ck dart embedded in his neck. The dart was lodged halfway through his neck. His eyes wide open, Marlon twitched for a moment, theny still.


    The woman waved her hand dismissively, as if she hadn¡¯t just taken a life¡ªor perhaps, to her, taking a life meant nothing.


    ¡°It¡¯s a waste of resources for someone like him to exist in this world. He should have died sooner,¡± she said nonchntly.


    The room fell into an eerie silence, as if someone had hit the mute button. After a brief pause, a scream echoed through the hall.


    ¡°Murder! Someone¡¯s been killed!¡±


    Suddenly, chaos erupted in the room. Everyone scrambled to flee, the air filled with screams and cries, creating a deafening cacophony.<fn7a71> ?????? ???? </fn7a71>


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    Amidst the chaos, only Katelyn and Vincent remained calm.


    Katelyn stepped forward, fixing her gaze on the old woman. Unfortunately, the human skin mask concealed the woman¡¯s true facepletely.


    ¡°What are you really after?¡± Katelyn hissed.


    The old woman scoffed. ¡°Katelyn, one day I will kill you,¡± she said, sending a lethal re toward Vincent. ¡°And you too!¡±


    Given the old woman¡¯s rming demeanor earlier, her threat was unsettling. Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed. Suddenly, she grasped the urgency of the situation and yelled, ¡°Move now! She¡¯s about to escape!¡±


    Vincent quickly drew his gun, but it was already toote.


    The old woman threw two grenade-like objects at their feet. They exploded instantly. Thick white smoke billowed out quickly, obscuring their vision and filling the air with a sharp, stinging odor that burned their eyes.


    Vincent recognized the devices as smoke and tear gas grenades.


    It was clear she had anticipated the possibility of being exposed and had nned her escape route.


    Katelyn gasped for air, coughing as the smoke enveloped her. She pressed her hand to her nose, trying to navigate through the dense fog, tears streaming down her face.


    Suddenly, a firm hand grabbed hers.


    Though her vision was blurred, Katelyn knew it was Vincent¡¯s hand. He had covered his mouth and nose, his voice raspy from the gas.<fna0fd> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel</fna0fd>


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    galn¦Ò¦Íels.c¡ðm hosts fresh updates


    They were near the center of the stage, engulfed in smoke, supporting each other as they made their way down.


    Tears continued to stream down Katelyn¡¯s face, while Vincent seemed to handle it slightly better.


    By now, everyone else had fled, leaving them alone.


    Katelyn rubbed her chest, finally easing the burning sensation. A flicker of regret crossed her face.


    ¡°She was really cunning. She even had an escape n in ce.¡±


    Her hands clenched into fists.


    Although she had been unable to remove the woman¡¯s mask, Katelyn clearly remembered those eyes. Next time, she would recognize her by that distinct gaze.


    ¡°They were prepared and caught us off guard,¡± Vincent said, his eyes lingering on the smoke still hanging over the stage. His voice was cold, deep, and full of thought.


    The woman¡¯s boldness and ruthlessness matched the traits typically associated with the T Organization. Yet, Vincent was puzzled as to who would invest so heavily in such an organization to target Katelyn.


    If their intention was to take her life, the moment on stage had been the perfect opportunity. The woman had killed Marlon effortlessly. So why hadn¡¯t she killed Katelyn too? Or perhaps she believed merely killing Katelyn would be too merciful. Did they intend to torture her first?


    The thought ignited a fierce determination in Vincent. If anyone dared harm Katelyn, he would stop at nothing to seek retribution.


    It took half an hour for the smoke to clearpletely.


    Katelyn moved toward Marlon¡¯s body.


    His eyes were fixed on the ceiling, and a pool of blood had formed beneath him. Katelyn examined the dart embedded in his neck, admiring the precision of the strike. ¡°A lethal hit,¡± she whispered, noticing a barely visible ¡°T¡± engraved on the ck dart.


    ¡°Vincent,e take a look,¡± she called urgently.


    Vincent studied the small mark, his expression darkening. ¡°It¡¯s them. But we still don¡¯t know their motive.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. My only enemies are Lise, the Bailey family, and possibly Neil,¡± Katelyn responded. Their conflicts had never reached the point where professional assassins were hired to kill her.


    Then, Katelyn found yet another clue.


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    Message from Noah: Nice friday for you dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (?? ? ??)?


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 Chapter 321

    ?Chapter 321:


    ¡°If I¡¯m right, this dart¡¯s tipped with some kind of poison,¡± Katelyn said.


    It wasn¡¯t the dart itself that had killed Marlon. It was the poison coating it that sealed his fate, spreading through his body and leaving him lifeless.


    Katelyn nced at Vincent and continued, ¡°What kind of poison though? We should have it tested by ab. They¡¯ll know for sure.¡±


    Vincent stood up, brushing off his hands.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get someone on it immediately,¡± he said, his tone firm.


    Katelyn nodded in agreement. They had been careful not to touch the body, preserving the evidence.


    As they walked toward the exit, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but nce back onest time. The stage was empty now, save for Marlon¡¯s still form lying beneath the dim lights.


    What had started as a simple dispute had now spiraled into a nightmare.


    Lise had hired the two rogues to stage a dramatic performance, but now both the mother and her son were dead in Granville. Katelyn couldn¡¯t understand what had made the T Organization target them so mercilessly.


    The answer, she thought grimly, probably stilly with Lise.


    When Marlon died, the reporters fled in panic, but a video from the scene made its way online, sparking heated discussions. Due to onlinemunity rules, the clip only showed the beginning of the confrontation, cutting off right before Marlon¡¯s death. Even when people tried to describe what had happened in thements, the tform shut it down immediately, erasing any mention of his final moments.


    But it didn¡¯t matter. The argument and the guilty expressions on Marlon and his mother¡¯s faces were enough to expose Lise¡¯s scheme.


    Stay updated with galn¦Ò¦Í??????.c?m


    They were never Katelyn¡¯s family. The whole situation had been a carefully nned lie, orchestrated by Lise. When the news broke, Lise¡¯s anger erupted.


    Her reputation, already hanging by a thread, was shatteredpletely. Her dirty secret was out again. There was noing back from this.


    The moment the T Organization took Marlon and the old woman, she should have known she was no longer in control. She had no idea why those people from the T Organization intervened or why they suddenly let Marlon go.<fn2343> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN()vel</fn2343>


    Lise¡¯s social media ount was once again inundated with hatefulments, the public turning against her in waves. Staring at the flood of insults on her screen, her fury exploded. She threw her phone against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces.


    ¡°Idiots! Both of you are useless idiots!¡± she screamed, her voice shaking with rage.


    Her n, which had seemed perfect, had fallen apart, all thanks to those two. Instead ofing out on top, she had dragged herself down with them.


    Now, her desire to get rid of Katelyn burned stronger than ever. Just as Lise¡¯s frustration reached its peak, the door to her hospital room mmed open.


    Katelyn barged in, her face a storm of anger.


    Lise flinched, her heart racing. She stammered, guilt creeping into her voice, ¡°What¡­ what are you doing here?¡± Katelyn¡¯s eyes locked onto her with a look so sharp, it felt like it cut right through her. The intensity in Katelyn¡¯s gaze darkened, filled with a deadly purpose.


    ¡°What¡¯s really going on? Where did you find Marlon and his mother? Tell me the truth!¡±


    Lise instinctively shrank back, scrambling for an excuse. She forced a confused expression and refused to meet Katelyn¡¯s piercing stare.


    ¡°Marlon was your family, wasn¡¯t he? Why would you ask me?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes flicked to the smashed phone on the floor. She let out a quiet, mockingugh, seeing right through Lise¡¯s weak act.


    ¡°Marlon admitted everything. It was your n from the start, and even the hospital doctor confirmed it.¡±


    Lise¡¯s reaction was immediate, her face twisting as if struck. ¡°That¡¯s a lie! Don¡¯t believe their nonsense!¡± she spat, her voice rising in panic. ¡°I didn¡¯t do any of it! You¡¯re the one framing me, trying to ruin my life and destroy my reputation!¡±


    As she spoke, Lise¡¯s voice gained strength, almost as if she could convince herself by saying it out loud. She clutched at her chest, pretending to be hurt, ying the victim.


    ¡°You¡¯re heartless, Katelyn. You¡¯ll do anything to see me suffer. How much do I have to lose before you leave me alone?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never met anyone as shameless as you.¡±


    She was done with Lise¡¯s innocent act. Calmly, she took out her phone and pulled up a video. Holding it up, she let Lise see the screen.


    The video showed Marlon¡¯s death in graphic detail. While the onlinemunity had blocked it, Katelyn had managed to obtain the original footage.


    Lise¡¯s face went pale as her eyes locked onto the screen. She let out a horrified scream and covered her eyes.


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    ?Chapter 322:<fnf1ca> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? fin?novel</fnf1ca>


    Lise raised one hand to shield her eyes while frantically waving the other. ¡°Get that phone away from me!¡±


    This was Lise¡¯s first experience with witnessing death, leaving her visibly shaken.


    Katelyn seized her wrist, paused the video at the moment of Marlon¡¯s death, and forcefully held the phone in front of Lise¡¯s eyes. ¡°Look carefully. Not only is Marlon gone, but his mother as well. They were innocents, yet they died because of your actions! Lise, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re responsible for this?¡±


    Overwhelmed by the earlier scene, Lise was too shaken to speak coherently. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. Despite this, she stubbornly said, ¡°What do their deaths have to do with me? How would I know who they crossed?¡±


    Katelyn pressed her unyieldingly, giving Lise no time to collect her thoughts. ¡°Tell me everything you know. How are you connected to the T Organization? Why did they abduct them?¡±


    Lise clutched her head, screaming. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything. I know nothing. They died because they deserved it. It¡¯s not my fault!¡± She clenched her teeth, repeating her denial again and again.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze remained cold as she pocketed her phone and studied Lise¡¯s expressions closely.


    It seemed Lise genuinely knew nothing about this particr incident. But that didn¡¯t mean she was meless.


    If it weren¡¯t for her n, Marlon and his mother would never havee to Granville and met their tragic end here.


    Their actions were shameful and disgusting, yet they did not deserve such a horrible death.


    Moreover, Katelyn was driven by a more pressing mystery¡ªwhy had the T Organization killed them? Did they know something that threatened the organization, leading to their silencing?


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    Katelyn¡¯s tone was cold as she said, ¡°Lise, this is your final opportunity. What is truly happening?¡±


    Lise¡¯s face showed immense pain as she seemed utterly stunned. She murmured to herself, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t know anything.¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case,¡± Katelyn said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll need to hold a press conference and inform the police so thew can address your actions.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience had run out. She started to leave, but Lise suddenly lunged at her and grabbed her wrist tightly.


    ¡°My reputation online is already ruined. If you expose these things, it will really drive me to my death.¡±


    Her current situation was a far cry from the morous life she had imagined as a wealthy heiress. She should be basking in praise and admiration, not bing aughingstock.


    Katelyn turned to look at her with icy cold eyes and said, ¡°I gave you a chance, but you didn¡¯t appreciate it.¡±


    In a state of panic, Lise eximed, ¡°I truly don¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening! I don¡¯t even know what this T Organization is that you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m innocent.¡±


    Katelyn stared coldly at Lise and wrenched her wrist away.


    ¡°Then why would the organization target the duo?¡±


    Desperate, Lise answered, ¡°How should I know? I¡¯ve told you, I know nothing about the T Organization!¡±


    Katelyn narrowed her eyes. Lise was her only lead to uncovering the truth. Yet, her reactions suggested she was genuinely clueless.


    Katelyn suspected that uncovering why the T Organization targeted the old woman and Marlon might answer all her lingering questions.


    ¡°You¡¯d better be telling the truth, or you¡¯ll face severe consequences.¡±


    Lise looked terrified, her pupils shrinking as she nearly pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ve told you all I know. Can¡¯t you let me go just this once?¡±


    Katelyn faced Lise with a calm demeanor and a cold smirk.


    ¡°If I let you go, then who will answer for their deaths?¡±


    Katelyn pulled out her phone and checked the trending news before showing it to Lise.


    ¡°Even if I were inclined to release you, it¡¯s already toote.¡±


    Lise¡¯s gaze fixed on Katelyn¡¯s phone screen. The news of Marlon¡¯s death had ignited a firestorm of online debate. Everyone was wondering if Lise was involved.


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 Chapter 323

    ?Chapter 323:


    Lise stumbled backward. As realization dawned on her, she pointed usingly at Katelyn, her voice filled with venom. ¡°You nned everything from the start! You¡¯re setting a trap for me!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes twinkled with a hint of mockery as she responded coldly, ¡°You brought this on yourself.¡±


    If it weren¡¯t for Lise¡¯s repeated schemes, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up in such a disastrous situation.


    Lise¡¯s eyes grew wide, and she tried to speak, but found herself at a loss for words. Her heart was filled with hatred for Katelyn, along with a growing, intense urge. She wanted to kill Katelyn!


    If she could just eliminate Katelyn, perhaps all her troubles would vanish.<fn4976> The rightful source is findnovel</fn4976>


    As Lise moved toward the fruit knife on the bedside table, the door to the ward suddenly burst open.


    Sharon stormed in, her anger ring the moment she saw Katelyn. She pointed at Katelyn and cursed viciously, ¡°You bitch! How dare you show your face here! How much more do you intend to hurt Lise?¡±


    Her loud outburst made Lise abandon her murderous intent instantly.


    Realizing that killing Katelyn outright was not an option, Lise knew she needed a more solid n.


    Katelyn was no stranger to Sharon¡¯s harsh words. No matter what harm Lise endured, somehow it always became Katelyn¡¯s burden to carry.


    Katelyn regarded Sharon with a sarcastic gaze. ¡°Your precious daughter is responsible for two deaths now. She should face the consequences of her actions.¡±


    Sharon paused, taken aback, and turned to look at Lise in confusion.


    ???????????? ???????? ¡ú ?????????¦Í??????©q??????


    Lise shook her head, tears flooding her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. My pregnancy has been giving me troubletely, and Katelyn just stormed in here, using me like a madwoman.¡±


    Sharon¡¯s focus shifted back to the pressing matter at hand. Nothing was more critical than the well-being of Lise¡¯s unborn child.


    She positioned herself protectively in front of Lise, shooting a fierce re at Katelyn.


    ¡°Lise is kind and innocent. She would hurt no one. It¡¯s you who has been plotting against her. Those two people who knocked on my door asking for money were sent by you. People like you deserve the worst!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face remained expressionless. After everything that had happened, she was now bulletproof. Sharon¡¯s biting words no longer affected her.


    She spoke calmly, ¡°Fooling yourself is one thing, but to believe you can fool everyone else?¡±


    With that pointed remark, Katelyn turned and walked away. The public outcry had esctedpletely, and it was no longer a problem that could be easily suppressed.


    Lise¡¯s retribution had just begun.


    Even though Marlon had died immediately, the earlier confrontation had confirmed that Katelyn was not rted to him by blood.


    The tumultuous events of the past few days had exhausted Katelyn.


    When she got home, she received a message from Vincent. ¡°I¡¯m going on a business trip tomorrow. Why don¡¯t youe along? A change of environment could do you good.¡±


    Katelyn replied, ¡°But how can I be of any help?¡± She had expertise in design but was inexperienced in other areas. For a business trip, someone like Samuel would be a more suitable choice than her.


    Vincent responded, ¡°I¡¯m meeting a high-profile client tomorrow, critical for the Adams Group¡¯s international expansion. She¡¯s very particr about jewelry design, and you¡¯re the only one who can meet her standards.¡±


    This time, Katelyn didn¡¯t hesitate and quickly replied with an ¡°OK.¡± Knowing she had to rise early for the trip, Katelyn went to bed early. Nevertheless, she struggled to fall asleep.


    When sleep finally came, it was fitful, filled with visions of Marlon¡¯s death.


    Sometimes she saw him lying there with his eyes wide open, and other times it was the old woman¡¯s striking eyes that haunted her.


    These disturbing images tossed her through a sleepless night, resulting in visible dark circles under Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    At the airport, Vincent immediately noticed Katelyn¡¯s exhaustion.


    ¡°You look tired. Didn¡¯t sleep well? Were there nightmares?¡±


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 Chapter 324

    ?Chapter 324:


    Nodding in resignation, Katelyn rubbed the space between her brows in an attempt to ease her exhaustion.


    ¡°I keep having dreams of Marlon¡¯s death. The conspiracy feels like a web tightening around me, leaving me breathless,¡± she confessed.


    ¡°I¡¯m already pursuing leads through different channels. As soon as I find anything, you¡¯ll be the first to know,¡± Vincent assured her while checking his watch.


    ¡°It¡¯s eight in the morning. We¡¯ve got a five-hour flight ahead of us. You should try to get some rest.¡±


    Katelyn nodded firmly, though her voice still carried the weight of her fatigue. ¡°Sure.¡±


    The flight arrangements had been handled by Samuel, but he had urgent business to attend to and would be arrivingter than Katelyn and Vincent.


    They were traveling to a prosperous and highly developed nation overseas, where Vincent was set to meet a vital client with significant influence over the global jewelry market. Winning this coboration could propel Adams Group to new heights of sess.


    Vincent and Katelyn upied seats in the business ss cabin. He handed her the documents he had prepared.


    ¡°These include the client¡¯s profile, her tastes, and her aesthetic preferences. There will be a crucial banquet the day after tomorrow, and she is expected to attend,¡± Vincent stated, pausing for a moment to ensure he had Katelyn¡¯s full attention. ¡°Katelyn, your role is to secure this partnership and ensure that Adams Group¡¯s jewelry bes the centerpiece of the final segment of the major exhibition happening next month.¡±


    Katelyn gave a determined nod and began going through the documents with meticulous care.


    ???????????? ???? ??????????: ??????????????????©q?????


    The client¡¯s name was Selina Hathaway. The photo on the first page showed a striking young woman with distinctive features¡ªblonde hair and light blue eyes, which made her even more stunning.


    To possess such influence at such a young age spoke volumes about her remarkable skills. Katelyn continued flipping through the pages, noting that Vincent hadpiled extensive and detailed information. It covered everything from Selina¡¯s participation in numerouspetitions to her various design creations over the years.


    Even from the photographs, Katelyn could see that Selina¡¯s designs were exceptional, particrly in their meticulous attention to detail, which could easily rival her own work. As for the exhibition Vincent had mentioned, Katelyn was familiar with it as well.


    This grand jewelry exhibition was held once every five years and had the potential to significantly elevate apany¡¯s market value. It served as a showcase for the finest jewelry designs from around the world. Vincent¡¯s ambition to secure a prominent position at such an esteemed event would be a formidable challenge.


    After Katelyn finished reading through the documents, her face grew more solemn.


    Vincent tilted his head and nced in her direction. ¡°Are you feeling some pressure?¡± he asked.


    ¡°¡®Some¡¯? You¡¯re definitely overestimating me. I definitely feel the pressure building,¡± Katelyn admitted, frustrationcing her voice.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this client before. She¡¯s known as the ¡®ultimate critic¡¯ in the industry. No matter how wless a piece seems, she can always find a defect. Her reputation in the design world is like a foundation stone.¡±


    Selina¡¯s impact on the design industry was immeasurable. Even a fleeting nce from her could catapult a piece to immense poprity. In her field, she held a level of authorityparable to Vincent¡¯s in the financial world.


    Vincent pressed his lips together, nodding with determination. ¡°You¡¯re the only one capable of handling this task and aplishing our objectives. Put in every effort to secure this coboration.¡±<fn12c1> For more chapters visit find?novel</fn12c1>


    ¡°I¡¯m confident I can win her over, but ensuring our piece stands out as the highlight at the finale of the exhibition will be an enormous challenge,¡± Katelyn replied, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. She wasn¡¯t being pessimistic but wanted Vincent to understand how crucial the task was, so he wouldn¡¯t feel let down if things didn¡¯t go as nned.


    After all, a jewelry exhibition of this magnitude couldn¡¯t hinge on a single person¡¯s preferences alone.


    This exhibition, held every five years,pared the creations of designers from that period to determine the most outstanding among them. Designers from across the globe would gather topete.


    Achieving the spotlight required more than just a wless design; it also involved navigating aplex web of power dynamics and influential connections.


    Still, Selina wielded considerable sway at these prestigious events. If she genuinely took a liking to their jewelry, Katelyn felt that what seemed nearly unattainable might actually be within reach.


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 Chapter 325

    ?Chapter 325:


    Katelyn habitually prepared for the worst, a trait stemming from her naturally pessimistic nature. She consistently considered the worst possible oues first, always wondering if she could handle it if things went terribly wrong. If she felt she could, she would move forward boldly.


    Vincent understood her approach and nodded, his expression somber and reflective.


    ¡°We need to first finalize this partnership,¡± he said.<fn8997> Get full chapters from findnovel</fn8997>


    ¡°I¡¯ll give it my all,¡± Katelyn responded.


    The flightsted five hours. As Katelyn gazed at the clouds outside her window, she felt a wave of sleepiness. She had braced herself for another round of troubling dreams, but surprisingly, she slept like a baby¡ªbetter than on her own plush mattress at home.


    Refreshed from the restful sleep during the flight, she felt revitalized upon arrival.


    All of Vincent¡¯s travel arrangements, including flights and hotel amodations, had been organized by Samuel. Samuel had reserved the finest hotel in the city, and a team was ready to escort them upon arrival.


    Katelyn¡¯s room was on the same floor as Vincent¡¯s, right next door.


    Vincent, carrying both their suitcases, looked over at her. ¡°Rest up first. When you wake up,e to my room. I¡¯ve located where Selina will be dining tonight. We¡¯ll meet her there.¡±


    Selina was known for being particrly demanding within the design industry. Vincent had set up two chances for Katelyn to make an impression: tonight and at a g two dayster. If both attempts failed, their project might not even be exhibited, much less be a featured highlight.


    Realizing the importance of these meetings, Katelyn responded with resolve, ¡°Understood.¡±


    ???????????????? ????????: g????????¦Í?????????????


    Once in her room, the first thing she did was set her suitcase aside andy down to sleep. She slept until the evening. When she awoke, she checked her phone and saw that it was already five o¡¯clock.


    Vincent had sent her two texts:


    ¡°Are you awake?¡±


    ¡°Get ready.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re about to leave.¡±


    Katelyn squinted at her phone and responded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m awake. Just getting up to freshen up.¡±


    After sending the message, she took her toiletries from her suitcase and hurried into the bathroom for a quick shower. Unexpectedly, the water cut off midway through her shower.


    Her hair was still covered in shampoo, and she had just applied body wash. Feeling a surge of frustration, she fiddled with the faucet, but after a long time, no water came out. Grinding her teeth, she couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°Seriously? This is a presidential suite, and it has such a basic problem?¡±


    The more she thought about it, the more irritated she became. However, she knew she needed to rinse off quickly and couldn¡¯t linger on the problem.


    After a moment¡¯s thought, she wrapped herself in a towel, threw on a thick robe, and went to knock on Vincent¡¯s door.


    Vincent¡¯s voice was calm and cool as he asked, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Trying to hide her difort, Katelyn answered, ¡°Mr. Adams, may I use your shower?¡±


    Upon recognizing her voice, Vincent opened the door, his expression turning to one of mild shock.


    Katelyn stood there, her hair in a messy bun still full of suds. She wore a towel fashioned into a makeshift dress, showcasing her long, smooth legs. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she was too awkward to meet Vincent¡¯s eyes. After all, who wouldn¡¯t feel embarrassed about admitting they ran out of water mid-shower?


    Thankfully, Vincent quickly grasped the situation without needing further exnation. He moved aside, allowing her to enter. ¡°Go ahead and use the shower,¡± he offered.


    Katelyn nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams.¡± She hurried into the shower, noticing that it seemed Vincent had just used it. The space was still steamy and filled with the fresh scent of cedarwood body wash. Without thinking, she quickly rinsed off the soap.


    After drying herself with a spare towel from Vincent¡¯s room, she was about to leave. However, something unexpected happened.


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 Chapter 326

    ?Chapter 326:


    Katelyn screamed before she could stop herself.


    Vincent came running from the living room the moment he heard her, his face full of concern. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Katelyn stood in the bathroom, dripping wet, with only a towel wrapped around her. She was wobbling on one foot, her legs awkwardly twisted, and her hands pressed hard against the walls to keep from falling. She winced and said, ¡°I slipped on some soap. I think I twisted my ankle.¡±


    Her grip on the wall was the only thing keeping her from crashing onto the cold, hard floor.


    Vincent nced down, frowning at her swollen right ankle. He stepped closer and held out his hand. ¡°Here, take my wrist. Try to stand up slowly.¡±


    He knew that standing up too quickly with a sprained ankle could make things worse. If the injury was bad, it could damage the tendons, and she¡¯d be limping for weeks.


    Katelyn nodded, her face tight with pain. Her ankle throbbed so badly it felt as though it might snap in two. With a deep breath, she grabbed his arm and used his strength to pull herself up, doing her best to push through the sharp pain shooting up her leg.


    Just when Katelyn thought the worst was over, things took an even worse turn.


    The towel, already barely hanging on, suddenly gave way. The knot at the back slipped loose, and before either of them could react, the white towel dropped to the floor. Vincent caught a glimpse of her shapely body.


    For a split second, they locked eyes, both frozen in shock.


    Katelyn¡¯s scream echoed through the room again, this time filled with pure humiliation. Vincent quickly turned away, his face flushing red as he grabbed the towel and handed it back to her, his gaze fixed firmly on the wall.


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    He took a steady breath, trying to block the image from his mind. ¡°I didn¡¯t see anything. Just¡­ be careful, okay? You don¡¯t want to twist your ankle again,¡± he said.


    Katelyn¡¯s face burned bright red, her heart pounding. She wanted to vanish on the spot.


    This was beyond embarrassing. The towel had fallen at the worst possible moment. And Vincent had seen everything! The thought made her stomach twist, and she felt as if she might die from the shame.


    How on earth was she supposed to face Vincent now?<fn0b5b> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find_Novel(.</fn0b5b>


    Her mind was a mess, internally screaming. Even though Vincent didn¡¯t turn around, she could feel that he knew exactly what she was going through.


    He was always cool and collected, but now he was nervously rubbing his nose,pletely out of character.


    ¡°Get dressed. I¡¯ll wait over there,¡± he said, keeping his voice steady.


    ¡°OK,¡± Katelyn replied, her tone t and distant. Right then, she wished she could just vanish from existence.


    Vincent leaned back on the couch, the unfinished document in his hands. The words blurred together, none of them making any sense.


    Every time he blinked, the image from earlier reyed in his mind, clear as day.


    He¡¯d always known Katelyn had a nice body, but now he realized just how gorgeous she really was. It made his heart skip a beat. Without thinking, he threw one quick nce toward the bathroom, where she was still inside.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn was stewing in her own frustration. What kind of luck was this?


    After what felt like ages of trying to calm herself down, she finally stepped out of the bathroom, her face still glowing red with embarrassment.


    She couldn¡¯t even lift her eyes to meet Vincent¡¯s; instead, she stared at the floor, focusing on the tips of her toes as if they could somehow make this less awkward.


    The room felt unnaturally still, like the air itself had stopped moving.


    Even though the two of them were standing there, it was so quiet that the smallest sound would have echoed through the space. Finally, Vincent cleared his throat, breaking the silence with a nervous cough.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I won¡¯t say anything. Let¡¯s just forget it ever happened.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s hands balled into fists, her teeth clenched as she forced herself to speak.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I didn¡¯t want this to happen. I don¡¯t even know how the towel slipped. But now that you¡¯ve seen me, you¡¯re going to have to make this right.¡±


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 Chapter 327

    ?Chapter 327:


    A momentter, realization sank in, and Katelyn froze in disbelief.


    She immediately regretted what she had blurted out.


    She was so shocked that her eyes widened. What on earth had she just said?


    Having Vincent see her naked had already been humiliating enough, and now, caught up in her emotions, she had spoken without thinking.


    A second ago, she wanted nothing more than to disappear. Now, she wished the ground would swallow her whole.


    Vincent raised an eyebrow, a slow smile spreading across his face as he asked calmly, ¡°How, exactly?¡±


    He rose to his feet and began to approach her slowly.


    He stood tall, wearing a simple but elegant ck shirt. The cor was open, and his fingers rested lightly on the second button. His voice was deep and smooth, almost hypnotic in its effect.


    He was utterly charming.


    ¡°Do you want to see me? Is this what you mean?¡± he teased, his toneced with seduction.


    Katelyn¡¯s face flushed a deep shade of red, embarrassment flooding her as she found herself unable to meet his gaze. Her eyes remained fixed on her toes as she stammered, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean it that way. I wasn¡¯t thinking.¡±


    Her voice quivered with fear, dreading that Vincent might actually remove his shirt at any moment.


    She had panicked and blurted out random things without thinking.


    What was she thinking? What had possessed her to say something so reckless?


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    Vincent¡¯s amusement only grew as he observed her flustered, red face, noticing how she gripped her towel with such intensity. He had noticed this habit of hers before¡ªwhenever she felt anxious, she would unconsciously cling to whatever she was wearing.


    The more she reacted this way, the stronger his urge became to yfully torment her.


    He continued to advance, closing the gap between them with deliberate steps. She nervously swallowed, instinctively retreating until her back was pressed against the wall, leaving her with no way out.


    The fresh, crisp scent of his body wash mingled with a faint hint of tobo, overwhelming her senses and making it difficult to breathe.


    Shecked the courage to meet his eyes. Instead, she turned her head away, avoiding his gaze entirely.


    ¡°Mr. Adams¡­¡± she murmured.


    Vincent had already undone the second button, exposing the firm lines of his chest just below his corbones.


    ¡°But I realize I was partly at fault earlier. I took advantage of you by seeing you, and I think I owe you something to make up for it,¡± he murmured.


    ¡°No¡­ no, that¡¯s not necessary,¡± Katelyn replied, shaking her head frantically, her eyes following his hand as it moved toward the third button. Acting on impulse, she quickly reached out and grabbed his hand to stop him.


    Her face burned with embarrassment, and she forced out the words with difficulty.<fn6ff1> Read full story at Find~Novel</fn6ff1>


    ¡°Really, you don¡¯t have to, Mr. Adams. I don¡¯t need anypensation from you.¡±


    Her small hand looked delicate against Vincent¡¯srger, rougher one, especially with their fingers nearly intertwined.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re not a fan of this way of me trying to make amends? Just say the word, and I¡¯ll find another way,¡± he teased.


    Katelyn¡¯s pupils tightened, her mind going nk at the implication in Vincent¡¯s voice.


    What exactly did he mean by ¡°another way¡±?


    Did he have any idea what he was suggesting?


    Was he implying something as outrageous as she imagined?


    Every thought raced through her mind and was mirrored in her expression, making it easy for Vincent to decipher. His grin only widened in response.


    He hadn¡¯t felt this amused in a long time. Thest time had been when Katelyn had finally ended things with Neil.


    He ced his hand against the wall beside her head, effectively trapping her in ce.


    To her right, his arm formed a barrier; in front of her, his chest loomed close, and to her left, there was nothing but the cold, unyielding wall.


    It felt as though she were prey, cornered and ensnared by a skilled hunter.


    Her confused eyes mirrored the innocence and fear of a trapped fawn.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I was just rambling. Please, don¡¯t take any of it seriously,¡± she pleaded, her words tumbling out in a rush.


    Katelyn scrambled to find a way to rify, but Vincent had already noticed her desperate need to escape and wasn¡¯t about to allow it.


    His voice took on an even deeper tone, one that seemed to captivate and mesmerize anyone who listened.


    ¡°But I still think I owe you something, and I should find a way to set things right,¡± he replied.


    Katelyn lifted her gaze to meet his, feeling as though his eyes were a hypnotic chasm, threatening to pull her inpletely.


    .


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 Chapter 328

    ?Chapter 328:


    The heat in the room was escting quickly, causing Katelyn¡¯s cheeks to turn a deep red.


    Her eyes grew wide, but she found herself speechless. The towel she was clutching had be wrinkled from her tight grip.


    This was apletely new experience for her, and she was clueless about how to handle it.


    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, followed by Samuel¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr. Adams.¡±


    Samuel had caught ater flight than theirs. Hearing his voice, Katelyn breathed a sigh of relief, believing her rescuer had arrived.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze grew more intense as he silently clenched his teeth. He regretted not having Samuel book a flight for the following day.


    Seizing the opportunity, Katelyn bent down and maneuvered her way from under Vincent¡¯s arm. Once free from the corner, she could breathe more easily.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, carry on with what you were doing. I¡¯ll return to my room now.¡±


    She didn¡¯t wait for Vincent to reply. She turned swiftly and left quickly, as though escaping a dreadful creature.


    Samuel stood at the door, holding a file, pondering how to present his report. Suddenly, the door swung open.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡ª¡± He was just about to greet Vincent.


    The next moment, his eyes widened in surprise, and his mouth fell open. He even looked up to double-check the room number.


    He was at the correct door¡ªVincent¡¯s room. Yet, why was Katelyn stepping out? And why was she in a towel, looking so visibly flustered?


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    All sorts of unthinkable scenarios raced through his mind.


    At that moment, his heart raced with a sense of foreboding. Had he just walked in on something he wasn¡¯t supposed to see? Would his boss be mad, and was he about to be assigned overseas again?


    Katelyn didn¡¯t pause to see Samuel¡¯s reaction. She held her chest, gave a brief nod, and hurried back to her room. She turned swiftly, locked her door, leaned back against the wall, and then gradually slid to the floor.


    She scowled deeply, pondering her next steps. Even shutting her eyes triggered shbacks of the incident in Vincent¡¯s room. Vincent had always appeared logical and restrained in her view. Yet, just a short while ago, he had looked at her with an intensity she had never seen before, as if she were his target.


    This new side of Vincent, even slightly yful in his look, was unfamiliar to her. Moreover, her heart was pounding wildly because of him, as though it might burst from her chest at any second.


    Katelyn covered her heated cheeks with her hands. She tapped her cheeks gently, reminding herself, ¡°Katelyn, pull yourself together. Men are trouble. The best way to stay safe is to keep your distance.¡±


    Meanwhile, Samuel, who sensed something was off, encountered Vincent¡¯s deep, menacing stare.


    Samuel quickly pinched his thigh and smiled. ¡°Mr. Adams, here are the papers you requested.¡±


    Though Samuel seemed calm, he was actually frantically thinking of a way out. How should he address the disruption he had caused during his boss¡¯s moment?


    Vincent eyed his assistant with a touch of menace as he casually epted the papers, briefly ncing through them. He leaned back in his chair, rxed yet radiating an effortless charm.


    Samuel watched Vincent¡¯s reactions warily, feeling like he was under intense scrutiny.


    Aware of his mistake, he braced for some form of reprimand, and those minutes dragged on endlessly.


    Vincent seemed to pay no mind to Samuel¡¯s difort, leisurely reviewing the papers.


    Time seemed to crawl until Vincent eventually set the documents aside. ¡°Well done,¡± he said curtly.


    Samuel felt a wave of relief and quickly added, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ll return to my duties then.¡±


    He assumed Vincent would let the incident slide.


    Just as Samuel started to rx and turned to leave, Vincent¡¯s chilling voice stopped him.


    ¡°You entered with your right foot. So, say goodbye to this month¡¯s bonus.¡±


    .<fn86e7> Discover more novels at find?novel</fn86e7>


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 Chapter 329

    ?Chapter 329:


    Samuel was at a loss for words.


    If something was destined to happen, it would happen, and one had to face it one way or another.


    He forced a strained smile and replied, ¡°Understood, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Meanwhile, Katelyn remained hidden under her nket, as if she could somehow escape from reality. After about thirty minutes, she finally decided to emerge.


    This coboration with Selina was crucial, and she was determined to secure the project.


    Vincent had given her two chances, which only underscored how difficult it was to negotiate with Selina.


    The next time she spoke to him, she would have to remind herself to see him as just any other superior.


    Katelyn repeated this thought in her mind for several minutes, almost like a form of self-hypnosis. She quickly applied a bit of makeup and changed into a simple yet elegant evening dress.


    Earlier that afternoon, Vincent had sent over a document outlining Selina¡¯s schedule for the day. The restaurant they were heading to was a high-end establishment with a strict formal dress code.


    She wore a champagne-colored dress with matching high heels. The dress wasn¡¯t overly extravagant, but its design subtly highlighted her figure, striking a bnce between elegance and simplicity.


    Once she felt mentally ready, Katelyn approached Vincent¡¯s door, her bag clutched in her hand, and gave a firm knock.


    Vincent had also changed into his signature ck suit.


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    When he saw Katelyn in her chosen attire, his eyes immediately brightened. She typically preferred casual outfits, mostly in ck. It was rare to see her in light colors, especially a unique shade like champagne. The fabric shimmered under the lights, enhancing her naturally delicate features and making her appear even more luminous and striking.


    She exhaled softly and asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, should we get going?¡±


    Vincent pulled his gaze away and remarked, ¡°The color looks good on you. You should consider wearing lighter shades more often.¡±


    Katelyn nodded with a casual air, choosing not to respond. For now, she wanted to keep her interactions with him to a minimum, sticking strictly to work topics. That way, she could avoid feeling awkward or ufortable.


    Samuel had already brought the car around to the hotel entrance. They both settled into the back seat.


    As soon as she got in, she shifted to the far right, nearly pressing herself against the door. The spacious backseat now felt like an ocean separating them, a result of her deliberate effort to keep her distance.


    Vincent noticed her subtle movements but remained silent, recliningfortably in his seat.<fn2a92> This text is hosted at find¡¤novel</fn2a92>


    He had been observing more sides of hertely, and whether she was shy or fully immersed in her work, she remained just as captivating.


    The car soon pulled up to the restaurant, known for its exclusive reservation-only policy. This ce catered to a select few, epting only a limited number of guests each day, and entry was strictly controlled by a reservation confirmation.


    Vincent retrieved the confirmation slip from his pocket, and they were quickly granted ess.


    Upon stepping inside, Katelyn¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to the understated yet unmistakably luxurious decor. Granville had its fair share of upscale dining spots, but few could rival the level of detail here; everything seemed crafted to perfection. In the center of the dining area, a small orchestra yed softly, with a cellist and a pianist creating a soothing atmosphere. The music filled the room with a gentle, romantic melody, reminiscent of an ageless love song.


    The atmosphere inside was calm and inviting, perfect for unwinding after a long day, with the gentle music easing away any lingering tension.


    They selected a table near the window, and she took the chance to discreetly observe the other guests.


    Only two other tables were upied, each by a pair¡ªa man and a woman. They spoke in hushed tones, careful not to disturb the quiet ambiance.


    Her eyes scanned the faces of the women at those tables, but there was no sign of Selina.


    ¡°She may arrive a bitter. In the meantime, why not try some of the house specialties?¡± Vincent suggested.


    Katelyn nodded in agreement, but then caught him ncing down at her right foot.


    ¡°Is your ankle not hurting anymore? Why would you wear high heels?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn¡¯s long dress brushed against the floor, concealing her shoes, which was likely why he hadn¡¯t noticed earlier.


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 Chapter 330

    ?Chapter 330:


    Katelyn fidgeted with the hem of her dress, a brief look of unease shing across her face.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a minor sprain,¡± she said, downying her difort. ¡°I¡¯ve already rubbed some ointment on it.¡±


    Eager to redirect the conversation, she leaned in and asked, ¡°I read in Selina¡¯s profile that she¡¯s known for being unpredictable and fiery. Have you ever worked with her before, Mr. Adams?¡±


    Vincent nodded slightly. ¡°When Adams Group first aimed to venture into the jewelry market, my n was to start with international expansion. But before we could even make formal introductions, Selina blocked our entry.¡±


    He rxed into his chair, his fingers drumming softly against the table in a steady rhythm.


    ¡°She¡¯s been the toughest one I¡¯ve ever faced. Impossible to predict or understand,¡± he continued.


    Katelyn absorbed every word, starting to form a more vivid picture of Selina in her mind.


    To maintain her position at the pinnacle of the jewelry world and exert such power in the fashion industry, Selina¡¯s standards had to be exceptionally high.


    Securing a partnership with someone like her required far more than impable designs. It demanded an ability to cater wlessly to her unique tastes and ever-changing desires.


    As Katelyn and Vincent waited, there was still no sign of Selina, but the dishes they had ordered began to arrive. Vincent had chosen the restaurant¡¯s renowned specialty.


    The steak was cooked to perfection. It was sulent and vorful, with a tenderness that melted in the mouth.


    g?????0¦Í??????.??????; ?????????? ????????


    The rich taste momentarily lifted Katelyn¡¯s spirits, pulling her from the shadow of her earlier worries. She thought that if a restaurant like this ever opened in Granville, it could easily rise to the ranks of the finest establishments, given its distinctive and remarkable vors.


    Her thoughts were interrupted by the sharp sound of high heels clicking against the floor from the entrance. Katelyn¡¯s head turned instinctively.<fnc79e> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fnc79e>


    A woman with golden hair and blue eyes stepped into the room. Her wavy hair fell to just above her waist.


    She moved confidently in high heels, keeping apletely neutral expression.


    This was Selina Hathaway, a name thatmanded respect in the fashion world. Her reputation extended well beyond fashion, reaching deep into the realm of business.


    She handed her invitation to the attendant at the entrance and strode into the restaurant with an assured gait.


    Katelyn watched her every step, noting the practiced poise that resembled a supermodel¡¯s confident walk down a runway, even over just a few short steps.


    A middle-aged woman followed behind Selina. She wore a stern expression and scanned the room with a focused gaze. This woman appeared to be responsible for managing Selina¡¯s affairs.


    They chose a secluded table in the corner, just one table away from where Katelyn and Vincent were seated.


    Katelyn nced at them briefly before turning her attention elsewhere. She tried to figure out the best way to approach Selina without seeming intrusive.


    Vincent kept his eyes on Selina for a moment, then leaned closer to Katelyn and spoke in a low, steady tone. ¡°Today, our goal is to make sure she remembers you and your jewelry designs.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, still thinking about the situation.


    A man and a woman from the nearby table suddenly moved toward Selina. Their smiles were polite, but it was clear they were only trying to curry favor with her.


    ¡°Excuse me, are you Miss Selina Hathaway? I¡¯d like to introduce myself. I¡¯m Quinter Watts, and this is my proud designer, Max Palmer. She has some impressive pieces she¡¯d like to share with you.¡±


    Katelyn hadn¡¯t expected others to attempt the same approach with Selina in the restaurant.


    From her seat, Katelyn couldn¡¯t make out the designs that Quinter was trying to show Selina. Max looked young and inexperienced, appearing nervous as she waited for Selina¡¯s reaction.


    Selina continued eating, not bothering to look at the designs. The woman sitting next to her spoke sharply, her tone irritated.


    ¡°Miss Hathaway is enjoying her personal time. She isn¡¯t handling work-rted matters right now. Please step aside.¡±


    Startled, Quinter exined, ¡°We didn¡¯t mean to intrude, but Miss Hathaway¡¯s schedule is so full. We sent these designs almost two years ago and never received any reply. We hope Miss Hathaway can consider our position as well.¡±


    When he finished speaking, Selina dropped her knife and fork with a sudden, loud tter.


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 Chapter 331

    ?Chapter 331:


    The sudden voice caught the attention of the other diners in the restaurant, turning heads toward it. But when they realized it was Selina, most quickly returned to their meals, all except for Katelyn, who continued to watch her intently.


    Their response showed that Selina¡¯s reputation was well-known, as was her sharp temper.


    Selina¡¯s eyes narrowed as she scanned the room, her gaze as cold as ice.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? Sometimes silence says more than words. It¡¯s not that hard to understand,¡± she said, her voice light butced with sarcasm.


    Max clutched at her clothes, her voice unsteady as she tried to speak.


    ¡°I know my design isn¡¯t perfect. It has its ws. But I¡¯m just hoping you can give me some advice. I¡¯m sorry to bother you, but if my work isn¡¯t acknowledged, my parents will force me to leave the design industry.¡±


    Max¡¯s voice wavered, thick with emotion. As she revealed her struggle, it was clear she was battling her parents, barely managing to pursue her passion. Time was running out for her, and that was why she had taken the chance to seek out Selina.


    Quinter, sensing an opportunity, quickly stepped in to add his voice.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re the best, and that¡¯s why we¡¯re here seeking your expertise. I¡¯ve been in this field for years, and I¡¯ve never encountered anyone as talented as Max at her age. She¡¯s so young, and it would be devastating to see her dreams shattered.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as she listened, sensing something amiss in his words but unable to pinpoint exactly what.


    Selina¡¯s gaze remained cold and unmoved. ¡°And how¡¯s that my problem?¡± she asked, her voice t and indifferent.


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    Quinter¡¯s confidence wavered, and a flush of embarrassment crept up his face.


    ¡°If you recognize her talent, her parents might allow her to keep pursuing design. She¡ª¡± Quinter began, but Selina cut him off, her tone as sharp as a knife.


    ¡°Her parents are right. She doesn¡¯t have what it takes to be a designer.¡±


    Max looked frozen, tears spilling down her cheeks.


    If Selina¡¯s words spread, Max¡¯s dreams would bepletely crushed.<fnea63> Content originallyes from find~novel</fnea63>


    Refusing to give up, Quinter quickly pulled out a folder and flipped through it, desperate to change Selina¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Please, just take a look at her designs. They¡¯re extraordinary¡ªwless, even. I¡¯ve never seen someone so young create such outstanding work. She¡¯s destined to be a rising star in the design world.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened as the uneasy feeling finally made sense.


    Quinter and Max were trapped, driven by their desperation to keep her dream alive. Their determination was understandable. But Selina had already dismissed them. Pushing further would only irritate her more, likely making things worse.


    Their desperation was all too clear.


    As anticipated, Selina didn¡¯t spare the designs a single nce. With a careless flick of her wrist, she sent them skidding across the floor. The papers scattered like leaves in a gust of wind, one drifting gently to rest at Katelyn¡¯s feet.


    Katelyn crouched to retrieve it, her fingers lightly brushing the paper as she felt the gravity of broken dreams settling around them.


    Selina¡¯s eyes narrowed with impatience, her voiceced with disdain. ¡°I¡¯ve made myself clear. Her parents are right. She isn¡¯t destined to be a designer. If you keep pestering me, I¡¯ll have security escort you out.¡±


    The designsy abandoned, and with them, thest glimmer of hope in Max¡¯s eyes flickered out, leaving her gazing into the void of a dream extinguished too soon.


    Her career in design was over before it had even truly begun.


    Quinter, stunned by Selina¡¯s harshness, stood rooted to the spot. After a moment of stunned silence, his shock gave way to anger. ¡°Everyone sees you as a legend,¡± he said, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°But they don¡¯t know how cold and cruel you actually are. You began as a designer yourself. You understand the struggle, especially against family opposition. You have the chance to lift others up. Why would you choose to crush their dreams? How could you?¡±


    Selina leaned back in her chair, a frosty, mocking smile curling at her lips. ¡°And why should I help anyone? Just because someonees to me with a sad story, should I be obliged to guide them and lift them up?¡±


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 Chapter 332

    ?Chapter 332:


    Selina¡¯s words were cold and unforgiving, leaving no room for mercy. Max¡¯s eyes glistened, filled with tears she refused to let fall.


    With trembling hands, she gathered the scattered design sketches from the floor. Each crumpled page felt like a piece of her shattered dreams. This was supposed to be her final chance, the moment to prove her worth in the design world.


    Quinter watched from a distance, his heart heavy with sympathy.


    Max could¡¯ve been a promising talent in design, but now she seemed to be falling apart, her hopes fading before her eyes.


    Max forced a faint smile, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, ¡°Miss Hathaway, I¡¯m sorry if we interrupted your dinner.¡± Without waiting for a response, she turned and strode out of the restaurant.


    Quinter hurried after her, his concern evident.


    ¡°Don¡¯t give up, Max. There will be other chances. You can¡¯t let this stop you from following your dream.¡±


    Max shook her head slowly, her gaze fixed on the sketches that represented so much of her effort. The smile she wore was now marred by a deep sense of bitterness.


    ¡°This was myst chance,¡± she said softly. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just not meant to be a designer. I appreciate everything you¡¯ve done for me over the years.¡±


    Quinter fell silent, unsure of what to say.


    He felt her pain deeply, knowing how much she had sacrificed to pursue a dream that now seemed to be slipping away.


    It was painful to see such raw talent being overlooked. As Max steadied herself to leave, a voice called out from behind her.


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    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    It was Katelyn, holding the sketches Max had left behind.


    She approached with a contemtive look, her eyes admiring the designs. Quinter¡¯s assessment had been spot-on: Max¡¯s talent shone through clearly, with great potential still waiting to be realized.


    Young and full of potential, Max could still have a bright future if steered in the right direction.


    ¡°I think these belong to you,¡± Katelyn said, handing the sketches back to Max.


    Max took the papers with a heavy heart. For a brief moment, she had hoped Selina might have changed her mind ande after her.


    Fighting back her sadness, Max offered a small, grateful nod. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She carefully received the sketches, feeling their importance deeply.


    Seeing Max so vulnerable tugged at Katelyn¡¯s heartstrings. It reminded her of her own early days, filled with countless rejections and setbacks due to her inexperience.


    For a young person just beginning with dreams and hope, the weight of constant rejections and setbacks could stir up feelings of doubt and sadness.


    With a gentle sigh, Katelyn said, ¡°Your designs are really impressive. Are you sure you want to give up on this dream?¡±


    With a resigned nod, Max replied, ¡°This was myst chance. If I don¡¯t get recognized, I promised my parents I¡¯d quit design.¡±


    ¡°But your work is outstanding,¡± Katelyn said, her tone steady and reassuring. ¡°Here¡¯s an opportunity for you. Ourpany is expanding into the international jewelry market, and we need a talented local designer. Would you be interested?¡±


    She carefully observed Max¡¯s reaction, seeing the spark of hope flicker in her eyes.


    ¡°Is this real? You¡¯re really offering me a job as a designer at yourpany?¡± Max¡¯s voice quivered with excitement.


    Katelyn smiled warmly, nodding confidently.


    ¡°Absolutely. You can even work remotely if you prefer. We¡¯ll sort out the details of sry and benefitster.¡±


    The prospect Katelyn offered was a whole new world of possibilities for Max¡ªone she had barely dared to imagine. Securing this job could mean freedom from her parents¡¯ constraints.


    Max tightened her grip on the sketches, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best. Just tell me what designs you need. I won¡¯t waste this chance.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile broadened. ¡°I have no doubt you¡¯ll be great. Let¡¯s exchange contact information and discuss everything soon.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you!¡±


    Max eagerly reached for her phone, ready to exchange numbers, but Quinter stepped in abruptly.<fn2ae4> Read full story at find?novel</fn2ae4>


    ¡°Wait.¡±


    His eyes were filled with cautious suspicion as he studied Katelyn.


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 Chapter 333

    ?Chapter 333:


    ¡°Why this sudden eagerness to help? Do you really have the power to recruit new designers for yourpany?¡± Quinter¡¯s eyes were sharp, and he stood firmly in front of Max, his bodynguage protective and unyielding.


    With a smooth, deliberate motion, Katelyn pulled out her business card and offered it to him. She had prepared it for her introduction to Selina.


    The card was striking¡ªa deep ck adorned with gleaming gold text that read: Katelyn Bailey, General Manager of Adams Group Design Department.


    Quinter took the card, running his fingers over the smooth surface as he examined it closely. He turned it over a few times, clearly struggling to reconcile Katelyn¡¯s youthful appearance with her high-ranking position.


    He asked, his skepticism evident, ¡°Is this card real?¡±


    ¡°It is,¡± Katelyn assured him with a calm demeanor. ¡°If you¡¯re unsure, you can look up the Adams Group online. We might not be based here, but we urgently need talented local jewelry designers.¡±


    Quinter¡¯s skepticism didn¡¯t wane immediately. He fumbled for his phone and began searching for information about the Adams Group.


    As he read through thepany¡¯s impressive profile and financial details, his disbelief transformed into amazement, leaving him momentarily stunned.


    Despite its recent entry into the jewelry market, the Adams Group had a long history of dominance across various sectors like real estate, healthcare, telmunications, and even space exploration. It consistently ranked among the top three globalpanies, its reach and impact unmistakable.


    Quinter and Max stared at the phone¡¯s screen, their astonishment evident as they read about Katelyn¡¯s impressive role. The idea that someone so young could lead such a major department seemed almost unbelievable.


    Katelyn and Selina were strikingly simr in some ways¡ªboth had ascended to influential positions at a young age, making their mark in fields traditionally dominated by men.


    Updated stories galno¦Íe?s<fn8ca8> Content originallyes from find?novel</fn8ca8>


    Max looked at Katelyn with a mix of wonder and confusion. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there must be many others more qualified than me. Why choose me?¡±


    Katelyn took a moment to gather her thoughts, her eyes reflecting a deep understanding before she smiled warmly.


    ¡°People who have faced their own struggles often want to help others avoid simr difficulties. Honestly, I see a lot of myself in you. When I started, I encountered many obstacles, but I persevered, and that¡¯s how I reached where I am today.¡±


    At the top, people only saw the sess and the des. They cheered with flowers and apuse, but few appreciated the tough road it took to get there.


    The design industry often promised mour and high expectations, but few grasped the harsh realities where power struggles and fiercepetition were the norm.


    In truth, this applied to every industry.


    With her doubts finally cleared, Max gave a decisive nod.


    ¡°Okay. I believe you.¡±


    She and Katelyn exchanged contact details, and Katelyn assured her, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a call once I¡¯ve wrapped up my tasks here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Max replied, her appreciation evident as she nodded earnestly.


    Quinter, who had been quietly observing, now faced Katelyn with a serious demeanor. His eyes were filled with sincerity as he spoke up again.


    ¡°I apologize for my earlier doubts. Max is indeed a talented designer. I¡¯m grateful for your help.¡±


    His voice held the weight of trust, as if he were cing Max¡¯s future in Katelyn¡¯s hands.


    Though he was Max¡¯s mentor, his protective nature often mirrored that of a father.


    Katelyn felt a touch of warmth, recognizing the same genuine concern she had received from her own mentor. Despite the strict guidance she had endured, she always felt secure under her mentor¡¯s support.


    She nodded firmly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure she¡¯s well taken care of.¡±


    With other matters awaiting her attention, Katelyn gave Max a few brief instructions before saying goodbye to her.


    Katelyn then returned to the restaurant. As she settled into her seat, she caught Vincent¡¯s amused gaze, aware that he had witnessed the entire interaction from his vantage point.


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    Admiration was evident in Vincent¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°It appears her design left quite the mark on you.¡±


    Katelyn paused briefly, struck by a significant realization, and looked over at Vincent with uncertainty.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, as general manager of the design department, I¡¯m responsible for hiring decisions, correct?¡± She felt her recent decision had been rushed.


    Upon seeing Max¡¯s designs, she had quickly decided to offer her a position without consulting Vincent, thepany¡¯s owner. Besides, Vincent had never suggested hiring a local designer.


    Katelyn¡¯s decision had been purely instinctual. She was concerned Max might be snatched up by another firm if she hesitated.


    Vincent seemed to grasp her concerns.


    ¡°Absolutely, you have that authority. You oversee the entire design department. I wouldn¡¯t dream of meddling with your hiring choices.¡±


    His words affirmed hisplete trust in Katelyn¡¯s capabilities. Within the Adams Group, the design department was now pivotal, yet Vincent had entrusted Katelyn with full autonomy, indicating his willingness to step back. This firm confidence actually stunned Katelyn.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, do you trust me that much? Aren¡¯t you concerned I may falter?¡±


    Vincent, admiring the deep hue of his wine, responded, ¡°I trust your abilitiespletely. Remember how you surpassed all my expectations at thest press conference? I am eager to see what you will surprise me with next.¡±


    With a confident nod, Katelyn replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡±


    Despite her assertive response, she harbored some nerves about this new venture.


    g¦Á ?¦Ç ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s holds great reads


    Max¡¯s designs were certainly striking. Had Selina taken a closer look, she too might have acknowledged Max¡¯s potential. Selina was notoriously arrogant, and her superior skills often isted her from others.


    As Katelyn considered her approach, she felt the weight of someone¡¯s stare.


    It was Selina, observing silently from a distance. Every action Katelyn took was likely under Selina¡¯s watchful eye.


    Katelyn offered a smile, which Selina dismissed with a turn of her head.


    Katelyn was still struggling with how to engage Selina effectively, knowing it required a delicate touch. For the moment, she focused on savoring the excellent meal before her.


    Soon after, Katelyn saw Selina leave for the restroom. Seizing the chance, she followed discreetly.<fn50a0> Find the newest release on F?nd-Novel</fn50a0>


    Selina was at the sink in the restroom, washing her hands, when Katelyn walked past, her demeanorposed.


    Selina¡¯s curiosity had been piqued, from a psychological standpoint.


    Approaching too aggressively might lead to the same type of rejection Max had experienced. Patience and subtlety were necessary. Katelyn understood that Selina needed to make the first move, or she would be at a disadvantage.


    As expected, after a brief silence, Selina faced Katelyn, her gaze sharp and assessing.


    ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Katelyn responded with a calm, polite smile and met Selina¡¯s eyes. ¡°I am a designer.¡±


    Selina finished drying her hands, her face showing no emotion. ¡°You gave a business card to the woman I turned away. It seems you¡¯re more than just a designer. Who are you, really? You didn¡¯t just chance upon this ce, did you? I suspect you were seeking me out.¡±


    Selina¡¯s statement was filled with conviction.


    She had long been used to being followed wherever she went. Whenever she was set to make an appearance, the necessary details were invariably sold and widely shared. A mere dinner here could attract a crowd, each person eager to curry favor or clinch a deal.


    Securing a reservation at this restaurant was a feat, essible only to those with considerable wealth or clout. For example, Quinter had exhausted his funds and favors to secure an invite.


    Katelyn nodded, her confidence intact.


    She dered in a clear, straightforward manner, ¡°I represent the Adams Group as a designer. My purpose here today is to discuss a potential partnership with you.¡± Katelyn then presented her business card.


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    Selina ignored the business card that Katelyn presented. Not a trace of embarrassment crossed Katelyn¡¯s face as she calmly took back the card.


    This was all expected. Selina was known as ¡°the Diva¡± for her difficult demeanor.


    With a mocking smile, Selina¡¯s expression turned icy.


    ¡°To work with me, you must follow established procedures. Reach out to my assistant, who will inform my manager. After we evaluate all potential partners thoroughly, I will decide.¡±


    Given Selina¡¯s high status, navigating these procedures could take up to two years, due to the intensepetition for her coboration. This was no local affair¡ªit concerned the global market.


    Selina looked on colder, her disdain palpable.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen many try your approach, and you won¡¯t be thest. Choose tactics I dislike, and yourpany will be permanently cklisted.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s grip tightened instinctively. However, she regained herposure quickly and met Selina¡¯s gaze with calm.<fna846> The rightful source is </fna846>


    ¡°At the end of the day, we both stand to gain from our coboration. What if I show you a design that meets all your expectations?¡±


    Selina, with scorn and detachment, replied, ¡°Thest confident person before you has already exited the industry. You might have the design skills topete in a male-dominated field, but never overestimate what you can do.¡±


    Katelyn felt a connection spark, particrly with Selina¡¯s mention of the ¡°male-dominated field.¡±


    The gender imbnce in power dynamics was stark.


    In fields dominated by men, women often faced doubts about their capabilities. Conversely, in female-dominated areas, men might im rarity justified more opportunities.


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    Leadership in dance, for instance, was predominantly male. How many women were among the top earners each year? Challenging power structures, women encountered more obstacles simply because of gender.


    In a world biased toward men, Katelyn and Selina, both influential, recognized the hurdles and sacrifices involved.


    Katelyn offered a smile toward Selina.


    ¡°For many years, you¡¯ve been regarded as a key figure in the global market. I recognize that, too. Imagine how tiring that must be for you.¡±


    Confusion flickered in Selina¡¯s eyes as she frowned.


    ¡°What exactly are you getting at?¡±


    Maintaining herposure, Katelyn continued, ¡°I¡¯ve already mentioned that our cooperation would be mutually beneficial. You hold a prestigious position, and there are those who would relish your downfall. What if I proposed a way to not only preserve your current standing but to enhance it?¡±


    Katelyn spoke with certainty, understanding precisely what mattered most to Selina.


    The loftier the position, the greater the fear of a fall.


    Selina¡¯s unique personality and elusive mannerisms were likely shields to protect her vulnerabilities. If her true nature were revealed, it could easily be used as a weapon by her adversaries. Selina possessed enough power and resources to spark envy in others, prompting them to seek her downfall.


    Her pupils narrowed, and her hands tightened without her noticing.


    ¡°How dare you make such a im? On what grounds do you qualify to make it?¡± Selina snapped.


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    Selina¡¯s expression and voice conveyed her doubt.


    Though not entirely convinced by Katelyn¡¯s assertions, something she said struck a chord with Selina.<fn4689> Readplete version only at F¦Énd£Îovel</fn4689>


    Selina alone understood the immense challenge of maintaining her position. She was constantly embroiled in political schemes and corporate struggles, with numerous adversaries eyeing her resources and power, eager for her downfall.


    Having safeguarded her status for years, Selina was weary. If Katelyn could offer a solid assurance, why wouldn¡¯t she consider partnering?


    Katelyn offered a smile.


    ¡°Ever heard of the designer named Iris?¡±


    Selina¡¯s brow furrowed in thought before responding, ¡°I¡¯m familiar with the name and have seen some designs, nothing more.¡±


    The world of design was rtively small, yet the scope of news varied between local and global scales.


    Despite Katelyn¡¯s identity as Iris being known and celebrated locally, Selina had not recognized the famed designer before her.


    Katelyn¡¯s smile grew. ¡°That¡¯s me¡ªI am Iris.¡±


    Disbelief swept over Selina¡¯s face. Incredulously, she questioned, ¡°Really? You¡¯re Iris? I¡¯ve admired many of her pieces. They¡¯re like artworks destined for a museum.¡±


    Selina, though confident and self-assured, respected and recognized true talent and craftsmanship. To her, Iris was perhaps the only designerparable to herself, yet her recent years had been focused more on business and politics rather than design alone.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled as she confirmed firmly, saying, ¡°I¡¯m serious. I am Iris. I can show you my design drafts to prove it, or you might want to check thetest news¡ªI¡¯ve gone public with my identity.¡±


    ???????? ???????? ???????????? ????????????: ?????????¦Í???????????????


    Selina¡¯s response was a mix of awe and surprise, taken aback by Katelyn¡¯s youthful appearance and her evident capabilities. If Katelyn was indeed Iris, it exined her formidable influence and precocious talent.


    The conversation shifted back to the central issue, with Selina¡¯s tone noticeably gentler.


    ¡°Is this how you n to secure my position? You can¡¯t imagine theplexity and chaos of theworks I navigate. Simply producing good work won¡¯t suffice to stabilize everything at this point.¡±


    Her status was built on four pirs¡ªpolitics, interests, resources, and connections.


    ¡°I understand your predicament,¡± Katelyn responded. ¡°In such a tangledwork, a strong ally is essential. Do you consider the Adams Group, a top-three global entity, adequate?¡±


    Katelyn maintained a steady gaze, her eyes gleaming with intent.


    This strategy was premeditated, informed by Vincent¡¯s thorough briefing. The report revealed that despite Selina¡¯s coborations with numerouspanies, she had never secured stable support.


    Manypanies desired long-term partnerships due to Selina¡¯s renown and capabilities, yet she opted to remain independent,plicating her sustainability. Katelyn proposed what she believed was the optimal solution¡ªa long-term partnership instead of a mere transaction.


    Selina paused, mulling over the potential advantages.


    As much a shrewd businesswoman as she was a designer, Selina weighed her options.


    ¡°Many seek coboration, yet your offer is quite unexpected. But¡ªcan yourpany be trusted?¡±


    With a confident smile and a nod, Katelyn assured her, ¡°Verify the credentials of the Adams Group yourself. Though we are neers to the jewelry sector and aspiring to broaden our international reach, we have a solid history of growth and sess in global markets. Partnering with us would strategically benefit you significantly.¡±


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    Ever since Katelyn uncovered the one thing that mattered most to Selina, her words held a new power. They struck deep, stirring something hidden within Selina.


    In a world where fame and fortune ruled, who wouldn¡¯t crave a strong, unwavering ally? No one could resist the pull of a well-connected friend. Power like that had a way of smoothing out life¡¯s rough edges.


    Selina¡¯s gaze faltered, her thoughts swimming in uncertainty. Katelyn extended her business card again, its sleek surface glinting under the light. This time, Selina epted it without hesitation.


    A soft smile curled on Katelyn¡¯s lips, her eyes warm and knowing.


    ¡°When the time feels right to you,¡± Katelyn said, ¡°just give me a call. And if you want to know more about the Adams Group, I¡¯m always here.¡±


    Selina lowered her eyes to the card, tracing the gold-embossed letters with her gaze, her mind lost in thought.


    Katelyn turned and started walking away. She had set the stage for Selina, leaving the next move entirely in her hands. Yet deep down, Katelyn felt confident¡ªeighty percent sure, at least¡ªof what Selina would choose.


    As she slipped back into her seat, her eyes met Vincent¡¯s, his calm gaze mirroring her own. He had noticed the slight smile that tugged at her lips. Her mood seemed to spill over to him, softening his tone when he asked, ¡°How did it go?¡±


    ¡°Not bad,¡± she replied, casually lifting her ss. ¡°I gave her my contact. Now, it¡¯s just a matter of waiting for her reply.¡± Her eyes shimmered with quiet determination as she took a sip. She knew Selina would dig into her ownwork, double-checking every word Katelyn had said.


    If their roles were reversed, Katelyn wouldn¡¯t hesitate to grab the offer.


    Your next story begins at  .


    Vincent¡¯s eyes lingered on Katelyn, studying her thoughtfully before he let out a soft chuckle. ¡°I think you¡¯re more than just a designer. You¡¯ve got a real knack for business, too.¡±


    Katelyn shook her head, a modest smile crossing her face.


    ¡°You¡¯re ttering me, Mr. Adams. My heart¡¯s in designing jewelry.¡± And she meant it. Katelyn had always felt mostfortable as an employee, focused on her craft.


    For her, work ended when the clock did. No worries or stress followed her home.


    Even after joining the Adams Group as a full-time designer, Vincent had respected her boundaries, never overwhelming her with tasks beyond office hours.


    Vincent stayed quiet, gently lifting his ss to take another sip of his wine.


    After finishing their meal, they stepped out of the restaurant and began walking back to the hotel when the night sky suddenly erupted in fireworks.


    The dark sky was instantly illuminated with vibrant colors, making it seem as though daylight had returned.


    Bright streaks exploded above them, their lights reflecting in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She gazed up at the towering fireworks, her mouth opening in amazement. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s so beautiful.¡±


    Vincent turned toward her and suggested, ¡°It¡¯s still early. Want to move closer and get a better view?¡±


    Katelyn reached for her phone and nced at the time.


    ¡°But it¡¯s already ten o¡¯clock,¡± she replied.


    ¡°We have plenty of time before the banquet starts the day after tomorrow. I haven¡¯t seen fireworks this lovely in a long time. It would be a shame to miss them,¡± Vincent responded. His soft words seemed to melt away any doubt Katelyn had. She nodded, her smile growing. ¡°You¡¯re right. Who knows when we¡¯ll get another chance to see something this amazing?¡±


    ¡°Then, let¡¯s go!¡±


    Vincent led the way toward the firework show, with Katelyn falling into step beside him.<fndf97> This content belongs to Find~Novel</fndf97>


    Though it was almost midnight, the city still hummed with energy. The closer they got to the spot, the thicker the crowd became, everyone drawn to the dazzling light show overhead. The fireworks were beingunched from the riverbank, a safer spot to avoid any idents.


    Katelyn and Vincent moved through the busy crowd, surrounded by the hum of conversation and excitement. But as the enormous fireworks lit up the sky, a hush fell over the crowd, everyonepletely captivated by the breathtaking disy.


    Katelyn stared up at the sky,pletely absorbed by the spectacle. ¡°They really are stunning,¡± she whispered, her voice filled with awe.


    She was so lost in the fireworks that she didn¡¯t notice Vincent¡¯s steady gaze fixed on her.


    While she watched the fireworks, Vincent was watching her.


    The showsted nearly an hour, with colors lighting up the night.


    But as the final burst faded and the crowd began to thin out, somethingpletely unexpected happened.


    A group of armed men suddenly stormed in, sending waves of panic through the onlookers.


    They were holding submachine guns, the weapons catching thest shes of light from the fireworks.


    With a deafening bang, gunfire rang out into the air.


    One of the men shouted, ¡°Nobody move!¡±


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    Initially, the crowd mistook the gunfire for part of the firework show. It wasn¡¯t until a second shot echoed that reality dawned on them¡ªthey were under attack by armed militants, not watching a spectacle.


    Fear struck Katelyn.


    Her pupils dted as memories of prior warnings about the country¡¯s violence resurfaced.<fnce09> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fnce09>


    Armed and relentless, these militants were capable of horrific atrocities.


    As chaos erupted and the crowd scattered in terror, Katelyn was jostled repeatedly by the panicking masses. Vincent quickly took her hand, guiding her decisively along the riverbank while vigntly searching for a safe ce to hide.


    Though only a small group, the militants had strategically positioned their four vehicles at each exit, effectively encircling everyone, including Katelyn and Vincent.


    The air was thick with fear, and many were driven to tears.


    Gripping her hand tighter, Vincent looked into Katelyn¡¯s anxious eyes and tried to reassure her, ¡°Their goal is likely to take hostages to bargain with the authorities.¡±


    Despite their brutal appearance, Vincent believed they wouldn¡¯t engage in mindless killing.


    Over a thousand people were trapped in the area. The situation was so dire that if pushed to extremes, local forces might intervene destructively. Vincent¡¯s steady demeanor slightly eased Katelyn¡¯s anxiety.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she responded, drawing strength from their interlocked hands as they crouched together to remain unseen.


    As Vincent had surmised, once the militants had secured control, one of them removed his mask, revealing a scarred face.


    Find it at g?a??????¦Í????s.???????


    He then filmed the petrified crowd, arrogantly proiming, ¡°If you don¡¯t release myrades by sunrise, you¡¯ll be dealing with their dead bodies!¡±


    Following his threat, he gestured to an aplice, who quickly understood. The aplice took aim with a sniper rifle and executed a middle-aged man among the hostages.


    The gunshot rang out sharply.


    The man was hit fatally, copsing without a sound as blood spilled, triggering a crescendo of horrified screams from the onlookers.


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    The man angrily confronted the scarred one.


    ¡°Holding a gun doesn¡¯t change the fact that you¡¯re a coward. You can¡¯t face your enemies directly, so you kidnap unarmed people like us to use as hostages.¡±


    The scarred man seemed intrigued, his gaze locking onto the man who had challenged him.


    ¡°You seem to disagree with my methods.¡±


    Among the hostages, the man who spoke stood out, notably taller than the others. Katelyn looked up and realized he wasn¡¯t standing alone.


    His wife and daughter were right beside him.


    His daughter cried out in fear, and her mother quickly covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.<fna1ab> Content originallyes from find(?)ovel</fna1ab>


    The woman kept signaling for her husband to get down, but he remained unmoved.


    He gritted his teeth and red defiantly at the gunman.


    ¡°I propose a deal,¡± he said. ¡°If I win, you let my wife and daughter go.¡±


    Suddenly, Katelyn understood why he had challenged the scarred man. He was willing to sacrifice his own life for a chance to save his family.


    Yet, negotiating with such an unstable criminal seemed like sheer madness.


    If the man declined and shot him, there would be no chance of survival.


    Even if the scarred man agreed, he could easily break the agreement at any moment.


    The safest course would be to wait for backup.


    ?????????????? ????????????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????¦Í??????£®??????


    However, with desperate criminals like these, there was always the risk that they might begin shooting randomly at any second. They were at a stalemate.


    Confronted with the very real threat of death either way, the man chose to take the risk.


    Katelyn watched him with a deep respect. It was rare to see someone stand so bravely in such a critical moment to protect their loved ones.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were filled withplexity.


    He had already informed Samuel of their location, and help would arrive soon.


    But for now, there was no going back.


    The scarred man¡¯s smile deepened as he motioned to the man. ¡°Good for you. You¡¯ve got guts, and I respect that. I¡¯ll let you take your chance. But remember, you¡¯ve only got one life.¡±


    The man inhaled deeply and moved forward resolutely. ¡°As long as my wife and child are safe.¡± Tears streamed down the woman¡¯s face.


    The scarred man pulled a revolver from his coat, its six chambers exposed.


    He removed five bullets, leaving just one, and disyed the setup to everyone before snapping it shut.


    ¡°Now that we¡¯re going to y, let¡¯s make it big. We each take a turn. Whoever finds the bullet¡­ it¡¯s just their unlucky day.¡± As he spoke, a chilling smile spread across his face, making him look even more menacing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll start.¡±


    The scarred man ced the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.


    There was no bullet. He survived. Smiling, he passed the gun to the man.


    The man hesitated for a moment, but then resolved himself, looking at his weeping wife and daughter in the audience.


    ¡°Promise to keep going strong.¡± He gave onest, meaningful look at his family, then ced the gun to his temple and fired.


    In that breath-stopping second, someone in the crowd screamed, ¡°No!¡±


    The gun clicked empty; he, too, was safe.


    Relief washed over Katelyn, but the reprieve was brief. With only two shots fired, four remained.


    One of them was bound to fall.


    The suspense of the standoff held everyone¡¯s attention.


    Each time the man fired, the crowd sent silent prayers. With every click, the air thickened with tension, until only two chambers remained.


    No one knew which shot held the bullet.


    As the climax approached, Katelyn found herself unwittingly clutching Vincent¡¯s hand, her palm slick with nervous sweat. Though she wasn¡¯t the one at risk, the anxiety was overwhelming, as if she were directly involved.


    Amidst the heightened tension, the man pulled the trigger once more.


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 Chapter 340

    ?Chapter 340:


    The tension was palpable among the crowd, many of whom had their eyes tightly shut.


    It felt as though someone had hit mute, leaving only the pained cries of a young girl echoing, ¡°Daddy! Daddy,e back!¡±


    After a tense pause, no gunshot rang out. The anticipated bang never came.


    The tearful man hesitated before finally lowering the handgun, his relief evident as the feared shot failed to fire.


    A cheer broke out from the crowd, quickly turning into a chorus of apuse and jubtion.


    The man had survived!


    Katelyn exhaled deeply in relief, silently cheering for the man¡¯s fortune.


    The strain of the moment eased, and only then did she realize she had been gripping Vincent¡¯s hand the entire time, now marked by red imprints.


    Quickly, she released his hand, stammering apologies. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Adams. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    Vincent shrugged off the difort with a casual, ¡°No worries.¡±


    But the ordeal on stage wasn¡¯t over. The game continued.


    The relieved man handed the gun back to the scarred man. ¡°It¡¯s your turn. Or you don¡¯t have to pull the trigger and just let us go,¡± the winner suggested.


    With a sinister smile, the scarred man took the gun, pressed it to his temple, and provocatively dared, ¡°Dream on!¡±


    A gunshot shattered the brief silence that followed, and a body thudded onto the stage.


    The crowd gasped in horror as they witnessed the scene¡ªone man stood unharmed while the othery motionless, a fatal wound in his temple.


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    It was the scarred man who stood, smirking coldly as he blew smoke from the barrel of the gun.


    ¡°Sorry, I forgot to mention¡ªI decide who wins or loses here!¡± Hisugh echoed over the crowd, chilling in its disregard for life, as if he were orchestrating their fates like a malevolent puppet master.


    The crowd was initially stunned, their gazes vacant as the scarred man suddenly turned his weapon and fatally shot another man, who was desperately reaching for his family in his final moments.


    The shocking turn of events ignited fury among the onlookers once they regained their senses.


    One person, unable to contain his anger, stood up and shouted at the shooter, ¡°What right do you have to do this? He was just trying to secure a chance for his wife and daughter! You shameless bastard! You¡¯ll go to hell!¡±


    His protest was swiftly silenced by a bullet from the shooter.


    Katelyn, overwhelmed by anger and disgust, thought, What gives them the right to dictate life and death just because they wield guns? This is outrageous!<fnc722> Fresh chapters posted on find(?)ovel</fnc722>


    She was convinced that the bloodshed and the lives taken by these men would forever haunt them.


    Vincent seized her wrist as she prepared to stand.


    His voice was a chilling whisper. ¡°Think carefully. Your bravery won¡¯t save them now.¡±


    Katelyn, with fire in her bloodshot eyes, retorted, ¡°I¡¯ll take them down, even if it means my own demise!¡±


    Her emotions surged. It had been years since she¡¯d felt such visceral hatred, wishing death upon her foes. For these tormentors, human lives were as trivial as dust. Knowing full well the risks, Katelyn was resolute to fight for everyone¡¯s survival.


    She clutched the small, concealed gun in her coat pocket, a token from Vincent, reminiscent of their time at the shooting range.


    She had gauged the distance carefully. The man with the scar was within her reach.


    Her intent wasn¡¯t a death wish, but a readiness to sacrifice her life to take him down.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was intense as he watched her, perceiving the resolve in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    A twinge of fear gripped him¡ªthe fear of losing her. He tightened his hold on her, pleading, ¡°Hold on. Samuel and the rest areing. These viins will pay for their actions.¡±


    Katelyn looked at the little girl weeping for her lost father, bit down hard on her resolve, and finally decided to wait.


    As machine guns roared, quelling the uproar, even the seething crowd was subdued.


    The hostages, huddled together, became pawns in a governmental standoff.


    Suddenly, gunfire shattered the tense silence from behind.


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 Chapter 341

    ?Chapter 341:


    As the sound of approaching vehicles grew louder, Katelyn and Vincent both turned toward the noise.


    Katelyn silently hoped that it was Samuel arriving.


    Before the vehicles could evene to a halt, a fierce gunfight erupted between the neers and the scarred man¡¯s group. Bullets scattered, identally wounding several people.


    Vincent quickly pulled Katelyn behind a nearby tree for cover, cautiously peeking out to assess the situation.


    He clutched her hand firmly, keeping them close.


    ¡°Is that Samuel?¡± Katelyn asked anxiously.


    Vincent, after listening to the distinct gunfire, responded, ¡°No. Our people use different firearms. These sound different.¡±


    ¡°Could it be government reinforcements?¡± Katelyn spected.


    The darkness obscured their view of the other side, but they managed to find a difficult yet effective hiding spot.


    The gunfire continued, resulting in heavy casualties on the scarred man¡¯s side.


    Frustrated, he brandished a grenade and shouted loudly, ¡°One more shot, and I¡¯ll blow us all up!¡±


    His ultimatum was clear¡ªit could potentially harm or kill half the crowd.


    The threat silenced the gunfire.


    A negotiator called out, ¡°Free the hostages, and you¡¯ll have a chance to make amends for your crimes, which are enough to get you executed many times over!¡±


    In retaliation, the scarred man yelled back, ¡°Enough with the bullshit! Release my men, and I¡¯ll release the hostages. Otherwise, we all die!¡±


    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s is where your journey begins


    The hostages were his leverage, preventing the opposition from retaliating.


    Clearly holding the upper hand, he coldlymanded, ¡°Bring me that little girl,¡± pointing at the daughter of the man who had just been killed.


    His order was swiftly carried out. As the mother tried to retreat with her daughter in her arms, she cried out in despair, ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt my child!¡±


    The men pped her forcefully, causing her to bleed, but she stubbornly held on to her daughter.


    The little girl, overwhelmed by fear, cried out for her mother, witnessing terror unlike anything she had ever known.


    ¡°Release her, or you both die!¡± one of the scarred man¡¯s men threatened, aiming a gun at them.


    Despite the threat, the mother refused to let go of her daughter, begging, ¡°Please, spare my child. I¡¯m begging you.¡±<fn6d9b> Newest update provided by FindN0vel</fn6d9b>


    To the cold-hearted thugs, the pleas of a mother meant nothing.


    When one of the men raised his hand to strike again, Katelyn sprang into action. She sprinted forward and delivered a powerful kick to his stomach, sending him stumbling backward.


    Regaining his bnce, the thug, enraged, aimed his weapon directly at Katelyn¡¯s head.


    But Katelyn was determined to protect the little girl, resolved to prevent any further harm.


    Just then, Vincent stepped forward, positioning himself between Katelyn and the gunman.


    Katelyn, gripping Vincent¡¯s arm, spoke firmly, ¡°Mr. Adams, please move aside.¡±


    But Vincent stood his ground, ready to defend Katelyn against any threat.


    ¡°We will face this together, even if it leads to our end,¡± he dered.


    Katelyn was deeply moved by his unwavering courage. Once again, Vincent didn¡¯t hesitate to risk his own life to protect her.


    The thug sneered mockingly, ¡°Ah, a real-life Romeo and Juliet. How touching! Now, I¡¯ll send you both to your doom!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 342

    ?Chapter 342:<fn8ade> Readplete version only at find?novel</fn8ade>


    Katelyn tugged urgently at Vincent¡¯s arm, her voice tense as she implored, ¡°Mr. Adams, you need to go. You shouldn¡¯t get involved.¡±


    Vincent had already risked so much for her, and she couldn¡¯t bear to see him in danger again. Previously, a bullet had narrowly missed him, and she feared the next time might not be as lucky.


    Despite her pleas, Vincent remained unwavering. He was prepared to sacrifice himself to keep her safe. Their struggle caught the attention of the scar-faced man, who descended from the car roof and approached them with a mocking smile.


    ¡°So, who¡¯s willing to catch a bullet first?¡± he sneered, brandishing his pistol, the safety already disengaged.


    Katelyn stepped in front of Vincent, defiantly meeting the scar-faced man¡¯s gaze. ¡°Take me instead. Just leave the others unharmed.¡±


    Vincent tightened his grip on her arm, trying to shield her. ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, I won¡¯t let anything happen to you,¡± he assured her.


    The scar-faced man¡¯sughter echoed mockingly around them. ¡°You two really think this is a love story? How quaint! Why don¡¯t we end this with a bullet for each of you?¡±


    Katelyn stood tall in the face of the looming pistol, her fear palpable, but she chose to protect the innocent life of the little girl over her own safety.


    Suddenly, a barrage of gunfire rang out, signaling a new offensive.


    Government elite forces had arrived, overwhelming the scar-faced man¡¯s group in both numbers and firepower. Frustrated, the scar-faced man growled, ¡°They think they can beat us? Fight back!¡± He scrambled back onto the roof and barked orders to his men. ¡°Bring me the hostage!¡±


    As his thugs moved to seize the little girl, Vincent calmly stepped forward, offering himself. ¡°I¡¯ll take her ce.¡±


    R?????? f????m ???????? ?t g???????¦Í?????????????


    Without waiting for a response, Vincent followed the scar-faced man, exchanging a significant look with Katelyn as they passed.


    Vincent¡¯s emotions, usually enigmatic, remained unreadable, even to Samuel, who had years of familiarity with him. But in that moment, his nce toward Katelyn seemed to convey both determination and reluctance, signaling a silent goodbye.


    Moved by the moment, Katelyn stepped forward, her voice trembling as she called out, ¡°Vincent!¡±


    Despite her plea, Vincent walked on without looking back. Upon seeing Vincent, the scar-faced man mocked him and pressed the gun to his head, taunting, ¡°So, you think you¡¯re the hero? Here¡¯s your chance to prove it.¡±


    Vincent, undeterred, focused on Katelyn as he submitted to the restraint, fully aware of the gravity of the situation¡ªthis was a matter of life or death.


    Even knowing the potential cost, he remained unflinching. He knew Katelyn would not hesitate to do the same. Their mutual willingness to sacrifice for each other was unmistakable.


    The scar-faced man then called out to the opposing forces, ¡°Look at the hostage I have! Keep firing, and he dies next.¡±


    An authoritative voice responded firmly, ¡°Lay down your weapons and surrender. Consider the smartest option. Think of your families at home and the innocent lives in your hands. Why unleash your fury on those who cannot defend themselves?¡±


    Defiantly, the scar-faced man countered, ¡°Free my brothers, and perhaps I¡¯ll spare them. Fail toply, and be prepared to face severe consequences.¡±


    As he dismissed the negotiation and prepared to shoot, a sudden flurry of gunfire from the right interrupted him.


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 Chapter 343

    ?Chapter 343:


    The government forces initially focused their assault on the far left.


    Unexpectedly, gunfire erupted from the right.


    The scarred man and his subordinates, trapped by the river to the north, found no route for escape. This was a textbook ambush. To their surprise, the intensity of the firepower from the right exceeded expectations. Armored vehicles, well-equipped and relentless, barreled through, decimating many of the scarred man¡¯s men.


    Frustrated and desperate, the scarred man yelled, ¡°Cease fire! Do you want the hostages harmed?¡±


    The government troops exchanged bewildered looks, unsure who wasunching the attack from the right.


    As the new force intensified their assault, the scarred man¡¯s position quickly deteriorated. Despite their attempts to retaliate, his men couldn¡¯t withstand the onught from the armored vehicles, operated by seasoned gunners, which left no one standing. Bloodshot-eyed and frantic, the scarred man shouted, ¡°Stop, or the hostage dies next!¡±


    He assumed these were additional government forces, but his threats did not deter the aggressive attack from the right.


    Katelyn, meanwhile, clutched the handgun hidden in her pocket, suspecting Samuel was leading this unexpected support. Suddenly, her phone vibrated, disying Samuel¡¯s name.


    She hastily connected her Bluetooth earbuds and answered.


    Samuel¡¯s voice conveyed urgency. ¡°Miss Bailey, stay calm. I¡¯m on my way with more help. Is Mr. Adams with you? I couldn¡¯t reach him.¡±


    ¡°Vincent is their captive,¡± Katelyn whispered.


    ?????????????????? ?????????? at g????????¦Í????.??0m


    ¡°They¡¯re taking Mr. Adams hostage? Unbelievable! I¡¯ll get him out. Stay safe,¡± Samuel responded before disconnecting.


    As Samuel¡¯s reinforcements advanced, the scarred man¡¯s forces rapidly diminished, and he retreated from the vehicle¡¯s roof to seek cover.<fn200b> Th?s chapter is updated by find{n}ovel</fn200b>


    It dawned on him then that the attackers from the right were not allied with those on the left. Using hostages had previously swayed the government, but it proved¡­


    Ineffective against the extremists reveling in chaos and death, the scarred man grew increasingly frustrated. One of his subordinates approached anxiously.


    ¡°Boss, what¡¯s our next move?¡±


    The scarred man responded gruffly, ¡°We fight them and take as many down with us as possible.¡± He nced at the hostages with disdain. ¡°At least I can take them down with me.¡±


    A puzzled subordinate, looking at the opposition, asked, ¡°Who are these people? They¡¯re better equipped than us.¡±


    ¡°Just kill them all,¡± the scarred man ordered, his eyes fixed on Vincent through his gun¡¯s sights.


    Unable to intimidate the attackers from the right, he hoped to at least hold off the government forces. Vincent, observing the confrontation, calmly proposed, ¡°I can get the right-side attackers to cease, but you must release us once it¡¯s safe.¡±


    The scarred man, tense and suspicious, questioned, ¡°They¡¯re here for you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vincent responded, his calm demeanor concealing the lie. ¡°I¡¯ve angered a mob boss, and they¡¯vee to retrieve me. They need me alive, so they won¡¯t fire at me. Hand me over, and they¡¯ll withdraw.¡±


    The scarred man eyed Vincent skeptically. Vincent¡¯s confident manner and distinct appearance suggested he was no ordinary man. The threat from the right was the most pressing. If it could be neutralized, dealing with the government forces would be simpler.


    ¡°I¡¯ll trust you this one time. But if you¡¯re deceiving me, you¡¯ll regret it deeply!¡±


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 Chapter 344

    ?Chapter 344:


    The situation escted quickly, leaving the scarred man with little time for deliberation. Trusting Vincent became his only viable choice.


    He yanked Vincent to his feet, pressing the gun firmly to his head, and shouted towards Samuel and his team, ¡°Stop now, or he dies!¡±


    Upon recognizing Vincent, Samuel immediately signaled for his forces to hold their fire and began to negotiate. ¡°Release him to me, and you¡¯re free to go,¡± he called out.


    Under the harsh beams of the armored vehicle¡¯s lights, the scarred man shielded himself with Vincent, ensuring that any stray bullet would hit Vincent first. He hissed into Vincent¡¯s ear, ¡°You better not have lied to me. Order them to stand down, now!¡±


    Vincent remained calm, subtly tapping a signal on his pant leg with his right hand, mimicking Morse code.


    Samuel, who had worked with Vincent for years and was familiar with his tactics, quickly understood.


    He raised his hands to signal his men while discreetly gesturing for the sniper to prepare.


    Vincent¡¯s fingers then began a silent countdown.


    Three.


    Two.


    One.


    On one, Vincent swiftly kicked a henchman in front of him and spun around to seize the gun. Caught off guard, the scarred man couldn¡¯t react in time. As the henchman fell, Samuel took the shot, neutralizing the immediate threat.


    The conflict now narrowed to just Vincent and the scarred man.


    Full cont3nt h3re: g??lnovels.??????


    In a decisive confrontation where each move could be fatal, the gun¡¯s safety was disengaged, and during their struggle, shots sporadically fired into the air.


    The scarred man, surprised by Vincent¡¯s adeptbat skills, cursed angrily.


    ¡°I¡¯ll rip you apart! You¡¯re done for!¡±


    With a swift elbow, Vincent struck his face, countering, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re the one who¡¯s done.¡±


    Their strength seemed evenly matched as they continued to fight.


    Vincent had consistently maintained his fitness andbat training over the years. However, the scarred man, seasoned in countless gunfights, matched his skill. Their intense struggle made it impossible for Samuel to take a clear shot and offer help.


    During the fray, Vincent managed tond another elbow strike, followed by a punch that sent the gun skittering away. His gaze was icy as he confronted the scarred man.


    ¡°You will answer for all the lives you¡¯ve destroyed.¡±<fn2802> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fn2802>


    Just as Vincent was about to secure the gun and end the confrontation, the scarred man¡¯s demeanor shifted dramatically. He swiftly withdrew a knife from his sleeve and lunged at Vincent, screaming, ¡°Go to hell!¡±


    Despite his previous advantage, Vincent now found himself unarmed and forced to continuously dodge the knife attacks, at a significant disadvantage.


    Samuel watched anxiously and barked at the sniper, ¡°What are you waiting for? Shoot!¡±


    The sniper, teeth clenched, responded, ¡°I can¡¯t shoot. They¡¯re moving too quickly, and I can¡¯t risk hitting Mr. Adams.¡± As Vincent visibly began to lose ground, the tension escted. Samuel, overwhelmed and unsure, almost decided to intervene directly with the sniper rifle.


    At that critical moment, Vincent found an opening and struck the scarred man¡¯s face once again. But with the life-and-death stakes heightening, adrenaline dulled the scarred man¡¯s sensitivity to pain. Vincent¡¯s strike inadvertently left him open to a counterattack.


    Seizing the opportunity, the scarred man thrust the knife towards Vincent¡¯s heart.


    With no time to react and nowhere to move, Vincent faced a potentially fatal blow.


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 Chapter 345

    ?Chapter 345:


    At that crucial moment, an unexpected loud bang echoed through the air.


    A second gunshot followed, plunging everything into silence.


    The crowd was frozen in shock.


    Samuel, wide-eyed, checked his gun, still on safety. He hadn¡¯t fired.


    Turning, he saw Katelyn, with smoke rising from the gun she was holding.


    Vincent and the scarred man were dangerously close to one another. It was a risk to shoot. Yet, Katelyn had taken the shot.


    Was she not terrified of hitting Vincent by mistake?


    The proximity of the two men only intensified the tension.


    Katelyn was visibly shaken, her hand quivering as she gripped the gun. Time seemed to slow, her breathing nearly stopping. Then, in a moment that felt like forever, one of the men copsed.


    Vincent faced Katelyn with a smile¡ªhe was unharmed.


    Katelyn¡¯s relief was palpable, a stark contrast to the fear she had felt as she pulled the trigger, terrified she might identally shoot Vincent.


    Thankfully, he was safe.


    With the scarred man incapacitated, Samuel moved quickly to restrain the rest of the gang.


    Vincent approached Katelyn, his eyes full of admiration.


    ¡°You certainly have a talent for shooting,¡± hemended.


    Finally lowering her guard, Katelyn shared her fear with Vincent. ¡°I was terrified. My hands were shaking the entire time, worried I might have hit you,¡± she confessed.


    This encounter marked Katelyn¡¯s first real use of a gun outside of brief practice sessions at a shooting range. Tragically, it resulted in a fatality.


    A???????????? ????????: ga l no v els .co m


    Despite knowing the man was pure evil, Katelyn couldn¡¯t stop her hands from trembling.


    A deep sense of guilt and unease overwhelmed her.


    She looked down at her hands, which, though clean and slender, felt as if they were stained with blood.


    As she grappled with these negative emotions, a strong, reassuring hand gently patted her shoulder.


    Vincent looked at her with eyes softer than ever.


    He gestured toward the hostages being freed, and the little girl beingforted by her mother.


    ¡°You did well. Without your shot, everyone here would have died, including me,¡± Vincent said, his voice warm and encouraging.


    He wasn¡¯t exaggerating.<fnd41a> Official source is findnovel</fnd41a>


    Katelyn¡¯s hesitation could have cost Vincent his life.


    Her gaze wasplex as she watched the hostages, her hands clenched tightly.


    She understood the gravity of Vincent¡¯s words¡ªshe had eliminated a viin, giving everyone a chance to live.


    It was a decision even a child wouldn¡¯t hesitate to make.


    Yet, despite reassuring herself that the scarred man deserved it, she felt torn apart by immense guilt.


    Her hands were meant to save lives, not take them, leaving her caught between these conflicting emotions.


    At that very moment, the woman holding the little girl approached them.


    Taking a deep breath, she bowed deeply to Katelyn and Vincent. ¡°Thank you for saving my daughter¡¯s life,¡± she said.


    Katelyn quickly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. She must be scared after everything that¡¯s happened. Take her back and let her rest.¡±


    With tears in her eyes, the woman nodded vigorously. ¡°Thank you. If there¡¯s ever a chance to repay you, I certainly will.¡±


    Katelyn smiled reassuringly. ¡°We don¡¯t need repayment. I just hope you can be strong and move forward with your daughter.¡±


    The woman nodded firmly. ¡°I will.¡±


    After the authorities dealt with the criminals, the remaining work was handed over to them.


    Katelyn and the others were brieflyforted before returning to the hotel.


    Standing under the shower for half an hour, Katelyn felt utterly drained.


    She believed that the harrowing experience had drained her enough to make her fall asleep quickly once back at the hotel, but she was wrong.


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 Chapter 346

    ?Chapter 346:


    Every time Katelyn closed her eyes, the lifeless faces of the man and the scarred viin haunted her. Their eyes had remained wide open until the very end. The smell of blood still lingered in the air, thick and suffocating, almost as if it were clinging to her. More than a hundred people had died during the riot.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t shake it off.


    She had taken a life.


    It was already three in the morning, and she couldn¡¯t sleep. Fumbling with her phone, she paused for a moment before typing out a message to Vincent: ¡°Mr. Adams, are you still awake?¡±


    His reply came quickly: ¡°I am.¡±


    Her grip on the phone tightened without her noticing. Her fingers trembled above the keyboard as she hesitated, then finally sent another message: ¡°I can¡¯t sleep. Can Ie over?¡± She worried it might be misunderstood, so she quickly added, ¡°I¡¯ll sleep on the floor or the couch. I¡¯m just too scared to be alone right now.¡±


    Since the incident with Marlon, Katelyn had found herself feeling more at ease whenever Vincent was around. It happened without her even realizing it.


    Maybe it was because he was the only friend she had at the moment. Or perhaps, on some deeper level, she knew she could trust him. She trusted him without question.


    She had to be ready for the days ahead, and she needed her rest. Vincent replied simply: ¡°OK.¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t hesitate. Grabbing her nket and pillow, she crept to his door and knocked softly.


    Vincent opened it and stepped aside. ¡°Take the bed,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ve got work to do, and I might be up all night. I¡¯ll use the couch.¡±


    Full updat3z h3r3: g??lno¦Íels.??????


    The words Katelyn had been about to say stuck in her throat. She opened her mouth carefully.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, it¡¯ste. You should get some rest. I¡¯ll sleep on the couch.¡±


    The couch, with its plush leather, lookedfortable enough for anyone to sleep on.


    As she spoke, she set her nket and pillow down on the couch.


    Having someone nearby eased the knot of anxiety in her chest.


    Vincent¡¯s voice turned firm. ¡°No.¡±


    He then picked up her nket and spread it on the bed.


    Seeing the firmness in his voice, Katelyn decided not to push back. She quietly settled onto the bed.


    The room was identical to hers, yet lying there, she could detect the faint scent of tobo lingering in the air. It was his.


    Katelyn had always been sensitive to smells and usually hated the odor of smoke. But strangely, this faint trace didn¡¯t bother her. She found it oddly alluring.


    ¡°If you feel uneasy or need anything, just let me know,¡± Vincent said. ¡°You might have nightmares tonight.¡±


    Instinctively, she pulled the nket tighter around herself, trying to push tonight¡¯s events out of her mind.


    Her eyes flickered over to Vincent, curiosity sparking. ¡°Mr. Adams, when was the first time you killed someone?¡±


    The recent chase had shown her how effortlessly Vincent could pull the trigger.


    He fired without a blink, every shot deliberate and precise. Each pull of the trigger had brought someone down.


    It wasn¡¯t just the precision, though. It was his calmness. He handled killing like he was closing a deal in his office.


    Katelyn often saw that same chilling calmness in his eyes¡ªthe kind she¡¯d seen in people on the edge of madness.


    Vincent leaned back on the couch, lost in thought as he considered her question. ¡°Maybe when I was nine.¡±


    ¡°Nine?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened, disbelief washing over her.


    At nine, she had been ying dress-up and worrying about her dolls. Yet Vincent had already learned how to take a life?


    His expression darkened, his gaze turning cold, as though he had dredged up memories he would rather have forgotten. ¡°Have you heard of the ¡®Wolf Management Principle¡¯?¡±


    Katelyn nodded slowly.


    ¡°It¡¯s a brutal management approach,¡± Vincent continued. ¡°It thrives on fiercepetition, pushing the survival of the fittest. The weakest are regrly cut to maintain performance. It¡¯s often called ¡®wolf culture.''¡±


    Vincent nodded, but his eyes remained distant. ¡°That¡¯s right, but you missed one thing. It wasn¡¯t applied to apany. It was the rule within the Adams family.¡±


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    .<fna164> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fna164>

 Chapter 347

    ?Chapter 347:


    Vincent spoke with a calm detachment that made Katelyn¡¯s stomach churn.


    The cutthroat strategies in corporate management were harsh enough, but applying them within a family? That would mean those at the bottom would be mercilessly cast aside.


    In business, being cut off might mean losing your job. But in a family¡ªwhat would it entail?


    Vincent looked over at Katelyn, perhaps noticing her difort, and his voice deepened.


    ¡°For those who are cut off, it means death.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s hand tightened at her side involuntarily. She was well aware of the intense pressures on heirs in the Adams Group, one of the nation¡¯s toppanies.


    But she believed family should be about kinship, not cutthroatpetition.


    ¡°Do you have to learn these things from such a young age?¡± Katelyn asked, her voice soft with concern.


    Vincent gave a slight nod.


    He settled back into the sofa, pulling out a silver lighter and a pack of cigarettes.<fnd5c0> Read full story at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnd5c0>


    He flicked the lighter, and a small me sparked.


    The soft light of a nightmp filled the room, casting a gentle glow on Vincent¡¯s face. The flickering light split his face in two¡ªone side aglow with the fire¡¯s light, the other cloaked in shadow, portraying him as both angelic and sinister.


    He blew out a stream of smoke, and Katelyn watched it rise and dissipate into nothingness.


    Vincent¡¯s face remained unreadable.


    ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?????????¦Í????????????


    ¡°In a family like ours, if you don¡¯t strive to climb to the top, it¡¯s as if you¡¯ve sealed your fate. Do you know what the Adams family has in abundance?¡±


    Katelyn considered his question seriously. Tentatively, she suggested, ¡°Power? Money? Resources?¡±


    Vincent slowly shook his head; none of her guesses were right. He observed her confused look with a cold smirk.


    ¡°Bastard children.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in shock. The existence of love children in affluent families wasn¡¯t unheard of, but such powerful families often maintained a pristine fa?ade, regardless of the turmoil within. Many wives overlooked their husbands¡¯ indiscretions to protect their children¡¯s interests. Despite numerous public scandals involving other wealthy families,


    Families¡¯ affairs and hidden love children weremon enough, but the Adams Group had remained untouched by such rumors.


    Katelyn¡¯s reaction was exactly what Vincent had predicted. As his cold stare intensified, he continued, ¡°In my generation alone, there are sixteen of us, all quietly acknowledged by my grandfather.¡±


    Sixteen? Katelyn¡¯s face showed a mix of shock and disbelief at hearing this. The thought of Vincent¡¯s father having the stamina to father so many left her astounded. She didn¡¯t voice her thoughts but quickly understood the deeper meaning.


    ¡°Do you mean this is how they choose the best sessor?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Vincent replied with a heavy tone.


    ¡°They locked us in a metal cage, forcing us to fight each other in a deadly survival game. I had to take lives to ensure my own survival. The bloodshed became so frequent that it soon stopped bothering me.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes dropped to his hands, which appeared clean but felt stained.


    Given Vincent¡¯s immense influence in both thewful and uwful realms, could he ever be truly innocent?


    The revtions left Katelyn speechless, struggling to find the right words.


    The Adams family had kept these dark secrets hidden. Without Vincent¡¯s revtion, she would have never suspected the harsh truth behind their polished fa?ade.


    Looking at Vincent¡¯sposed face, she imagined the frightened child he must have been, forced to fight to survive.


    She wondered if he had been as scared the first time he killed someone as she had been this very evening.


    A bitter feeling began to grow inside Katelyn as Vincent shared his painful memories with her.


    ¡°The sheer willpower you mustered to get where you are now is incredible,¡± she said softly.


    Rising to be the preferred heir among sixteen, and then ascending to lead the Adams Group¡ªit was a journey she found hard toprehend.


    Her words caught Vincent off guard, and for a moment, a trace of emotion crossed his eyes.


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 Chapter 348

    ?Chapter 348:


    Vincent gave Katelyn a soft smile.<fne449> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find(?)ovel</fne449>


    ¡°Even after hearing about all the brutal things I¡¯ve done, you¡¯re not scared of me? I¡¯m a ruthless killer. I¡¯ve taken the lives of no less than a hundred people over the years.¡±


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, locking eyes with him resolutely.


    ¡°I believe in you. Even though you¡¯ve taken lives, it must have been the only option. I¡¯m convinced you werepelled to defend yourself. I understand your situation better than anyone. If you hadn¡¯t taken action, you would have been the one lying dead.¡±


    A faint tremor passed through Vincent¡¯s eyes. No one had ever expressed that understanding to him before.


    She wasn¡¯t horrified. Instead, she empathized with his situation and could see beyond hisposed facade. She recognized the reluctance in each act hemitted. Nobody wanted to have blood on their hands, but circumstances shaped people in ways they couldn¡¯t always control. Katelyn was right. It was kill or be killed for him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want this life, but I¡¯ve been left with no other choice.¡±


    Even someone as formidable and influential as Vincent felt powerless at times.


    Katelyn responded almost reflexively, ¡°What¡¯s done is done. Don¡¯t dwell on it. Focus on the here and now. As long as you do what¡¯s right in your heart, that¡¯s enough.¡±


    After she spoke, she looked into Vincent¡¯s eyes again. He was smiling.


    ¡°I stopped being troubled by these matters a long time ago. And you? You were so frightened that you couldn¡¯t sleep, and yet here you are, offering mefort.¡±


    Katelyn was momentarily at a loss for words, her mouth slightly agape as she realized the irony.


    ???????????? ???????? ????: g??????????¦Í???????.???????


    She had sought Vincent for reassurance, yet now she found herselfforting him. It was typical of her character¡ªalways ready to offerfort to others, yet often struggling to console herself, ensnared by her own thoughts.


    Vincent didn¡¯t let her wallow in difort. He said casually, ¡°Today¡¯s events are no different. If you hadn¡¯t acted, that scarred man would have killed everyone. I killed to protect myself, and you did it to save others. So, why feel guilty?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s simple words significantly eased Katelyn¡¯s troubled thoughts.


    She was instantly relieved.


    ¡°I understand now. Thank you for the insight, Mr. Adams.


    I believe I can finally rest well tonight.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s voice brightened as she gathered her nket and pillow, ready to head back to her room.


    However, Vincent called out to her just as she was about to leave.


    ¡°Even so, the violent scenes you witnessed today might still disturb your sleep. Why don¡¯t you stay here tonight? If you end up having nightmares, you mighte back here anyway.¡±


    Katelyn paused, a hint of hesitation in her gaze. She remembered how, after witnessing Marlon¡¯s death, nightmares had gued her for two straight nights. After a moment of thought, she halted her departure.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll stay here tonight, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent subtly masked a quick smile, nodding gently. Perhaps it was the rity of her mind or the calming aroma of pine from the bath, but Katelyn soon drifted into a deep sleep, dressed in cartoon pajamas that amusingly mismatched her otherwise refined appearance.


    Vincent stayed seated on the couch, watching over her until he was certain she had fallen into a deep sleep. Then, he quietly approached and carefully tucked her in. His expression softened as he observed Katelyn¡ªa change he himself didn¡¯t fully recognize.


    Exhausted from meetings that had stretched until three in the morning, Vincent was weary. Yet, he knew Katelyn might find it hard to sleep after such a disturbing day, so he stayed awake and waited for her to reach out. His intuition proved correct.


    He quietly admired her peaceful face before retreating back to the couch.


    The paperwork andptop were beside him, but they were just props that night. They were merely excuses to convince Katelyn to use the bed.


    That night, Katelyn slept without interruption. The next morning, she was woken by a knock at the door, still half in a daze as she answered it.


    She was barely awake until a sharp scream snapped her fully to alertness.


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 Chapter 349

    ?Chapter 349:


    Katelyn lifted her head groggily and saw the look of astonishment on Samuel¡¯s face.


    ¡°What¡¯s with that look? Do I have something on my face?¡± she asked, confused.


    Samuel¡¯s face wore aplicated expression. He took a step back and checked the room number.


    He was in the correct room again. And there was Katelyn, early in the morning!


    Had she and Vincent spent the entire night together? A sinking feeling started to form in Samuel. Could he have interrupted something once more?


    Samuel¡¯s face changed through several emotions, too quick for Katelyn to interpret. She absentmindedly ran a hand through her messy hair.


    ¡°You¡¯re here really early. Is there something work-rted?¡±


    Finally regaining hisposure, Samuel forced a smile.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, is Mr. Adams awake?¡±


    His question snapped Katelyn fully awake.


    She instinctively looked towards the couch. The pillow and nket were neatly folded, but Vincent was not in sight.


    Realizing why Samuel had seemed so shocked, Katelyn quickly exined, ¡°Please, don¡¯t misunderstand. I was just too shaken up fromst night¡¯s events and couldn¡¯t sleep, so I stayed in Mr. Adams¡¯ room.¡±


    As soon as she finished, Katelyn regretted her words. The more she tried to exin, the more it might sound wrong to Samuel.


    She was telling the truth about the previous night.


    Yes, they had shared a room, but one used the bed and the other the couch. Nothing inappropriate had urred.


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    Samuel¡¯s smile became more meaningful, and he nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no need to exin. I totally understand.¡±


    Katelyn was at a loss for words.


    What exactly did he understand?


    Trying to control her growing embarrassment, she attempted to rify once more.


    ¡°Really, it¡¯s not what you might think. Mr. Adams and I simply spent the night in the same room. That¡¯s all that happened.¡±


    Samuel¡¯s grin widened, and he nodded vigorously again. ¡°Yes, you simply spent the night in the same room.¡±


    Katelyn feltpletely at a loss.


    Katelyn inhaled deeply, preparing to rify once more when a brisk voice echoed from the doorway. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡±


    Vincent had returned from his morning jog, dressed in his workout clothes, clutching a water bottle.


    Samuel promptly responded seriously, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve gathered the information you requested. It¡¯s all here.¡±


    He handed a USB sh drive to Vincent.


    Vincent epted it, his face showing no reaction. ¡°Next time, just give me a call for something minor like this. There¡¯s no need to make a trip.¡±


    Samuel¡¯s heart sank. He had a bad feeling again.


    Was Vincent irritated by his interruption?


    He med himself for hisck of awareness. Disturbing Vincent once was bad enough, but now a second time?


    If he made a few more blunders like this, he might find himself reassigned to overseas branches to handle challenging issues.


    Samuel quickly promised, ¡°Mr. Adams, from now on, I¡¯ll make sure you barely notice I¡¯m here unless absolutely necessary.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression remained neutral, yet his next words were sharply dismissive.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see a reduction in your bonus this month.¡±


    Samuel was left speechless.


    The day had started on the wrong note, ying cruel jokes on him.


    Samuel¡¯s face went through several changes, unreadable to Katelyn.


    Vincent stepped further into the room and set the sh drive on the table.


    ¡°I¡¯ve ordered breakfast downstairs. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡±


    Katelyn replied almost reflexively. When Vincent disappeared into the bathroom and the sound of the shower filled the air, she suddenly felt uneasy.


    Was he just her boss, or had something changed between them over the years?


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was losing control of the situation, even though everything seemed to be blown out of proportion in her mind. Soon after, Vincent emerged from the shower, and their breakfast arrived.


    Katelyn had just begun eating when her phone buzzed in her pocket.


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    .<fn0482> For more chapters visit find(?)ovel</fn0482>

 Chapter 350

    Chapter 350:


    The phone disyed a number Katelyn didn¡¯t recognize.


    She immediately assumed it was Selina. Without hesitation, she tapped the button to answer.


    Selina¡¯s voice came through the other end of the line. ¡°Miss Bailey, regarding the partnership you proposed yesterday, I¡¯ve given it considerable thought. It seems feasible. However, you¡¯ll need to demonstrate that both yourpany and you can provide me with consistent support moving forward.¡±<fn85a6> Updates are released by find?novel</fn85a6>


    Selina had clearly reached her decision after spending the night contemting. Age was catching up with her, and she no longer made decisions with the impulsiveness of her youth. Her current role demanded extreme caution; with many eyes on her, even the slightest mistake could spiral into disaster.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t surprised by Selina¡¯s response; she had sensed that their previous conversation had impacted Selina deeply.


    She nced at Vincent, sitting across from her, and switched the phone to speaker mode.


    ¡°What exactly do you need from me to prove it?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware your firm aims to expand internationally. I want you to create a jewelry collection that not only satisfies me but also garners acim at the uing feast. Additionally, there¡¯s a property I¡¯m interested in called Poulos Castle. Secure it for me. If you meet these conditions, I¡¯ll ept your proposal.¡± Selinaid out her demands clearly.


    Katelyn frowned. They were discussing a jewelry business partnership, so why had real estate suddenly be a part of it? Vincent pondered for a moment and then mouthed to Katelyn.


    ¡°Hang up.¡±


    R?????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? g??????ov?????.?????


    Katelyn immediately understood.


    ¡°For important discussions like this, it¡¯s better we meet face-to-face. Send me your location. Mr. Adams and I wille to you.¡±


    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Selina replied without hesitation.


    After ending the call, Katelyn caught the thoughtful look in Vincent¡¯s eyes and couldn¡¯t resist her curiosity. ¡°Mr. Adams, are you familiar with the castle she mentioned?¡±


    Vincent nodded, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the table¡ªa sign that he was deep in thought.


    ¡°Poulos Castle was owned by an aristocrat from the previous century. Rumor has it that the earl came from a mysterious, possibly even supernatural family, and that there¡¯s a substantial treasure hidden beneath the castle. Many have sought to acquire thend, but no one has managed to secure it.¡± He paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Selina is interested in the castle, but she doesn¡¯t have the means to acquire it herself. She¡¯s hoping we can secure it for her as part of the negotiations.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s concern deepened. Vincent¡¯s sinct summary painted a clear picture of the castle¡¯s intriguing history and its allure. If the rumors of hidden treasure were true, owning the castle could change one¡¯s fate entirely.


    Despite Selina¡¯s extensivework in the business and jewelry sectors, she had failed to acquire the property. To make matters moreplicated, they were currently overseas, far from Granville, which limited Vincent¡¯s influence.


    Katelyn spoke with worry, ¡°Mr. Adams, could we face significant challenges in pursuing this?¡±


    Vincent confirmed her concerns. ¡°One of the reasons for this trip is that I want to inspect the castle myself. However, securing this property will be challenging.¡±


    Katelyn took out her phone and searched for the castle, pulling up a page detailing its history and its current owner, Earl Dous Poulos. The information revealed that Dous was nearly eighty and had lost his son in his youth. He had no other heirs.


    Vincent stood up, his expression stern. ¡°Let¡¯s meet with Selina first. If she¡¯s only offering ess to the overseas market in exchange for us securing this castle for her, that¡¯s not going to happen.¡±


    His response hinted at the castle¡¯s substantial potential for profit.


    Katelyn nodded, ready to follow Vincent¡¯s n.


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    Message from Noah: Great tuesday loved ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?


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 Chapter 351

    ?Chapter 351:


    Selina promptly sent Katelyn her exact location, which was conveniently close to their hotel.


    During their drive, Katelyn reflected on the two demands Selina hadid out. The first seemed achievable¡ªKatelyn was to design a jewelry collection that would earn Selina¡¯s approval within three days.


    However, the real challengey in the second demand. Katelyn had just looked up Poulos Castle again.


    For years, rumors of an immense treasure hidden beneath the castle had spread. From billionaires to notorious underworld figures, many had attempted to seize thend for their own purposes. Despite their efforts, no one had seeded in iming the castle. Clearly, if the old earl hadn¡¯t set up defenses, it would have changed hands long ago.


    This realization made Katelyn nce over at Vincent.


    Vincent¡¯s ambitions went beyond merely presenting the Adams Group¡¯s jewelry at the international expo; he aimed to make their designs the centerpiece of the event¡¯s finale. This could be their chance to strike a deal with Selina.


    Shaking off her distractions, Katelyn followed Vincent into a sprawling vi estate.


    This was where Selina lived.


    Today, Selina wasn¡¯t wearing her usual high stilettos, but her makeup was wless. Holding a wine ss in hand, she appeared fully prepared for their meeting. ¡°Mr. Adams, Miss Bailey,¡± she greeted them with a warmth that surpassed the previous day.


    Vincent acknowledged her with a slight nod.


    Selina gestured to a servant, who promptly brought drinks for their guests.


    Step into a new world at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m


    Katelyn settled onto a couch, taking in the vi¡¯s tasteful blend of modern and ssic designs. Every detail spoke of the owner¡¯s refined taste, particrly the bold use of contrasting colors. These choices could have easily shed, but here they were harmoniously executed, reflecting a keen sense of aesthetics. Katelyn shifted her attention back to Selina and asked with curiosity, ¡°Did you design all of this yourself?¡±


    Selina gave a modest smile and confirmed with a nod, ¡°This house reflects my personal efforts, every corner of it.¡±


    ¡°I had no idea you were as skilled in interior design as you are in jewelry design,¡± Katelyn remarked.


    A designer¡¯s key attribute is their aesthetic sense. Despite their different styles, all design fields share amon fundamental quality. The vi Katelyn lived in was entirely her own work as well.


    Selina put her ss down and offered a smile. ¡°Thank you for the kind words, Miss Bailey. However, it¡¯s time to discuss the main topic.¡±


    She made thisment while gazing directly at Vincent. The moment she walked into the restaurantst night, she had immediately noticed him. Despite choosing a seat in the corner, it was impossible to ignore Vincent¡¯s strikingly attractive face and hismanding aura.


    She had recognized his exceptional presence at that moment but hadn¡¯t expected him to be the sole heir to a leading global corporation.


    ¡°How long will you need to secure the castle?¡± Selina asked. ¡°We can agree verbally now. As soon as you hand over the castle, I¡¯ll sign with you, ensuring the overseas market remains essible to you as long as I hold my position.¡±


    Vincent looked at Selina thoughtfully. His tone was cold, revealing no emotion.<fna00f> Checktest chapters at f?ndnovel</fna00f>


    ¡°Miss Hathaway, you could be more than just a designer¡ªperhaps a shrewd businesswoman. I have no doubts you¡¯d thrive as a ruthless yet sessful trader.¡±


    Selina¡¯s expression grew stern as she focused on Vincent. ¡°What exactly are you implying? I¡¯m here to negotiate a partnership with you.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. ¡°Are you seriously offering ess to the overseas market in exchange for ownership of Poulos Castle? Isn¡¯t that underestimating what I bring to the table?¡±


    Selina tossed her hair back, her demeanor unfazed. ¡°Consider it either a trade or a challenge. If you can¡¯t manage this minor task, how can I depend on you for robust and consistent support?¡±


    A dangerous light flickered in Vincent¡¯s eyes.


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 Chapter 352

    ?Chapter 352:


    ¡°Miss Hathaway, do you really see acquiring Poulos Castle as just a minor deal?¡± Vincent asked.


    With a dismissive smile, Selina responded, ¡°You must demonstrate your abilities to me. I¡¯m staking everything on our long-term partnership, after all.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I¡¯m afraid we should terminate this deal. Investing heavily in Poulos Castle just for ess to the overseas market is simply ridiculous,¡± Vincent said as he stood up. Katelyn, understanding his intention, stood up as well.


    This agreement wasn¡¯t worth pursuing. Though Selina was clever, she shouldn¡¯t mistake them for naive.


    Katelyn turned to Selina, her smile cold.


    ¡°Miss Hathaway, we came with genuine intentions to discuss cooperation with you. But since you¡¯re clearly not really interested, everything we previously discussed is off the table.¡±


    Selina¡¯s fists tightened involuntarily, and she let out a coldugh. ¡°What do you mean by that? Do you really want to walk away now? Who else but me can provide you ess to such vast markets and resources?¡±


    Selina couldn¡¯t fathom that Vincent and Katelyn would pass up such a lucrative opportunity. Blinded by confidence in her offer, Selina failed to see the ws in her proposal.


    Vincent would nevermit to a deal that didn¡¯t favor him at all. In his view, the profit from the overseas market paled inparison to what he would have to invest in acquiring Poulos Castle.<fnd577> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel</fnd577>


    His stare was cold as he looked at Selina.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too sure of yourself. I can find another partner easily. If necessary, I¡¯m prepared to forsake the overseas market altogether.¡± He spoke casually.


    Explore more on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s©q??????


    Although he wanted to expand into the international jewelry scene, the Adams Group wasn¡¯t solely dependent on it. Even without this venture, the Adams Group had ample operations and resources to prosper. Selina had overestimated her position.


    As Vincent turned to leave, Selina, gritting her teeth, called out, ¡°So, what do you want? Tell me now.¡±


    In the end, she decided topromise, as they were her only hope to secure the castle.


    Vincent stopped, turning to face Selina once again.


    ¡°I¡¯m looking for amitment that spans at least thirty years, ensuring our coboration with the Adams Group persists even beyond your tenure. At the uing global exhibitions, not only must the Adams Group¡¯s jewelry be featured, but it should also be the centerpiece. Additionally, should any treasure be discovered beneath Poulos Castle, I want a share of it.¡±


    Katelyn gave Vincent a confused look.


    What was he hoping to find under the castle?


    Selina¡¯s expression grew stern, her hands balling into fists. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit excessive?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a businessman, and I always ensure my deals are advantageous. Miss Hathaway, when you requested Poulos Castle, you should have known I¡¯d ask for something substantial in return.¡±


    Selina tightened her fists once more, her look turning somber. It was clear she was wrestling with the decision. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke, the air charged with tension. It was as though they were locked in a silent battle of wills. While they termed it a partnership, it was really just a trade of necessities. Vincent remainedposed, his demeanor calm but confidently assured.


    He was convinced Selina wouldn¡¯t turn down the offer. The castle was too valuable for her to pass up.


    True to his belief, after a brief pause, Selinaposed herself and said with resolve, ¡°Alright, I agree. But tell me, how quickly can you secure the castle?¡±


    Vincent thought for a moment before responding, ¡°I can¡¯t set a definite timeline; Earl Poulos is notoriously difficult to negotiate with. But I aim to have it done before the global expo.¡±


    Selina thought it over for a moment, then nodded, her voice cold and firm.


    ¡°If you fail to deliver by the agreed deadline, consider all our discussions null and void.¡±


    Her eyes then shifted back to Katelyn.


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 Chapter 353

    ?Chapter 353:


    ¡°For the grand finale,¡± Selina said, her voice smooth, ¡°I can make some arrangements for you. But only if your jewelry design wins over all the contestants.¡±


    ¡°Got it.¡± Vincent nodded and led the way, with Katelyn falling into step beside him.


    The entire time, Vincent clearly held control over the discussion.


    He was about to secure a thirty-year partnership with Selina, along with the prime exhibition spot¡ªand one of the hidden treasures beneath the castle.


    Katelyn¡¯s curiosity finally got the better of her. She nced at Vincent, who maintained his calm, collected expression.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± she asked, unable to resist, ¡°What kind of treasures are buried under the castle?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s treasure maps, gold coins, and valuable artifacts. These old nobles from the past century may have lost their status, but their wealth is still beyond what most can imagine,¡± Vincent said casually, though a distant memory crept into his mind. He thought back to a moment from years ago.


    It was just before his grandfather, Peter Adams, had passed away.


    Petery in bed, his body weak, but he managed to lift his trembling hand, reaching for Vincent¡¯s.


    ¡°Vincent, you¡¯re my best heir. Only you can recover that jade pendant. Bring it back, no matter the cost¡ªeven if it risks half of the Adams family¡¯s fortune,¡± Peter had told him, his voice faint but serious.


    That was the first time Vincent had ever heard of the jade pendant.


    His expression tightened as he asked, ¡°What pendant?¡±


    Author¡¯s version avable at g??ln ov els.????


    Peter stared at the ceiling, his lips curving into a bitter smile.


    ¡°That pendant was our family heirloom, stolen by a con woman. I¡¯ve searched for it for years but came up with nothing. How am I supposed to face our ancestors now? I¡¯m trusting you with this, Vincent. Don¡¯t let me down.¡±


    Vincent gave a confident nod. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure yourst wish is carried out.¡±


    Peter¡¯s smile lingered, but his eyes were sadder. ¡°I know you don¡¯t think much of me, but I¡¯m about to die. Could you call me ¡®Grandpa,¡¯ even just this once?¡±


    Vincent remained quiet.


    He had never truly felt like part of the Adams family, and Peter was not someone he could ever call his grandfather. To Peter, he had always been just a tool, molded to take over the Adams Group. If there had been someone better suited, Vincent knew he wouldn¡¯t have been chosen.


    Their bond wasn¡¯t based on love¡ªit was purely business.


    The word caught in Vincent¡¯s throat. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say it. As Peter took his final breath, regret settled in his fading eyes. He left behind only what he had built¡ªa fitting end for him.


    Vincent snapped back to the present, catching Katelyn¡¯s concerned look. He responded casually, ¡°From what my sources say, the Adams family heirloom is buried under the castle. It¡¯s a circr jade pendant, but I¡¯ve never actually seen it myself.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, taking in the information. ¡°We¡¯ve got two days before the banquet. I¡¯ll start sketching my designs when we get back.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    With their n in ce, the car pulled up to the hotel. Katelyn stepped out first, intending to wait for Vincent, but suddenly, everything began to spin. Her vision blurred, and it felt like the ground was shifting beneath her.


    She tried to shake off the dizziness, but it clung to her, no matter how much she tried. The world seemed to swirl, and the scenery wavered before her eyes. Just as she was about to fall, a steady hand gripped her waist, holding her upright.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were filled with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± he asked.


    ¡°Nothing. I¡¯m just a bit dizzy,¡± Katelyn replied, trying to steady herself.


    She took a deep breath, attempting to clear the dizziness. She had eaten breakfast, so it shouldn¡¯t be low blood sugar.


    Katelyn shook her head, pressing her lips together. ¡°There are only two days until the banquet. I need to focus on the designs. It was just a brief spell of dizziness. It¡¯s probably nothing serious.¡±


    ¡°Work can wait. Your healthes first. We can¡¯t ignore this.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s tone was resolute as he gently but firmly guided her back to the car.


    After a moment of thought, Katelyn finally agreed.<fne705> Get full chapters from </fne705>


    Katelyn gave a nod.


    At the hospital, the tests were swiftly and thoroughly conducted. The doctor examined the results, his face growing serious.


    ¡°If these results are urate, miss, it appears you¡¯ve been poisoned,¡± the doctor said, his expression filled with concern.


    ¡°Poisoned?¡± Katelyn¡¯s voice trembled in shock.


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 Chapter 354

    ?Chapter 354:


    At the doctor¡¯s words, both Katelyn and Vincent¡¯s expressions turned grave. A serious look shed in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    Despite her expertise in medicine, someone had managed to subtly poison her without any noticeable signs. If it weren¡¯t for the strange sensations in her body, she might have remained unaware.


    This suggested that the poison had likely umted in her system for quite some time without detection.


    The look in Vincent¡¯s eyes was just as cold.


    ¡°First, we¡¯ll have you detoxified here at the hospital, and then we¡¯ll investigate where this poison came from.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, worry evident in her eyes as she faced Vincent.


    ¡°You should also have your blood tested to see if you¡¯ve been exposed to the same toxin. It¡¯s always wiser to be cautious.¡±


    Katelyn nced at the toxin test reportid before her, her hands tensing into fists. The poison coursing through her wasn¡¯t ordinary¡ªit was custom-made. This pointed to the culprit likely being someone highly skilled in medicine or proficient in poisons.


    A face shed in Katelyn¡¯s mind. It was a woman, another student of her mentor, who had joined their circle half a year after Katelyn.


    While Katelyn focused on medical skills, this woman had been far more intrigued by the use of poisons. She was remarkably skilled at creating them.


    Eventually, their mentor had banned her from creating any more poisons, which led to a severe rift. After a heated argument, the woman left, and Katelyn hadn¡¯t seen her since.


    She couldn¡¯t think of anyone else but her as a potential suspect.<fnd10b> Th?s chapter is updated by ?ovelFind</fnd10b>


    Your imagination takes flight on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s


    Vincent¡¯s expression was deep and frosty. He understood Katelyn¡¯s worries¡ªshe feared this attack wasn¡¯t just personal. He might be in danger as well.


    As they awaited the results of Vincent¡¯s blood test, Katelyn pondered every possible scenario that could have led to her poisoning.


    She rarely cooked for herself, mostly relying on food delivery services.


    For the poison to have built up, it had to have been present in something she frequently used.


    Her arm was already attached to an IV drip, administering the antidotes.


    Once Vincent had his sample taken, he joined her, his expression thoughtful as he fixed his gaze on her.


    ¡°Think about it. Could there be anything in your surroundings that might have been tampered with?¡±


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, a heavy sigh escaping her. ¡°Right now, I can¡¯t think of anything. I¡¯ll look into it when I get home.¡±


    ¡°Do you carry anything on you regrly, like jewelry or something like that?¡± Vincent suggested, offering a few possibilities.


    It was unlikely that the food had been poisoned; it was more usible that the poison was hidden in something she always kept with her.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in realization. She quickly reached into her clothing and retrieved a pendant she never took off. It was a jade lotus, a protective charm her mentor had given her uponpleting her training. She ran her fingers over the smooth carvings of the lotus.


    ¡°If anything¡¯s been tampered with, it¡¯s likely this lotus pendant. But the person who gifted it to me could never mean me any harm,¡± Katelyn said, her voice firm and resolute.


    Her mentor had always treated her more like a daughter than a student, and she trusted that he would never wish her ill.


    Moreover, she had worn the pendant for years. Had it been poisoned, symptoms would have shown up much earlier.


    Vincent regarded her thoughtfully.


    ¡°Could you take it off for a moment and let me have a look?¡± he asked softly.


    Katelyn agreed and unsped the pendant she had cherished for so long.


    Vincent examined it carefully, admiring the superior quality of the jade and the meticulous detail of the lotus carvings.


    Such a piece was invaluable, beyond what money could buy, and certainly not something you could find on the market. This alone spoke volumes about the giver¡¯s affection for Katelyn.


    Vincent handed the pendant back to her, his brow furrowed.


    ¡°We should still get it tested, just in case.¡±


    Katelyn tightened her grip on the pendant, her resolve unwavering.


    ¡°Even if the whole world turned against me, he would stand by me.¡±


    Her mentor had no motive to harm her. He was a figure of utmost respect in her life.


    Vincent¡¯s tone was gentle as he suggested, ¡°I understand the significance of this jade and its giver to you, but our priority is to trace the source of the poison.¡±


    The medical report had already warned that the toxin, if not addressed, could cause severe damage to Katelyn¡¯s kidneys and liver.


    Before Katelyn could respond, the ss in the window shattered with a crash, and an object hurtled through it.


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 Chapter 355

    ?Chapter 355:


    A ck dart pierced through the shattered window ss, embedding itself firmly in the wall.


    A note was attached to it, clearly intended as a message. Vincent quickly approached, ripped off the note, and saw a line of elegant handwriting that read, ¡°Wee to Yata.¡±


    Yata was the very city they were in. Katelyn¡¯s hands instinctively balled into fists as she realized that both the note and the dart wereden with threats.


    Despite the hospital¡¯s ss being bulletproof, the dart had prated effortlessly. This wasn¡¯t something that could be achieved by human strength alone. It likely required some mechanical aid to generate that force.


    Katelyn hurried to the window to examine the dart¡¯s trajectory, trying to pinpoint where it had been fired from. She pointed toward a building across from them. ¡°I believe the dart was shot from that building. If we check now, we might catch whoever is responsible.¡±


    Vincent pulled out the dart, his expression unreadable as he turned to her.


    This method brought back memories of a certain incident from the past.


    ¡°Samuel¡¯s already on it. Take a look at this dart. Does it remind you of anything?¡±


    Katelyn took the dart, and instantly, the image of Marlon shed in her mind. He had been fatally shot by a simr dart, fired from the mysterious woman¡¯s sleeve.


    ¡°Are you connecting this to Marlon¡¯s death?¡±


    Could this be the work of the T Organization again?


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew darker as he stood by the window, his presence even more intimidating.


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s£®c????, a world of tales


    ¡°Think back further. Does this remind you of another death? The former head of the design department?¡±


    His words triggered a memory for Katelyn. She recalled the incident from the past. The current scenario¡ªand the dart¡ªwere eerily simr to the one that had taken the life of the department head. The main difference now was the use of a dart instead of a bullet.


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it looks like the T Organization has had us in their sights for some time. They tried to frame me for murder before, and now they¡¯reing after me directly.¡±


    Katelyn gripped the dart, noticing distinctive engravings on it.


    She activated her phone¡¯s shlight to get a closer look and discovered a ¡°T¡± engraved on the dart. This new detail heightened her suspicion towards Sophia once again, despite her rational mind arguing against such spection.


    Sophia had no motive whatsoever. There was no bad blood between them. Even though Sophia had had a fallout with their mentor and left, why would she want Katelyn dead?


    ¡°Eventually, the truth will surface. For now, just be extra vignt about your surroundings to avoid any further poisoning attempts,¡± Vincent said, snapping her back to the present.


    He stroked his chin in thought before adding, ¡°I¡¯m concerned that once they realize you know about the poisoning, they¡¯ll resort to different tactics to target you.¡±


    ¡°But Lise is the only enemy I have. Even if she were to contact the T Organization, I doubt she has the money for their high fees.¡±


    The T Organization was known for its steep rates as an elite mercenary group.


    From what Katelyn had learned, their operations were categorized by levels.<fnbf2d> Updates are released by Find?Novel</fnbf2d>


    For example, an A-level mission could cost up to 80 million dors, with a guaranteed death oue. The Bailey family¡¯s fortunes had dwindled, making it unlikely for Lise to afford such expenses.


    Vincent calmly reminded her, ¡°Now that your identity is out in the open, you¡¯re seen as a hurdle by many. Consider every potential threat.¡±


    Katelyn nodded. ¡°I see.¡±


    With her high-profile status now, eyes were constantly on her.


    It was frustrating not to have ess to the T Organization¡¯s assignment book. If she could just get her hands on it, she would know who was behind the assassination order.


    Then, an idea struck her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve figured out a way to uncover the person behind this!¡±


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 Chapter 356

    ?Chapter 356:


    Vincent turned his attention to Katelyn immediately. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±


    ¡°We need to find a top-notch hacker who can discreetly break into the T Organization. If we ess their order logs, we might uncover who¡¯s behind this,¡± Katelyn excitedly suggested, but then quicklyposed herself. She preferred keeping her own hacking skills a secret from him.


    Vincent thought it over for a moment, his gaze bing intense.


    ¡°We need someone extremely skilled in hacking. I¡¯ll have my team start the search and find the best hacker avable.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Relieved that Vincent didn¡¯t seem suspicious, Katelyn silently exhaled in relief.


    She nned to tackle this herself.


    Whether Sophia was involved or not, she wouldn¡¯t let such actions slide again.


    Vincent had nearly been caught in an assassination attempt because of herst time.


    The threat posed by the T Organization was still unclear, but it was a constant menace.


    Two hourster, Katelyn was done with her IV drip. At the same time, the results of Vincent¡¯s blood test report and the analysis of the pendant were ready. Samuel handed Vincent the documents.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, the detailed reports are ready.¡±


    Vincent reviewed the blood test report, and Katelyn took the other one.


    Vincent was in good health overall, but his past gunshot wound was still healing, leaving him somewhat weakened.<fn2be2> Official source is find(?)ovel</fn2be2>


    ???????? ???????? ???????????????? ???? ?¦Á??????¦Í??????£®??????


    The analysis of Katelyn¡¯s pendant revealed an unidentified yet harmless substance.


    Their lead on tracing the source of the poison to identify the mastermind had temporarily stalled.


    Katelyn clenched the pendant tightly, reassured. She was certain her mentor would never hurt her.


    As Katelyn was about to put the pendant back on, Vincent, frowning, stopped her.


    ¡°Just to be safe, I think you should keep it off until we fully understand what¡¯s going on.¡±


    Katelyn looked up, slightly taken aback. She softly touched the pendant.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the report confirm the pendant wasn¡¯t tampered with?¡± Vincent asked, his lips pressed firmly.


    ¡°It¡¯s wiser to be safe than sorry,¡± he added, his voice tinged with concern.


    Katelyn wore the pendant every day. Even with the report¡¯s assurances, Vincent¡¯s worry lingered. Given the capabilities of the T Organization, tampering with a report would be trivial for them. He wasn¡¯t willing to gamble with Katelyn¡¯s safety.


    Katelyn understood Vincent¡¯s deep-seated concerns and nodded reluctantly.


    She ced the pendant aside and examined the report more closely.


    A substancemonly known as magic grass was found, specifically on the pendant¡¯s cord. The cord had been submerged in water containing magic grass repeatedly over many years, allowing its presence to still be detectable today.


    Though it posed no harm, it wasn¡¯t beneficial either.


    ¡°My IV drip is finished. Let¡¯s return to the hotel. I need toplete the designs for Selina soon,¡± Katelyn said, standing up.


    Vincent agreed, noticing the pallor of Katelyn¡¯s face and the mark from the IV needle. He cautioned her, ¡°Be vignt about everything you touch. Pinpointing the source of the poison will lead us to the person behind this.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± she replied, taking a steadying breath.


    Once back in her hotel room, the first thing Katelyn did was swap out all her personal items. It was a straightforward yet effective precaution.


    She then positioned herptop on the desk. Instead of opening her design program, sheunched a secretive ck-and-red application. Stretching her wrists, she prepared herself for the task ahead.


    Breaking into the T Organization¡¯s systems was nearly an impossible feat. Yet, she was determined to risk it all.


    But first, she ensured her safety by implementing numerous anti-tracking defenses. If her intrusion was detected, her IP address would switch across several countries in just three seconds, using cutting-edge technology to hide her location.


    Just as Katelyn was about to begin, her phone rang on the desk.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 357

    ?Chapter 357:


    The screen lit up, disying a number Katelyn didn¡¯t recognize. It wasn¡¯t Selina calling.


    A tumult of conflicting emotions surged through Katelyn as she saw the unexpected caller ID. Her fingers hovered for a moment before she decisively pressed the ¡®answer¡¯ button.


    When she answered, a raspy voice greeted her, distorted byyers of electronic interference, making it impossible to tell whether it was male or female. The voice let out a harsh, unsettlingugh.


    ¡°Katelyn, I will introduce you to the depths of a living nightmare.¡±


    Her gaze sharpened, her focus intense. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked, her tone steady.


    But before she could receive any answers, the line went dead.


    Katelyn immediately tried calling back, but received no response, leaving her with more questions than answers. She set the phone down and quickly turned her attention to herputer, abandoning her initial n to infiltrate the T Organization. Instead, she focused on tracing the mysterious phone number.


    The distorted voice, coupled with the fact that the callsted less than thirty seconds, made it impossible to discern the caller¡¯s gender or pinpoint the exact IP address.


    Her determination grew as she recalled the persistent feeling of being watched back in Granville¡ªa sensation that only intensified since arriving in Yata.


    The recent incident involving the dart,bined with the anonymous, threatening call, deepened the mystery and raised the stakes.


    Katelyn remained resolute. She wasmitted to uncovering the mastermind behind these threats. She set her phone aside and once again focused her attention on the T Organization.


    Ch@pter updat3s at g??l??ovels.??o??


    The T Organization, known globally as a formidable mercenary group, employed some of the best hacking teams in the world. Multiple firewalls, each equipped to trigger rms and activate anti-location measures, protected their systems.


    Katelyn¡¯s face set into a determined expression as her fingers flew swiftly over the keyboard.


    She faced a formidable challenge¡ªagainst the world¡¯s elite hackers.


    Despite the continuous re of the red alert system on herputer, Katelyn remained undeterred. Her sole focus was on securing the client list without revealing her identity or location.


    By the time she breached the fifth firewall, she had to stop her progress. Her anti-tracking program had been depleted to a third of its capacity by the sophisticated countermeasures.


    Remaining proactive in her approach had inadvertently provided openings for her adversaries to track her location. Although breaking through the remaining firewalls was within her capabilities, the risks now outweighed the benefits. Reluctantly, she decided to suspend her efforts, opting for caution. This pause would likely prompt her opponents to increase their vignce,plicating any future attempts.


    With a resigned sigh, Katelyn updated her anti-tracking program and called Briar.


    His distinctive, raspy voice greeted her almost instantly. ¡°Trouble found you again, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    Katelyn leaned back into the sofa, feeling the tension that had built up earlier begin to ease just a little. ¡°You always seem to know, Briar,¡± she replied, a hint of gratitude in her voice.


    After a brief silence, she continued in a more serious tone. ¡°I need your help with something important.¡±


    On the other end, Briar calmly poured fragrant tea into his cup, his movements steady and unhurried. ¡°Tell me what you need,¡± he replied, ready to listen.


    ¡°I have a feeling that a friend of mine might have ended up with the T Organization, but it¡¯s only a suspicion. We lost touch several years ago,¡± Katelyn said, pausing briefly before continuing, ¡°I need you to use your connections to find out if anyone named ¡®Sophia Spencer¡¯ is associated with them.¡±


    Sophia had been another student under their mentor.


    Even with all the signs pointing to Sophia¡¯s involvement, Katelyn still clung to a bit of hope. Other than her fascination with poisons, Sophia had never done anything that could be deemed vile. So how could she have ended up connected to such a vicious group as the T Organization?


    The T Organization¡¯s inquiry service could track down anyone for the right price, even if that person was hidden in the most remote corners of the world. If necessary, they¡­


    ¡°Would even dig up graves to uncover the truth. This was Katelyn¡¯s best shot at finding the answers she needed.


    ¡°Sophia Spencer?¡± Briar repeated, his expression thoughtful.


    After a brief pause, he nodded and said, ¡°Consider it done. I¡¯ll get back to you once I find something.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the payment to your ount immediately,¡± Katelyn offered.


    However, Briar dismissed her offer. ¡°Katelyn, we¡¯re old friends. You don¡¯t have to pay me anything.¡±


    Before Katelyn could respond, a disgruntled voice interrupted from the doorway.<fn1480> For more chapters visit </fn1480>


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 358

    ?Chapter 358:


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this supposed to be a top-notch hotel? Why are there so few presidential suites left? I¡¯m willing to pay double. Just get me a suite!¡±


    The voice at the door was sharp and authoritative, belonging to a woman clearly ustomed to getting what she wanted.


    Katelyn narrowed her eyes, immediately recognizing the voice, even through the barrier of the door.


    It was Lise.


    What in the world had brought her all the way to Yata? Were they both here for the same reason, trying to snatch up the overseas market resources controlled by Selina?


    Katelyn nced at her phone, which still showed the call in progress, and lowered her voice. ¡°Briar, something¡¯se up. I¡¯ll call you back in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After ending the call, Katelyn inched closer to the door, her ear pressed against it as she tried to hear every word. Another woman¡¯s voice, anxious and apologetic, came through.


    ¡°It¡¯s not about the money, ma¡¯am. All our presidential suites are fully booked. But we have some lovely rooms downstairs, and we can offer a discount.¡±


    ¡°Forget the discount! Do you even know who¡¯s with me? She¡¯s worth billions! A discount is thest thing she needs. How could you suggest she stay in a lesser room?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression tightened.


    A billionaire? Did she hear that right?


    It was definitely Lise¡¯s voice, but who was the incredibly wealthy woman she was referring to?


    ???¨¨?? ¡é?¦¤T?¦Å§Á? ?¦Ç ?a?§Úo¦Í???.???


    As Katelyn stood deep in thought, the door shook violently under a sudden, forceful pounding.


    ¡°Is anyone in there?¡±


    Katelyn opened the door to find a breathtaking woman standing in the hallway. With her curvy figure, flowing blonde hair, and piercing blue eyes, she was a striking sight. Her wless skin and delicate, almost doll-like features made her beauty overwhelming.


    Even Lise, who was usually considered attractive, seemed ordinary inparison. Katelyn¡¯s eyes sharpened with recognition. This had to be the woman Lise had mentioned.


    Lise¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise, though her face barely concealed the intense dislike she felt.


    ¡°You! What are you doing here?¡± she demanded.


    Katelyn leaned effortlessly against the doorframe, her eyes cool and collected.


    ¡°And why not?¡± she responded, unfazed.


    Lise¡¯s gaze flicked to the room number, her lips curling into a disdainful smirk.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who booked this room. Perfect. Now leave. Princess Elora needs it.¡±


    Elora Williams¡¯ eyes scanned Katelyn with open dislike. She then turned to Lise and asked, ¡°Is this the woman you said stole your identity?¡±


    Lise¡¯s face quickly softened into a false, sugary smile, her voice dripping with insincere charm.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her. She¡¯s a master at ying games, always scheming against me. If it weren¡¯t for her, my reputation wouldn¡¯t be in shambles.¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes burned with intense hatred as she directed all the me at Katelyn.


    Elora sneered, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at Katelyn.


    ¡°You really are an idiot, Lise.¡±


    Despite the insult, Lise kept her anger in check, forcing a wider, more ingratiating smile.


    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ve been so naive.¡±


    It was the first time Katelyn had seen Lise adopt such a groveling attitude. She had seen many sides of Lise, from devious to frantic, but this was something new. Lise¡¯s every movement was filled with obsequiousness as she bowed and fawned over Elora, like a servant groveling before her master.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t shake the image of Elora pping Lise ¡ª she could almost see Lise thanking her for the indignity. The thought was harsh, but it seemed oddly fitting at that moment. Had Lisee to Yata by herself?<fn68cf> Checktest chapters at Find1Novel</fn68cf>


    Before she could think more on it, Katelyn felt Elora¡¯s cold, mocking starend on her with unnerving intensity.


    ¡°I¡¯ll offer you a very generous amount to leave this room right now. I need to stay here.¡±


    The arrogance in her voice made Katelyn¡¯s forehead crease. She let out a sharp, coldugh.


    ¡°And why would I do that?¡±


    ¡°My money should be enough of a reason.¡±


    Elora¡¯s smirk widened as she reached into her bag, pulled out something, and tossed it onto the floor at Katelyn¡¯s feet.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 359

    ?Chapter 359:


    Katelyn nced at the card on the floor. It was a prestigious credit card with an unlimited spending limit. Globally, only a select few at the top of the socialdder could qualify for such a card.


    Behind her, Lise stared at the card, her eyes wide with bitter envy. She couldn¡¯t believe what Elora was doing. Elora had just nonchntly offered the ck card to Katelyn.


    Despite all of Lise¡¯s efforts to ingratiate herself with Elora, she had only ever received minor gifts¡ªnothing as significant as the ck card.


    Katelyn looked up at Elora, confused. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± she asked.


    Elora gazed down at her with a proud look. ¡°If you leave this room and sincerely apologize to Lise, this ck card is yours. You¡¯ll never have to worry about money again.¡±


    As Katelyn stayed silent, a smug look spread across Lise¡¯s face.


    ¡°I heard you¡¯re a designer. Sketching all those drafts must be hard, right? With this card, you could enjoy a luxurious life.¡±


    Behind her, Lise¡¯s hands were balled into fists, itching to grab the card for herself. Even as a member of the wealthy Bailey family, their fortune paled inparison to the value of a ck card.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t suppress a mocking sneer, her expression full of intent.


    Elora sniffed dismissively, tilting her chin up, anticipating Katelyn¡¯s submission and apology. ¡°I¡¯ll count down from three. Just do as I¡¯ve asked, and the card is yours. Three¡ª¡±


    Lise interjected hesitantly, ¡°Your Highness, this matter is too trivial to warrant a ck card. Please, take it back.¡± She hoped Elora might offer her the ck card another time, under better circumstances.


    However, the thought of Katelyn getting the card gnawed at her.


    L?t??st ch¦Ápt?rs in ???lnovels.??????


    Elora looked at Lise with a cold, disdainful stare, her contempt sharper than ever. As she had always suspected, Lise really was crude and unrefined.


    Elora had intended to demean Katelyn with money, all for Lise¡¯s sake, but Lise, in her foolishness, had undermined her by suggesting she withdraw the offer. If Lise hadn¡¯t¡ª


    Elora had been Lise¡¯s most devoted follower for years. If Lise hadn¡¯t been so submissive and prone to embarrassment, Elora might not have brought her along at all. Lise¡¯s ingrained nature seemed unchangeable.


    Elora turned her attention back to Katelyn. Noticing that Katelyn hadn¡¯t moved to pick up the card, Lise seized the opportunity to voice her frustration.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even understand what the ck card represents, do you? It¡¯s a special card issued by global banks¡ªsomething most people will never encounter in their lifetimes.¡±


    Katelyn nced between the two women, regarding them as if they were nothing more than a sideshow. This was the first time anyone had attempted to demean her with money. She found it oddly amusing.


    Katelyn turned to Lise and replied nonchntly, ¡°If you want it, take it.¡±


    Lise was taken aback, unable to form a response. Her scheme had beenid bare, leaving her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She nced at Elora and breathed a sigh of relief when she noticed Elora hadn¡¯t seen her difort. She cleared her throat, trying to regain herposure.


    ¡°You should stop pretending to be so detached and superior,¡± Lise sneered. ¡°That expression disgusts me the most.¡±


    The corner of Katelyn¡¯s mouth curled into a smirk. She taunted, ¡°Are those your true feelings?¡±


    Once again, Lise found herself speechless. Her frustration grew as Katelyn¡¯s boldness seemed to multiply.<fn418f> Newest update provided by f?ndnovel</fn418f>


    Though Lise was upset by the idea of Katelyn receiving the ck card, the thought of Katelyn kneeling and apologizing was far more appealing. Lise was already scheming to capture Katelyn¡¯s humiliation on video and share it widely.


    Elora¡¯s expression grew colder, her patience wearing thin. She couldn¡¯t believe that anyone could resist the temptation of a ck card. In the face of a lifetime of wealth, a simple apology seemed insignificant. Yet Katelyn remained unfazed, as though she hadn¡¯t heard a word they said.


    Lise clenched her phone tightly, realizing her n might not unfold as expected.


    Elora¡¯sposure finally cracked, her voice sharp as she counted thest number. ¡°One.¡±


    Just at that moment, Katelyn began to lean forward slightly.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 360

    ?Chapter 360:


    Elora¡¯s eyes gleamed with a mix of smugness and contempt. She had been certain all along that no one could resist the lure of money, especially a coveted ck card. To her, wealth was the ultimate power in this world. If things weren¡¯t going her way, it only meant more money needed to be thrown at the problem.


    Meanwhile, Lise felt conflicted. She didn¡¯t want Katelyn to get her hands on a ck card so easily, but she did want to see Katelyn grovel at her feet like a servant.


    Katelyn stayed bent over, and both women watched eagerly, anticipating her humiliation. But to their shock, she soon stood up, stepped on the card, and kicked it back toward Elora. Her eyes held a sharp, icy glint.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone ever teach you to clean up after yourself?¡± she said.


    At first, Katelyn thought about picking up the card and handing it back to Elora. But when she saw the smugness on Elora¡¯s face, she changed her mind and decided to kick it away instead. She had no desire to dirty her hands. Both Lise and Elora stared at Katelyn in disbelief, wondering if she had lost her senses. To her, even a rare, limited-edition global ck card seemed like garbage.


    The situation had taken an unexpected turn. Elora clenched her fists, struggling to hide her frustration.


    ¡°Think carefully before you decide. I¡¯m giving you onest chance,¡± Elora warned.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained cold and detached. ¡°Take your trash with you.¡±


    She had been financially independent for years, so the ck card held no value for her. She had already seen enough to know that Elora was both arrogant and self-absorbed¡ªtraits that had be clear in their earlier conversation. Elora seemed to rely on money as a weapon to belittle others. It was a crude approach but often effective.


    Lise¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief. Had Katelyn lost her mind, or was she still pretending to be above it all to turn down such an offer?


    ??????????? ??????????????? ¨À??????¦Í??????©q?????


    ¡°I have to say, Katelyn, you are unbelievably foolish. You just let money fall right out of your hands. A high-end ck card is trash to you? Is that really the limit of your vision?¡±


    Her voice dripped with bitterness and resentment. Katelyn lookedpletely unmoved, as if nothing in this situation mattered to her.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a ck card,¡± she replied.


    Katelyn walked back to her room, grabbed her bag, and pulled out a ck card with gold embossing. Her gaze was icy as she looked at the two women.


    ¡°I¡¯ve had one of these for ages. Why do you think I need one more from you?¡±


    The mere fact that she had dismissed the ck card as trash had already stunned them. Now, seeing the same card in her hand, they could only stare at her, mouths open.


    How could this be? How did Katelyn get her hands on a ck card?


    Wasn¡¯t it supposed to be a globally limited edition? How could someone like Katelyn qualify to own one?


    Lise clenched her fists, struggling to hold back her rising resentment.


    ¡°Katelyn, where did you get that ck card? Was it handed to you by the Bailey family, or did Vincent give it to you?¡±


    Lise¡¯s voice wasced with hatred as she gritted her teeth. She refused to ept the idea that Katelyn could have obtained the card through her own merit. In her mind, it was simply impossible.


    After all, Lise herself had never even seen an application form for one.


    For Lise, the ck card symbolized the chasm between her and Katelyn. Things were not supposed to be like this.


    She had always believed that Katelyn should remain below her, never rising to her level.


    Katelyn tucked the card away with a casual air and replied coolly,


    ¡°In your mind, do you think I need to depend on others to get something like this? Or are you just bitter because, even with all the help you have, you still can¡¯t obtain it, and that eats you up inside?¡±<fn4e4c> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn4e4c>


    Her words hit a nerve, exposing Lise¡¯s deepest fear. Lise sneered and said,


    ¡°There you go, acting all aloof again. That¡¯s what I can¡¯t stand. Vincent must have given you that card.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin, and she was no longer in the mood to waste time on Lise.


    She pointed to the door and stated,


    ¡°Think whatever you want. Now, can you get out of my doorway?¡±


    Lise gritted her teeth, refusing to budge.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere! You¡¯re the one who should leave!¡±


    She then turned her attention to the nearby hotel staff.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 361

    ?Chapter 361:


    Lise¡¯s words came out through clenched teeth,ced with an undeniable sense of authority. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you extra, but you need to get this woman out of the room.¡±


    The hotel staff member hesitated, ncing between Lise and Katelyn.


    ¡°Sorry, this guest checked in first. We don¡¯t have the power to remove someone without reason.¡±


    At that moment, Elora snapped back to her senses. A flicker of concealed resentment shed in her eyes. She had underestimated Katelyn.


    The idea of Katelyn pulling out a ck card felt like a p in the face.


    Elora redirected her fury toward the hotel staff. ¡°Did you not hear me? If you don¡¯t make this room avable for me, I¡¯ll ensure your hotel shuts down.¡± As the sole heiress of her family, Elora knew how to turn such threats into reality.


    The staff member, on the verge of tears, whispered, ¡°This is a matter between you two. I¡¯m just an employee and don¡¯t have the authority to make such decisions. I¡¯ll get our manager for you.¡±


    Lise urged, ¡°Then hurry up.¡±


    She hade to Yata determined to secure her marriage to Neil, and she would do whatever it took to please Elora, hoping Elora would help her gain ess to the overseas market.


    Lise¡¯s rtionship with Neil had reached its lowest point, and the only way to salvage it was by bringing him enormous, undeniable profits.


    The overseas market was Lise¡¯sst hope.


    As the staff member rushed off to find the manager, Lise turned her cold gaze toward Katelyn, stepping closer.


    ¡°Katelyn, just wait. This isn¡¯t over between us.¡±


    ?????????????? ?????? ?????????¦Í?????????????


    Katelyn frowned, her patience running thin. She had nned to work quietly in her room, but even here, she couldn¡¯t escape Lise¡¯s aggravation.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t leave but continue to disrupt my work and rest, I¡¯ll call security,¡± Katelyn warned coldly, moving to shut the door, but Lise blocked it.


    ¡°Katelyn, I will make sure you pay for what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    Katelyn stared at Lise¡¯s hand holding the door open, her voice calm but icy.


    ¡°Move your hand.¡±


    Her patience was wearing thin.


    Lise had reached her breaking point as well. She no longer cared about keeping up appearances andshed out angrily.


    ¡°Katelyn, get out of this room now!¡±


    Before Lise could finish her outburst, Katelyn, fed up, swiftly kicked Lise¡¯s shin without hesitation.


    Lise immediately winced in pain, her face twisting in agony.


    Katelyn took advantage of the moment to shut the door. She leaned back against the sofa, irritation flickering in her eyes.


    Now that Lise knew her exact whereabouts, Katelyn anticipated more trouble in theing days. She briefly considered switching hotels. However, this one had a prime location, stylish decor, and was conveniently situated in the heart of Yata, making it one of the city¡¯s best.


    That was why Lise and Elora were so eager to force her out.


    Pushing aside her scattered thoughts, Katelyn pulled out herptop and tried to focus on her designs. But just as she picked up her pen, the doorbell rang again. Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened. It had to be the hotel manager this time.


    She opened the door, expecting to see a middle-aged employee, but to her surprise, standing there was a man in a white suit, with sharp, refined features.


    He wore a polite, well-practiced smile.


    ¡°Good evening, Miss Bailey. Please allow me to introduce myself. I¡¯m Bartley Lawrence, the owner of this hotel. I understand there¡¯s been some conflict, and I¡¯m here to help resolve it.¡±


    Hearing this, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but study him more closely.


    At that moment, only one thought filled her mind. And that was¡­


    .


    .<fnffe7> Th?s chapter is updated by FindN0vel</fnffe7>


    .

 Chapter 362

    ?Chapter 362:


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t believe her eyes.


    It wasn¡¯t just Bartley¡¯s perfect features that caught her off guard, but the fact that someone so young could own a hotel this grand.


    He was as striking as Vincent, but the difference in their presence was stark.


    Vincent carried a cold, detached arrogance, whereas the man in front of her had a sharp, refined elegance. His charm was undeniable, and there was a quiet authority in his handsome face, as though he didn¡¯t need to unt power to be taken seriously.


    Katelyn forced herself to look away, her lips twisting into a bitter smile.


    ¡°I was here first. Why should I give up my room for them?¡±


    Bartley nced at Lise, the story they had fed him now seeming a bit off.


    With a practiced smile still in ce, Bartley said, ¡°Thisdy mentioned they¡¯d be happy topensate you for the inconvenience.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s reply came quickly, her voice cool and firm. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in their money. I only ask that I receive no harassment while I¡¯m here.¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression darkened with anger. Harassment? What exactly was Katelyn insinuating?


    She red at Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t push it. We¡¯re trying to be reasonable, but don¡¯t make us take another route.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile grew, but the chill in her eyes deepened.


    ¡°Oh? Are you thinking of getting physical?¡± Katelyn¡¯s voice carried a taunt.


    ¡°You¡­¡± Lise started, her anger bubbling over, but Bartley¡¯s quick, warning nce silenced her.


    Though his smile stayed in ce, the atmosphere around him shifted, bing just as intimidating as Vincent¡¯s.


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    ¡°Once someone checks into my hotel, they¡¯re under my protection,¡± Bartley said with quiet authority. ¡°No one has the right to pressure my guests into anything they don¡¯t want.¡±


    Katelyn gave him a sidelong nce, surprised. She had assumed Bartley would back Lise.


    Elora, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up. ¡°I¡¯ve never been denied anything I wanted, not since I was a child. Name your price for this hotel, and I¡¯ll buy it right now.¡±


    Her anger simmered beneath her words. She was determined to make Katelyn pay for defying her.


    Katelyn quickly estimated the hotel¡¯s worth, easily in the billions. Bartley, still wearing his easy smile, replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this hotel isn¡¯t for sale. It¡¯s my personal property.¡± His smile didn¡¯t falter¡ªa practiced expression that kept his true thoughts hidden.


    Perhaps his experience as a businessman, dealing with all kinds of people, had taught him to keep his emotions in check.


    Elora¡¯s temper red. ¡°Find a way to fix this, or I¡¯ll make sure your hotel is shut down.¡±


    For the first time, Bartley¡¯s smile slipped slightly.


    ¡°You might be a Williams, but don¡¯t forget the Lawrences don¡¯t scare easily,¡± Bartley said calmly, though the warning in his words was unmistakable.


    Katelyn observed the standoff, her mind processing the details she had just learned about Elora¡¯s lineage. The Williams family had been nobility since thest century, their wealth rooted in gold mining andter flourishing through a prestigious jewelry business.


    Though their power had dimmed over the years, Elora was still treated with reverence wherever she went. She carried herself with the kind of arrogance that only old money could justify.


    Elora¡¯s expression hardened, her teeth clenching in barely contained anger.


    ¡°Bartley, is this really how you¡¯re going to treat me? Don¡¯t forget our connection. You¡¯d rather stand by a stranger than me?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t just about emotions; it was about a potential family alliance, and Elora expected Bartley to show her the respect she believed she deserved, especially in front of others.<fn0001> Fresh chapters posted on FindN0vel</fn0001>


    Bartley¡¯s face remainedposed as he spoke with steady resolve. ¡°My guests¡¯ rights are my top priority. That¡¯s not up for negotiation.¡±


    ¡°What about me? What do I mean to you?¡±


    Elora¡¯s voice wavered with anger as she jabbed a finger in Katelyn¡¯s direction.


    ¡°You¡¯d defend this woman over me? I¡¯ll make sure your family knows exactly what you did here today!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 363

    ?Chapter 363:


    Bartley replied with a note of indifference, his voice carrying a trace of irritation. ¡°Alright, you can go and do whatever you want now. Please don¡¯t disturb my guest any further.¡±


    His words were light, almost casual, yet they directly challenged Elora.


    The frustration evident in Bartley¡¯s eyes was hard to mask. He had always seen Elora as an overly pampered princess, coddled by her family. But now, he was witnessing her more unreasonable and overbearing traits.


    He was determined that she would not sway him from his principles.


    Elora bit her lip hard, her face a mixture of anger and grievance.


    ¡°You¡¯ll regret this. I¡¯ll make sure you apologize to me personally.¡±


    With those words, she grabbed her handbag and stormed off in her high heels.


    Lise, not willing to back down, threw a final spiteful nce at Katelyn before chasing after Elora.


    She believed she had all the time in the world to make Katelyn¡¯s life miserable.


    As they left, Katelyn turned her attention back to Bartley, who had once again donned his wless mask of a smile. He was the first to speak, offering a courteous apology.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Bailey. Our negligence has unfortunately led to this situation. To make it up to you, we are offering an extension of your stay for another week at no extra cost. If you encounter any more issues, please contact our security.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, epting the gesture. ¡°Thank you. I just hope there won¡¯t be any more disturbances.¡±


    Bartley maintained his smile and replied, ¡°It was apse on our part. We¡¯ll ensure things are handled more carefully. I hope you¡¯ll consider staying with us again, Miss Bailey.¡±<fn91d1> Th?s chapter is updated by F¦Énd£Îovel</fn91d1>


    Upd4t3s c0m3 F1RST 0n g4ln0v3ls.c0m


    ¡°Alright then.¡±


    Katelyn gave a brief nod and turned to head back to her room.


    However, a nagging feeling lingered inside her¡ªa gut instinct telling her that Bartley might be more dangerous than he appeared.


    Someone who could so consistently hide their emotions behind a perfect facade was undeniably rming. Even with his constant smile, it was impossible to be sure what malice might be concealed beneath it.


    Katelyn decided to put the minor incident out of her mind and focus on her design projects.


    Hourster, Vincent returned, carrying a delicate box. He knocked on Katelyn¡¯s door.


    Just the previous day, Vincent had mentioned that he had an important meeting in the morning.


    Katelyn gave him a slightly surprised look but moved aside to let him in. ¡°Mr. Adams.¡±


    Vincent casually ced the box on the table. ¡°I had Samuel pick up some local delicacies from Yata. I think you¡¯ll find them quite enjoyable.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and opened the box, her eyes lighting up at the sight of a collection of exquisitely made pastries. The enticing scent immediately made her mouth water.


    ¡°It¡¯s unexpected that in such an upscale city, pastries are considered a local delicacy,¡± she remarked, impressed.


    The box contained sixteen pastries, each with a different shape and color, presumably offering distinct vors. Katelyn chose the most visually appealing one and took a bite.


    She was greeted by the rich, buttery vor,plemented by a blend of other ingredients, all harmoniously mixed without being overwhelming. The exceptional taste made her eyes light up.


    ¡°These are wonderful,¡± she said. ¡°They¡¯re aromatic yet light, with just the right amount of sweetness.¡±


    Typically, Katelyn wasn¡¯t a fan of sweets and rarely indulged in desserts. Yet, these pastries were surprisingly to her liking.


    Vincent rxed on the couch, watching her with a slight smile.


    ¡°If you enjoy them, I can have Samuel bring moreter.¡±


    Katelyn nodded enthusiastically. These pastries were some of the best she¡¯d ever tasted.


    ¡°The local cuisine in Yata is quite distinct from what I¡¯m used to,¡± she said. ¡°Only the hotel¡¯s restaurant, with its international offerings, feels familiar to me.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Adams, would you care to try one?¡± she offered, holding up a pastry. ¡°This one, in particr, is excellent.¡±


    As she spoke, Katelyn already nned to buy several boxes to take back to Aimee and her other friends when they left.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze remained on her, a subtle smile ying at the corners of his lips. ¡°The one you¡¯re enjoying seems to be the best.¡±


    Katelyn nced back at the box, searching for another pastry of the same vor.


    ¡°It seems there isn¡¯t another one like this. Would you like to try a different vor? I bet they¡¯re just as good.¡±


    Just as she reached for a pastry that looked simr, Vincent leaned closer, lowered his head, and took a bite from the one she was holding, iming it for himself.


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 Chapter 364

    ?Chapter 364:


    Vincent¡¯s unexpected move took Katelyn by surprise. She stared at him, her eyes wide with confusion, trying to make sense of what had just happened.


    What exactly had just urred?


    Vincent had leaned in and taken a bite from the pastry she was holding, even though she had already bitten into it herself.


    A blush crept up her cheeks from the sudden closeness. Without thinking, she gripped the fabric of her dress, searching for words to break the awkward silence, but none came.


    Meanwhile, Vincent appearedpletely at ease, more rxed than she felt.


    He narrowed his eyes slightly and nodded. ¡°Quite delicious. We should have this again.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated, unsure whether she should mention that he had just shared her pastry.


    Maybe Vincent hadn¡¯t realized what he did.


    But everything about his behavior suggested he had done it on purpose.


    In moments like these, Katelyn wished she could just disappear from embarrassment.


    Then he looked at her, his eyes soft yet intense.


    ¡°Why are your cheeks flushed? Are you feeling alright?¡±


    Snapped back to the present, Katelyn looked away, flustered. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m okay.¡±


    Despite her words, Katelyn covered her face with her hands, her cheeks still warm.


    She noticed she had been blushing more oftentely. Even though she had been in rtionships before, being around Vincent made her feel unusually vulnerable.


    Discover more g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s


    Suddenly, Vincent stepped closer.


    The gap between them, previously about an arm¡¯s length, narrowed significantly with his approach.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened further, her gaze locked on his face.


    As he drew nearer, the slight stubble on his face became visible.


    Katelyn straightened up, her posture tight like that of a schoolgirl on edge. Her voice, filled with tension, matched her rigid demeanor. ¡°Mr. Adams¡­¡±


    She fiddled with her clothing, her hands slightly sweaty. The familiar, soft fragrance of his cologne drifted to her again, stirring a sense of restlessness each time it filled her senses.


    Vincent watched her closely, capturing every subtle change in her expression.


    She hadn¡¯t yet mastered the art of hiding her feelings.


    Her unease was inly visible.


    She looked incredibly adorable, which only tempted him to tease her further.


    Normally, Katelyn was reserved and distant, but her shyness now made her irresistibly charming.


    This striking difference made Vincent hesitate to pull away, and he continued to close the distance between them until they were nearly touching.


    They were so close that a mere tilt of his head would bring their lips together.


    At that moment, Katelyn¡¯s cheeks zed bright red. The longer Vincent stayed silent, the more her anxiety grew. She feltpelled to speak.


    ¡°Mr. Adams¡­ What are you trying to do?¡±


    Vincent smiled and slowly lifted his hand toward her cheek.


    Though she had been working for several years, her skin remained as soft and smooth as a young child¡¯s. Coupled with her shyness, she now looked even more captivating.


    Suddenly, Vincent reached out and brushed some crumbs from the corner of her mouth.


    He then stepped back to where he had been standing and said casually, ¡°You had some crumbs right here.¡±


    Katelyn, still in a daze, touched the spot he had just brushed, feeling somewhat foolish.


    Vincent had merely been helping her with the crumbs. So why had he needed toe so close?


    She had nearly believed he was about to kiss her, and the thought had sent her heart racing.<fn4743> Th?s chapter is updated by </fn4743>


    Katelyn was thoroughly confused. What had she been thinking? Why entertain such inappropriate thoughts?


    With this realization, she couldn¡¯t stay seated any longer. She stood up quickly, stammering, ¡°Mr. Adams, I need to step out for a moment.¡±


    Then, she swiftly exited the room, almost as if escaping.


    .


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 Chapter 365

    ?Chapter 365:


    Katelyn stood in the corridor, trying to steady herself. Something about Vincent felt different, but she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint what it was.


    Her heart raced, and her cheeks felt warm, leaving her feeling confused. What was happening?


    She took a deep breath, pushing away the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind. For now, she needed to stop overthinking and focus on finishing her design.


    After regaining herposure, Katelyn returned to her room, while Vincent turned his attention back to his work.


    It seemed like nothing had changed, yet the neatly arranged box of pastries on the table hinted that something had.


    Katelyn felt the pressure mounting on her shoulders. Selina had reviewed countless masterpieces over the years, giving her a keen eye for jewelry design. Creating something that would meet her high standards in just two days was a daunting challenge.


    Katelyn entered a deep state of concentration, pouring all her energy into her sketches, often forgetting to eat.


    By the morning of the banquet, she had finally finished thest version of her design.


    She grabbed herptop and walked over to Vincent¡¯s door.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± she called out, knocking firmly.


    After several knocks, there was still no answer. ¡°Mr. Adams?¡± she called again, but the silence continued. She assumed Vincent was caught up in a meeting.


    Just as she turned to leave, the door suddenly swung open behind her.


    Your new favorite stories are at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s


    Vincent appeared at the door, wearing nothing but a white towel around his waist, his chest and shoulders bare. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he asked, locking his gaze on hers.


    Her eyes instinctively dropped to his sculpted abs, beads of water glistening on his skin as they trailed down and vanished into the towel.


    With his undeniably handsome face, it was impossible for her thoughts not to wander.


    She had seen him without a shirt before, in the hospital, but this felt different. He was utterly tempting.


    All she could think about was how irresistibly attractive he looked. This was something she never thought she¡¯d even consider.


    Vincent noticed where her eyes had settled, nced down, and a barely noticeable smile tugged at the corners of his lips.


    ¡°Finished the design?¡± he asked, running a towel through his damp hair as he turned and began heading back inside. ¡°Let me take a look.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated for a moment, her gaze fixed downward, trying to avoid looking at him. But despite her best efforts, their eyes met.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, maybe you should put on some clothes first,¡± she stuttered, feeling a rush of nerves.


    Vincent reached into the wardrobe and pulled out a in white T-shirt, slipping it on over his head. Usually dressed in formal suits, his casual attire was a surprising contrast. The shift from a powerful executive to a rxed young man was striking.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but admire how effortlessly attractive he was. Even if he left the business world for showbiz, she¡¯d have no doubt that he¡¯d fit right in.


    She handed him her design, the theme of which was ¡°Eternity,¡± inspired by her research into Selina¡¯s preferences. Selina favored timeless concepts, and Katelyn had carefully tailored this work to win her approval.


    These sketches weren¡¯t meant for the final exhibition but for gaining Selina¡¯s trust and opening doors to future opportunities.


    As Vincent looked over the designs, a glimmer of appreciation appeared in his eyes.<fn180b> For original chapters go to fin?novel</fn180b>


    He had seen countless pieces of her work, coborated with her for years, yet her creations always managed to captivate him.


    He could already envision how brilliant the jewelry would appear once it was crafted. More than that, he thought that only Katelyn could elevate jewelry design into something that felt closer to art.


    Her appearance, her character, and her talent all seemed to create a glow around her. Her creativity only made her more remarkable.


    It was her artistic gift that had drawn him to her from the start.


    ¡°These designs are fantastic,¡± he said, a note of admiration in his voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go meet Selina now.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Katelyn replied, still a little flustered but focused on the task ahead.


    Katelyn had arranged the meeting with Selina over the phone. However, when they arrived at the vi, they noticed she had other guests.


    .


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 Chapter 366

    ?Chapter 366:


    Sitting on the sofa were Elora and Lise. In that moment, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but think how small the world truly was. Why did she keep bumping into them wherever she went?<fn67ad> The rightful source is find¡¤novel</fn67ad>


    Selina, dressed more casually than usual, noticed Katelyn and Vincent. She gave a small nod, a quiet greeting that felt formal in the tense atmosphere. ¡°Mr. Adams and Miss Bailey are here.¡±


    Elora and Lise turned at once, their gazes locking onto Katelyn with an intensity that made the air feel heavy. Elora¡¯s expression twisted with barely concealed rage, her hatred for Katelyn burning hotter than Lise¡¯s. She med this woman for everything¡ªBartley¡¯s coldness, the way he had dismissed her pride as though it were nothing.


    Lise¡¯s eyes, however, were filled more with jealousy than anger. Katelyn and Vincent matched in every way¡ªhow they looked, how they stood, even their presence in the room. To anyone who didn¡¯t know them, they could easily be mistaken for a married couple.


    How did Katelyn have such an easy life? What made her lucky enough to end up with someone like Vincent? Lise¡¯s mind was made up. She wasn¡¯t going to hold back¡ªshe would take everything from Katelyn, piece by piece.


    Vincent caught the shift in their expressions but chose to ignore it. His attention turned to Selina as he spoke calmly, ¡°We¡¯ve brought the designs.¡±


    Selina took the portfolio from Katelyn with a casual air, but as she flipped through the pages, her expression changed. Her eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of disbelief crossing her face. These were some of the best designs she hadid eyes on in a long time.


    Each line was sharp and precise, the themes tied together effortlessly. She had already done her research on Iris¡¯ previous works, which was why she had been so amodating during her talks with Katelyn and Vincent. She understood the kind of magic Katelyn¡¯s designs could bring.


    But thispleted in just two days¡ªwas beyond anything she had expected.


    ?????? ?????? ???????????????? ???????? ???? g????????¦Í??????.??o m


    Now it made perfect sense why Katelyn had reached the top of her field and why, even after a three-year break, she still had a loyal following. In terms ofmercial power, Iris could easily rank among the best in the world. In every industry, true skill always rose above everything else.


    Selina¡¯s eyes sparkled with unmistakable admiration, her appreciationid bare without any attempt to hide it. People had started calling her a ¡°She-Devil,¡± iming she had a sharp, merciless eye for detail. What they didn¡¯t understand was that her taste was simply different¡ªmore refined. When she came across a designer with real talent, like Katelyn, she was quick to share her resources.


    ¡°This is remarkable,¡± Selina said, holding up the design. ¡°I¡¯m truly impressed. Looks like partnering with you was the right move after all.¡±


    A flicker of confusion crossed Katelyn¡¯s face, her brow furrowing slightly. Their deal with Selina wasn¡¯t finalized yet, and they hadn¡¯t even looked into the specifics of the castle. Why was Selina speaking as if the coboration was already locked in? Was she saying this for Elora¡¯s and Lise¡¯s benefit?


    It seemed so. Elora¡¯s expression darkened instantly, her eyes narrowing as she red at Selina. Her voice dripped with dissatisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re really going to work with them?¡±


    Selina didn¡¯t hesitate, nodding openly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m really drawn to their design style and approach,¡± she replied.


    Elora¡¯s eyes hardened, a cold gleam flickering across them. ¡°In that case,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to rethink our partnership. I need to adjust the terms and add something more¡ªI don¡¯t want to see her ever again.¡± She jabbed a finger straight at Katelyn.


    Elora had been spoiled all her life, used to getting her way without question. The incident with Katelyn rejecting her ck card had already pushed her to the edge, and Bartley¡¯s indifference only fanned the mes. Now, Elora¡¯s rage simmered dangerously. The only solution that seemed reasonable to her was to eliminate Katelyn from the picture entirely.


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened, her expression unreadable but alert. She had always known Elora to be direct¡ªa woman who wore her thoughts inly and acted on them without hesitation.


    Selina, however, found the whole exchange amusing. A spark of mischief lit her eyes, but when she spoke, her tone was as cold as ice.


    ¡°I think you¡¯ve misunderstood something, Miss Williams,¡± Selina said, her voice steady but firm. ¡°We haven¡¯t signed any contract yet. And just so we¡¯re clear, I¡¯m the client. You¡¯re the contractor. That means I¡¯m the one who gets to set the terms, not you.¡±


    Though her tone remained polite, Selina¡¯s words struck hard, stripping away any illusion of power Elora thought she had.


    Elora¡¯s expression shifted instantly, her eyes turning cold and dangerous. ¡°You!¡±


    Why were all these people daring to stand against her? Did they want to die?


    Her eyes burned with fury as her thoughts spiraled into darker ces.


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 Chapter 367

    ?Chapter 367:


    Just as Elora was about to speak, Lise quickly noticed what was happening and stepped forward. She saw this as the perfect opportunity to gain Elora¡¯s favor and wasn¡¯t about to let it slip away.


    ¡°Hey, watch your tone. You¡¯re in the presence of Princess Elora. How dare you speak to her like that?¡± Lise said, her voice dripping with feigned authority.


    Selina¡¯s eyes shed with disdain and irritation. She raised her hand to her ear and said, ¡°Whose dog is barking? It¡¯s driving me crazy. I can¡¯t stand it when people can¡¯t control their dogs.¡±


    Katelyn nearlyughed out loud at theparison.


    She hadn¡¯t expected Selina to have such a sharp wit. In just a few words, she managed to infuriate Lisepletely. But then again, Selina had a point. Lise did seem like apdog, constantly trailing after Elora.


    Katelyn decided then and there that she needed to dig deeper when she got back. There had to be some arrangement between Elora and Lise. Why else would Lise act so pathetically obedient?


    Lise¡¯s face flushed with anger and embarrassment. ¡°How dare you!¡± she snapped, furious that Selina¡ªthe woman she despised¡ªhad the nerve to insult her. Elora¡¯s eyes grew colder, her expression hardening with disdain. Though Selina mocked Lise, her words disrespected Elora as well.


    Lise might have been overly ttering, but that didn¡¯t give Selina the right to insult her; it was like insulting Elora herself.


    ¡°Miss Hathaway, I came here to discuss our coboration, but with your attitude, I don¡¯t see any reason to continue. Remember, the project you¡¯re working on still needs my family¡¯s approval.¡±


    Old institutions didn¡¯t fade away so easily. Elora¡¯s family might not hold the same power as before, but they stillmanded significant respect and influence in the country.


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    Why else would everyone still call her Princess Elora?


    Most people would have apologized to Elora by now, but Selina wasn¡¯t one to follow conventional rules. In fact, she loathed such tactics.


    ¡°If you think you can threaten me like this, you need a reality check, Your Highness.¡±<fn0ade> Read full story at find?novel</fn0ade>


    Selina¡¯s eyes reflected nothing but contempt. She stared at Elora as if she were some sort of joke. With her chin resting on her hand, she continued calmly, ¡°The person with real authority over this project is indeed a member of your family, but they¡¯re not exactly close to you, are they? Do you truly believe you can single-handedly block a project worth billions?¡± The answer was clearly no.


    Elora might be the heiress, but she had no real power at the moment. Noble families often dealt withplicated internal politics, and illegitimate children were not umon. Elora¡¯s current position had more to do with luck than anything else.


    To Selina, Elora seemed like aplete fool. If it weren¡¯t for Elora¡¯s family ties, Selina would never have even considered entertaining her. Seeing Selina behave so rudely toward Elora, even Katelyn and Vincent were caught off guard. They both thought Selina was being reckless. Was she really not worried about retaliation from Elora¡¯s family?


    Lise quickly stepped in to defend Elora, trying to salvage her dignity. ¡°You¡¯re unbelievably arrogant. This is going too far, and I hope you won¡¯t regret what you did today. One day, you¡¯ll be the one asking Princess Elora for forgiveness.¡±


    She wasn¡¯t about to let this opportunity slip by.


    ¡°That will never happen. If I decide to stop the project, it might be Princess Elora who faces the consequences from her own family instead of me. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Selina¡¯s contempt deepened, her stance bing even more defiant.


    Elora couldn¡¯t contain her anger any longer. She stood, her eyes cold as she red at Selina.


    ¡°I will make you regret this one day. Consider our coboration finished. Get ready for the consequences, Selina.¡±


    She turned sharply and walked away, but as she passed by Katelyn, something unexpected happened.


    .


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 Chapter 368

    ?Chapter 368:


    Elora shot Katelyn a fierce re, her intent clear: she was determined to make both Selina and Katelyn pay for their actions. Elora¡¯s inability to mask her emotions was evident, and her facial expressions betrayed her thoughts, leaving Katelyn bewildered.


    Katelyn had mingled with foreign socialites and even real princesses, individuals who disyed effortless grace under pressure. Their dignified demeanor was second nature, always maintainingposure and poise, even in challenging situations.


    Elora, however, seemed out of ce among them. Without her title, Katelyn would find it hard to believe that such an impulsive and reckless individual could be a potential leader of a noble lineage. Didn¡¯t Elora¡¯s family worry that her behavior might one day jeopardize their vast holdings?


    It wasn¡¯t that Katelyn underestimated Elora. From the moment Elora unted her wealth at their first meeting to today¡¯s confrontation with Selina, everything she did seemed to highlight herck of ss. Even though Selina exposed Elora¡¯s true limitations, Elora¡¯s attitude remained confidently arrogant.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t understand where Elora¡¯s confidence stemmed from.


    Selina reclined on the couch, observing Elora¡¯s departure with growing disdain. ¡°She¡¯s just an entitled child who doesn¡¯t know her ce,¡± she remarked. Elora, who was after Selina¡¯s help, had the audacity to negotiate with such arrogance.


    If Selina had treated Elora with respect, she wouldn¡¯t have been true to herself, nor would she have lived up to her reputation as the ¡°She-Devil.¡±


    Lise, visibly stunned by how the negotiations unfolded, once again directed her anger at Katelyn. She fixed Katelyn with a sharp look, gripping her purse tightly.


    ¡°Just you wait. With Princess Elora against you, your days of peace are over, Katelyn.¡±


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    Katelyn responded quickly, striking where it would hurt Lise the most. ¡°Perhaps you should be more concerned about yourself. How does it feel to be merely ackey? Does Neil know you¡¯re groveling to someone else while you¡¯re overseas?¡±


    As Katelyn spoke, she suddenly understood why Lise was so desperate and cautious in her dealings with Elora. It all came down to Elora¡¯s influential background and the vast resources she controlled.


    Perhaps Lise was seeking opportunities abroad because her reputation had soured at home. But where did Neil fit into all of this?


    Katelyn¡¯s words clearly hit a nerve, and Lise¡¯s face twisted with anger. ¡°You bitch! You¡¯ll regret this! This isn¡¯t over!¡± she snapped, clutching her purse tightly before rushing off to catch up with Elora.


    Katelyn watched them leave without a flicker of emotion, her mind still processing the situation.


    Vincent, once again, saw through her thoughts. His voice was cold as he spoke, ¡°Elora is just one among many heirs and heiresses. Her family, like the Adams, trains sessors with a ruthless management style¡ªthough theirs is much more lenient.¡±


    ¡°Why, then, did they choose Elora?¡± Katelyn wondered aloud. If the family operated by a ¡°survival of the fittest¡± principle, Elora wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance.


    Vincent had fought his way to his current status, outshining countless contenders. In his family, someone like Elora would have been dismissed early in the process.<fne5c1> Th?s chapter is updated by Find?Novel</fne5c1>


    Selina provided a calm exnation. ¡°Elora¡¯s mother was the Earl¡¯s first wife, and she saved his life by chance. That act not only earned his indulgence, but also his guilt. As a result, Elora was raised without many boundaries. The other heirs y into this by constantly ttering her for their own advantage.¡±


    Katelyn immediately grasped the implications.


    The ¡°ttery trap¡± meant that no matter how reckless Elora¡¯s behavior was, it was always met with approval and praise. Raised in such an environment, a person could be increasingly reckless, believing they were above any consequences.


    Elora was the perfect example. The ttery trap was terrifying¡ªespecially when those who seemed supportive could be the ones with the most harmful intentions.


    Katelyn suddenly found herself curious about what would happen if Elora ever faced a real challenge¡­


    .


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 Chapter 369

    ?Chapter 369:


    If Elora woke up one day and found herself surrounded by lies and hatred, how would she handle it?


    Selina didn¡¯t dwell on Elora¡¯s visit. Instead, she smoothed out the newly drawn designs on the desk, the edges still crisp from the printer.


    Dealing with Vincent was much easier than handling Elora. With Vincent and Katelyn, Selina didn¡¯t need to exin herself. Both were sharp and understood quickly. Elora, on the other hand, moved unpredictably, always driven by hertest impulse.


    If Elora ever hit a roadblock, it would be a huge one.


    As for the threats Elora had made before storming out, Selina hadn¡¯t taken them seriously. By the time those threats turned real, any chance for regret would have long passed. But right now, she wasn¡¯t thinking about that.


    Selina¡¯s focus was entirely on Poulos Castle.


    ¡°Honestly, the designs you¡¯ve given me are better than I expected. You¡¯re more than qualified to discuss a partnership,¡± Selina said, her voice steady.


    As she spoke, her eyes lingered on Katelyn, watching her closely. Even after hearing such praise, Katelyn¡¯s face remained calm. She didn¡¯t allow her pride to show, and that impressed Selina even more. She had no patience for people who inted their worth when praised or fell apart when criticized.


    Katelyn smiled softly and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m ttered, Miss Hathaway.¡±


    Selina¡¯s praise washed over her, making every sleepless night feel worthwhile. Every detail of the design had been crafted around Selina¡¯s vision. People¡¯s tastes were always specific, but a design that felt like art? That could transcend any niche.


    A flicker of satisfaction crossed Vincent¡¯s face. What he valued most in Katelyn went beyond her talent or beauty.


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    It was her reliability. Whenever a task demanded precision and excellence, Katelyn delivered wlessly, every single time. Naturally, he trusted her.


    From the moment they had set the deadline, Vincent had known she wouldn¡¯t disappoint.


    ¡°Now, as for your wish to enter the exhibition and secure the grand finale spot,¡± Selina began, her tone measured, ¡°it will depend on how quickly you can hand over the estate.¡±


    Selina¡¯s words came after careful thought. ¡°If there¡¯s something you want from beneath the castle, I¡¯ll make sure to secure it once I take ownership.¡±


    The treasures buried under the castle were numerous, and parting with ten items, or even just one, would not be a problem at all.


    Vincent¡¯s tone remained easygoing. ¡°I¡¯ve already made contact with Earl Poulos. I¡¯ll update you as soon as there¡¯s any news.¡±


    Selina leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but carrying a warning. ¡°Just a heads-up¡ªdon¡¯t assume it will be smooth sailing. The Earl is known for being difficult. If not for his quirks, many people wouldn¡¯t have walked away empty-handed.¡±


    Her eyes shifted back to Katelyn, and something about her struck a chord. As Selina studied Katelyn¡¯s face more closely, an odd sense of recognition crept in. It puzzled her, and for a moment, she couldn¡¯t figure out why. The feeling was so unexpected that she straightened up, her curiosity piqued.


    ¡°Have you ever been to Yata before?¡± Selina asked. ¡°I could swear I¡¯ve seen you somewhere. You look so familiar.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated for a moment, clearly surprised, before shaking her head. ¡°I think you¡¯re confusing me with someone else. I¡¯ve never been to Yata, and we¡¯ve definitely never met. Maybe you¡¯ve seen my picture in the news from back home.¡±


    It was a reasonable exnation, but Selina wasn¡¯t convinced. She slowly shook her head, still trying to connect the dots.


    Her demeanor changed. No longer rxed, Selina stood up and began pacing around Katelyn, her eyes never leaving her. With each step, that strange feeling of familiarity grew stronger. Her lips pressed into a tight line.


    ¡°Actually,¡± Selina said, her voice softer now, ¡°when I really look at you, your features don¡¯t quite match those of people from your country. Are you of mixed heritage?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face was striking¡ªbeautifully bnced and refined. Her eyes held something different, something umon for someone from her background. Selina¡¯s surprise deepened as the realization hit her. In an instant, her expression shifted, shock flooding her features.


    She had just uncovered a huge secret!


    .


    .<fna124> Newest update provided by find?novel</fna124>


    .

 Chapter 370

    ?Chapter 370:<fn0782> Th?s chapter is updated by f?ndnovel</fn0782>


    Selina suddenly realized who Katelyn reminded her of. If she were to cover Katelyn¡¯s eyes and only focus on the lower half of her face, the resemnce was striking. The surprise on Selina¡¯s face was evident, catching the attention of both Katelyn and Vincent.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°I¡¯m not of mixed race. Have you seen someone who looks like me?¡±


    Selina raised a hand slowly, closing her mouth in disbelief. Katelyn¡¯s question seemed to confuse her just as much. ¡°Why are you asking something like that out of the blue?¡± Selina replied.


    Katelyn¡¯s hand twitched at her side, but she quickly rxed. She didn¡¯t want to reveal too much to Selina just yet.


    ¡°Miss Hathaway, I need to make one more request,¡± Katelyn said.


    Selina regained herposure, appearing more rxed. ¡°Alright, go ahead. What is it?¡± she replied calmly.


    ¡°If you evere across someone who looks like me, please tell me,¡± Katelyn said.


    This might be her only chance to uncover the truth about her family.


    Ever since she found out she wasn¡¯t a Bailey, Katelyn had avoided this topic. The fear of being abandoned again, as the Bailey family had done, had kept her silent.


    However, Marlon¡¯s recent situation had reignited something within her. She wanted to learn about her real parents, even if it meant keeping her distance and never making herself known.


    Selina immediately nodded. ¡°I promise.¡±


    ???????? ???????????????? ????????: g???????¦Í????????????


    As she spoke, Selina grabbed her phone and began typing something.


    After a moment, her eyes returned to Katelyn. During their earlier conversations, Vincent had led the discussion, and Selina had focused her attention on him. Now, her gaze waspletely fixed on Katelyn.


    ¡°We have two months until the exhibition. I need you to secure that castle, no matter the cost.¡± Her eyes held a deeper meaning, something unspoken but important. ¡°When the castle bes mine, whatever is inside could prove incredibly valuable.¡±


    ¡°Valuable to you as well. I wouldn¡¯t want you to miss that opportunity.¡±


    ¡°Valuable to them as well?¡± Katelyn furrowed her brows in confusion.


    Vincent had already told her about the castle¡¯s history, hinting at a legendary treasure believed to be hidden beneath it. However, he had never given her any details about what that treasure might be.


    Selina¡¯s tone suggested there could be something even more precious than the rumored riches.


    Katelyn gave a casual nod. The goal today had been to present the designs to Selina and gauge her reaction. With that aplished, they didn¡¯t stay any longer and decided to leave.


    However, Selina¡¯s peculiar reaction continued to trouble Katelyn¡¯s thoughts. Her expression was filled with disbelief, as though she had just seen something that defied logic.


    Katelyn¡¯s hand moved to her face instinctively while she tried to make sense of it.


    Vincent¡¯s steady voice broke through her thoughts. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for your biological parents, I can help with that.¡±


    He had been paying attention, noticing every change in her expression and every small gesture since they got in the car.


    Katelyn leaned back, hesitating for a moment before speaking quietly. ¡°I appreciate that, Mr. Adams.¡± Right now, her main focus was on finding her real parents.


    Whether her parents were unaware of the switch or had deliberately chosen to abandon her was a question Katelyn would address once she found them. She no longer sought thefort of a family; she simply wished to see them, even if it meant keeping her distance.


    Vincent¡¯s expression softened, the coldness and doubt from their first meeting fading.


    ¡°Selina could be a useful lead. There¡¯s a chance she knows something,¡± he suggested.


    Katelyn considered his words and nodded.


    ¡°For her to react like that, there must be a significant secret involved.¡±


    Vincent didn¡¯t add anything more.


    Katelyn drifted back into her thoughts as they made their way back to the hotel.


    Vincent noticed the weariness in her eyes, and an unexpected feeling of sympathy stirred within him. ¡°Take today and tomorrow to rest. The g isn¡¯t until tomorrow night.¡±


    ¡°Got it. Thank you.¡±


    Katelyn felt utterly drained, her body heavy with fatigue. She hadn¡¯t slept much over the past two days, and her mind was clouded, sluggish.


    She moved toward the bed, ready to copse for a moment of rest, when a sudden knock at the door interrupted her. Thinking it might be Vincent, she opened it, but a strong gust of wind mmed into her face!


    .


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    .

 Chapter 371

    ?Chapter 371:


    A cold glint flickered through the air.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened, and her whole expression shifted. She reacted instinctively, jerking back just in time to avoid the de that nearly grazed her.


    The attacker pressed forward without hesitation. Dressed entirely in ck, their face and hair were hidden, revealing nothing but a pair of piercing pale green eyes.


    ¡°You¡¯re fast. I¡¯ll give you that,¡± the attacker rasped, their voice unnatural, as if intentionally distorted. There was something eerie about the way they spoke. ¡°But next time, you won¡¯t get away so easily.¡±


    With that, the attacker charged at her again.


    The knife in their hand flicked through the air like it had a life of its own, each swing aimed right at Katelyn¡¯s face. Her brow furrowed in frustration. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Another swipe came her way! She quickly dodged, narrowly escaping the de.


    The attacker¡¯s eyes darkened, filled with rage and impatience. They lunged at her once more.


    Katelyn grabbed a chair, using it as a shield, but the knife tore through it with ease.


    The way the attacker handled the de showed just how skilled they were.


    The chair snapped in two, and as the knife closed in on her chest, she grit her teeth and hurled one of the broken pieces at the attacker¡¯s head!


    Without wasting a second, she rolled across the floor toward the bed, reached beneath the pillow, and pulled out two small pistols!


    The attacker¡¯s eyes widened.


    M??? ??d???? ?? g????????.????


    Katelyn didn¡¯t hesitate. She took aim and fired.


    The gunshot echoed through the room.


    But the attacker was quick, dodging the bullet effortlessly.


    In that moment, their eyes locked onto hers with deadly, unmistakable intent.


    Katelyn fired a few more shots, aiming at the attacker¡¯s shoulder. No second thoughts.


    She wasn¡¯t aiming to kill¡ªshe needed this person alive. Everything had spiraled so quickly since she and Vincent had arrived in Yata.


    She had to figure out who was behind it all.


    Her aim had improved after all the practice, yet she couldn¡¯t believe none of the bullets had hit.


    Her attacker moved fast, dodging every shot effortlessly. Katelyn clenched her jaw. She¡¯d never encountered someone this difficult to hit.


    Just as she prepared to pull the trigger again, something went wrong.


    The gun clicked¡ªempty.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    She was out of bullets.


    The pistol, light and easy to carry, only held six rounds¡ªand now it was useless.


    The attacker in ck smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you fight back now.¡±


    In a sh, the person rushed toward her, moving so fast, knife raised, aiming straight for her heart.


    Katelyn¡¯s pulse quickened. She barely had time to think, twisting her body just in time to avoid the deadly stab. Her attacker missed, their anger boiling over.


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Katelyn backed away, every muscle tense, her mind racing.<fnd8c3> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fnd8c3>


    This was a fight for her life, and she had to figure out how to get that knife out of her attacker¡¯s hands.


    ¡°Who are you? Who sent you?¡± she shouted, keeping her eyes locked on the attacker.


    She grabbed whatever she could¡ªanything within reach¡ªand threw it at the attacker, hoping the noise would alert Vincent next door.


    The attacker¡¯s voice wavered, unsteady and harsh. ¡°You¡¯ve asked for this.¡±


    The hotel room wasn¡¯t spacious enough, leaving Katelyn cornered with no more objects to hurl.


    Her eyes locked on the de moving toward her, fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms.


    No.


    This wasn¡¯t where it would end.


    Just as all hope seemed lost, a gunshot shattered the tension.


    Blood sttered across her vision¡­


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze shifted past the attacker, spotting Vincent standing at the door. His expression was cold and focused, his gun still smoking. Vincent¡¯s hand, gripping the weapon, trembled slightly, the fear of what could have happened still lingering. If he had been just a secondter¡­


    The bullet had hit the attacker¡¯s wrist, stopping the knife mere inches from Katelyn¡¯s chest.


    ¡°Raise your hands, and I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice sliced through the air, colder than the deepest winter frost.


    The attacker red with fierce intensity, but to everyone¡¯s shock, theyplied. Their hands shot up, and the knife ttered to the floor.


    As the person crouched down, their hand darted to their belt. The attacker pulled out a dark object and tossed it onto the floor.


    In an instant, the room was filled with a thick, white smoke. The choking odor struck Katelyn hard, making her eyes sting and tear up. The smoke and tear gas mixed into an unbearable stench that filled the air.


    Katelyn and Vincent both erupted into fits of coughing, struggling against the overwhelming fumes.


    The smoke was so dense it swallowed everything in sight.


    Katelyn pressed her hands tightly over her face. She stumbled toward the window, recalling where it was, threw it open, and let the fresh air rush in, bringing a much-needed breath of relief.


    Her coughing fit seemed to stretch on forever, her chest burning with each desperate gasp. After what felt like an eternity, the stinging gas finally began to clear. When she could finally breathe again, she noticed that the person in ck was nowhere to be found.


    The attacker had disappeared right under her nose. Frustration red in Katelyn¡¯s eyes, just as Vincent marched over with determined strides.


    .


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 Chapter 372

    ?Chapter 372:


    ¡°You¡¯re hurt!¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were filled with concern, and his voice carried an uncharacteristic urgency.<fnd3ee> Fresh chapters posted on FindN()vel</fnd3ee>


    Katelyn nced down, following his gaze, and only then noticed the deep cut on her right arm. Blood was steadily trickling down, and the adrenaline had kept her from feeling the pain until now. A sharp ache suddenly surged through her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move. Let me bandage it,¡± Vincent said quickly. His expression turned cold as he grabbed the hotel¡¯s first aid kit without hesitation.


    When the antiseptic touched her wound, a sharp sting caused her hand to tremble despite herself.


    She had endured many attacks in the past, but this one felt different. It was strangely more vivid.


    Whoever attacked her had known exactly what they were doing and hade prepared.


    Vincent¡¯s voice softened, as though trying to soothe her. ¡°I¡¯ll be as gentle as I can. Just hang in there.¡±


    Katelyn gave him a firm nod.


    She turned her head to avoid looking at the wound while he treated it, though the pain kept her hand shaking. The cut was deep, dangerously close to the bone.


    Luckily, none of the nerves were damaged.


    If it had been on the inside of her arm, it might have causedsting harm.


    Vincent worked gently, taking his time to clean the wound and apply a thinyer of medicinal powder. The pain was sharp, but Katelyn remained silent, her right hand still trembling uncontrobly.


    g???????¦Í??????.??0??; ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ????????????


    She had bitten her lower lip hard enough to draw blood, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.


    Vincent finally finished treating her wound and covered it with gauze.


    ¡°Be careful not to use this arm too much while it heals. The cut is deep, and overuse could slow the recovery,¡± he warned.


    Katelyn nodded, pushing back the pain, and nced up at him with gratitude.


    ¡°You¡¯ve helped me again. I¡¯m not sure how I¡¯ll ever repay you.¡±


    She had been trapped, and without Vincent¡¯s timely arrival, she would have be the next victim. The attacker would have already seeded.


    ¡°I never asked you to repay me,¡± Vincent replied, his gaze fixed on hers.


    From the moment he had shielded her from that bullet until now, his actions seemed driven by instinct, beyond any deliberate choice.


    Maybe, somewhere inside, her well-being meant more to him than his own.


    Katelyn lowered her gaze and hesitantly said, ¡°I owe you so much, but I have nothing to offer in return.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. Securing the preliminary deal with Selina was all thanks to your designs. Don¡¯t underestimate your contribution. It¡¯s almost as significant as saving my life,¡± Vincent responded.


    Katelyn smiled wryly at that.


    She understood he was just trying tofort her in his own way. She had indeed secured many deals for the Adams Group, but how could that ever be enough? None of them could everpare to what he had done for her. He had saved her life more than once.


    After spending so much time with Vincent, she could see that he had learned to understand her personality and her way of thinking. He always seemed to know just how to calm her down at the right moment. It felt like he was another version of her, always in sync with her thoughts. This was something entirely new to her.


    Was this what it meant to find a soul mate?


    ¡°Focus on getting better. You have two months to create the centerpiece for the exhibition. And if you still feel like you owe me, buy me dinner. I found a restaurant nearby with great reviews.¡±


    Katelyn nodded without hesitation. ¡°Sounds great. You can pick any restaurant you want.¡±


    Vincent stared into her eyes and asked, ¡°Do you have any idea who your attacker was?¡±


    Katelyn shook her head in response. She was just as eager to find out.


    Vincent gave her a slight nod and said quietly, ¡°I¡¯ll ask the hotel to take action and help identify the attacker.¡± Then, his gaze shifted to the empty gun lying on the bed. Maybe it was time to provide Katelyn with more specialized self-defense tools.


    Katelyn nced at the gun as well. She turned back to face him and was about to speak when Vincent leaned in closer all of a sudden.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 373

    ?Chapter 373:


    Vincent¡¯s face, seemingly sculpted by an artist, appeared wless from every angle. The closer he moved, the more Katelyn found herself in awe.


    At that moment, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but stare at Vincent¡¯s features. It was as if every detail of his face had been crafted with care; each line was perfect. His dark eyes held an unfathomable depth, concealing whatever thoughtsy beneath.


    A closer look revealed a cold glint beneath the surface, like sharp des ready to strike. Anyone who dared challenge him would surely regret it.


    They were now merely inches apart. So close that Katelyn instinctively held her breath, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.


    She stammered, ¡°Mr. Adams¡­¡±


    She could barely get the words out, inwardly cursing herself for feeling so flustered.


    Why did she always find herself blushing and stumbling over her words whenever Vincent was near?


    She had never felt this way before, not even when she was with¡­


    What puzzled her more was her usual need for personal space.


    She kept clear boundaries with those around her, often growing tense or irritated if anyone got too close.


    But with Vincent, she felt none of that unease.


    Maybe this was a sign that she genuinely trusted him, even considered him a true friend.


    Vincent gazed at Katelyn with a steady intensity and slowly raised his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear.


    ???§ÁE ??P?¦«T¦®? I§ª G¦«?§ª?V¦®??.???


    It was a strand that had fallen out during her fight with the attacker, and he took his time to smooth it back into ce.


    Her face flushed an even deeper shade of red. Wasn¡¯t this the kind of gesture shared between lovers? Why was he doing this with her?


    She wanted to step back but felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.


    After fixing her hair, Vincent picked up a tissue and gently wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. His every move was careful and tender, as if he were handling something fragile and precious.


    Katelyn stood still, allowing Vincent to take care of her without saying a word.


    She realized that she didn¡¯t feel ufortable at all. In fact, she found herself enjoying the closeness.


    Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red at that thought.


    Vincent casually tossed the tissue into the trash and stepped back, creating some distance between them. ¡°Get some rest, and let me know if you need anything.¡± He still had an online meeting to finish, having rushed over when he heard themotion next door.


    Katelyn nodded and replied, ¡°Alright.¡±


    Once Vincent left, she quickly locked the door behind him.


    This incident had been a real wake-up call; she decided she wouldn¡¯t open the door again without knowing exactly who was on the other side.


    She med herself for letting her guard down. The medicine Vincent had used earlier contained painkillers, so the pain had eased significantly.


    Katelyn crouched down to pick up the tear gas canister the intruder had dropped while fleeing, examining it carefully.


    It looked like thetest upgrade from the armory, ideal for quick getaways in tight spaces.<fn388b> Official source is Find_Novel(.</fn388b>


    She snapped a photo of the canister and stored it away carefully.


    She had a feeling this canister might prove useful someday.


    After the shock and the pain, Katelyn struggled to find sleep, tossing and turning until she finally drifted into a deep slumber.


    When she woke up, the sky outside was already dark. She reached for her phone and saw it was 8:30 in the evening. Two unread messages from Vincent appeared on the screen.


    The first read, ¡°Are you awake?¡± The second said, ¡°Come downstairs, and I¡¯ll take you to dinner.¡±


    The messages had been sent thirty minutes earlier.


    Katelyn quickly responded, ¡°OK.¡±


    Typing awkwardly with her left hand, she slowly stood up and grabbed a long-sleeved jacket from the wardrobe to cover the bandage on her right arm.


    Vincent was already waiting for her at the door.


    The restaurant he had chosen was one he had mentioned earlier, known for its excellent reviews. But as soon as they sat down, Katelyn felt a pair of eyes burning with hatred, fixed on her.


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 Chapter 374

    ?Chapter 374:


    Katelyn whipped around, locking eyes with Elora.


    A storm of anger brewed behind Elora¡¯s calm facade.


    Katelyn¡¯s irritation red up, her brow furrowing. Was the universe ying tricks on her? No matter where she went, she always seemed to bump into these annoying people. And right next to Elora was Lise, her face twisted with the same bitter hatred she had always directed at Katelyn.


    Back home, Lise had been a constant source of torment for Katelyn, always finding ways to make her life miserable.


    And now, even in a foreignnd, Lise seemed determined to carry on with her vendetta.


    But Katelyn refused to let their venomous res affect her.


    She wasn¡¯t the type to start fights, but she wasn¡¯t about to back down if they pushed her. If Elora and Lise wanted trouble, Katelyn was more than ready to defend herself.


    Vincent had noticed them too, and the annoyance in his voice was clear as he turned to Katelyn. ¡°Do you want to go somewhere else?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn kept her faceposed, offering a rxed smile as she shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need. Let¡¯s just act like they¡¯re not even here.¡±


    Yata was a city of wealth, yetvish restaurants like this one were hard toe by.


    Running into Elora here waspletely understandable, and Katelyn quickly brushed off any thoughts of them following her.


    Their food arrived swiftly, and for a brief moment, the rich vors of the meal allowed Katelyn to set her worries aside.


    To her surprise, the meal unfolded without any hitches. Elora and Lise kept their distance, choosing not to cause a scene.


    g???????¦Í??????.??0??? ????????  novels


    But as Katelyn rose to go to the restroom, Elora abruptly stood as well, trailing closely behind her.


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± Elora¡¯s voice was sharp with anger.


    Katelyn halted, turning to face her with an expression that remained cool and distant.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t understand why Elora was so bent on confrontation. True, Elora had tried to force a room change, but Katelyn had every right to refuse.


    Was Elora seriously holding a grudge over something so petty?


    Elora stepped closer, her eyes burning with rage. ¡°What exactly is your rtionship with Bartley?¡± Her voice was frigid.


    Elora couldn¡¯t understand why Bartley, her fianc¨¦, had chosen to side with Katelyn rather than her.


    In Elora¡¯s mind, Katelyn must have charmed him somehow.


    Since the hotel room incident, Bartley had shifted from casual conversation toplete silence.


    When Elora could no longer endure Bartley¡¯s coldness, she confronted him and even offered an apology. But Bartley¡¯s response was icy and blunt. ¡°The person you should apologize to isn¡¯t me,¡± he had said. That single sentence struck Elora like a dagger.


    Bartley expected her to apologize to Katelyn? How could that be? Katelyn wasn¡¯t worth surrendering her pride for. Their exchange quickly escted into a fierce argument. Elora struggled to recall the details of the argument, but she could never forget the growing disappointment etched on Bartley¡¯s face.


    The experience left her with a deep, unsettling feeling that something she thought was rightfully hers was slipping away.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn looked at Elora, puzzled. ¡°Who¡¯s Bartley?¡± she asked.


    Elora¡¯s face briefly went nk before her eyes shed with rage, as though she wanted tosh out. ¡°Don¡¯t act clueless! Bartley is the owner of the hotel you¡¯re staying at. If you¡¯re not involved with him, why would he stand up for you like that?¡±


    Katelyn suddenly understood the source of Elora¡¯s animosity. Elora was clearly interested in the hotel owner and assumed Katelyn was somehow involved.


    But that was a personal matter between them. Why drag Katelyn into it?


    Katelyn¡¯s voice stayed calm and unshaken. ¡°I don¡¯t know him, but I believe he defended me because it was the right thing to do,¡± she said with a steady gaze. To Katelyn, Bartley¡¯s actions seemed like a simple act of fairness in the face of Elora¡¯s unreasonable outburst.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Elora¡¯s voice wasced with fury. ¡°I know there¡¯s something between you two. I¡¯ll make sure to mar that pretty face of yours, and then we¡¯ll see how you manage to seduce my fianc¨¦!¡±<fn77cf> Find the newest release on F?ndNovel</fn77cf>


    Elora¡¯s rage boiled over as she lifted her hand, ready to strike Katelyn.


    .


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 Chapter 375

    ?Chapter 375:


    Elora¡¯s p was aimed not at Katelyn¡¯s face but at her right arm.


    Katelyn sensed Elora¡¯s movement and quickly dodged, causing Elora¡¯s hand to miss its target.


    Katelyn had no interest in engaging with Elora, a spoiled girl ustomed to privilege.


    Elora had been raised to believe she could do anything¡ªhit others, swear, and more¡ªwithout facing any consequences.


    This upbringing had created an utterly self-centered person, oblivious to the repercussions of her actions.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression was cold, and her tone was even colder.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already exined, and this isn¡¯t my problem. You were the one causing trouble that day. I don¡¯t usually resort to violence, but if you continue to provoke me¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, Elora interrupted with a dismissive gesture. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend I can¡¯t see right through your act, you maniptive bitch! I¡¯ve met plenty of women like you. Just die.¡±


    Elora made another aggressive move.


    Katelyn responded with disdain. ¡°If you won¡¯t listen, don¡¯t me me for what happens next.¡±


    She quickly grabbed Elora¡¯s wrist, and in a sh, there was a resounding thud.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s kick connected with Elora¡¯s shin, causing her to copse to the floor, her face pale from the pain.


    Furious, Elora yelled, ¡°You bitch! How dare you kick me? I¡¯ll have my father deal with you!¡±


    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s brings your imagination alive


    Katelyn dismissed her with a coldugh, releasing Elora¡¯s wrist.


    ¡°Try it again, and it won¡¯t just be a kick.¡±


    Though proficient in self-defense, Katelyn adhered to one principle: she would never strike a woman. Yet, Elora¡¯s relentless taunting was driving her to her limits.


    Perhaps confronting such arrogance was the only solution.


    Who could say how many had suffered under Elora¡¯s intimidation?


    Elora reeled backward, her eyes filled with animosity. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. ¡°Katelyn, I won¡¯t let you get away with this. You¡¯ll pay for what you¡¯ve done!¡±<fna672> The source of th?s content is Find[?]ovel</fna672>


    A sharp spark appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes as she smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If that day everes, I¡¯ll take you down with me.¡±


    Elora was left speechless.


    She had never encountered such defiance. Typically, women would shrink under her re, pleading for mercy and promising to steer clear of Bartley. But Katelyn was fearless. She stood her ground, boldly provoking Elora further.


    Elora was determined never to forgive Katelyn for this. Just then, Lise arrived, instantly noticing the distress on Elora¡¯s face. She hurried over, her voiceced with concern. ¡°Are you okay?¡±


    Still furious, Elora pushed Lise away roughly, releasing some of her frustration.


    ¡°You idiot! Why did it take you so long?¡±


    Caught off guard, Lise crashed into the wall, pain shing across her face.


    She swallowed her bitterness, maintaining a concerned demeanor.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know you were confronting Katelyn. I thought you were just going to the restroom.¡±


    Elora wielded significant power and influence. Even a small favor from her could ease Lise¡¯s life considerably. Lise had intentionally dyed her arrival, knowing that Elora would value her assistance more after a confrontation with Katelyn. After witnessing Elora¡¯s setback, Lise was ready to intervene and teach Katelyn a lesson, securing her ce by Elora¡¯s side.


    Regaining herposure, Lise red at Katelyn. ¡°How dare you assault Princess Elora? I won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡±


    With that, Lise lunged at Katelyn, targeting her right arm, mirroring Elora¡¯s earlier attempt. Her speed was impressively quick.


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 Chapter 376

    ?Chapter 376:


    Katelyn expertly dodged the iing blow, her reflexes sharp.


    With swift precision, she countered, delivering a sharp kick to Lise¡¯s shin.


    A loud bang echoed through the air.


    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡±


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Lise¡¯s body arched through the air before colliding with Elora, who had been close behind. Both women tumbled to the floor in a tangled heap. Lise was the first to recover, crying out in pain, her face contorting as if her leg might be fractured.


    Anger surged across her features, fueled by deep-seated hatred.


    ¡°I will make her pay,¡± she thought furiously, her gaze fixed on Katelyn.


    Meanwhile, Elora felt as though her entire body had fractured from the impact.


    In frustration, she yelled, ¡°Get off me, you idiot!¡±


    Her voice was harsh, strained through clenched teeth. Despite her own difort, Lise quickly tried to disentangle herself from Elora.


    From a short distance, Katelyn observed them struggle to their feet, supporting each other. Her expression remained impassive, her face a mask of cold detachment. She had made a crucial observation. Both women had primarily targeted her right arm during their assault. To conceal the injury, Katelyn had draped a jacket over her bandaged arm. But how did they know?


    ¡°Could Elora be behind the attack?¡± Katelyn pondered, fixing a piercing gaze on Elora.


    ¡°Did you orchestrate the attack on me?¡± she demanded sharply.


    Elora¡¯s rebuttal was swift and biting.


    She stood, her eyes burning with hostility.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. But mark my words, you will regret this day. I swear, even skinning you alive wouldn¡¯t quench my wrath,¡± she hissed venomously.


    Undeterred, Katelyn narrowed her eyes, a cold smirk curling her lips.


    ¡°Keep denying it. Once I have enough proof, I¡¯ll take this to the police,¡± she retorted.


    Hearing this, Elora and Lise exchanged incredulous nces before bursting intoughter. Lise, in particr,ughed out loud, her amusementced with disdain. ¡°She really thinks she can challenge us here,¡± Lise thought, mocking Katelyn¡¯s naive bravado.


    After all, this was not Katelyn¡¯s homnd, and Elora¡¯s influence here was formidable. Even in the harsh light of day, if Elora were tomit murder, no one would dare to challenge her¡ªnot even the police. With a confident sneer, Lise taunted, ¡°Go ahead, call the police. See if it changes anything. Who dares oppose Princess Elora here?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fists tightened with tension.


    Did the authorities in thisnd truly bow to those of noble birth?


    Elora¡¯s arrogance came as no surprise. It stemmed not only from her family¡¯s indulgence but also from a society that condoned her actions. Katelyn¡¯s voice was frosty as she warned, ¡°Mark this smugness, for soon you¡¯ll find even the thought ofughter too daunting.¡±


    She fixed a stern gaze on Elora and tried to move past, but Elora blocked her path.


    This was a moment of peak frustration and humiliation for Elora.


    Her eyes burned with hatred as she faced Katelyn.


    ¡°Get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness now! Fail to do so, and I assure you, both you and your employer will be expelled from Yata within three days¡ªor worse, expelled from life itself!¡±


    Elora¡¯s threat wasced with a clear intent to kill. The intensity of her desire for Katelyn¡¯s demise was unmistakable. Although her family¡¯s status was fading, they still fiercely held onto their earldom, and Elora would not tolerate any challenge to her regal authority. The respect shemanded was merely a local custom, not backed by any real royal endorsement.


    ¡°Get on my knees and beg forgiveness?¡±


    Disdain flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. It was clear Elora had not learned her lesson.


    ¡°Why should I do that?¡± Katelyn retorted boldly, stoking Elora¡¯s fury even further.


    At that instant, Lise whipped out her phone, pointing it at Katelyn. ¡°Help! Princess Elora is being attacked!¡±


    .<fn52d8> Get full chapters from Find¡ïNovel</fn52d8>


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 Chapter 377

    ?Chapter 377:


    Lise recorded a video, her voice sharp with urgency as she shouted to capture every detail.


    Soon, people rushed over, drawn by the unfolding scene. A sea of angry faces surrounded Katelyn, their eyes shing with rage.


    An older woman in the crowd snapped, ¡°How dare youy a hand on our princess! This is beyond forgiveness!¡± Others quickly joined in, their voices rising in unison. ¡°Everyone, stop her! She mustn¡¯t get away. No one disrespects Princess Elora!¡±


    The crowd¡¯s reaction took Katelyn by surprise. She hadn¡¯t realized until now how powerful Elora¡¯s influence was over them. Even a single shout from Lise was enough to gather a crowd of curious onlookers.


    Katelyn¡¯s own research had shown that the Williams family¡¯s influence had faded, but this sight was unexpected.


    Elora straightened up slowly, her eyes shing with a cold, determined gleam. For years, her family had been giving generously to charity, carefully shaping their public image as major contributors to local causes. This effort had earned them a wide circle of devoted supporters.<fn65cf> This text is hosted at </fn65cf>


    Katelyn stepped back, her fists clenched, bracing herself for a fight. Even in this unfamiliar ce, she refused to be intimidated. No matter howrge the crowd, she was determined not to back down.


    Lise barely contained her grin, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for Katelyn¡¯s defeat. ¡°Someone teach her a lesson¡ªdon¡¯t let her get away!¡± she shouted.


    At Lise¡¯smand, a few people exchanged determined looks and lunged at Katelyn.


    Katelyn dodged one attacker with a swift move and swept low, sending two of them crashing to the floor.


    ???l????v??????.c??m brings fresh updates


    ¡°Thud!¡± They hit hard, their cries of pain filling the air as they struggled to get up. The others, seeing this, hesitated, surprised by Katelyn¡¯s strength.


    Despite the odds, Katelyn stood her ground, unfazed.


    The crowd hesitated, unwilling to take a beating for nothing. Katelyn¡¯s strikes were quick and precise, taking down her opponents with impressive skill.


    Even though her right arm was injured and couldn¡¯t deliver its full power, it didn¡¯t slow her down in the fight. Lise, watching the group falter, felt a strong urge to step in and give them a kick.


    Why were they so ineffective? Even with so many of them, they struggled against just Katelyn. Was she really that difficult to handle? If they showed loyalty to Elora, surely she would reward them with generous payment.


    Elora¡¯s gaze was as cold as ever, but she watched Katelyn¡¯s right arm closely. Despite the reports from her assassin saying that Katelyn was injured, she seemed perfectly fine. Her counterattacks were sharp and precise¡ªbetter than those from her guards.


    Lise¡¯s frustration reached a boiling point. ¡°What are you all standing around for? Move! Even with all of you, you can¡¯t handle one woman?¡±


    The crowd hesitated more and more. They genuinely wanted to defend Elora, who had been so helpful to them, but they watched in distress as theirrades suffered. As they considered their options, some began to back away.


    Most of those who hade to help were only there to watch, unwilling to put themselves in danger. As some of the crowd fled, the rest wavered, caught between maintaining a brave front for Elora and avoiding a painful defeat.


    After witnessing Katelyn¡¯s skill, they realized that even working together, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against her.


    Katelyn, noting their fearful expressions, addressed the crowd calmly, ¡°If you leave now, you won¡¯t get hurt.¡±


    More people fled in response.


    With only a few of the new arrivals left, Elora lost herposure and shouted, ¡°Kill this woman! You won¡¯t face any consequences, and I¡¯ll even give you a million!¡±


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 Chapter 378

    ?Chapter 378:


    Money was usually the driving force behind everything. Elora¡¯s offer hit the crowd like a ssh of cold water on hot oil, immediately stirring excitement.


    Those who had been unsure were now captivated by the promise of cash. No legal responsibility and a million-dor reward¡ªwho could say no to that?


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew serious. She had only dealt with Elora¡¯s enthusiastic supporters who didn¡¯t know the full story. Now, she was facing a crowd of desperate individuals, and the difference was clear.


    Elora shouted louder, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it. Whoever kills her gets the money. The chance to make a fortune is right here. Take it if you can!¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but sneer, her gaze filled with scorn as she looked at Elora. ¡°So this is your version of noble behavior? You¡¯ve given me a new take on what it means to be a ¡®princess.''¡±


    ¡°Anyone who wants my money has to do this job. Katelyn, today is yourst day!¡± Elora¡¯s fury boiled over.


    From their first meeting, Katelyn had seemed like a looming danger, as though something vital to Elora was about to be stolen. A relentless voice in her head told her that only by eliminating Katelyn could she avoid even worse trouble.


    Lise stifled herughter, quickly adjusting her position to capture the crucial moment on camera. Once Katelyn was gone, Elora would no longer face any threats.


    The allure of money had driven people to madness, with some drawing their knives without a second thought. To them, Katelyn was no longer a person, but a prize worth a million dors.


    Talking to these people was useless. Only force could change their minds.


    Katelyn¡¯s hand instinctively moved to her pistol, her mind bracing for the worst.


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    As the tension thickened and a fight seemed imminent, a cold voice cut through the noise.


    ¡°Elora!¡±


    The voice was sharp, tinged with anger. Elora froze, her face turning pale as she turned to see who had spoken.


    Katelyn followed her gaze to the source of the voice. Bartley stood a few steps away, his face dark and his eyes locked on Elora.


    Katelyn remembered Bartley from theirst encounter. Elora¡¯s fierce hatred for Katelyn had been fueled not only by her upbringing but also by her intense jealousy over Bartley.


    Katelyn straightened, sensing that Elora¡¯s feelings toward Bartley were far moreplicated than mere love. It seemed Elora viewed him as her personal possession, something no one else could touch.


    Her only encounter with Bartley had been when Elora tried to take her hotel room, and Bartley, as the hotel owner, had stepped in to mediate. Elora had seen that small incident as proof of Katelyn¡¯s supposed attempt to steal Bartley from her.


    Elora¡¯s calm facade crumbled instantly, shifting from anger to frantic defensiveness.


    ¡°Bartley, you have to believe me. It¡¯s not what it looks like. I only meant to teach her a lesson,¡± Elora stuttered, reaching out for Bartley, but he pulled back. His eyes were filled with unmistakable disappointment.


    ¡°Elora, your actions havepletely changed how I see you. It seems you¡¯ve ignored everything I¡¯ve told you before.¡±<fn9b9a> For more chapters visit FindN()vel</fn9b9a>


    Elora¡¯s voice trembled with a hint of tears. ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten. If you¡¯re still willing to talk to me, I¡¯ll do whatever you ask.¡±


    Despite her high status, she now appeared humble, tearful, and apologetic. The sharp contrast between her current humility and her previous arrogance left Katelyn momentarily stunned. What kind of love could make someone of such high status lower herself sopletely?


    Lise, standing nearby, was nearly beside herself with frustration. Despite Elora¡¯s impressive background, it seemed Lise felt an overwhelming urge to pull Elora together.


    At that moment, Bartley¡¯s deep, serious voice cut through the tension.


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 Chapter 379

    ?Chapter 379:


    ¡°We¡¯ll call off the engagement!¡± Bartley said coldly, as if shutting a door that would never open again.


    He wasn¡¯t offering room for debate; he was stating a fact. Without hesitation, he made it clear that there was no future for them.


    Elora stepped back, her face registering nothing but disbelief. Her wide eyes struggled to process the information, filled with a mix of shock and sadness.


    ¡°No! You don¡¯t get to decide this on your own. Our engagement isn¡¯t just about us¡ªit¡¯s a union between our families. Your parents would never let you throw it all away so easily.¡±


    Her voice was firm, but there was an underlying desperation, as though she was trying to convince herself as much as him.


    Since childhood, she had never met anyone as maic and graceful as Bartley. She had fallen deeply in love with him, and the thought of a life without him felt empty and lifeless.


    Bartley looked at Elora, observing the tears streaking down her cheeks, yet his eyes remained devoid of sympathy.


    Her beauty and sadness would have made most men rush to her side, but Bartley wasn¡¯t like most men. He stood unfazed, even looking irritated.


    ¡°I forgot to tell you,¡± he said tly. ¡°Our family partnership has been falling apart for a month now. My parents fully support my decision to call off this engagement.¡±


    Elora¡¯s face drained of color as she took a quick step back, shaking her head in disbelief. She covered her ears, as if trying to block out his words. ¡°No! This isn¡¯t real. This can¡¯t be happening!¡±


    Katelyn watched from the side, her face a mix of concern and something harder to read. She was growing more convinced that Elora¡¯s mental state was unraveling, and Bartley¡¯s harshness was likely the trigger.


    ???? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ¡ª ???????? ???? ?????????¦Í??????©q??????


    Bartley¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°Stop it. You¡¯re embarrassing yourself. Don¡¯t make this worse.¡±


    With that, he turned and walked away, not even sparing her a nce.


    Elora¡¯s face drained of color as she stumbled after him, her voice cracking. ¡°Bartley, wait! Please!¡±


    Lise¡¯s head throbbed with a dull, constant pain. Why did she always end up with useless allies, no matter where she went? The crowd, once eager for easy money, now¡­


    The crowd seemed lost, their eyes slowly shifting toward Lise. ¡°Does Princess Elora¡¯s promise still hold?¡± someone asked, breaking the tension.


    Lise clenched her teeth. ¡°Are you all idiots? You really think you¡¯re getting paid? Get out of here! There¡¯s not a cent left for any of you!¡±


    There were a few murmurs of protest, but soon enough, they hurried off, clearly sensing more trouble if they lingered.


    Katelyn stood off to the side, calm and unaffected by the chaos. Ever since Bartley had shown up, she had remained cool and detached.


    As she watched Lise struggle, Katelyn let out a softugh. ¡°Lise,¡± she said, her voiceced with amusement, ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re more pathetic or funny right now.¡±


    Her words hit hard, and Lise¡¯s anger red, especially with Katelyn looking at her like she was some kind of joke.


    How dare she?


    ¡°Katelyn,¡± Lise hissed, her voice low with fury, ¡°don¡¯t get toofortable. One day, I¡¯ll crush you so hard, you¡¯ll never bounce back.¡±<fnc63d> Updates are released by ?ovelFind</fnc63d>


    But Katelyn barely reacted. Her eyes stayed cold and distant. ¡°Talk to me when you can actually make that happen,¡± she replied, her voice calm.


    To Katelyn, Lise was nothing but a joke.


    She had no patience to waste on her, so Katelyn turned and walked away, letting the frantic screams behind her fade into the background. A cold smirk crept across her face as she left.


    By the time she sat back down, her steak had cooled, untouched on the te.


    Vincent nced at her, noticing something off. ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°Just a small issue,¡± she said, waving it off. ¡°It¡¯s taken care of.¡±


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t interested in talking about it.


    For her, work was more important.


    Vincent, picking up on her mood, didn¡¯t push. They finished dinner quietly and then headed back to the hotel.


    Tomorrow was the banquet¡ªan event that might hold even bigger surprises.


    Katelyn was ready to unwind. After sorting through documents on herptop and organizing her work, she got up to take a shower. But just as she was about to head to the bathroom, a knock came at the door.


    Her body tensed immediately, the memory of thest incident still fresh, like a shadow that wouldn¡¯t leave her. She kept her eyes fixed on the door, not moving, as something slid beneath it. Slowly, almost cautiously, a card appeared.


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 Chapter 380

    Chapter 380:


    Katelyn¡¯s forehead creased as she examined the card on the floor. She didn¡¯t pick it up immediately, instead listening intently to the fading footsteps outside her door. Only when the sounds had disappeared did she crouch down to retrieve it, her eyes drawn to the bold, assertive handwriting.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I apologize for this unexpected intrusion. I deeply regret any trouble I¡¯ve caused you. Your hotel stay has been extended for another month at no charge. Please contact me if you need anything further,¡± the card read. It was signed by Bartley, with a string of numbers below, likely his phone number.


    Katelyn tucked the card away without lingering over it. She felt that Elora, rather than Bartley, was truly to me for the whole situation. More importantly, she had no desire to engage with Bartley.


    She worried that Elora might misunderstand the situation and act out even more harshly against her. She also disliked dealing with someone like Bartley, who always seemed to have an agenda. His cleverness and cunning made him unpredictable and potentially dangerous.


    After a rxing, warm shower, Katelyn drifted off to sleep, unaware of the scene unfolding in a luxurious room elsewhere. There, a man stood by a floor-to-ceiling window, wine ss in hand, looking out over the bustling city below. He raised his ss slowly, toasting his own reflection with a cold smile.


    ¡°The show is finally about to begin,¡± he murmured. He gulped down the wine in one swift motion. On a nearby desk, an open file disyed Katelyn¡¯s photo along with a detailed report listing all her information.


    The banquet was set for seven in the evening. Vincent had arranged for a professional makeup artist and stylist to prepare Katelyn earlier in the day. As she reluctantly sat in the chair, Katelyn watched Vincent manage his work from the sofa, feeling a sense of helplessness.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, is all this really necessary for just a banquet?¡± she asked.


    M?§Ô? ??????? ?? ??l????l?.???


    Vincent closed hisptop and replied, ¡°This isn¡¯t just any banquet. It¡¯s a chance to make a significant impression. Tonight¡¯s event will be attended by everyone who¡¯s anyone in the design world. Your appearance will set the tone for the uing exhibition in two months.¡±


    In today¡¯s world, people often judged others based on their looks first rather than their character. It was a tough reality that affected everyone.


    An attractive person was more likely to seed at a task than someone who was less attractive. Katelyn epted this fact with a sigh before asking, ¡°Do we have a specific goal for attending tonight¡¯s banquet?¡± Her quick thinking earned her a nod of approval from Vincent.


    Vincent never attended events without a clear purpose. Each of his appearances was carefully nned, and Katelyn had learned this about him over time.


    ¡°Almost everyone there will be yourpetition. In addition to winning Selina¡¯s approval, you need to gain the respect of the others. The way you get there isn¡¯t as important as the result.¡±


    His words increased Katelyn¡¯s pressure. She waspeting against top jewelry designers from around the world, each with their own unique style. Vincent had certainly set a high bar for her.<fn29be> Updates are released by F?nd-Novel</fn29be>


    Fortunately, her momentary doubt quickly turned into determination. Securing Selina¡¯s approval had greatly boosted her confidence.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Adams. I¡¯ll do everything I can to prove you made the right choice in picking me.¡± Vincent nodded, smiling.


    He rxed on the sofa, but his presence remainedmanding.


    ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve found a lead. Earl Poulos¡¯ nephew will be at the banquet. We can use this as an opportunity.¡±


    Katelyn was about to respond when her phone rang, the tone urgent.


    .


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    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: Have a really really nice weekend dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (¤Å ? _?)¤Å?


    .

 Chapter 381

    ?Chapter 381:


    Once again, the call came from an unknown foreign number. In fact, the digits appeared strangely jumbled¡ªclearly not a typical phone number. Katelyn immediately recalled the strange, untraceable call she had received earlier.


    The issue felt like a ticking time bomb, always lingering in the back of her mind, ready to blow up when she least expected it. Her instincts told her that if she didn¡¯t handle this soon, it could lead to serious trouble down the line.


    She quickly reached for herptop, opened the ck-and-red software, and began typing rapidly on the keyboard. The phone kept ringing, and she knew she had only moments to act.


    To pinpoint the caller¡¯s location, she needed to set up aplex code before answering, one that could lock onto the city within the global system with precision. And if she wanted an exact location, the call needed tost at least thirty seconds.


    Just then, Vincent¡¯s phone rang unexpectedly. He frowned slightly as he answered, and after hearing what the person on the other end had to say, his expression darkened. He gestured for Katelyn¡¯s attention before walking out, closing the door behind him.


    She couldn¡¯t focus on him now. All her attention was locked on exposing whoever was behind this call and proving her suspicions right.


    Had Sophia really be involved with the T Organization? Could she be the one sent to take her down?


    A wave of pressure washed over Katelyn. Her fingers raced across the keyboard, moving so fast they seemed almost invisible. To anyone watching, it would look like she belonged among the best hackers in the world, with such incredible speed. She pushed herself to the limit, and just as the call reached the twentieth second, she finished theplex code.


    For most, such a feat would have been unimaginable. It was a task that seemed almost beyondprehension. With everything prepared, Katelyn hit the button to answer the call.<fn5531> Discover more novels at Find_Novel(.</fn5531>


    ?????????????? ???????????? ????: g????????¦Í??????©q?????


    The voice on the line sounded distorted and unnatural. There was a mix of eerie tones, making it impossible to identify whether it was a man or a woman. The mechanical interference suggested some software had altered the voice.


    ¡°Katelyn, leave Yata within a day, or you¡¯ll regret it!¡±


    Was this an outright threat or some kind of warning? If they were acting like they usually did, wouldn¡¯t they have just gone straight for the kill? The mixed message left Katelyn confused.


    She tightened her grip on the phone, her eyes locked on the countdown disyed on herptop screen. There was no telling when this caller might reach out again, so she needed to use every second to trace the person¡¯s identity.


    Her heart pounded as she carefully chose her words, knowing she had to keep the call going for thirty seconds to get what she needed.


    ¡°Sophia? Is that you? I know it¡¯s you,¡± Katelyn stated. The person on the other end paused briefly before breaking intoughter.


    ¡°Katelyn, are you so desperate that you¡¯re trying to y it close with me? That won¡¯t work on me. If you¡¯re still in Yata by the end of today, you won¡¯t live to see tomorrow.¡± Fifteen seconds had already passed.


    Katelyn¡¯s mind raced. She caught the brief hesitation, whether it was a glitch or something else, and saw it as her chance.


    ¡°You might fool everyone else, but not me. We¡¯ve known each other too long. We¡¯re almost like sisters. Sophia, when are youing back? I¡¯ve missed you more than you know.¡±


    She tried to appeal to the caller¡¯s emotions, pushing her words with urgency. Twenty seconds had passed. Ten more seconds. Just ten more, and she¡¯d be able to trace the caller¡¯s location.


    The caller said nothing, and right at the twenty-nine-second mark, the call was cut off.


    Suddenly, the pin location on the map on herptop that tracked the signal turned into a t line.


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 Chapter 382

    ?Chapter 382:


    Katelyn kept her eyes fixed on the t line disyed on theptop screen, her nails digging into her palms without her even realizing it.


    She had needed just one more second. Just a single second longer¡­


    If only she could have kept the caller on the line for a moment more, she might have pinpointed their exact location and finally unraveled the mystery that had been haunting her. Toe so close to the truth only to have it slip away in an instant left her feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment.


    If Sophia truly had joined the T Organization, Katelyn knew she would stop at nothing to convince her to leave.


    She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself, just as Vincent ended his call and walked back into the room. Katelyn lifted her gaze to meet his, noticing the intensity in his eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± she called softly.


    ¡°Finish your makeup. Tonight¡¯s banquet is important,¡± he replied.


    He offered no further exnation and didn¡¯t mention why his expression had changed so sharply after the call.


    Vincent returned to the sofa, his face still serious.


    Katelyn decided not to press him for more details. The makeup artist and stylist spent the next two hours working meticulously, perfecting every detail.


    After choosing from a wide range of dresses, she finally decided on a ck strapless fishtail gown. It was from the spring haute couture collection, emphasizing her striking figure and making her appear even more captivating.


    Her naturally beautiful face was enhanced with light makeup. Hershes and eye makeup brought out the sparkle in her eyes. At this moment, she looked like a princess from a fairy tale¡ªmore enchanting than any imagined fairy. Her beauty seemed almost beyond belief.


    Vincent found himself staring at her, unable to hide the admiration that flickered across his face. He had always known she was beautiful, but he never realized she could look so utterly breathtaking. It was as though fate had favored her in every possible way.


    Discover more


    Katelyn casually flipped her long hair behind her ears and picked up the matching purse thatplemented her gown.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯m all set. Let¡¯s go,¡± she said.


    Vincent quickly gathered his thoughts and nodded. Samuel was already waiting by the door with the car. They arrived at the venue just as the banquet was getting underway.


    Vincent handed over the invitation, and the security guards allowed them in with respectful nods.


    The lights were bright and dazzling, and people moved in every direction. The banquet hall was enormous, filled withvish decorations of gold and jewels. Guests, dressed in their finest, exchanged polite conversation, wearing warm smiles.<fn8b6b> Content originallyes from findnovel</fn8b6b>


    This was the most prestigious gathering of power and influence. Only those ranked among the top hundred in the global corporate world had the privilege of attending. Katelyn had attended simr events before, butpared to this, they felt like small-town affairs.


    She held onto Vincent¡¯s arm, appearing today as hispanion. Then, she scanned the room several times. The Earl¡¯s nephew was nowhere to be seen.


    Confused, she turned to Vincent and quietly asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, are you certain that he¡¯ll be attending?¡±


    ¡°This is the perfect ce forworking and forming new alliances. He will definitely show up,¡± Vincent assured her confidently.


    Events of this magnitude didn¡¯t happen often. Anyone with an ounce ofmon sense would seize the opportunity.


    Katelyn nced around again, still seeing no sign of their target.


    Vincent had already gathered a detailed profile of the Earl¡¯s nephew and had shown it to her earlier. From the photo, the man appeared young, with delicate features and a refined elegance. His name was Dale Poulos.


    With such unique features, he should have been easy to spot among the guests.


    Meanwhile, many people had noticed Vincent¡¯s presence and approached, drinks in hand, eager to exchange greetings.


    Even in a foreign country, the rapid growth of the Adams Group over the years had made Vincent¡¯s name well known in business circles.


    Before long, more people gathered around, raising their sses to toast Vincent and engage him in conversation. He held his ss and gave polite nods, asionally offering a few words in response.


    Katelyn was uninterested in these exchanges. She leaned in close to Vincent¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ll walk around and let you know if I spot him.¡±


    ¡°Go for it,¡± Vincent replied.


    Katelyn lifted the hem of her gown and made her way toward a quieter corner.


    Upon noticing a disy of delicate desserts nearby, she reached for a piece of strawberry cake. Just then, she felt a light tap on her shoulder.


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 Chapter 383

    ?Chapter 383:


    Bartley stood before Katelyn, holding a wine ss, his smile both charming and polished as he gazed at her. The admiration in his eyes was unmistakable.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you look absolutely stunning today.¡±


    Katelyn took a subtle step back to put some space between them and casually set the cake back on the table.


    ¡°Mr. Lawrence,¡± she replied, her tone polite yet distant.


    She didn¡¯t have anything against Bartley personally, but she knew that Elora¡¯s constant hostility toward her was, in part, connected to him. Katelyn hade here to do her job, not to get caught up in theirplicated romantic drama.


    Bartley kept his pleasant smile, acting as if her cold demeanor didn¡¯t bother him at all.


    ¡°I sent you an apology card, Miss Bailey. Did you receive it? I deeply regret what happened recently. I should have handled things better with Elora, and it led to her misunderstanding.¡±


    A sh of coldness appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Lawrence, if you understand that I¡¯ve been targeted because of you, then you should keep your distance, especially at a moment like this. I have no interest in another scene like thest one.¡±


    If Elora truly had issues, Bartley was the catalyst. Katelyn was certain of that. Even though Katelyn was just standing near him, without saying a word, it could be enough to send Elora into a frenzy.


    ¡°I promise, Miss Bailey, nothing like that will happen again.¡±


    Bartley lowered his gaze, swirling the champagne slowly. His smile took on a different edge.


    ¡°I only want us to be friends, Miss Bailey.¡±


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    Katelyn frowned as a sense of unease settled over her. Every instinct she had was warning her that this man was dangerous. People like Bartley, who thrived on maniption, were the ones she found most dangerous.


    She kept her voice firm as she said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for us to be friends. Just honor your word, Mr. Lawrence.¡±


    Without waiting for a reply, she walked away. There were too many guests at the event tonight. If Elora were to hear about this encounter from any of them, it could cause problems for Katelyn all over again. Meanwhile, Vincent continued to interact with guests eager to gain his favor.


    Downstairs, the banquet hall had be almostpletely full. Katelyn decided to head upstairs to the second floor, where a terrace offered a view of the night sky. The stars shone brightly against the backdrop of a full moon.


    She started to feel a bit more at ease, but then an argument reached her ears from around the corner.


    A man¡¯s tense and agitated voice was heard. It sounded almost like a growl. ¡°Just give me a little more time. I¡¯ll pay back every cent I owe, I promise. If you push me too hard, I¡¯ll jump off a building. That won¡¯t help anyone, and nobody will get a penny.¡±


    The desperation in his voice caught Katelyn¡¯s attention. Another voice answered sharply, ¡°Do you think we¡¯re idiots? You¡¯ve been making the same excuses forever. I don¡¯t care about your promises. I want the money, or I¡¯ll start by cutting off your hand.¡±


    It sounded like a confrontation between a debtor and a debt collector.


    Katelyn felt no sympathy for gamblers who found themselves in this situation. She was just about to turn away when the debtor pleaded again, ¡°Please, just give me a few more days. I swear to God, I¡¯ll pay you back. My uncle is dying and has promised to leave me his castle in his will. You know there¡¯s a fortune buried beneath it, right?¡±


    Katelyn froze in her tracks.


    His uncle?


    His uncle¡¯s castle?


    Was he talking about Poulos Castle? Could this man be¡ª


    She moved silently, getting closer to the corner and finding a spot where she could stay out of sight while watching the man kneeling on the ground. His face was an exact match with the photo she had seen, although he now looked worn out, with dark circles shadowing his eyes.


    He had looked quite dashing back in the day, but now, he appeared like a lifeless husk of his former self.


    Katelyn quickly pieced together the reason for his disheveled appearance. He wasn¡¯t just a gambler; he was also battling a drug addiction. With vices like these, even a fortune would be wasted in no time.


    It was no wonder that, despite being the nephew of an Earl, he had been reduced to begging for a few more days to pay his debts.


    The debt collector moved closer, grabbed Dale by the cor, and pressed a knife to his throat.


    ¡°I¡¯m giving you onest chance, you junkie. If you fail to pay me again, your uncle will be receiving your corpse.¡±


    As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly turned toward where Katelyn was hiding.<fnaa28> The source of th?s content is FindN()vel</fnaa28>


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± he growled.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 384

    ?Chapter 384:


    Katelyn hadn¡¯t expected to be discovered so quickly. She slowed her breathing and carefully shifted her position to the side.


    Luckily, the corridor wall beside her provided some cover, and she pressed herself against it.


    The debt collector moved closer to where she was hiding. He walked slowly, making each step quiet and deliberate. His shadow stretched long in the light, making him look even more menacing. For a moment, it felt as if time stood still.


    Katelyn clenched her fists, ready to spring into action. Her attention stayed fixed on his shadow, which grew longer on the ground as he approached. Her heart beat faster with each step he took.


    Two.


    One.


    She silently counted to herself.


    Soon, he was just a few steps away. If he reached the corridor and turned his head, he¡¯d see her.


    A bead of cold sweat ran down her back.


    She saw the man¡¯s shadow on the wall. He was holding something, likely a knife, with its de catching the light in a menacing way. Suddenly, Dale scrambled up from the ground and bolted for the exit. The man turned around and chased after him without a second thought.


    Katelyn waited until they were out of sight before stepping out from her hiding spot.


    It seemed that Dale might turn out to be a valuable lead. Collecting her thoughts, she made her way back to the hall on the first floor.


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is your escape to fiction


    Vincent spotted her immediately among the crowd. He nodded to the people around him and moved quickly to her side.


    He looked into her eyes and sensed right away that something was bothering her. ¡°Did something happen?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn replied in a serious tone, ¡°I saw Dale, the Earl¡¯s nephew.¡±


    Before Vincent could respond, another guest approached him with a ss of wine, eager to strike up a conversation. This banquet was a golden opportunity for businesspeople towork and exchange valuable contacts, and Vincent was no exception.


    Katelyn nodded and said, ¡°Go ahead. We can talkter.¡± She lifted the hem of her gown and walked away, giving him space to handle his business. She nned to find a quiet corner to rx, just as she had before, but within minutes, as she neared the corner, a ss of red wine was suddenly hurled in her direction.


    The person throwing the wine aimed right at her face. Though Katelyn moved quickly, some of it still sshed onto her dress. The dress was a custom designer piece, one that hadn¡¯t even been shown on the runway yet.


    Though the dress was ck, the red wine left a noticeable stain on the fine fabric. Katelyn¡¯s expression hardened as her eyes met Elora¡¯s. Elora¡¯s eyes burned with anger, her grip tightening around the wine ss. Her voice was filled with venom.


    ¡°You bitch! Did you forget what I told you? How dare you try to seduce my fianc¨¦ again!¡±


    Elora raised her voice on purpose, and everyone around turned their heads toward themotion. Even among the elite, the love for drama was a strong instinct, especially when it was this explosive.


    Katelyn kept her gaze steady and smiled with a hint of sarcasm.


    ¡°Princess Elora, is this how your family taught you to behave? It¡¯s truly enlightening.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s contempt for Bartley grew stronger in that instant. Without his involvement, her shes with Elora would never have reached this point.


    She had already made it clear that she had no interest in being friends with Bartley. However, he seemed determined to stir up Elora¡¯s jealousy.<fn2e26> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? Find1Novel</fn2e26>


    Elora stated angrily, ¡°I won¡¯t hold back against a shameless slut like you.¡±


    She had never felt such hatred toward another woman. Because of Katelyn, Bartley¡¯s attention had strayed, and now their engagement was on the edge of breaking apart. Without Katelyn, their rtionship wouldn¡¯t be on the verge of copse.


    In Elora¡¯s mind, Katelyn was to me for everything that had gone wrong in her life. As her angry words filled the room, the crowd began exchanging looks of disdain, mockery, and disbelief. Who was this foreign woman who dared challenge Elora over a man?


    Katelyn remainedposed, calmly picking up a ss of champagne nearby. What she did next left everyone in shock, some even gasping aloud.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 385

    ?Chapter 385:


    Katelyn raised her ss with a steady hand, then gave her wrist a subtle twist. Champagne poured in a smooth stream, drenching Elora¡¯s hair, smearing her makeup, and sttering her expensive dress.


    Elora¡¯s eyes widened in shock, a mix of disbelief and fury shing across her face. She never thought Katelyn would have the nerve to humiliate her so openly. Was Katelyn seriously losing it? The nerve!


    The party, which had been full of life just seconds ago, wentpletely still. All eyes were locked on the two women, and the tension in the air was palpable.


    Elora wasn¡¯t just any woman in the room. She was a socialite, often referred to as a ¡°princess¡± not just for her beauty but also because of her family¡¯s standing. Even though the influence of her family had diminished over time, Elora was still next in line to take over.


    Katelyn¡¯s stunt wasn¡¯t just a p in the face to Elora¡ªit was a direct challenge to her family¡¯s reputation. The crowd quickly shifted from shock to pity for Katelyn. They could already see how this would end. By tomorrow, Katelyn might be found discarded in an alley or floating in the river.


    Elora¡¯s body shook with rage, but Katelyn remained calm. She calmly set the ss down and, without missing a beat, said, ¡°Now we¡¯re even.¡±


    Elora snapped back to the moment, her voice cutting through the tension with barely contained fury. ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for this, you bitch!¡±


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t new to threats like that. She¡¯d heard them over and over from Elora since the day they met. She understood Elora¡¯s power, her connections, and had always tried to stay out of her way. But this time, enough was enough. Elora had crossed the line.


    If the rumors about her and Bartley had been true, Katelyn might have epted the public humiliation¡ªmaybe even a p. But they weren¡¯t. And now, Katelyn was being dragged through the mud for something she hadn¡¯t done. There was no dodging Elora anymore, so why not stand her ground?


    Your next story starts here: g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s


    That was Katelyn¡¯s way. If she had to face a storm, she¡¯d make sure everyone remembered the thunder.


    Her face remained calm, her eyes unwavering.


    ¡°I know you think being a princess means you can do whatever you want, and yes, people might fear you because of your title. But that doesn¡¯t give you the right to keeping after me. I have nothing to do with your fianc¨¦. You¡¯ve gone after me again and again, even hired people to kill me. I haven¡¯t forgotten any of it.¡±


    Perhaps Elora had been coddled her entire life. She probably never considered what would happen if her title couldn¡¯t save her one day.


    Katelyn¡¯s fists clenched, shaking with anger. If looks could kill, Katelyn would have dropped dead on the spot.


    ¡°Stop pretending to be innocent,¡± Elora snapped. ¡°If you¡¯re really not involved with Bartley, then why does he defend you? Why didn¡¯t he pick my side?¡±


    The question took Katelyn by surprise for a moment, but then she smiled, slow and mocking.


    ¡°Maybe,¡± Katelyn said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, ¡°because he¡¯s a normal guy who¡¯s not willing to put up with your nonsense.¡±


    Elora wanted total loyaltyplete, unquestioned devotion¡ªfrom anyone who imed to love her. To her, anything less meant they didn¡¯t love her at all.


    In her psychology sses, Katelyn had studied people like this. They craved love, constantly struggling with insecurity, needing constant reassurance, and always requiring proof of love. It drained them¡ªand everyone around them.


    And if things didn¡¯t go their way, they were quick to throw it all away.


    Being close to someone like Elora¡ªwhether as a friend or lover¡ªwas utterly exhausting.


    ¡°You¡¯re the problem!¡± Elora hissed. ¡°You shameless woman! You lured him away!¡±


    Elora stormed forward, her eyes cold and filled with fury. She focused on Katelyn¡¯s face, her mind burning with the desire to destroy it.


    ¡°You¡¯re on my turf now. You¡¯re an outsider, and you have no right to act out. Since you crossed me today, I¡¯ll teach you how things work in my world.¡±


    Elora raised her hand, her sharp, polished nails aimed at Katelyn¡¯s face, ready to strike.


    But before her hand coulde down, someone grabbed her wrist.


    .


    .<fnacfd> Original content can be found at ?ovelFind</fnacfd>


    .

 Chapter 386

    ?Chapter 386:


    Bartley suddenly appeared and blocked Elora¡¯s path. He grabbed her wrist, and his eyes were filled with clear disappointment. ¡°How much longer will you act like this? Do you really want to humiliate yourself in front of everyone here?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened.


    Everything that was unfolding confirmed her suspicions. Elora seemed to be grappling with some kind of psychological issue, and it was bing evident through her interactions with Bartley. She appeared possessive and domineering. Moreover, her behavior suggested she was capable of violence.


    With Bartley defending Katelyn, Elora¡¯s condition would only worsen. She would lose even more control and grow increasingly hostile toward Katelyn.


    A sudden wave of regret washed over Katelyn. If she had known it woulde to this, she would have never agreed to stay at Bartley¡¯s hotel.


    Tears filled Elora¡¯s eyes as she pointed at herself, her voice trembling with hurt and frustration. ¡°Can¡¯t you see what she did to me? She threw wine all over me. Why are you still defending her in a moment like this? We¡¯re engaged, yet you choose to side with her, a woman you barely know.¡±


    Elora no longer appeared arrogant andmanding. Instead, she looked hurt and distressed, as though she needed Bartley¡¯sfort and reassurance.


    Bartley noticed the crowd gathering around them. He then took hold of Elora¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere private and sort this out.¡±


    If people talked about what happened today, both the Lawrence family and the Williams family would face humiliation.


    To his surprise, Elora pulled away from him and pointed at Katelyn once more, her voice sharp with anger. ¡°I want answers here and now. If you have to choose between me and her, who is it going to be?¡±


    What should have been a corporate banquet had turned into a dramatic soap opera.<fnb7e5> This update is avable on Find1Novel</fnb7e5>


    ???????? ???????????? ???? ?????????????????????????


    The thing that frustrated Katelyn the most was that, somehow, she had be the viin in this spectacle.


    She hadn¡¯t done anything, yet she found herself caught in this tangled web of love and hatred.


    Bartley¡¯sst hint of gentleness vanished as he red directly at Elora. ¡°Are you really going to keep pushing my buttons?¡±


    Elora¡¯s heart skipped a beat, but her fear quickly turned to defiance. She wiped away her tears and gritted her teeth. ¡°Yes! My family taught me that I am the greatest princess in the world, and I won¡¯t let this woman outshine me. There is only one right answer to my question, and I want it now!¡± Her pride and arrogance refused to let her back down orpromise in any way.


    However, she failed to realize that Bartley, whose background was just as prestigious as hers, was also a primary heir to a vast family fortune. How could he possibly fit into her vision of a submissive lover, trailing behind her as she wished?


    Everyone around them watched closely, eager to see what Bartley would decide. After all, this was the story of a princess¡¯ love. Only a fool would choose an unknown woman from abroad, with nothing but her looks, over Elora.


    As the crowd expected him to choose Elora without a second thought, Bartley surprised everyone. He stepped back, distancing himself from Elora, and moved to stand beside Katelyn.


    His eyes were cold and piercing as he spoke. ¡°I wanted to end our engagement quietly and protect your reputation, but you chose not to let me.¡±


    The gentle smile that Bartley always wore was gone, reced by a look of absolute indifference.


    Perhaps this was his true nature. The change made Katelyn see Bartley in a new light¡ªmore genuine than before. At least he no longer wore that annoyingly gentle smile of his.


    Those who had been so certain that Bartley would choose Elora now stood in stunned silence at his decision. Had this foreign woman somehow bewitched him? How could he turn away from Princess Elora?


    Bartley¡¯s choice shattered Elora¡¯s heart all over again. The once proud princess now appeared vulnerable and desperate.


    With her makeup smudged and her hair in disarray, Elora reminded Katelyn of Cindere, who would return to her humble self after midnight.


    It seemed even a noble princess could be fragile when it came to love.


    Elora¡¯s sorrow was evident in every expression, and Katelyn couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.


    Katelyn turned to face Bartley directly, her eyes filled withplete disgust. ¡°What on earth is the matter with you?¡± she asked.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 387

    ?Chapter 387:


    Katelyn turned to Bartley and tapped the side of her head, deciding to be direct, even if it wasn¡¯t the most polite approach.


    Bartley stared at her for a moment, looking stunned. ¡°What did you just say?¡± he asked.<fnd7c2> The rightful source is find~novel</fnd7c2>


    Katelyn smiled and repeated her question, making sure he heard her clearly. ¡°I said, what is the matter with you?¡±


    Elora¡¯s behavior was confusing and, at times, annoying, but Katelyn could see it stemmed from her upbringing. She must have been raised as a spoiled child. Because of this, Katelyn didn¡¯t hold much against Elora. Her frustration, however, was directed at Bartley instead.


    As someone close to Elora, Bartley should have noticed the signs of her emotional and mental distress. But for some reason, he kept doing the things that Elora hated most, almost as if he was provoking her on purpose.


    Without Bartley¡¯s influence, this entire situation might have been avoided.


    Katelyn just wanted to finish her work and return home without any furtherplications. She turned her gaze to Elora and said, ¡°Actually, I failed to point something out earlier. Both of you should consider seeking professional help.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Miss Bailey, what do you mean by that?¡±


    ¡°Your awful rtionship is your problem. Stop dragging me into it,¡± Katelyn replied, her patience wearing thin. She lifted her chin slightly and gestured toward the confused Elora. ¡°Go ahead, tell your fianc¨¦e and everyone here if anything improper has happened between us. We¡¯re not even friends, but I¡¯ve been unfairly used.¡±


    By the time she finished speaking, Katelyn struggled to keep her frustration in check. She even began to wonder if something was wrong with her, considering all the chaos she¡¯d been pulled into.


    Bartley straightened up, his eyes shing with a coldness so brief that Katelyn almost missed it. ¡°Miss Bailey, I believe you¡¯re right. I owe you an apology and a clear exnation for any damage done to your reputation.¡±


    Magic begins at g ¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s


    He cleared his throat and addressed the gathered guests. ¡°I want everyone to understand that nothing improper has urred between Miss Bailey and me. This situation stems entirely from Elora¡¯s imagination. I ask that no one spread false rumors about us, or I will take legal action against anyone who dares to do so.¡±


    His statement left no room for misunderstanding.


    Elora stepped forward, tears in her eyes, unwilling to let the matter go. ¡°I trust my instincts. You¡¯re only trying to protect her. If there was truly nothing between you two, why would youe to her defense?¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t understand Elora¡¯s reasoning. What was going through her mind?


    She had been dragged into this situation against her will, and it seemed only logical for Bartley to clear things up. Even so, Elora saw this as proof of some hidden affair. Katelyn felt her patience running thin. She couldn¡¯t deal with Elora¡¯s irrationality and baseless assumptions any longer.


    Turning to leave, Katelyn was stopped by Elora¡¯s sneering voice cutting through the air behind her.


    ¡°Are you leaving because you¡¯re feeling guilty? I¡¯ve seen countless women like you. If you don¡¯t keep your distance from Bartley, you¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    Her words carried an unmistakable threat, one that Katelyn knew Elora could likely follow through on, given her status.


    That was when Katelyn remembered the assassin who had invaded her room with the intent to harm her.


    A cold shiver ran down her spine as she hardened her expression. She was morefortable dealing with someone like Lise, who at least had the decency to engage in a meaningful conversation. At least Lise wasn¡¯t hiding behind threats.


    Bartley, taken aback by Elora¡¯s tant threat, now looked at her with intense pressure in his eyes. His remaining gentleness toward Elora evaporated.


    ¡°Are you finished yet?¡± he snapped. ¡°Or are you just eager to be the subject of everyone¡¯s ridicule?¡±


    Elora opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak, a cold voice came from behind Katelyn.


    ¡°I was away for only a brief moment, and now you¡¯re openly bullying my girlfriend? What the hell is wrong with you people?¡±


    .


    .


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 Chapter 388

    ?Chapter 388:


    Though the voice was low, it carried such amanding presence. In theplete silence of the scene, it resonated deeply with everyone present.


    Katelyn turned her head in astonishment, and her surprise grew even greater when she saw Vincent. ¡°What on earth did he just say? I was his girlfriend?¡± she eximed inwardly.


    For a moment, Katelyn wondered if her ears were ying tricks on her.


    Vincent approached Katelyn while keeping his gaze fixed on Elora. Although Katelyn hadn¡¯t exined much about her issues with Elora, Vincent had a general understanding of the situation, especially after hearing Elora¡¯s recent remarks.


    Elora¡¯s frustration was evident as she spoke through gritted teeth. ¡°Can¡¯t you even manage to control your girlfriend? She¡¯s out there flirting with other men every single day.¡±<fnb3b9> Get full chapters from ?ovelFind</fnb3b9>


    Herment made Vincent glower at her. In a bone-chilling voice, he stated, ¡°Elora, just because we¡¯re in Yata doesn¡¯t mean you can do whatever the hell you want.¡±


    The look in his eyes was enough to send shivers down Elora¡¯s spine. Never in her life had she encountered anyone so terrifying. Vincent¡¯s presence was even more intimidating than her father¡¯s. Just looking into Vincent¡¯s eyes made her want to run away in fear.


    But then, she masked that fear with anger and pride. No matter what, she was Elora, the princess of Yata. Anyone who dared cross her was simply asking for trouble.


    ¡°I saw her talking to my fianc¨¦. If that¡¯s not flirting, what is it?¡± Elora demanded.


    Katelyn shot her a sardonic re. All the sympathy she had once felt for Elora was now gone. At first, she had thought Elora was just a misguided, spoiled brat. But it was clear now that she was mistaken. Elora was awful to her core.


    G  a lno  ve ls . is where the magic begins


    Elora was making a scene in public, clearly aiming to tarnish Katelyn¡¯s reputation and disrupt her coboration with Selina. In essence, Elora and Lise were cut from the same cloth. Their only difference was that they used different tactics to get what they wanted.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew stern as she responded, ¡°You should verify your facts before making usations. Your fianc¨¦ was the one who approached me; I have no personal connection with him. If you persist in publicly defaming me, I will be forced to take legal action.¡± She then turned to Bartley, her disdain evident. ¡°Mr. Lawrence, you should be the one to address the issues you¡¯ve caused me.¡± Her patience was running thin.


    Bartley looked embarrassed, not expecting Elora¡¯s usual antics to escte this much. He turned to Elora with a look of disappointment. ¡°Elora, enough¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t push it any further!¡±


    Elora¡¯s emotions red in response to his challenge. She began to cry, pointing angrily at Katelyn. Her pride and dignity felt thoroughly undermined. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious that this woman has enchanted you? Why do you keep choosing her over me?¡± she demanded.


    Katelyn quickly realized that trying to reason with Elora was futile. It felt like speaking to a brick wall. Elora remained lost in her own world, stubbornly clinging to her distorted version of the events.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were intense as he spoke, ¡°Did you not hear what I just said? Katelyn is my girlfriend. Do you honestly believe she would leave me to pursue someone like your fianc¨¦?¡± His tone was assertive andmanding, fitting his position.


    Vincent, in both appearance and stature, matched Bartley. They had different styles and ways of carrying themselves, but in terms of physical features, Vincent was clearly more striking. He led the Adams Group, one of the top three global enterprises, and presided over a vast business empire. In stark contrast, Bartley¡¯s family had lost much of its former glory and now relied on arranged marriages to sustain their financial footing. While Bartley might appear respectable on his own, he paled inparison to Vincent.


    Katelyn nearly burst intoughter, stifling her amusement as she gave Vincent a subtle thumbs-up. Every word he uttered was admirable.


    Bartley wasn¡¯t pleased with Vincent¡¯s words. He nced at Elora, seeing that she was still determined to respond, and immediately grabbed her arm, leading her out of the banquet hall. Before leaving, he shot Vincent a piercing re.


    Seeing his reaction made Katelyn¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 389

    ?Chapter 389:


    Katelyn noticed the threat in Bartley¡¯s eyes, like a snake poised to strike. Every time she encountered him, he made her uneasy, and now it seemed Vincent had just pushed his buttons.


    ¡°Maybe we should check into another hotel,¡± Katelyn suggested, shaking off her unease and ncing at Vincent.


    She had been thinking about it for a while. Their current room no longer felt safe, and staying would only lead to more hassle with too many people around. It was time to leave¡ªtime to get away from Bartley, Elora, and all the madness surrounding them.


    Vincent gave a small nod, his serious eyes meeting hers. His voice softened as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what I said earlier.¡±


    He leaned in slightly. ¡°I only said it to throw Elora off. I never intended to harm your reputation.¡±


    Katelyn waved it off casually. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I know you meant well. You were just trying to protect me.¡±


    Vincent¡¯sment had surprised her at first, but it didn¡¯t take long for her to understand his reasoning. Elora was stuck in her suspicions, and the easiest way to deflect was to make her believe Katelyn was already involved with someone else.


    Katelyn had recently divorced and was single, and hardly anyone knew them in Yata. Even if rumors started, they wouldn¡¯t stick.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze shifted away from hers, and he fell silent after that.


    The party continued around them, but Katelyn had lost interest. The small talk, the fake smiles¡ªnone of it appealed to her. Now, all she felt was exhaustion. Her thoughts drifted back to Dale. She couldn¡¯t shake what she¡¯d overheard him say to the debt collector¡ªhow the Earl had left him the castle in his will.


    Money might not have meant much to the Earl, but it certainly did to Dale.


    ??????????? ????¦Ñ???????? ?????????¦Í????????????


    When the party finally ended at ten, Katelyn was more than ready to leave.


    In the car on the way back, she leaned her head against the window, barely able to keep her eyes open. She was seconds away from dozing off.


    Then Vincent¡¯s phone buzzed, breaking the silence. His face darkened as he read the message. ¡°They¡¯ve found Dale¡¯s ce,¡± he said. ¡°But it looks like he¡¯s packing up to leave tonight.¡±


    Katelyn snapped awake, her mind racing. She quickly began piecing together everything she¡¯d seen earlier.


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to dodge his creditors. If he skips town, it¡¯ll be nearly impossible to track him down.¡±


    Vincent made a quick decision. ¡°Turn around. We¡¯re going to get him.¡±


    Without hesitation, he forwarded Dale¡¯s location to Samuel. Thankfully, the ce wasn¡¯t far from the banquet venue. Despite his financial troubles, Dale, being the nephew of Earl Poulos, shouldn¡¯t have ended up living in such a ce.


    However, when Katelyn and Vincent arrived, they were shocked. The area was filthy¡ªflies buzzed in the air, and mosquitoes swarmed around the rotting mess. It looked like a garbage heap, with trash piled high and a rancid smell hanging in the air. The narrow alley was nearlypletely blocked by debris.


    Katelyn covered her mouth and nose, trying to block out the overpowering stench. It reminded her of something decaying, like a corpse left too long in the heat.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe Dale¡¯s living in a ce like this. Gambling really ruins everything,¡± she said. Vincent¡¯s expression darkened as well.


    He kicked aside some trash to clear a path for her. ¡°When his mother passed, she left him a huge inheritance. Looks like he¡¯s thrown it all away on gambling,¡± he exined.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Gambling and drug addiction were like twin des. Getting caught in both could bring down even the richest of men. Dale¡¯s downfall made it clear¡ªhe had been written off by his friends and family.


    As she followed closely behind Vincent, something suddenly darted across her path. She shrieked, jumping back, her heart racing, before grabbing onto Vincent without a second thought.


    .


    .


    .<fncef4> Th?s chapter is updated by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fncef4>

 Chapter 390

    ?Chapter 390:


    Katelyn struggled with some degree of night blindness, which was particrly challenging in the dimly lit alley at thiste hour. She could hardly see anything. Her only option was to use the faint glow from her phone and follow Vincent, who was leading the way.


    In such low light, her senses sharpened, making every subtle noise and movement around her more noticeable.


    To make matters worse, she felt something furry and unnerving brush against her feet.


    Vincent was surprised by her reaction. Seeing her difort, he quickly patted her arm to reassure her.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn squeezed her eyes shut, too fearful to look down. ¡°Something just scurried by. Something furry and ratherrge,¡± she remarked.


    Vincent, offering his support, let her lean against him as he turned on his phone¡¯s shlight to scan the area. They spotted arge, dark rat darting away from the beam of light.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a rat. Nothing to worry about,¡± Vincent said. Katelyn let out a sigh of relief but felt a twinge of embarrassment over her initial reaction.


    Under normal circumstances, she disliked rats but could tolerate them. However, the eerie atmosphere of the alley had amplified her fear.


    Katelyn quickly stepped away from Vincent, offering an awkward apology. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Adams. I guess I overreacted.¡±


    Vincent responded with a cool demeanor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±


    They continued on their way after the brief encounter. Unfortunately, the address they had received didn¡¯t include a specific house number.


    Lose yourself in stories on g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s


    As they progressed, the path became narrower, eventually leading to what seemed like a dead end. At that moment, Katelyn peered ahead. She reached out and clutched Vincent¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mr. Adams!¡±


    In the depths of the alley, lit only by the beam of the shlight, pairs of eerie red eyes suddenly appeared.


    The eyes were unsettling, like something from a horror movie, and appeared tock pupils. As the cold wind swept through the alley, Katelyn shivered. Goosebumps spread across her body, and her scalp tingled.


    In moments like these, fear typically makes one¡¯s heart race.


    Vincent tried to get a clearer view of the creatures behind the red eyes but found it difficult due to the distance.


    ¡°Get ready!¡± he instructed.


    He gripped her hand firmly, and they began to step back slowly.


    ¡°Run!¡± Vincent suddenly shouted.


    Escaping was their best option against these unknown creatures.


    At Vincent¡¯smand, Katelyn turned and sprinted, and he stayed right behind her. The noise they made seemed to agitate the creatures with red eyes. Without warning, the creatures surged from the darkness and charged directly toward them.


    Katelyn ran with all her might, feeling as though she had been thrust into a scene from a horror thriller. To her, the menacing glow of those eerie red eyes was far more terrifying than the threat of a gun.


    She resisted the urge to look back until they reached the end of the alley. In the moonlight, she could finally see what had been chasing them.


    Her eyes widened in shock. Never before had she seen rats of such enormous size.


    Each rat was asrge as a cat and had glowing red eyes, resembling nightmarish mutated creatures straight out of science fiction.


    They clustered into a massive group, their numbers reaching into the hundreds.


    rmingly, they showed no fear of humans. Instead, they continued advancing toward Katelyn and Vincent. A realization struck Katelyn, and her expression changed.


    She quickly warned Vincent, ¡°Mr. Adams, be very careful. These aren¡¯t ordinary rats. They might be carriers of some deadly disease. Make sure they don¡¯t bite you.¡± Rats, along with bats and pigeons, were known to be among the most dangerous carriers of various viruses, particrly ones like these that seemed mutated.<fn69ea> Newest update provided by </fn69ea>


    Vincent had already drawn his gun from his waistband.


    ¡°Understood,¡± he replied.


    Katelyn also took out herpact pistol.


    It seemed these rats might have been altered by some gic experiment, making them bold enough to not even fear cats.


    The creatures swarmed together, quickly encircling them. A notablyrge rat charged forward, snapping its teeth as it lunged directly for Katelyn¡¯s leg.


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 Chapter 391

    ?Chapter 391:


    Katelyn¡¯s pupils narrowed. Without hesitation, she kicked therge rat away. It smashed against the wall and writhed briefly before dying.


    The death of one of their own didn¡¯t deter the other rats; instead, it seemed to enrage them.


    Katelyn¡¯s hands clenched into fists as a daring, almost inconceivable thought crossed her mind. This area was known as Yata¡¯s most notorious slum, a ce so dangerous that even the homeless avoided it. She wondered if the desperate conditions here had led someone to use the rats in a biological experiment.


    In other words, these rats were the subjects of experimentation.


    After all, how could normal rats grow sorge and even show aggression towards humans?


    Vincent acted quickly, joining Katelyn in kicking at the rats. Together, they reduced the horde from hundreds to just a handful. Eventually, the remaining rats, overwhelmed by fear, turned and scurried towards the nearest sewer.<fnd05b> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fnd05b>


    The air around Katelyn and Vincent filled with the foul stench of decaying rodents, overpowering even the alley¡¯s usual odor.


    Suppressing her disgust, Katelyn crouched down to inspect the rats¡¯ blood. It wasn¡¯t the usual bright red, but a much darker shade, further confirming her suspicions.


    ¡°Someone¡¯s definitely been experimenting on these rats,¡± she said.


    Vincent joined her, crouching beside her to examine the creatures.


    ¡°There are many species of rats, but none like this,¡± he remarked.


    Katelyn nodded in agreement.


    Although feeling repulsed, Katelyn suggested, ¡°We should take one back to analyze its blood. It could reveal some important secrets.¡±


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    Bizarre medical anomalies had be moremon in recent years. Some individuals, despite their achievements in medicine, had begun misusing their talents.


    Vincent agreed with a casual nod. ¡°Alright.¡±


    The responsibility of collecting the dead rats was delegated to Samuel.


    Wearing tripleyered protective gloves, Samuel grimaced and gagged as he ced a dead rat into a stic bag. In all his years, he had never seen such grotesque and repulsive creatures.


    Once the task waspleted, Katelyn shifted her gaze back to the eerie alley. The entrance loomed like a predator, waiting to strike, as if it sought to swallow them all.


    ¡°Should we continue looking for Dale? Could these rats be his way of dealing with debt collectors?¡± Katelyn spected boldly.


    Vincent replied sternly, ¡°We need to find him to confirm these questions.¡±


    As they prepared to enter the alley again, a furtive figure suddenly appeared, trying to scale the wall and flee. The person carried a duffel bag on his back, moving stealthily like a thief.


    After exchanging a nce, Katelyn and Vincent immediately rushed forward and captured the man.


    Dale thought he had escaped, but before he could feel any sense of relief, he was yanked off the wall and mmed to the ground, wincing in pain.


    ¡°Who is it? How dare you touch me! Don¡¯t you know who my uncle is?¡± Dale shouted.


    Katelyn recognized his face and nodded to Vincent. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡±


    Vincent, who had already seen Dale¡¯s photo, released him and stepped back, watching as Dale mbered to his feet, grumbling.


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you already? I¡¯ll find a way to repay the money in a few days. No matter how much you urge me, what can you do when I have no money right now? Take my life if you dare!¡±


    Dale assumed they were also debt collectors.


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a knowing look.


    ¡°Mr. Dale Poulos, you¡¯ve misunderstood. We¡¯re not here to collect debts. We want to discuss a very lucrative business opportunity with you, one I believe you won¡¯t refuse.¡±


    Dale looked puzzled. ¡°A business opportunity?¡±


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 Chapter 392

    ?Chapter 392:


    Dale dismissed Katelyn with a casual wave of his hand before she could borate. He grabbed his luggage from the ground and gave it a quick dusting.


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in any of this business talk. Just leave me alone,¡± he said tly.


    The only thing he had left was the suit he wore to the banquet earlier, still sharp and clean. He had always distrusted businessmen, seeing them as tricky and dishonest. Without the money or connections to make a deal, he had no intention of doing anything rash.


    As Dale turned to leave, Vincent stepped in front of him, his towering frame blocking the path. Dale instinctively took a step back, feeling dwarfed by Vincent¡¯s imposing presence.


    Vincent¡¯s face was unreadable as he spoke in a calm, steady voice. ¡°I, on the other hand, think it¡¯s worth talking about. After all, I can give you a chance at a fresh start.¡±


    The measured calmness in Vincent¡¯s voice made Dale¡¯s pulse race, a stark contrast to the serene delivery. Coming from a once-esteemed family and possessing a knack for reading people, Dale could instantly tell that Katelyn and Vincent were not ordinary. Their sophisticated clothes andposed demeanor marked them as people of significance.


    To avoid his debt, Dale had chosen a ce so remote that even the most desperate wouldn¡¯t venture there. Yet somehow, they had found him.<fn850d> Discover more novels at find(?)ovel</fn850d>


    A sudden realization struck Dale.


    ¡°You¡¯re here about my uncle¡¯s castle, aren¡¯t you? Even though he¡¯s in poor health, he¡¯s been hanging on for years. Who knows when he¡¯ll actually die? You¡¯ll have to wait until he¡¯s gone before you can talk to me,¡± Dale said. He waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave in a different direction.


    This time, Katelyn stepped in front of Dale, blocking his way with a calm but firm stance. Her voice was gentle, almost as if she were trying to persuade him softly.


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    ¡°You¡¯re partially correct about what we want. We can offer you a fresh start, but only if you take us to see your uncle. What happens with the deal after that is up to us,¡± she said.


    Katelyn was taken aback when Dale suddenly erupted intoughter, tears almost streaming down his face as if he had heard the greatest joke.


    Her expression shifted to one of confusion. Had she said something funny?


    She remained silent, waiting for Dale to stopughing.


    When he finally caught his breath, he said, ¡°Are you all in the same support group or what? Is that how greedy business people are taught to act? You¡¯re offering me a fresh start? Seriously? Do you even know how much I owe?¡±


    He gave a scornfulugh, still shaking his head.


    ¡°Even if I worked my entire life, or even in the next life, I¡¯d never be able to repay this debt.¡± Drugs, gambling, and high-interest loans had drained his resources in no time. He often cursed himself for falling into such destructive habits, wishing he were still the charming young nobleman of high society instead of hiding like a rat in this grimy ce.


    He resented his situation, yet he couldn¡¯t control his urges. With whatever little money he had, he¡¯d always head straight to the casino, hoping to win big and recover his losses. It was the ssic gambler¡¯s trap of trying to chase lost fortunes.


    Turning to Vincent with a trace of mockery, he said, ¡°So, can you really guarantee it? If you pay off all my gambling debts right now, I¡¯ll take you to meet my uncle and vouch for you, making sure you get that piece ofnd.¡±


    Katelyn looked at Vincent, concern written on her face. She knew Dale¡¯s gambling debts must be enormous. Plus, they still needed to cover the cost of thend. Even though Vincent was wealthy, it was still a substantial amount. A smart businessman never wasted money.


    Vincent nodded firmly, a smile ying on his lips. ¡°Sure thing. I can even throw in one more favor for you.¡±


    Dale stared in disbelief, his eyes wide with surprise.


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 Chapter 393

    ?Chapter 393:


    Dale¡¯s hands fidgeted with barely contained excitement, his eyes gleaming with hungry curiosity. ¡°Are you serious right now? You¡¯re saying you¡¯ll grant me any wish?¡±


    Vincent nodded deliberately and calmly, his gaze steady. ¡°That¡¯s right, but only if you persuade your uncle and help us secure thend.¡±


    Dale¡¯s smile faltered for a moment as he mulled over the offer, his face reflecting a deepening calction.


    Katelyn nced at Vincent, her face a blend of concern and suspicion. She couldn¡¯t shake the thought that Dale might use this opportunity to demand more than they were prepared to give.


    After a moment of contemtion, Dale¡¯s expression firmed with determination. ¡°Consider it a deal. I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    ¡°Give me your number. We¡¯ll head to the castle first thing tomorrow,¡± Vincent said. They exchanged phone numbers.


    With everything arranged, Vincent and Katelyn climbed into the car and drove back to the hotel. Katelyn¡¯s mind churned with unasked questions, but she chose to remain silent, trusting that Vincent¡¯s decisions were guided by careful thought.


    Halfway through their drive, Katelyn¡¯s phone chimed repeatedly with a video call. Seeing the name sh on the screen, she answered immediately.


    An elderly woman appeared, her eyes warm and inviting. Her silver hair framed a face marked with the dignified lines of experience, adding to her serene elegance. Katelyn greeted her with a courteous smile. ¡°Hello, Ms. Lyons.¡±


    Vincent turned to nce at the screen, his expression shifting to one of astonished recognition. He recognized the woman as Marjory Lyons, a name synonymous with design excellence.


    Her reputation for stunning work remained strong, and her influence was still deeply felt in the design world, even though she had been retired for years. Numerous designers she had mentored had achieved great sess, many publicly acknowledging her as a guiding force in their careers.


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    Vincent was astonished to discover that Katelyn was also a student of Marjory¡¯s. This fact had never been publicly known, suggesting that Katelyn might be Marjory¡¯sst prot¨¦g¨¦.


    ¡°How are you doing, Ms. Lyons? Is your cough any better?¡± Katelyn asked, her concern evident.


    Marjory¡¯s health had been slipping with age, gued by persistent but minor ailments. While not dangerous, they were a constant nuisance.


    Marjory smiled warmly. ¡°I¡¯m much better now, thank you.¡± She noticed the darkness in Katelyn¡¯s background and asked with curiosity, ¡°Why is it so dark there? Where are you?¡±


    Katelyn replied, ¡°I¡¯m actually abroad, Ms. Lyons. I¡¯m in Yata at the moment.¡±


    There was a five-hour time difference between where Katelyn was and where Marjory was. That meant it was already around midnight where Katelyn was, while Marjory¡¯s day was still unfolding.


    Marjory nodded with a reassuring smile. ¡°Your work matters, but remember, your health should alwayse first. Don¡¯t overdo it. Make sure you¡¯re taking breaks when you need them.¡±


    ¡°I promise, Ms. Lyons, I¡¯lle see you as soon as things settle down here.¡± Katelyn¡¯s smile was warm and sincere. Since her marriage to Neil, she had stepped away from design and hadn¡¯t been able to see her mentor. Although she frequently called, it wasn¡¯t the same as being there in person.


    ¡°Good,¡± Marjory said softly. ¡°As long as you¡¯re taking care of yourself, we can catch up on everything else when you¡¯re back.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile broadened. ¡°Of course. Take care, Ms. Lyons.¡±


    As she ended the call, Katelyn felt a sense of peace and happiness. Marjory was more than a mentor to her; she was a beloved woman who felt more like family.


    Marjory had promised herself she would never take on another student, but she made an exception for Katelyn¡ªa gesture Katelyn had always treasured.


    Vincent, his eyes lighting up with recognition, said, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize your mentor was Ms. Marjory Lyons.¡±


    Katelyn, surprised, asked, ¡°You know her too?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of her, but we¡¯ve never met. I actually wanted to work with her on this project, but she retired a few years ago, and I had to find someone else,¡± Vincent said.<fn1ba9> Fresh chapters posted on f?ndnovel</fn1ba9>


    Katelyn settled back in her seat, reflecting on this new information.


    ¡°I see,¡± she said quietly.


    The conversation ended as they reached the hotel.


    With ns to visit the Earl at the castle the next morning, Katelyn decided to go to bed early.


    Though she had long imagined what a grand castle might look like, she was excited to see one in person.


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 Chapter 394

    ?Chapter 394:


    In many folklores and tales, grand castles were often depicted as the homes of vampires. These creatures hailed from noble lineages, with a strict adherence to tradition and rules.


    The castle before Katelyn dwarfed the Bailey family¡¯s estate by arge margin¡ªperhaps ten times its size. The sprawling grounds were adorned with exotic flowers and trees, adding to its majestic allure.


    At the entryway fountain stood a statue of the Earl¡¯s ancestor, gazing down solemnly. The massive ck gates exuded an intimidating aura, as though they were guarding something far more valuable than merend. The sheer luxury of the ce surpassed anything she had ever seen in films.


    But the true treasure, Katelyn knew,y beneath the soil¡ªcountless relics hidden away, perhaps for centuries.


    Katelyn studied theyout intently before turning to Vincent. ¡°I used to think the mansions in movies were exaggerated,¡± she said, her voice tinged with awe. ¡°But I was wrong. The reality here is far more luxurious than any film set.¡±


    Vincent chuckled. ¡°¡®Life inspires art,''¡± he replied with a knowing smile.<fnf382> Latest content published on f?ndnovel</fnf382>


    Dale, clearly swelling with pride, interjected, ¡°Thisnd was given to my uncle by the Queen when she elevated him to an earldom decades ago. It¡¯s truly the grandest manor in Yata, a mythicalnd. You know, my vi was equally magnificent¡­¡±


    Dale¡¯s voice trailed off, and Katelyn caught the flicker of remorse in his eyes. She realized he had stopped speaking because he remembered losing everything¡ªhis fortune, including the luxurious vi, all gambled away.


    Once a noble heir, Dale had fallen from grace to be a penniless drifter. His downfall had been swift and steep.


    Yet, Katelyn felt no sympathy for him.


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    No matter his regrets now, he had only himself to me.


    Dale approached the door and pressed the bell. Momentster, a butler appeared, but his expression changed the instant he saw Dale.


    ¡°Why are you back here?¡± the butler asked, his tone cold. ¡°Earl Poulos specifically instructed me not to let you in. If you¡¯re here to ask for money, leave now. Don¡¯t cause him more trouble.¡±


    Dale cleared his throat awkwardly, his face flushing slightly. He gestured toward Vincent and Katelyn. ¡°I¡¯m not here for money today. I¡¯ve brought two friends who wish to meet Uncle Dous.¡±


    The butler nced at where Dale pointed, his face quickly hardening.


    ¡°His Lordship has made it clear not to introduce any questionable buyers. He¡¯s adamant about not selling this manor.¡±


    Katelyn stayed silent, but she understood exactly what the butler meant.


    Many had sought to acquire this property, and given the Earl¡¯s unpredictable nature, they likely saw Dale as a means to gain ess.


    Driven by financial motives, Dale had probably introduced numerous prospective buyers to his uncle over the years. Despite the Earl being Dale¡¯s only remaining kin, Dale was now barred from even entering his property.


    Dale grew restless, insisting, ¡°I¡¯m telling you the truth. They¡¯re just two friends who admire Uncle Dous and wanted to visit.¡±


    The butler remained unconvinced. ¡°Please leave. I¡¯m not opening the door for you.¡±


    Faced with repeated rejection, Dale¡¯s embarrassment grew.


    With Vincent and Katelyn watching, he desperately needed this encounter to resolve his debts and regain some stability. Yet, here he was, halted at the doorstep before he could even begin negotiations.


    Frustrated, Dale demanded, ¡°Am I not even allowed to visit my own home and see my uncle?¡±


    The butler scoffed, effortlessly exposing Dale¡¯s lie. ¡°Every time you return, it¡¯s to ask for money. His Lordship has been so upset by your actions that he¡¯s copsed in frustration several times. If not for your mother, he would have disowned you by now.¡±


    With that, the butler turned and walked away, decisively ignoring Dale¡¯s protests.


    Dale clenched his teeth, his frustration mounting. ¡°I demand that youe back and open this door for me!¡±


    But the butler kept walking, unaffected by Dale¡¯smand. Just then, an elderly voice echoed from inside.


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 Chapter 395

    ?Chapter 395:


    The voice, deep andmanding, echoed with an air of authority and presence. ¡°Let them in.¡±


    Though the words were spoken softly, they carried a weight that was heard by all with perfect rity.


    After issuing the order, the speaker was seized by a violent coughing fit.


    The butler quickly moved to his side. ¡°My lord, how are you feeling? The doctor has strongly advised against you going outside.¡±


    Earl Poulos, his hand pressed to his mouth, took a deep breath, shook his head slowly, and then turned his gaze toward the figures waiting outside the door, including Katelyn.


    ¡°Let them in,¡± he repeated.


    The butler gave a brief nod of understanding and, with determined steps, opened the wide doors of the estate.


    Until that moment, Katelyn hadn¡¯t been able to clearly see the Earl¡¯s face due to the distance. Now, she could.


    Earl Poulos stood in the doorway¡¯s shadow, dressed in ck. He leaned on a cane, and a discreet yetvish ruby ring adorned his finger.


    Despite his age, his eyes were as sharp as a hawk¡¯s, with a mystical ability to peer into the soul. His silent presence radiated an unmistakable authority. At that moment, Katelyn felt she was witnessing the enduring spirit of nobility in Earl Poulos.


    Vincent and Katelyn were the first to greet him. ¡°Good day, my lord.¡±


    Earl Poulos, resting on his cane, nodded casually but gave Katelyn a significant look.


    The nce was brief, almost fleeting.


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    ¡°Come in and have a seat,¡± Earl Poulos instructed, beginning to walk, the butler carefully supporting his arm.


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a nce before following.


    The estate¡¯s grounds were vast, like several stadiumsbined.


    Even the in corridors were adorned with rare antiques and artistic masterpieces.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes fell on a painting from thest century, hanging on the wall. It was valued at over a hundred million today.


    To collectors, such artifacts would typically be stored in a vault. Yet, here, they served merely as wall hangings, some even covered in dust. This suggested that Earl Poulos was, indeed, exceedingly wealthy.


    Negotiating a deal with him based solely on profit would be nearly impossible.


    When Dale stepped inside, he couldn¡¯t hide his true intentions.


    He purposely stayed at the back of the group, closely examining everything around him.


    He discreetly pocketed anything small enough to steal, even items his uncle had discarded, knowing they could fetch a hefty sum at auction.


    The butler, sensing something was amiss, turned sharply and caught Dale red-handed.


    Visibly annoyed, he reprimanded him sharply, ¡°Mr. Poulos, these items are His Lordship¡¯s personal belongings.¡±


    Dale, feigning nonchnce, responded smoothly, ¡°What¡¯s the issue? I¡¯m merely examining them closely. Do you really think I¡¯d steal from my own uncle?¡±


    The butler¡¯s anger red instantly. He was baffled by how his sophisticated and dignified employer could have such a troublesome rtive. Dale¡¯s minor thefts had already led to the loss of numerous valuable items, which invariably ended up being gambled away. Earl Poulos would then have to pay a hefty price to recover them, perpetuating a costly cycle.


    Earl Poulos, however, appeared unfazed, simply shaking his head. ¡°Let¡¯s proceed.¡±


    Katelyn watched these subtle exchanges intently.


    They moved to the reception room, and once everyone was seated, Earl Poulos directed the butler to serve beverages and light snacks. Resting back on the sofa with his caneid casually aside, Earl Poulos inquired, ¡°I presume you¡¯re here about thend, right?¡±<fneaca> Original content can be found at find?novel</fneaca>


    His tone was rxed, and his expression calm, as if he were speaking to old acquaintances.


    Yet, for some reason, Katelyn felt a lingering sense of difort. Before they could respond, Earl Poulos added, ¡°Actually, you¡¯ve all been misled by those rumors.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 396

    ?Chapter 396:<fn6f02> Follow current nov?ls on F¦ÉndNovel</fn6f02>


    What could the Earl possibly mean?


    Earl Poulos didn¡¯t give Katelyn and Vincent a chance to respond.


    He continued, ¡°There¡¯s no treasure here at all. The rumors were started by our family¡¯s rivals a hundred years ago. They wanted to stir up conflict over thisnd.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face tightened as she tried to determine whether Earl Poulos was lying. Vincent leaned forward, looking concerned.


    ¡°But what we heard was that¡ª¡±


    Earl Poulos interrupted with a grin. ¡°The rumors have gotten so out of hand that there¡¯s no stopping them. All I can do now is tell the truth to anyone whoes asking about thisnd.¡±


    Katelyn nced over at Dale, who was sitting on the sofa but barely managing to stay still. His eyes kept drifting toward the items on the disy shelf, and it was obvious he was already plotting something.


    Katelyn gave a quiet cough, just loud enough to catch Dale¡¯s attention.


    When they made the deal, Dale had agreed to help them secure thend, and only then would Vincent give him something in return.


    Dale quickly caught her hint, a sly grin spreading across his face.


    ¡°Uncle Dous,¡± he said, ¡°you might be able to dupe others with your story, but I¡¯m not convinced. I¡¯ve known for ages that there are precious jewels buried right here.¡±


    Earl Poulos, unruffled, merely shook his head in response. ¡°You even seem to believe it. That¡¯s how potent rumors can be. If there were any truth to it, wouldn¡¯t I have sold these treasures long ago, rather than constantly battling treasure hunters?¡±


    Earl Poulos paused for a moment, a soft sigh escaping his lips. ¡°This rumor has lingered for decades. Even if I tried to clear things up, no one would take my word for it.¡±


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    Katelyn paused, then added thoughtfully, ¡°My Lord, the treasure isn¡¯t the reason we want thisnd. If you could prove there¡¯s nothing hidden here, it might just resolve our problem.¡±


    ¡°How can I do that?¡± Earl Poulos replied. ¡°The only way to prove it is to excavate the entire plot. But I can¡¯t do that, since thisnd is the sole legacy my parents left me.¡±


    Katelyn was left speechless by his revtion.


    Thend was firmly in the Earl¡¯s control, and his wealth was not in question.


    Vincent and Katelyn found themselves without any leverage.


    Furthermore, Dale¡¯s reliability was questionable at best. They couldn¡¯t really excavate thend just to prove a rumor, could they?


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Vincent.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes shed with a serious light as he said, ¡°My lord, I trust you, but I need to ask one more thing. Have you ever seen a round jade pendant with two colors?¡±


    Earl Poulos was momentarily puzzled. ¡°A round jade pendant with two colors?¡±


    Vincent nodded gravely. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a family heirloom that was lost in an ident. Recent information suggests it might be buried here, which is why we¡¯vee to you.¡± Katelyn remembered that during Vincent¡¯s conversation with Selina, he had mentioned retrieving something buried under thend. Could this be it?


    Earl Poulos seemed to think hard for a moment before shaking his head in disappointment.


    ¡°My apologies, but I¡¯ve never heard of or seen such a pendant,¡± Earl Poulos said, his voice apologetic yet firm.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew serious, his voice turning cold as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s very important to me. My grandfather¡¯sst wish was for me to find it.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face hardened as he continued, ¡°Let¡¯s be straightforward about this. Name any condition you want. If I can meet it, please allow me to search for the pendant. If it¡¯s not here, I¡¯ll apologize for any trouble we¡¯ve caused.¡±


    Earl Poulos stood firm with his cane, his tone resolute. ¡°I¡¯ve told you there¡¯s nothing buried on thisnd, and I won¡¯t allow it to be dug up. After I¡¯m gone, I¡¯ll leave it to the rightful owner.¡±


    Dale¡¯s lips curled into a barely contained grin upon hearing this.


    Once Earl Poulos was gone, the property would be his alone. By then, he wouldn¡¯t need Vincent¡¯s help to clear his gambling debts anymore.


    Dale spoke up with eager confidence. ¡°Uncle Dous, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll look after thisnd just like you would.¡±


    Earl Poulos, caught off guard, turned to Dale with a piercing look.


    ¡°When did I ever mention I¡¯d leave thisnd to you?¡±


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 Chapter 397

    ?Chapter 397:


    Earl Poulos appeared genuinely puzzled.


    Katelyn, too, found herself caught off guard.


    She had overheard Dale¡¯s conversation with the debt collectors, where Earl Poulos¡¯ will was mentioned. This led her to question whether Earl Poulos had ever had a will in the first ce. Was it possible that Dale had invented the whole story just to calm his creditors?


    Suddenly, Dale jumped to his feet, his voice filled with disbelief. ¡°Uncle Dous, what are you saying? You have no children, and I¡¯m your only nephew. If you don¡¯t leave thend to me, who else would inherit it?¡±


    The thought of losing thend was something Dale could not ept.


    Earl Poulos responded calmly, ¡°I intend to leave it to whoever proves to be the most deserving.¡±


    Dale¡¯s expression turned into one of derision.


    ¡°Uncle, you can¡¯t still be holding out hope for your abducted child, can you? It¡¯s been so many years. If he were still alive, he would have returned by now.¡±


    As Dale spoke, his tone shifted to something more sycophantic. He moved closer to Earl Poulos, trying to win his favor by massaging his shoulders.


    ¡°We are all the family left. Instead of waiting for someone who isn¡¯ting back, why not pass thend to me? I¡¯ll ensure it¡¯s cared for.¡±


    Katelyn and Vincent had already reviewed Earl Poulos¡¯ background.


    They knew Earl Poulos had lost his only son when he was just a toddler, never to be seen again.


    Earl Poulos gripped his cane tighter. Standing nearby, the butler quickly chimed in, ¡°Mr. Poulos, this is too much. The young master will return one day.¡±


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    ¡°I¡¯m speaking to my uncle. Why do you think it¡¯s your ce to speak?¡± Dale scowled, ring at the butler before turning back to Earl Poulos. ¡°You once said I would inherit thend. Are you breaking that promise now? I would hate to think my uncle is a man who doesn¡¯t keep his word.¡±<fna553> Latest content published on findnovel</fna553>


    ¡°You can have anything else, but not thisnd. Someone like you would lose it in a casino within days,¡± Earl Poulos replied without hesitation. He knew Dale all too well. His nephew was a greedy man, constantly looking for ways to squander whatever he had.


    He could only see the immediate rewards in front of him and failed to grasp the bigger picture.


    A man like that was never going to achieve anything substantial. No matter how much he received, it would all be wasted.


    Dale¡¯s expression shifted to one of false admiration. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ve changed. I¡¯m a different man now. Don¡¯t judge me for what I did before.¡±


    Earl Poulos shook off Dale¡¯s hands and stated firmly, ¡°The conversation about thend is over. As I said, you won¡¯t be getting it.¡±


    He refused to budge, leaving no space for further argument.


    At this point, Dale¡¯s frustration boiled over. ¡°Why are you bing more and more unreasonable as you age? Giving thend to me makes the most sense!¡±


    What used to be a close bond between uncle and nephew had turned into a tense standoff over thend.


    To an outsider like Katelyn, it almost seemed tragic for Earl Poulos. His child had vanished years ago without a trace, and the only rtive he had left was an utter disappointment.


    Meanwhile, many others were circling like vultures, eager to im thend for themselves.


    Earl Poulos¡¯ patience was clearly wearing thin. He gave a dismissive wave to the butler and instructed, ¡°Take him out. From now on, he can never enter my home without my permission.¡±


    The butler moved immediately, ready to remove Dale from the room.


    Dale might have been younger, but his years of drug abuse had left him weakened. He struggled against the butler, but he couldn¡¯t fight back. He was almost dragged to the door, still shouting defiantly.


    ¡°Do you really think you can keep this up, old man? When you¡¯re gone, everything here will belong to me. Let me make this clear¡ªno one else will get their hands on thisnd! No one but me!¡±


    Dale¡¯s attitude was insufferable. His arrogance and hostility were evident in every word.


    Vincent watched the scene closely. The more he observed, the more he questioned Earl Poulos¡¯ intentions. He decided to look deeper into who would ultimately inherit Earl Poulos¡¯ estate and why.


    Once Dale had been removed, a heavy silence settled over the room.


    Earl Poulos then shifted his attention to Katelyn. ¡°How old are you, and where are you from, youngdy?¡± he asked.


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 Chapter 398

    ?Chapter 398:


    The sudden shift in topic took both Katelyn and Vincent by surprise.


    Katelyn focused intently on Earl Poulos¡¯ serious expression. For some reason, Selina¡¯s shocked look from the other day shed in her mind.


    It seemed they were both startled by the same realization¡ªthat Katelyn resembled someone they knew.


    Katelyn chose not to answer immediately. Instead, she took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking.


    ¡°My Lord, I don¡¯t believe this matter is directly rted to why we¡¯re here today.¡±<fn784b> Content originallyes from find?novel</fn784b>


    Earl Poulos gave a thoughtful smile and stroked the red ruby ring on his finger.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m just a bit curious.¡±


    Despite his words, he continued to study Katelyn¡¯s features intently.


    From the moment she had arrived, he had noticed her striking resemnce to an old friend. This resemnce was why he had decided to grant them an audience.


    As Earl Poulos continued to observe Katelyn, his conviction in his suspicions grew stronger with each passing moment.


    The reason she resembled someone from his past became clear: she was the daughter of that person. Yet, he showed no intention of offering further exnation.


    Katelyn decided not to press him. She quietly acknowledged the peculiarity of the situation, unable to grasp what had so deeply shocked both Earl Poulos and Selina.


    Then, Earl Poulos said something that left both Katelyn and Vincent utterly astonished. With a warm smile, he announced, ¡°I have only one son, who disappeared years ago, and no other rtives. Today, I feel a profound connection with you. Would you consider bing my honorary daughter?¡±


    ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ??????????¦Í??????©q?????


    Katelyn was overwhelmed by the announcement.


    She couldn¡¯t understand why Earl Poulos would extend such an offer to her. Given his immense power, prestigious status, and considerable wealth, if he desired an honorary daughter, countless people would eagerly ept.


    Why would he want her as his daughter?


    If Katelyn epted Earl Poulos¡¯ offer, Elora would no longer be able to use her noble status to bully Katelyn in Yata.


    However, Katelyn was well aware that nothing came without a price.


    When something seemed too good to be true, it often was bad news in disguise.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew serious. His investigation indicated that Earl Poulos was known for being strict and unpredictable. Many businessmen who attempted to purchase the castle had been harshly rejected by him.


    Still, the man they met today waspletely different from the rumors.


    Furthermore, Vincent sensed an unexinable concern that Earl Poulos had for Katelyn.


    After a moment of contemtion, Katelyn asked, ¡°May I ask why you¡¯d want to offer something like that to me, My Lord?¡±


    Earl Poulos smiled bitterly, then leaned forward.


    ¡°You must understand that my nephew Dale has proven to be utterly incapable and disappointingly irresponsible. Rather than watch him squander this vast estate, I would prefer to choose a suitable heir¡ªor heiress¡ªwho truly appreciates its value.¡±


    As Katelyn absorbed his exnation, her frown deepened. She found herself puzzled by his intentions. Was he suggesting that if she epted his offer, the entire estate would be hers?


    After considering his words carefully, she decided it was best to decline such an unexpected proposition.


    ¡°We¡¯ve only just met today. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t ept your kind and generous offer,¡± she replied gently.


    Her refusal seemed to align precisely with what Earl Poulos had anticipated.


    He gazed at her with a newfound sense of respect and admiration. He realized that if anyone else had been offered such sudden wealth, they would have agreed without hesitation.


    Earl Poulos had made his intentions clear. He was looking for someone to inherit his estate.


    Despite the enormous opportunity, Katelyn still declined.


    With a calm smile, Earl Poulos reassured her, ¡°No need to rush. Take your time to think it over. I assure you, I have no hidden agenda. I simply wish for some familypanionship.¡±


    Katelyn responded softly, ¡°I believe there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. We¡¯re only in Yata for work, and once it¡¯spleted, we¡¯ll be returning home.¡±


    Earl Poulos acknowledged her words with a nod. ¡°I understand. However, my offer remains. If you decide to ept, you¡¯re wee to return at any time.¡±


    Turning to the butler, he added, ¡°From this moment on, she is my honored guest. She has free ess to the castle and may even call upon my influence if needed.¡±


    The butler bowed respectfully and said, ¡°Yes, My Lord.¡±


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged nces, both surprised by the unexpected turn of events, their astonishment mirrored in each other¡¯s eyes.


    .


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 Chapter 399

    ?Chapter 399:


    Given the Earl¡¯s prestigious family background and considerable influence, he might even overshadow the Williams family. Yet, he extended such a generous offer to Katelyn, despite her being essentially aplete stranger to him.


    Although Katelyn inly refused his offer, Earl Poulos remained steadfast.


    A sense of unease settled over her, as she suspected there might be a grand scheme behind his generosity. She hesitated for a moment before speaking her mind.


    ¡°I appreciate your kindness, My Lord, but I must decline,¡± Katelyn said.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to overthink it. Simply ept it as a wee gesture from me,¡± Earl Poulos replied, his smile unwavering as he gazed at Katelyn, as if she were a cherished younger rtive. ¡°If you encounter any trouble in Yata, do not hesitate to ask for my help,¡± he added.


    Katelyn found herself struggling to find the right words. She wasn¡¯t sure how to persuade him to change his mind. However, she understood that while Earl Poulos had offered her considerable influence, she was under no obligation to use his connections for her own purposes.


    She still had no interest in owing favors to anyone.


    After a moment, Vincent rose from his seat.


    ¡°My Lord, we have business matters scheduledter that require our attention, so we will take our leave,¡± he stated.


    Katelyn stood up as well, ready to depart.


    The Earl nodded in agreement. ¡°Very well. I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Still, I hope you find some time to visit an old man like me,¡± he said with a wistful smile.


    Vincent gave him a silent nod of farewell and walked out with Katelyn by his side.


    ???????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????????¦Í??????[?]??????


    During the drive back, neither of them spoke. An uneasy silence filled the car as they both pondered Earl Poulos¡¯ peculiar behavior.


    Eventually, Vincent broke the silence and turned his attention to Katelyn. He nced at her face, noticing how her delicate features seemed even more striking than he remembered. She was more captivating than any portrait he had ever seen.


    Her eyes were deep and captivating, drawing attention with their intense gaze. She was truly remarkable, leaving an impression on anyone who looked at her.


    Vincent¡¯s stare lingered, and Katelyn asked, ¡°Is something wrong, Mr. Adams? Do I have something on my face?¡±


    Vincent considered her question for a moment before responding. ¡°Did you notice how unusual Selina¡¯s reaction was the other day? And now Earl Poulos¡­¡±


    Vincent paused, taking a moment to think back on their expressions, carefully choosing his words.


    ¡°Even though they were looking at you, it felt as if they were seeing someone else through you.¡±<fn1b57> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? </fn1b57>


    Katelyn understood what he meant, and she felt a jolt of surprise.


    ¡°You think they might know someone who looks like me? Maybe someone rted to me by blood?¡± Her heart began to race as she spoke.


    If that were the case, Earl Poulos¡¯ behavior today¡ªgranting her influence and wanting to make her his honorary daughter¡ªsuddenly made sense.


    But if he realized this, why didn¡¯t he just talk to her about it?


    Katelyn had never expected a business trip to Yata to uncover clues about her parents.


    Vincent noticed the glimmer of hope in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Every child separated from their parents dreams of finding them again.


    Katelyn had never openly expressed that desire, but it was clear she had thought about it often.


    While he didn¡¯t want to dampen that hope, Vincent also wanted to keep expectations realistic. He furrowed his brow and said, ¡°This is just a theory at this point. We should gather more information when we visit Earl Poulos¡¯ castle again.¡±


    Katelyn listened carefully and gave a determined nod, her fingers curling tightly into fists.


    If her parents were somehow connected to Earl Poulos and Selina, then they might hold a significant ce in Yata¡¯s upper society. Pursuing this lead could finally reveal something about her past.


    Soon, their car arrived at the hotel. Vincent had already instructed Samuel to secure new amodations.


    The elevator soon reached the top floor.


    When Katelyn and Vincent stepped out, his phone began to ring insistently, disying Samuel¡¯s name on the screen.


    Vincent picked up the call as soon as he answered. Samuel¡¯s voice came through, crackling with restrained excitement.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, we¡¯ve uncovered something about TS. The most recent sighting was right here, at the hotel where you¡¯re currently staying.¡±


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 Chapter 400

    ?Chapter 400:


    Samuel sounded almost breathless with excitement. Tracking down TS, a legendary hacker who had remained hidden and mysterious for years, was no small feat. TS was a master at covering their tracks and concealing their identity.


    Their reputation in the circle was almost mythical. Luckily, during the recent crisis with the Adams Group¡¯s firewall, TS¡¯s intervention provided a crucial clue. This allowed Samuel to backtrack and finally uncover a lead.


    Even so, it had taken him an enormous amount of time and effort. Vincent tightened his grip on the phone and asked in a firm voice, ¡°Are you certain of this?¡±


    The timing seemed almost too perfect. Vincent found it hard to believe that TS, the hacker he had been searching for, was currently staying in the same hotel as him.


    He nced ahead and caught sight of Katelyn¡¯s figure in the distance.


    ¡°TS.¡± He mouthed those letters quietly, still unsure of the meaning behind the mysterious alias.


    Samuel continued with a tone of certainty, ¡°Mr. Adams, the information I have is solid. I even tracked down the private number TS once used for dealings. It might not be active anymore, but you could try reaching out.¡± As he finished speaking, he forwarded the number to Vincent¡¯s phone.


    That number had always been used for transactions when TS was still working. But given how much time had passed since TS¡¯s retirement, it was uncertain if it was still in service.


    ¡°I see,¡± Vincent replied before ending the call.


    He stared at the number Samuel had sent but didn¡¯t make the call immediately. Instead, he quickened his steps, determined to catch up with Katelyn.


    Katelyn, meanwhile, had stepped out of the elevator first to give Vincent some privacy when she heard his phone ring, and therefore, she hadn¡¯t heard any part of his conversation with Samuel.


    g???????¦Í??????.??0??, ?????????? ???????? ????


    However, her thoughts drifted back to what he had mentioned earlier at the castle.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, is there a problem with thepany?¡± she asked, looking over her shoulder as he caught up.


    Vincent shook his head but kept his gaze fixed on Katelyn. In the next moment, he dialed the number Samuel had sent him.


    He knew that cross-border calls could often have a slight dy, so he carefully watched Katelyn¡¯s reaction and paid close attention to her phone. Within moments, her phone began to ring.


    Vincent immediately noticed that the ringtone was different from the one he was used to hearing.


    This suggested only two possibilities: Either she had recently changed her ringtone, or she was using a second number that he didn¡¯t know about.<fn83d0> Get full chapters from find~novel</fn83d0>


    Katelyn seemed caught off guard when she saw the unfamiliar number sh on her screen.


    She hadn¡¯t used that number in years. It was the one she reserved for specific orders. How could someone be calling her through that number now?


    She frowned as she considered the situation for a moment. Then, without wasting any time, she declined the call.


    She needed to concentrate fully on securing the castle and handling Selina. If someone had an urgent matter, they would have to wait until she finished her current project.


    As soon as Katelyn ended the call, Vincent¡¯s phone showed that it had been disconnected. This only added to his doubts.


    He looked up, studying Katelyn closely and noticing the brief flicker of emotion in her eyes.


    ¡°Who was it?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn was caught off guard by Vincent¡¯s unexpected question. He respected her boundaries and rarely inquired about her personal matters.


    ¡°It was an unknown number. They probably called the wrong number.¡± She tried to sound casual, but his gaze remained fixed on her.


    With a direct smile, he responded, ¡°Samuel gave me TS¡¯s private number just now. I called it, and the call was rejected at the same moment you rejected yours.¡±


    Though his tone was casual, his words struck Katelyn like a jolt.


    Her heart skipped a beat as she quickly pieced together why Vincent had asked about her call earlier. He had been testing her.


    She understood the extent of Vincent¡¯s power and influence. If he was determined to uncover the identity of TS, it was inevitable he would eventually uncover the truth. That was why she had stopped all online activities after the firewall incident.


    However, despite her precautions, Vincent¡¯s suspicions had not faded. He was still pursuing the truth. Katelyn gave an evasive response and avoided eye contact with him.


    ¡°It was probably just a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°Was it really?¡± Vincent replied.


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 Chapter 401

    ?Chapter 401:


    Vincent¡¯s stare was sharp, piercing Katelyn like a de and leaving her feeling slightly overwhelmed.


    It was her first time feeling panic. It was also the first time Vincent had looked at her with such intensity and scrutiny.


    Katelyn was momentarily unsettled but quickly regained herposure and said with conviction, ¡°Mr. Adams, are you implying that I am TS?¡±


    Vincent responded with a half-smile and remained silent.


    Katelyn smiled and replied, ¡°I believe I¡¯ve rified this before, right? I¡¯m merely a designer. I don¡¯t possess any hacking skills.¡±


    She scrambled mentally for the right words.


    Vincent¡¯s stare was relentless, scrutinizing Katelyn¡¯s every response from the start. Her behavior seemed genuine, and her eyes were clear.


    Could he be misjudging the situation? Perhaps. Katelyn took advantage of his brief moment of uncertainty and added, ¡°If you¡¯re still doubtful, Mr. Adams, why not make another call to check? I assure you, I¡¯m not TS. Why would I lie about that?¡±<fn246a> Readplete version only at f?ndnovel</fn246a>


    Vincent had a serious look on his face. Katelyn truly had no reason to keep secrets from him.


    Regarding the call¡­


    He bowed his head and tried the number once more, but still, nobody answered. This time, however, Katelyn¡¯s phone remained silent.


    She confidently handed her phone to Vincent. ¡°Look, the number you tried isn¡¯t mine.¡±


    Vincent ended the call, his lips tightly sealed, though uncertainty lingered in his gaze.


    Your favorite stories g¦Áln¦Òv???s


    Could he be making too much of this?


    Katelyn pretended to be intrigued and inquired, ¡°Mr. Adams, have you located TS yet?¡±


    Vincent paused to gather his thoughts before responding lightly, ¡°Samuel is on it until we track down TS.¡±


    Her rm bells rang upon hearing his words. She understood Vincent and his tactics all too well. With¡­


    With this in mind, she nned to stayte tonight to enhance her anti-tracking program, making sure she left no trace behind.


    Something about the situation made her uneasy.


    She had assisted the Adams Group through a difficult time, which should have positioned her as Vincent¡¯s ally. Yet, his attitude almost suggested he was hunting her down for revenge or something. But why?


    Katelyn quickly dismissed the unsettling thought and nodded.


    ¡°I understand. When you locate TS, Mr. Adams, please inform me. I would be eager to meet this renowned hacker.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    Katelyn shed a polite smile, said goodnight to Vincent, and returned to her room. She quickly pulled out herptop and started workingte into the night.


    She absolutely had to maintain her secrecy!


    The fame and attention Iris had brought her were already too much. If her secret identity as TS were exposed, her situation would be even moreplicated. She continued working until three in the morning before she finally went to sleep.


    With nomitments for the following day, she allowed herself to sleep in.


    Just as she was settling back into bed for more rest, her phone suddenly rang with an urgent tone.


    The caller ID was unknown.


    Yet, she recognized the caller immediately.


    It was Neil.


    Annoyance shed in her eyes. During her time in Yata, she had nearly forgotten he existed. She lifted her hand to hang up, but he was persistent, repeatedly calling until she picked up.


    Finally, Katelyn answered the call. Her impatience was unmistakable.


    ¡°Are you insane?¡±


    Her voice was cold, as though she was talking to a stranger.


    No, she wouldn¡¯t even be this distant from a stranger. Neil could sense her anger. He clenched his fists and said, ¡°Katelyn, you¡¯re with Vincent, aren¡¯t you? After all your plotting, you¡¯ve finally achieved what you wanted. This call is to congratte you on your sess.¡±


    Katelyn responded sharply, ¡°Go seek help if you need it.¡± They were divorced now, and even if she were really involved with Vincent, it was no concern of Neil¡¯s.


    Katelyn decisively ended the call, and at that moment, someone knocked on her door.


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 Chapter 402

    ?Chapter 402:


    The knocking on the door was insistent, echoing the earlier relentless phone rings, demanding attention until Katelyn responded.


    Katelyn felt annoyed by the disturbance.


    But her recent encounter with an assassin made her cautious.


    Positioned securely behind the door, Katelyn asked coldly, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Silence followed. The persistent knocking continued. Looking through the peephole, Katelyn was shocked to find a man standing there.


    It was Neil, unexpectedly present when he was supposed to be at home.


    Given his unexpected presence in Yata, Katelyn wondered if he hade for Lise.


    Why would he visit her instead of Lise now?


    Neil, clenching his jaw, spoke in a chilling voice. ¡°Katelyn Bailey, I know you¡¯re inside. Open up or I¡¯ll be out here all day.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±


    Katelyn clenched her jaw with frustration, stepped up, and swung the door open. Neil¡¯s eyes met hers, cold and full of fury.<fn80cd> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn80cd>


    ¡°Tell me. Did you sleep with Vincent? Was everything else just a plot to destroy me?¡±


    The Wheeler Group was floundering, facing troubles both developmental and beyond. Things had gotten worse. The press conference, where all the secrets came to light, had dealt a crushing blow to hispany.


    ¡°We weren¡¯t even divorced, and you were against me plotting with another man. Katelyn Bailey, you¡¯ve yed me the whole time, toying with my emotions.¡±


    In Neil¡¯s eyes, anger was mixed with a trace of hurt that Katelyn couldn¡¯t dismiss.


    New chapters now on .c?m


    Katelyn frowned, confused. Besides the baseless ims, when had she ever misled him and toyed with his feelings?


    Katelyn crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, her look one of cautious coldness.


    ¡°Neil Wheeler, don¡¯t your words seem absurd? Throughout our marriage, I did you no wrong. And as for manipting your feelings, did you truly love me? Was it not you¡­?¡±


    ¡°Who was unfaithful during our marriage?¡±


    Perhaps there was something between them initially, but it wasn¡¯t love¡ªmerely routine. It was said that habits form in 28 days, and they had been together for three years. Neil¡¯s irrational actions and his hesitation to divorce might have simply been a habit of having her presence. Losing even a pet could make one feel loss deeply, after all.


    Neil¡¯s expression turned grim, and he spoke through clenched teeth. ¡°In your view, did I never care for you? If that¡¯s true, why would I have married you?¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who imed our marriage was merely for convenience? Have you lost your mind?¡± Katelyn hade to terms with the past, now able to see the pain with rity and detachment.


    Had she not been so blinded by love, she might have noticed Neil¡¯s reluctance in their marriage and saved herself years of grief.


    Her words infuriated Neil, prompting him to sneer.


    ¡°Fine. Believe what you wish, but you¡¯ll answer for your betrayal and schemes.¡±


    ¡°Anytime! I¡¯m right here,¡± Katelyn responded casually, her eyes taunting.


    ¡°You know what? All you do now only confirms how foolish I was to spend so much time on you. Leaving you was the best decision I¡¯ve ever made.¡±


    Though she recognized this now, it was toote; the time lost was irretrievable.


    Neil was on the verge of exploding. He stepped closer, his fists so tightly clenched that his knuckles popped. ¡°Did I prevent you from being with Vincent sooner? Katelyn, you¡¯re really cheap! Do you even know that he¡ª¡±


    Before Neil could finish his sentence, Katelyn raised her hand and delivered a sharp p across his face. The sound was crisp and resonated loudly in the hallway.


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 Chapter 403

    ?Chapter 403:


    Katelyn channeled all her strength into that p, her palm tingling afterward.


    Her gaze was cold as she looked at Neil, a mocking smile on her face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t assume everyone sinks to your level. You and I are done. What gives you the right toe here and talk to me like this?¡±


    Neil¡¯s cheek bore the distinct mark of five fingers.


    His face turned red with rage, much like an enraged lion. ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t think I won¡¯t retaliate. You¡¯re pushing my limits.¡±


    The sarcasm in Katelyn¡¯s eyes intensified. ¡°Have you forgotten how you struck me without a second thought to defend Lise? This is just my payback.¡±


    She would never erase the memory of that demeaning p.


    However, it also dispelled any false perceptions she had about Neil.


    ¡°My love for you ended with that p.¡±


    Neil clenched his teeth, his voice full of frustration.


    ¡°Is it really that p that¡¯s brought us to this point? It¡¯s been so long. Why can¡¯t you let it go? Haven¡¯t you hit me enough times to even the score? Why are you still angry?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fists tightened, her nails pressing into her palms as a wave of anger rose inside her.


    She didn¡¯t want to waste another word on Neil. Did he really see his betrayal and her hurt as nothing more than petty grudges?


    How much more was she expected to forgive?


    ¡°Neil, you¡¯ll regret your actions today.¡±


    ¡°Not before you and Vincent do!¡±


    R3ad the r3zt at g??lno¦Íels.??????


    Neil¡¯s eyes burned with overt hatred as he retorted through clenched teeth.


    ¡°Katelyn, from now on, my only goal is to make sure you both pay dearly!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡± Katelyn shot back, mming the door shut right after.


    She realized she needed to find a new ce to stay as soon as possible.


    The ongoing harassment was driving her insane. But as she shut the door, she failed to notice two pairs of eyes watching everything from a corner of the hallway.


    Elora was fuming, the hatred zing in her eyes. She held Katelyn responsible for the humiliation she had suffered at the recent banquet.


    Rumors had spread, turning her into a subject of ridicule among high society. Everywhere she went, she could hear the whispers and feel the judgment. It was as if everyone was pointing at her. This had severely damaged her dignity.


    She turned to the stern man beside her.


    He seemed to be in histe thirties, dressed invish, refined attire, radiating nobility.


    ¡°Dad, did you see her? That despicable woman is the reason I¡¯m in this state. I¡¯ve learned everything about her. She was a home-wrecker beforeing to Yata, colluding with another man to disgrace her former husband. Now, she¡¯s using the same tactics to try and take Bartley from me.¡±


    Elora¡¯s voice wasced with venom. ¡°I want her to suffer greatly, to be banished from Yata forever.¡±


    Breck Williams looked at his daughter, his eyes showing a hint of indulgence.


    ¡°Leave this to me. Remember, you¡¯re a nobledy. Don¡¯t let yourself be upset by someone so beneath you.¡± Elora was his only legitimate heiress.


    No matter his wealth, it was all destined for her. He had treated her like royalty since her childhood.


    ¡°Anyone who upsets my little princess will regret it.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Just expelling her from Yata isn¡¯t enough!¡± Elora smirked wickedly as an idea came to her. ¡°Why not sell her into servitude as the most pitiful of ves?¡±


    In Yata, numerous ck-market dealings operated without fear of legal repercussions, with the whole country tacitly supporting this undergroundwork.<fn36e1> Latest content published on find{n}ovel</fn36e1>


    Each segment of thiswork promised huge profits. The ves Elora referred to were considered the lowest in the ck market.


    They were not only of low status but also traded likemon goods. If someone was short on cash, they could even use ves, valued ording to their appearance.


    Breck¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°Elora, how could youe up with such a cruel idea? I¡¯m honestly a little disappointed.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 404

    ?Chapter 404:


    Elora turned her head, staring at her father in shock. She couldn¡¯t grasp that her doting father would speak to her like this.


    In the past, no matter how unreasonable her demands were, he always nodded and showered her with praise.


    But now, he refused her request to deal cruelly with Katelyn, speaking with an unusual seriousness. It left her confused and frustrated.


    Was it possible that her father, like Bartley, had also fallen under the spell of that wretched woman?


    As her thoughts spiraled, Elora¡¯s fury grew even stronger. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from cursing Katelyn, the woman who not only stole her fianc¨¦ but now seemed to be taking her father¡¯s affection as well. A woman so wicked deserved to burn in Hell.


    Elora remained lost in her thoughts, never once stopping to consider what Katelyn had done to deserve such intense hatred from her.


    Breck looked at his daughter and quickly guessed what she was thinking.


    ¡°I¡¯ve checked into that woman¡¯s background. She¡¯s the famous designer, Iris. We can¡¯t handle her in such a crude manner.¡±


    Realizing his point, Elora asked eagerly, ¡°Then what should we do instead, Dad?¡±


    ¡°For someone of her standing, it¡¯s better to use her to our advantage first. If we mishandle her, given her current influence, any scandal could trigger an investigation into our dealings.¡±


    Even though authorities often turned a blind eye to these ck-market activities, they couldn¡¯t be done out in the open.


    The more high-profile the target, the more careful they needed to be. One wrong move could lead to disaster and spell their doom.


    Elora¡¯s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically in agreement.


    ¡°I trust you, Dad. I know you can handle this,¡± Elora said.


    A cruel smile spread across Breck¡¯s lips.


    Anyone who dared to trouble his daughter deserved to disappear from this world.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn had no idea about the danger creeping up on her.


    Even in Yata, Vincent remained overwhelmed with work. Not wanting to disturb him, Katelyn changed into casual clothes and decided to take a walk outside the hotel. But as she approached a nearby coffee shop, a group ofrge, intimidating men in ck suddenly blocked her path. They were tall, muscr, and each had a tattoo that resembled a scorpion.


    Katelyn immediately turned to leave, but she found her way blocked from the other side as well.


    It was mid-afternoon, and the streets were crowded.


    She turned her attention to the man leading the group.


    ¡°Who are you, and what do you want from me?¡±


    The man wore a sinister smile as he approached her. In broken English, he said, ¡°Miss Bailey, our master wants to see you. Pleasee with us.¡±


    His words were polite, but his tone made it clear she didn¡¯t have a choice.


    Katelyn frowned, a sense of unease growing inside her as she heard him mention his ¡°master.¡±


    She began to wonder if another noble figure was behind this ¡°invitation.¡±


    Katelyn counted eight men. They all looked strong. Outnumbered, she realized fighting them wasn¡¯t an option.


    Left with no choice, she reluctantly epted their invitation and stepped into the car.


    A blindfold was ced over her eyes, likely to prevent her from recognizing the route.


    Katelyn tried to send a distress signal to Vincent, but they swiftly took her phone away.


    ¡°Sorry about that, Miss Bailey. Please cooperate, and we won¡¯t have to get rough,¡± one of the men said.


    They bound her hands behind her back, and she stayed silent throughout the ordeal.


    Without her sight, her other senses became heightened. She concentrated on the movements inside the car, counting every turn and estimating the time between them.


    If she couldbine these details with their starting point, she might be able to figure out where they were once she was safe again.


    The car came to a halt after what felt like countless twists and turns.


    They pulled Katelyn from the car and pushed her forward, ordering her to move faster.


    Despite these crude methods, she clenched her teeth and continued walking.<fn37cf> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n f?ndnovel</fn37cf>


    They walked for a long time, and Katelyn sensed they had traveled a significant distance before she heard the distinct click of a lock being opened.


    She could also make out the gentle sound of water flowing from a garden fountain and felt a soft breeze against her face.


    After what seemed like forever, they finally stopped. A voice she didn¡¯t recognize spoke above her.


    ¡°How dare you handle my guest with such disrespect?¡±


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 Chapter 405

    ?Chapter 405:


    The voice was one Katelyn couldn¡¯t recognize, and it was clearly a man¡¯s.


    He spoke with perfect fluency, but his ent carried the unmistakable tones of a Yata local.


    As they led her forward, Katelyn silently considered who in Yata she could have angered in such a short time.


    Elora seemed to be the most likely suspect.


    However, her style was usually direct and vicious. Furthermore, she had already tried to have Katelyn killed once.


    Who else would go to such extremes to kidnap her?


    While Katelyn pondered the question, someone suddenly removed her blindfold.


    After being in the dark for so long, the light felt overwhelming.


    It took her a few moments to adjust before she could make out the face of the man who had spoken. He wore an elegant tailcoat with a perfectly ced bow tie.


    His face was wlessly groomed, and his pale skin gave him a look that was almost vampire-like¡ªstrange, with an otherworldly grace.


    He descended the stairs from the second floor with a weing smile.


    ¡°I apologize, Miss Bailey. My men can be rough andck the proper manners when dealing with ady of your stature. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against them,¡± he said. As he spoke, someone untied the ropes around her wrists.


    Katelyn flexed her hands and stared at him with a cold expression.


    ¡°Dragging me here like this makes your courtesy now worthless. Let¡¯s not waste time. Who are you?¡±


    Fresh chapters are live at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv???s


    Breck kept smiling as he made his way down the steps and settled onto the sofa.


    The smile stayed on his face the whole time, but to Katelyn, he seemed just as deceitful as Bartley.


    People like them were experts at masking their true feelings. It was only when someone challenged them directly that their real intentions became clear.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, Miss Bailey. I brought you here because I want to propose a deal,¡± Breck stated.


    Katelyn spoke to him with a sharp tone, ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± She gave him a mocking gaze and added, ¡°If you genuinely wanted to work together, you should have asked for my consent first. You wouldn¡¯t have resorted to kidnapping me.¡±


    She rejected him outright and didn¡¯t even bother to ask what the deal was about.<fnd393> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find¡¤novel</fnd393>


    Yata was a far cry from her hometown of Granville, a ce she knew well.


    This foreign territory seemed to embolden some people to try to impose their will on her, which only fueled her anger.


    She wanted nothing more than to return to Granville. As she turned to leave, the men in ck stepped forward and blocked her way.


    Katelyn nced back at Breck with a sardonic smile.


    ¡°It looks like I won¡¯t be allowed to leave unless I agree to whatever deal you¡¯re proposing,¡± she remarked.


    ¡°You are a clever woman, Miss Bailey,¡± Breck replied. ¡°I always get what I want. Those who stand in my way face dire consequences.¡±


    His elegant smile contrasted sharply with his menacing words.


    ¡°It usually ends in death,¡± he added.


    Then, he motioned toward the sofa behind her.


    ¡°We have all the time in the world, Miss Bailey. Why not sit down and have a friendly conversation? Once you hear what I¡¯m willing to offer, you might change your mind. Generous businessmen like me are hard toe by.¡±


    Katelyn felt trapped, like a bird in a gilded cage. She was entirely at Breck¡¯s mercy.


    Because of that, she sat down on the sofa and clenched her teeth in frustration. One look at Breck and she could tell he possessed the unmistakable presence of a nobleman, simr to Earl Poulos. Despite his polite tone, this man exuded so much arrogance. It was as if he believed he could control everything around him. His behavior revealed exactly what kind of person he was.


    He believed that anyone who dared to defy him deserved nothing less than death.


    As she leaned back, Katelyn understood that being brought here meant she held some unique value to Breck.


    It seemed her life was not in immediate danger.


    This realization was enough to put her at ease. Vincent would notice her absence soon, and he would undoubtedlye looking for her.


    ¡°When you present your deal, could you also rify who you are? What exactly is your connection to Elora? Are you her father?¡±


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 Chapter 406

    ?Chapter 406:


    This was Katelyn¡¯s bold spection.


    Uponparing the facial features of Elora and the man standing before her, Breck, one could see that they didn¡¯t look very alike. Elora seemed to have inherited more from her mother.


    What really piqued Katelyn¡¯s curiosity, however, was the remarkable simrity in their personalities¡ªboth carried a relentless ¡°my way or the highway¡± attitude.


    Elora had a bold, shy style, while the man was an expert at blending in.


    Breck smiled, his eyes shimmering with respect.<fnc> The rightful source is Find[?]ovel</fnc>


    ¡°My initial judgment about you was urate. Miss Bailey, you are as observant as I imagined. It¡¯s no surprise my daughter felt so threatened by you.¡±


    Katelyn subtly clenched her fist, her hand discreetly moving toward her pocket. She had hidden a small pistol in her corset. Although her pockets were searched upon her arrival, the pistol had gone unnoticed.


    If Breck was indeed seeking vengeance for his daughter, it seemed unlikely he¡¯d employ such intricate strategies. Still, Katelyn braced for the worst.


    Breck, as if sensing her thoughts, offered a reassuring smile.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, there¡¯s no need for undue worry. I know my daughter¡¯s nature, and the misunderstanding between you two can be resolved by yourselves. I won¡¯t meddle. I¡¯m here to discuss a business matter.¡±


    The conversation shifted back to the negotiation, yet Katelyn remained alert. What worth could she possibly have that made Breck bring her here like this?


    ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase. What do you want from me?¡± Katelyn asked.


    Breck settled into a more rxed posture and smiled as he asked, ¡°Are you familiar with TS, Miss Bailey?¡±


    Find exclusive updates g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í??ls


    The question caused Katelyn¡¯s heart to flutter.


    Breck¡¯s smile was mysterious, hiding what he was really thinking. Katelyn shrugged it off with a simple excuse. ¡°I¡¯m just a designer with a small circle. I have no idea who this TS person is. There¡¯s no designer by that name, though, I can tell you that.¡±


    Breck borated, ¡°TS is a renowned figure in the hacking world, always at the top of the list. But he¡¯s also my rival. I¡¯ve been tracking him for years, and when the Adams Group¡¯s firewall waspromised recently, TS stepped in to defend it.¡±


    Breck paused deliberately and then set his gaze firmly on Katelyn.


    ¡°Why would TS, an outsider with no clear connection to the Adams Group, intervene out of nowhere? After vanishing for years, why would he suddenly appear to help them?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s thoughts raced. Although she had undertaken numerous jobs, she was certain she had never crossed the Williams family. What could Breck¡¯s reason be for targeting her? Concealing her thoughts, she kept her face expressionless and said calmly, ¡°If that¡¯s your concern, you¡¯ve approached the wrong person. Ick any knowledge of hacking techniques. If it¡¯s TS you seek, why involve me?¡±


    ¡°Because I suspect TS has ties to Vincent Adams,¡± Breck said slowly, his offhandment making Katelyn¡¯s heart skip a beat. Samuel had already pinpointed her recent whereabouts at that hotel, which Breck likely knew as well.


    Breck walked towards Katelyn with measured steps, a smile ying on his lips as he asked, ¡°I wonder, Miss Bailey, do you suspect anyone of being TS?¡±


    Katelyn kept herposure, a slight smile on her face as she replied, ¡°As I¡¯ve already mentioned, I don¡¯t know who TS is.¡±


    Breck positioned himself behind Katelyn, resting a hand on her shoulder. He leaned close, almost whispering in her ear.


    ¡°Let Mr. Adams answer my question then. Given his affection for you, he¡¯ll undoubtedly go to great lengths to shield you.¡±


    The menacing whisper made Katelyn extremely ufortable, and she fought the impulse to shove Breck away.


    So, this was his true agenda.


    Katelyn responded with a coldugh, ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. My rtionship with him is strictly professional. Using me as leverage against him will prove ineffective.¡±


    Breck lifted a finger and waved it slowly.


    ¡°Don¡¯t misjudge the importance you hold in his eyes. I believe you¡¯ll receive quite a surprise. Soon, I¡¯ll have Mr. Adams join us here, and you can say your final words to him. After all, if he doesn¡¯t locate TS for me, your fate will be sealed.¡±


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 Chapter 407

    ?Chapter 407:


    Even though Breck spoke with a slow, calm voice, there was a threat lurking in every word.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t blink. Her face stayed cold and unmoved as she replied, ¡°As I¡¯ve already told you, threatening me won¡¯t work on Vincent. To him, I¡¯m just a useful employee. Since when does a bosspromise because of a worker?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t understand how Breck thought this n would work.


    Her rtionship with Vincent was friendly but mostly professional.


    Besides, she knew Vincent well enough to know he hated lies and ckmail.


    Instead of getting angry, Breck smiled. The grin spread across his face as if Katelyn¡¯s defiance amused him. He raised a finger, wagging it slowly, as if scolding her like a child.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you don¡¯t seem to understand how men think. How about we make a bet? I¡¯ve already let Vincent know about your little problem. We¡¯ll see soon enough if you really mean nothing to him.¡±


    ¡°If he does show up, it won¡¯t be to fall for your shameless tricks,¡± Katelyn said, her voice calm, filled with quiet certainty.


    Vincent wasn¡¯t the type to back down just because Breck tried to scare him.


    Katelyn never fooled herself about her importance to Vincent. She knew she was just another employee, clear about her role and limits.


    Breck¡¯s face twitched for a split second, but he quickly returned to his usual casual look.


    ¡°Well then, I guess selling you as a ve will do. It¡¯s the perfect way to cheer my daughter. That¡¯s all you¡¯re good for now.¡±


    Heughed as he spoke, pulling out a pile of photos and tossing them across the table toward her.


    ¡°You probably don¡¯t really understand what it means to be a ve here, Miss Bailey. They¡¯re not even seen as human¡ªjust filthy, worthless property. Their lives and deaths are controlled entirely by their owners.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated before picking up one of the photos, feeling a sickening twist in her gut as she saw the horrific image.


    It showed a person, barely alive, beaten beyond recognition and lying helpless on the ground.


    The person was stripped, their body covered in burns, deep cuts, and brutal scars.


    The word ¡°ve¡± took on a whole new level of horror¡ªreduced to nothing, like insects crushed underfoot, existing only for someone else¡¯s cruel pleasure. The other photos were just as awful, each one showing ves pushed to the edge of death.<fnc802> The rightful source is find¡¤novel</fnc802>


    Katelyn¡¯s anger ignited in her eyes, burning with intensity. These were real people¡ªliving, breathing, and suffering. How could anyone¡¯s life be so easily torn apart just because these people held power and privilege and wanted some twisted version of fun?


    Katelyn understood the harshness of social ss, but seeing these photos still cut deep, leaving her shaken.


    The world wasn¡¯t fair, and there were ces where darkness hid, far from the peaceful image most people saw.


    She was no saint, and she couldn¡¯t help everyone she met; but one photo caught her attention¡ªa ve with eyes so full of hopelessness that it seemed death was the only way out.


    Photos could hold feelings, and the ones in her hands were filled with too much pain for her to bear.


    Without thinking twice, she ripped the photos into tiny pieces, letting them fall around the room like scattered snowkes.


    Her gaze bore into Breck, sharp and unyielding. The idea of a ve was nothing more than a cruel toy for these so-called aristocrats.


    To Katelyn, people like them deserved every ounce of suffering, a thousand times over.


    ¡°Are you showing me these to brag about how twisted your noble games are, or to scare me into thinking I¡¯ll end up like them?¡± Katelyn asked, her tone sharp and unwavering.


    A few guards, riled up by her defiance, started to move in, but Breck waved them off with a simple gesture. He chuckled lightly.


    ¡°How could I send someone as stunning as you to such misery?¡±


    Leisurely, Breck bent down, picking up the scattered photo pieces. He pulled a sleek, ck lighter from his pocket, flicked it open, and set the scraps aze. The hopeless eyes of the ve in the picture disappeared in a swirl of ash.


    ¡°But my patience is running thin,¡± Breck added, his voice hardening. Just then, a man rushed into the room, announcing, ¡°My Lord, Mr. Adams is here.¡±


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 Chapter 408

    ?Chapter 408:


    Breck¡¯s smile widened with a sense of certainty as he watched Katelyn.


    ¡°Our wager starts now,¡± he dered.


    He then gestured to his men, and they immediately stepped forward to seize Katelyn, dragging her away by force.


    The difference in strength was apparent, and facing off against trained security guards left Katelyn with no chance to resist.


    She had no choice but to go with them.


    They soon dragged her to an empty room on the second floor, locking her inside.


    Moments after she was taken away, Vincent stormed into the vi.


    Despite the presence of at least two professional security teams guarding the ce, he entered alone and unarmed. His presence was intense, creating an almost unbearable tension in the air.<fn9f05> This update is avable on find?novel</fn9f05>


    The guards surrounded Vincent, forming a tight perimeter. However, none of them dared to make a move. The guards hesitated but eventually stepped aside, making way for Vincent. With every step he took forward, they moved back, forming a clear path for him. His gaze moved over them as though they were already defeated, finallynding on Breck.


    This marked their first face-to-face encounter, and even Breck felt a trace of unease under Vincent¡¯s unyielding stare. A moment of understanding passed through Breck¡¯s mind. Despite his youth, Vincent had amanding presence that suggested he was destined for greater things.


    Vincent stared daggers at Breck and asked, ¡°Where is Katelyn?¡±


    Breck smiled, and his eyes held a trace of amusement. ¡°Mr. Adams, it¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet you,¡± he said. He noticed that Vincent was unarmed, which seemed to make him respect the young man even more.


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    It took a rare kind of courage to walk alone into an enemy¡¯s territory, and Vincent had it.


    His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes were cold as steel.


    He had already learned that Katelyn had been taken, and he managed to track her exact IP address just as Breck reached out and revealed her location.


    During the trip, Vincent had gathered everything he could about Breck, including the unexpected discovery that he was Elora¡¯s father.


    That revtion made it clear why Breck had taken such extreme measures against Katelyn. Elora was indeed proving to be an endless source of trouble.


    ¡°Let¡¯s skip the pleasantries. Why did you take Katelyn? Or is this about something you want from me?¡± Vincent stated with a sharp tone.


    Breck chuckled softly, then pped his hands together.


    ¡°While I am an Earl, I am also a businessman. I prefer negotiating with sharp minds like yours, Mr. Adams. There¡¯s no need for a long-winded discussion, as I believe you already grasp my point.¡±


    He extended his arm with a weing gesture toward the sofa.


    ¡°Why not take a seat, and we can talk things through?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s response was firm, disregarding Breck¡¯s attempt at politeness. ¡°I want to see Katelyn first.¡±


    He had regained hisposure, sensing that since Breck had deliberately reached out to him, Katelyn was most likely being used as leverage in arger scheme. Vincent understood that rumors of his ns to expand into foreign markets had already circted. This encounter was most likely Breck¡¯s attempt to force some kind of concession.


    Breck¡¯s smile faded, and his irritation became evident. Leaning back on the sofa, he remarked with a hint of sarcasm, ¡°I¡¯m here to make you a deal, Mr. Adams, and I expect you to show a bit more respect, considering that I hold all the cards.¡±


    Vincent wore a stern expression and dered, ¡°No deal will ever happen until I see Katelyn.¡±


    Breck had a reputation as a cold-blooded murderer. His darkest activities remained hidden from most, but they were not impervious to discovery. He was notorious as a major figure in the human traffickingwork, responsible for the disappearance and death of countless individuals. Vincent¡¯s deepest concern was that Breck might inflict harm on Katelyn.


    Breck¡¯s rage was evident. He suddenly rose from his seat, grabbed a gun from the drawer, and pointed it straight at Vincent¡¯s forehead.


    He cocked the weapon and said in a chilling tone, ¡°Let me make this clear again. I am the one in control here!¡±


    Breck was enraged because, even though Vincent was at a disadvantage, he was still acting cocky. This defiance was what Breck loathed the most.


    Vincent remained unshaken. ¡°Pull the fucking trigger. I dare you!¡±


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 Chapter 409

    ?Chapter 409:


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were icy and unyielding, glinting with a sharp, frosty edge.


    He locked his gaze on Breck, who was boiling over with both anger and shame. Vincent¡¯s face, however, remained a picture of scorn.


    With a haughty tilt of his chin, Vincent leaned forward and pressed the barrel of Breck¡¯s gun against his own forehead.


    The safety of the pistol was off. If the gun went off or if Breck pulled the trigger, Vincent would be left with a bullet in his head.


    At that moment, Vincent stared straight into the face of death.


    Breck was taken aback, realizing that Vincent¡¯s madness went beyond even his own.


    Years of manipting others hadn¡¯t prepared Breck for someone as dangerously unhinged as Vincent. Their eyes locked in a tense, icy stare, and the world seemed to go quiet. Even the softest breaths from the bodyguards around them felt loud and oppressive.


    Breck¡¯s henchmen all stood in stunned silence, their faces showing a mix of shock and confusion.


    Could Vincent really be daring enough to taunt Breck like this? Did he truly fear nothing? Panic shed in Breck¡¯s eyes, while Vincent remained eerily calm, as if the gun against his forehead were just a trick of the light.


    Finally breaking the heavy silence, Breck¡¯s voice was harsh and tight with anger. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of death? Your life is on the edge.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed with contempt.


    He spoke with a cool, detached manner, as if discussing trivial matters like the weather.


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare pull the trigger,¡± Vincent said with a cold smile. ¡°Even here in Yata, in your territory, you don¡¯t have the nerve to act recklessly. If anything happens to me, the Adams family will go after your whole n without mercy.¡±


    ???? ??????? ?? ?????????.???


    The Williams family¡¯s power had dwindled significantly over the past century. Otherwise, Breck wouldn¡¯t have resorted to human trafficking for survival.


    His influence in Yata was all that remained of his family¡¯s once-great legacy. In a direct sh, he knew they stood no real chance against the Adams family.


    Breck¡¯s eyes burned with anger. It had been years since he felt so threatened.


    Despite his careful nning to trap Vincent, Breck found himself ensnared in a situation of his own making. The realization hit him hard, like a sudden, jarring shock.


    Breck¡¯s voice cut through the tension. ¡°Remember, Vincent, this is Yata, not Granville. The Adams family¡¯s power doesn¡¯t stretch this far.¡±


    Vincent, barely masking his contempt, replied with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re wee to try.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Breck¡¯s eyes burned with anger as he fought to steady his trembling hands. His desire to draw his weapon was at odds with the understanding that Vincent was serious.


    After a brief pause, Breck sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t get too confident. Katelyn is still under my control. With onemand, she could vanish from your life forever.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze grew icy, his eyes sharp with threat.


    ¡°If you harm her,¡± Vincent said, his voice low and dangerous, ¡°I will make sure every member of your family pays, including your daughter.¡±


    Breck¡¯s face remained cold and resolute. ¡°As long as I have Katelyn, I hold the upper hand. Why would I risk losing my most valuable card?¡±


    A chuckle slipped from Breck as he holstered his gun and settled back into the sofa, regaining his sense of control with a smirk.


    In his fury, he had momentarily forgotten his most important asset.


    Vincent¡¯s demeanor only confirmed that he really cared about Katelyn and that Breck had handled the situation correctly.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, let¡¯s handle this rationally. Business people know the value of keeping good rtions. I have no intention of harming Miss Bailey.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s lips were set in a tight line, his dark eyes unreadable. After a moment of silence, he chose to sit down on the sofa, hiding his emotions behind a mask of calm.


    ¡°I want to see her,¡± he said firmly.


    Breck, his resolve softening, signaled to his men.


    The recent confrontation had likely shown Breck both Vincent¡¯s strength and his own limitations.


    Katelyn was soon brought down from the second floor, her hands bound and nked by tworge guards.


    The sight of Vincent brought visible relief and worry to her face.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, are you alright?¡± she asked, her voice trembling with concern.


    From her vantage point, she had only heard snippets of the argument and didn¡¯t fully understand what had happened. They were in Breck¡¯s domain, and Vincent was clearly at a disadvantage.


    Seeing Katelyn unharmed, Vincent felt a wave of relief. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he assured her.


    Their concern for each other was clear in their silent exchange. Breck watched the unfolding drama with amusement and said with a smile, ¡°You see, we can just sit down and negotiate peacefully. It¡¯s a problem that can be easily resolved. Why escte it to armed conflict?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were sharp as he fixed his gaze on Breck. ¡°You can tell me what you want now.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s main purpose for being there was to guarantee Katelyn¡¯s safety. No matter what Breck had in mind, once Vincent rescued her, he¡¯d ensure Breck¡¯s ns were utterly destroyed.


    Breck didn¡¯t respond right away. Instead, he nodded toward his henchman.<fnee50> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel</fnee50>


    The man left the room but came back momentster, carrying a cor-like device with a blinking red light. Then, in the blink of an eye, he made a move!


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 Chapter 410

    Chapter 410:


    Several bodyguards swiftly secured the cor around Katelyn¡¯s neck.


    They acted with precision, leaving no opportunity for Katelyn or Vincent to react.


    An electric shock surged through Katelyn, causing her body to jerk uncontrobly.


    Vincent¡¯s pupils narrowed as he lunged forward to help. ¡°What have you put around her neck?¡±


    Two bodyguards quickly stepped in to block Vincent¡¯s approach.


    Breck took out a remote control, brandishing it in front of Vincent with a smile.


    ¡°The cor around Miss Bailey¡¯s neck contains a new technology I¡¯ve created. It¡¯s not to be underestimated. It¡¯s packed with TNT explosives. If I initiate the sequence, Miss Bailey will be reduced to ashes immediately.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s hands balled into fists, his eyes filled with intense anger.


    ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± Vincent bellowed, his leg poised to sprint forward. He cursed himself for not confronting Breck sooner.


    Such a man was skilled at turning existence into a living nightmare, employing countless methods to inflict pain.


    Despite the mounting tension, Breck remained calm, gesturing to the red button on the remote.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, consider your actions wisely. Should you advance, I¡¯ll make sure Miss Bailey suffers the consequences.¡±


    With that, he abruptly pressed the blue button.


    The cor discharged a sharp electric shock, sending waves of intense pain through Katelyn as she copsed to the floor.


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s takes you to new worlds


    Her face twisted in torment, each cell seeming to scream with agony. This kind of tactic was usually reserved for interrogations, and now Katelyn was enduring this brutal electric assault.<fnc360> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel</fnc360>


    Vincent stopped in his tracks, his face stricken with horror as he watched Katelyn. ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Seeing her in such distress filled him with a profound desire to bear the pain in her stead.


    Katelyn inhaled deeply, trying to manage her agony, yet her voice shook.


    She nodded weakly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    At this, Breck¡¯s smile only widened.


    ¡°So, can we now sit down and talk? After all, I don¡¯t take pleasure in watching someone as lovely as Miss Bailey suffer through electric shocks.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s hands tightened into fists, audibly cracking from the strain as he envisioned numerous ways Breck could meet his end. He clenched his teeth and said, ¡°You will suffer dearly for what you¡¯ve done.¡±


    Breck remained calm, casually resting his leg.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point of our deal. I¡¯ll give you three days. If you can find TS for me, I¡¯ll release Miss Bailey. Deal?¡±


    ¡°Find TS?¡± Vincent¡¯s expression briefly showed surprise. Did TS have some unresolved issues with Breck?


    ¡°Like I said, if you deliver TS to me within three days, I will take the cor off Miss Bailey¡¯s neck,¡± Breck continued, smiling as if it were all a game.


    ¡°The cor is operated by an advancedputer system. Once it¡¯s activated, it can only be turned off with a special password. Destroying the remote won¡¯t make a difference.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s look was fierce, his stare intense enough to unsettle anyone. He hated being coerced. Vincent looked over at Katelyn involuntarily.


    ¡°This is a fair offer, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Breck¡¯s voice rang out once more.


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    Message from Noah: Hope you like the new content, best regards dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ( ? ? ¨C ) ?


    .

 Chapter 411

    ?Chapter 411:<fnb5bd> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fnb5bd>


    Katelyn¡¯s fate was now entirely at the mercy of Breck¡¯s decisions.


    Vincent struggled to mask the murderous intent in his eyes. Even when faced with a gun to his head just moments before, he hadn¡¯t felt such intense anger.


    Katelyn, trying to stabilize herself, made an effort to rise from the floor. After being electrocuted twice, even standing was a struggle. Yet, her eyes burned with deep contempt.


    ¡°All you know is how to resort to these despicable tactics. It¡¯s truly pitiful.¡±


    Breck offered a faint smile. ¡°Despicable or not, as long as they work, that¡¯s all that matters to me.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression was cold. At that moment, his phone buzzed with a new message.


    Upon reading the message, Vincent¡¯s rage cooled immediately. He threw the phone at Breck¡¯s feet.


    ¡°It looks like we need to talk terms again. If you don¡¯t remove this cor within thirty minutes, I assure you this information will spread worldwide in seconds.¡±


    Breck picked up the phone skeptically, but hisplexion drained upon viewing its contents. His eyes filled with terror, and his voice trembled.


    ¡°How could this be? How did you get these?¡±


    The phone disyed a collection of evidence Samuel hadpiled on Breck¡¯s illegal activities over the years. This included his involvement in the ck market and human trafficking,plete with harrowing images of ves brutalized to death.


    These were damning pieces of evidence. Despite Breck¡¯s noble status, such revtions would not only tarnish his reputation but turn his existence into a living nightmare. Decades of his family¡¯s esteemed reputation would copse under these scandals.


    The respect his family usuallymanded would turn to deep animosity once the public found out about his crimes.


    L??€$? ¡é??t?€§ñ? ?¦Ç ?@l§Ú?¦Í¦Ål?.c?m


    This was Breck¡¯s weak spot.


    Vincent kept quiet, looking uninterested.


    On the contrary, Breck¡¯s feelings erupted immediately. ¡°All of these are fake. You won¡¯t destroy me with these lies.¡±


    Vincent scornfully responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll share these with the world. We¡¯ll see if your proud noble heritage protects you now.¡±


    Breck¡¯s expression contorted, erasing all signs of his previousposure. He now appeared downright horrifying.


    Gripping the remote with force, he growled, ¡°You think you can threaten me with this? I could end Katelyn¡¯s life in an instant.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve warned you, if anything happens to her, your whole family will pay with their lives.¡±


    Vincent was notablyposed right now, his demeanor calm as if he were back in the corporate world, effortlessly discussing profit margins across the negotiation table. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the revtion of these secrets be more dreadful than mere death for you?¡±


    Once more, Breck found himself speechless. The thought of these secrets being revealed was too catastrophic to bear. He didn¡¯t even pause to ponder how Vincent hade to possess such urate information.


    Reluctance clouded Breck¡¯s eyes, yet he found himself with no options but to put down the remote and yield.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, please have mercy. I¡¯ll ensure Miss Bailey¡¯s safety and return her unscathed. Just please don¡¯t reveal these secrets. Elora is still too young. I can¡¯t involve her in this mess.¡±


    Desperation was evident in both Breck¡¯s voice and eyes. He now understood that challenging Vincent had been the gravest mistake of his life.


    Vincent¡¯s response was brief. ¡°Take the cor off her. Now!¡±


    These words deeply agitated Breck. His expression became odd, and he faltered, struggling to speak clearly.


    Katelyn felt a sudden unease. Trying to contain her anxiety, she questioned, ¡°Is it impossible topletely remove this cor?¡±


    Ever since the cor had been put on, Katelyn had a nagging suspicion. It seemed the device was iplete, potentially causing electric shocks even if Breck didn¡¯t press the button.


    Breck, faltering, admitted, ¡°The cor is still in the prototype stage; I haven¡¯t figured out how to remove it.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s tone hardened. ¡°What did you just say?!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 412

    ?Chapter 412:


    Breck was now filled with deep regret over what he had done. He was partially honest in his words. The cor did indeed include a remotely controlled bomb¡ªthat part was urate. However, it was also true that the cor was still in the prototype stage, gued with unresolved bugs.


    The only method to detach the cor would activate its explosive mechanism.


    He had put the cor on Katelyn because he never intended for her to survive. His n was for the cor to explode automatically once Vincent located TS¡¯s position for him, giving him what he wanted while also serving as seamless revenge for his daughter.


    However, he hadn¡¯t anticipated Vincent outsmarting him and seizing the upper hand.


    Now, Breck found himself in a dire situation, with no solution to disarm the cor.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was piercingly cold. ¡°Was this your n all along?¡±


    Breck was drenched in sweat as he felt the very real threat of death for the first time. ¡°I will do everything within my power to remove this cor.¡±


    Katelyn felt the cor encircling her neck; it was roughly the width of two fingers and meticulously designed. It was evident that Breck had invested substantial effort into creating such a deadly device. The powerful explosives within could obliterate a person with even a minimal amount of activation.


    Katelyn inhaled sharply and nced at the remote control lying nearby. ¡°What does the red button do?¡±


    Breck had previously shown that the blue button was for activating the electric shock, but the purpose of the red button remained unclear. Was it meant to trigger the cor¡¯s explosives?


    ¡°The red button controls the explosion,¡± Breck replied. ¡°The cor can only be disconnected via awork terminal system. I¡¯m hoping TS can refine this system, as no one else has the capabilities for such advanced technology.¡±


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    Breck¡¯s voice trailed off, but then he suddenly remembered something and quickly added, ¡°I really will try everything to safely remove this cor.¡±


    Vincent stepped forward and leaned over to examine the intricate construction of the cor.


    Crafted from an unidentified metal, the cor felt exceedingly sturdy, with a red light prominently indicating its presence.


    Vincent measured the cor¡¯s thickness, then fixed a cold, unwavering stare on Breck. ¡°Is there any way to forcibly remove it?¡±


    Breck hesitated, then shook his head. ¡°The only safe way to remove it is through the terminal system. Trying to remove it by force will cause it to explode.¡±


    It seemed there were no alternatives. Without terminal intervention, Katelyn¡¯s life was dangerously limited to just three days.


    Katelyn clenched her fists, her heart gradually steadying. If the solution trulyy in the terminal system, as Breck suggested, it was not beyond her capabilities to resolve. But Vincent didn¡¯t know that she was actually TS.


    His gaze remained locked onto Breck, as if trying to drill through him. ¡°Do you have any other cors?¡±


    The question came suddenly, leaving Breck puzzled about Vincent¡¯s intentions. But he nodded, confirming, ¡°I have one more, but it¡¯s also defective.¡±


    ¡°Hand it over,¡± Vincent ordered firmly.


    Once the additional cor was brought to him, Vincent quickly ced it around Breck¡¯s neck.


    Breck iled desperately, but it was useless. His face contorted with fear. ¡°I¡¯ve already warned you¡ªthe cor is malfunctioning and will detonate. It¡¯s truly lethal,¡± he eximed, panic creeping into his voice.<fn475b> Readplete version only at ?ovelFind</fn475b>


    He had tested the cor¡¯s lethality on numerous people before, but now, trapped by his own creation, Breck spiraled into deep panic.


    Vincent¡¯s goal had been to provoke exactly this reaction. His expression remained cold as he stared at Breck.


    ¡°Now your existence depends on this cor. You have three days to find a solution, or I guarantee your story will spread worldwide¡ªeven after you¡¯re dead.¡± Vincent¡¯s resolve was unmistakable.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile.


    Clearly, Vincent was maneuvering to cut off any further schemes from Breck. With Breck now facing the same deadly threat as Katelyn, his chances for further deception were severely limited.


    In the next instant, Breckpletely broke down.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 413

    ?Chapter 413:


    Breck copsed onto his knees, shouting, ¡°I told you, there¡¯s no way to remove it!¡±


    Katelyn had worn the same cor and had only three days left to live. Yet, she remainedposed.


    She stared at him with a scornful smile and remarked, ¡°If you¡¯re that terrified of death, find a way to take it off.¡±


    Breck¡¯sst trace ofposure vanished.


    In that moment, he could almost feel death calling for him. As the creator of the device, he knew better than anyone that his end was near.


    The elegance and dignity he had shown earlier crumbled intoplete desperation.


    A new idea struck him, and Breck¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°You have to figure out how to remove this cor, or Katelyn will perish with me.¡±<fn6079> Chapters first released on FindN0vel</fn6079>


    ¡°Katelyn will remain unharmed. The only destiny that¡¯s sealed is yours,¡± Vincent replied with unwavering confidence. It was as if he had already predicted how everything would unfold.


    Hisposed and indifferent demeanor caused a flicker of doubt in Katelyn¡¯s mind.


    Had Vincent already figured out that she was actually TS? It seemed improbable, considering the anti-tracking program she had installed hadn¡¯t alerted her to any breaches yet.


    Vincent didn¡¯t offer any further exnations. He quickly scooped up the weakened Katelyn and carried her out.


    Katelyn blushed when she realized her body was pressed against his. ¡°Wait. I can walk on my own,¡± she stammered.


    g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s, your storytelling home


    Vincent nced at her with a serious expression. ¡°Don¡¯t overexert yourself,¡± he responded firmly.


    The bodyguards hesitated, unsure if they should intervene. Their attention remained on Breck, who was writhing in pain.


    With a strained voice, Breck shouted, ¡°Find TS at once. I¡¯m not going to lose my life because of this fucking cor!¡±


    During the ride back, the car was filled with silence.


    Vincent kept his eyes on the cor around Katelyn¡¯s neck. The look on his face showed the internal conflict he was feeling.


    For years, Vincent had perfected the art of masking his emotions.


    No one could detect the chaos beneath hisposed expression at that moment. There were only three days left.


    Seventy-two hours.


    If they couldn¡¯t find TS to remove the cor, this time next year could be the day they mourned Katelyn¡¯s death. There was no way he would let that happen.


    Katelyn sat to the side, her hands clenched and unclenched as she sensed Vincent¡¯s concern.


    She could see the worry in his eyes. The truth was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn¡¯t find the courage to admit that she was TS.


    Vincent met Katelyn¡¯s gaze and gently ced his hand over hers.


    His hand was significantlyrger than hers. When it covered her hand, it conveyed a profound sense of safety and security.


    This was the first time they had held hands in a situation that wasn¡¯t life-threatening.


    His touch brought an unusualfort and warmth.


    Vincent spoke with profound sincerity, choosing each word carefully. ¡°I won¡¯t allow any harm toe to you. Even if it means putting everything at risk, I will make sure you¡¯re safe.¡±


    Katelyn bit her lip and gave a firm nod.


    In the end, she decided against revealing her true identity.


    She intended to ess the system when she got back to the hotel that evening to see if she could remove the restriction.


    If she couldn¡¯t, perhaps this was just what fate had in store for her.


    Repeated encounters with death had left Katelyn remarkably calm in most situations.


    Upon returning to the hotel, Vincent immediately made a video call to Jaxen.


    The call rang for quite some time before it was picked up, and the sounds of lively conversation andughter in the background suggested a party was underway.


    Jaxen appeared on screen dressed in vibrant floral shorts and sunsses, giving an enthusiastic wave to the camera.


    ¡°Hey there, Mr. Adams! Did you need me for something?¡±


    While sitting next to Vincent, Katelyn noticed Jaxen on the screen.


    The camera showed a yacht in the background, with women in swimsuits asionally passing by.


    Clearly, Jaxen was quite the yer.


    His favorite pastimes seemed to involve flirting with attractive women and sharing drinks with them.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew more intense as he ordered, ¡°Remove your sunsses and find a quieter spot so we can talk.¡±


    Jaxen instantly straightened up, nodding inpliance. Not once had he ever disobeyed Vincent¡¯smands.


    Once Jaxen stepped into a quieter room, Vincent adjusted the camera to show the cor around Katelyn¡¯s neck. ¡°Can you find a way to disable this cor¡¯s control system?¡±


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 414

    ?Chapter 414:


    Jaxen stared at the screen intently for a moment before blurting out, ¡°What on earth is this? A cor?¡±


    As he spoke, a sly smile crept across his face, sparked by a sudden idea.


    ¡°I had no idea you were into this stuff now. Had you told me earlier, I could¡¯ve lent you a bunch from my collection.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression turned cold. Even through the phone screen, the chilling intensity of his stare was clear, causing Jaxen to quickly suppress his wide grin. They were all mature enough to understand the implications of Jaxen¡¯s remarks.


    Katelyn, too, found herself slightly annoyed.


    It seemed that, aside from his hacking skills, Jaxen¡¯s thoughts were consistently filled with inappropriate jokes.


    Vincent responded in a grave tone, ¡°This cor is connected to a system rigged with explosives. The only way to prevent it from going off is by shutting down the terminal system.¡±


    Upon realizing the seriousness of the situation, Jaxen¡¯s demeanor shifted swiftly. He closed the door behind him before adding, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the kind of high-stakes explosive device terrorists use? Who exactly have you managed to upset?¡±


    Vincent pushed for essential details. ¡°We¡¯ll skip that for now. First, can you deactivate the system? We¡¯ve only got three days.¡±


    Jaxen examined the screen a bit longer, his eyes betraying a hint of doubt. He paused and then admitted, ¡°A device like this, with its built-in setup, isn¡¯t easy to disable. I shoulde over and take a detailed look at the system¡¯s configuration before I can determine if it¡¯s possible to hack.¡±


    Vincent said with clear urgency, ¡°Catch tonight¡¯s flight. I need you here by tomorrow morning.¡±


    L??t??¦Ó ch?¨»¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?l??.?§àm


    As he spoke, his eyes returned to the cor around Katelyn¡¯s neck.


    He wasn¡¯t an expert in the field, but he knew that Breck must have gone to great lengths to create such aplex system. Still, it was wed, and that worried him.


    Even with Jaxen¡¯s expertise, the odds of sess weren¡¯t certain.


    Theirst hopey with TS.


    With every second counting, Katelyn¡¯s time was swiftly running out. ¡°I promise, nothing will happen to you,¡± Vincent said with unwavering determination, as though making a solemn vow.


    Katelyn appeared somewhat calmer than Vincent. She nodded firmly.


    ¡°I¡¯m confident Jaxen will sort it out.¡± Initially, Katelyn had nned to tackle the problem alone, but now that Jaxen was on his way, she thought it might be helpful to offer some insights to refine his hacking skills¡ªit couldn¡¯t hurt, especially since he was Vincent¡¯s trusted friend.


    Just as she considered this, Jaxen¡¯s voice broke through from the phone. ¡°I¡¯ve done some quick digging. The internal structure of a cor like this is incredibly intricate. I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll be able to disable it.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this once you arrive,¡± Vincent interjected, his brow furrowed.


    He realized that Jaxen was trying to set realistic expectations early to avoid disappointment. However, such remarks could easily demoralize everyone given the high tension of the situation.


    Without wasting more time, Vincent ended the video call.


    ¡°Go get some rest. We¡¯ll handle this tomorrow.¡±


    Katelyn nodded and got to her feet. ¡°You should try to rest too,¡± she said before heading to her room.


    Once inside, Katelyn paused in front of the mirror, scrutinizing the cor around her neck.<fn242b> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel</fn242b>


    Until now, she had been puzzled by the cor¡¯s unique metallic outeryer. Normally, high-powered explosives were delicate¡ªany minor shock could set them off.


    Her theory was that the cor likely contained a specially crafted chip linked to a cloudwork.


    Given that Breck wore the same device, driven by self-interest, he would undoubtedly exhaust every option to ensure his own safety.


    Katelyn opened herptop and began typing rapidly.


    Once again, her life was squarely in her own hands. She typed quickly, but the challenge was more daunting than she had anticipated.


    A dedicated team had spent three years developing this system, and the cloudwork was protected by numerous firewalls. If those firewalls were breached, the cors could be triggered instantly.


    A serious expression crossed Katelyn¡¯s face. With only three days left, she wasn¡¯t sure if she could infiltrate the cloud system in time.


    It might be smarter to redirect her focus toward Breck. As the creator, he was bound to have alternative strategies.


    Just as Katelyn reached for her phone to send a message, an unexpected call came through from a number she didn¡¯t recognize.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 415

    ?Chapter 415:


    The caller ID was unknown, yet the number seemed oddly familiar.


    Katelyn used two SIM cards: one for her everyday interactions, and the other for her TS alias to handle orders.


    This call wasing to her second SIM.


    Then, she realized it was Vincent¡¯s number on the screen.


    She hesitated with the phone in hand for quite some time before deciding not to answer.


    She figured it was best to wait until Jaxen arrived to assess the situation further.


    Katelyn worked tirelessly until 3 AM but hadn¡¯t yet managed to prate the firewallpletely.


    To safeguard against breaches, Breck had fortified the system with a team of expert hackers.


    Each time she bypassed a securityyer, they immediately reinforced it with two more. essing the cloud data meant outmaneuvering the hacker team, which was proving to be quite challenging.


    In a desperate situation, her only option might be to crash their systempletely, risking exposure of all their internal data¡ª a drastic measure she was reluctant to use unless absolutely necessary.


    Jaxen caught the earliest flight possible, and by 8 a.m., he was already knocking on Vincent¡¯s door.


    As he knocked, he yelled, ¡°Vincent, wake up! The sun¡¯s shining on your butt!¡±


    Instantly, the door swung open, revealing Vincent with a stern expression.


    He was dressed sharply, with aputer and coffee set up on a table in the room.


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    Vincent turned and headed back inside, with Jaxen following closely.


    ¡°This time, you¡¯re actually dependable.¡±


    ¡°How could I not be there for a friend in need?¡± Jaxen replied.


    Jaxen casually sank into the sofa and crossed his legs with ease. ¡°Plus, this ties into your future happiness. You, the eternal iceberg, finally showing emotions¡ªI¡¯ve got to support that.¡±


    Vincent frowned slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes. ¡°What future happiness?¡±


    Jaxen leaned forward, his hand propping his chin, yfully asking, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve spent all this time with Katelyn and still haven¡¯t sorted out your feelings?¡±


    Vincent paused, caught off guard.


    His feelings?


    He found himself reflecting on the time he¡¯d spent with Katelyn.


    Every time Katelyn faced danger, his instinct to protect her kicked in before he even fully realized it.


    Whenever he witnessed Katelyn getting hurt, Vincent felt the pain too.


    It was apletely new sensation for him, as though Katelyn mattered to him more than he did to himself. Particrly memorable was the way Katelyn had shyly blushed before¡ªit was vividly imprinted in his mind. Her bashful charm was like a flower on the verge of blooming.


    So, did he have feelings for Katelyn that went beyond mere friendship?


    As Vincent earnestly mulled over this, Jaxen¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°Are you just now realizing your feelings for Katelyn? I¡¯ve always called you an eternal iceberg as a joke, but it looks like I was actually right.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes briefly darkened as he turned back to Jaxen. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s smirk carried a hint of pride. ¡°You know, some people have a natural knack for understanding emotions. You, on the other hand, have all intelligence and no emotional insight. It¡¯s only now, after all this time with Katelyn, that you¡¯re recognizing your feelings. It¡¯s nice to see you¡¯re finally experiencing emotions.¡±


    As Jaxen finished hisment, Vincent gave him a chilling look.


    It was a quick re, but it carried a clear threat.


    Jaxen immediately fell silent.


    He knew that expression well¡ªit was the same one Vincent used right before he threw Jaxen into the sea once.


    It was an unmistakable warning of danger.


    Jaxen quickly adopted an ingratiating smile.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the matter at hand. We need to check out the cor around Katelyn¡¯s neck. I haven¡¯t worked with this type of technology before.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Vincent responded, picking up his phone to call Katelyn.


    Having stayed upte the night before, Katelyn answered with a raspy voice, still groggy. ¡°Mr. Adams, what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Her mind was still clouded with sleep, and she had forgotten about Jaxen¡¯s visit.


    Vincent¡¯s voice unexpectedly softened, a tenderness in his tone that even he didn¡¯t recognize. ¡°Pleasee to my room. Jaxen is here.¡±<fn0aed> Th?s chapter is updated by Find¡ïNovel</fn0aed>


    ¡°Okay,¡± Katelyn replied, her voice thick with sleep as she struggled to rise.


    After quickly freshening up, she made her way toward Vincent¡¯s room. To her surprise, she encountered a stranger in the hallway.


    The man was sharply dressed, his attire reflecting a cold elegance. He headed straight for Katelyn.


    .


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 Chapter 416

    ?Chapter 416:


    Danger often came without warning.


    Katelyn reacted instinctively, moving just in time to narrowly evade the knife.


    Her expression hardened. This was the second attempt on her life in this hotel.


    Bartley had failed to capture the culprit after the first attempt, and yet here she was, facing another attack.


    When the knife missed its mark, a cold, unsettling voice came from the man hidden behind the mask. ¡°This time, you won¡¯t be lucky enough to escape.¡± The familiar voice,bined with those unusual green eyes, made it clear to Katelyn that this was the same assassin from before.


    ¡°That¡¯s my line. Let¡¯s see how you manage to escape this time,¡± she shot back, immediately drawing a gun from her pocket.


    To her surprise, instead of trying to dodge, the man rushed toward her with a strange, snake-like agility. His movements were disturbingly smooth, like a serpent advancing on its prey.


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    Both of Katelyn¡¯s shots missed, and the assassin¡¯s de came dangerously close to her throat once again.


    Clenching her teeth, she twisted her body, narrowly avoiding the de.


    ¡°What technique is that?¡± she wondered. ¡°Is he faster than my bullets?¡±


    The sounds of the gunshots in the hallway drew Vincent¡¯s attention.


    He rushed out of his room without hesitation and found Katelyn in danger once more.<fnf4bf> ?????? ???? f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnf4bf>


    She ducked just in time to avoid a knife aimed at her, but the assassin¡¯s wrist twisted sharply in midair, redirecting the de toward her chest. The speed and proximity left her no chance to dodge. The knife caught the dim light of the corridor, gleaming with a cold menace.


    Fresh chapters live g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í????s


    Her pupils contracted in fear when she realized there was no way to escape in time.


    As the de closed in, Vincent¡¯s powerful kick connected directly with the assassin¡¯s wrist. The impact was brutal, sending the attacker crashing into the wall. Without wasting a second, Vincent punched the man. However, the assassin moved swiftly, twisting his body and ducking to the side, barely escaping Vincent¡¯s punch, which instead smashed into the wall, leaving a visible dent in the ster.


    Jaxen rushed out momentster, instantly leaping into the fight as he saw the confrontation unfold.


    Years of friendship with Vincent had perfected their coordination, leaving the assassin no chance to counterattack.


    Vincent delivered a solid punch to the man¡¯s chest, and Jaxen immediately followed up with a swift, forceful kick. Struggling to stay on his feet, the assassin staggered back, gritting his teeth against the pain.


    ¡°Two against one? You think that¡¯s fair?¡± he growled bitterly.


    Still catching her breath, Katelyn spoke with cold determination. ¡°Don¡¯t let him escape. He¡¯s the same assassin from before.¡±


    Vincent cracked his knuckles, fixing the man with a sharp, threatening gaze. ¡°So, it was you,¡± he said. Ever since the first attempt on Katelyn¡¯s life, he had been tirelessly searching for this man and whoever hired him. He never imagined the assassin woulde straight to them like this.


    Realizing he was losing ground, the assassin turned sharply and made a break for it.


    Vincent and Jaxen immediately gave chase, without a second thought.


    Being on the top floor of the hotel, the assassin¡¯s escape options were limited. His route led him straight into a corner, with no way out.


    Katelyn hurried after them, and the three quickly cornered the assassin on the rooftop. The towering structure rose several hundred meters into the sky. A fall from such a height left no chance of survival, and there was nothing around that could help him escape.


    Vincent stepped forward slowly, deliberately. His voice was cold and threatening. ¡°Are you thinking of jumping?¡±


    The assassin gritted his teeth, looking down at the dizzying drop. He hesitated, unsure of his next move.


    Vincent knew he had to be careful. Assassins like this one, when cornered, often resorted to desperate and reckless actions. They would rather choose death than betray their employers.


    In a firm voice, Katelyn stated, ¡°Elora must be behind this. She sent you to kill me, didn¡¯t she?¡±


    The assassin responded immediately, ¡°No, the princess didn¡¯t give the order.¡±


    ¡°Then who was behind it?¡± she asked.


    Katelyn spoke with a hint of sarcasm, concealing the turmoil of thoughts racing through her mind. She hadn¡¯t expected that a few minor incidents would escte into a battle with someone as spiteful as Elora.


    Two assassination attempts, one after the other.


    It was time to end things with Elora. Katelyn changed her approach, her voice taking on amanding tone. ¡°Surrender now, and I might spare your life. Don¡¯t make this harder than it needs to be.¡±


    The assassin seemed ready to argue, but just then, a helicopter suddenly appeared, hovering over the rooftop.


    .


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 Chapter 417

    ?Chapter 417:


    The helicopter drew closer to the rooftop, its des whipping the air with such force that it felt as though it could knock everyone off their feet. Katelyn was caught in the intense wind, unable to move.


    The cabin door swung open, and a ropedder was dropped, followed by a man in ck, armed with a submachine gun. He aimed the weapon directly at Katelyn and her group.


    With the tactical advantage from above and the deadly weapon in his hands, it wouldn¡¯t take long before they were all in serious danger.


    ¡°As long as youply, I won¡¯t shoot,¡± the man warned coldly. ¡°But make a move, and I¡¯ll turn this into a massacre.¡±


    The wind howled so fiercely that they struggled to keep their eyes open. Vincent gritted his teeth, trying to stay upright. ¡°Who are you?¡± he demanded.


    ¡°Someone you shouldn¡¯t be questioning,¡± came the bold reply. Meanwhile, the assassin used the distraction to climb the ropedder.


    Their objective was clear¡ªto rescue theirrade. Once he was safely aboard, the helicopter made a sharp turn and flew off rapidly.


    Jaxen clenched his fists, his voice thick with anger. ¡°Are we really going to let him get away just like that? Vincent, can¡¯t we shoot that helicopter down?¡± His frustration was palpable.


    Though killing everyone would cost them any further leads, Jaxen¡¯s desire for retribution was steadfast.


    Vincent, however, remained calm andposed. ¡°This won¡¯t happen again,¡± he said coldly. He refused to let this escape go unpunished. Earlier, despite the disadvantage, he had noticed a distinctive tattoo on the man¡¯s arm¡ªa scorpion.


    Katelyn recognized it immediately as well.


    Gal n o v el s . is your destination for fiction


    It was the signature mark of Breck¡¯s henchmen.


    After Elora¡¯s failed assassination attempt, Breck had clearly sent someone to tie up loose ends¡ªthe father and daughter, just as they had suspected. A new suspicion gnawed at Katelyn¡¯s mind. Could Bartley be involved in this as well?


    As she lowered her head, lost in thought, Vincent approached her, his gaze softening with concern.


    ¡°Are you okay? You¡¯re not injured, are you?¡±


    Katelyn shook her head and nced at her arm. Although she had moved out of harm¡¯s way in time, the knife had still shed her sleeve.


    ¡°Thank you for saving me again,¡± she whispered. She felt so deeply grateful, knowing she could never fully repay Vincent in this lifetime.


    Nearby, Jaxen approached with a yful smirk, ncing between them both.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you thank Vincent properly? He¡¯se to your rescue more times than I can count, Miss Bailey. Maybe it¡¯s time you show some appreciation?¡±


    As he said this, Jaxen arched an eyebrow and winked yfully.


    As Vincent¡¯s close friend, he was eager to see some progress in Vincent¡¯s romantic life. He was curious to watch how the usually reserved and detached Vincent would change when smitten.


    Katelyn¡¯s face flushed immediately. She understood Jaxen¡¯s implication all too well, but she was at a loss for words. Vincent, on the other hand, shot Jaxen a piercing look and subtly replied, ¡°Why don¡¯t you enjoy the view from here? It¡¯s quite spectacr, isn¡¯t it? Come next spring, I might just bring flowers to your grave.¡±


    Jaxen felt a chill at the veiled threat, rubbing his arms where goosebumps had formed. He managed a forced smile.


    ¡°Actually, I think I¡¯ll skip it. Heights aren¡¯t really my thing.¡± With that, he made a swift exit down the stairs, eager to escape Vincent¡¯s looming displeasure.


    Once Jaxen was gone, an uneasy silence fell between Katelyn and Vincent.


    Vincent, usually unfazed in business matters, found himself awkwardly out of his element for the first time. Trying to break the tension, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind Jaxen. He¡¯s always like that. He didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s cheeks were still visibly flushed, and she found herself unable to meet Vincent¡¯s gaze, merely nodding in response.


    Inside, she was frustrated with herself. What was happening to her? Why did she blush so easily?


    Just the sight of Vincent was enough to make her heart flutter, leaving her puzzled about her emotions.<fn4c98> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find[?]ovel</fn4c98>


    She hadn¡¯t felt this way even when she was with Neil.


    After gathering her thoughts, Katelyn eventually followed Vincent downstairs. Jaxen had already grabbed hisptop and was ready to get to work.


    Though Jaxen usually had aid-back, carefree attitude, he knew when to take things seriously.


    His hands moved quickly, lines of intricate code filling the screen.


    Katelyn watched quietly, noticing that Jaxen was tackling the problem in exactly the way she would.


    However, Jaxen¡¯s expression suddenly shifted. ¡°Damn!¡± he muttered, frustration evident in his tone.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 418

    ?Chapter 418:


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Vincent asked, his voice cold as he stared intently at theputer screen.


    The disy had shifted from showing intricate lines of code to a ring red exmation mark with a warning. Their attempt to breach the cloud system had been detected.


    Jaxen stood up from his seat and pointed at the screen, his frustration evident.


    ¡°This firewall is unlike anything I¡¯ve seen. Every time we bypass ayer, it regenerates with double theplexity.¡±


    Katelyn watched quietly from the side. She had faced a simr challenge the previous night, trying to break in. Even now, she hadn¡¯t found a way to get through unless they could outpace the other team.


    Vincent frowned deeply. ¡°What exactly do you mean? Are you saying there¡¯s no way to disable the cor around her neck?¡±


    Jaxen stretched his neck, responding, ¡°The firewall system¡¯s design is extremelyplex. The other side has done a lot to prevent any data breaches. It¡¯s tough to break through quickly. I¡¯ll do my best, but I really think finding TS and asking for help would be better.¡±


    In a softer tone, Vincent said, ¡°Just focus and do your best. I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to find TS.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Jaxen replied, giving a determined nod and tapping his chest with his fist. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make sure Miss Bailey stays safe.¡±


    Even if it meant putting his own life at risk, he was determined to ensure this couple would get their happy ending.


    Katelyn approached Jaxen and said, ¡°Don¡¯t stress yourself too much. There¡¯s always a solution.¡±


    ??¦Ñ??¦Á?????? ?????? ???? ????????¦Í????????????


    Jaxen smiled, though it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°This is a unique and thrilling challenge for me. I¡¯m confident I can solve it.¡±


    Even though Jaxen was trying to encourage himself, Katelyn could see the pressure weighing on him.


    Time was running out.


    In three days, if they couldn¡¯t find a way to remove the cor, their only option would be to prepare for her funeral.


    Jaxen¡¯s earlier exnation was straightforward and clear to anyone listening. However, only Katelyn and Jaxen understood the realplexity of the situation.


    This was a life-and-death matter.


    Katelyn ced her fingers to her temple and suddenly began to sway.


    Vincent saw Katelyn lose her bnce and quickly stepped forward, his concern evident.<fn74a1> Fresh chapters posted on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn74a1>


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling dizzy?¡± he asked.


    Katelyn¡¯s face had grown pale. Weakly, she nodded and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. And with everything that happened earlier, I think I need to rest for a while. Let me know if anythinges up.¡±


    Vincent nodded, clearly concerned. ¡°I¡¯ll call room service and have some warm milk sent to your room. Rest for now, and I¡¯ll keep you updated on any progress.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Katelyn replied.


    She slowly left the room, still looking weak. As soon as she reached her own room, she dropped the act. Katelyn had pretended to be unwell to slip away for a moment.


    With urgency pressing on her, she knew she couldn¡¯t wait until nightfall to start tackling the firewall system.


    She sat down at herputer, her face set in determination. Immediately, she began navigating through the cloud data, focusing intently on the task at hand.


    Katelyn¡¯s suspicions were confirmed. The gap she had previously opened had already been patched by the other side. They likely added a location-tracking function to their intrusion system. However, Katelyn managed to obscure this with her own data.


    Despite the challenges, she soon discovered a weakness in their system.


    The repairs had been done hastily. As a result, the quality of the new firewallyers was significantly lower.


    Together, she and Jaxen broke through half of the defenses, quickly matching the progress Katelyn had made the night before. Jaxen also noticed there was an additional, hidden ally assisting them. Excitement lit up his eyes.


    ¡°Vincent, I¡¯ve been getting help from someone behind the scenes. Their skills are clearly superior to mine. Do you think it¡¯s TS?¡±


    Jaxen wasn¡¯t boasting. Very few hackers could outmatch his abilities, and the only one he truly respected was TS.


    The mysterious ally¡¯s coding style was smooth and mature, and their execution wless. Jaxen feltpletely overwhelmed by their expertise.


    He couldn¡¯t think of anyone besides TS who might be behind this.


    Vincent watched as the lines of code scrolled rapidly on the screen. His voice was deep as he asked, ¡°Can you trace their IP address?¡±


    ¡°I should be able to,¡± Jaxen replied, quickly diving into the task.


    Momentster, a red dot began shing on the map. When they saw the exact location, both men were stunned into silence.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 419

    ?Chapter 419:


    The location pinpointed wasn¡¯t just any ce¡ªit was this very hotel.


    This information aligned perfectly with what Vincent had uncovered earlier. TS was still here.


    His thoughts inevitably turned to Katelyn.


    Previously, his doubts had been casually dismissed by her.


    Could it really be just another coincidence?


    A thoughtful expression crossed Vincent¡¯s face. Meanwhile, Jaxen was beside himself with excitement, like a fan about to meet their idol.


    ¡°Vincent, did you catch that location update? TS is in this hotel! Whoever he is, I have to meet him and convince him to take me on as his apprentice.¡±


    ¡°There are too many guests here to go through quickly. I¡¯ll have someone look into it.¡±


    Vincent nced at Jaxen, his expression a mixture of resignation and understanding.


    Jaxen¡¯s obsession with TS seemed deep-rooted, more thrilling to him than any morous event.


    At that moment, Vincent was struck by another significant realization.


    ¡°When did our mysterious ally arrive?¡±


    His question seemed toe out of nowhere.


    Jaxen looked back at theputer screen, pointing at a string of code that he hadn¡¯t written. ¡°Just now.¡±


    Vincent seemed totch onto something important.


    Was this really just a coincidence?


    ?????????????? ???????? g???????¦Í???????????????


    Katelyn had excused herself earlier, iming she felt unwell and needed to rest in her room¡ªand now, suddenly, they had an unexpected helper?


    He was certain that nothing in this world happened by chance; someone was always pulling the strings.


    Without another word, Vincent walked swiftly toward the door.


    Jaxen watched him leave, confused yet intrigued, and hurried to keep up with his pace.


    ¡°Vincent, have you figured out who the real TS is?¡±


    Vincent nced toward Katelyn¡¯s room number. ¡°We¡¯re about to find out.¡±


    He raised his hand and knocked on Katelyn¡¯s door.


    Jaxen¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his expression one of disbelief. He was so stunned that he struggled to find his words. ¡°Wait! Are you implying that Katelyn is TS?¡±


    Vincent didn¡¯t respond but knocked on the door again.


    The knocking took Katelyn by surprise.


    She had justpleted a program designed to block the enemy¡¯s automatic repair capabilities.<fnbc2b> Read full story at find~novel</fnbc2b>


    This strategy would prevent them from being outpaced by the rival hacker team¡¯s speed.


    With automatic repairs now offline, any existing vulnerabilities would need manual correction. By coborating with Jaxen, they were likely to outperform theirpetitors.


    It was a critical moment, and any interruption could alert their opponents.


    Katelyn hesitated briefly but decided to stay focused on her coding, ignoring the knocks.


    Her fingers flew over the keyboard, her movements bing a blur.


    As the door remained shut, Vincent¡¯s doubts deepened.


    Unable to hold back, Jaxen finally voiced his thoughts. ¡°Vincent, I think you might be imagining things. It¡¯s unlikely Katelyn is TS. She¡¯s too young to produce such wless code.¡±


    Jaxen believed TS¡¯s abilities surpassed even his own, which led him to assume that TS was likely middle-aged. Priding himself on being a top-tier expert in the field, he couldn¡¯t ept that TS might be younger than him.


    Vincent shot him a brief look. His casual tone belied the seriousness of his words.


    ¡°Have you forgotten the report from a few years ago? A 13-year-old prodigy managed to breach a foreign nation¡¯s security system and nted our g. Age doesn¡¯t always define talent.¡±


    This reminder sparked a realization in Jaxen.


    He rubbed his chin, still skeptical. ¡°Yet I find that hard to believe.¡±


    Vincent remainedposed but spoke with certainty.


    ¡°Nothing¡¯s impossible. Remember, Katelyn is also known as Iris, the renowned designer.¡±


    Inside the room, Katelyn¡¯s nerves were on edge. She clenched her teeth, forcing herself to concentrate on the programming task.


    After entering the final line of code and saving her work, Katelyn let out a sigh of relief and hurried to the door.


    When the door swung open, Vincent and Jaxen fixed their questioning gazes on her.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 420

    ?Chapter 420:


    Katelyn forced a smile, though curiosity still sparkled in her eyes.


    ¡°Why are you here? Has there been any progress on the firewalls?¡± she asked.


    Jaxen responded casually, ¡°Someone has been assisting me with cracking the system. We¡¯re halfway through the mission and should be able toplete it by tonight.¡±


    Vincent watched Katelyn closely, searching for any signs of deception.


    In truth, Katelyn was a terrible liar. Every time she felt anxious, she would look down to avoid eye contact. It was an action she couldn¡¯t control. It was simr to someone instinctively closing their eyes when they sensed danger.<fn8fd8> This update is avable on fin?novel</fn8fd8>


    Katelyn¡¯s every slight movement gave away the true feelings she was trying to hide.


    She tried her best to put on a mask of surprise and joy. ¡°Is that true? Oh, God. I can finally get rid of this stupid cor. Thank you for your hard work!¡±


    Jaxen scratched the back of his head, feeling embarrassed. ¡°Actually, you shouldn¡¯t thank me. If anyone deserves your gratitude, it¡¯s the person who helped me hack the system. I think it might be TS.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Katelyn¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s TS? Isn¡¯t that person supposed to be elusive?¡±


    Just then, Vincent broke his silence. The intensity of his gaze made it hard for anyone to look him in the eye. ¡°In fact, we were able to track the other hacker¡¯s IP address, and it¡¯sing from this hotel.¡±


    He then softened his tone and asked, ¡°What were you doing earlier, Katelyn? And why did it take so long to open the door?¡±


    Katelyn rubbed her eyes, showing how visibly tired she was.


    ?????????? ?????????? ????: g???????¦Í????????£®??????


    ¡°Well, I felt really bad earlier, so I decided to take a nap on the couch.¡±


    Vincent nced at the spotless couch. There was no pillow or nket on it. The weather in Yata was vastly different from Granville, and one would need a proper nket to sleepfortably at night.


    Katelyn¡¯s excuse was full of holes. Even so, Vincent didn¡¯t expose her.


    He was almost sure that she was TS, and he knew she would never admit it.


    ¡°Jaxen¡¯sputer broke down. Do you mind if I borrow yours?¡± Vincent asked.


    This was the best way to determine if Katelyn and TS were one and the same


    Catching onto Vincent¡¯s n, Jaxen nodded in agreement. ¡°Myputer¡¯s screen turned ck all of a sudden. Someone must¡¯ve hacked it.¡±


    With her sharp mind, Katelyn quickly understood what they were nning.


    The repeated location pings had clearly aroused Vincent¡¯s suspicions about her once again.


    Katelyn responded with aposed smile. ¡°Certainly.¡± She brought herptop with her. It was a sleek, ck notebook, enhanced with a custom-installed system she had designed herself¡ªof the highest quality. When Jaxen received theptop, his eyes sparkled with admiration.


    ¡°Thisptop has specs that surpass my own. Did you assemble this yourself?¡±


    A top-tier hacker needed top-tier equipment to maximize their abilities, much like a skilled warrior needing a reliable weapon.


    Katelyn responded nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m not well-versed in these things. I hired someone online to handle everything for me.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Well, whoever set up thisptop for you is a real pro,¡± Jaxen said as he admired it.


    Before seeing Katelyn¡¯sptop, he had believed his own was the best around. Now, he recognized how narrow his view had been.


    Vincent shot Jaxen a look.


    He had taken Katelyn¡¯sptop for a reason¡ªnot because he wanted Jaxen to admire it.


    Jaxen quickly grasped the meaning and responded with a discreet thumbs-up. When he examined theptop, however, he saw no evidence of active programming. The screen disyed severalrge folders containing Katelyn¡¯s past design sketches and a few soap operas she had downloaded but not yet watched.


    Jaxen kept searching, trusting Vincent¡¯s assessment. Despite the high-end specs, theptop seemed quite ordinary.


    Katelyn watched their interaction with a smile. She was about to speak when a sudden knock came at the door.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 421

    ?Chapter 421:


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but tense up at the sound of knocking, her heart racing almost on cue. Lately, it felt like every knock brought bad news, an unsettling prelude to something unwanted.


    Vincent nced at her, reading her difort, before heading for the door. He quickly peeked through the peephole, and his face tightened when he saw who it was¡ªBartley.


    The doorbell buzzed again, sharp and impatient.


    Vincent opened the door, and for a brief moment, Bartley¡¯s confident smile faltered, his expression freezing as he took in the person standing before him. His eyes flickered with surprise, but it disappeared as quickly as it hade, reced by his usual, well-practiced charm.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± Bartley said, his voice annoyingly calm. ¡°Is Miss Bailey in by any chance?¡±


    The tone of his voice was loud enough to catch Jaxen¡¯s attention inside the room.


    Bartley, dressed in a crisp suit, looked every bit the picture of old-school elegance¡ªlike someone who had stepped out of a vintage movie. Suave, polished, andpletely out of ce.


    Jaxen observed the scene, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He could sense the shift in the air. It seemed his best friend had a rival in love.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes darkened, his stare hard and unyielding, as if daring Bartley to speak again.


    ¡°What exactly do you want?¡±


    There was no mistaking the cold edge in his voice. Vincent already had a low opinion of Bartley, considering his messy involvement in the feud between Katelyn and Elora.


    ???????? ?????????????? ???? ??????????????????.??????


    And Vincent believed that any man who couldn¡¯t keep his own love life in order wasn¡¯t worthy of much respect. Public failure in matters of the heart? That was a whole new level of shame.


    Bartley¡¯s smile remained firmly in ce, frustratingly wless.


    ¡°I have something I need to discuss with Miss Bailey. In private.¡±


    Katelyn moved closer, her expression hard and cold, every delicate feature sharpened with the same disdain Vincent had shown. Her eyes, locked on Bartley, burned with the same icy intensity.


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Her words were sharp,ced with frost.


    If Bartley hadn¡¯t shown up so suddenly, she might have pushed aside the unresolved matter of the two attempts on her life.


    Bartley¡¯s calm exterior cracked for just a second, his eyes flickering before he offered her a gleaming gold card.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I sincerely apologize for any difort you¡¯ve experienced during your stay.¡± His voice was polished, the kind of smooth that felt rehearsed. ¡°This is a VIP golden membership card, granting you unlimited stays at our hotel and exclusive discounts at all my properties.¡±<fnfb60> Readplete version only at find?novel</fnfb60>


    His smile returned, perfectly crafted to look sincere, but Katelyn could see right through it.


    This was no small offer, especially considering his hotel was the most luxurious in Yata. A lifetime of luxury at no cost, plus discounts at all of Bartley¡¯s businesses¡ªit was the kind ofpensation most people would jump at. But Katelyn just stared at the card, then back at Bartley, her face unreadable, her gaze cold.


    The anger simmering inside her wasn¡¯t pacified by his shiny gesture. If anything, it fueled the mes even more.


    ¡°So, is this your way of apologizing for your fianc¨¦e¡¯s sake?¡± Katelyn asked, her voice edged with disbelief, as if the very idea was offensive.


    She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the chaos this would trigger if Elora ever found out. It was obvious Bartley didn¡¯t love Elora.


    If he did, he would have noticed the small shifts in her mood, the signs that came with being truly in love. Bartley was too smart to miss them, but he didn¡¯t care enough to shield Elora from the emotional damage. It was almost as if he got some twisted satisfaction from watching her fall apart.


    Their engagement wasn¡¯t based on love. It was a business deal, in and simple.


    Elora was blind to it all, lost in the same haze of love that Katelyn had once known too well. Even if she saw the truth now, Katelyn doubted Elora would have the courage to let go.


    Bartley kept his polished smile, speaking slowly, each word carefully chosen.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you¡¯ve misunderstood. This is a personal gesture, along withpensation from the hotel. If there¡¯s anything else bothering you, I¡¯m happy to discuss it.¡±


    He paused, stepping back slightly, his hand resting on his shoulder as he dipped his head in a formal, practiced bow.


    ¡°Failing to provide my esteemed guest with top-tier service is a failure on my part.¡±


    This gesture, formal and respectful, was often used in Yata for special asions or sometimes to invite someone to dance. Bartley was clearly making an effort to show how important Katelyn was to him.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°I don¡¯t need your money. But I do need you to check something for me.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s expression shifted slightly, curiosity sparking in his eyes. ¡°And what would that be?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 422

    ?Chapter 422:


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained calm as she faced Bartley.


    ¡°Your fianc¨¦e has orchestrated two assassination attempts on me in this hotel. As its owner, don¡¯t you think you should answer for that?¡±


    Bartley¡¯s face changed immediately, disying a flicker of disbelief.


    ¡°Two attempts on your life?¡±


    Katelyn offered a slight smile, gesturing to her damaged sleeve where a de had nearly struck.


    ¡°The most recent attempt was just an hour ago. I suggest you check the security footage. Is this the level of security we expect from a premier hotel?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was edged with sarcasm, her eyes gleaming with irony. The insinuation was clear.


    How could the assant have bypassed security so effortlessly unless Bartley was involved?


    Bartley grasped the insinuation and replied earnestly,


    ¡°Miss Bailey, rest assured, I will look into this thoroughly. I promise to deliver the culprit to you personally.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression became detached, almost casual.


    ¡°And when might that happen?¡±


    Bartley looked puzzled for a moment.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°When do you n to identify this assassin and bring him to me? I¡¯ve already told you, he¡¯s someone close to Elora, recognizable by his distinctive green eyes. You¡¯d know him instantly.¡±<fnf581> Newest update provided by FindN0vel</fnf581>


    Katelyn¡¯s patience started to wane, her elegant brows furrowing.


    ????? ??erfe???? check g???????¦Í???????????m


    ¡°Perhaps in three days?¡±


    For Bartley, identifying and presenting the assassin to Katelyn wasn¡¯t inherently challenging, but it depended on his actual desire to cooperate.


    He also needed to clear his own name convincingly, now more than ever, given her obvious suspicions.


    Vincent¡¯s voice was steady and neutral, showing no emotion.


    ¡°Think about the damage if word gets out that a luxury¡­¡±


    ¡°Hotel like this has ongoing security issues. It could be disastrous for your business, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Bartley¡¯s face grew more troubled, his hands tightening into fists.


    His hotel¡¯s sess, which had grown significantly, relied not just on local patrons from Yata but also heavily on foreign tourists.


    If this issue spreads, the fallout could be catastrophic.


    Vincent¡¯s remarks were essentially a veiled threat.


    Bartley contained his irritation and responded quietly, ¡°I swear on my family¡¯s honor that I have nothing to do with these attacks. Elora has shares in the hotel too. I¡¯ll start the investigation at once. In three days, I will have the assassin in your hands.¡±


    Katelyn signaled her agreement with an ¡°OK¡± gesture.


    ¡°Alright. You have three days. Use them wisely.¡±


    Bartley clenched his jaw silently, his thoughts whirling as he prepared to leave.


    Regarding the VIP membership card he had offered her, Katelyn barely gave it a nce before flinging it onto a nearby table.


    She wasn¡¯t interested in financialpensation. Her real desire was to distance herself from these dangerous individuals.


    During their exchange, Jaxen had taken the chance tob through Katelyn¡¯sptop, yet discovered nothing unusual. He and Vincent exchanged a nce that carried weight.


    Perhaps their suspicions were misced. Maybe Katelyn wasn¡¯t TS after all.


    Vincent¡¯s expression tightened. Was everything really merely coincidental, or was Katelyn just incredibly clever at concealing her tracks?


    And why did she keep hiding her true identity? Was he just being overly suspicious?


    Vincent suggested to Katelyn, ¡°Get some rest. We¡¯ll resume our efforts on the systemter.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Katelyn responded, masking her awareness with a smile as she nodded.


    After escorting Vincent and Jaxen out, Katelyn settled back at herptop, tapping the keys lightly twice. She then authenticated her identity using her fingerprint and iris scan. Instantly, her screen shifted to an entirely different interface.


    Katelyn¡¯sptop held far too much valuable information, and after it had been stolen thest time, she¡¯d learned her lesson. So she had installed an advanced security system, ensuring that no one but her could ever uncover the secrets hidden behind the screen.


    Back in the room, Jaxen slumped on the sofa, giving Vincent a look of resignation.


    ¡°I get that you¡¯re anxious to pinpoint TS quickly, but not everyone fits the bill. Katelyn¡¯sputer seems to be just a regr one with advanced specs,¡± Jaxen said, but then hesitated, adding, ¡°Unless she¡¯s hiding a backup somewhere.¡±


    Vincent turned his attention to him, his voice cold as he asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice that other odd detail?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 423

    ?Chapter 423:


    Vincent¡¯s remark left Jaxen blinking, trying to piece things together.


    ¡°What suspicious detail?¡± Jaxen asked, his curiosity piqued.


    ¡°You just mentioned it yourself,¡± Vincent replied, settling into the sofa. His long legs were casually bent, but even then, there was something effortlessly refined about his posture, as though elegance came naturally to him.


    ¡°You said Katelyn¡¯sputer is top-notch with advanced specs, even better than yours. If she¡¯s just a regr designer, why would she need such a powerful machine?¡±


    Jaxen shrugged it off. ¡°People like what they like. Maybe Katelyn simply prefers a high-end setup.¡±


    ¡°One suspicious detail might not mean much. But when there are more, they start adding up.¡± Vincent leaned forward slightly, his tone measured but firm.


    He wasn¡¯t out to expose Katelyn¡¯s real identity, at least not outright. What really nagged at him was why she was so keen on keeping it hidden.


    Was she just trying to stay out of trouble?


    Or had being TS attracted enemies, making it dangerous for her to show who she really was?


    The question hung in the air¡ªwas Katelyn really TS, or was there something even deeper going on?


    Katelyn was so engrossed in her task that she had no clue what was unfolding in the room next door. Her focus was entirely on cracking the system.


    The day before, she had been battling the challenge on her own. Today, with Jaxen¡¯s help, their progress had surged forward.


    She had just crafted a program to disable the system¡¯s auto-repair, which sped up their attacks significantly. Yet, even with this boost, breaking through the hundredyer firewall was a monumental task.


    ???????? ???????? ???????? ?????????????????¦Í??????????????


    Firewalls had amon trait: the deeper they delved, the tougher the barriers became.


    It was like advancing in a video game, where the final boss was always the toughest.


    Once they breached thest line of defense, all the information would bepletely exposed. And the firewall was meant to prevent that. Katelyn worked tirelessly until evening.


    Her phone buzzed, interrupting her concentration. She massaged her stiff neck and checked the screen.


    A message from Vincent appeared: ¡°You awake? We¡¯re off to the restaurant for dinner.¡± She quickly texted back, ¡°On my way.¡±


    Katelyn shut herptop with a decisive snap, pulled on her jacket, and stepped out the door.


    Jaxen, meanwhile, was clearly drained. His earlier enthusiasm had faded, leaving him looking worn out after seven hours of relentless work.


    Both of them had been working nonstop.


    Jaxen rubbed his aching lower back, grumbling loudly. ¡°I haven¡¯t had this much work in ages, Vincent. You owe me big time. How about throwing a wild party? The more gorgeous women, the better.¡±


    Lost in thought, Jaxen imagined sunny beaches, clear blue waters, and beautiful women in bikinis. He pictured himself yfully chasing them with a water gun, and the mere fantasy refreshed him.


    Vincent noticed the dark circles under Jaxen¡¯s eyes and smirked.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about your health? At this rate, you¡¯ll be relying on health supplements to keep going before you know it.¡±


    Feeling a bit embarrassed, Jaxen nced at Katelyn, who was pointedly ignoring the conversation. He muttered defensively, ¡°Why make it sound so dire? I¡¯m still young and strong. That¡¯s nowhere near my concern.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes flickered with a trace of disdain, a subtle hint of his irritation.


    Not wanting the conversation to drift further, Katelyn quickly chimed in. ¡°Let¡¯s just go. I¡¯m starving.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression softened, and he replied calmly, ¡°There¡¯s a nice restaurant nearby, just a short walk from here. We could try it.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s face brightened, and he strode ahead with enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯ve never tried Yata¡¯s local cuisine. If it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll order some for all the lovelydies back home.¡±


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged surprised nces, momentarily at a loss for words.


    The restaurant, newly opened and just minutes from the hotel as Vincent had said, was soon in view.<fnd3e0> Readplete version only at Find_Novel(.</fnd3e0>


    Jaxen quickly ced an order for every specialty on the menu.


    As Katelyn looked at the massive spread of food on the table, she said, ¡°This is way too much. We won¡¯t be able to finish all of this.¡±


    Jaxen leaned back with a rxed grin. ¡°If we can¡¯t finish it, we¡¯ll just take it back in case we get hungryter.¡±


    Katelyn was about to savor her meal when a blur of movement outside the window caught her attention. A momentter, the restaurant door flew open, and a person burst inside, their face twisted with fury.


    ¡°Katelyn, you bitch! What are you still doing alive?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 424

    ?Chapter 424:


    It was Elora who entered the scene.


    Despite her designer attire and impable makeup, the aristocratic aura that had once charmed Katelyn was now missing.


    Elora now mirrored Lisepletely, stripped of her earlier grace. Her twisted face and resentful eyes made her look particrly menacing.


    Katelyn ced her fork down, her face hardening.


    ¡°Elora, didn¡¯t your family teach you basic manners and etiquette? How do you even deserve the title of a noble?¡±


    Birds of a feather flock together. Elora was now indeed the spitting image of Lise.


    Her storming in had caught the attention of many in the restaurant.


    Jaxen, who had never met Elora, looked at her with intrigue. He subtly elbowed Vincent.


    ¡°Who is she? She¡¯s quite striking.¡±


    ¡°Just someonecking manners,¡± Vincent responded, his face unmoved. Elora, while not officially titled, was only locally revered as a ¡°princess.¡±


    Fixing a bitter gaze on Katelyn, Elora said sharply, ¡°I¡¯ve told you repeatedly to keep your distance from my fianc¨¦. What did you say to Bartley? Why did he take away my shares in the hotel?¡±


    Elora seemed on the verge of a breakdown.


    Why was Bartley causing her such pain?


    Their rtionship hadn¡¯t always been so strained. The hotel shares were thest token of Bartley¡¯s care for her, and now they were gone too. ¡°It is all Katelyn¡¯s fault!¡± she thought.


    Katelyn looked on, her expression cold.


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    She couldn¡¯t understand why Elora, with all her prestige, couldn¡¯t ept that Bartley simply didn¡¯t love her. Their rtionship was nothing more than a series of transactions.


    Bartley¡¯stest behavior indicated that Elora was either losing her significance to him or that he¡¯d found a more beneficial business ally, signaling her impending rejection.


    ¡°Your issues with him are your own. Cease attributing every misfortune to me. If you¡¯re bewildered, it¡¯s best to question him yourself.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s tone was frosty, observing¡­<fn5fd4> This content belongs to find{n}ovel</fn5fd4>


    With Elora¡¯s tear-stained eyes, Katelyn was overwhelmed by a profound sense ofpassion and sorrow.


    She saw a past version of herself in Elora¡ªunloved, yet desperately yearning for affection.


    She exhaled softly, opting to rify,


    ¡°I can¡¯t count how many times I¡¯ve tried to make you understand that your rtionship issues stem from your business dealings, not from my actions.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Elora¡¯s face nched as if struck by a realization, but she quickly rejected the thought, her teeth clenched.


    ¡°No, that cannot be true. There is true affection between us, not merely transactional ties.¡±


    She remembered her father recently hinting that their engagements with the Lawrence family were diminishing. Such coborations were designed to fortify both enterprises. Yet, their situation had deteriorated drastically.


    The fundamental issue was the Williams family¡¯s fading prominence, failing to meet the escting expectations of the Lawrence family.


    Although Breck had spared her the harsh realities, she had deduced bits of the truth.


    Yet, she adamantly denied this, unwilling to ept that the man she cherished ced his interests first. Overwhelmed, she redirected all her frustration toward Katelyn. Convincing herself in a sort of self-deception, she believed that erasing Katelyn might restore their rtionship to its former glory.


    Elora¡¯s face was a mosaic of changing emotions, all keenly observed by Katelyn.


    Katelyn felt a pang of sympathy for her.


    Despite her nobility, Elora was still trapped in the intricate web of love, merely a piece moved by others.


    ¡°You clearly grasp what¡¯s really happening here. Your next steps are yours to decide. I only ask that you don¡¯t bother me further, or I¡¯ll be forced to reveal all to the world.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s intentions were genuinely helpful, yet their discussion was abruptly disrupted by another unexpected guest entering the restaurant.


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 Chapter 425

    ?Chapter 425:


    The unexpected neer was Lise.


    She quickly made her way to Elora, observing her distressed condition, and instantly directed her usations at Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn, how could you torment the princess? Do you not fear the wrath of Yata¡¯s citizens?¡± Lise charged, her anger palpable.


    Elora had departed too hastily for Lise to follow immediately, causing her to miss the earlier exchange with Katelyn.


    Though unaware of the specifics, Elora¡¯s troubled face suggested to Lise that Katelyn hade out on top. Lise was determined to exaggerate the event, painting Katelyn as disrespectful to the princess in order to rally more opposition against her.


    Katelyn met Lise¡¯s fury with a frosty stare and a derisive snort.


    ¡°From which vantage did you see me torment her?¡± Her challenge was deliberate.


    Had Elora paid closer attention, she might have detected the sincerity in Katelyn¡¯s tone.


    If only Elora could free herself from this destructive affection, she might transform from a woman tormented by love to one empowered beyond it.<fnf4bd> Read full story at F¦Énd£Îovel</fnf4bd>


    Katelyn, having endured simr trials, was determined to prevent others from suffering the same fate.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew stern, annoyed by the disruption to their meal.


    He was baffled by Lise¡¯s relentless hostility, especially since she had already taken everything from Katelyn¡ªher lover, her family¡ªeverything once dear to Katelyn had been taken by Lise.


    Yet, Lise¡¯s appetite for destruction seemed satisfied.


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s, the heart of storytelling


    Beside them, Jaxen rubbed his chin, eyeing Lise thoughtfully. The more he observed her, the more he sensed a familiarity, as though she were the centerpiece of a scandal he once knew. He quietly asked Vincent, ¡°Isn¡¯t she the heiress of the Bailey family?¡±


    Vincent confirmed with a nod.


    ¡°Yes, she is.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s memory stirred, a vague recollection lingering.


    ¡°I seem to recall seeing her somewhere, or hearing a tale about her. Where exactly, though?¡± he murmured.


    The details eluded him.


    Vincent brushed off the curiosity with a casual exnation.


    ¡°Just months ago, the Bailey family¡¯s saga was the talk of Granville. You likely heard about it then.¡±


    Jaxen, however, shook his head dismissively. The vague snippet he recalled didn¡¯t seem to match the scandals surrounding the Bailey family.


    Meanwhile, Lise¡¯s tone was charged with excitement and sharp with usation.


    ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t even think that your demure, sorrowful fa?ade can mask your evil intentions. You failed in your homnd, so now you¡¯re here to snatch Bartley from Elora? And we haven¡¯t forgotten your stunt of dousing her with wine!¡±


    As Lise aggressively stoked the fires of conflict, she nced at Elora, whose face was nk. She was defending her, so why didn¡¯t Elora support her ims?


    Elora seemed utterly detached.


    She was deaf to the usations flying around her, overwhelmed by a cacophony in her own head. shes of memory yed before her eyes¡ªonce, she and Bartley had been blissful, him promising a fairy-tale wedding as he embraced her, and then the stark image of him calling off their engagement and reiming her shares, his face cold and spiteful. The stark disparity between his once angelic affection and his now devilish scorn was too much for Elora to bear.


    Unable to withstand the emotional onught, Elora covered her face with her hands and screamed heartbreakingly before bolting away.


    Katelyn¡¯s heart plummeted.


    It was painfully clear that Elora was on the verge of copse.


    She worried that Elora might not withstand the brutal upheavals in her life and could descend into insanity.


    ¡°This is bad. Elora¡¯s condition is critical. We need to get her to a hospital for professional help now.¡± Katelyn understood that everyone had their psychological breaking point, much like a bag that could only take so much weight. Filled beyond its capacity with despair, it was bound to burst.


    Tragically, the world had witnessed too many such breakdowns, with numerous individuals annually sumbing to madness or worse, driven by overwhelming emotional strains.


    Elora¡¯s predicament was an urgent medical case, one that required immediate intervention long ago.


    Just as Katelyn was about to hurry after Elora, she was halted by Jaxen¡¯s sudden outburst.


    ¡°That¡¯s it! I know who you are!¡±


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 Chapter 426

    ?Chapter 426:


    Jaxen suddenly broke the silence, catching Katelyn and the others off guard.


    He aimed his remarks firmly at Lise.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t resist turning to see if there was a previous connection between Lise and Jaxen.


    Lise¡¯s expression showed a flicker of panic, masked by a forced calm as she adjusted her hair.


    ¡°I¡¯m the daughter of the Bailey family. It¡¯s not odd for people to recognize me.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s tone was thick with irony.


    ¡°A noble heiress today, but your overseas misadventures years ago haven¡¯t gone unnoticed.¡±


    He rose, his gaze sharp with disdain as he studied Lise intently.


    ¡°You broke up my friend¡¯s engagement, pushing her to the brink of suicide. Then you managed to marry an older man, already someone else¡¯s husband at the time, only to discover he was abusive. You couldn¡¯t endure it and had to escape!¡±


    He had been mulling over this before the memories clicked into ce.


    At that time, Lise¡¯s real identity hadn¡¯t been revealed, and she had been basically a nobody.


    Had he realized it sooner, he would have recognized her earlier.


    To Jaxen, getting involved with someone else¡¯s partner was profoundly repugnant.


    Being aware of such a role and embracing it was utterly contemptible in his eyes.


    Their altercation now captured the curiosity of nearby diners.


    Katelyn was also taken aback, not expecting Lise¡¯s past to be so fraught with recklessness.


    No wonder she had spent years overseas before returning to cling to Neil. Her failed ventures abroad had driven her back.


    If Neil ever learned the true extent of her past indiscretions, would he continue to look at her the same way?


    Lise¡¯s panic was palpable as she faltered.


    ¡°You¡¯re fabricating everything. These are wild usations! Persist, and I¡¯ll sue.¡±


    Her deration was forced out between clenched teeth, her guilty demeanor unmistakable.


    Jaxen chuckled derisively and said,


    ¡°You know the truth as well as I do. Should I reach out to that husband of yours overseas?


    Have you even finalized your divorce?¡±


    Lise¡¯splexion nched dramatically.<fn16d2> Newest update provided by Find[?]ovel</fn16d2>


    She clutched her purse and dashed out in a flurry of panic.


    Lise was always quick to counter if provoked, so her sudden silence only underscored the truth in Jaxen¡¯s words.


    Katelyn watched her hastily depart, a thoughtful glimmer in her eyes.


    Vincent remained unflustered, trusting his knack for assessing people.


    Lise¡¯s history of conflicts made it obvious that she wasn¡¯t one to shy away from stirring trouble.


    ¡°Elora!¡± Katelyn suddenly recalled her original purpose.


    She quickly left the restaurant and saw a luxury car by the roadside. Two men, looking like bodyguards, were ushering Elora into the car. Clearly, Breck had sent them.


    What was meant to be a nice dinner hadpletely fallen apart.


    Returning to her seat, Katelyn found Jaxen still seething.


    ¡°She was my dearest friend, our families intertwined by business. She caught her fianc¨¦ being unfaithful and got so heartbroken she almost ended her life. Luckily, she was saved just in time.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s hands tightened around his utensils, anger simmering as he revisited the memory.


    ¡°Even though it¡¯s been a while and she¡¯s healed, that heartless Lise still owes for her wrongdoing.¡±


    Katelyn remained silent, her own painful experiences closely paralleling those of Jaxen¡¯s friend¡ªboth had endured deep betrayal.


    Yet, she had never considered such a drastic escape.


    Katelyn murmured, ¡°Rest assured, justice wille.¡±


    Vincent added firmly, ¡°If you need support, I¡¯m here to help.¡± The Lawrence family had expanded globally for years, while the Baileys had deep roots in Granville. The power dynamics between the two families were quite bnced.


    Jaxen nodded decisively. ¡°She will face consequences.¡± He silently swore to exact retribution on Lise.


    After their meal, they returned to the hotel to focus on unlocking the cor. Suddenly, Samuel rushed in, his face solemn.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, we have a problem!¡±


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 Chapter 427

    ?Chapter 427:


    Samuel¡¯s face was grave as he handed Vincent a set of photos.


    Katelyn and Jaxen, sensing the seriousness of the moment, discreetly gave them space, turning to their own tasks.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed at the photo showing Breck stepping out of a car, a sharp gleam in his eye.


    ¡°When were these taken?¡± he questioned sharply, suspicion coloring his tone.


    The man in the photos was Breck, looking as polished as ever, but something was amiss¡ªhis neck was unadorned, missing the cor. Vincent knew he had locked it securely around Breck¡¯s neck. It should have been there, unless Breck had deceived them about its permanence and found another way to remove it, one not involving the terminal system.


    ¡°This afternoon,¡± Samuel said solemnly.


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Find him now.¡±


    The cor on Breck¡¯s neck was supposed topel him to disclose the solution, but the man had sidestepped them, misleading their search for TS.


    Vincent silently swore that this time, Breck would not get off lightly.<fnb16c> This text is hosted at Find?Novel</fnb16c>


    Samuel interjected urgently, ¡°Mr. Adams, he¡¯s not at home. He¡¯s at a casino, and our people are blocked outside. We can¡¯t tell what he¡¯s up to inside.¡±


    Jaxen perked up at the mention of ¡°casino,¡± his interest piqued.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the casinos in Yata are legendary, hosting games and bets that push the limits, sometimes even risking lives.¡± Yata¡¯s casinos were infamous globally for their audacious offerings.


    As he held the photos, Vincent¡¯s face became a mask of resolve.


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    ¡°Breck now relies on this casino for the bulk of his revenue.¡±


    Jaxen, unable to hide his eagerness, pped his hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look and broaden our views. I¡¯ve always been intrigued by a casino of this caliber.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± Vincent responded, tossing the photos on the table and turning toward Katelyn. ¡°Let¡¯s explore the casino.¡±


    Katelyn nodded in agreement, but her thoughts were clouded by the grim images of the exploitation of ves that the photos conjured.


    The stark, violent scenes depicted were seared into her memory, lingering ominously.


    She had long sought a chance to free those enved. To her, each life held value. Why should fate grant some luxury while condemning others to oppression?


    Finding Breck¡¯s casino was easy. It was the grandest in Yata, its entrance boasting avish sign embellished with gems and gold.


    The doors stood invitingly open, nked by armed security guards. It was still daylight, yet the casino bustled¡ª a sign of Yata¡¯s quiet sanction of gambling.


    Gambling was often intertwined with narcotics. Nearby, vendors cloaked in heavy garments squatted, their baskets before them hinting at illicit sales.


    Katelyn nced curiously at the baskets, partially concealed by cloths that allowed only a glimpse inside. The baskets seemed to hold small packages of some kind of white powder, resembling flour.


    Her slight interest drew a vendor¡¯s attention, who promptly said, ¡°Miss, care to inspect our products? We ensure all are top-notch and affordably priced.¡± As he spoke, the vendor rose, attempting a better disy of his goods.


    Katelyn instinctively stepped back. Before she could reply, a tall figure moved protectively in front of her.


    Vincent stood firm, shielding Katelyn and ensuring her safety with his solid presence.


    His voice was piercingly cold as he said, ¡°No need. Stay back.¡± With that, Vincent guided Katelyn toward the casino¡¯s entrance.


    Katelyn murmured, ¡°What¡¯s in those baskets?¡± Vincent¡¯s stern expression hinted he knew the contents all too well.


    Nearby, Jaxen¡¯s smirk was apparent. ¡°Drugs, obviously.¡± The powder was most likely heroin, and hidden beneath the clothsy various other illicit drugs.


    Even minor exposure could destroy families irreparably. The thought flickered in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She harbored a deep loathing for such dealings.


    As the group of three neared the entrance, several intimidating figures abruptly blocked their path.


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 Chapter 428

    ?Chapter 428:


    These men were burly and tough, more akin to mercenaries than typical security guards,plete with professional assault rifles.


    Their leader blocked the entrance.


    ¡°Do you have an invitation? Without one, you can¡¯t enter.¡±


    ¡°Invitation?¡±


    Confusion flickered across Katelyn¡¯s face. An invitation was needed just to step into a casino for entertainment?


    ¡°I know your boss. I¡¯m here to discuss business with him,¡± Vincent said firmly, his face set in resolve.


    The man, growing impatient, replied, ¡°Enough with the games. To get in, you need either an invitation or proof that your assets exceed ten million. That¡¯s the rule.¡±


    The ten million was effectively a secretive admission charge.<fn3f33> Discover more novels at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn3f33>


    Katelyn could only wonder about the high rollers inside. Vincent slightly furrowed his brow but pulled out a gold-embossed card from his pocket, presenting it for inspection.


    ¡°These are my associates. Just check my credentials.¡±


    The guards were equipped with devices to verify ount bnces instantly.


    A swift card swipe revealed a bnce with an astonishing number of zeros, surprising even the seasoned guards, who questioned their own eyes¡ªcould a number really stretch that far?


    ¡°Is this card legitimate or fake? Because if it¡¯s a counterfeit, it could end badly for you here,¡± the man warned.


    ¡°You checked it. Shouldn¡¯t you know whether it¡¯s authentic?¡± Vincent retorted, reiming his card withposed ease.


    Your favorite stories are on g?ln¦Ò¦Íe??s?c?m


    ¡°Now, are we allowed in?¡±


    The man, after a moment of hesitation, reluctantly moved aside, granting them entry.


    Katelyn trailed behind Vincent, catching a glimpse of the greed flickering in the guard¡¯s eyes. Such staggering wealth¡ªif itnded in theirps, they could retire instantly!


    A wave of apprehension washed over Katelyn.


    She pushed aside her rising concerns and quickened her step.


    Upon entering the casino, they were struck by the luxuriousness that far outshone the exterior. The ground floor resembled a grand banquet hall, bustling with fashionably attired people.


    Waitresses in enticing attire glided elegantly around, serving beverages.


    Without prior knowledge, one would hardly guess that this tranquil, ssy setting was a casino, far removed from the typical morous gambling houses.


    There was none of the usual loud talking or frantic betting.


    Katelyn, whose ideas of casinos were shaped by film and television, was taken aback by the reality.


    Noticing her astonishment, Vincent rified,


    ¡°This is merely the guest lounge. The actual gaming happens upstairs.¡±


    Katelyn instinctively peered toward the second floor, catching only fleeting glimpses of the extravagant decor due to the viewing angle.


    ¡°You seem quite familiar with this ce.¡±


    ¡°Samuel did some digging on our way here. Turns out, Breck isn¡¯t actually the owner,¡± Vincent said, then headed for the stairs.


    Jaxen, pulling his gaze away, said, ¡°If I were to run a casino like this back home, it¡¯d be a gold mine.¡±


    Vincent gave him a stern look, saying, ¡°If your father hears of it, you¡¯ll be in big trouble.¡±


    The reminder of his father¡¯s daunting influence swiftly dampened Jaxen¡¯s fleeting venture aspirations. He nodded and said, ¡°Right. Granville isn¡¯t as casino-friendly as Yata.¡±


    Katelyn silently absorbed their exchange, keenly scanning her surroundings.


    Guards were strategically positioned at various exits, prepared for any disturbances.


    As they ascended to the second floor, they were abruptly encircled by men in ck.


    Katelyn observed them warily, and soon an elderly man in a white suit with pristine white hair approached, smiling gently.


    ¡°Please, hold for a moment.¡±


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 Chapter 429

    ?Chapter 429:


    The elderly man wore a cordial smile as he spoke. Yet, despite his advanced years, his gaze still held a formidable intensity.


    He was notably missing his right pinky, seemingly severed years ago.


    He addressed them gently, saying, ¡°You seem to be neers. Wee to the casino. We do have our protocols, though. To join in, you¡¯ll need to be searched.¡± He signaled to two men in ck, who promptly approached.


    Vincent quickly positioned himself protectively before Katelyn.


    ¡°You can search us, but she¡¯s not to be touched.¡± Katelyn¡¯s striking beauty drew unsettling attention from the guards, and permitting a search could escte to unwanted scenarios.


    The old man¡¯s smile persisted, though his eyes sharpened.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that won¡¯t work. We¡¯re here to guarantee every guest¡¯s security. If you resist, you¡¯ll have to leave.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fists tightened silently.


    Vincent and Jaxen stood resolute before her, ready to defy the unreasonable request.


    Katelyn said firmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need for your men to handle this. I¡¯ll empty my pockets myself. Will that suffice?¡±


    After a pause, the elderly man nodded for her to continue. Katelyn moved forward and showed the contents of her pockets: just her phone and some tissues.


    Unexpectedly, the old man indicated toward her chest.


    ¡°Concealed weapons could be hidden there as well.¡± Katelyn¡¯s expression chilled instantly.


    New updates live on g¦Ál¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s


    Jaxen clenched his jaw and retorted, ¡°This is crossing the line. Why not have a female staff member do this? This isn¡¯t a routine check¡ªit¡¯s harassment!¡±


    The elderly man remained unshaken.


    ¡°Rules are rules. Nonpliance means you must leave.¡±


    A calcting look crossed Vincent¡¯s face. He replied decisively, ¡°Then we will leave.¡±


    He could locate Breck elsewhere, but he wouldn¡¯t allow Katelyn to endure such disrespect.


    Katelyn appeared on the verge of speaking but ultimately held back.


    Jaxen, unable to resist a jab, said sarcastically, ¡°Do you think we¡¯re desperate for your casino? I wouldn¡¯te back here even if you pleaded.¡±


    As they began to walk away, the old man¡¯s voice halted them.


    ¡°Hold on a moment.¡±<fnbe76> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel</fnbe76>


    Moments before, a guard had hurried over and murmured something to the old man. Katelyn looked back. They were now descending the stairs, looking up at the old man from below.


    His smile seemed gentle, yet Katelyn detected a sinister undertone.


    ¡°Let me rify another rule. It¡¯s easy to enter, but not so easy to leave.¡±


    A dangerous glint appeared in Vincent¡¯s eyes.


    He demanded coldly, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m merely rying our boss¡¯s instructions,¡± the old man exined, gesturing for them toe back.


    ¡°Our boss would like a word with you in the private room upstairs.¡±


    Confusion swirled within Katelyn.


    Their boss? Was he talking about Breck, or was there another power behind the scenes?


    If it was Breck, why the borate setup just for another meeting?


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged wary looks.


    The security guards had their guns trained on them, ready to fire at amand.


    Trapped, they had no choice but toply.


    Vincent led the way back upstairs, followed by Jaxen and Katelyn. The second floor of the casino was divided into private rooms, and asional outbursts of swearing hinted at the high tensions inside.


    Guided by the old man, they maneuvered past the private rooms to a notably unadorned door.


    The old man approached the door with deep respect, bowing formally.


    ¡°Boss, the guests you requested are here.¡±


    A voice from inside, genderless and almost mechanical, responded,


    ¡°Let them in.¡±


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 Chapter 430

    ?Chapter 430:


    Katelyn and herpanions pushed open the door and stepped inside.


    The room was a testament to understated luxury. To one side, wooden shelves boasted a collection of valuable antiques, and an incense burner was prominently disyed on a table before them.


    Arge, semi-transparent screen split the room, concealing the mysterious boss who had summoned them.


    The vast screen hid the figurepletely, masking any details of the boss¡¯s stature or build.


    Vincent fixed his gaze on the silhouette behind the screen.


    ¡°What do you want from us?¡±


    A muffledugh echoed from behind the screen, altered by a voice modtor to sound unnaturally unsettling. The voice slowly said,


    ¡°Don¡¯t be rmed. I¡¯m here not to harm, but to offer assistance.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s patience was wearing thin.


    Since entering the casino, they had been manipted at every turn.


    His frustration peaked with this juvenile tactic of concealment, deeming it cowardly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re serious about dealing with us, show yourself. Why hide?¡±


    Yet, the boss remainedposed, even casually gesturing with a slight wave. The movement was visible through the screen¡¯s reflection.


    ¡°Young man, patience. I aim to conduct genuine business.


    Your haste might lead to difficulties.¡±


    The patronizing tone irked Jaxen further.


    He was about to retort when Vincent firmly held him back.


    They were deep within the casino,pletely in this mysterious person¡¯s territory, unfamiliar with the surroundings. Should negotiations fail and the boss turn against them, escape would be impossible.


    Katelyn was somewhat taken aback. Her interactions with Jaxen had been limited, and his impulsive nature was unexpected.


    Katelyn spoke withposed rity, getting straight to the point.<fn6276> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn6276>


    ¡°Since we¡¯re here to talk business, let¡¯sy all our cards on the table. What do you require from us, and what can you provide in return?¡±


    The bossughed again.


    ¡°I really value Miss Bailey¡¯s straightforwardness. That¡¯s exactly how business should be conducted.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression tightened slightly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s keep things clear. We¡¯re not here to waste time on riddles.¡±


    As she spoke, Katelyn¡¯s eyes drifted to the incense on the table. The fragrance was a deep, earthy blend that instantly evoked a sense of being amidst nature, clearing the mind with each inhale.


    Unconsciously, Katelyn drew in another long breath, relishing the calming scent.


    The boss¡¯s voice, calm and measured, broke the tranquility.


    ¡°I understand you¡¯re seeking a method to unlock Miss Bailey¡¯s cor. I can assist with that.¡±


    Vincent had settled into the atmosphere, choosing a seat with casual ease.


    ¡°You have a solution? But Breck imed it was a coborative creation of his team, only removable by deleting the cloud data.¡±


    When Breck was mentioned, a clear trace of scorn colored the boss¡¯s tone.


    ¡°What is he, really? Merely a marite in my y.¡±


    Had it not been for Breck, this casino would still be thriving in an orderly manner, instead of overrun with narcotics and nearing a hub for human trafficking. He still required Breck¡¯s services for now, or else he would have already eliminated him.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze sharpened, weighing each word.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the one behind Breck?¡±


    The boss replied,


    ¡°To put it urately, this casino is solely my enterprise. Breck is insignificant. Had I known he would target Miss Bailey, he would have already faced consequences.¡±


    As Katelyn absorbed this, something didn¡¯t sit right. The person seemed overly familiar with their recent movements and too well-informed about them.


    If this was indeed a negotiation, they must possess something this person wanted.


    But what could that be?


    ¡°But we¡¯ll discuss terms once you actually remove the cor from Katelyn¡¯s neck,¡± Jaxen said.


    As Jaxen finished speaking, a figure emerged from behind the screen, dressed like the security guards downstairs, clutching what seemed to be a specialized set of electronic keys.


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 Chapter 431

    ?Chapter 431:<fna024> Newest update provided by find¡¤novel</fna024>


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened, alert and ready, as she watched the figure approach, her body tense for action. Behind the screen, the boss noticed her posture and smiled.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Miss Bailey. They¡¯re just keys.¡±


    The guard toyed with the electronic keys, pressing a certain button that emitted a soft click. Suddenly, the cor around Katelyn¡¯s neck ttered to the floor, leaving everyone briefly speechless.


    So, it turned out Breck had always had the means to unlock the cors but had chosen to dramatize the need for TS instead.


    A cold anger settled in Vincent¡¯s eyes. Breck had yed him, and he was not about to let that deception go unpunished.


    Katelyn stooped to retrieve the cor, her fingers instinctively brushing her neck.


    The cor had been so restrictive that it had marked her skin in just a day.


    ¡°Was this cor your doing, or Breck¡¯s?¡±


    The boss, stillposed, started exining,


    ¡°I tasked Breck with this project, though I didn¡¯t foresee his hidden agendas.¡±


    As he spoke, he seemed to reconsider and waved off further discussion, adding,


    ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on such disagreeable subjects. I believe my actions demonstrate my good faith. Now, let¡¯s get down to our deal?¡±


    Vincent scrutinized the screen as if trying to pierce through it to discern the boss¡¯s true motives. From the start, they had been manipted like chess pieces in his scheme, never hearing even the boss¡¯s real voice.


    A steely resolve hardened in Vincent¡¯s eyes at the thought of such maniption. In Granville, he would never tolerate such boldness from anyone.


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is where dreams unfold


    Jaxen lounged back on the sofa, legs crossed casually.


    ¡°Why not just spell out your terms?¡± he asked, growing impatient with the indirectness.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± replied the boss.


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of your interest in Earl Poulos¡¯nd, and my interest lies in what¡¯s beneath it.¡±


    The subject returned to the plot with the ancient castle. Katelyn wondered about the untold riches that might be buried there, attracting such fervent desire.


    Both Selina and this mysterious boss were drawn to it.


    Vincent¡¯s tone was dismissive as he said,


    ¡°Your efforts are futile. Earl Poulos has been explicit. Thatnd is not for sale.¡±


    ¡°Who said anything about buying thend?¡±


    Katelyn quickly sensed the threat in the boss¡¯s implication and responded,


    ¡°What are you suggesting? An outright theft?¡±


    ¡°The loyal thrive under mymand, the defiant perish,¡± the boss said coolly.


    ¡°It¡¯s a symbiotic arrangement.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s gaze was one of intrigue, unaware of the riches beneath the castle.


    ¡°If you¡¯re capable of taking it by force, why involve us?¡±


    The boss responded,


    ¡°Think of it as extending you a courtesy. You might be of use to me in the future.¡±


    The control of the situation was entirely in the boss¡¯s hands.


    Vincent, despite his influence back home, was not in a position to challenge this local authority.


    Katelyn nced at Vincent, anticipating his reaction.


    Vincent¡¯s response was heavy with implication as he said,


    ¡°Secure thend, and I¡¯m at your service to retrieve whatever you need.¡±


    The boss nodded, evidently pleased, and said,


    ¡°Good. I trust in your integrity, Mr. Adams.¡±


    The boss paused, then called out to the door,


    ¡°Show them out.¡±


    The elderly man who had been stationed at the door stepped in, signaling for the trio to exit. He led the way, and they followed smoothly.


    Once outside the casino, Jaxen, who had been silent, finally shared his unease.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the boss seem overly theatrical, as if he¡¯s ying a part? And the overpowering sandalwood scent in that room¡ªit was strong enough to give me a headache.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s thoughts were jolted by the mention of sandalwood, but before she could articte her insights, they were unexpectedly interrupted.


    Suddenly, a new group of armed mercenaries appeared from a nearby alley!


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 432

    ?Chapter 432:


    As the mercenaries emerged from the shadows, the three instantly recognized them¡ªthese were the same guards stationed at the casino just minutes earlier. Without hesitation, the mercenaries unlocked their weapons, pointing the barrels straight at the trio.


    ¡°Hand over all your cash,¡± one barked, ¡°and we¡¯ll make it quick for you.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within them¡ªmore intimidating than the guns aimed their way.


    ¡°Does your boss know you¡¯re pulling this stunt?¡±


    One mercenary sneered and pulled the trigger. A shot rang out, echoing through the air as it shattered the stones beneath Vincent¡¯s feet. The sound was deafening.


    Shards of rock scattered against his pants, but Vincent didn¡¯t even blink, standing as still as ever.


    The mercenary¡¯s anger boiled over.


    ¡°Hand over everything, now!¡± he snarled, his voice dripping with malice.


    Another mercenary swung his gun toward Katelyn and Jaxen.


    ¡°Get down on your knees, hands up!¡± he yelled, his finger hovering over the trigger.


    Katelyn and Jaxen exchanged a fearful nce. With the mercenary¡¯s submachine gun aimed at them, resistance was impossible. They were trapped. With no other option, they lowered themselves to the ground, staying silent.


    Vincent raised his hands, his voice cold and steady.


    ¡°My money¡¯s in an international ount. I¡¯d need to go to the bank for arge transfer.¡±


    Finish the chapters at g???????¦Í????s. ??o??


    ¡°Don¡¯t try anything stupid. I already know what¡¯s in your ount. Just transfer it to me, and we¡¯re done,¡± the mercenary snapped, his patience wearing thin as he moved closer, gun still pointed at Vincent.


    ¡°Hurry up and give me the money!¡±


    They knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before their boss found out what they were up to.


    Time was running out. If they didn¡¯t grab the money and disappear soon, they¡¯d face their boss¡¯s wrath¡ªand they knew how cruel he could be.


    But the lure of such a massive fortune was too strong, pushing them to take the risk anyway.


    Vincent, unshaken, reached into his pocket, pulled out the gold card, and tossed it over to them.


    ¡°The pin is six zeros,¡± Vincent said, his voice steady.


    The lead mercenary snatched the card, his grip firm and purposeful. With a quick,manding nce, he signaled his team.


    ¡°If you¡¯re trying to trick me, I¡¯ll make sure you all suffer,¡± he warned, his tone cold and threatening.


    One of the mercenaries, understanding the signal, immediately set off toward the nearest bank.


    As he turned, a loud gunshot echoed through the air, and he fell to the ground, a bullet in his head.


    Meanwhile, a new team had snuck up behind the mercenaries, led by the old man who had taken Katelyn and the others to meet their boss.


    Before the mercenaries could react, the old man¡¯s team opened fire, and they dropped to the ground, dead.


    Katelyn quickly grabbed Vincent and pulled him to safety, with Jaxen close behind.


    The three of them crouched under cover, waiting in tense silence. When the gunfire finally stopped, they cautiously peered out to assess the scene.


    The mercenaries who had threatened them were all sprawled on the ground, dead.


    The old man approached with a friendly smile.


    ¡°I apologize for the incident. It was our negligence, and the boss willpensate youter.¡±


    Katelyn was about to speak when she suddenly noticed a mercenary behind the old man, still breathing, shakily reaching for a gun nearby.


    Katelyn¡¯s warning shout cut through the air.


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    The old man spun around, swift and alert. In an instant, he drew his handgun and fired multiple shots into the mercenary¡¯s chest. The gun kicked back, but the old man¡¯s grip remained steady. Blood sprayed everywhere, yet his crisp white clothes stayed spotless.


    His gentle smile never wavered, but his effortless kill sent a chill down their spines.


    The gunshots sent a flock of birds flying, their wings pping wildly as they vanished into the sky.


    Bodies now littered the street, blood spreading out like a dark puddle.


    The old man turned to Katelyn, his calm demeanor unsettling. He tucked his gun away with ease.


    ¡°Thanks for the warning,¡± he said, his smile a stark contrast to the bloody scene.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes lingered on the bodies, her expression haunted. She¡¯d seen violence before, but the old man¡¯s ruthless efficiency still unnerved her.


    Unable to hold back, she asked,


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t the government do anything about the way you kill so easily?¡±


    The old man smiled, his tone almost amused as he replied,


    ¡°They might, but when ites to our boss¡­ they¡¯d never dare hold him responsible.¡±


    As soon as the old man finished speaking, his team sprang into action, dragging the bodies away. Momentster, the bloodstains were scrubbed clean, leaving no hint of the lives lost just minutes before.


    Katelyn nodded faintly, her mind struggling to quiet the chaos of thoughts.


    When they got back to the hotel, they hadn¡¯t even made it to the elevator before the receptionist¡¯s voice called out to them.


    .


    .


    .<fne35e> ?????? ???? F?ndNovel</fne35e>

 Chapter 433

    ?Chapter 433:


    ¡°Excuse me, are you Mr. Adams, Miss Bailey, and Mr. Lawrence?¡± the receptionist inquired, her smile faint but polite.


    Vincent approached and asked quietly,


    ¡°That¡¯s us. What is it?¡±


    ¡°A gentleman left these for you, describing them as peace offerings,¡± she said, presenting three tastefully wrapped boxes.


    It was apparent that they were sent by the casino owner. Katelyn inspected the small box she held.<fne311> ?????? ???? f?ndnovel</fne311>


    Crafted from sandalwood, it was detailed with intricate carvings.


    Once in their room, they each opened their boxes. Inside, to their astonishment, was a piece of jade.


    The jade was rectangr and ornately engraved. It resembled a ceremonial token more than a simple stone.


    ¡°What is this? Why would he send us this?¡± Katelyn mused, rotating the jade in her hands.


    The jadecked any secret features or symbols. It was pristine and felt cool, clearly a finely crafted item designed with a specific intent.


    Jaxen examined the engravings and said,


    ¡°Look, it seems to bear the casino¡¯s name. Perhaps this jade grants us free ess there.¡±


    Vincent inspected his piece and confirmed that the casino¡¯s name was indeed etched into the corner.


    Katelyn said,


    g???????¦Í??????.????n ¨C ?????????? ???????????????? ????


    ¡°That¡¯s probably it. He¡¯s making amends, likely thinking we¡¯ll return to the casino.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s grip on the jade tightened reflexively.


    The detailed carvings pressed into his skin.


    Despite the casino owner¡¯s seemingly friendly facade, Vincent had a nagging suspicion that this individual would be a significant adversary.


    A silence settled among them, each absorbed in their own thoughts.


    Jaxen nonchntly ced the jade on the bed and stretched out.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not overthink this. The real win today is removing Miss Bailey¡¯s cor.¡±


    Katelyn, who had kept the cor, looked gratefully at Jaxen and Vincent, expressing her gratitude earnestly.


    ¡°Thank you for all your hard work to free me from the cor.¡±


    Vincent and Jaxen had sacrificed considerable sleep to break the so-called cloud terminal system encryption, now evident by the dark circles under their eyes.


    ¡°I won¡¯t forget this favor. If you ever need anything, just ask, and I¡¯ll be there,¡± she said.


    Jaxen raised an eyebrow, his yful side emerging as he shed a smile.


    ¡°No need for thanks. Maybe you should think about how to repay Vincent? A grand gesture in his favor wouldn¡¯t be amiss.¡±


    Jaxen, taking on the role of matchmaker, seemed determined to steer Vincent and Katelyn together. The more he watched them, the more convinced he became that they were a perfect match, as if no one else in the world couldplement each other so well.


    Vincent gave his friend a frosty look, the warning clear in his eyes.


    ¡°Feeling bold, aren¡¯t you? Should I share the stories of your romances with your father?¡±


    Jaxen leaped to his feet, offended.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Here I am, being a caring friend and ying Cupid, and you threaten to tell on me? Is this how you always treat your friends?¡±


    If his father learned of his adventures, severe consequences would surely follow.


    Katelyn, who had been feeling a bit embarrassed, nowughed openly.


    Vincent, cracking a rare half-smile, cautioned,


    ¡°Better stay quiet, or I might just ¡®identally¡¯ bring up the horse ranch or that yacht mishap to your father.¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Jaxen was left speechless.


    He was about to respond when Vincent¡¯s phone abruptly rang, cutting through the moment with its sharp, urgent tone.


    .


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 Chapter 434

    ?Chapter 434:


    When the call connected, an urgent, frantic voice filled the air.


    Dale sounded desperate, his voice rising above the background noise of chaos and audible curses, as if he were in the middle of a desperate escape.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, you promised to help me clear my gambling debts!¡± Dale was panting hard, his voice strained.


    Vincent reclined on the sofa, his response cold and detached.


    ¡°You were supposed to secure thend for me first.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the only heir to my uncle. Once I inherit the castle, it¡¯s mine. Help me now, or I¡¯ll never sell thend to you!¡± Gunshots punctuated his plea, sounding close enough to be in the same room.


    Though Vincent¡¯s phone wasn¡¯t on speaker, Dale¡¯s voice and the gunfire were loud enough for Katelyn and Jaxen to overhear.


    Vincent¡¯s tone remained frosty as he said,


    ¡°First, deliver on your promise, then we can talk.¡±


    His face was expressionless as he ended the call. Dale was in deep trouble. Debt collectors were relentless, and they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to harm him.


    Katelyn knew all too well the brutality of such collectors. She hesitated briefly, then suggested,


    ¡°Should we help Dale first? His life might truly be at risk.¡±


    Vincent pursed his lips in agreement and promptly instructed Samuel to retrieve Dale.


    Swiftly, Samuel brought a shaken and pale Dale before Vincent.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve got him.¡±


    Read the rest on g??l nov els.????


    Vincent acknowledged with a brief nod.


    Dale was a mess¡ªhis clothes torn, hisplexion ghostly, stained with blood.


    Yet, the blood on him didn¡¯t seem to be his own.


    He crumpled to the floor, a ragged figure, his gaze vacant as he murmured continuously,


    ¡°Horrible¡­ utterly horrible¡­¡±


    Katelyn observed him with a puzzled expression.


    She leaned down slightly, trying to make out his words. Given Dale¡¯s past, filled with numerous violent incidents, what could have terrified him so much now?


    Katelyn knelt in front of him, waving her hand before his eyes.


    ¡°Dale Poulos.¡±


    Dale snapped to attention, gripping Katelyn¡¯s wrist as though it were his only anchor.


    ¡°I witnessed horrific things¡­ people¡­ they were being treated likeb rats. Their screams of pain filled the air¡­ it was horrifying.¡±


    Startled by his intense grip, Katelyn quickly withdrew her hand.


    ¡°What do you mean by b rats¡¯? Could you rify that?¡±


    Dale gulped, his eyes dted in terror.


    He curled up, his hands iling as he spoke.


    ¡°I saw them¡ªmen, women, and even children¡ªrestrained and injected with unknown substances.¡±


    Despite Dale¡¯s disjointed ount, it was enough for Katelyn, Vincent, and the others to visualize a chilling scenario.


    It suggested a grim reality¡ªsomeone was conducting illegal biological experiments, using humans as their test subjects.


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a worried nce before she got up to get some water.


    Jaxen took her spot, his curiosity piqued.


    ¡°Where did you see this terrible thing? Do you know the specific location?¡±


    Dale contorted, clutching his head as he struggled to remember, then shouted,


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I can¡¯t remember anything!¡±


    Katelyn returned with the water, handing it to Dale while exining to Vincent,<fn4b69> Updates are released by Find¡ïNovel</fn4b69>


    ¡°He¡¯s likely still traumatized by what he saw. Let¡¯s give him some time to settle before we press further.¡±


    Vincent nodded in agreement, and Samuel prepared a room for Dale.


    The water, spiked with a sleeping pill, helped, and Dale rested until the evening.


    Upon waking, his first act was to seek out Vincent desperately.


    ¡°Please, help me, please!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 435

    ?Chapter 435:


    Dale gripped his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his expression pleading¡ª a stark contrast to the usual air of dignity he carried.


    He was visibly restless, his gaze nervously flickering toward the door, as if at any second, something terrifying might burst in and seize him.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze remained cold as he regarded Dale.


    ¡°Get on your feet. Speak clearly.¡±


    Katelyn lounged on the sofa, watching Dale¡¯s intense reaction with intrigue.


    ¡°Did the debt collectors do something to you?¡± she asked.


    Dale¡¯s eyes grew wide with fear, his voice unsteady.


    ¡°They are demanding I clear all my gambling debts by today, but I don¡¯t have the money. They dragged me into a small room and showed me what happens to those who can¡¯t pay. They said that would be me. I barely found a chance to escape and ran here¡­¡± Dale¡¯s body trembled violently as he finished, his gaze locking onto Vincent, clinging to thest shred of hope.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, you are the only person who can save me. I cannot let them turn me into one of their twisted experiments!¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes briefly darkened.


    Could Yata have really fallen into such chaos?


    But considering how Breck¡¯s casino had swelled into a nearly unstoppable force, where gunfire in broad daylight no longer raised concern, it wasn¡¯t shocking that no one bothered to intervene.


    Even with Dale¡¯s pleading expression, Vincent remained firm, shaking his head.


    ¡°I have already spelled out the terms of our deal. You need to bring me what I asked for first.¡±


    Your storytelling begins at g ¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,


    That sentence seemed to break the final remnants of Dale¡¯s spirit.


    He dropped to his knees, his hands wing desperately at his hair.


    ¡°What am I supposed to do? What else is left for me? That old man refuses to die. If he had passed sooner, the castle and everything within it would already belong to me.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face became hard to read. She said nothing, but the cruelty of Dale¡¯s words left an ufortable sting in her chest.


    They were the only family either of them had left. Earl Poulos had pulled Dale out of countless disasters in the past.


    And now, over something as trivial as unpaid gambling debts, Dale was wishing for the death of his only uncle. It was a stark, disturbing example of how vile human nature could be.


    Katelyn felt nothing but disgust and scorn for someone like Dale¡ªhe was far from worthy of any pity.


    Vincent felt the same. Rising to his feet, he gazed down at Dale with cold eyes.


    ¡°If your uncle knew what you just said, it would shatter him.¡±


    Dale¡¯s bloodshot eyes gleamed with hatred as he hissed,


    ¡°What can I do? He is still alive and still refuses to hand over the castle.¡±


    Suddenly, Dale¡¯s face changed, as if a realization had struck him.


    ¡°I know exactly what needs to be done to make him give in.¡±


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged confused looks. During theirst visit, Earl Poulos had been resolute in his decision.


    What could possibly force him to change his mind?


    A slow, menacing grin spread across Dale¡¯s face.


    ¡°He is obsessed with his missing son. If I can uncover any trace of him, he will have no choice but to surrender.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed.


    ¡°But hadn¡¯t his son been gone for years, and assumed to be dead?¡±


    ¡°That is irrelevant. I will find a way to make him submit!¡± Dale¡¯s excitement swelled, as though he had just stumbled upon the perfect n. He eagerly announced,


    ¡°All I need is a fake. As long as that old fool believes it, he will give me the castle without hesitation.¡±


    Jaxen, who had never seen the castle or met Earl Poulos, followed the conversation closely. Leaning casually against the sofa, he asked,


    ¡°But if your uncle actually finds his son, why would he ever give the estate to you? That wouldn¡¯t make sense.¡±


    Without an heir, the inheritance would naturally go to the nephew. But with a son back in the picture, who would care about the nephew?<fnf248> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find[?]ovel</fnf248>


    Dale let out a bitter scoff.


    ¡°That is what the contract is for. He will have to sign the estate over to me before I tell him where his son is. There is no way he will refuse.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed even more deeply.


    Dale seemed overtaken by a wild obsession.


    ¡°Why not try finding his real son instead of a fake one?¡± she suggested.


    But Dale, now frantically rummaging through his phone, ignored her, his voice rising with urgency.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got it all figured out!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 436

    ?Chapter 436:


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged confused nces.


    Dale had pulled up a photo from his phone¡¯s gallery¡ªan old image of two young children, no older than three or four, ying together.


    The backdrop was unmistakable¡ªthe Poulos Castle.


    Pointing at the child on the swing, Dale clenched his teeth and said,


    ¡°That is my uncle¡¯s son. His eyes are an unusual shade of green. So much time has passed, my uncle might not even remember his face, but those eyes? They would be impossible to forget. With them, we could easily fool him.¡±<fn7bc1> For more chapters visit Find~Novel</fn7bc1>


    And true enough, despite the grainy quality of the worn photograph, the child¡¯s eyes stood out¡ªbright, emerald green, so vivid that they were hard to ignore.


    The mention of those emerald eyes stirred something in Katelyn¡¯s mind. She quickly turned to Vincent, her voice tense with urgency.


    ¡°Do you remember the assassin who came after me earlier? His face was covered, but his eyes¡­ they were green too!¡±


    Eyes like that were unforgettable, especially with such an intense and mesmerizing shade.


    Vincent¡¯s voice remained calm and steady.


    ¡°That man must have been one of Elora¡¯s personal guards.¡±


    Jaxen, who had been fixated on the photo, suddenly spoke up.


    ¡°Let me see that for a moment.¡±


    Though Dale was puzzled by Jaxen¡¯s actions, he handed over his phone without question.


    Jaxen uploaded the photo to hisputer, swiftlyunching some software, and his fingers danced over the keyboard.


    ????t??st ch??pt??rs in g??lno¦Íels.??????


    Katelyn, standing right behind Jaxen, immediately grasped his intention.


    He aimed to use the software to project what this child might look like as an adult.


    Despite the significant changes a person undergoes from childhood to adulthood, certain features often remain recognizable. This technology, though often used in child abduction cases, was notmonly seen in everyday scenarios.


    Vincent observed Jaxen¡¯s actions intently and murmured,


    ¡°You are attempting to create a simtion of what this child would look like now?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Jaxen dered with a gesture of triumph.


    ¡°Even if we don¡¯t know if this child is still alive, having a detailed image will definitely make the search easier.¡±


    His hands moved with practiced speed, and soon he had generated a new image. The child¡¯s features were proportionally adjusted, creating a striking resemnce to Earl Poulos.


    If the child were still alive, this image could help locate him more efficiently.


    Dale was visibly thrilled, his voice full of excitement.


    ¡°Even if we can¡¯t find the real person, we can use this image to track down a look-alike!¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze hardened as he looked at Dale. His tone was icy and devoid of any warmth.


    ¡°If you intend to secure the castle through such deceitful means, our agreement is null and void.¡±


    For a father who had endured years of grief over a missing child, discovering that a lead was nothing but a fabrication by his closest rtive would be an unimaginable betrayal. Vincent was determined that such a fate would never befall Earl Poulos.


    Dale clutched the photo with a derisive smirk, his arrogance fully restored.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfectly fine, Mr. Adams. Once I have the castle, I will have plenty of people eager to coborate with me. I¡¯ll find someone else willing to cover my gambling debts.¡±


    Jaxen, already tensing with frustration, spoke through gritted teeth.


    ¡°Why do I get the sense you are practically inviting a beating?¡±


    As he spoke, Jaxen removed his jacket, revealing his well-defined muscles.


    Years of intense training had given him a punch strong enough to send Dale sprawling.


    The once arrogant and self-satisfied Dale instantly shrank back, scrambling to justify his actions.


    ¡°If I don¡¯t settle my gambling debts, they will drag me off to be a test subject! If you refuse to assist me, at least give me a chance to rescue myself!¡±


    ¡°You can pursue other methods, but if you attempt to deceive with malicious intent, I will never condone it,¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes were chillingly intense, and though his tone remained even, it carried an unmistakable weight.


    ¡°Alternatively, I could contact those debt collectors right now and have them take you away.¡±


    Dale¡¯s expression instantly shifted to fury as he spat out,


    ¡°So you are really threatening me like this? I am finished with this arrangement.¡±


    ¡°Turning your back is no longer an option,¡± Vincent interjected firmly, dismantling any remaining illusions Dale might have had.


    At that moment, a sudden knock echoed from the door.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, are you in there?¡±


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 Chapter 437

    ?Chapter 437:


    Katelyn recognized the voice behind the knock without needing to see the person¡¯s face.


    It was Bartley.


    She exchanged a meaningful nce with Vincent.


    Without a word, Vincent swiftly hid Dale in the bathroom. Given the tension surrounding the castle, Bartley was far from an ally. It was crucial to keep Dale¡¯s presence a secret.


    After making sure everything was secure, Katelyn approached and opened the door.


    Bartley stood there with his usual grin, and next to him was a man, securely tied up.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I¡¯vee to keep my promise. As an act of repentance, I¡¯ve brought the person you¡¯ve been seeking.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened.


    The captive man¡¯s face was obscured, but those distinctive green eyes were unmistakable.


    With a forced, courteous smile, Katelyn responded dryly, ¡°Mr. Lawrence, you¡¯re quite prompt this time. I actually half expected you to stay quiet as before.¡±


    Bartley didn¡¯t waver.


    ¡°My previous hesitation was a mistake, so this time I¡¯ve brought him directly to you, Miss Bailey. Perhaps, once this is settled, you might join me for a meal?¡±


    ¡°I appreciate your gesture, but let¡¯s save the meal for another time.¡±


    Katelyn mustered a forced smile, yanked the man in ck inside, and briskly shut the door behind them.


    Stories live now on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s.c¦Ïm


    Bartley¡¯s motives remained unclear to her.


    On one hand, he seemed to be stoking Elora¡¯s ire deliberately. On the other, he kept creating chances to engage with Katelyn, perhaps hoping to redirect Elora¡¯s anger.


    Katelyn reflected that she had no previous dealings or disputes with Bartley.


    The man in ck, yanked inside roughly by Katelyn, tripped and copsed onto the floor.


    His mouth was gagged, reducing his protests to muffled grunts.


    Jaxen crouched before him, his interest evident.


    ¡°Is this the same guy who attempted to take you out twice?¡±


    Katelyn settled onto the sofa, a sense of unease lingering as she tried to make sense of the situation. Her eyes remained fixed on the man in ck.


    ¡°After the first failed assassination attempt, Elora still had him make a second. And when that too failed, a helicopter was on standby to extract him. He¡¯s likely Elora¡¯s personal bodyguard.¡±


    Vincent stepped out of the bathroom and surveyed the man on the floor.


    ¡°Bartley really moved fast this time. Surprisingly, Elora handed this man over without much fuss.¡±


    ¡°Maybe Bartley used their engagement as leverage over Elora, forcing her toply,¡± Katelyn pondered, stepping forward to remove the man¡¯s mask and gag.


    The man coughed harshly before fixing Katelyn with a hateful re.<fn1f9f> Th?s chapter is updated by f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn1f9f>


    ¡°Don¡¯t think capturing me means I¡¯ll help you. I won¡¯t betray the princess.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed.


    Something was off about his voice.


    The man she had encountered previously had struggled with his speech, barely managing thenguage, most likely because English wasn¡¯t this country¡¯s officialnguage. Yet, this man spoke smoothly and artictely. How could someone¡¯snguage proficiency improve so significantly in such a brief span?


    Vincent noticed the oddity as well.


    He remained silent, however.


    Meanwhile, Jaxen pulled up a digital image he had just created and scrutinized it against the man¡¯s features.


    ¡°My digital rendering should be urate. Did we apprehend the wrong person? Other than the eyes, they don¡¯t look alike at all.¡±


    The digital image showed a younger man with delicate, refined features, reminiscent of the Earl.


    In contrast, the man before them had a wider, rougher visage.


    Vincentpared the two faces, his expression hardening. ¡°Have you been acting as Elora¡¯s bodyguard all this time?¡± he asked.


    The man replied with evident pride, ¡°Guarding the princess is my sole duty. I wouldy down my life for her without a second thought.¡±


    Vincent asked, ¡°Has she ever tasked you with assassination missions?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely. My purpose is to eliminate anyone the princess despises. Anyone in her way must be removed.¡± As he spoke, he red vehemently at Katelyn.


    Katelyn held his gaze, and in a swift motion, she reached out toward the man¡¯s eyes.


    .


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    .

 Chapter 438

    ?Chapter 438:


    Nobody expected Katelyn to act so quickly.


    She went straight for the man¡¯s eyes, the one ce he couldn¡¯t defend. The man in ck squeezed his eyes shut as quickly as he could. But with his hands and feet tied, and Katelyn moving fast, he didn¡¯t stand a chance.


    He let out a sharp scream as Katelyn pulled back, a green contact lens now resting on her fingertip, made of some strange material.


    Katelyn sneered. ¡°So, it was just a fake. Bartley really messed with this!¡±


    One of the man¡¯s eyes still gleamed bright green, while the other had turned a in hazel shade.


    ¡°No wonder something felt off. There¡¯s no way Elora would hand her guard over like that. This one was a fraud from the start.¡±


    Jaxen held the contact lens between his fingers, almost chuckling in disbelief.


    ¡°They really thought this simple trick would fool us? Did they honestly believe we wouldn¡¯t catch on?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression turned icy. ¡°The more they try to cover things up, the more suspicious that green-eyed guy bes.¡±


    ¡°Bartley knew about this for sure,¡± Katelyn said, her voice hard. ¡°I¡¯m going to deal with him right now!¡± Her eyes shed with anger.


    She already had reasons to hate Bartley, and now he had the nerve to lie to her. If she hadn¡¯t caught those small details, their whole n might have worked.


    The more they tried to hide, the more there was to discover.


    Katelyn turned to walk away, but Vincent stepped into her path.


    He nced at the man dressed in ck, who now sat still, trying to disappear into the background.


    Stay updated with g?ln¦Òv???s


    ¡°Instead of going after Bartley, we should take this straight to Elora. I have a feeling they¡¯ve already figured out who this bodyguard really is.¡±


    Why else would they go to such trouble to keep it hidden?


    In families like theirs, the bodyguards were always loyal but seen as receable.


    They were just pawns, and no one cared what happened to a pawn. They should¡¯ve realized it sooner.


    The moment the helicopter showed up to save him, it was clear this bodyguard wasn¡¯t just any ordinary hire. Katelyn¡¯s hand balled into a fist, her eyes dark with anger.


    ¡°And Breck¡ªwe¡¯ve got unfinished business with him too.¡± As she spoke, she grabbed the rag from the floor and shoved it back into the man¡¯s mouth, silencing him. With that done, they set off straight for Breck¡¯s manor.


    Before they left, Katelyn made sure to take the explosive cor from theirst encounter¡ªit might still prove useful.


    Finding Breck¡¯s manor wasn¡¯t difficult. This time, however, they were stopped at the gate.


    Two bodyguards stood firm at the entrance, submachine guns in hand.


    ¡°Who are you? Step out of the car for a security check if you want to get inside.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyes narrowed, icy and focused.


    Jaxen leaned out the window, shouting with authority. ¡°Tell your boss that Mr. Vincent Adams is here!¡±


    The reaction was instant. The two bodyguards¡¯ faces shifted, their calm demeanor breaking. One of them quickly ran toward the manor without hesitation.


    The other stayed put, gun pointed directly at them. ¡°We¡¯ll let the boss know. Whether youe in or not, that¡¯s his call.¡±


    From the back seat, Katelyn quietly observed the other guards patrolling the estate.


    ¡°Breck must have a lot of enemies to need this many guards,¡± she remarked.


    Vincent, his hand on the steering wheel, replied, ¡°He¡¯s known for being arrogant and overbearing, just like Elora.¡±<fn4a7e> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel</fn4a7e>


    Jaxen chuckled. ¡°Like father, like daughter.¡±


    Katelyn shrugged. ¡°These old-school nobles are naturally proud and look down on everyone else. But this isn¡¯t the 15th century anymore!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get why the people of Yata hold them in such high regard. They haven¡¯t really done anything for the country,¡± Jaxen said, propping his head on his hand, clearly baffled.


    Katelyn shrugged, at a loss for words. Just then, the guard who had gone inside returned.


    After a brief exchange, the gate slowly creaked open.


    Vincent elerated into the manor, only to be met by Breck¡¯s furious re as they stepped inside.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 439

    ?Chapter 439:


    Breck, still wearing the explosive cor, shot a furious re at Katelyn.


    ¡°What have you done to my daughter?¡± he snarled.


    Katelyn¡¯s mind shed back to the day at the restaurant, when Elora had been visibly distressed. Her condition had been critical, demanding urgent medical intervention. Without it, she risked descending into madness.


    Katelyn replied coldly, ¡°I simply helped your daughter face some hard truths.¡±


    ¡°Do you realize she¡¯s my only child? She¡¯s everything to me!¡±


    In a surge of anger, Breck swiftly pulled a handgun from his pocket and pointed it at Katelyn.


    ¡°My daughter was fine before, now she¡¯s mentally disturbed and hospitalized¡ªall because of you. Bartley wouldn¡¯t have left her if not for your interference!¡±


    Breck was teetering on the edge. He had always tolerated his daughter¡¯s spoiled and reckless behavior, never anticipating it would lead to this. He hadn¡¯t even gotten his revenge on Katelyn, yet here she was, standing before him.


    Immediately, Vincent and Jaxen stepped forward to shield Katelyn.


    Vincent¡¯s voice was calm but cautionary. ¡°You need to be questioning Bartley about your daughter¡¯s emotional turmoil. Ask him what he did to her.¡±


    Breck¡¯s hand shook as he gripped the gun, his voice thick with fury. ¡°They were fine until Katelyn showed up in Yata. This is all her doing.¡±<fnb0a3> This content belongs to Find¡ïNovel</fnb0a3>


    Jaxen rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated with Breck. ¡°Old man, can¡¯t you understand simplenguage? We¡¯ve made it clear¡ªyour daughter¡¯s problems are with her fianc¨¦. What does that have to do with us? We ought to be questioning your daughter about why she orchestrated numerous assassination attempts. What¡¯s the story behind that?¡±


    Jaxen was well aware of Elora¡¯s previous actions by now. He could confidently say that, of all the women he knew, Elora was the most temperamental and irrational.


    ga??????¦Í??????.k??n ¨C ?????????? ???????? ????????


    This was clearly an issue between Elora and Bartley, yet she refused to self-reflect and instead targeted innocents. If Katelyn had actually sabotaged their rtionship, Elora¡¯s relentless bacsh might have been justified. But Katelyn had been meless all along, consistently maintaining her distance from Bartley, who relentlessly pursued her.


    Ultimately, Elora proved to be fragile and self-centered. Despite recognizing Bartley¡¯s true character, shecked the courage to part ways with him and confront the consequences of her own decisions.


    Breck¡¯s hand trembled with increasing intensity, his voice emerging through clenched teeth.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t step aside, you¡¯re all going down with her.¡± He cocked the gun, poised to shoot at any moment.


    Yet Vincent and Jaxen stood firm, unyielding. Behind them, Katelyn felt a swell of warmth in her heart. Regardless of the situation, they were prepared to shield her without hesitation. She reciprocated their bravery.


    Katelyn moved from behind Vincent and Jaxen, directly confronting Breck¡¯s gun.


    ¡°There¡¯s a simple way to uncover the truth. No need for threats with a gun. I¡¯m open to addressing any doubts, but I refuse to tolerate baseless usations.¡±


    Breck¡¯s eyes zed with fury.


    ¡°My daughter¡¯s mental health is severelypromised. How is she supposed to face you? But once you¡¯re gone, she¡¯ll definitely get better.¡±


    Vincent, observing the situation, stopped speaking and drew his firearm, positioning it firmly against Breck¡¯s temple.


    ¡°If you shoot, I¡¯ll take you down alongside her.¡±


    The butler, witnessing Vincent¡¯s decisive move, quickly leveled his own weapon.


    ¡°Lower that gun! Now!¡±


    Jaxen, with a scornful expression, snorted dismissively.


    ¡°So what if we don¡¯t? We¡¯ve all got just one life. If ites down to it, we¡¯ll all end it together.¡±


    At that moment, the tension in the first-floor hall was palpable.


    Breck had his weapon trained on Katelyn, while Vincent¡¯s was pressed to Breck¡¯s head, and the butler had his aimed at Vincent.


    Three individuals, each with a gun, none backing down. Breck clenched his teeth in rage, a menacing re in his eyes. Suddenly, he raised his hand.


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 Chapter 440

    Chapter 440:


    Breck raised the gun with his right hand, but his left quickly slid over the chamber. With a few metallic clinks, the bullets dropped to the floor¡ªan unmistakable sign of surrender.


    Despite this, Vincent kept his weapon aimed, showing no sign of rxing.


    Jaxen, grinning, approached the butler and snatched the gun from him.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you see that your master has already given up? Are you still trying to intimidate us?¡± he said, his tone sharp.


    The butler stood dumbfounded, unable to speak.


    Only then did Vincent lower his gun.


    Breck¡¯s face twisted with frustration.


    He had only one daughter, Elora, who nowy in the hospital because of Katelyn¡¯s actions. As a father, he felt powerless to seek revenge. Vincent held far too much control over him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care why you¡¯re here today,¡± Breck said, frustration evident in his voice. ¡°But this woman needs to be held ountable for what she did to Elora.¡±


    Katelyn, clearly fed up with repeating herself, sank into the sofa with a smirk.


    ¡°You and your daughter are alike, always ming me. Why not go after the man who¡¯s really at fault?¡±


    Breck fell silent, struggling to find a response. Katelyn pressed on, her voice cutting.


    ¡°Is it that you can¡¯t act, or that you¡¯re too scared? Your family and the Lawrences are linked through a business deal. Now that your family¡¯s value is dropping, the Lawrences want to break off the engagement. So, you me me to cover up your own failings?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s blunt words exposed Breck¡¯s deepest insecurities, fueling his anger.


    ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ???? ?????????¦Í?????????????


    ¡°Enough! You don¡¯t understand anything! They¡¯ve been together for years; their feelings matter too! Even if business troubles threaten their rtionship, their emotions should be considered!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with a hint of mockery as a subtle smile touched her lips.


    ¡°Unfortunately, Bartley is a very practical businessman. He¡¯s not swayed by mere feelings.¡±


    Breck fell silent, unable to respond to her sharpment.


    In that moment, Katelyn realized why Bartley was so determined to drag her into this mess.


    Their union was a business deal.


    If the engagement were to be suddenly canceled, someone would need to be med.


    Acting impulsively would only make Elora more upset. But by making Katelyn the scapegoat, Elora¡¯s focus would shift, making her believe the problems were entirely due to Katelyn¡¯s interference.


    Elora¡¯s emotional turmoil would give Bartley a perfect excuse to end the engagement.


    A cold glint shed in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    Bartley had indeed schemed and manipted to get what he wanted. As she recalled the many assassination attempts Elora had orchestrated against her because of Bartley, Katelyn felt an overwhelming urge to return to the hotel and confront him.


    Meanwhile, Breck, suddenly noticing Katelyn¡¯s missing cor, eximed, ¡°Have you already found TS? Where is he?¡±


    Breck¡¯s question only ignited the anger of the three people in front of him.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes flickered to the cor still around Breck¡¯s neck, and he scoffed, ¡°What¡¯s the point of wearing that fake cor?¡±


    Breck shifted ufortably, a sh of unease crossing his face.


    ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t get it,¡± he said, ring at Vincent.


    ¡°I know you¡¯ve already tracked down TS and erased the cloud data. That¡¯s why her cor is now off. Just tell me who he is and where to find him, and I¡¯ll pay you well.¡±


    Vincent let out a dismissiveugh.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made so many copies of the evidence against you. It could spread worldwide in no time.¡±<fnb030> Content originallyes from Find[?]ovel</fnb030>


    Fear shed in Breck¡¯s eyes as he struggled to keep hisposure.


    ¡°We can work this out. Cornering me like this won¡¯t help anyone. Just give me a chance,¡± he said.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been lying and scheming against us from the start. Why would I give you a chance?¡±


    Vincent shot back, rising from his seat and walking straight toward Breck.


    The fierce look in Vincent¡¯s eyes caused Breck to lose his nerve.


    Before Breck could respond, Vincent made his move.


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    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: New novel releases in a few hours, have a great evening dear readers. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (¤Å ? _?)¤Å?


    .


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 441

    ?Chapter 441:<fn5b37> Discover more novels at f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn5b37>


    Breck waspletely caught off guard. As the threat loomed closer, he instinctively shut his eyes, and Vincent ripped the cor from around his neck.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze turned icy as he discarded the cor onto the ground.


    ¡°Was the borate ruse really worth it?¡±


    Fear flooded Breck¡¯s eyes, leaving him unable to contain his anxiety.


    Words failed him as he stepped back.


    ¡°What do you know exactly? What are you after?¡±


    At that moment, Breck realized his mistake in provoking Vincent. He had misjudged him as just a youth, propelled to power only by his family.


    In Yata, Breck had confidently engaged with Vincent, treating it as a strategic game. Unexpectedly, their roles had reversed¡ªthe hunter was now the hunted.


    Watching Breck¡¯s emotions shift, Vincent spoke calmly. ¡°We¡¯re looking for someone. Surrender him, and all will be forgiven.¡±


    Cautiously, Breck inquired, ¡°Whom do you seek?¡±


    ¡°The man who guards your daughter¡ªthe one with green eyes,¡± Jaxen interjected.


    ¡°The bodyguard with green eyes?¡± Breck asked, still puzzled. ¡°Why do you want him? He¡¯s just a bodyguard.¡±


    Katelyn studied Breck¡¯s face intently.


    It was clear from his confusion that he had no idea about the bodyguard¡¯s true identity.


    Losing patience, Vincent asserted, ¡°No more questions. Just hand him over.¡±


    Vincent was not in the mood for a prolonged discussion with Breck.


    ?????????????????? ???? ???????????????? ¡ú g???????¦Í????????????


    A thought struck Breck, and he clenched his jaw.


    ¡°My daughter is in the hospital right now. You¡¯ll need her permission to speak to her bodyguard.¡±


    Without hesitation, Katelyn dered, ¡°Then, we must go to the hospital.¡±


    Breck paused for a moment but ultimately nodded under Vincent¡¯s menacing gaze.


    The secrets had to remain buried, or his entire family would face ruin.


    Elora was being treated at the finest private hospital in Yata, guarded around the clock.


    When Katelyn and her group arrived, Elora had justpleted a medical examination.


    The sight of Katelyn turned her calm demeanor into pure agitation.


    ¡°How dare you enter? Are you here to mock me? Leave immediately!¡± Elora screamed hysterically, hurling whatever she could grab from her bedside table at Katelyn.


    Katelyn stepped aside, her expression cold and unflinching.


    At first, Katelyn had seen Elora as nothing more than a spoiled brat. Her sympathy for Elora had even grown after learning of Bartley¡¯s maniptive ways.


    Now, however, Katelyn felt nothing but revulsion towards her. Though Katelyn was inherentlypassionate, she began to question why she should show mercy to her enemies.


    With an icy expression, Katelyn grabbed a fruit knife.


    ¡°Yell again, and I won¡¯t hesitate to end your life.¡±


    Elora stood her ground, defiant. ¡°Go ahead! The citizens of Yata will never let you get away with it. You¡¯re the one to me for my suffering! Why didn¡¯t I eliminate you earlier?¡± Elora cursed through gritted teeth.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, her gaze radiating deadly intent, making everyone around her shiver.


    The previously loud Elora suddenly fell silent, terror creeping in as she felt the weight of Katelyn¡¯s stare.


    ¡°One more word, and I¡¯ll cut off your tongue and let you bleed to death. Doubt me? We can test that right now.¡± Katelyn¡¯s knife inched closer to Elora¡¯s throat.


    Elora¡¯splexion drained of color. ¡°Stop, please!¡±


    .


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 Chapter 442

    ?Chapter 442:


    Even though it was just a fruit knife, it still posed a significant threat.


    The de gleamed ominously, and Elora could feel a subtle sting against her neck. Despite her usual detachment, oftenmanding her underlings to carry out heinous acts, Elora had never taken a life herself. The aggression directed at her now filled her with terror.


    It seemed that Katelyn only needed to make the slightest movement for the de to carve a deep, painful cut across her throat.


    When Elora fell silent, the room became tense and still.


    Katelyn then withdrew the knife. At that moment, Vincent and Jaxen, who had been lingering just outside the door, stepped in. Katelyn had initially instructed them to stay out, preferring to confront Elora on her own.


    The arrogance Elora had once worn so boldly evaporated, and she instinctively curled into the bedcovers.


    ¡°What do you want from me? Are you here to gloat?¡± she asked, her voice trembling.


    Just then, the door swung open once more.


    Breck appeared at the entrance.


    Upon seeing him, Elora, who had been holding back tears, now wept openly.


    ¡°Dad, why did you let them in here? Get them out! I can¡¯t bear to look at them!¡±


    Breck¡¯s heart sank as he watched his daughter cry. He hurried to her side, trying to console her.


    ¡°Sweetheart, they just need to ask you about someone. Answer them, and they¡¯ll leave right away.¡±


    He turned to face Vincent, his jaw clenched. ¡°Ask what you need to, and make it quick!¡±


    M??? ?????????????? ???? g??l??ov?ls.??0??


    Vincent stepped forward, his gaze unflinching as he focused on the fear in Elora¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the bodyguard with green eyes? Hand him over.¡±


    Panic surged through Elora. She faltered, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t have any bodyguards with green eyes.¡±


    ¡°Cut the act. We know he¡¯s your bodyguard,¡± Jaxen interjected, his tone sharp andcking the usual charm he reserved for women he favored. There was no room for pleasantries with someone like Elora.


    Elora, avoiding Vincent¡¯s intense gaze, continued to deny everything with growing desperation.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Dad, please make them leave. My head is killing me,¡± Elora pleaded, her voice trembling. Suddenly, her distress escted. She clutched her head in agony, letting out continuous screams. The monitors beside her bed began shing rapidly, their indicators spiking rmingly. Elora¡¯s face contorted in pain, and it seemed like she might lose consciousness at any moment.


    Terrified by the scene, Breck shouted towards the door, ¡°Doctors! Nurses! Quickly! Something¡¯s wrong with my daughter!¡±


    The medical team rushed in and immediately began administering emergency care.


    ¡°The patient¡¯s emotional state is extremely unstable,¡± one of the doctors announced. ¡°She cannot endure further stress. All of you, please exit now so we can attend to her.¡±


    Katelyn and herpanions were swiftly escorted out. Fuming with rage, Breck shot a venomous look at them. ¡°You see my daughter¡¯s condition. If you continue this, you¡¯re pushing her towards death. I don¡¯t care what your reasons are for finding that bodyguard. Harass my daughter again, and I¡¯ll make sure we all go down together.¡±


    Breck¡¯s eyes burned with determination, as if he was prepared to sacrifice everything. However, Vincent remained unfazed, his calm demeanor unbroken. He looked past Breck¡¯s fury, his gaze locking onto the desperation beneath.


    ¡°I¡¯m only after that one individual,¡± Vincent stated evenly. ¡°If you want your daughter to recover, turning him over is your best move.¡±


    Breck, consumed by rage, snapped back, ¡°Who is this bodyguard? Why are you so obsessed with a mere bodyguard?¡± He couldn¡¯tprehend Vincent¡¯s intense pursuit of someone he considered insignificant.


    Suddenly, a sh of metal gleamed behind Vincent.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes sharpened, and she lunged forward, shoving him aside. ¡°Look out!¡±


    .


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    .<fn3751> Fresh chapters posted on find~novel</fn3751>

 Chapter 443

    ?Chapter 443:


    Katelyn¡¯s quick shove made Vincent instinctively shift to the left, narrowly dodging the de aimed at him. Katelyn locked her gaze on the attacker dressed in ck who had suddenly appeared. His distinctive green eyes immediately gave him away.


    This time, he wielded a long de instead of a firearm.


    ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± Katelyn shouted.


    Stunned by the chaos unfolding before him, Breck asked incredulously, ¡°Is this the man you¡¯ve been searching for?¡±<fne87a> Follow current nov?ls on findnovel</fne87a>


    No one responded as both Vincent and Jaxen sprang into action.


    This man had slipped through their grasp twice, and they were determined not to let it happen again. The attacker gripped his knife tightly, dering in broken speech, ¡°Anyone who insults or harms the princess must meet their end.¡±


    Despite the size of the de, it seemed to move fluidly in his hands. Vincent and Jaxen, unarmed, were at a clear disadvantage. They managed to evade his strikes, but counterattacking was impossible with the knife¡¯s threat looming over them.


    ¡°You will all die!¡± he snarled.


    His rage intensified, and his strikes became more vicious. From the sidelines, Katelyn searched desperately for something to use.


    She spotted a fire extinguisher at her feet, grabbed it immediately, and threw it at the assant.


    ¡°Duck!¡± shemanded.


    Vincent and Jaxen instantly lowered their heads.


    The fire extinguisher came at the man¡¯s face but was swiftly cut through by his de. The dispersing gas choked him, and a thick white fog enveloped him.


    Dive into tales at g¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,


    Seizing the opportunity, Vincent and Jaxen moved quickly. They advanced,nding powerful kicks to the man¡¯s abdomen, sending him crashing against the wall.


    He winced in agony as the knife ttered to the floor. Before he could attempt to rise, Vincent was upon him, kicking the de aside and drawing a handgun from his pocket. He pressed it firmly against the man¡¯s forehead.


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you if you make a move.¡±


    The man, previously poised to resist, immediately subdued himself. Seizing the opportunity, Jaxen swiftly removed the mask concealing the man¡¯s face, revealing striking features marred by a scar on his right cheek. Though not deep, the scar detracted from his otherwise appealing appearance.


    Crucially, this face closely matched theposite sketch Jaxen had created. Thrilled, Jaxen eximed, ¡°It¡¯s definitely him!¡±


    Even in his disadvantaged state, the man in ck clenched his teeth and maintained his defiance.


    ¡°Direct your grievances at me. Spare the princess any harm.¡±


    Katelyn approached, locking eyes with him. ¡°Do you value the princess¡¯s life above your own?¡±


    He responded firmly, ¡°My sole duty is to protect the princess. Should any harm befall her, I am prepared to face death many times over.¡±


    Katelyn found herself unexpectedly impressed. Despite his earlier attempts on her life, his unwavering loyalty to Elora was notable, even admirable¡ªreflecting the same dedication that all her bodyguards seemed to possess.


    ¡°Let¡¯s take him back. We have the leverage we need,¡± Jaxen said, stretching with anticipation. He was eager to explore the highly prized castle and uncover the secrets it concealed.


    Just then, Breck intercepted them. ¡°You can take him, but why must you? Elora is deeply attached to him. Anything that harms him will distress her even further.¡±


    Vincent responded coldly, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    A fierce resolve lit up the ck-d man¡¯s eyes. Without warning, he violently bit down on his tongue. Katelyn inhaled sharply and shouted, ¡°Stop him!¡±


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    .

 Chapter 444

    ?Chapter 444:<fnc69d> Updates are released by Find[?]ovel</fnc69d>


    Katelyn¡¯s voice rang out urgently, ¡°He¡¯s trying to take his own life!¡±


    Vincent reacted swiftly, grabbing the man¡¯s jaw and twisting it with a quick turn of his wrist, dislocating it.


    With his jaw now dislocated, the man in ck couldn¡¯t speak. He shot Katelyn a deadly re. He should have eliminated her during their initial encounter, which would have spared the princess from much danger and distress.


    Sensing his thoughts, Katelyn responded coldly, ¡°Rx, we¡¯re not here to harm Elora.¡±


    Surprise flickered in the man¡¯s eyes as he looked at her incredulously.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn checked her watch. ¡°We should head out. It¡¯s still early, and we¡¯ll pay the Earl a visit,¡± she suggested. Vincent nodded in agreement.


    Jaxen, having found some rope, tied the man¡¯s wrists securely.


    Breck, who had been observing silently, looked on with wide eyes, full of shock and questions he dared not voice.


    Just as they were about to leave, a nurse approached them. She wore a hat and mask, with only her eyes visible. She moved aside to let them pass but caught Katelyn¡¯s suspicious nce.


    They reached the elevator at the end of the hallway, and Vincent pressed the button.


    Katelyn, ncing back at Elora¡¯s room, noticed the same nurse quickly exiting. She had been inside for less than two minutes. A wave of suspicion washed over Katelyn. Acting on instinct, she rushed back toward Elora¡¯s room. Vincent and Jaxen, though confused, followed her.


    Katelyn¡¯s attention was drawn to the IV drip attached to Elora¡¯s hand. Her gut told her that the nurse wasn¡¯t an ordinary medical professional.


    L§Ñt?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g?lnov?ls.?¦Ïm


    Ordinary people walk heel to toe, maintaining steady steps.


    Sometimes, it was possible to discern someone¡¯s identity by the sound of their footsteps.


    However, this nurse moved with a toe-first approach, a tactic often used by professional assassins to minimize sound.


    Katelyn¡¯s suspicions deepened when she detected a faint scent as they walked past. Subtle yet distinct, it was not the typical smell one would associate with a nurse. Additionally, the nurse appeared unusually rushed as she left.


    Jaxen, catching his breath by the door, noticed Katelyn¡¯s intense expression and asked, ¡°What¡¯s got you looking so serious all of a sudden? Something wrong?¡± Vincent shared his concern, clearly noticing Katelyn¡¯s shift in demeanor.


    It was obvious to both men that Katelyn had uncovered something significant. Rather than answer, Katelyn continued her search of the room, eventually focusing on the IV drip. Someone had gone to great lengths to infiltrate the hospital, and Elora had been specifically targeted.


    When Katelyn touched the IV tube, she felt a small puncture mark¡ªan unmistakable sign of tampering. Her pulse quickened. She quickly detached the IV and said firmly, ¡°The IV¡¯s beenpromised. That nurse we saw is a suspect. We need to get Elora to the emergency room¡ªnow!¡±


    Jaxen quickly set the restrained man aside and rushed to call for medical assistance. After a brief exchange of nces, both Vincent and Katelyn sprinted toward the nurse¡¯sst known direction.


    There was only one way out of the hallway¡ªthe rooftop. Driven by urgency, Katelyn pushed herself to move faster, determined to capture the perpetrator. She knew that whoever was trying to harm Elora might try to implicate her.


    Vincent matched her speed. Soon, they saw a glimpse of pink disappearing around the corner of a stairwell. Together, they ascended to the rooftop, where they found the nurse poised at the edge, her face concealed by a mask, leaving only her eyes visible.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was intense. ¡°Who are you?¡± he demanded.


    The nurse remained silent but focused intently on Katelyn. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would catch on so quickly.¡±


    Stepping closer, her heart racing, Katelyn asked, her voice trembling, ¡°Are you Sophia?¡±


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 Chapter 445

    ?Chapter 445:


    Katelyn and Sophia had trained under the same master for many years, and their familiarity with each other was undeniable. Even now, Katelyn could recognize her by the smallest details and habits.


    Excitement surged within Katelyn, turning her question into a firm deration.


    ¡°You are Sophia, aren¡¯t you? Why are you staying silent? Have you been with the T Organization all these years?¡± she asked, bombarding her with questions. But the other woman remained quiet.


    Standing on the rooftop, Sophia¡¯s delicate form seemed to be on the verge of being swept away by the wind. Tears filled Katelyn¡¯s eyes, deepening the emotional turmoil she felt.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you respond? Did you ever think of me after you disappeared? I¡¯ve been searching for you all along,¡± Katelyn continued, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Finally, the woman spoke, her voice a soft, mockingugh. Her eyes glinted with a mixture of scorn and sympathy as she looked at Katelyn. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I am not Sophia.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, refusing to believe her. ¡°No, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s you. I could never confuse you with anyone else,¡± she insisted, moving closer. ¡°Please,e back. Everyone misses you.¡±


    Without warning, the woman flicked her wrist. Darts shot from her sleeve, aimed at Katelyn¡¯s face.<fne054> Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel</fne054>


    ¡°Watch out!¡± Vincent shouted, diving toward her and pushing her to the ground.


    The darts flew past Katelyn¡¯s cheek, embedding themselves in the wall behind her and clipping a few strands of her hair. Katelyn nced at the cut hair, a sense of shock surging within her. She looked up, but the rooftop was already deserted.


    Her hands balled into fists, bitterness filling her heart, as if she had been stabbed in her most vulnerable ce. She was convinced it was Sophia, and that Sophia had truly tried to kill her.


    g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í????s takes you on a journey


    Vincent quickly scanned the rooftop but found no sign of Sophia.


    He walked back to Katelyn, offering a hand to help her up. ¡°She¡¯s disappeared.¡±


    Katelyn fought the pain in her chest and grasped Vincent¡¯s hand, using his strength to pull herself up.


    Her voice was raspy as she murmured, ¡°Thank you.¡± Katelyn longed to question Sophia about her sudden disappearance years ago. Why had Sophia pretended not to know her? What was behind all these actions? Had she truly abandoned everyone at Pine Mountain?


    But Sophia remained silent.


    Katelyn moved toward the wall to retrieve the darts, each one distinctly marked with the letter. Vincent stayed by her side, carefully avoiding probing questions. Although he sensed the deep connection between Katelyn and the mysterious woman, he restrained his curiosity. He had always been Katelyn¡¯s confidant. If she chose to speak, he would listen; if not, he wouldn¡¯t press her.


    Katelyn took a deep breath, steadying herself before facing Vincent. ¡°You might have questions now. May I exin everything once I¡¯ve sorted it out in my mind?¡±


    Vincent replied softly, his calm presence a source offort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Whenever you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll be here to listen.¡±


    Katelyn gave a firm nod and expressed her gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    She often wondered why her rapport with Vincent felt so naturally aligned, whether as allies or within a hierarchical dynamic. The foundation was Vincent¡¯s unwavering respect for her personal boundaries.


    Had he pushed her, she might have opened up, but she didn¡¯t yet know how to confront her past at Pine Mountain.


    When they returned to the hospital room, they discovered that Elora had been moved to the emergency room. The bodyguard in ck stood rigidly, his gaze fixed on the operating room¡¯s door, letting out stifled groans¡ªlikely inquiring about Elora¡¯s condition.


    As Vincent was about to speak, Samuel rushed over swiftly, his expression urgent.


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 Chapter 446

    ?Chapter 446:


    Samuel arrived in a hurry, gasping for air and visibly distressed. He leaned forward, hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.


    Katelyn calmly advised him, ¡°Take your time.¡±


    After a few moments, Samuel straightened up, still catching his breath. He turned to Vincent, his tone urgent. ¡°Mr. Adams, there¡¯s a problem. Dale has escaped from the hotel. My findings suggest he¡¯s on his way to Earl Poulos¡¯ estate.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Katelyn¡¯s expression turned stern. ¡°Dale¡¯s desperation has clouded his judgment, driven by those debt collectors. He¡¯s after the castle, and knowing him, he¡¯ll stop at nothing to get what he wants¡ªeven if it means killing the Earl.¡±


    She recalled overhearing Dale¡¯s conversation with the collectors. It was clear from their talk that Earl Poulos had named Dale his heir in the will. Dale probably thought eliminating Earl Poulos would be easier than concocting a n involving a fake missing son.


    ¡°We have to act immediately to thwart his n,¡± Jaxen chimed in, dragging the restrained man along. ¡°I me myself for this; I should¡¯ve tied him up better. Despite the debt collectors lurking outside, he dared to escape. Looks like he¡¯s not even scared of getting caught and experimented on.¡±


    Vincent replied quietly, ¡°Once he gets the castle and settles the debt, those collectors will no longer pose a threat.¡±


    The team hastily got into the car and drove off toward Earl Poulos¡¯ property.


    The butler, recognizing Vincent¡¯s car by its license te, immediately let them in. He greeted Katelyn with a courteous smile. ¡°Miss Bailey, you¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    Katelyn, visibly anxious, inquired, ¡°Is Dale here now?¡±


    ???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ? ??????????¦Í??????©q??????


    The butler, clearly surprised that Katelyn knew about this, hesitated for a moment before replying. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s just gotten here.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Katelyn quickened her pace, rushing towards the castle. Vincent, Jaxen, and the reluctant captive followed closely behind. As they entered the living room, they found Earl Poulos sitting with Dale.


    Dale was lounging on the sofa, legs crossed, and for once, he wasn¡¯t eyeing the family¡¯s valuables.


    ¡°Uncle Dous, I¡¯ve got a huge surprise for you this time,¡± Dale said with a grin. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely thank me once you see what it is.¡±<fnd0f9> This update is avable on ?ovelFind</fnd0f9>


    Earl Poulos gripped his cane and let out a coldugh. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not trouble you¡¯re bringing, that will be enough for me.¡±


    With a sly smile, Dale leaned in closer and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve truly brought something remarkable this time. I found your long-lost son.¡±


    At those words, Earl Poulos lost hisposure. His cane ttered to the floor as he stood up, eyes wide with excitement. ¡°Is that true?¡±


    It had been nearly thirty years since his son had disappeared, and those years had been filled with endless cycles of hope and despair.


    Earl Poulos had been haunted by the pain of losing his son, consumed by regret. Had he been more careful, would his child still be missing? His obsessive search for his son had taken a heavy toll on his health.


    This news felt like a lost traveler stumbling upon an oasis in the desert¡ªa sudden surge of hope.


    Dale, thoroughly enjoying Earl Poulos¡¯ shock, couldn¡¯t hide his glee. ¡°I¡¯m absolutely serious. Why would I joke about something like this?¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯ve found him, why isn¡¯t he here yet?¡± Earl Poulos asked, his voice trembling. ¡°What¡¯s his life been like? Has he suffered all these years?¡±


    Earl Poulos grew increasingly anxious and excited, fueling Dale¡¯s satisfaction. Had Dale thought of this sooner, he could have already imed the castle for himself.


    Dale leisurely said, ¡°You can meet him¡ªbut first, Uncle Dous, you need to sign the castle over to me. Once that¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll bring him straight to you.¡±


    Earl Poulos, realizing Dale¡¯s intentions, fixed him with a hard stare.


    ¡°Are you trying to make a deal with me?¡± he demanded.


    Dale nodded emphatically. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s a deal. The opportunity to see your son is right before you. The choice is yours.¡±


    Earl Poulos sank into the sofa, his eyes alight with fierce determination.


    Suddenly, a desperate voice echoed from the doorway. ¡°Don¡¯t do it!¡±


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 Chapter 447

    ?Chapter 447:


    Katelyn and her entourage burst into the room, their sudden entrance revealing they had overheard every word exchanged. Among them was Earl Poulos¡¯ real son.


    Dale¡¯s so-called leverage was now embarrassingly exposed as a sham.


    Despite Vincent¡¯s stern warnings about his schemes, Dale remained resolute. He was convinced that if he could pull this off, the castle would be his, and his debts would vanish. What he couldn¡¯t see was that his blind ambition was driving him toward disaster.


    The sight of Katelyn and her group immediately drew the attention of both Earl Poulos and Dale.


    Earl Poulos¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief as he shifted his gaze from Katelyn to the man in ck. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡±


    Dale clenched his fists, his face darkening as he realized his ns were falling apart. Before Katelyn and her group could respond, Dale sprang to his feet. ¡°My uncle and I are in the middle of an important discussion. Everyone else needs to leave now.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t let them derail his carefullyid ns.


    Earl Poulos had been on the verge of agreement, but Katelyn¡¯s sudden arrival had disrupted everything. Dale¡¯s frustration red as his eyes zed with anger.


    If he had known the situation would escte like this, he would have acted sooner.


    Katelyn took a steadying breath before turning to Earl Poulos. ¡°What he¡¯s told you ispletely false. He hasn¡¯t found your real son. His only goal is to trick you into giving him the castle to cover his gambling debts.¡± Katelyn spoke with unwavering certainty.


    Her gaze locked onto Dale, her tone stern. ¡°We warned you not to deceive your own family, but you ignored us.¡±


    The tales you love are at g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m


    Dale¡¯s face turned red with rage, and he shot back with barely contained fury. ¡°You¡¯re the one lying! My uncle has been desperate to find his son for years, and I helped him do that. What¡¯s wrong with asking for a little reward? Besides, he promised me the castle.¡±


    In that moment, Dale¡¯s greed and deceit were ringly evident.


    Even Jaxen, who didn¡¯t know him well, shot him a withering look. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to regret saving him. Maybe we should¡¯ve let the debt collectors take him and use him for their experiments,¡± Jaxen grumbled under his breath.


    If Dale had any sense of gratitude, he wouldn¡¯t have turned against them so quickly.


    Vincent remained silent, his face a mask of controlled irritation. Without Dale¡¯s connection to Earl Poulos, Vincent wouldn¡¯t have bothered with someone like him¡ªa gambler scrambling to escape his debts.<fnc0e2> This update is avable on F?ndNovel</fnc0e2>


    The man in ck, still bound and sitting on the floor, nced around, clearly confused. He couldn¡¯t understand why Katelyn and her group had gone to such lengths to bring him here.


    ¡°Uncle Dous, don¡¯t listen to their lies. I¡¯m your only family. Why would I hurt you? I really did find your son. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can bring him here right now.¡± Dale fixed his gaze on Earl Poulos, his voice now taking on a slick, persuasive tone. ¡°But before we proceed, let¡¯s sign the transfer agreement.¡± He smoothly slid a document across the table, cing it right in front of Earl Poulos. ¡°Sign this, and you¡¯ll get to see your long-lost son. A fair trade, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡±


    Jaxen¡¯sughter was cold and derisive. He¡¯d never seen anyone so brazenly dishonest.


    As Jaxen moved to call out Dale¡¯s scheme, Vincent subtly shook his head, signaling for him to stay quiet. Earl Poulos¡¯ real son was among them, and everyone was eager to see how Dale would try to wrap this up.


    Earl Poulos studied the document with a skeptical frown. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t trust your ims. First, show me my son. If he¡¯s truly my son, I¡¯ll consider the deal.¡±


    Dale¡¯s frustration shed across his face, but he quickly masked it with a smile. ¡°Deal. I trust you won¡¯t deceive me in this matter.¡±


    He pped his hands, and a young man soon appeared in the doorway.


    Katelyn and herpanions gasped as the young man entered.


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 Chapter 448

    ?Chapter 448:


    The young man who walked in bore an uncanny resemnce to the person in the portrait. Katelyn and the others momentarily widened their eyes in shock, instinctively ncing at the man in ck whom they had tied up.


    What was going on here?


    How could there be two individuals who looked identical? Could they perhaps be twins?


    Upon noticing the stunned expressions on Katelyn and the others, Dale¡¯s face lit up with a self-satisfied grin. He turned toward Earl Poulos and said, ¡°Uncle Dous, here is your long-lost son. After all these years of searching, I¡¯ve finally brought him home.¡±


    Earl Poulos¡¯ eyes widened in shock. For a moment, he forgot about his cane, his steps shaky as he approached the young man. ¡°My son, my Kenny, you¡¯ve really returned!¡±


    Kenny was indeed the name of Earl Poulos¡¯ actual son.


    In a sh of recognition, Kenny¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and he eagerly sped Earl Poulos¡¯ hand. ¡°Are you really my father? But why didn¡¯t you search for me all these years?¡±


    ¡°You were snatched by bad people while ying near the doorway. I¡¯ve never stopped looking for you,¡± Earl Poulos replied, tears streaming down his face.


    The years of yearning and sorrow finally came to an end. To lose something so precious and then have it returned was one of the greatest joys in life, especially when it was a child who had been missing for so long.


    Earl Poulos looked at Kenny closely, gripping his hand, overwhelmed with emotion. ¡°Now that you¡¯re here, nothing else matters.¡±


    Kenny, too, wiped his tears and nodded, embracing Earl Poulos tightly. ¡°I promise, I¡¯ll never leave your side again.¡±


    Your story hub is g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s???????


    As they watched the heartfelt reunion of father and son after so many years, Katelyn¡¯s expression was tinged with doubt.


    Had they made a mistake?


    Yet, how could two people look so strikingly simr? Earl Poulos had never mentioned his son having a twin brother.


    Vincent also eyed the man in ck suspiciously.


    Clearly, something was amiss.


    Dale¡¯s triumphant expression was a dead giveaway¡ªhe was savoring his perceived victory.


    Vincent knelt before the man in ck, firmly grasped his chin, and tilted it upward. There was a loud crack as the man¡¯s dislocated jaw clicked back into ce. Now able to speak, the man in ck eximed, ¡°What do you want from me? Release me! I need to return and protect the princess!¡±


    The raspy voice of the man in ck instantly drew Earl Poulos¡¯ attention.


    He looked at the man in ck, then at Kenny, clearly stunned. ¡°How can you two look the same? I have only one son.¡±


    ¡°You should be questioning Vincent and his crew about that. They¡¯vee up with a sinister scheme to seize the castle.¡±


    Dale quickly cut in, casting a scornful nce at Katelyn and the others. ¡°Uncle Dous, their n was to use Kenny to force and transfer deal with you. I never imagined they¡¯d stoop to using an impostor.¡±


    Dale¡¯s bold ims instantly infuriated Jaxen. He rolled up his sleeves and eximed, ¡°How shameless are you? You¡¯re the one making false usations. Who knows where you found this fake to negotiate thend deal with Earl Poulos?¡±


    Dale gave a derisive snort, looking smug.


    ¡°I¡¯m the only family Uncle Dous has left. How could I use this situation to trick him? Besides, the will clearly names me as the heir.¡±


    Vincent stared at Dale with a cold expression, openly challenging him. ¡°You¡¯re desperate to liquidate the castle to settle your gambling debts.¡±


    Dale jumped up instantly, angrily retorting, ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous.¡±


    Dale¡¯s heated response only deepened Katelyn¡¯s suspicions.<fne0fa> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?ndNovel</fne0fa>


    She stepped closer,paring the two men¡¯s faces. They were astonishingly simr, as though sculpted from the same block. Even the tiny mole under the man in ck¡¯s eye was identically replicated. Side by side, they looked like copies.


    Yet, which one was the real one?


    Dale scoffed and faced Earl Poulos. ¡°Uncle Dous, surely you can tell who your own son is?¡±


    Earl Poulos approached Kenny, inspecting him intently, before turning to examine the man in ck¡¯s face. Katelyn and the others waited in tense silence, eagerly anticipating Earl Poulos¡¯ reply.


    ¡°I remember that¡ª¡±


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 Chapter 449

    ?Chapter 449:


    Earl Poulos began to speak hesitantly, his voice trailing off midway, leaving everyone in tense silence. The butler quickly stepped forward, offering him a pair of reading sses. Earl Poulos peered through the lenses, examining the two faces intently. They appeared identical, like trying to find differences between two nearly identical images.


    In disbelief, Kenny eximed, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t you recognize me? Or is this imposter that convincing?¡±


    As he said this, he shot an angry look at the man in ck. ¡°Your face is clearly a fake! After all these years apart from my father, now someone tries to im my identity?¡± With that, Kenny charged at the man in ck.


    However, Kenny had misjudged his own strength and the man¡¯s skill inbat. Trained as a bodyguard for Elora, the man in ck¡¯s fighting prowess was exceptional. His capture had only been sessful because Vincent and Jaxen had teamed up.


    Before Kenny could reach him, the man in ck kicked him, sending him flying across the room. Kenny hit the wall hard, groaning in pain as he struggled to get up, his voice echoing his suffering.


    Earl Poulos watched, his expression unreadable andplex, making no move to help.


    Dale stood by, lost for words. What a futile effort.


    The man in ck looked annoyed, frowning as he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I need to return and protect the princess!¡±


    At that moment, his thoughts were consumed with worry for Elora¡¯s safety. If anything happened to her, he couldn¡¯t bear the thought of living.<fnaff0> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find?novel</fnaff0>


    As the man attempted to leave, Jaxen blocked his path without a second thought. Jaxen expressed his deep frustration with the man¡¯s stubbornness.


    g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s, where stories thrive


    ¡°How can you still be so concerned about that arrogant princess at a time like this? Don¡¯t you realize? Earl Poulos is your real father!¡±


    The man stopped abruptly but quickly responded, ¡°Impossible! My mentor told me my father died long ago. He found me abandoned and raised me.¡±


    Katelyn immediately picked up on a crucial detail. ¡°Is that all you remember about your past? Anything more? Like when you were found?¡±


    Impatiently, the man shot a look at Katelyn. ¡°That¡¯s a private matter. Why does it concern you?¡±


    His expression was filled with suspicion, regarding Katelyn as though she were a threat.


    Jaxen tightened his fists, remaining silent.


    Such foolishness. They had gone out of their way to assist him, yet his ungratefulness made their efforts feel futile.


    Dale scoffed loudly in response to the scene. ¡°Where did you dig up this terrible impostor? Didn¡¯t you rehearse the script beforehand?¡±


    He then turned to Earl Poulos. ¡°Uncle Dous, these people are outright frauds. You should get rid of them immediately.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s intense gaze shifted to Dale. While she had been uncertain about what was really going on, Dale¡¯s increasingly frantic behavior was a clear indicator that something was off.


    Kenny, struggling to get up from the floor, red fiercely at the man in ck, as though he wished to drill holes into him with his eyes.


    ¡°They will pay for roughing me up,¡± he said through gritted teeth.


    The man in ck looked at Kenny with clear contempt. ¡°The mere fact that you¡¯re still alive shows my restraint.¡± In the past, he wouldn¡¯t have tolerated such insolence.


    Kenny¡¯s anger red at those words. He gritted his teeth, poised to charge at the man in ck once more. But a stern look from the man caused him to recoil in fear. Hecked the nerve to endure another blow.


    Now, all eyes turned back to Earl Poulos.


    In the end, it was his call to decide the true identity of those present.


    Vincent remained quiet, observing Earl Poulos intently. He sensed an unusual tension underlying the entire ordeal¡ªnot just from Dale¡¯s actions, but something seemed off with Earl Poulos as well.


    Dale grew increasingly nervous.


    Then Katelyn spoke up, ¡°Does your son have a birthmark or any unique feature that could help us confirm his identity?¡±


    Earl Poulos¡¯ face brightened at once. ¡°Yes, he does!¡±


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 Chapter 450

    ?Chapter 450:


    Earl Poulos¡¯ answer left everyone on edge once again. Dale unconsciously tightened his fists. How had he overlooked the fact that Kenny had a birthmark?


    The man in ck appeared annoyed, yet disinterested. His focus remained solely on returning to the hospital to be by Elora¡¯s side. ¡°When will you let me go?¡± he asked.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes were cold as he responded, ¡°Once we verify who you really are.¡±


    The man in ck balled his fists, eager to leave but realizing he was no match for Vincent.


    Katelyn fixed her gaze on Earl Poulos. ¡°What does this birthmark look like?¡±


    Earl Poulos exined carefully, ¡°Since birth, my son has had a small red mark on his shoulder.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Kenny, who had seemed slightly panicked earlier, quickly rxed. He removed his shirt to reveal the small red birthmark on his shoulder.


    Kenny proudly showed it off to everyone, his tone mixed with a hint of arrogance. ¡°See this? I am the real one.¡±


    This revtion disheartened Katelyn and the others. Had they really made a mistake? Was this man in ck really not the person they were searching for?


    Dale¡¯s demeanor shifted to one of arrogance and confidence. ¡°Let the imposter remove his shirt too. One look will reveal who is real and who is not.¡±


    Jaxen immediately turned his gaze to the man in ck and said coldly, ¡°Are you going to remove your shirt yourself, or should we handle it for you?¡±


    The man in ck clutched his clothes tightly, stepping back cautiously. ¡°What do you want from me? I¡¯ve told you, I have no interest in the truth or in the Earl¡¯s son. My only concern is returning to the hospital to safeguard the princess!¡±


    He was baffled by their persistent efforts to confirm his identity. His interestsy neither in the castle nor in their issues. Elora was his sole concern.


    g?????0¦Í??????.?????? ¨C Continue reading


    A murderous look shed in the man in ck¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you continue to block my way, I will kill you all!¡±


    Jaxen offered a slight smile, casually fiddling with the gun in his hand.


    ¡°Just remove your shirt so we can check for the red birthmark. Then you can leave. If you refuse to cooperate, we¡¯ll have to do it for you.¡±


    The man in ck, unustomed to dealing with someone like Jaxen, clenched his teeth in frustration.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do it,¡± he said, reluctantly removing his shirt. However, what they saw wasn¡¯t a smooth back¡ªit was covered in scars from knives, bullets, andshes.


    His back was a patchwork of wounds, with fresh injuries barely healed before new ones had been inflicted. The lighter scars were the oldest, but even they hadn¡¯tpletely healed. His back was almost entirely marked, leaving very little unmarred skin.


    Earl Poulos, visibly shaken, quivered as he asked, ¡°Who did this to you?¡±


    He moved closer to examine the scars, each one a testament to immense pain.


    ¡°Why does that concern you?¡± The man in ck¡¯s voice carried a note of impatience. Ever since his capture, he had shown hostility toward everyone, his thoughts focused solely on returning to Elora.


    ¡°Now you see, there isn¡¯t a red birthmark on me, is there?¡± He pointed to his shoulder, but the extensive scarring made it impossible to determine if a birthmark had ever been there.


    His refusal to cooperate left Katelyn and the others with no clear answers. Dale¡¯s deception was apparent, but the one person who could expose him wasn¡¯t being helpful.<fna1a8> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F?nd-Novel</fna1a8>


    Katelyn nced over at Earl Poulos, her expressionplex as she considered their next move.


    They couldn¡¯t confirm if the man in ck was the true Kenny, but they were certain that the man Dale presented was definitely an impostor.


    Katelyn was determined not to let Earl Poulos be misled and lose the castle.


    She then turned to Kenny directly.


    ¡°If you¡¯re truly Kenny, how old were you when you went missing? Describe your experiences over the years, and exin how Dale found you and brought you here.¡± Katelyn fired the questions one after another, not giving him time to think.


    ¡°And most importantly, is that really your face?¡±


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 Chapter 451

    ?Chapter 451:<fnb784> Content originallyes from F?nd-Novel</fnb784>


    Previously, their focus had been on proving the authenticity of the man in ck. But what if they shifted their strategy? Proving that the Kenny in front of them was an imposter might lead to the same oue.


    They hadn¡¯t expected Katelyn¡¯s sudden questioning. Kenny¡¯s eyes flickered with panic as he stammered, ¡°How could I possibly recall something from so long ago?¡±


    Dale intervened quickly. ¡°You¡¯re rushing because you fear I¡¯ll get the castle, and you¡¯ll miss out on the ultimate fortune. I have no tolerance for deceivers like you.¡± He red at Earl Poulos, teeth clenched. ¡°Uncle Dous, please have them removed. I can¡¯t bear these repulsive individuals any longer.¡±


    Jaxen stared coldly at Dale, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°If we¡¯d known you were such a deceitful coward, we might have let the debt collectors chase you to your death.¡± This, he thought, could have saved Earl Poulos from being tricked.


    Dale¡¯s face turned red with anger, his eyes filled with clear hostility. He vowed to hire assassins to eliminate these nuisances once he imed his vast fortune.


    Vincent then spoke up, his voice soothing as always. He looked at Earl Poulos and said, ¡°My Lord, with the situation as it is, we can¡¯t offer more rification at this moment. Even if we can¡¯t confirm the authenticity of the man we¡¯ve brought, this Kenny is definitely a fraud.¡±


    Kenny, agitated, protested, ¡°You¡¯re lying. I have the birthmark on my shoulder that proves who I really am.¡± In his desperate attempt to validate himself, he failed to notice that Earl Poulos¡¯ attention wasn¡¯t even on him. As the ultimate decider of Kenny¡¯s identity, Earl Poulos¡¯ continued silence only heightened Dale¡¯s worry. Why wouldn¡¯t the old man believe them despite all the evidence?


    If it weren¡¯t for Katelyn and the others, Earl Poulos would have already signed the transfer deed.


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    The butler, looking concerned, approached Earl Poulos. ¡°My Lord, is your headache bothering you again? Shall I assist you upstairs to rest?¡±


    Earl Poulos exhaled deeply and shook his head slowly. ¡°I can¡¯t determine who¡¯s real and who¡¯s fake right now.¡± What was meant to be a heartfelt reunion between father and son had spiraled into chaos.


    Earl Poulos felt a weight on his heart. His eyes moved from Dale¡¯s tense expression to the man in ck, who looked on with scorn.


    ¡°Everyone, please leave. I need some time alone.¡±


    Dale¡¯s expression showed shock. ¡°Uncle Dous, what do you mean? I brought Kenny back to you, so you should transfer the castle to me as per our deal.¡±


    Kenny interjected, trying to tug at the heartstrings. ¡°Father, aren¡¯t you going to recognize me as your son?¡±


    Earl Poulos looked utterly worn out. ¡°There was never a formal contract between us, Dale, nor did I agree to such absurd conditions.¡±


    Dale¡¯s eyes narrowed sharply. He stepped closer, his jaw set tightly. ¡°Are you going back on your promise? After everything I¡¯ve done for you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll instruct the butler to give you some money. After that, I don¡¯t want to see you again,¡± Earl Poulos said, gesturing dismissively. The strain of the situation seemed to age him visibly, and his voice was weaker.


    The butler quickly wrote a check and handed it to Dale.


    Upon seeing the amount, Dale¡¯s fury intensified. ¡°Only a hundred thousand? Are you dismissing me like amon beggar? I reunited you with your son, and this is my reward?¡±


    The butler fixed him with a severe look and scolded, ¡°Mr. Poulos, mind yournguage.¡±


    Dale sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t presume to lecture me, a mere doorman. I want the castle signed over now. Even if you refuse, it will be mine after you¡¯re gone.¡± Dale finally revealed his true nature.


    To his dismay, Earl Poulos shook his head once more. ¡°I¡¯ve altered my will. You are no longer my legal heir.¡±


    Dale clenched his teeth. ¡°Then who gets the castle? To whom are you leaving it?¡±


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 Chapter 452

    ?Chapter 452:


    Kenny froze as well, caught off guard by the words that hung in the air. Earl Poulos hadn¡¯t even known whether his son was still alive, so there was no chance his son¡¯s name could be in the will.


    Then who was it?


    Who would end up with the castle?


    Furious and almost out of control, Dale shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s getting the castle? Tell me right now! Who¡¯s it going to?¡± Earl Poulos leaned back into the sofa, his shoulders slumping. His voice was tired, almost distant. ¡°Even if I were to donate this ce, I would never give it to you.¡±


    Dale¡¯s face turned red with rage, his eyes wide and wild. He looked like he was about to explode. ¡°I¡¯m your only nephew! If not me, then who? Sign the contract and give me the castle now! Do it!¡±


    Earl Poulos stayed quiet for a moment, then slowly shook his head again.


    Dale¡¯s outburst was starting to get on Kenny¡¯s nerves. ¡°I¡¯m my father¡¯s son. If anyone¡¯s going to inherit, it should be me.¡± Kenny looked confident, almost cocky. He had already proven who he was. The castle¡ªand all the wealth that came with it¡ªwas clearly his.


    Dale snapped his head toward Kenny, speaking through clenched teeth. ¡°Who do you think you are, challenging me? Without me, you¡¯re nothing. You wouldn¡¯t even be allowed in here.¡±


    Jaxen watched them both, amused by how quickly they had turned on each other. Leaning in, he whispered with a smirk, ¡°Let them rip each other apart.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. This was exactly what she wanted. Why bother dealing with these idiots herself when they¡¯d dly do it for her?


    Kenny¡¯s frustration boiled over, and he yelled, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m the rightful heir. The castle belongs to me!¡±


    L?t?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??lnovels.??????


    Dale shot back, his voice dripping with anger. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a fake. You have no right to im this ce.¡±


    A sh of fear crossed Kenny¡¯s face, but before he could think, he charged at Dale. ¡°You¡¯re talking trash! I¡¯ll shut you up right now!¡±


    Their shouting quickly turned into swinging fists, with insults flying as fast as the punches.


    Each hitnded with a dull thud, the room filled with the sounds of grunts and kicks, making the chaos impossible to ignore. Katelyn stood off to the side, watching with an amused smirk. She almost wished she had some popcorn to make the show even better. No one had seen thising.


    When people were driven by greed, it usually didn¡¯t take long for them to turn on each other. This scene was the perfect example of that.


    Vincent couldn¡¯t help but nce over at Earl Poulos, curious about his reaction. Even as the two men locked in a vicious fight, Earl Poulos didn¡¯t lift a finger to stop them. He simply watched the chaos unfold, as though it had nothing to do with him.


    Earl Poulos had never openly said who the real Kenny was, but his reactions made it clear he leaned toward the man in ck. Unfortunately, that man was too consumed by his devotion to Elora, uninterested in proving his identity. If he had, he could have imed the fortune by now.


    As no one stepped in, the fight grew wilder, with punches and curses flying. Jaxen, amused, settled onto the sofa with a grin. ¡°Who¡¯s your pick? I¡¯m betting on Kenny.¡±


    Katelyn gave a sly smile. ¡°I¡¯m going with Dale.¡±<fnc2da> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? find[?]ovel</fnc2da>


    The loan sharks had been tightening their grip on Dale, pushing him to his breaking point. He was desperate to secure the castle as soon as possible. In his situation, any move seemed fair game.


    The butler, watching nervously from the sidelines, hesitated before quietly asking Earl Poulos, ¡°My Lord, should we stop them?¡±


    Earl Poulos shook his head slowly. ¡°No need.¡±


    The butler gave a quick nod. ¡°Understood.¡±


    When the fight finally ended, both men stood there, chests heaving, their bodies marked with bruises and exhaustion. Without Earl Poulos giving a clear answer on who the heir was, they had fought with everything they had, desperate for control.


    Katelyn¡¯s heart skipped for a moment as she realized what had just happened. This was all part of Earl Poulos¡¯ n. He hadn¡¯t needed to lift a finger. Just a few subtle words had been enough to push them to reveal who they really were.


    No wonder he still held the reins of the castle, even in his old age. This was what made a truly clever person dangerous. With enough skill, anyone could be turned into a tool for their use.


    Jaxen, who had been watching every moment closely, suddenly pointed and shouted, ¡°Look!¡±


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 Chapter 453

    ?Chapter 453:


    Jaxen¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he noticed something strange about Kenny¡¯s ears, his pupils narrowing as though he¡¯d uncovered a secret.


    ¡°Look at his ears!¡±


    Prompted by Jaxen, the others shifted their attention. Meanwhile, Kenny was frantic, hastily trying to cover his ears with his hands.


    But he wasn¡¯t quick enough. The butler walked over and sharply pulled his hand away. Part of Kenny¡¯s ear appeared to be peeling off, much like stic beginning to unravel.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Katelyn asked, her curiosity piqued.


    Panic flooded Kenny¡¯s eyes as he stumbled over his words. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Dale, cleaning the blood from his mouth, cracked a chilling grin. ¡°That¡¯s a human skin mask. The Kenny you¡¯re looking at is an imposter, here to steal Uncle Dous¡¯s fortune.¡±


    A human skin mask!


    The revtion hit Katelyn like a physical blow.


    She suddenly remembered how Marlon and his mother¡ªhadn¡¯t the impersonated old woman been wearing something simr?


    Was this another ploy by the T Organization? Had they used a mask to impersonate the real Kenny, all to seize the treasure hidden beneath the castle?


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned cold. What treasures were buried under the castle that would drive people to such extremes? Was such immense wealth truly a blessing, or a curse?


    Kenny¡¯s eyes bulged as he desperately tried to defend himself. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him! Human skin masks aren¡¯t real! He¡¯s making it up!¡±


    ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ¡ú g????????¦Í?????????????


    But Jaxen, his patience worn thin, stood up, approached Kenny, and forcefully kicked him in the chest.


    Caught off guard, Kenny fell to the floor. Jaxen quickly pinned him down and tore off the mask, revealing Kenny¡¯s real face.


    Though his eyes were indeed green, his features were distinctly different from those of Earl Poulos.


    The truth was clear¡ªhe was a fraud.


    This was Jaxen¡¯s first encounter with such a mask. After inspecting it closely, he tossed it to Vincent. ¡°I never thought such things existed outside of movies, but here it is, as clear as day.¡±


    Vincent meticulously traced his fingers along the mask, studying its texture and intricate details. ¡°The craftsmanship matches the mask that the old woman, impersonating Marlon¡¯s mother, wore,¡± he said.


    The mask was astonishingly realistic. Even when examined up close, it appeared wless. With just a bit of practice to mimic the real person¡¯s voice and mannerisms, one couldpletely impersonate someone else.


    ¡°Clearly, the organization is after the treasure beneath the castle,¡± Katelyn whispered, balling her hands into fists. Thoughts of Sophia flooded her mind again.


    Suddenly, she turned toward Dale. ¡°Now that your lies are exposed, how did you get involved with the T Organization? What was your deal with them?¡±


    At that moment, Dale realized the gravity of his mistake. Exposing Kenny had been his biggest oversight. His face turned ashen, and he began to shake, casting desperate nces at Earl Poulos.


    ¡°Uncle¡­¡± he murmured, but Earl Poulos turned his back, unwilling to even nce at him, signaling that he hadpletely lost trust in his nephew.


    Katelyn clenched the mask firmly in her hand and pressed for answers. ¡°Tell me. How did you get in touch with the organization? What was your deal?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression turned cold. He took the gun from Jaxen, disengaged the safety, and pointed it directly at Dale. ¡°You have until I count to three.¡±


    The T Organization appeared to be behind every danger Katelyn had faced. They were like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. Until they werepletely eradicated, Katelyn would always remain at risk.


    Dale¡¯s face turned pale, and he trembled uncontrobly as he staggered backward. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot! I don¡¯t want to¡ª¡±


    ¡°Then spill everything you know,¡± Vincent demanded sternly. ¡°Three.¡±


    Dale shook like a leaf caught in the wind, his lips quivering. ¡°Two.¡±


    Without hesitation, Vincent fired a shot into the floor near Dale¡¯s feet. The impact shattered the tiles, and the flying fragments struck Dale¡¯s legs, causing him to scream in agony. ¡°I¡¯ll speak! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡±


    .


    .<fnf21e> Updates are released by F?nd-Novel</fnf21e>


    .

 Chapter 454

    ?Chapter 454:


    Dale was sprawled on the floor, gripping his right leg, his expression contorted in pain.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any connections to any organization,¡± he gasped. ¡°A woman approached me with a deal to help me take over the castle if I cooperated with them. They would only im half of the treasure underneath.¡±


    Katelyn, her impatience mounting, pressed on. ¡°What did she look like? Can you remember anything more?¡±


    Dale clenched his teeth and gave a slight nod. ¡°She was stunning, dressed entirely in ck, with bright red lipstick.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s frustration grew. ¡°Give me a full description of her features, not just vague details.¡±


    Dale cradled his head, sounding defeated. ¡°That¡¯s all I remember, really. Nothing morees to mind.¡± At that moment, he had been so captivated by the chance to acquire the wealth that he hadn¡¯t paid attention to the other details.


    Vincent, showing no mercy, swiftly aimed his gun at Kenny. ¡°Now you. Exin what this organization is about.¡±


    Kenny, equally frightened, lifted his hands in surrender. He stuttered, ¡°I¡¯ll talk, just lower the gun. It could go off by mistake.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s gaze remained unyielding. ¡°Three.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll spill everything!¡± Kenny gulped nervously. ¡°A woman also approached me. She promised me a hefty sum to impersonate the Earl¡¯s son under the mask. She didn¡¯t share much¡ªjust that I¡¯d be paid well if I yed the part convincingly. I had no idea that acting as the Earl¡¯s son would mean dealing with such an enormous castle!¡± By the end of his confession, Kenny was nearly crying. Originally, the allure of money had blinded him, andter, the grandeur of the castle had tempted him.


    Now, he felt trapped, unable to escape even if he wanted to. ¡°How did you get in touch with this woman? What did she look like?¡±


    ????????¡¯?? ?????? ??????????: ???????????¦Í??????????????


    Kenny concentrated, attempting to remember. ¡°She was incredibly beautiful. Truly memorable.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was wearing thin. She spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°Focus! I want details!¡±


    Kenny¡¯s voice broke into sobs. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I really don¡¯t know anything more. I can¡¯t remember. Please, just let me go. I made a mistake getting involved.¡±


    Vincent finally lowered his weapon. Though they had uncovered Dale¡¯s deceptions, they stillcked concrete details to unravel the mystery fully.


    They still had no solid evidence. Instead, their pursuit had only deepened the mystery surrounding the T Organization, making matters even moreplicated. What exactly was this group? They seemed like phantoms, always one step ahead, thwarting their every move.


    The sense of exposure, with the enemy hidden in the shadows, sent shivers down Vincent¡¯s spine. Despite this, he remained resolute in his mission to dismantle the organization. Just then, the man in ck subtly shifted his stance.


    He knew he couldn¡¯t linger much longer; he needed to return to the hospital to check on Elora. Jaxen, who had been watching him intently, noticed his intent to escape and yelled, ¡°He¡¯s making a run for it!¡±


    The man in ck clenched his teeth and quickened his pace.


    However, Vincent stood his ground, raised his gun calmly, and shot the man in the leg. The bullet shattered his leg bone, and he copsed to the ground, screaming in pain. Jaxen immediately moved in, securing him with a rope and binding him tightly. Crouching before the man, Jaxen smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about escaping. You won¡¯t get the chance.¡±


    The man in ck, drenched in cold sweat, gasped. ¡°Kill me, torture me¡ªdo whatever you wish, but first, tell me about the princess. She¡¯s not well. The doctors warned she might lose her sanity.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened as she responded, ¡°The T Organization already made an attempt on Elora¡¯s life. We intercepted it, which is why she was rushed into the emergency room. If you truly care about your princess, help us locate the members of that organization.¡±


    The many there, his tone filled with disbelief. ¡°The T Organization? That name sounds so familiar. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve heard it somewhere.¡±<fn79f5> Original content can be found at find[?]ovel</fn79f5>


    Jaxen urged him urgently, ¡°Focus. Recall where you¡¯ve heard it. It¡¯s critical for your princess¡¯s safety!¡±


    But before the man could answer, several darts flew in through the window!


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 Chapter 455

    ?Chapter 455:


    The darts flew through the window without warning. ¡°Everyone, stay alert!¡± Vincent shouted, quickly moving Katelyn to a safer spot.


    The butler rushed forward, positioning himself as a shield for Earl Poulos.<fne20d> Find the newest release on F?ndNovel</fne20d>


    As Jaxen sought cover, he made sure to pull the man in ck with him.


    A total of eight darts were fired.


    The group hid in the shadows, only emerging once they were certain the danger had passed.


    The butler immediately scolded the guards at the door. ¡°You ipetent fools! Didn¡¯t you see someone trying to harm his lordship? Go find them now!¡±


    ¡°Right away, sir,¡± the bodyguards replied, dispersing to track down the assant.


    The butler then turned his attention back to Earl Poulos.


    ¡°My Lord, are you alright?¡±


    Earl Poulos nodded slowly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Jaxen remained calm. ¡°They¡¯re the ones in trouble.¡± Both Earl Poulos and the butler followed his gaze and saw Kenny and Dale, each with a dart lodged in their necks. The attacker had acted with deadly precision, leaving the men lifeless, their eyes still open.


    The assault had clearly been intended to silence them. Unfortunately, they had revealed nothing of value before their deaths.


    Katelyn stepped forward and removed one of the darts. Since the T Organization had emerged, she had witnessed multiple deaths caused by these darts.


    Could Sophia, once dedicated to healing and saving lives, truly have be a remorseless murderer?


    g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s has it all


    Despite her fears, Katelyn struggled to ept this harsh reality: her once sweet and innocent friend had transformed into a cold-blooded killer.


    The stark contrast between these two versions of Sophia was too much for Katelyn to reconcile. ¡°The attacker was merciless, leaving no chance for survival,¡± Jaxen said after examining the scene.


    Exhausted, Earl Poulos leaned against a nearby wall, exhaling deeply. His nephew was gone, and so was his fake son. He truly was alone in this world now.


    ¡°Bury them both. I hope Dale finds the strength to be a better man in his next life¡ªone who stays away from gambling.¡±


    ¡°Understood, My Lord,¡± the butler replied, signaling two bodyguards to remove the bodies.


    Earl Poulos then noticed the man in ck¡¯s wounded leg and gave another instruction.


    ¡°Fetch our family doctor to attend to his leg.¡±


    Observing the Earl¡¯s graying hair, a wave of sadness washed over Katelyn. Despite Dale¡¯s many ws, he had been Earl Poulos¡¯ only remaining family. Now, the elderly man faced the grim task of burying his kin¡ªa heavy burden weighing on his heart.


    Katelyn¡¯s attention shifted to the man in ck. Her tone grew cold.


    ¡°You seem only concerned about Elora, but aren¡¯t you curious about who your real father might be? What if you¡¯ve been misled by your mentor? Imagine if your father were right here, and you¡¯re dismissing your only chance to reconnect with him.¡±


    The man in ck quickly retorted, ¡°That¡¯s impossible! My mentor is the most ethical and kind person I know. He wouldn¡¯t lie to me. Your usations are baseless!¡±


    Jaxen, tired of the man¡¯s stubbornness, shook his head in resignation.


    ¡°Let it go. There¡¯s no use arguing with someone so obstinate. He¡¯ll regret this someday.¡±


    Katelyn nodded in agreement. It was clear the man in ck was set in his ways¡ªbreaking through to him seemed impossible.


    The situation had unfolded in ways no one could have predicted.


    The family doctor arrived promptly, extracted the bullet from the man in ck¡¯s leg, and dressed the wound. Throughout the procedure, Earl Poulos remained mostly silent, yet the looks he cast at the man in ck carried a hint of mncholy.


    How could a father fail to recognize his own son? Yet, he simply knew that this son was bound to leave.


    Vincent, having noted the nuances in the Earl¡¯s expression, grasped the underlying sadness. He stood and said, ¡°Take care, My Lord. We¡¯ll leave you in peace now.¡±


    Katelyn and Jaxen nodded in farewell.


    As they were about to leave, Earl Poulos suddenly called out, ¡°Miss Bailey, please wait a moment.¡±


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 Chapter 456

    ?Chapter 456:


    Katelyn immediately turned to face Earl Poulos.


    ¡°My Lord, do you need something else?¡±


    Earl Poulos gestured for the butler to fetch a document enclosed in a thick leather envelope.


    He handed it to Katelyn. ¡°Miss Bailey, consider this envelope a gift from me. But please, don¡¯t open it yet. Wait until I tell you to.¡±


    Katelyn weighed the leather envelope in her hands, sensing it contained important information. Curiously, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡±


    Earl Poulos kept the mystery intact, choosing not to reveal anything. ¡°You¡¯ll find out in time. But promise me you won¡¯t open it immediately.¡±


    His voice carried a note of seriousness. After a brief pause, Katelyn nodded firmly and responded, ¡°Alright, take care of yourself.¡±


    ¡°Good,¡± Earl Poulos replied, watching as Katelyn left with Vincent and the others, walking briskly.


    Earl Poulos remained seated, his gaze following them, a hint of mncholy in his eyes.


    The document was his thoughtful gift to Katelyn. As Vincent and the group left the estate, they brought the man in ck with them.


    This time, however, Vincent refrained from rough handling. Given the man¡¯s recent gunshot wound to the leg, he was in no position to flee.


    Jaxen, looking curious, asked, ¡°Where should we put this guy? We can¡¯t keep carrying him around every day.¡±


    Vincent answered gravely, ¡°Hand him over to Samuel. Lock him up somewhere for now.¡±


    L§Ñ¦Ó??¦Ó ch?¦Ñ¦Ó?rs ¦Én g??l??ov?ls.??????


    The man in ck reacted with fierce resistance. ¡°What gives you the right to hold me? This is wrongful imprisonment!¡±


    Katelyn looked at him coldly, a slight smirk on her face. ¡°You¡¯ve tried to kill me twice. Given that, sparing your life is already quite generous.¡±


    His defiance evaporated instantly. A flicker of unease crossed his eyes. In their line of work, capture often led to brutal consequences. Compared to that, Katelyn¡¯s team was being remarkably lenient.


    Once they returned to the hotel, Samuel escorted the man in ck away.


    Jaxen sprawled on the couch, clearly worn out. ¡°We¡¯ve been in Yata for just a few days, yet I¡¯ve already been pulled into so much drama. I really miss the parties on my yacht.¡±


    Vincent nced over at Jaxen, who seemed thoroughly exhausted, and said calmly, ¡°The issue with the cor has been settled for now. You¡¯re free to leave whenever you wish.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s demeanor brightened instantly, and he inquired eagerly, ¡°Really? I can go back?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression remained neutral, though his smile didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°Absolutely.¡±


    That simple response made Jaxen lie back down immediately. ¡°Well, maybe not. Hanging out here with you all isn¡¯t too bad after all. Life back home is just repetitive and boring.¡±


    Katelyn, sitting nearby on the sofa, listened to their exchange, a subtle smile appearing on her face. Jaxen¡¯s lifestyle was indeed enviable. Though he, too, was an heir to a corporation, he didn¡¯t carry the same burdens as Vincent.


    His days were spent in leisure, living luxuriously and without care. He was free to pursue whatever he pleased, whenever he chose. For many, this was the epitome of a dream life.


    Yet, Jaxen considered it boring, which felt almost unfair.


    Katelyn picked up her phone to check thetest entertainment news but was interrupted by a call. She swiftly declined it. The caller was Neil.


    To this day, Katelyn was unclear about Neil¡¯s true intentions for visiting Yata. Was he also eyeing the international market?


    The previous press conference had ended in scandal. While the jewelry crafted by Neil¡¯s team was stunning, it had been marred by giarism ims, causing significant financial damage to thepany.


    With the scandal escting, it had be challenging to expand their market domestically, forcing them to look overseas.


    Soon after, a message from Neil appeared on her phone: ¡°I need to talk. Meet me downstairs in the cafe. This is about your real identity. If you refuse, there won¡¯t be another opportunity.¡±


    Upon reading this, Katelyn¡¯s grip on her phone tightened.<fn067b> Find the newest release on F¦ÉndNovel</fn067b>


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 Chapter 457

    ?Chapter 457:


    Katelyn¡¯s mind drifted back to the ordeal with Marlon and his mother.


    Though it had all been a ruse, Katelyn¡¯s search for her biological parents had been sincere. The longing to find them had persisted over the years, never fading from her thoughts.


    It was like a seed, quietly nted deep within her soul, growing over time into an almost consuming obsession. This desire had only intensified after the events with Earl Poulos.


    Could her parents, much like the Earl, have been searching for her all these years?


    A shiver passed through Katelyn, but she held off on responding immediately. ¡°Why should I trust you? Go away,¡± she replied sharply.


    Neil quickly sent over a photo.


    Katelyn zoomed in on the image, her pupils narrowing without intending to. The photograph seemed to be from an old newspaper. Its quality was poor, showing pixted and somewhat blurry images in stark ck and white.


    Despite the poor quality, Katelyn could see that the person in the photo bore a striking resemnce to her¡ªlikely a rtive.


    Clutching her phone tightly, Katelyn responded with a simple question mark.


    ¡°This image is a gesture of my sincerity,¡± Neil¡¯s message read. ¡°If you seek further details,e meet me downstairs.¡±


    After a moment of inner conflict and hesitation, Katelyn made her decision. ¡°I¡¯m on my way down,¡± she replied. She then stood up, ncing over at Vincent and Jaxen. ¡°I¡¯m heading downstairs for some coffee.¡±


    Jaxen immediately sat up from the bed. ¡°I¡¯lle with you. I could use some coffee too.¡±


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    A hint of hesitation shed across Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She preferred to keep her appointment with Neil to herself. Vincent, sensing Katelyn¡¯s unease, suggested to Jaxen, ¡°We can just order room service. They¡¯ll bring whatever we need.¡±


    Jaxen nodded in agreement but kept his eyes on Katelyn as she moved toward the door. ¡°Isn¡¯t room service an option for coffee too? Why go all the way downstairs?¡±


    Katelyn casually made an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasant day outside. I could use some fresh air.¡±


    Jaxen, persistent as always, added, ¡°It is a nice day indeed. How about we all take a walk?¡±


    Vincent was at a loss for words, and so was Katelyn.


    Sometimes, it was hard to tell if Jaxen was being clever or not. Katelyn found herself running out of excuses to avoid him. Finally, Vincent stepped in to help. ¡°I need your assistance with some work.¡±


    Jaxen scowled and waved dismissively. ¡°I came to Yata to rx, not to get caught up in work. You should ask Samuel for that.¡±


    Vincent shot him a stern look.


    Jaxen, who had been about to rise, reluctantly settled back down.<fn7878> Discover more novels at F¦ÉndNovel</fn7878>


    ¡°Fine, fine, you¡¯re in charge. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡±


    Katelyn seized the opportunity to quickly leave, making her way downstairs.


    Jaxen watched her go, visibly puzzled. He turned to Vincent and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Katelyn¡¯s been acting strange? She seems distracted.¡±


    Vincent had also noticed Katelyn¡¯s odd demeanor, which seemed to have started after she received a certain message. Still, he couldn¡¯t make out what was on her screen from where he was sitting.


    ¡°I don¡¯t meddle in her affairs. If she decides she wants to talk, I¡¯m here to listen.¡±


    Jaxen clicked his tongue and sarcastically gave a thumbs up.


    ¡°You¡¯re not so young anymore. I don¡¯t get this tonic thing you have. When are you nning to make your move?¡±


    Observing the dynamics between Vincent and Katelyn, Jaxen felt a sense of urgency for them.


    They would risk their lives for one another in dangerous situations, but in daily life, they maintained a quiet, almost strained distance, seemingly constrained by some invisible barrier.


    At this rate, when would they evere together?


    Vincent gave Jaxen another sharp nce. Meanwhile, Katelyn had reached the caf¨¦ downstairs where Neil awaited her. She cut straight to the point. ¡°What have you discovered?¡±


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 Chapter 458

    ?Chapter 458:


    If Neil hadn¡¯t used something indispensable to force this meeting, Katelyn would have been more than happy never toy eyes on his detestable face again.


    Just recalling the disgusting things Neil had done was enough to make her feel sick.


    Neil, however, acted as if he didn¡¯t notice the disgust and wariness in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. He pointed to the seat opposite him. ¡°Take a seat, and let¡¯s talk.¡±


    He had anticipated that mentioning this matter would certainly make Katelyn show up.


    Katelyn scowled, but the striking resemnce of the person in the photographpelled her to reluctantly take a seat opposite Neil. ¡°What have you learned? Who is this person in the picture?¡±


    Despite Katelyn¡¯s urgency, Neil remained rxed. He reclined in his chair and casually crossed his legs. ¡°Mind your tone. We¡¯re here to negotiate a partnership. If I¡¯m not pleased with your attitude, I could easily walk away from this deal.¡±


    Neil felt a surge of satisfaction, having regained some control in his dealings with Katelyn.


    Since their divorce, he had often felt outsmarted by her. Now, things were finally starting to change.


    It seemed that manipting Katelyn was easier than he had imagined, as long as he targeted her vulnerabilities. The disdain in Katelyn¡¯s eyes deepened, and this time, she made no attempt to hide it.


    She clenched the cup beside her, fighting the urge to hurl it at him. ¡°Cut the crap. I¡¯m notmitted to any deal with you yet, and you still haven¡¯t rified what this partnership involves.¡±


    Neil¡¯s smug expression faltered, and he responded seriously, ¡°I know you¡¯re eyeing the international market and have already begun talks with Selina. I need ess to that market too. I propose that you represent me at the exhibition in two months and secure the final presentation slot.¡± Neil spoke calmly. His original n had been to entice Katelyn into joining his firm.


    Discover more on g¦Á ? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,


    But after some reflection, he realized that was impossible. Katelyn would never consent, and Vincent would never allow it.


    This proposal, however, was the bestpromise he could offer.


    Katelyn¡¯s expression turned sarcastic as she stared at Neil, clearly dismissing his proposal as a joke. ¡°I¡¯m under contract with the Adams Group. Why would I represent you and help you secure a project?¡±


    Neil pulled a document from his briefcase andid it on the table, tapping it meaningfully.<fnd541> Find the newest release on fin?novel</fnd541>


    ¡°Here¡¯s why you should consider it,¡± he said. ¡°I have the information you¡¯ve been desperately seeking. I¡¯ve invested significant resources into uncovering your past. Isn¡¯t it fair for me to expect something in return?¡±


    He paused, clearly enjoying his control over the situation. ¡°Are you curious about who your biological parents are? From what I¡¯ve gathered, they¡¯ve been searching for you for years.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze locked on the document.


    Neil¡¯s words hit her where she was most vulnerable. Her greatest fear had always been that her parents, like Earl Poulos, had been searching for her all these years¡ªalways missing her, never finding her. The thought of it was possibly her deepest sorrow.


    Katelyn¡¯s hands balled into fists, but she remained silent. Neil allowed her time to think, not pressing her for an immediate decision. He adopted a soothing tone, saying, ¡°I assure you, the information here is real, and I¡¯m the only one who has uncovered it. If you pass on this, you may never discover who your parents are.¡±


    A sharp glint appeared in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. She fought to calm her racing heart, striving to remainposed and not fall into Neil¡¯s maniption. His strategy was clear¡ªhe was tempting her, not with money, but with something far more personal.


    ¡°You¡¯ve misled me too many times. Why should I trust you now?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Because this is the only information you can¡¯t afford to overlook,¡± Neil said confidently.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing inappropriate about my offer. You wouldn¡¯t be betraying Vincent; you¡¯d simply be creating a design for me and, in return, learn about your past. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn¡¯t let such a chance slip by.¡±


    Neil¡¯s words were carefully crafted to persuade Katelyn into agreeing.


    She took a deep breath.


    ¡°First, I need to check if this document is real.¡±


    Neil slid the document closer to her. ¡°By all means, take a look.¡±


    Katelyn picked up the document and began to read. As she absorbed the details, her expression shifted, and she was visibly shocked.


    .


    .


    .

 Chapter 459

    ?Chapter 459:


    The file felt thick and important, but when Katelyn opened it, there was nothing inside except a single photograph. It was the same photo Neil had just sent her.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes shed with a hint of anger breaking through her calm demeanor.


    ¡°You really think you can mess with me?¡± she snapped.


    Neil chuckled softly, leaning back and crossing his legs. His movements were rxed, as though he were enjoying the moment. The anticipation of payback filled him with a satisfaction he couldn¡¯t hide.


    ¡°I¡¯m not dumb enough to give you all the details. What if you back out once you know everything?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s grip on the file tightened.


    She noticed the smug look on Neil¡¯s face and let out a sharp, mockingugh.


    ¡°Oh, you really think I¡¯ll y along with this?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any other choice?¡± Neil¡¯s voice carried an even stronger edge of arrogance.


    ¡°After I got my hands on this information, I deleted all the backups and made sure everyone who knew about it kept their mouths shut. Even Vincent couldn¡¯t uncover a single trace.¡±<fn71cb> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find¡¤novel</fn71cb>


    Neil had closed off every escape route, ensuring there were no loose ends to ruin his deal. He didn¡¯t think Katelyn could resist what he was offering.


    While Katelyn and Neil spoke, a figure slipped unnoticed into the caf¨¦, blending into the background.


    Lise¡¯s eyes burned with hatred as she focused intently on Katelyn. She clenched her fists, longing for a knife in her hand, consumed by the rage that threatened to overtake her. This woman had stolen Neil¡¯s heart once again.


    g¦Áln¦Ò¦Í?ls has fresh updates for you


    The memory of the press conference still haunted Lise. Her rtionship with Neil had imploded that day. Even now, pregnant with Neil¡¯s child, the rift between them was deeper than ever. Neil¡¯stest ultimatum stung¡ªhe wanted their baby, but Lise had no ce in the child¡¯s life. He wanted the child, but not the mother!


    Lise couldn¡¯t ept that future.


    And then there was Elora, a fool so blinded by love that she had lost her mind and ended up in a hospital, useless to everyone.


    Now, Lise had to take care of everything on her own.


    Katelyn,pletely unaware of Lise¡¯s presence, tightened her fists, her eyes filled with uncertainty and conflict.


    Since arriving in Yata, she had often thought about searching for her biological parents. But uncovering what had happened more than twenty years ago seemed nearly impossible. Katelyn didn¡¯t even know if her parents were still alive.


    Neil had certainly presented an offer that was hard to refuse, but helping him secure the main spot at the exhibition? That was something she could never agree to.


    Throughout it all, Neil remained confident, waiting patiently for Katelyn to nod in approval. Once he secured the main spot, Neil nned to reveal the truth, fully aware it would ruin Katelyn¡¯s rtionship with Vincent.


    To his surprise, Katelyn pushed the file back across the table. ¡°I¡¯ll find what I need by myself. I won¡¯t make shady deals with you.¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, quickly turning to anger.


    ¡°Katelyn, think carefully. This is your only chance. Are you really willing to let your parents die without knowing who their daughter is?¡±


    ¡°I said I¡¯ll figure this out myself. I don¡¯t need your help,¡± Katelyn replied, choosing to trust her own judgment.


    She refused to believe that Neil could control everything. The old photo had already provided her with hints and sparked new ideas. Following this path, she was certain she would discover something important.


    She couldn¡¯t betray herself, nor could she turn her back on Vincent.


    The situation unfolded very differently than Neil had expected. His anger red, and he spoke with a tone full of sarcasm. ¡°I never thought finding your real parents would matter less to you than Vincent. If I really wanted you to betray him, you¡¯d probably choose to die first.¡± His voice was thick with contempt.


    Katelyn¡¯s heart had once belonged to him, but now it belonged to another man. How could he ept that?


    ¡°I won¡¯t work with someone as despicable as you,¡± Katelyn shot back.


    With that, Katelyn turned to walk away, but in that instant, a truck suddenly veered off the road and raced toward the caf¨¦, heading directly for the window seat where they were sitting!


    .


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 Chapter 460

    ?Chapter 460:


    The truck appeared out of nowhere, speeding directly toward the caf¨¦. The crash happened so suddenly that both Katelyn and Neil were caught off guard. They stood frozen, watching as the truck barreled closer.


    In moments like this, when life hangs in the bnce, adrenaline might spur extraordinary feats of strength¡ªbut it can also leave the mind nk.


    The windows shattered instantly, and the force of the collision sent Katelyn crashing to the ground.


    At that moment, a figure leaped from the side, tackling Neil to the ground. They narrowly avoided the rampaging truck, which mmed into the caf¨¦¡¯s counter beforeing to a halt. The entire caf¨¦ was devastated by the impact.


    Katelyn felt intense pain coursing through her body, particrly in her arm. Looking down, she saw arge shard of ss embedded in her skin.


    Nearby, Neil, his face twisted in panic, noticed Lise unconscious beside him. He grasped her hand tightly, pleading, ¡°Lise, stay with me! I¡¯m taking you to the hospital right now! Stay with me!¡±


    Blood covered Lise¡¯s forehead, and herplexion had gone ghostly pale. She managed to lift her hand and tenderly caressed Neil¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re safe, Neil.¡±


    Those were herst words of strength before her hand dropped limply. ¡°Lise!¡± Neil cried out in despair. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lise¡¯s brave intervention, the truck would have struck him directly.


    Lise had saved his life.


    In the aftermath of the ident, survivors quickly called for emergency services. The injured were rushed to the hospital.


    Though in pain, Katelyny in the hospital bed as the medical staff worked to remove the ss from her arm. Some shards were embedded so deeply that even under anesthesia, the process was agonizing.


    The rest of the chapters at g??ln o vels.???? ??


    After the procedure, Katelyny drenched in cold sweat, still recovering from the ordeal.


    Just then, the door to her ward burst open, and Vincent, along with Jaxen, rushed in, having been alerted to the incident. They immediately noticed Katelyn, her arm and forehead heavily bandaged. Vincent¡¯s voice was stern as he inquired, ¡°What happened? How were you injured so badly?¡±


    His expression remained stoic, yet his eyes betrayed deep concern.


    Katelyn, propped up against the headboard, managed a weak smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay. A truck lost control and crashed, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Vincent nodded, but the sight of Katelyn¡¯s pale face only heightened his worry. ¡°What did the doctors say? Do you need to stay here for long?¡±<fn8321> The rightful source is find?novel</fn8321>


    ¡°I¡¯ll be alright. I just need to avoid using my arm for a bit,¡± Katelyn replied.


    Jaxen, lounging on a nearby couch, let out a relieved sigh. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. You wouldn¡¯t believe how fast Vincent drove to get us here when we received the news. He was speeding like a maniac. I had to strap myself in just to feel safe.¡±


    Vincent shot him a disapproving nce.


    Jaxen looked baffled. ¡°You know, Vincent, you really care about Katelyn, but you keep it all to yourself. How will she ever know if you don¡¯t tell her?¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s remark was both teasing and slightly usatory. ¡°It¡¯s no surprise you¡¯ve stayed single for so long.¡±


    Vincent responded with a dry, slightly threatening smile. ¡°Jaxen, are you looking for trouble?¡±


    Jaxen quickly raised his hands in a gesture of peace. ¡°My bad, my bad! I¡¯ll leave you two alone for a bit. I¡¯m going to check with the doctor about any additional medications we might need.¡±


    Jaxen excused himself to give them some privacy. He knew that nudging these two closer would be a challenge, given Vincent¡¯s reserved nature.


    In critical moments like this, it was up to him, the loyal friend, to make a move.


    Jaxen had already devised a n to help Vincent win Katelyn¡¯s heart. For starters, they needed this moment alone to potentially deepen their rtionship.


    As Jaxen congratted himself on his tactical move, his attention was caught by a figure in the hallway, and a look of surprise crossed his face.


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 Chapter 461

    ?Chapter 461:


    For a moment, Jaxen couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. How was it possible that Neil was here, right in the hospital corridor? Could he be waiting for Katelyn?


    Jaxen¡¯s mind instantly went on high alert. It was clear that Neil hadn¡¯t moved on from Katelyn and was still hoping to revive their past rtionship. Jaxen was determined not to let that happen.


    At that moment, Neil felt as though his heart was being ripped apart. He had resolved to cut ties with Lise, yet he hadn¡¯t anticipated that she would risk her life to save him in a moment of danger. It was Lise who had shoved him to safety, taking the full impact of the truck herself.


    Remembering how he had treated her and all her suffering, Neil was disgusted with himself. How could he betray someone who loved him so deeply?


    He kept his gaze fixed on the operating room door. After what seemed like an eternity, it finally swung open. Neil hurried over, his expression filled with concern, and asked, ¡°Doctor, how is she?¡±


    The doctor took off his mask, looking puzzled. ¡°Are you rted to the patient?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m her boyfriend. Please, just tell me, was the operation a sess? Is she still alive?¡±<fn5858> ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???????s, ????s? ??s?? F¦ÉndNovel</fn5858>


    Neil was frantic, peering anxiously into the operating room, wishing he could go inside himself.


    He had already forgiven Lise for everything, even the debacle at the press conference. He believed she had acted out of love for him.


    With a tone of regret, the doctor said, ¡°The operation was a sess, and her condition is stable now. However, we couldn¡¯t save the baby.¡±


    Neil¡¯s pupils shrank, and he stammered, ¡°What did you¡ª¡±


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    ¡°The baby didn¡¯t survive, and the damage caused significant internal bleeding. We had to perform a hysterectomy for her safety, meaning we had to remove her uterus.¡±


    These words were like a bolt from the blue to Neil.


    The child he had eagerly anticipated was lost. Moreover, Lise would never have the opportunity to be a mother again. What were they going to do now?


    Neil mustered a weak smile and murmured, ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡±


    The doctor added, ¡°She¡¯s still under anesthesia but should wake up tonight.¡±


    Neil nodded but his gaze had already drifted away. He should have realized sooner. Given that Lise was pregnant, how could the baby have survived such a brutal impact? Yet, he had never anticipated that Lise would permanently lose her chance to be a mother. Once Lise discovered this, she would undoubtedly be devastated.


    Meanwhile, in the ward, Katelyn and Vincent were unaware of the drama unfolding in the corridor. Though they were alone, an awkward tension lingered between them, spurred by Jaxen¡¯s earlierments. Jaxen had almost revealed Vincent¡¯s deep concern and anxiety, making it impossible for Katelyn to ignore. She touched her chest, feeling a sense of bewilderment.


    She didn¡¯t fully understand why, but realizing how deeply Vincent cared seemed to stir tender feelings within her. She was no longer the naive young woman she once was. Neither spoke, and the silence stretched between them.


    Eventually, Vincent broke the silence with a soft tone, casually exining, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t take Jaxen¡¯s words to heart. He¡¯s known to exaggerate things.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, replying, ¡°I know.¡±


    It seemed the matter was settled for the moment. Vincent had aimed to lighten the mood, but after a brief pause, the atmosphere turned even more awkward. In the spacious ward, it felt as if even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard clearly.


    Katelyn¡¯s cheeks warmed again, and her hands clenched into fists under the covers. She inwardly scolded herself for herck ofposure. Vincent hadn¡¯t said anything particrly flustering; why was she blushing so often? Was sheing down with something?


    This was a level of awkwardness neither of them had ever experienced with each other.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± They both began to speak simultaneously, and upon catching each other¡¯s gaze, they once again said in unison, ¡°You go first.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face grew even redder, and Vincent felt a bit ufortable too. He cleared his throat lightly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll start. Were you meeting someone earlier?¡±


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 Chapter 462

    ?Chapter 462:


    Kaitlyn looked at Vincent, surprised that he seemed aware of the situation. She hadn¡¯t expected him to notice, but given how observant and insightful he was, it wasn¡¯t entirely shocking that this hadn¡¯t escaped his attention. She nodded, acknowledging his assumption.


    ¡°Neil sent me a photo, saying he had information about one of my rtives. He wanted to use that as leverage to make a deal with me.¡±


    As she exined, Kaitlyn took out her phone, scrolled to the photo in question, and handed it to Vincent so he could take a closer look.


    Vincent studied the photo with a serious expression. ¡°There¡¯s definitely some resemnce between you and this person, but the facial features have a distinct foreign quality. This one is likely from Granville.¡±


    As he looked more closely, he noticed that Kaitlyn¡¯s own features didn¡¯t align with the typical Granvillean look. Her brow stood out, her eye sockets were deep-set, and her face had sharp, angr lines. However, Kaitlyn¡¯s striking eyes often drew attention, causing people to overlook her remarkable bone structure.


    From an ethnic standpoint, Kaitlyn resembled someone from Yata more closely.<fn94b9> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find?Novel</fn94b9>


    ¡°I hesitated, but after seeing the photo, I chose to trust him. Neil told me it was my only chance to find my rtives and that I had no choice but to cooperate.¡±


    Vincent returned her phone with a knowing look. ¡°He¡¯s probably nning to use this as leverage to secure a foothold in the overseas market.¡±


    ¡°Exactly, but I didn¡¯t agree to his terms, and then the ident happened,¡± Kaitlyn exined, still confused by the crash.


    ¡°If I remember correctly,rge trucks aren¡¯t even allowed in the city center of Yata. On top of that, Neil and I weren¡¯t the only ones at the scene of the ident. Lise was there too.¡±


    The cafe stood along the busiest street in the city, an area whererge trucks were prohibited from entering. With so many other shops around, why would the truck crash directly into the cafe¡¯s ss window?


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    After dealing with countless schemes, Kaitlyn had grown skeptical of so-called coincidences. Lise¡¯s presence at the scene only deepened her suspicions.


    Vincent¡¯s expression clouded with confusion as he tapped his fingers on his knee, lost in thought. ¡°Haven¡¯t they already split up? So why were both of them there when the ident happened?¡±


    Even though Neil and Lise tried to present themselves as a happy couple in public, several media outlets had already started covering the cracks in their rtionship after the press conference. Some even published pictures of their arguments, though these were more gossip than factual reporting, and the truth behind it all still remained unclear.


    It was difficult for anyone to believe that Lise had told such a massive lie, especially considering Neil was left to deal with the fallout once the truth came out. By this point, most people assumed they had already ended things.


    Kaitlyn¡¯s faint smile hinted at something deeper, as if she knew more than she was letting on.


    ¡°Maybe they ended things before, but this ident might bring them back together¡ªand probably even closer,¡± she said cryptically.


    Vincent, sharp as ever, immediately understood the implication behind Kaitlyn¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re implying that Lise may have done something to reignite Neil¡¯s feelings, and it could be connected to what happened during the crash.¡±


    The pieces of the puzzle started to fall into ce.


    ¡°Lise rescued Neil, but considering how strange the crash was, it¡¯s possible she nned the whole thing herself,¡± Kaitlyn added, impressed by Vincent¡¯s insight and precise deduction.


    With just a small clue, he had managed to piece the situation together.


    ¡°Still, this is all spection for now, without any solid proof,¡± Vincent mused. He spoke quietly, then added, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone investigate it. If we find any evidence, you¡¯ll be the first to hear about it.¡±


    Staging an ident and turning it into an act of heroism seemed reckless and extreme, but it was undeniably effective. It could easily break the tension between them in a very short time. Considering Lise¡¯s character, she seemed perfectly capable of pulling off a scheme like this.


    After all, fortune favored the bold.


    Just as the conversation ended, Jaxen entered the room, wearing a stern expression.


    ¡°Hey, you won¡¯t believe this. Guess who I just saw in the hallway?¡±


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 Chapter 463

    ?Chapter 463:


    Jaxen¡¯s expression was unusually serious.


    Typically cheerful and carefree, this somber look on his face immediately made Katelyn and Vincent tense up. Was there a new problem?


    ¡°Who did you run into?¡± they both asked.


    Jaxen seemed to draw out the suspense, pausing before finally responding, ¡°It was Neil, actually.¡±


    Both Katelyn and Vincent were left speechless.


    The room fell silent.


    They had braced themselves for something significant, only for Jaxen to prolong the moment just to drop that small piece of information.


    Watching their faces change from intense to dumbfounded, Jaxen looked briefly puzzled.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that intriguing? Why would Neil be at the hospital? He must havee after hearing about Katelyn¡¯s ident,¡± Jaxen continued.


    Vincent¡¯s expression grew stern. ¡°So, what are you trying to say?¡±


    Jaxen looked earnest as he advised, ¡°Bro, you should take this seriously. What if Neil still has feelings for Katelyn and intends to win her back?¡±


    Katelyn touched her forehead, overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness. But she understood that Jaxen wasn¡¯t fully aware of everything.


    She quickly exined the car ident at the hotel¡¯s cafe, but Jaxen¡¯s attention wandered again.


    He looked at Katelyn thoughtfully, hand on his chin, and asked curiously, ¡°How did you two meet in the first ce?¡±


    Suddenly, Jaxen recalled Katelyn¡¯s hesitation when she mentioned going to grab a coffee.


    ???????????????? ????????: g???????¦Í?????????????


    He blurted out, ¡°So, you were going to meet Neil then!¡±


    He pieced together the clues, his eyes wide with curiosity.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t still got feelings for that guy, have you?¡±


    Katelyn offered a weary smile. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. I¡¯ve already fallen into that trap once. Why would I do it again?¡±


    If she repeated the same mistakes, it would only confirm that she deserved all the past heartache and troubles. She knew how to love deeply and bravely, but she also knew when to walk away with dignity. That was just part of who she was.


    Jaxen nodded, seemingly reassured by her words. ¡°With Vincent around, if you still considered going back, I really wouldn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Katelyn fell quiet once more.


    She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Jaxen had an ulterior motive, subtly nudging her toward Vincent with hisments.


    Vincent cast a stern nce at Jaxen. ¡°Drop the subject.¡±


    Jaxen pouted, clicking his tongue in frustration. ¡°Now I see how easy it is for good intentions to be misinterpreted.¡±


    He considered himself quite the ally. Why, then, was Vincent treating him with such coldness?


    Vincent¡¯s look carried a clear caution.


    Jaxen chose to remain silent.


    As the evening deepened, Lise began to stir from her anesthesia.


    Feeling her fingers twitch, Neil instantly took her hand, his expression one of deep concern. ¡°Lise, how do you feel? Tell me if you¡¯re ufortable anywhere. I¡¯ll get the doctor.¡±


    Lise¡¯s gaze was distant, fixed on the ceiling. ¡°Am I dead? I never thought I¡¯d see the person I love most in heaven.¡±


    ¡°As long as you¡¯re safe, I have no regrets.¡±


    Neil felt as if a weight had dropped onto his chest.


    Tears started to well up in his eyes, and he felt even more regret for what he had done to hurt Lise in the past. How could he have treated someone who loved him so deeply with such harshness?


    He then said in a deep voice, ¡°Lise, you¡¯re alive. You didn¡¯t die.¡±


    Disbelief flickered in Lise¡¯s eyes. ¡°Really? But I clearly remember the car hitting me. I¡¯m in so much pain.¡±


    Neil fought back his tears and nodded resolutely.<fn6d2b> Original content can be found at f?ndnovel</fn6d2b>


    ¡°You didn¡¯t die. We were both saved in time. This ident has taught me never to take out my anger on those I love.¡±


    Lise opened her mouth in astonishment. ¡°Neil, you¡¯re not mad at me anymore?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll never be mad at you again. From now on, I promise to protect you and make sure you face no more hardships.¡± Neil grew more emotional as he spoke. Just as he was about to hug Lise, a knock came at the door of the ward.


    .


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 Chapter 464

    ?Chapter 464:


    The doctor entered the room.


    Noticing that Lise was awake, he quickly arranged for his team to conduct a thorough physical examination. ¡°The operation was sessful, but it¡¯s crucial that you manage your recovery well. Most importantly, avoid any emotional strain.¡±


    Lise let out a relieved sigh upon hearing this. She gently ced her hand on her stomach, her expression brightening with a hopeful smile.


    ¡°My baby is still safe, right? I¡¯ve always dreamed of giving him the happiest family when he arrives.¡±


    Neil looked visibly distressed, as though he had something to say but ultimately held back. He turned away, unable to meet Lise¡¯s hopeful gaze.


    The doctor was also taken aback.


    Hadn¡¯t Neil informed her of the situation yet?


    Lise, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in mood and urgently sought an answer. ¡°What happened? Is my baby still here?¡±


    Neil softly touched her shoulder, his own grief evident. ¡°Lise, try to stay calm. The doctor just mentioned how important it is for you not to get upset.¡±


    ¡°Answer my question first. Is my baby still with me?¡± Lise¡¯s voice broke as she cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her face went ashen, making her look incredibly vulnerable.


    Neil remained silent, his eyes reddening with unshed tears.


    He too had eagerly anticipated the birth of their child.


    Now, that future seemed to dissolve into nothing.


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    All he could do was embrace Lise tightly. ¡°Please, try to calm down. Once you¡¯re more settled, I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡±


    Tears streaked down Lise¡¯s cheeks as she said through clenched teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me to calm down!¡±


    Her eyes, filled with despair, pleaded with the doctor, ¡°Please, can you tell me what happened to my baby?¡± Though the doctor had witnessed many such moments, Lise¡¯s desperation was palpable.


    A profound sorrow still moved him deeply. He inhaled deeply, his voice filled with regret as he delivered the heartbreaking news.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I¡¯m sorry, but your baby didn¡¯t make it. To save your life, we had to remove your uterus as well.¡±


    Although Neil had been informed beforehand, hearing the tragic news again still pained him deeply. He was at a loss as to how Lise would handle such devastating information.


    Lise froze in Neil¡¯s embrace, her body turning as hard as stone. Her facial expressions seemed to slip out of control, and she forced an unnatural smile.<fne9fb> For more chapters visit Find1Novel</fne9fb>


    ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? This must be some kind of cruel joke. My baby can¡¯t be gone.¡±


    The doctor, feeling powerless, responded, ¡°I understand this is extremely hard, but we had to make that decision to save your life. I am deeply sorry for your loss.¡± With those words, the doctor exited, leaving Neil and Lise alone.


    Lise sat on the bed, staring nkly as if her soul had been taken from her. Neil gripped her hand, his voiceced with desperation.


    ¡°Lise, this isn¡¯t the end. There are other ways we can start a family. We could always consider adoption. Please, just say something to me. Don¡¯t frighten me like this.¡±


    Despite Neil¡¯s pleas, Lise remained unresponsive. She was utterly lost in her grief, unable toe to terms with the loss of her child. Neil¡¯s tears finally overflowed as he embraced Lise tightly.


    ¡°This is all my fault. You were injured because you saved me. I¡¯ll do anything to make this right. Please, Lise, give me that chance.¡±


    Lise slowly shifted her gaze, and then pointed weakly toward the door.


    ¡°Can I be alone for a while?¡± she whispered.


    Neil paused, but then nodded slowly. Before he left the room, he cautiously removed any sharp objects, worried that Lise might hurt herself in her distraught state. Unbeknownst to him, as soon as the door shut behind him, the despair on Lise¡¯s face disappeared.


    She even ced her hand over her stomach and sneered, a spark of victory in her eyes.


    She had known all along that she couldn¡¯t maintain the pregnancy. Multiple abortions in the past had left her uterine wall too fragile to sustain a pregnancy to term.


    A sly smile crept across Lise¡¯s face. ¡°Ah, my baby¡­ you¡¯ve really worked out in my favor this time,¡± she whispered to herself, lost in her scheming, when suddenly, her phone started ringing.


    .


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 Chapter 465

    ?Chapter 465:<fn2ea7> For original chapters go to find?novel</fn2ea7>


    Lise¡¯s face turned pale as a foreign number shed on her phone screen. Without a second thought, she hit the hang-up button. Her mood shifted instantly from victory to apprehension. How on earth had that man gotten her new number? Without further hesitation, Lise swiftly blocked the number. She was on the cusp of better days and wouldn¡¯t let anyone ruin them.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn¡¯s medical results had been finalized. Aside from the cuts from the ss shards on her arm, she had sustained a mild concussion. The doctors rmended a hospital stay for observation.


    Katelyn rested against the headboard, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, enveloped in a sense of despair. The room was filled with the sharp scent of hospital disinfectant, which she despised. Stuck in her hospital bed, she aimlessly picked up her phone and started scrolling through local entertainment news.


    Just then, the door to her ward swung open. Jaxen entered, grinning broadly and carrying a thermos.


    ¡°Katelyn, the doctor mentioned you need to keep your strength up with some nutritious food during recovery. Here¡¯s a nourishing soup Vincent prepared especially for you.¡±


    Katelyn looked at him, bewildered. ¡°Vincent made this soup himself?¡±


    Earlier that morning, Vincent had left the hospital, iming he had work matters to attend to. But was that just an excuse to prepare soup for her?


    Jaxen nodded enthusiastically, still beaming as he praised the soup. ¡°Absolutely. Vincent went out to buy the best ingredients himself and spent two hours simmering this soup. He chose the ingredients following the doctor and nutritionist¡¯s rmendations. Be sure to appreciate his effort.¡±


    With that, he opened the thermos. The savory aroma of chicken soup immediately filled the room, overpowering the sterile hospital smell.


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    It even stirred Katelyn¡¯s appetite. The soup in the thermos was a rich golden color, looking very inviting. She couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°It smells delicious.¡±


    Jaxen responded with pride, ¡°Of course, Vincent made it himself. I¡¯ve known him for years and never realized he could cook.¡±


    At that moment, Katelyn pictured Vincent in her mind, imagining him carefully preparing the soup just for her. Vincent, dressed in a ck shirt and a pink apron, stood solemnly in the kitchen, focused on simmering the soup.


    Even though it was just her imagination, Katelyn still found the image a bit odd. She nodded and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t know he could make soup either. The only thing I¡¯ve had from him before was breakfast.¡±


    This revtion left Jaxen visibly shocked. His eyes widened, and his voice grew louder. ¡°You¡¯ve had breakfast he cooked?!¡±


    He had been friends with Vincent for years and had never once seen him cook, much less enjoyed a breakfast prepared by him. Yet here was Katelyn, having already had that experience. Did this mean that friends were less valued than romantic interests to Vincent?


    For a moment, Jaxen felt a sense of injustice.


    Katelyn looked at him, puzzled by his intense reaction. ¡°I was sick once, and Mr. Adams cooked breakfast for me out of kindness.¡± It was simple, but it was memorable for Katelyn.


    Jaxen sighed deeply, a hint of resentment in his tone. ¡°I¡¯ve never received that kind of care.¡± Whenever he was sick, Vincent would simply call the family doctor to give him injections or medication. He hadn¡¯t even received a kind word, let alone a homemade breakfast from Vincent.


    Jaxen¡¯sints could be summed up in one thought. Friends always get better treatment than I do, he murmured.


    Katelyn was momentarily taken aback. Jaxen was suddenly acting like a wronged spouse.


    ¡°Vincent really looks out for you in every possible way.¡± Suddenly, something seemed to click for Jaxen, and he brightened.


    ¡°Quick, try Vincent¡¯s special nutritious soup. It must taste great.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Katelyn responded, but her curiosity got the better of her as she asked, ¡°Where did Mr. Adams go? I¡¯d like to thank him myself.¡±


    Jaxen blinked, suddenly at a loss for words. ¡°Well¡­ He¡­¡±


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 Chapter 466

    ?Chapter 466:


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were filled with curiosity.


    As Jaxen stuttered without giving a clear response, she sensed something wasn¡¯t quite right.


    ¡°Is Mr. Adams still tied up with work?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Jaxen eximed, pping his thigh with an exaggerated decisiveness. ¡°He spent two whole hours preparing soup for you, alright? Now he¡¯s just catching up on the backlog of work he umted.¡±


    While speaking, Jaxen noticed the bandage on Katelyn¡¯s arm and suddenly had a thought. ¡°Hold off on the soup for now¡ªit¡¯s hot and could burn you. I¡¯ll go check on how Vincent is handling his workload.¡±


    Without waiting for her response, Jaxen hurried out, as if fleeing from something.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t dwell on his odd behavior for long. Instead, she let the inviting smell of the chicken soup fill her with a cozy sense of appreciation. Vincent had truly gone out of his way to care for her. She resolved to find a way to thank him properly in the future.


    Without a proper office space avable, Vincent had been handling his work from his suite at the hotel. He had just wrapped up a grueling four-hour meeting and was taking off his headset when Jaxen burst in.


    Vincent¡¯s brow furrowed at the sight of Jaxen¡¯s frantic entrance. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is there a problem?¡±


    Jaxen copsed on the couch, visibly worn out. He had been on the move all morning¡ªpicking up the chicken soup from a restaurant, delivering it to Katelyn, and now returning to the hotel. He felt like a robot that had finally run out of battery.


    After catching his breath, Jaxen said, ¡°I just came from the hospital. I saw Katelyn struggling to eat with her bandaged right hand. It really made me feel for her.¡±


    Stay tuned at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Í???s


    Vincent¡¯s face took on a slightly ominous look, his lips curling into a subtle, threatening smile. ¡°You feel bad for her?¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Jaxen blurted out, but sensing the mood had shifted, he quickly rified, ¡°I mean, not in the way you might think. I just figured she might need some help.¡±


    ¡°Like a caregiver. It¡¯s tough for her to manage simple tasks like eating right now.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression turned cold. He had momentarily overlooked the ss shards that had wounded Katelyn¡¯s arm and the bandages still encircling her right hand. As Vincent drifted into thought, Jaxen pressed on eagerly.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I think we should hire a caregiver for her¡ªsomeone to assist with everyday activities. I¡¯ve heard the male caregivers here in Yata are particrly diligent.¡±


    Vincent nonchntly shut hisptop and responded quietly, ¡°Knowing Katelyn, she wouldn¡¯t befortable with a caregiver.¡±


    As he spoke, he walked toward the door.


    Jaxen quickly asked, ¡°Where are you off to?¡±


    ¡°The hospital,¡± Vincent answered, closing the door behind him.


    Back on the sofa, Jaxen couldn¡¯t help but wear a satisfied grin. The initial attempt at being the perfect wingman had gone exactly as nned!<fnd412> Newest update provided by find?novel</fnd412>


    When Vincent reached the hospital, he found Katelyn awkwardly trying to grab a water cup from the table. The thick bandage on her wrist made the task difficult.


    Vincent set down his coat and approached swiftly.


    ¡°For things like this, you should just call me.¡±


    Katelyn, taken aback by his sudden appearance, felt a bit self-conscious as he handed her the cup.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already troubled you enough. I don¡¯t want to bother you with something like this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no bother at all,¡± Vincent reassured, ncing at the thermos next to her. ¡°Have you had something to eat? Are you hungry?¡±


    He felt the outside of the thermos, noting it was still warm.


    ¡°No, not yet,¡± Katelyn responded, just as her stomach audibly rumbled.


    Although it was a quiet sound, it resonated clearly in the still hospital room. Her face turned a deep shade of red.


    Vincent¡¯s expression softened, a trace of amusement in his eyes as he opened the thermos and took up a spoon. He carefully scooped some soup, offering it to her lips.


    ¡°The soup should be the perfect temperature now.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. After a brief pause, she quickly protested, ¡°Mr. Adams, my injury isn¡¯t that serious. I can eat by myself.¡±


    Vincent maintained a soothing tone. ¡°Just take it easy.¡±


    Katelyn was left feeling bewildered. What was this feeling of being treated like a child?


    Unseen by Katelyn, a shadowy figure lingered at the door, secretly observing the scene.


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 Chapter 467

    ?Chapter 467:


    Jaxen peeked through the crack in the door, barely suppressing augh at the scene unfolding before him. He was certain that Vincent and Katelyn definitely needed a little push. Otherwise, left to their own devices, they might remain just friends for another twenty years.


    When they finally got married, Jaxen would make sure to be the best man!


    With his mission aplished, Jaxen quietly slipped away.


    In the ward, Katelyn faced a dilemma.


    The chicken soup steamed before her, and Vincent¡¯s demeanor left her no room to refuse. After a brief pause, she opened her mouth and took a sip. As Vincent reached for another spoonful to feed her, Katelyn quickly stopped him, forcing a smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams, but I can manage on my own.¡±


    Her most significant injury was a cut on her arm, not her wrist. The excessive bandaging made it appear more serious than it really was. She wasn¡¯t so incapacitated that she needed someone else to feed her.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was piercing, his tone authoritative.


    ¡°Finish the soup first.¡±


    Katelyn felt entirely powerless and could only nod reluctantly. They were close enough that she could see the fine detail of Vincent¡¯s handsome eyshes. He seemed almost divinely crafted.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes, typically cold and stern, softened into a warm, inviting gaze that could captivate anyone. Such strikingly beautiful eyes.


    Her heart involuntarily quickened its pace.


    Vincent had not only prepared the nutritious soup himself but was now personally feeding her. If Aimee found out, she would likely be overjoyed and eager to y matchmaker.


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    Memories of Vincent¡¯s thoughtful attentions crept uninvited into Katelyn¡¯s mind, pressing her to face a question she had been avoiding.


    Would any boss really go to such lengths for an employee? Yet Vincent remained silent, leaving Katelyn filled with uncertainty. An answer slowly formed in her mind, causing her cheeks to redden further.


    Engulfed in these swirling emotions, Katelyn eventually finished the entire bowl of soup.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Adams,¡± Katelyn whispered, her voice barely audible.


    Vincent nonchntly handed her a tissue and closed the lid of the thermos.


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so formal with me.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face was ame, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to look directly at Vincent. She paused, gathering her thoughts before adding, ¡°Still, I want to thank you for always looking out for me, even going as far as making me soup.¡±


    Vincent quickly focused on her mention of the soup and nced at the thermos. He hadn¡¯t asked where it hade from.


    Noticing Katelyn¡¯s bashful demeanor, he pieced things together but chose to probe indirectly. ¡°Who said I made the soup?¡±


    Katelyn responded instinctively, ¡°Jaxen told me. He said you spent two hours preparing it, even putting off your work.¡±


    If Katelyn hadn¡¯t realized it earlier, it dawned on her now. Vincent, known for his relentless work ethic, was unlikely to postpone his duties for something as minor as cooking soup.


    Vincent, too, hade to a conclusion. A calcting look shed in his eyes, and he smirked slightly.


    Jaxen was growing bolder, meddling in his affairs. That also exined why he had been so adamant about securing a male nurse for Katelyn.


    ¡°So, he lied to me¡­¡± Vincent murmured.


    Katelyn clenched her fists, ready to confront Jaxen. She had spent so much time thinking about how to thank Vincent, only to discover it was all based on a misunderstanding.


    Vincent nced at her but sidestepped her direct inquiry. ¡°Did you like the soup?¡±


    Katelyn responded truthfully, ¡°It¡¯s quite good. Certainly better than what the hospital serves.¡±


    The hospital where she was recuperating was a top-tier private institution, equipped with a nutritionist who meticulously nned the patients¡¯ meals. Although the meals were nutritious, they were far from delicious.


    Vincent appeared contemtive. ¡°As long as you enjoyed it.¡±


    Her initial question hung in the air, still unanswered. As Katelyn debated whether to press for an answer again, a loudmotion suddenly broke out outside the door.


    .<fn4e08> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn4e08>


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 Chapter 468

    ?Chapter 468:


    ¡°Get that bitch Katelyn Bailey out here! Tell her to return Austen to me!¡±


    A sharp, female voice rang through the hall, loud and piercing, nearly unbearable.


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a look, immediately recognizing who it was.


    It was Elora.


    Elora had been victimized by someone in the T Organization, and Katelyn had been the one to discover what had happened and rushed her to the emergency room. Katelyn never asked about the aftermath.


    By the strength in Elora¡¯s voice now, it was clear she had physically recovered.


    Breck, positioned before Elora, was trying to calm her down. ¡°Have you forgotten what the doctor advised? You¡¯re supposed to be resting in bed, avoiding any stress.¡±


    Breck felt a mix of frustration and helplessness, regretting how much he had indulged Elora over the years.


    His pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.


    Dressed in her hospital gown, Elora stood her ground. ¡°Dad, you need to help me get Austen back. If he stays with Katelyn, he¡¯ll surely face punishment.¡±


    Upon waking from her surgery, Elora had immediately noticed the absence of her trusted bodyguard, Austen Henderson, who was normally always by her side.


    That was her first clue that something was wrong.


    Austen had been her constantpanion since childhood, always close by, no matter the situation.


    And as she suspected, her investigations revealed that Austen had been taken by Katelyn.


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    Now, Elora was filled with a deep-seated anger.


    Why hadn¡¯t she dealt with that damned Katelyn at the first opportunity?


    Breck struggled to maintain hisposure, still trying to reason with her. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out how to get Austen back for you. But you need to return to your room and rest now. You¡¯re my heiress. I can¡¯t bear the thought of losing you.¡±


    Elora looked at Breck, incredulous, her voice rising. ¡°Dad, you know how important Austen is to me, and yet you keep standing in my way!¡±


    Elora was overwhelmed with distress and confusion.


    Had her beloved father now aligned himself with Katelyn? Aplex emotion flickered in Breck¡¯s eyes as he held back the words he wanted to say, instead letting out a heavy sigh. ¡°I made a mistake before. Katelyn is someone we simply cannot afford to antagonize.¡±


    Breck had learned a hard truth through tough experiences. Katelyn wasn¡¯t just a famous designer known as Iris; her closest friends included heirs of the Adams Group and the Lawrence Group. Elora¡¯s previous problems all stemmed from underestimating Katelyn, leading to severe consequences. More importantly, his boss had explicitly instructed Breck to avoid Katelyn.


    Throughout his years of managing the casino, this was the first time Breck had received such a directmand from his boss. It was clear that Katelyn was more important than he had initially realized, but Breck couldn¡¯t exin theplexities to Elora without putting her safety at risk.<fn4160> This content belongs to find?novel</fn4160>


    ¡°You need to go back to your room now. I¡¯ll speak with Katelyn and try to bring Austen back,¡± Breck said.


    Elora gritted her teeth, her eyes showing unwavering resolve. ¡°You have to bring Austen back. I can handle her taking Bartley, but Austen must not be harmed.¡±


    Breck was visibly puzzled by Elora¡¯s adamant demand. ¡°He¡¯s just a bodyguard. If something happens to him, I can always find you a recement.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Elora interrupted, her voice fierce. ¡°Austen is the only one I want!¡±


    Their heated argument at the door could clearly be heard by Katelyn and Vincent, who were still inside the hospital room.


    Katelyn then realized something. ¡°So the man in ck is called Austen. And it seems Elora cares so much about him¡ªhe must be very dear to her.¡±


    Austen himself had shown simr sentiments. When Austen was taken captive and brought to Earl Poulos¡¯ castle, he continually insisted that he needed to return to Elora¡¯s side, no matter what.


    It seemed that even a bodyguard and his employer could share a deep, mutual loyalty.


    Vincent added, ¡°They must have grown up together to share such a strong bond.¡±


    Then, Elora¡¯s voice came again from the door. ¡°Katelyn, if you return Austen to me, we can resolve our issues once and for all.¡±


    Elora was willing to forsake everything else, but she would never allow any harm toe to Austen.


    In the next moment, the door to the room was abruptly pushed open.


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 Chapter 469

    ?Chapter 469:


    However, the figure who emerged was not Katelyn; it was Lise, appearing pale and frail. She had been in the adjacent hospital room to Katelyn¡¯s and couldn¡¯t help but overhear Elora¡¯s loud confrontations. Lise wasn¡¯t about to sit back and watch Katelyn and Elora make amends.


    At that moment, Elora was the most powerful tool at her disposal, and Lise was determined to keep the feud between them alive. Bearing the agony of her injuries, Lise adopted a look of concern.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Elora, caught off guard by Lise¡¯s weakened state, turned with a look of surprise. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Before Lise could exin, Elora, consumed by her anger, added sharply, ¡°That bitch Katelyn has taken my top bodyguard hostage. She must release him.¡±


    Lise quickly chimed in, ¡°Katelyn¡¯s treachery knows no bounds. I wouldn¡¯t be in such pain if not for her cunning. You must get him back quickly, or who knows what she may have already done to your bodyguard¡­¡±


    Lise¡¯s pause only intensified the dangerous look in Elora¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s out of the question! Austen wouldn¡¯t die without mymand. If Katelyn has harmed him in any way, I¡¯ll kill her myself.¡±


    Breck¡¯s face turned gravely serious. He said sharply, ¡°Elora, did you forget what I just told you? Don¡¯t antagonize Katelyn. Leave it to me.¡± Yet Elora, determined and bitter, replied, ¡°I need to see Austen, right here with me.¡±


    Just then, Katelyn opened the door. Elora¡¯s temper surged at the sight of her. She stared at Katelyn and said, ¡°Did you hear me? Return Austen to me, or I¡¯ll find a thousand ways to end your life!¡±


    Katelyn gave Elora a cold look, her lips twisting into a sneer. ¡°I¡¯m eager to see how you intend to do that.¡± Katelyn was out of patience with Elora. Elora was more than a spoiled brat; she was deeply cruel and foolish. Her earlier attempt to orchestrate a hit on Katelyn was all the evidence needed.


    g?????0¦Í??????.??????. ?????????????? ???????????????? ?????????? ?????? ??????????????


    Katelyn resolved, then and there, to show no leniency toward Elora moving forward.


    The most stunned of all was Breck. Had Elorapletely ignored everything he had just said? Breck quickly responded, ¡°Miss Bailey, don¡¯t take her words to heart. She¡¯s been on medication that could be clouding her judgment.¡±


    While speaking, Breck attempted to lead Elora away. He had started to understand Katelyn¡¯s nature. If they approached her the right way, she would surely be reasonable and free the bodyguard. But how could anyone respond positively to Elora¡¯s threats and intimidation?


    Breck¡¯s genuine attempts to mediate went unnoticed by Elora. She pulled her hand sharply from his grip, her eyes clouded with deep resentment. ¡°Dad, why are you taking her side instead of mine? Have you fallen under her spell too?¡±


    Her heart felt robbed of love and family by Katelyn, and now, even Austen wasn¡¯t beside her. It was Katelyn who had driven her to this edge!


    Breck was furious. He looked at Elora sternly and warned, ¡°If you continue spouting nonsense, I¡¯m done caring about you.¡±


    Tears streamed down Elora¡¯s face as she bit her lip. ¡°Why? Why is everyone siding with her against me?¡±


    She was at a loss, unable toprehend how things had gotten so dire.


    Witnessing Elora clutching her head, teetering on the edge of a meltdown, Katelyn responded bluntly, ¡°Your selfish and arrogant ways turn everyone against you!¡± Her gaze on Elora was steady, even showing a trace of sympathy.


    Elora¡¯s demeanor made Katelyn realize the true cost of squandering one¡¯s advantages. Despite being an adult, Elora behaved like a child shielded from reality, never maturing.


    In Katelyn¡¯s view, anyone enabling her deserved the worst.


    Elora¡¯s eyes zed as she said through clenched teeth, ¡°I am a princess. I am entitled to these things! Everyone should cater to me.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯sugh was cold, piercing through Elora¡¯s final defense. ¡°You im to be a princess, but what have you ever done for this country? You aren¡¯t even royalty!¡±


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    .<fn77eb> This update is avable on F?nd-Novel</fn77eb>


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 Chapter 470

    Chapter 470:


    Katelyn¡¯s questionnded like a direct hit, striking at the core of the matter.


    Elora had no official standing, no role of importance. She wasn¡¯t from the royal family, and she had never contributed anything meaningful to the nation. People addressed her as ¡°princess¡± solely because of her aristocratic heritage, not because of any actual aplishments.


    In this day and age, a noble lineage no longer held much weight or significance as it once had.


    Elora¡¯s face turned pale, and she instinctively stepped back, clutching her chest as if she had been struck by a truth she had never considered. Despite the harsh reality setting in, she clung stubbornly to her pride. ¡°Even though I¡¯m not from the royal family, people are still required to treat me with respect. I was born into this privilege!¡± she dered, refusing to back down.


    Katelyn watched Elora, now trapped in her own delusions, and shook her head. ¡°If that¡¯s how you think, no one will be able to help you.¡± Elora¡¯s way of thinking had be rigid, and it would take real effort to pull her out of the sheltered life she had built around herself.


    For Elora, the hardest truth to face was epting that she was just like anyone else, with no special privileges tied to her so-called title of ¡°princess.¡±


    Katelyn felt no sympathy for her. This situation had spiraled out of control because Breck allowed it from the very beginning. That kind of indulgence only led to destruction.


    ¡°Go back. I won¡¯t let you take Austen. After two assassination attempts, you¡¯re lucky I haven¡¯t ended his life,¡± Katelyn dered, her voice firm and unyielding.


    ¡°Austen is my bodyguard, not yours! Katelyn, if you don¡¯t return him, I swear you¡¯ll pay the price. Don¡¯t test my patience!¡± Elora¡¯s eyes burned with hatred, as if she were a snake ready to strike.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t even bother acknowledging her. She simply turned away and headed back to the hospital room. Elora tried to rush at her, but Breck restrained her before she could move any further.


    M??? ?¦Ñ?¦Á??? ?? ?¦Á??¦Ò¦Í???.?¦Ò?<fnd502> Content originallyes from f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fnd502>


    He was filled with a mixture of disappointment and anger. He had once thought that Elora was just spoiled but that her heart was always in the right ce. But after seeing her like this, trapped in her delusions, Breck realized how wrong he had been.


    ¡°Go back to your room and stay out of this. Whether Austen survives or not is beyond your control now. If you keep fixating on this and continue to harass Kaitlyn, I will start considering finding someone else to rece you as my heir.¡±


    By the time he finished speaking, Breck¡¯s uncertain expression had turned into one of firm resolve. Elora had always been his preferred sessor, but she wasn¡¯t his only offspring. How could someone as reckless and arrogant as she possibly lead the Williams family to a brighter future? She would eventually destroy everything if left unchecked.


    For Elora, Breck¡¯s words felt like a sudden and devastating shock. Herplexion turned pale, and she stumbled, unable to believe what she was hearing. ¡°Is this all because of Katelyn? Are you really going to rece me because of her?¡±


    Breck took a long, steady breath before nodding firmly, without any sign of hesitation. ¡°Indulging you was my mistake, and now I have to deal with the consequences of my own inaction. You¡¯re on your own now. I¡¯m done cleaning up your mess.¡±


    After saying that, Breck walked away without looking back, his steps showing no trace of regret. The responsibility of taking care of the Williams family now weighed entirely on him. While other heirs and heiresses of rich families Elora¡¯s age were already undergoing strict training, Elora had spent her time ying with dolls and living her life carefree. Breck had believed that allowing her a carefree childhood would be best, thinking she could learn these responsibilitiester in life.


    However, reality hit him hard, revealing the depth of his mistake.


    Even Lise¡¯s eyes showed a hint of uncertainty after hearing Breck¡¯s words. Elora¡¯s only real value to Lise had always been the family¡¯s power and noble status. If ever Elora¡¯s position as the Williams family heiress was stripped away, what was left of her? She was nothing more than a foolish, love-struck girl with nothing of importance left to offer.


    Elora slumped against the wall, sinking down as her strength left herpletely.


    Her vacant stare remained, as if the reality of her situation hadn¡¯t fully set in. ¡°Why? Why has ite to this? Why is everyone leaving me? Even my own father.¡± Lise stood nearby, her expression cold, offering no words offort.


    A wave of regret washed over her. If she had known things would turn out like this, she would have stayed in her room. The pain from her own injuries throbbed more intensely as she stood there now.


    Eventually, Lise broke the silence. ¡°Princess, are you okay?¡±


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    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: New content avable, please enjoy it dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ¡°?? ????? ??


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    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 471

    ?Chapter 471:


    Elora passed out again, her body limp as the medical team rushed her into the emergency room. For days now, she had been hanging between life and death.<fn17d2> Checktest chapters at find?novel</fn17d2>


    Outside the door, Katelyn could hear the hurried steps and voices of doctors and nurses doing everything they could to save Elora. The noise made her fists tighten, her knuckles pale as her eyes filled with worry, guilt, and something she couldn¡¯t quite name.


    She nced at Vincent in the room. He stood there, quiet and distant, not involving himself in the argument that had happened earlier.


    Katelyn¡¯s mind drifted back to when she first met Elora. Back then, Elora was like the most beautiful rose¡ªstunning, glowing, and carrying herself with an elegance that turned heads. Even with her sharp edges, people were drawn to her. They admired her beauty so much that they epted the thorns, as if they were part of her charm.


    But now, that rose was barely holding on, its petals weak and fading, as if the life had been drained from it. The change was heartbreaking, like watching someone fall from the highest peak to the lowest pit.


    Katelyn felt a heavy weight of guilt on her shoulders. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she had done something wrong, though she couldn¡¯t figure out what. Desperately, she looked at Vincent, searching for some kind of answer.


    ¡°Did I mess up?¡± she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.


    She never meant to cause any trouble. She¡¯d barely spoken a few words to Bartley, and nothing about it seemed like a big deal at the time. So how did things get this bad? Why was everything falling apart?


    It wasn¡¯t just Elora who was confused¡ªKatelyn was, too.


    Vincent saw the guilt in Katelyn¡¯s eyes, mixed with deep confusion. And he knew exactly what she was feeling.


    Continue at ?a????o¦Í?????????????


    So he said firmly, ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong. It¡¯s okay to stand up for yourself when someone is treating you unfairly. You shouldn¡¯t feel guilty about that.¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t feel guilty¡­¡± Katelyn murmured, sinking into the sofa.


    Elora¡¯s situation was undeniably tragic. Yet, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but feel that all of Elora¡¯s past mistakes had eventually led her here, making it seem like a kind of self-inflicted fate.


    Katelyn clenched her fists, inhaling deeply as Vincent¡¯s words cleared her mind. ¡°You¡¯re right. I haven¡¯t done anything wrong. Elora¡¯s condition is the result of her own choices.¡±


    Elora could have been a truly remarkable woman, but her biggest mistake was pouring all her feelings into one man and caring about nothing else. Even when she realized that the man had no love for her¡ªonly a desire to use her¡ªshe couldn¡¯t bring herself to let go.


    The drama had started with small, trivial issues, but over time, those little problems had piled up, eventually leading to the situation that had crushed Elora.


    Vincent¡¯s tone softened as he continued, ¡°You¡¯re a wonderful person, Katelyn¡ªperhaps too kind for your own good. You take on burdens that aren¡¯t yours. Don¡¯t see things this way; it will only drain you.¡±


    Katelyn felt a lightness in her heart after talking to Vincent, as if a heavy cloud had lifted.


    ¡°Okay, I understand now. Thank you for helping me see it clearly.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, you don¡¯t need to keep thanking me,¡± Vincent replied with a warm smile.


    A gentle smile crept onto Katelyn¡¯s lips. She had gained another important lesson today, all thanks to Vincent¡¯s guidance.


    Katelyn hardly noticed what unfolded after Elora¡¯s rescue; her mind was elsewhere until an unexpected visitor stepped into her ward that afternoon.


    Selina entered, her three-inch stilettos clicking sharply against the floor¡ªthe same pair she had worn during their first meeting. Her makeup was bold and striking, capturing attention immediately.


    Katelyn looked up, taken aback. ¡°What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°I heard my business partner had an ident, so I had toe see for myself,¡± Selina replied, a yful smirk on her lips as she casually chose a seat, crossing her legs with an air of confidence.


    She might not have been tall, but her presence wasmanding.


    Katelyn leaned back against the headboard, watching Selina¡¯s sharp gaze. ¡°If you have something to say, just get to it.¡±


    Selina was definitely not the type to drop by without a purpose.


    She had too much going on to waste time at the hospital for no reason.


    Selina¡¯s smile widened, and she lightly pped her hands, her eyes sparkling with interest. ¡°Clever. I enjoy talking to smart people; it makes everything easier.¡±


    Katelyn studied her, feeling impatience creeping in. ¡°Just get to the point.¡±


    Selina¡¯s smile took on a sly edge. ¡°I¡¯m here to propose a deal. Help me fulfill a promise made to someone important.¡±


    Katelyn furrowed her brows. ¡°What promise?¡±


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 Chapter 472

    ?Chapter 472:


    Katelyn was puzzled by Selina¡¯s words.


    It was Selina¡¯s promise to someone else¡ªso why did it involve her at all?


    Selina calmly exined, ¡°I have a friend whose lifelong dream is to design a piece of jewelry that will astonish the world. Unfortunately, his health has deteriorated to the point where he can no longer achieve that goal. He came to me, asking for help to make his dreame true.¡±


    Even after hearing this, Katelyn still couldn¡¯t fully grasp the situation. ¡°So, what exactly does that mean for me?¡±


    Selina wasted no time. ¡°I want you to create a jewelry design that will captivate the world, but the recognition must go to my friend.¡±


    Katelyn furrowed her brow, her tone turning sharp. ¡°Are you trying to make me a ghost designer?¡± She rejected the offer immediately. ¡°No, you¡¯ll have to ask someone else. I would never agree to something like that.¡±


    In today¡¯s world, ghost creators were not umon across various industries. When designers ran out of ideas, many would pay others to finish their work. Such arrangements were not unheard of in the market: one side paid for the talent, while the otherpleted the task willingly.


    However, if such arrangements were ever exposed, the careers of those involved would be destroyed.


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t understand why Selina would approach her with such a request.


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one who can help me with this,¡± Selina said, her voice persistent. ¡°And remember, I¡¯ve promised you a generous reward.¡±


    Katelyn gave a faint smile and responded firmly, ¡°I¡¯ve already told you, I won¡¯t do something like that. You¡¯re asking the wrong person.¡±


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    Agreeing to such a dishonest act would betray everything she stood for and undermine all the hard work she had put into her career.


    ¡°Though plenty would abandon their morals for the right price, no respectable designer would ever consider such a request,¡± Katelyn said, locking eyes with Selina to make her position clear.


    ¡°If you want to keep pushing this, you should leave. I¡¯ve given you my answer.¡±


    Even after being rejected so bluntly, Selina didn¡¯t show any anger. Her smile didn¡¯t waver, and there was even a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.


    Selina admired Katelyn for more than just her talent as a designer. It was her personality that truly stood out. There was a unique maism about her¡ªsomething beyond physical beauty or family background.


    ¡°Before you reject my offerpletely, hear me out,¡± Selina said, her smile faint but still confident. She cleared her throat and continued, ¡°Your name is Katelyn Bailey. You¡¯re twenty-six, recently divorced, and living in Granville. You work at the Adams Group. Last year, it was revealed that you weren¡¯t the Bailey family heiress, and you became the subject of widespread mockery back home.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze sharpened, her expression turning dangerous as she focused intently on Selina. ¡°Did you dig into my past?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not quite digging,¡± Selina replied casually, standing up abruptly and moving to close the door to ensure their conversation stayed private. ¡°I just wanted to understand you better. When we first met, I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that you looked just like a friend of mine. After I looked into your background, it all started to make sense. You¡¯re rted by blood.¡±<fn7e1f> Readplete version only at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn7e1f>


    Selina had never nned to reveal this secret so easily. She had intended to use it as leverage for something far more valuable. But now, driven by her need to fulfill a promise, she chose to disclose the truth. Despite her earlier reluctance, she pushed forward.


    Katelyn had been hearing enough talk about her originstely that Selina¡¯s revtion didn¡¯t shake her much.


    Contrary to Selina¡¯s expectations, Katelyn maintained herposure, staring back with a mocking expression.


    ¡°Is this your n?¡± Katelyn asked, her voiceced with sarcasm. ¡°To dangle the truth about my real parents in front of me, expecting that I¡¯ll get desperate and throw away my principles?¡±


    Neil had tried simr tactics before, and Selina¡¯s approach was no different. Every time someone used her past to pressure her, it only fueled her frustration. It seemed like everyone wanted to exploit this part of her life for their own gain.


    Selina casually swept her hair aside.


    ¡°I know this request might seem unreasonable, but I¡¯m out of options. Only you can create a piece of jewelry that will astonish the world, and I can¡¯t go back on the promise I made.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s irritation was evident as she firmly responded, ¡°I¡¯m not agreeing to this. You should leave.¡±


    Selina¡¯s smile faded, and she quickly pulled a printed document from her bag, holding it out to Katelyn. ¡°Once you read this, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll reconsider.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated, her eyes lingering on the document. It looked like a Pandora¡¯s box. Once opened, it would unleash consequences she wasn¡¯t prepared for.


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 Chapter 473

    ?Chapter 473:


    Katelyn¡¯s fingers lingered on the document, her mind swirling with uncertainty. She hesitated, while Selina sat opposite her, eyes burning with resolve.


    Selina believed that once Katelyn read the document, she would immediately agree to work with her. After all, it revealed the secret of Katelyn¡¯s royal lineage!


    Selina couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride for her past dealings with the royal family, which had led her to uncover Katelyn¡¯s true heritage.


    A shadow crossed Katelyn¡¯s face.<fnd314> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find~Novel</fnd314>


    After a moment of silence, Katelyn slid the document back across the table.


    ¡°I cannot agree to your hical proposal,¡± she said firmly.


    Selina¡¯s eyes widened, her reaction more intense than Katelyn¡¯s.


    She gritted her teeth. ¡°Do you understand what this document contains? It reveals your true heritage, something that couldpletely change your life. Are your principles really more important than learning who you really are?¡±


    Katelyn met her gaze with calmposure.


    Neil had shown a simr intensity when Katelyn¡¯s biological parents were mentioned, and now Selina echoed that sentiment. What was it about her parents that stirred such deep emotions in others?


    Despite this, Katelyn slowly shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve made it clear that I will not abandon my principles.¡±


    Everyone had a line that should not be crossed. Once that boundary was breached, it invited endless vitions. The wisest strategy was to never test that line at all.


    Katelyn held herposure. Despite her curiosity about her biological parents, she was determined to find them on her own terms, not by giving in to dubious demands.


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    Selina¡¯s frustration was evident as she clenched her teeth. ¡°Fine, have it your way. I respect your resolve. Just remember, if you ever realize you¡¯ve lost something important because of your so-called principles, don¡¯t regret it.¡±


    Her words were filled with fury and a stern caution. Katelyn stayed quiet, watching as Selina stormed out, clearly enraged.


    Selina¡¯s departing words echoed in Katelyn¡¯s mind.


    She had spoken with such certainty that Katelyn would eventually regret her decision. The opportunity to reconnect with her biological parents had been within reach.


    Katelyn nced at her hand, questioning herself once again¡ªwould she regret missing this chance to meet them because of the current situation?


    Her inner resolve answered firmly: no.


    The truth about her origins could be bought with money or favors, but it should never bepromised for something that vited her moral code.


    If Katelyn epted the role of a ghost designer, she would lose herself entirely. She squeezed her eyes shut, pushing aside the chaotic thoughts. Neil and Selina had both hinted that her biological parents were locals from Yata.


    Katelyn gathered her thoughts andy down on her bed, eventually falling into an unnned sleep.


    In her dream, a dense fog surrounded everything, transforming her surroundings into a nk white canvas, obscuring even her own hand before her eyes.


    Katelyn moved through the fog, straining to make out her surroundings, but the mist was too thick, as if invisible hands were covering her eyes.


    Suddenly, a soft voice called from behind her, ¡°Katelyn, my darling daughter.¡± Katelyn spun around.


    The fog remained thick, imprable.


    Yet she was certain the voice wasn¡¯t Sharon¡¯s.


    It was far gentler, like the caress of invisible hands through her hair, filled with a mother¡¯s warmth. ¡°Katelyn,¡± the voice called again.


    Katelyn broke into a run, calling out as she moved, ¡°Who are you? Where are you?¡±


    The voice offered no reply, only echoing her name repeatedly.


    Confused, Katelyn stopped, feeling as if the softest part of her heart was being pierced with a knife.


    After being entangled in so many schemes, the thought of her biological parents was the only thing that could still wound her.


    Katelyn cupped her hands to form a makeshift megaphone and shouted, ¡°Where are you? Are you my real mother?¡±


    ¡°Katelyn!¡± The voice responded again, this time not gentle or soothing. It was frantic, almost as if it were warning her.


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t leave!¡±


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 Chapter 474

    ?Chapter 474:


    Katelyn suddenly jolted awake from her unsettling dream, barely realizing she had been asleep. The lingering haze from the nightmare clouded her vision, the chilling scream still echoing in her mind, warning her of danger and urging caution.


    She wiped the sweat beading on her forehead and sighed deeply, reassuring herself that it was just a bad dream.


    At that moment, Lise walked in.


    Despite the recent miscarriage and her frail condition, Lise had managed to apply a subtle touch of makeup, attempting to enhance her paleplexion. She regarded Katelyn with an air of haughty arrogance. ¡°Did you have a nightmare? Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯ve been up to no good, and now it¡¯s catching up with you.¡±


    Katelyn, having steadied her nerves, took a sip from the cup on the table before meeting Lise¡¯s gaze. ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°I stopped by to check on you and bring some good news,¡± Lise replied, a gloating smile ying on her lips, her sense of triumph unmistakable.


    In this whole ordeal, she considered herself the clear victor, and the wedding invitation she held was proof of her sess. With pride swelling in her chest, Lise extended the invitation to Katelyn. ¡°Neil and I are getting married soon. I¡¯d love for you to offer your good wishes at our wedding.¡±


    The invitation was sleek, gold-foiled, and designed in ck with delicate golden embellishments¡ªa testament to the thought put into it. It bore the names of Neil and Lise.


    There was a time when Katelyn¡¯s name had appeared alongside Neil¡¯s on such invitations.


    Realizing the full picture, a sly grin spread across Katelyn¡¯s face. She slowly replied, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve gotten what you wanted, you¡¯re here seeking my blessing? Seems like you¡¯re proud to go from being a mistress to Mrs. Wheeler, officially.¡±


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    Her words hit their mark, but Lise quicklyposed herself, retorting provocatively, ¡°Katelyn, no matter how you look at it, you¡¯re just a failure. You¡¯ve lost the Bailey family¡¯s support, you have no influential connections¡ªyou¡¯re nothing but a sad, divorced woman.¡±


    ¡°Divorce isn¡¯t a stain on me,¡± Katelyn replied, her voice calm and measured. ¡°You seem to think that avish wedding will shift public perception and secure your ce among the elite. But is that really true?¡±


    Elite society, while bonded by shared interests, was deeply hierarchical, and this was especially evident in the silent rivalries among the women. A woman carrying a handbag worth fifty thousand wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to share a photo with someone whose bag cost a million. That was the harsh truth.


    In these circles, one thing was universally scorned¡ªthe mistress. Prominent men attracted attention, and many wives chose to turn a blind eye to such affairs in order to preserve their family¡¯s fortune and status. Compromises were often necessary. However, if a mistress openly disced the original wife and took her ce, it became an entirely different story.


    Katelyn could clearly see the tough road and exclusion Lise was heading toward. The very things Lise had coveted would soon prove to be harsh and unforgiving.<fn71c1> For more chapters visit Find?Novel</fn71c1>


    Katelyn¡¯s tone remained even, but her words cut deep. Lise¡¯s expression shifted dramatically.


    ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I would have been with Neil long ago,¡± Lise spat out, her anger briefly shing before she quickly masked it with a victorious look.


    ¡°But none of that matters now. I¡¯m back on track, the future Mrs. Wheeler and the heiress of the Bailey family. You don¡¯t need to pretend to be unbothered or hide your jealousy. After all, you and Vincent have been together so long, yet he¡¯s still not made things official.¡±


    Lise burst intoughter, her voice dripping with scorn. Katelyn eyed her skeptically, wondering if the recent car ident had affected her reasoning.


    Lise continued tough, and then added with spite, ¡°To him, you¡¯re probably nothing more than a casual fling.¡±


    Lise¡¯s sharp words failed to anger Katelyn. Instead, she looked at Lise with growing curiosity. Katelyn then asked seriously, ¡°Is there something wrong with your head? Should we get you checked out with a CT scan?¡±


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 Chapter 475

    ?Chapter 475:<fneb0c> Chapters first released on F¦ÉndNovel</fneb0c>


    Lise¡¯s smile disappeared in an instant.


    She had expected to see Katelyn filled with anger. To her surprise, Katelyn didn¡¯t seem to care at all. Instead, her gaze slowly drifted downward,nding on Lise¡¯s abdomen.


    Even in a hospital gown, Lise¡¯s body was still visible. Given how far along she should have been, Lise¡¯s baby should have been at least five months old, with a noticeable bump. Yet, her abdomen was t, showing no signs of pregnancy.


    Katelyn quickly grasped the situation. Her earlier suspicions resurfaced, and she frowned. ¡°To carry out this scheme to impress Neil, you actually sacrificed your own child.¡±


    Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but ball her fists tightly. They said even the fiercest animals risked everything to protect their young. Yet Lise was willing to sacrifice her child just to appease Neil.


    At this stage of her pregnancy, it would have been impossible for Lise to survive the car ident while keeping the child safe. In other words, Lise had nned to give up the child all along.


    But why would she do such a thing?


    Even without the ident, as time passed and the child was born safely, Neil would have still treated her well because of the baby. There was no need for her to rush things. Unless¡­


    A chill ran through Katelyn as she followed that thought.


    Unless¡­ Lise never wanted the child at all.


    Lise¡¯s triumphant smilepletely vanished at that moment. She forced herself to remain calm and replied, ¡°What are you even talking about? Katelyn, don¡¯t try to defame me!¡±


    Internally, Lise kept reassuring herself. It was impossible. She had covered her tracks well. Katelyn had also been injured and hospitalized¡ªhow could she have possibly found out anything?


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    She must be bluffing, right?


    Lise kept telling herself this, almost as if trying to brainwash herself. Yet, in tense moments, involuntary gestures often betrayed one¡¯s true feelings. For instance, Lise hadn¡¯t even realized that she was gripping the hem of her clothes tightly.


    ¡°Lise, do you think I¡¯m as naive as Neil? Or do you really think you¡¯ve managed everything perfectly?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with sarcasm, and she couldn¡¯t resist taking a jab at Neil. She couldn¡¯t exactlybel Neil as foolish, considering his sess in expanding the business to its current size. It was precisely because he had focused all his limited intellect on business matters that Lise had been able to manipte him.


    Lise retorted angrily, ¡°Stop talking nonsense! I haven¡¯t done anything like that. If you use me again, I¡¯ll rip your mouth open!¡±


    ¡°Such an intense reaction suggests I¡¯ve struck a nerve, and you¡¯re panicking.¡±


    Katelyn smiled casually. To her, Lise now seemed almost pathetic. She no longer cared about the Bailey family¡¯s issues or Neil. Why was Lise parading these matters she no longer cared about in front of her? Was she hoping to provoke Katelyn into losing control?


    It was truly absurd.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice held a yful note. ¡°This heroic act of yours convinced Neil to marry you, didn¡¯t it? But what if he learned that the event that touched him was just a setup? How do you think he¡¯d react?¡±


    By now, Lise had regained herposure. She had intended to provoke Katelyn, but instead, it was she who had lost control of her emotions first.


    With clenched fists, Lise said, ¡°Do you think Neil would believe such nonsense? If you spread such rumors, I¡¯ll take you to court for nder.¡±


    ¡°Whether he believes it or not is up to him. As for your threat to sue¡­¡± Katelyn gave a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m only speaking the truth. Why would thew fault me for that?¡±


    Lise found herself at a loss for words again. Why had Katelyn be so hard to handle now? The divorce seemed to have changed Katelyn entirely. As Lise tried to think of a way to regain control, she noticed someone approaching the doorway.


    She quickly pinched her thigh and said in a pitiful tone, ¡°You can attack me all you want, but why bring my child into this?¡±


    Just as she finished speaking, the person at the door stormed in, visibly upset.


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 Chapter 476

    ?Chapter 476:


    Neil charged into the room.


    Lise stood there, tears spilling down her cheeks like raindrops on ss, each one a reflection of her aching heart. When she spotted Neil, her face lit up as though he were the answer to a desperate prayer. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°Neil!¡±


    To anyone watching, she appeared as though she had just endured an immense wrong.


    Neil¡¯s concern deepened as he wrapped her tightly in his embrace. ¡°Lise, please don¡¯t cry. The doctor said you need to keep your emotions in check after the miscarriage.¡±


    Katelyn leaned against the headboard, her expression a blend of curiosity and amusement as she observed the scene unfold like a y. From the moment Lise abruptly shifted her tone and expression, Katelyn had realized there was someone outside. By now, she was simply bored.


    When Katelyn first encountered this behavior from Lise, the sudden change had thrown her off. But after seeing the same act repeated, it lost its impact, leaving Katelyn feeling nothing but weariness.


    Lise wept openly, her words lost in sobs, each cry a desperate attempt to convey the depth of her pain. ¡°I came to share with Katelyn the news of our wedding and to seek her blessing, but instead, she cursed our baby. She said our child deserved to die and never should have been born. Oh, Neil!¡±


    Lise¡¯s sobs filled the room, each cry heavy with sorrow, as if she were mourning a deep loss. ¡°This is all my fault. I didn¡¯t protect our baby. But Katelyn, why would you choose to hurt me like this? Your words cut deeper than any knife.¡±<fna255> Fresh chapters posted on F¦Énd£Îovel</fna255>


    Neil¡¯s anger surged, his gaze fierce as he turned to Katelyn. ¡°You are the most heartless person I¡¯ve ever known. I should never have given you so many chances.¡±


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    Katelyn frowned, watching Lise¡¯s emotional disy with a mix of skepticism and intrigue. For a fleeting moment, she questioned whether she had truly been so cruel.


    With calm resolve, Katelyn met Neil¡¯s intense stare, unflinching.


    If looks could kill, Lise would have reduced Katelyn to dust. Katelyn couldn¡¯t ignore the smug satisfaction in Lise¡¯s eyes, a look that sent a chill down her spine.


    Neil¡¯s anger simmered, the grief of losing his child weighing heavily on him. ¡°Katelyn, how can you be so heartless? Get down on your knees and apologize to Lise¡ªand to our baby!¡±


    Katelyn paused, momentarily stunned by his outburst. She wondered if they both had suffered concussions in the crash. It felt like these two fragile souls had spiraled into madness¡ªone a theatrical diva, the other a naive pawn. Holding her ground, Katelyn met Neil¡¯s fiery gaze, her voice unwavering. ¡°Why should I? If you want an apology, find the real culprit. The true killer is right beside you.¡±


    She pointed at Lise, her expression fierce. ¡°Open your eyes. This so-called innocent fianc¨¦e of yours would sacrifice her own child to get what she desires.¡±


    Lise clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face as the painful truth settled in.


    ¡°Katelyn, I could overlook all the insults and attacks you¡¯ve thrown at me before. But this? Is it really that hard to just say you¡¯re sorry? You cling to your grudge all you want, but this is an innocent life we¡¯re talking about. Why would you curse it?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes flickered with annoyance as she scratched her ear, her posture rxed. ¡°With your talent for the dramatic, you¡¯d fit right in on stage.¡±


    ¡°Cut the nonsense, Katelyn! Get off the bed and apologize right now, or don¡¯t me me if I lose it!¡± Neil¡¯s anger surged, reaching a level he had never felt before. His resentment and disappointment toward Katelyn swirled together with a storm of other emotions, erupting in that moment. He had never experienced such a deep rage before.


    When he saw Katelyn¡¯s unyielding calm, it only fueled his frustration. He reached out to grab her wrist, but in an instant, something cold and hard pressed against his chest.


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 Chapter 477

    ?Chapter 477:


    Katelyn¡¯s fingers gripped thepact pistol, the same one she¡¯d used before. It appeared small, almost harmless, but the weight in her hand told a different story.


    No matter how tiny the gun was, at this distance, it was deadly. One shot, and the bullet would rip through Neil¡¯s body, leaving a gruesome, jagged wound.


    Neil¡¯s face drained of color, turning as white as a sheet. The fury that had red in his eyes moments ago flickered out, reced by something far colder¡ªfear. His hand, once tight around her wrist, loosened, and he stumbled back a step.


    But Katelyn didn¡¯t move. Her arm stayed steady, the gun still trained on him.


    A slow, mocking smile curled on her lips. ¡°Weren¡¯t you just threatening me?¡± she asked, her voice light, almost yful. ¡°What¡¯s stopping you now?¡±


    She nced between Neil and Lise, as if watching some absurd spectacle unfold before her¡ªalmost as if this was part of a darkedy.


    The gun in her hand was her lifeline. With the bruises and cuts already marking her skin, Neil could have overpowered her without a second thought if it came to force. But this little weapon had shut him down faster than any words could have.


    Even Lise was taken aback. The fake panic she¡¯d been pretending to feel moments ago vanished, reced by a wide-eyed look of pure shock.


    ¡°How do you even have a gun?¡± Neil¡¯s voice trembled with disbelief.


    Katelyn¡¯s smile widened, a chilling mix of confidence and amusement. ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard? Yata doesn¡¯t ban firearms. This gun has already taken lives, and I wouldn¡¯t hesitate to use two more bullets today.¡± Her tone was unnervingly calm, as though she were discussing a mundane errand.


    The first time she¡¯d pulled the trigger, her hands had shaken, fear coursing through her veins. But now? Her aim was unshakable. Within fifty meters, she was dead on.


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    ¡°You should be grateful I¡¯m stuck in this hospital,¡± Katelyn continued, her smile sharp and predatory. ¡°If I weren¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t be pointing a little pistol at you. It¡¯d be something much more powerful¡ªmaybe a submachine gun.¡±


    Neil¡¯s jaw tightened, frustration boiling beneath the surface. This wasn¡¯t the Katelyn he once knew; she was a stranger now, fierce and unyielding. What had she gone through to be like this? The girl who once hesitated to harm a fly now spoke about taking lives with chilling ease.


    ¡°Katelyn,¡± he retorted, though his voice wavered, ¡°you think you can scare us with that toy? You owe us an apology for that curse you threw.¡±


    ¡°A toy?¡± Katelyn¡¯s eyes sparkled with a teasing glint as she clicked the safety off, the sound sharp and threatening. She shifted the barrel between Lise and Neil.


    A tiny slip could cost them everything. Their earlier confidence had melted away, reced by a heavy, suffocating fear.


    Neil, familiar with firearms, knew Katelyn¡¯s weapon was anything but a toy. He swallowed hard, fighting to maintain hisposure. In a moment like this, staying calm felt nearly impossible. He took a deep breath, bracing himself.


    ¡°Put the gun down. Let¡¯s settle this amicably. If anything happens to us, your life won¡¯t be easy either.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Katelyn replied, her tone light yetced with danger. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just call it a toy? Want to put that to the test?¡±


    The thrill of the challenge lit her up, eager to see how far he would go. Lise, gripped by panic, felt a prickling sensation crawl across her scalp. Having never faced a gun before, she instinctively shrank behind Neil, desperately seeking his protection. If Lise had known Katelyn was armed, she would never have dared provoke her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s sort this out. Just put the gun down. We¡¯re family, after all. There¡¯s no need for things to get worse.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s icy gaze locked onto Lise, a sneer forming as she noticed her trembling. ¡°With the persona you¡¯ve built, you should be standing tall in front of Neil, ready to take a bullet to prove you value his life more than your own.¡±


    Lise cursed Katelyn silently, recalling the car ident that had been her idea.


    She had deliberately chosen arge truck, hoping to shatter the ss for dramatic effect. But the truth was, the driver had mmed on the brakes the moment the ss broke.


    Now, facing a gun, Lise realized that one wrong move could cost her everything. Given their history, she feared Katelyn would pull the trigger without hesitation.


    Katelyn simply chuckled, her voice dripping with mockery. ¡°Only one of you can walk away. Make your choice.¡±<fn918a> Latest content published on f?ndnovel</fn918a>


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 Chapter 478

    ?Chapter 478:


    Lise fixed her gaze on the ck muzzle of the gun before her, her fear reaching its peak. She looked at Neil by her side and clenched her teeth. This might be the perfect opportunity to solidify her position as his savior, to make him even more grateful to her.


    She was certain that Katelyn wouldn¡¯t have the nerve to actually pull the trigger.


    Neil quickly positioned himself in front of Lise, his expression icy and threatening.


    ¡°Katelyn, if you shoot, the Wheeler family will never forgive you,¡± he warned.


    ¡°Really?¡± Katelyn replied slowly. ¡°How about we make a bet? Sadly, you won¡¯t be around to see the result of this bet.¡±


    She slowly lifted the gun, pointing it at Neil¡¯s chest. Her finger rested on the trigger, poised to end everything with just a slight squeeze.


    Neil felt a cold sweat form on his back. Like Lise, he was gambling on this faint hope.


    But Katelyn seemed transformed, utterly unhinged, and her next move was anyone¡¯s guess.


    Lise¡¯s hatred boiled over, and she regretted ever provoking this maniac. She gritted her teeth, shut her eyes, and stepped in front of Neil. ¡°Shoot me instead. I¡¯ll sacrifice myself to save Neil.¡±


    As she spoke, Lise shook uncontrobly.


    This act solidified her image as someone willing to do anything for Neil.


    Neil¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, taken aback by Lise¡¯s apparent selflessness even now.


    ¡°Lise¡­¡± Neil spoke slowly, his tone filled with mixed emotions, gently cing his hand on her shoulder. ¡°I never imagined you cared for me this deeply.¡±


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    Tears filled Lise¡¯s eyes as her voice strained but remained resolute. ¡°If only one of us can make it, I hope it¡¯s you.¡±


    Neil nodded determinedly, his gaze hardening as he turned to face Katelyn. ¡°If she actually fires, I¡¯ll go to any lengths to get revenge and make sure she pays dearly.¡±


    Lise stared at Neil, astonished. Was he sincere? This despicable man! Rage surged inside her, nearly overwhelming her.


    What she longed to hear was not this. She wanted Neil to dere that he wouldy down his life for her, too. She had saved him twice, yet all he spoke of was seeking vengeance for her after she died for him!


    Lise immediately realized that her efforts might have been in vain. At his core, Neil was still self-centered.


    Until his life was directly under threat, she could always be his cherished woman, but the moment his interests were jeopardized, she became just another expendable piece.


    This was a stark, raw disy of the worst of human instincts. It really was every man for himself¡ªa lesson vividly illustrated in this moment. Katelyn nearlyughed out loud.<fn9f29> The rightful source is find?novel</fn9f29>


    Neil, however, failed to understand Lise¡¯s quiet, intense gaze.


    He said passionately, ¡°Lise, I¡¯ll never forget what you¡¯ve done for me. After I¡¯ve avenged you, I¡¯ll join you.¡±


    Lise nearly cursed. She was prepared to die for Neil, but he was speaking of reuniting with her after seeking revenge.


    How would that help her?


    She yearned for someone who would shield her without a second thought, just as Vincent had done for Katelyn. Lise suppressed her hatred and anger. She finally realized why Katelyn would never go back to Neil.


    Vincent was clearly a better man in every regard.


    With sorrow in her eyes, Lise asked, ¡°Neil, I¡¯m ready to take a bullet for you. Why won¡¯t you do the same for me?¡±


    Neil nodded earnestly. ¡°I¡¯ve already said I would make Katelyn regret her actions, haven¡¯t I?¡±


    Lise¡¯s expression turned cold. Was Neil incapable of even offering a soothing falsehood?


    At that moment, Katelyn¡¯s voice filled the room. ¡°Lise, do you understand now? This is the man you¡¯ve struggled so hard to win over¡ªselfish to the core. You¡¯re prepared to die for him, but what about him? He¡¯s ready to sacrifice you to save himself.¡±


    With his true intentions exposed, Neil¡¯s gaze hardened.


    ¡°Katelyn, I won¡¯t forgive this!¡±


    Lise¡¯s eyes flickered with pain.


    She trembled as she asked, ¡°Neil, do you truly not care?¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 479

    ?Chapter 479:


    Even though Lise knew that Katelyn¡¯s words were meant to stir up tension and provoke conflict, she still couldn¡¯t stop herself from asking. She had sacrificed her chance to ever have children, all for the hope of being with Neil again. The chances of Katelyn actually firing the gun were slim, but Neil refused to take even that small risk. Instead, he used Lise as his shield.


    Perhaps the pain in Lise¡¯s eyes became too evident, as Neil finally noticed and said, ¡°How could I not be willing to die for you? Even if I survived, it would only be to seek revenge for what was done to you.¡±


    Lise didn¡¯t respond. She kept her thoughts to herself, but resentment swelled within her. Why did her life seem cursed, surrounded by either naive fools or maniptive rogues? It seemed like every bit of luck had somehownded in Katelyn¡¯sp. Why did she deserve that?


    Katelyn¡¯s patience had worn thin. With a casual tone, she asked, ¡°Have you made up your mind? Who¡¯s going to die?¡±


    A tinge of hesitation appeared in Lise¡¯s eyes. Even if this was all just for show, she didn¡¯t want to continue ying the role of someone willing to sacrifice herself for Neil anymore. He simply wasn¡¯t worth it.<fn0e84> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn0e84>


    If it hadn¡¯t been for Neil¡¯s family status and the title of Mrs. Wheeler, she would have left him behind a long time ago.


    Neil¡¯s voice wavered as he uttered, ¡°Lise¡­¡±


    He expected her to step in as his shield once again. However, this time, Lise bit her lip in silence.


    At that moment, Katelyn grabbed a small knife from the nightstand and threw it at their feet. It was just a small fruit knife, but it was sharp enough to cause real harm.


    ¡°How about we switch to something more interesting? Whoever manages to stab the other gets to leave this room alive,¡± Katelyn said with a mocking smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes gleamed with amusement and contempt.


    Chapters live now at ??????¦Ò????????.c§àm


    In that moment, she wasn¡¯t just the winner; she was the one in control, pulling every string and dictating how this twisted scenario would unfold.


    This new game was far more terrifying than the previous one.


    Earlier, Lise and Neil had clung to the hope that Katelyn wouldn¡¯t act. But now, they were forced to confront the harsh reality of having to stab one another. The knifey on the floor, within easy reach for either of them, if they dared to grab it.


    Both Neil and Lise fixed their eyes on the knife. Neither moved, likely paralyzed by fear and uncertainty.


    ¡°I¡¯ll count to three,¡± Katelyn said casually, reaching for a pillow and leaning back, settlingfortably behind her. She was practically grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Three.¡±


    Lise and Neil remained frozen.


    The first one to pick up the knife would have the advantage.


    Katelyn hadn¡¯t set anyplicated rules. Even the smallest cut would be enough for the one holding the knife to leave the room alive.


    But even the smallest cut, no matter how minor, would destroy whatever remained of their rtionship. Wasn¡¯t that Katelyn¡¯s goal all along? To tear them apart?


    Lise had her own schemes, but Katelyn was ying this game on a much higher level.


    Tears welled up in Lise¡¯s eyes as she whispered, ¡°Neil.¡± She had just gone through the agony of losing her child, along with her uterus. If Neil had cared for her, even just a little, he would have handed her the knife without hesitation.


    ¡°Lise.¡± Neil¡¯s eyes were filled with conflicting emotions as he stared at the knife lying on the floor.


    Finally, Neil understood Katelyn¡¯s real intention. She wasn¡¯t after their lives; her goal was to break them mentally.


    ¡°Two,¡± Katelyn said calmly. ¡°This is yourst chance. Fail to act, and both of you will die here.¡±


    A flicker of determination appeared in Lise¡¯s eyes as her hands clenched into tight fists.


    In that instant, Neil¡¯s expression hardened as well, as if he had made up his mind.


    ¡°One.¡±


    As soon as the word left Katelyn¡¯s mouth, Lise lunged for the knife without hesitation. But she was a moment toote. Neil already had the de in his hand. Lise¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    After all the years they had spent together, she thought there was at least some connection between them. It was one thing for Neil to refuse to take a bullet for her, but was he really capable of hurting her just to save himself?


    Neil gripped the knife tighter, his gaze stern and resolute. ¡°Lise, I promised I would take care of you for the rest of your life.¡±


    He stepped forward slowly, deliberately, with the knife still in hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make up for this in the future,¡± he added.


    Lise felt panic surge through her. She took a step back, struggling to process the fact that Neil might actually intend to harm her. His expression grew more ruthless with every step he took.


    Without warning, he flicked his wrist and hurled the knife directly at Katelyn!


    .


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    .

 Chapter 480

    ?Chapter 480:


    Neil lunged at Katelyn without warning, his attack swift and brutal.


    In a heartbeat, Katelyn jerked her head to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly de. The knife zipped past her, slicing off a loose strand of her hair as it flew by. Lise let out a sharp, involuntary scream, her body stiffening in shock.


    Without hesitation, Katelyn raised her gun, her movements fluid and certain. Two quick shots rang out, echoing in the room.


    Bang! Bang!


    Neil crumpled to the floor with a loud cry, his hands clutching his legs as beads of sweat dotted his brow. Blood poured freely from the gaping holes in his knees, staining the floor beneath him.


    Smoke curled from the barrel of Katelyn¡¯s gun, her gaze dark and filled with unmistakable fury. To think Neil had the audacity to attack her¡ªhe had signed his own death warrant.


    Each bullet had been deliberately ced. Even if, by some miracle, the wounds healed, the damage was done. Neil¡¯s knees would never be the same again.


    Lise snapped back to her senses, rushing over to him. Neil writhed on the floor, his face twisted in agony as he gripped his knees.


    ¡°My legs! My legs!¡± he cried, his voice full of pain.


    Lise knelt beside him, her hands shaking as she tried to help, but the sight of blood gushing from his knees made her pull back, terrified.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ll get a doctor!¡± she stammered, panic rising in her chest.


    In a rush, she stumbled out of the room, her heart pounding.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn slid off the bed, moving slowly but with purpose. She walked over to where Neily, standing over him like a shadow.


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    Neil¡¯s face, distorted by pain, twisted into a look of raw hatred as he stared up at her.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t flinch. She raised the gun again, this time pointing it straight at his head.


    Her pistol was fitted with a small silencer, barely noticeable yet deadly effective. Even if she pulled the trigger in this very room, no sound would escape to the hallway.


    Neil¡¯s mind was a storm of fury. He wanted nothing more than to tear Katelyn apart.


    His rage burned so hot that the pain in his legs seemed to vanish. ¡°If you¡¯re brave enough, pull the trigger. If not, I¡¯ll make sure you regret this for the rest of your life.¡±


    Katelyn stared at him with unsettling calm, her expression indifferent, as if he were just a passing stranger.


    Once, she had loved him with all her heart. Now, she¡¯d shot him, leaving him broken and helpless on the floor. It was as though every emotion¡ªlove, anger, everything¡ªhad been wiped out with those two shots.


    Neil spat his words through clenched teeth. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d betray me like this. Marrying you was the worst mistake of my life. If you don¡¯t kill me today, I swear I¡¯lle for you.¡±


    Despite the bullets lodged in his knees, he still wed at the floor, trying to drag himself closer, his hands reaching out to grab her throat.


    All he could think about was making sure Katelyn didn¡¯t leave this room alive.


    ¡°I never thought it would end this way either,¡± she whispered.


    A flicker of confusion crossed Katelyn¡¯s eyes as her mind swirled with fragments of the past that refused to fade. ¡°Right after the divorce, I¡¯d lie awake at night, going over everything, trying to pinpoint where it all went wrong. I thought if I could just find out what happened, I¡¯d understand. But eventually, I realized the mistake wasn¡¯t what we did¡ªit was marrying you in the first ce.¡±


    Her words hit Neil like a sudden gust, making him freeze for a split second.


    Where had it all fallen apart?


    He thought back to the early days of their marriage. Every evening, Katelyn would have a feast ready for him when he walked through the door, no matter how long or stressful his day had been. After his nights out drinking with clients and colleagues, she¡¯d have honey water waiting for him, helping him shake off the alcohol¡¯s grip. Even his wardrobe, from casual wear to business suits, was carefully chosen by her, every detail thought out.


    They had indeed shared so many moments of joy. How had things spiraled out of control so quickly?


    Once, they had been inseparable. Now, they stood as enemies, each willing the other out of existence. Was this the final chapter of every marriage?


    From exchanged vows to the routines of daily life, all culminating in betrayal and the desire to destroy one another. Katelyn shook off the flood of memories, her expression remaining eerily calm.


    With a smooth motion, she cocked the gun, leveling it at Neil once more. ¡°This is where it all ends.¡±


    Neil¡¯s bloodshot eyes burned with rage, his face twisted in fury and desperation.


    ¡°If you pull that trigger, you¡¯ll regret it for the rest of your life,¡± he snarled, refusing to believe she¡¯d take it that far. In his mind, Katelyn couldn¡¯t possibly go through with it. Killing him would destroy her too.


    But Katelyn¡¯s lips curled into a faint, almost amused smile.


    She squeezed the trigger.


    Bang!


    .


    .


    .<fn4acb> Checktest chapters at Find1Novel</fn4acb>

 Chapter 481

    ?Chapter 481:


    Neil clenched his eyes shut, but the pain in his knees refused to subside. The sound of the gunshot still echoed loudly in his ears, making the throbbing even worse.<fnfbd7> Readplete version only at Find1Novel</fnfbd7>


    After a few moments, he slowly opened his eyes and was met with Katelyn¡¯s cold, unreadable face. The bullet hadn¡¯t hit him. Instead, it had grazed past his ear and struck the floor. It seemed that Katelyn had no intention of taking his life. In fact, it appeared she never seriously considered doing so. Even when she pulled the trigger initially, it seemed like a reaction to Neil¡¯s attempt to kill her.


    Neil¡¯s eyes narrowed, filled with shock and disbelief. Was Katelyn actually sparing his life?


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you shoot me?¡± Neil asked, his voice filled with confusion.


    ¡°I have no desire to dirty my hands with your vile blood,¡± Katelyn answered calmly as she tucked the gun away.


    ¡°As for the two shots I did fire¡­ One was for your attempt to throw that knife at me, and the other was to settle every tear and ounce of suffering you¡¯ve caused me over the past three years. Consider us even now.¡±


    Neil¡¯s body stiffened, and he stared at her with trembling eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t think those words will earn you my mercy. I¡¯ll make you pay a thousand times over for today.¡±


    Katelyn shrugged, unfazed. ¡°Do whatever you want. But next time, I won¡¯t hesitate to pull the trigger.¡±


    With those two shots, every trace of love and hatred she once felt for him fadedpletely.


    Neil clenched his jaw, as though he wanted to say something more, but the words never came.


    Just then, Lise burst into the room with a doctor, throwing the door open with urgency. Neil was quickly taken to the emergency room for treatment.


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    Lise marched toward Katelyn, fury in her voice.


    ¡°You¡¯re gonna pay for this!¡±


    Katelyn casually twirled the gun in her hand and simply scoffed at Lise¡¯s threat.


    ¡°You wanna get shot too?¡±


    Those words were enough to halt Lise in her tracks. If Katelyn could shoot someone she once loved so easily, what chance did Lise have?


    Lise fought to contain her fury. ¡°Just wait. You¡¯ll regret this!¡± she spat before turning and rushing out of the room, fearful that Katelyn might actually harm her.


    Katelyn watched her leave and then calmly shut the door, savoring the solitude and peace.


    After leaving, Lise went straight to the authorities and reported the gunshot.


    Later that afternoon, the police arrived and took Katelyn in for questioning. Sheplied without resistance. She exined everything in detail and even provided evidence to support her ount.


    Katelyn had already known that firing the gun would be seen as an act of self-defense, and she had nned for it ordingly. The knife Neil had thrown had lodged deeply into the headboard of her bed, and forensic evidence would back up her story. Furthermore, his injuries weren¡¯t serious enough to be life-threatening.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t the type to act without thinking. She always nned her way out before making a move. Throwing away her future for someone like Neil wasn¡¯t worth it.


    She spent the entire day with the authorities, providing detailed statements and answering every question. Once the police informed Vincent of the situation, he immediately hurried over to secure her release. Seeing her somewhat haggard appearance, he anxiously examined her for any injuries.


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    He had spent his entire day handlingpany matters,pletely unprepared for a call from the local authorities regarding Katelyn¡¯s bail. From what he had learned, three shots were fired during the incident. The thought of one of those bullets hitting her terrified him.


    Katelyn simply smiled at him and said, ¡°Rx, I¡¯m fine. All of those bullets hit Neil.¡±


    She knew that, even if he received treatment, Neil¡¯s legs would likely never fully recover. That was the most severe punishment she could deliver.


    Jaxen, who sat behind the wheel, breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Katelyn¡¯s words. His usual carefree demeanor quickly returned as the tension began to fade.


    ¡°We were both so worried when we found out the police had taken you. But honestly, shooting your ex-husband? Good for you! I guess this means there¡¯s no chance of you two ever getting back together.¡±


    Katelyn smiled but didn¡¯t offer a response.


    As Vincent sat in the passenger seat, he stated, ¡°Just a reminder, even though you¡¯ve been bailed out, you still need to follow thews in Yata. Any illegal activity from now on will count as a repeated offense.¡±


    Katelyn gave him a quick nod. ¡°Got it, thanks.¡± She then turned her attention to the window, feeling indifferent as her thoughts drifted.


    Neither Vincent nor Jaxen said another word. They both seemed to silently agree that nothing more needed to be discussed.


    When Katelyn returned to her hospital room, she was caught off guard as Lise rushed in like a storm


    .


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 Chapter 482

    ?Chapter 482:


    Lise appearedpletely out of control. Her hysteria drove her to lunge toward Katelyn.


    Luckily, Jaxen reacted first, stepping in to block her before she could reach Katelyn.


    Rage burned in Lise¡¯s eyes as she screamed, ¡°You bitch! What did you do to Neil? Do you understand that he¡¯ll never walk again like he used to? He¡¯s crippled now!¡±


    Upon hearing her outburst, Vincent and Jaxen exchanged shocked nces. They looked to Katelyn for answers.


    Both of them knew that Katelyn shot Neil, but they assumed that removing the bullet would solve everything. They didn¡¯t anticipate the full consequences of her actions.


    Katelyn expected this reaction. She remained calm and said, ¡°When he threw the knife at me, he intended to kill me. I only took away his ability to walk. That was mercy, if you ask me.¡±


    Lise screamed at the top of her lungs, ¡°That¡¯spletely different! You¡¯re standing here unharmed, while Neil is stuck with a permanent disability. He was meant for greatness. How could you expect him to ept this?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s patience was running out. Her face tightened as she coldly replied, ¡°If he can¡¯t ept it, then let him die. He brought this on himself.¡±


    If she hadn¡¯t dodged in time, that knife would¡¯ve pierced her skull. Considering everything he¡¯d done, and the attack on her life, Katelyn believed she had already shown more restraint than Neil deserved.


    Lise¡¯s expression twisted with rage, making her look like a vengeful spirit. She wanted nothing more than to drive a knife straight into Katelyn.


    If Neil ended up truly disabled, people would look down on him. How could she ever show her face in high society again? Even as Mrs. Wheeler, she would be mocked and humiliated.


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    Before she could act, Jaxen stepped in, blocking her path. ¡°Stop this insanity!¡± he demanded.


    With a rough shove, Lise tumbled to the floor.


    Jaxen¡¯s contempt was clear. ¡°A shameless home-wrecker and a crippled cheater¡ªwhat a perfect pair you two make!¡±


    Lise¡¯s skin turned pale in an instant.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t spare Lise a single nce. As they moved past each other, she leaned in closer to Lise and whispered in a voice that felt like a devil¡¯s hiss. ¡°Provoke me again, and I promise you won¡¯t get off so easily.¡±


    With that, she turned and walked into her room. Vincent shot Lise a cold, cutting look before following Katelyn inside.


    When Katelyn returned to her hospital room, the knife had been removed from the headboard. However, the bullet holes still marred the floor, a haunting reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. Even the untouched parts of the room seemed to carry the echoes of the violence that had taken ce.


    Jaxen looked around the room and muttered under his breath, ¡°I guess I¡¯ve just added another name to my list¡ªnever cross Katelyn.¡±


    Katelyn gave a weary smile,pletely drained, and unable to muster the energy to react to Jaxen¡¯s attempt at humor. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t defended myself, I¡¯d probably be dead right now.¡±


    Jaxen immediately responded, ¡°What you did was perfectly fair. It¡¯s the kind of thing only a true queen of vengeance would pull off.¡±


    By any measure, Katelyn had done nothing wrong. Though Neil was now disabled, she had shown mercy by sparing his life.


    Vincent¡¯s tone grew serious as he said, ¡°Knowing Neil, once he realizes he¡¯s disabled, he wille after you. You need to be more cautious from now on.¡±


    Katelyn could feel the worry in Vincent¡¯s words and gave him a small nod, offering him a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡±


    Jaxen moved to the bedside, closely inspecting the knife mark. He ran his fingers over it, assessing the depth before speaking in a serious tone. ¡°Katelyn has shown incredible mercy. Leaving Neil crippled is still too mild. He deserves to spend the rest of his days bedridden, reduced to nothing.¡±


    If it were up to him, Neil wouldn¡¯t have survived. Jaxen would have ended his life without hesitation.


    Katelyn said nothing, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation.


    At that moment, her phone rang suddenly. When she answered, the voice on the other end sounded frantic.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, this is Earl Poulos¡¯ butler. You muste to the estate right away. His Lordship may not have much time left!¡±


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    .<fnf1c0> Latest content published on find?novel</fnf1c0>

 Chapter 483

    ?Chapter 483:


    ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    Katelyn clutched her phone, her eyes wide with shock.<fnb821> Updates are released by findnovel</fnb821>


    Just days earlier, during their visit, Earl Poulos appeared to be in much better health. How had his condition worsened so rapidly?


    The butler¡¯s voice cracked, filled with emotion as if he were trying to hold back tears.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, please hurry over. His Lordship is asking for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m on my way now.¡±


    After ending the call, Katelyn turned to Jaxen and Vincent, her tone grave. ¡°Earl Poulos¡¯ condition has be critical.¡±


    Jaxen responded with shock, ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    Vincent snatched the car keys off the table. ¡°We need to leave immediately.¡±


    The drive from the hospital to the estate would take about half an hour.


    Katelyn rolled down the car window, letting the cool evening air flow in, hoping it might help clear her thoughts, but instead, it only added to her turmoil.


    They had met Earl Poulos only a handful of times. Yet, the dignified and noble aura the old man carried had deeply impressed Katelyn. It was an aura that seemed to have been honed over the years. No one she knew ever came close to matching Earl Poulos¡¯ presence.


    He was elegant, alert, and charismatic¡ªperfect words to describe him. Earl Poulos seemed like thest of the true gentlemen of his time. Among the many descendants of the Yata nobility, none stood out quite like Earl Poulos.


    Katelyn felt an unexined sadness weighing on her. Earl Poulos hadn¡¯t yet located his missing son. How could he just pass away so abruptly?


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    With these heavy and conflicting thoughts, Katelyn arrived at the estate. The butler was already waiting at the door.


    His eyes were swollen and red, but he still hurried over to greet them.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you made it.¡±


    As Katelyn approached, she quickly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Earl Poulos? Why did his health decline so suddenly?¡±


    The butler let out a deep sigh. ¡°Truth be told, His Lordship has always been fragile. It¡¯s just that his quest to find his son had given him strength. Then, on that fateful day, he saw his only nephew killed right before him¡­¡±


    The butler paused, leaving the rest unsaid, but Katelyn already grasped the gravity of the situation. What usually kept people alive was their hope. It was the determination deep within that had kept Earl Poulos alive until now. However, with his hope waning and after losing his nephew, his resolve had crumbled, culminating in his current condition.


    Katelyn hastened her steps, breaking into a run. She didn¡¯t know where the subtle pain in her heart hade from. All she knew was that the pain was real, and she urgently needed to see Earl Poulos.


    Earl Poulos¡¯ bedroom was upstairs. When Katelyn and herpanions arrived, Earl Poulos was in a dire state. He appeared to be clinging to life, awaiting Katelyn¡¯s arrival. His eyes, though dim, lit up slightly at the sight of her.


    ¡°You made it.¡±


    Earl Poulos extended his shaky hand. It had be dry and withered, resembling an old twig. Katelyn nodded gravely. ¡°I¡¯m here. Do you have something on your mind that you want to tell me?¡±


    Katelyn fought back her sadness. In that moment, she felt as though Earl Poulos was truly part of her family, possibly sharing theirst moments together.


    Earl Poulos made an effort to raise his hand, gazing intently at Katelyn, then gently shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing specific I need to say¡­ I just wanted to look at you once more.¡±


    Vincent stood by, his face heavy, but he still noticed the strange atmosphere between Katelyn and Earl Poulos.


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 Chapter 484

    ?Chapter 484:


    The butler clenched his fist tightly, struggling to contain his tears. ¡°The family doctor is already on his way.¡±


    Katelyn suppressed her sadness, her teeth clenched. ¡°Tell him to hurry. We need him as quickly as possible. Maybe Earl Poulos still has a chance.¡±


    Though she voiced hope, Katelyn knew in her heart that Earl Poulos¡¯ condition was beyond recovery. Even his rare moments of rity were brief shes before the inevitable end.


    She kept everything close to her heart but held onto a fragile thread of hope. What if Earl Poulos could make it?


    Tears welling in his eyes, the butler gave a heavy nod before rushing off.


    Earl Poulos, however, smiled and gently shook his head. Weak as he was, his eyes radiated warmth. ¡°I know my condition. Please, don¡¯t waste any more time on this.¡±


    ¡°But you must survive. Without you, I¡¯ll be alone in the world again,¡± Katelyn said, her voice trembling.


    As she spoke, a tear slipped down her cheek. She was not one to cry. Even when betrayed by both her parents and her husband in the past, she had remained tearless.


    But now, her tears flowed freely. She hoped fervently for a miracle for Earl Poulos. All she could think was that if miracles existed, she wished one for him.


    Katelyn¡¯s grief deeply affected Jaxen and Vincent.


    Jaxen covered his mouth, tears rolling down his cheeks. ¡°Why do I feel like crying just by seeing this?¡±


    When someone is consumed by genuine despair, it resonates deeply, spreading a palpable aura of grief.


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    Vincent¡¯s eyes softened as he watched Katelyn¡¯s trembling form. His fists clenched in silent support.


    This was the first time he had seen Katelyn cry, and he silently hoped it would be thest.


    Katelyn cried quietly, her small shoulders trembling, making her seem incredibly vulnerable.


    ¡°I also wished I could stay and be your family, but it¡¯s a wish that can¡¯te true.¡± These words were followed by a violent cough from Earl Poulos.


    His breathing became shallow andbored, as though some invisible force was choking him. Katelyn quickly patted his back, her concern evident. ¡°Breathe. Just breathe!¡±


    Vincent reached for a ss of water, but Earl Poulos was too weak to take even a sip.


    With each passing moment, Katelyn¡¯s eyes grew redder. Earl Poulos¡¯ time was running out.


    Eventually, his coughing subsided, and he began to give his final instructions. ¡°Remember the file bag I gave you earlier? After I die, hold a press conference and make its contents public. My butler knows what to do and will assist you.¡±


    Katelyn was taken aback. She still didn¡¯t know what was in the file bag.


    But Earl Poulos¡¯ tone was grave and serious. Katelyn couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°What exactly is in that file bag?¡±


    Earl Poulos shook his head, avoiding a direct answer, and continued with his instructions.<fnd956> Fresh chapters posted on ?ovelFind</fnd956>


    ¡°Just remember, the document must be opened in front of all the media. Once its contents are revealed, you may face danger. But don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve already arranged protection for you.¡±


    The contents of the file bag seemed incredibly important, but why had he entrusted something so vital to Katelyn?


    This question also lingered in Vincent¡¯s mind, especially considering the strange way Earl Poulos had treated Katelyn from the start. His eagerness to take Katelyn in as his own daughter was unsettling. Could it be that she resembled someone from his family?


    Katelyn didn¡¯t press further. With resolute determination, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll protect that document with my life.¡±


    Hearing this, Earl Poulos seemed to rx. ¡°In that case, I can pass peacefully. It¡¯s just a shame I won¡¯t get to see my son again before I go.¡±


    Though his words were soft, they carried the deep love of a father for his child.


    Just then, the door burst open, and Samuel rushed in with a group of people.


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 Chapter 485

    ?Chapter 485:


    Samuel arrived, forcefully dragging a man behind him¡ªAusten, Elora¡¯s bodyguard. He pushed him forward until they stood before Vincent. ¡°Mr. Adams, he¡¯s here now.¡±


    Though Austen¡¯s leg had been treated, his limp was still noticeable, and the gunshot wound remained far from healed. He struggled against them, shouting, ¡°What do you want? If you¡¯re going to kill me, then hurry up and do it!¡±


    Katelyn immediately understood what Vincent was nning. During the standoff with the fake Kenny, Earl Poulos had not given a direct answer, but it was clear to anyone watching that he recognized the man before him¡ªAusten, his son.


    Earl Poulos¡¯ eyes brightened as if he had summoned hisst bit of strength. He tried to sit up, but his weak body copsed back onto the bed. Gasping for air, he whispered, ¡°Come closer, my boy. Let me see you properly.¡±


    Austen¡¯s expression tightened with frustration at first, but it softened as he saw the frailty in Earl Poulos¡¯ condition. Pausing, he slowly moved toward him, and with a hint of surprise, he asked, ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    Earl Poulos shook his head slowly, his eyes lingering on Austen¡¯s face, as if he were trying to memorize every detail.


    ¡°After all these years apart, with you trained as an assassin, you must have suffered so much. It¡¯s all because of me. I should have done more to protect you back then.¡±


    Katelyn silently rose and stepped aside, giving the father and son the space they needed.


    More than three decades had passed since they werest together. Reuniting now, under these circumstances, felt like a cruel twist of fate. It was as though fate reveled in its ironies, offering a fleeting moment of relief before plunging them deeper into darkness.


    Austen shifted uneasily, responding, ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m not your son.¡±


    ?????????? ???????? ????????: g???????¦Í??????©o?????


    Earl Poulos, his voice warm with affection, replied, ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be foolish. What father wouldn¡¯t recognize his child? I¡¯ve searched for you all these years. I never imagined I¡¯d find you just as my life is nearing its end. Bittersweet as it is, it grants me my deepest wish.¡±<fn5929> The source of th?s content is F¦ÉndNovel</fn5929>


    Austen remained impassive, his expression unwavering as he repeated, ¡°I am not your son.¡±


    His words came without hesitation, pushing aside the turbulent feelings of sorrow that rose within him. He had grown up an orphan, raised and trained by his mentor within the organization. He had no family, no ties to anyone.


    Why should he feel any kind of loss just because Earl Poulos was nearing the end of his life?


    It had to be a delusion. That was the only exnation. Austen kept repeating it in his mind, almost as if trying to convince himself, forcing the thought to drown out the confusion inside him.


    Earl Poulos offered a bittersweet smile, his hand slowly lifting as if to reach for Austen. But the gesture stopped mid-air before his hand withdrew. His gaze shifted toward the ceiling, his expression distant and unfocused.


    ¡°On the right side of your foot, there¡¯s a small ck mark. I created it using a special ink, one that only our family has ever used. It¡¯s a symbol of our heritage, one that no outsider could possess.¡±


    Austen froze, momentarily taken aback by Earl Poulos¡¯ statement.


    Families with such ancient histories often bore distinctive marks or symbols.


    With a sharp intake of breath, Austen reluctantly removed his shoes and socks. Sure enough, there it was¡ªthe small ck mark.


    It wasn¡¯t a mole, nor a natural blemish as he had always believed.


    At that moment, everything Austen had built to shield himself shattered. His carefully constructed emotional barriers crumbled.


    His eyes widened in disbelief as he forcefully denied it. ¡°No way! This is just a coincidence! You¡¯re lying to me! I have no family¡ªmy parents died years ago!¡±


    Nearby, Jaxen, barely containing his fury, stormed over to Austen¡¯s side, fists clenched. ¡°You idiot!¡± he spat.


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 Chapter 486

    ?Chapter 486:


    Jaxen had always been quick-tempered.


    Watching Austen stubbornly reject the truth, Jaxen could no longer remain passive.


    ¡°Take a good look! The man lying there is your father. He has spent years searching for you, and now he¡¯s about to leave this life. Are you really going to deny him hisst wish?¡±


    As Jaxen¡¯s frustration mounted, he almost lunged at Austen, but Vincent stepped in just in time.


    Vincent¡¯s expression was cold and resolute, his gaze fixed firmly on Austen.


    ¡°You¡¯ve known the truth for quite a while now. Turning away from it won¡¯t change anything. The Earl isn¡¯t seeking your acknowledgment; he just wants to see you once more before he finally finds peace.¡±


    Austen¡¯s face flushed, a mixture of hesitation and inner conflict flickering in his eyes.


    He gazed intently at Earl Poulos, who was barely hanging on, and finally forced the words out through clenched teeth, ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I have no family. I am an orphan!¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s anger boiled over as he rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge at Austen.


    ¡°Vincent, step aside! Let me deal with this jerk. It was not Earl Poulos¡¯ fault that you were taken by bad people all those years ago. He¡¯s carried the weight of guilt and regret for so long. He recognized you before, but chose not to say anything, fearing it would disrupt your life. But what have you done?¡±


    Katelyn, who had been quiet on the sidelines, noticed the redness in Austen¡¯s eyes.


    In that moment, Katelyn understood Austen¡¯s turmoil. He had spent his life as an orphan, never knowing the warmth of a family¡¯s love.


    g ¦Á? ¦Ç¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s takes you away


    Now, on the verge of discovering his father, he faced the impending loss forever.


    Which was more bearable¡ªto have something precious only to lose it, or to have never experienced it at all?


    Austen¡¯s answer was clear.


    He would rather have never known the love of a family than watch his father die before him.


    Austen ground his teeth, refusing to speak.


    His stubbornness only fueled Jaxen¡¯s frustration, making him clench his jaw tightly.


    Vincent¡¯s expression remained serious.


    He spoke in a chilling tone, ¡°I respect your feelings and decisions, but this is your final opportunity. Time and the past are irretrievable. You may find yourself spending countless days and nights regretting the choice you make now.¡±


    In life, there are no ¡°ifs,¡± and the past could never be rewritten.


    Regret after loss is the most painful and tragic experience one could face.


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, finally speaking with a heavy heart, ¡°If you refuse to ept this, then just go. I will not pursue the matter of the assassination any further.¡±


    Austen¡¯s head shot up, disbelief shing across his face. ¡°You truly mean to let me walk away?¡±


    Katelyn turned away, her voice heavy with resignation. ¡°Go back to Elora. The man lying here has no connection to you.¡±<fn8ed8> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn8ed8>


    Austen¡¯s eyes wavered, his gaze fixed on Earl Poulos. Despite the urge to leave flooding his mind, his feet felt rooted to the ground, unable to move.


    Earl Poulos¡¯ eyes remained filled with love as he struggled to lift his hand, waving as though giving a final farewell. ¡°Let him go. He has a brighter future ahead of him. Being tied to me is fraught with danger.¡±


    Despite his outwardly glorious life, Earl Poulos had always carried the burden of losing his child.


    Guilt and regret had haunted him for far too long. He hadn¡¯t been able to do much for his son over the years; the only thing he could offer now was the gift of freedom.


    With a heavy heart, Katelyn adjusted Earl Poulos¡¯ nket. ¡°Save your strength and don¡¯t say any more. When the family doctor arrives, there might still be a chance.¡±


    Earl Poulos attempted a smile, but the light in his eyes had dimmed significantly, like a firefly nearing the end of its life, glowing faintly.


    Austen stood frozen, his expression a tumult ofplexity¡ªresentment, hesitation, and doubt. Atst, he made the choice to turn away and leave.


    Jaxen¡¯s fury boiled over, and he barely contained the urge to rush forward and pummel Austen. ¡°Are assassins truly this heartless? That was hisst chance to see his father.¡±


    Austen¡¯s body tensed, his steps faltering for a moment. But after a brief pause, he forced himself to move forward again.


    Each step he took seemed agonizingly slow, as if he were trapped in the frame of an old film ying in slow motion.


    No one could see the storm of emotions raging inside him. Then, suddenly, a desperate cry pierced the air behind him.


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 Chapter 487

    ?Chapter 487:


    Katelyn was the one who cried out.


    Her grip on Earl Poulos¡¯ frail hand tightened as tears, long suppressed, now flowed freely.


    She pleaded, her voice thick with emotion, ¡°Please, open your eyes. You haven¡¯t yet reunited with your son.¡±


    Earl Poulos remained still, unresponsive no matter how vigorously Katelyn shook him.


    Austen, who had just stepped forward, spun around, his face awash with disbelief.


    He hurried to the bedside, emotion choking his words. ¡°Please, open your eyes. Don¡¯t frighten me. Open your eyes and call me your son!¡±


    Moments earlier, Austen¡¯s resolve had been unyielding, yet now his pleas went unanswered as Earl Poulos remained with his eyes closed.


    Austen¡¯s face was drenched with tears as he fell to his knees. ¡°Didn¡¯t you always hope for our reunion? Look at me, I¡¯m here.¡±


    The pain on Austen¡¯s face was deep, tinged with regret. He longed to turn back time, to undo his hesitations and repeated departures driven by fear and cowardice, despite seeing Earl Poulos¡¯ dwindling time. No one could fathom the depth of Austen¡¯s anguish. He had only just met his father, and now he watched him slip away.


    More heartbreakingly, Earl Poulos had never heard Austen call him ¡°Father.¡±


    Katelyn, wiping her own tears, wanted to reprimand Austen but held back, knowing his pain surpassed hers. Austen, overwhelmed, trembled on the floor, his grief escting from quiet tears to loud sobs. He clung to Earl Poulos¡¯ hand, pleading desperately for a response.


    Katelyn, overwhelmed by the scene, turned away.


    ?????????? ????????????: g??????¦Í?????????????


    Suddenly, she felt a strong hand grasp hers, its warmth a slightfort against the cold that surrounded her. Vincent, with a look ofplex emotions, said, ¡°If you need to cry, go ahead. My shoulder is always here for you.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s tears, long held back, now cascaded freely as she leaned on Vincent¡¯s shoulder.<fn02ef> Content originallyes from find~novel</fn02ef>


    She could not fathom the depth of her grief over Earl Poulos¡¯ passing, given their brief acquaintance andck of a deep bond.


    It felt as though her heart had been pierced and twisted by the wound.


    Vincent caressed Katelyn¡¯s soft hair, offeringfort as tender as one would to a child, gently patting her back.


    Jaxen, with tears brimming in his eyes, noticed them together and approached, biting his lip. ¡°Vincent, this scene really saddens me,¡± he said.


    Attempting to lean on Vincent¡¯s shoulder as well, Jaxen was stopped by a stern look from Vincent, causing him to back away in rm.


    Without a word from Vincent, Jaxen received a clear warning from his gazeing closer would bring trouble. The sadness in Jaxen¡¯s eyes briefly faded, and he quickly moved aside.


    He gritted his teeth, resenting Vincent for putting his romance before their friendship.


    In Katelyn¡¯s presence, he felt sidelined by his once close friend.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t sure how long she had been crying before her emotions finally settled.


    Her tears had stained Vincent¡¯s shirt.


    Feeling somewhat guilty, she murmured, ¡°Sorry for ruining your shirt.¡±


    Vincent responded in a gentle tone, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Your feelings are what matter most.¡±


    Jaxen, observing silently, noticed a rare tenderness in Vincent¡¯s usually stoic demeanor.


    Meanwhile, Austen still knelt beside Earl Poulos¡¯ bed, whispering ¡°Dad¡± repeatedly.


    His hesitation, he knew, would haunt him forever.


    Vincent¡¯s earlier remark seemed prophetic.


    Austen was bound to carry this guilt and remorse indefinitely.


    After gathering herself, Katelyn took a deep breath just as the butler quickly returned, bringing someone along.


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 Chapter 488

    ?Chapter 488:<fn521d> This content belongs to F¦Énd£Îovel</fn521d>


    Upon seeing that Earl Poulos had passed peacefully, the butler trembled violently before copsing to his knees, overwhelmed with grief. ¡°No, why didn¡¯t you wait for me? Why did you leave¡­ all on your own?¡± he cried out.


    The butler, who had just returned with the family doctor, crawled toward Earl Poulos, weeping bitterly.


    ¡°You rescued me after my parents abandoned me and gave me a home. How could you abandon me too now?¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes began to fill with tears once more, but sheposed herself and gentlyforted the butler. ¡°Earl Poulos passed away peacefully.¡±


    The butler, ovee with sorrow, turned to Austen, who was still kneeling beside him. ¡°Sir, did you reunite with him?¡±


    The butler, who had always been a constant presence by Earl Poulos¡¯ side, had noticed the recognition in Earl Poulos¡¯ eyes earlier, but for various reasons, had chosen not to mention it.


    Austen remained silent, his soul seemingly drained. He knelt there, lifeless, as though every ounce of energy had left him.


    His empty eyes mirrored the deep remorse and guilt that now defined his existence¡ªconsequences of his earlier hesitation.


    The grief of losing someone is not a fleeting agony but a lingering pain.


    Each memory or trigger connected to them pulls one back into the depths of loss, forcing one to endure the pain again and again.


    Life¡¯s natural cycles include birth, aging, illness, and death.


    Everyone must face these realities and learn from them. The lesson left by the departed often takes a lifetime to fully grasp ande to terms with. In such deep sorrow,forting words often feel inadequate.


    Vincent softly touched Katelyn¡¯s shoulder, his voice soothing as if speaking to a child.


    L??e$? ??¦¤T??R? 1¦Ð ???lnovels.c??m


    ¡°Earl Poulos wouldn¡¯t want to see you all so heartbroken. Remember, true departure isn¡¯t death¡ªit¡¯s being forgotten.¡±


    Katelyn, acknowledging his words, nodded firmly. ¡°I will always remember Earl Poulos. He was thest gentleman of his era.¡±


    When Katelyn and the others made their way back to the hotel, it was nearly midnight.


    The butler, having anticipated this day, was prepared to handle all of Earl Poulos¡¯ affairs after his death.


    Katelyn, seated on the couch with a heavy heart, reyed Earl Poulos¡¯ final moments in her mind. Her only small constion was that he had not suffered much in hisst moments.


    Taking a deep breath, she suddenly recalled the document Earl Poulos had repeatedly emphasized before his passing.


    She had kept it safe and unopened until now.


    With trembling hands, Katelyn opened the envelope and was stunned by what she found. It was a will, and her name was listed.


    As Katelyn read the will, her disbelief grew. Earl Poulos had divided all his assets between her and Austen. Half was hers, including the ancient castle, which overwhelmed her momentarily.


    ¡°Why was Earl Poulos so generous to me?¡± she wondered, knowing he had wanted her by his side in his final moments, not Austen.


    Compelled by uncertainty, Katelyn approached Vincent¡¯s door, knocked, and was soon let inside by Vincent, who noticed her distress.


    ¡°It¡¯s sote. Why are you still up? You¡¯ve cried so much today, you¡¯re bound to have a headache tomorrow,¡± hemented.


    Katelyn handed him the will, exining, ¡°I just opened it. Earl Poulos left this for me.¡±


    Curious, Jaxen joined them, and both men were surprised as they read the document.


    Jaxen, in disbelief, asked, ¡°He left such arge estate to you. Were you rted to Earl Poulos in some way?¡± The logical exnation for Earl Poulos¡¯ favoritism baffled them.


    However, Katelyn shook her head slowly, rifying, ¡°No, we aren¡¯t rted by blood. In fact, we met for the first time just two weeks ago.¡±


    Right after her rification, the butler¡¯s call came through.


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 Chapter 489

    ?Chapter 489:


    Katelyn pressed the answer button, and the butler¡¯s voice came through the phone.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, by now you should have seen the will His Lordship left. The funeral is set for tomorrow morning, and your attendance is required. His Lordship had some specific ns made beforehand.¡±


    The butler¡¯s statement only deepened Katelyn¡¯s confusion.


    She cautiously asked, ¡°Is there an error in the will? Why is my name included?¡±


    The butler responded, ¡°There¡¯s no error. On the day you met His Lordship for the first time, he updated his will. It was only after he saw the scars on the young master¡¯s body that he decided to divide his estate.¡±


    This meant that, had Austen not been in the picture, the entire Poulos legacy would have gone to Katelyn. But why?


    Katelyn switched her phone to speaker mode so Jaxen and Vincent could listen in as well.


    Typically, such an estate would be passed on to one¡¯s offspring or close family members.


    While Earl Poulos had no children, his familywork was vast, filled with numerous distant rtives. It seemed imusible that any part of the inheritance would be directed towards Katelyn.


    Katelyn voiced the lingering question.


    Earl Poulos had always treated her with exceptional kindness, his eyes often filled with deep affection whenever he looked at her. Katelyn was perceptive, but she never understood the source of this warmth.


    Could she have reminded him of someone from his past?


    More ???????????????? ???? g???????¦Í????????????


    ¡°Could you tell me why Earl Poulos left his inheritance to me?¡±


    The butler simply shook his head. ¡°It was His Lordship¡¯s directive. I am unaware of his reasons. But, Miss Bailey, please make sure you are notte for the funeral tomorrow at nine.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Katelyn ended the call, the weight of unresolved questions still pressing on her.


    She looked over at Jaxen, who was giving her a puzzled look. He rubbed his chin and studied her carefully.


    ¡°You bear no resemnce to any of his family, so why would he leave everything to you?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no resemnce to Earl Poulos,¡± Jaxen remarked. Their previous spection about a family link between the two now seemed less likely.


    ¡°I have no rtionship to Earl Poulos, and I¡¯m still at a loss as to why he made this decision,¡± Katelyn said, her gaze settling on the hefty pile of documents.


    Therge bundle contained a detailed ount of all the assets Earl Poulos had umted over his lifetime. This inheritance was meant to be Austen¡¯s, and Katelyn had no desire to im it.


    ¡°If it¡¯s puzzling you, don¡¯t let it keep you up. Try to get some rest,¡± Vincent suggested, his voice filled with concern.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes were still red from the tears she had shed earlier. However, Vincent kept another worry to himself. With the will naming Katelyn, a rtive outsider, as the beneficiary of such a substantial estate, it was bound to provoke significant unrest. He also feared that the funeral the next day might lead to unforeseenplications. They needed to brace themselves.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Katelyn nodded resolutely and retreated to her room, but how could she possibly sleep after such an intense turn of events?


    She spent the night restless, catching only brief moments of sleep before dawn.


    The funeral was set for nine o¡¯clock in the morning. Katelyn dressed solemnly in ck, with a white flower pinned to her chest. The butler had texted her the address earlier.


    Upon their arrival by car, the entrance was packed with vehicles. A significant number of these belonged to reporters, eager to scoop thetest updates. This was because Earl Poulos¡¯ attorney was scheduled to disclose the will¡¯s contents at the funeral.


    Katelyn and her group entered without causing much of a stir among the reporters, who were primarily focused on the butler.


    The butler respectfully approached Katelyn. ¡°Miss Bailey, this way, please.¡±


    ¡°Alright,¡± Katelyn responded, and they proceeded inside.


    Earl Poulosy in his coffin, surrounded by a throng of unfamiliar faces¡ªpresumably his rtives. They were paying theirst respects, but Katelyn noted theck of genuine grief on their faces. Some even smirked while pretending to cry.


    None of them seemed to genuinely mourn Earl Poulos; their focus was on the potential fortunes to be imed from his will. Spotting Katelyn, one of them sharply inquired, ¡°Who are you?¡±


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    .<fn4e0a> Read full story at Find_Novel(.</fn4e0a>

 Chapter 490

    ?Chapter 490:


    The elderly woman yelling at Katelyn trembled with a mix of grief and frustration, as though they were pulling her apart. Her eyes were swollen and red, and she pointed an using finger directly at Katelyn.


    ¡°This is a family-only farewell. Someone get this outsider out of here.¡±


    At her words, heads turned toward Katelyn and her twopanions, the crowd¡¯s attention now fully focused on them.


    The butler stepped forward, his tone respectful yet firm.


    ¡°Mrs. Reynolds, thisdy here was a close friend of His Lordship. She was personally invited to the funeral.¡±


    Heather Reynolds squinted, doubt clouding her expression.


    ¡°I don¡¯t recall my brother having any friends like this one.¡±


    It was then that Katelyn realized¡ªHeather and Earl Poulos were family. She looked more closely and saw the resemnce. Around the eyes, Heather did indeed resemble Earl Poulos.


    But why had Earl Poulos never mentioned any family ties? People had always thought of him as an odd, solitary man who kept to himself.


    The butler¡¯s expression turned cold, his voice losing all warmth.


    ¡°Mrs. Reynolds, you and His Lordship have been distant for years. It¡¯s no surprise you¡¯re out of touch with his recent life. Your role here is simply to pay your respects, not to meddle in other matters.¡±


    Heather¡¯s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, clearly stung by his bluntness.


    A young man nearby stepped forward, his voice sharp with arrogance.


    ¡°You¡¯d better watch your tone with my mother. You¡¯re just a servant my uncle hired, nothing more.¡±


    L?t?st ch¦Ápt?rs ¦Én g??l??ov§Ö???.????


    His smugness was evident, a sh of disdain in his eyes as he clearly looked down on the butler. Without a word, the butler turned away from him, his expression softening as he addressed Katelyn with far more respect.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, if you woulde with me, thewyer will be here shortly.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, though she couldn¡¯t help but scan the room, still processing everything around her.


    ¡°Where is Austen?¡±


    Was he really going to miss Earl Poulos¡¯ funeral? The butler let out a tired sigh, almost as if he had anticipated the question.


    ¡°The young master stayed by His Lordship¡¯s bedside all night,¡± the butler said softly. ¡°He passed out from exhaustion at dawn. Someone¡¯s already been sent to get him.¡±


    Katelyn nodded, understanding. She knew Austen didn¡¯t need more regrets weighing him down.


    Heather¡¯s son, Westin Reynolds, overhearing this, raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard.


    ¡°What young master? My uncle never had a son!¡± Westin barked, irritation evident in his voice.


    Byw, if Earl Poulos had no wife or children, the estate would pass first to his sister Heather, and then to her son, Westin. He hade a long way, expecting to inherit a good portion of his uncle¡¯s wealth. If there was a legitimate heir, however, Westin wouldn¡¯t see a penny.


    Heather, realizing the significance of the information, quickly pressed the butler. ¡°What do you mean by that? Who is this ¡®young master¡¯?¡±


    The butler, fully aware of their desperation, gave a small, knowing smile.


    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to mention¡ªHis Lordship found his real son. That¡¯s who the young master is.¡±


    His wordsnded like a bombshell, leaving the room thick with tension.


    All the rtives, who had been counting on their share of Earl Poulos¡¯ fortune, now saw their hopes slip away. With a legitimate son in the mix, they had no im to the inheritance.


    Heather¡¯s anxiety spiked as she fired off more questions. ¡°When did this happen? Did my brother leave a will? How is the estate going to be split?¡±


    In just a few words, Heather¡¯s greed became painfully clear, and even Katelyn frowned, clearly disappointed by the scene unfolding before her.


    Perhaps Earl Poulos had seen through the true nature of his rtives, which might exin why he had cut ties with them.


    The butler stayed silent, but Heather¡¯s tone grew increasingly desperate.


    ¡°Speak up! Did my brother leave a will? Did he mention me? How much of the estate am I supposed to get?¡±


    The butler shook his head slowly, maintaining his calm demeanor. ¡°That¡¯s a private matter for His Lordship. I have no right to discuss it. If you want to know what¡¯s in the will, you¡¯ll have to wait for thewyer.¡±


    Hearing this, Westin could no longer contain his anger. He lunged forward, gripping the butler¡¯s cor, his fist raised in a threatening gesture.


    ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to teach you a lesson about being a servant!¡±


    But just as Westin¡¯s fist was about to fall, another hand shot out and stopped it mid-air.


    .<fn885b> Official source is f?ndnovel</fn885b>


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 Chapter 491

    ?Chapter 491:


    Vincent stopped Westin in his tracks. His icy gaze immobilized Westin as he gripped his wrist firmly.


    Westin struggled fiercely, but he couldn¡¯t free himself from Vincent¡¯s hold. His face flushed a deep red.


    ¡°Who are you? Let go of me!¡± he eximed. Vincent¡¯s eyes pierced through Westin, making his legs go weak under the immense pressure they conveyed. It felt as though tons of weight were pressing down on his shoulders.


    Westincked the courage to meet that icy stare, as if Vincent saw nothing but a dead man before him.


    ¡°Apologize!¡± Vincent demanded in a chilling tone.


    The butler stood as the sole remaining family member by Earl Poulos¡¯ side. Having been loyal to the Earl for many years, he was pained to see the family showing such disrespect now that Earl Poulos was gone.


    Heather, witnessing the scene, rushed over in agitation. ¡°Let go of my son!¡± she cried out.<fn52dc> Get full chapters from find{n}ovel</fn52dc>


    Jaxen blocked her path, raising an eyebrow. ¡°So he is your son? It seems you haven¡¯t taught him to behave properly,¡± he said sarcastically. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to help you with that,¡± he added.


    Heather responded with fury, ¡°Who are you people? This is a family matter. Get out of here immediately!¡±


    Jaxen, clearly annoyed, covered his ears. ¡°Lower your voice. You¡¯re bothering me,¡± he said disdainfully.


    ¡°You!¡± Heather was speechless, her face turning an angry shade of red.


    Katelyn stood quietly on the side, watching the scene unfold.


    Stay updated on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s?c?m


    Jaxen¡¯s critique was blunt. Since Heather had not taught her son properly, they would step in to correct him.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes revealed danger and coldness as he stared intensely at Westin. His grip tightened progressively, contorting Westin¡¯s face in agony as he wailed continuously. ¡°It hurts, it hurts! My hand is going to break. Let go!¡±


    Yet, Vincent coldly repeated, ¡°Apologize!¡±


    Westin¡¯splexion was flushed bright red, clearly indicating that Vincent was barely exerting any effort. If Vincent had applied even half his strength, Westin¡¯s wrist might have been fractured.


    Overwhelmed with anxiety, Heather shouted fiercely, ¡°I¡¯ll have the bodyguards throw you all out!¡±


    She turned to the bodyguards standing nearby. ¡°What are you all just standing there for?¡± she yelled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? Get rid of these people! They don¡¯t belong here.¡±


    The bodyguards began to move but froze when the butler¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°These three are the Earl¡¯s honored guests. Who would darey a hand on them?¡± His words stopped the bodyguards in their tracks.


    Heather turned to the butler, her teeth clenched. ¡°You¡¯re siding with them instead of me? After all my brother did for you?¡±


    The butler remained calm, unfazed by her outburst, as though he hadn¡¯t heard her at all.


    Westin, now in unbearable pain, had tears streaking down his face. He could almost hear the cracking of his bones, imagining they might soon break under Vincent¡¯s grip.


    Finally, Westin couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he whimpered. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. Please, my wrist can¡¯t handle it anymore. It¡¯ll break if you keep going.¡±


    Vincent nced over at the butler, who gave a slight nod. With that, Vincent released his hold.


    Heather rushed to Westin¡¯s side, her eyes falling on the bright red mark on his wrist. Her teeth ground together in anger. ¡°How dare youy a hand on us at my brother¡¯s funeral? Even if he¡¯s gone, he won¡¯t forgive any of you!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze locked onto them as she sneered. ¡°Maybe for Earl Poulos, the worst part was having greedy family like you around.¡±


    Her words hit Heather and the others like a sharp p. They red at Katelyn, but no retort came to their minds.


    The butler then raised his voice. ¡°The service will now begin!¡±


    Almost immediately, reporters flooded the area. At the back of the crowd, a man in sses and a ck suit stood out, capturing everyone¡¯s attention.


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 Chapter 492

    ?Chapter 492:


    Heather and herpanions instantly recognized the neer. It was Addison Marquez, the attorney who had handled Earl Poulos¡¯ legal affairs throughout his life. Addison walked up with a somber expression, cing a white daisy in front of Earl Poulos¡¯ coffin.<fn4ea9> Chapters first released on Find[?]ovel</fn4ea9>


    ¡°Mr. Marquez,¡± the butler said, greeting him with a polite nod.


    Addison acknowledged the butler with a subtle nod before moving to the podium. As he did, the air was filled with the bright shes of cameras.


    ¡°I stand here today to carry out the final wishes of Earl Poulos and to disclose the details of his will at his funeral,¡± Addison began.


    Just as Addison was about to continue, a weak voice interrupted from the corner.


    ¡°Wait a moment.¡±


    All eyes turned toward the source of the interruption. There stood Austen, looking weak and struggling to maintain his bnce. He hadn¡¯t had anything to eat or drink since the previous day.


    The butler quickly rushed over to support him.


    ¡°Sir, are you certain you¡¯re able to do this?¡± the butler asked.


    Austen¡¯s gaze was blurry but determined as he faced Earl Poulos¡¯ coffin. A spark of resolve was evident in his eyes.


    ¡°I must be here for this funeral,¡± he replied.


    The butler nodded in acknowledgment and helped him toward the coffin.


    Austen ced a white daisy beside Earl Poulos and gazed at his father¡¯s peaceful face, fighting back tears. Heather and Westin exchanged a nce, their faces filled with clear disdain.


    ¡°Are you sure this is him? He bears no resemnce to my brother. He¡¯s probably just a chatan trying to im our inheritance,¡± Heather scoffed.


    Continue reading on g???????¦Í?????c????


    Austen gave them a brief, dismissive nce. The butler exined, ¡°That¡¯s His Lordship¡¯s sister, your aunt. She¡¯s been away from the family for many years and only came after hearing about the funeral.¡±


    Austen spared Heather one more nce before turning his focus back to the coffin. He felt no connection to this so-called aunt and harbored no familial affection toward her.


    Addison adjusted his sses and looked at Austen with a hint of astonishment. ¡°So, you are the Earl¡¯s son. He searched for you for years, and just before passing, he found you. Hisst wish finally came true.¡±


    Austen¡¯s heart sank at this revtion. He lowered his head and gave a small nod.


    Turning back to face the audience, particrly the press, Addison said, ¡°I am about to reveal the contents of Earl Poulos¡¯ will. Please, let¡¯s maintain silence and show respect.¡±


    Katelyn and the others stood by quietly, watching Addison. Meanwhile, Heather and her group were visibly agitated, their anticipation growing, with Westin especially eager to secure a significant portion of the estate.


    Amidst the tension, Austen leaned against the coffin, his gaze fixed on histe father.


    ¡°Earl Poulos divided his entire estate into two parts,¡± Addison continued. ¡°One half will go to his son, Mr. Kenny Poulos, and the other half to Miss Katelyn Bailey.¡±


    This announcement hit the room like a bolt of lightning, leaving an overwhelming silence across the hall.


    Earl Poulos had been one of the wealthiest men in Yata, and now, his immense fortune was being divided between just two individuals.


    Though Katelyn, the butler, and a few others had been aware of the will¡¯s contents, it was aplete surprise to most, including Austen. He now believed what the butler had told him earlier¡ªthat during their first meeting, Earl Poulos had recognized him. However, Earl Poulos had held back his emotions, choosing to express his affection for Austen through the will, in an effort to preserve his son¡¯s freedom.


    Heather exploded in anger. ¡°This isn¡¯t right! How could my brother divide his vast fortune between just two people? And to these strangers? I suspect this man isn¡¯t really his son, and this Katelyn woman¡ªI¡¯ve never even met her!¡±


    The butler remained calm, his voice steady. ¡°Miss Katelyn Bailey is right here, and she was one of His Lordship¡¯s most esteemed acquaintances.¡±


    Heather¡¯s outrage escted to near hysteria. ¡°It¡¯s impossible that my brother left me nothing! This will must have been tampered with. I¡¯m calling the police and suing everyone involved right now!¡±


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 Chapter 493

    ?Chapter 493:


    Heather¡¯s eyes gleamed with malice. She had only returned for the will, and despite years of estrangement from her brother, she was shocked to find herself left with nothing.


    Westin interjected, ¡°I doubt this so-called ¡®young master¡¯ is even Uncle Dous¡¯ biological son. And Katelyn¡ªthere¡¯s no blood rtion. Why would he leave such arge inheritance to her?¡±


    Addison, the executor, gave them a stern look. ¡°The contents of the will were determined by Earl Poulos himself before his passing. I am here only to announce his decisions. If you disagree, you are wee to challenge them legally.¡±


    Heather stepped forward aggressively, sneering. ¡°I will sue, and I¡¯ll take this story global! I¡¯ll expose you as a fraud who tampered with the will. You¡¯ll never work in this field again!¡±


    She turned to the gathered reporters. ¡°Did you catch that? Thiswyer will do anything for money!¡± The media cameras shed incessantly, capturing every moment of the spectacle.


    The announcement of such an unusual inheritance, involving a foreigner with no apparent family ties, captivated the media.


    Katelyn remained silent, having expected such a reaction the moment Heather and Westin arrived. Perhaps Earl Poulos had predicted this exact scene, which exined the extensive press presence as witnesses.


    Heather then turned her fury on Katelyn. ¡°Why did my brother leave you so much? Did you seduce him?¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Reynolds, please be cautious with your usations,¡± the butler interjected sharply. ¡°We will not allow His Lordship¡¯s reputation to be tarnished.¡±


    Westin quickly added, ¡°If there¡¯s no other exnation, why did he leave everything to her? We will use every legal avenue to ensure that your greed does not go unpunished.¡±


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    Mother and son were clearly aligned in their efforts to ruin Katelyn¡¯s reputation.


    Katelyn responded with a frosty stare. ¡°I truly don¡¯t understand Earl Poulos¡¯ decision, but I refuse to ept any part of the inheritance. I will transfer everything to Austen.¡± As Earl Poulos¡¯ legitimate heir, Austen was the rightful recipient.


    Rising from his seat, Austen¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, his fury barely contained. ¡°I, too, will not ept the inheritance,¡± he dered. ¡°Everything will be donated to charity.¡± For him, the wealth meant nothing without his father.


    Heather and Westin were stunned, their faces flushed with outrage. They couldn¡¯t fathom Austen¡¯s decision to donate the fortune rather than pass it on to them. Westin, his grief forgotten,shed out in arrogance.


    ¡°What do you think you are? A mere bastard child with murky origins!¡± he spat. ¡°You¡¯re conspiring with thewyer to fabricate a will, and now you pretend to rid yourself of it by iming charity?¡±


    He spat on the floor in a show of utter disdain.


    Austen¡¯s fists clenched, his eyes burning with fury. The term ¡°bastard child¡± stirred painful memories of the insults and violence he had faced during his training years, memories that led to the fatal beating of the offender.<fn94d0> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F¦Énd£Îovel</fn94d0>


    It had been years since Austen had encountered someone as confrontational as Westin. Westin, now on the receiving end of a prating stare, recoiled slightly, intimidated by the palpable intensity radiating from Austen. ¡°Why such a formidable presence?¡± Westin wondered to himself. Austen¡¯s gaze felt suffocating.


    Swallowing his fear, Westin realized he couldn¡¯t afford to lose any more dignity. The implications for his social standing were too great. He doubted that Austen would escte to violence in front of an audience, but the tension in the room was thickening.


    Katelyn, observing the exchange, was overwhelmed by a tumult of emotions. She saw Westin¡¯s arrogance as a precursor to his inevitable downfall.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with calling you a bastard child?¡± Westin sneered. ¡°You have no heritage, yet you im a right to this fortune!¡±


    In a sudden surge of movement, Austen reacted, his expression a mix of fury and finality.


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    ?Chapter 494:


    Austen¡¯s fist shot forward,nding a powerful punch directly in Westin¡¯s chest. ¡°Bang!¡± Westin was sent crashing into the wall, blood spurting from his mouth. No one saw iting¡ªAusten¡¯s attack was swift and brutal.


    That single punch left Westin sprawled on the floor, unable to get up.


    Jaxen watched the chaos unfold with a smirk. ¡°He had iting. He asked for this himself,¡± hemented.


    Years of intense training had transformed Austen into a ruthless force. Unlike Vincent, who valued control, Austen was taught to eliminate threats swiftly and effectively.


    Heather stood frozen for a moment, before screaming and rushing to Westin¡¯s side. ¡°Westin, are you alright? Don¡¯t frighten me like this!¡±


    Blood poured from Westin¡¯s mouth, his shock evident as he weakly reached toward Austen. He tried to speak, but instead, more blood flowed, silencing his words. His hand fell limp, lifeless, hitting the floor with a dull thud.


    Heather¡¯s scream shattered the silence again, as adrenaline surged through her, filling her with a desperate, frantic energy. But the harsh reality was that Austen¡¯s blow, delivered with the skill of an assassin, had struck Westin¡¯s heart.


    Katelyn hurried to Westin¡¯s side to check for signs of life. After a brief moment, she let out a sigh of relief. ¡°He¡¯s still alive; he just passed out.¡±


    The situation was dire. Had Austen¡¯s blow been fatal, the consequences would have been severe.


    Katelyn tried to calm the anxious onlookers, offering them only part of the truth. While Westin was still alive, the damage was done, and the future consequences of such a blow to the heart were uncertain.


    Heather, however, was beyond reason. Her eyes zed with fury as she red at Austen. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this! I promise you won¡¯t have an easy end!¡±<fn0585> The source of th?s content is Find¡ïNovel</fn0585>


    Read it all on g?ln¦Ò¦Í???s


    Austen¡¯s face remained cold, void of any emotion except a chilling resolve. ¡°Say another word, and you¡¯ll meet the same end as your son.¡±


    Heather¡¯s eyes widened in terror, and she mped her mouth shut, knowing all too well the truth behind his threat.


    However, upon seeing Westin unconscious, Heather yelled, ¡°How could you do this to us? I¡¯m your aunt!¡±


    ¡°Aunt? I¡¯ve never had an aunt!¡± Austen¡¯s fists clenched, the crackling sound of his knuckles echoing through the tense air. His only true family was histe father.


    At that moment, the butler stepped forward. ¡°Mrs. Reynolds, let¡¯s not forget that you severed your rtionship with His Lordship over forty years ago. You coveted this castle, and when he refused to give it to you, you even considered burning it down. And then you did, setting the fire in the back garden.¡±


    The butler¡¯s words exposed a long-hidden past.


    Katelyn and the others were stunned. Despite their recent visits to the estate, they had never ventured into the back garden.


    At this revtion, the reporters in the crowd began to murmur amongst themselves, their expressions shifting to scorn. ¡°So, she¡¯s the one who set the fire?¡± one whispered. ¡°I remember that fire caused a huge uproar and even resulted in a death.¡± Another reporter added, ¡°After that incident, Earl Poulos denied almost all visitors.¡±


    The entire town of Yata still remembered the scale of that fire. Earl Poulos hadpensated the families who lost loved ones, but the incident had left an indelible scar on his reputation.


    Even today, remnants of the fire could still be seen in the back garden. With her past now exposed, Heather felt both shame and anger rising within her.


    ¡°I made that mistake when I was young,¡± she stammered, her voice shaky. ¡°I¡¯ve faced the consequences and changed for the better. Doesn¡¯t that earn me a chance at forgiveness?¡±


    The butler scoffed, hisugh cold and biting. ¡°Redemption? People died in the fire you set, and now you¡¯re talking about forgiveness?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª!¡± Heather was left speechless, her anger boiling over.


    At that moment, the medical team arrived to transport Westin. Heather remained rooted in ce, her eyes fixed on Austen with burning intensity. ¡°How do you prove your familial connection to my brother?¡± she demanded.


    Before Austen could respond, Addison stepped forward, holding up another piece of paper. ¡°Silence, please. The second document is about to be read!¡± he announced.


    The room fell into an immediate hush. A second document? What could it be?


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 Chapter 495

    ?Chapter 495:


    Addison held up a second document: a paternity test that confirmed the long-suspected connection between Earl Poulos and Austen. This crucial piece of evidence had been entrusted to Addison just before Earl Poulos¡¯ passing. Understanding the scheming nature of his rtives, Earl Poulos had emphasized the importance of making this document public at an official event.


    Without this irrefutable evidence, Austen¡¯s im to the estate would always be undermined by rumors and skepticism. Earl Poulos had orchestrated these measures from beyond the grave, determined to protect his son.


    Katelyn and Vincent exchanged a nce, their silent understanding speaking volumes. They recognized in Earl Poulos a man truly deserving of honor. Meanwhile, Heather was ovee with disbelief. She rushed forward, grabbing the document from Addison. Her voice trembled as she read, her eyes widening in shock.


    ¡°This¡­ this can¡¯t be true! He¡¯s really my brother¡¯s son? But¡­ hadn¡¯t he been missing all these years?¡±


    Katelyn responded coldly, her gaze unwavering. ¡°Earl Poulos dedicated his life to helping others and was generous in his contributions. Finding his son again was his ultimate reward, his greatest joy.¡±


    Addison gently retrieved the document from Heather¡¯s shaking hands and passed it to Austen. As he did, a profound sadness settled on him. Having known Earl Poulos so intimately, he understood the weight of this moment. He ced a reassuring hand on Austen¡¯s shoulder, his voice soft but full of emotion.


    ¡°Earl Poulos¡¯ passing was sudden, leaving so much unsaid. But never doubt his love for you. No one cherished you more. Now, it is your turn to uphold his legacy, continue his good works, and protect what he entrusted to you.¡±


    Austen nodded in silence, a single tear slipping from his eye and falling onto the document in his hand.


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    He had been so young when he was abducted, and the painful years that followed had stripped away nearly all of his childhood memories.


    In that moment, Austen felt a deep sense of Earl Poulos¡¯ love¡ªa quiet yet powerful presence. This enduring affection would give him the strength to keep going.


    ¡°Your father didn¡¯t ask for much,¡± Addison said gently. ¡°He simply wanted you to be safe and well. The wealth he left is yours to build upon, to pursue your true desires.¡±<fn92fc> Latest content published on find{n}ovel</fn92fc>


    Austen took a deep breath, tightening his grip on the document. ¡°I understand.¡±


    However, Heather, devastated by the loss of her inheritance, couldn¡¯t ept the reality. Her face contorted in anger.


    ¡°So what if you¡¯ve proven your identity?¡± she hissed. ¡°What about my son? He suffered because of you! I wantpensation!¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t receive anything,¡± Austen replied, his voice cold, his gaze sharp and menacing. ¡°If you don¡¯t leave now, I assure you, your fate will be worse than your son¡¯s.¡±


    Heather faltered under Austen¡¯s lethal stare. She opened her mouth to retort but found herself paralyzed, unable to speak. Overwhelmed by fear, she gritted her teeth in anger. Spitting fiercely, she hissed, ¡°You¡¯ll regret this! This isn¡¯t over!¡±


    Then, she stormed off, her steps quickening as if she feared Austen might strike back.


    The spectacle at the funeral had given the press more than enough material for scandal. The air buzzed with eager reporters snapping photos nonstop.


    The butler, maintaining his professionalism, stepped forward to address the crowd. ¡°I apologize for the disturbance. However, I must remind you that His Lordship was a man of great kindness throughout his life, and his good name will not be sullied by today¡¯s events. Please, let us continue with the funeral.¡±


    Following his words, the funeral resumed. The somber atmosphere returned as the mourners resumed honoring the Earl.


    Katelyn, Vincent, and Jaxen moved toward the coffin, each holding a single flower. They ced their flowers gently on Earl Poulos¡¯ coffin, their actions measured and full of respect.


    Looking down at Earl Poulos¡¯ serene expression, Katelyn silently offered a prayer.


    With the memorial over, it was time toy him to rest. The butler had chosen a beautiful cemetery set against a backdrop of rolling hills and distant mountains¡ªa fitting final resting ce for Earl Poulos.


    As they lowered the casket into the ground, workers began filling the grave. Austen knelt silently at the gravesite, his father¡¯s name freshly inscribed on the tombstone.


    Katelyn observed him from behind, noticing the slump of his shoulders. This loss had profoundly changed Austen. It was evident in the way he carried himself. From now on, he would uphold his father¡¯s legacy, a duty to the family name that had once felt so distant.


    Breaking the silence, Austen spoke, his voice filled with regret. ¡°Father, I¡¯m so sorry. I was a fool. If only I could go back, I wouldn¡¯t have stayed away. I would have weed you into my life much earlier¡­¡± His words were heavy with guilt, every syble a confession of the pain that would haunt him forever.


    This grief was now his to bear, a wound beyond healing. The atmosphere at the funeral was filled with emotion, broken only by the soft sound of Austen¡¯s muffled sobs. Everyone stayed quiet, not wanting to disrupt the gravity of the moment.


    Suddenly, Katelyn looked up, her face puzzled. ¡°Wait¡­ look. What¡¯s that?¡± Her outburst pierced the silence, prompting everyone to turn their gaze toward her.


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 Chapter 496

    ?Chapter 496:


    Suddenly, everyone¡¯s eyes turned upward, drawn to a butterfly dancing in the air. It circled around Austen, its shimmering wings catching the light, beforending on the ck-and-white photo of Earl Poulos on the tombstone. In the photo, Earl Poulos¡¯ expression was serene and kind, as though he were watching over everyone.


    Austen¡¯s hand quivered as he reached toward the butterfly, almost believing he could feel his father¡¯s essence in its delicate form. However, his movement startled the butterfly, and it took off,nding softly on Austen¡¯s chest, right over his heart. It was an unexpected moment, especially at a funeral.


    It almost seemed as if Earl Poulos were responding to Austen¡¯s deep-seated remorse and grief, manifesting in this delicate creature to offer some measure of sce. At times, when logic and science fail to exin life¡¯s mysteries, it is love that fills those gaps.


    Tears filled the butler¡¯s eyes once more as he approached Austen and gently ced a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Your father loved you more than anything. He would never me you. More than anything, he wished for just a little more time¡ªto see you, to be with you.¡±


    Austen gripped the butterfly against his chest, his tears flowing freely as he was overwhelmed with sorrow.


    Katelyn and the others stayed with Austen, offering silent support through the evening until they eventually returned to their hotel. Yet, the weight of the day¡¯s emotions cast a shadow over them, dampening their spirits. Even Jaxen, who could usually be counted on to crack a joke, remained quiet, lost in thought.


    ¡°Death is part of the circle of life,¡± Katelyn whispered, his tone unusually gentle. ¡°Yet, no matter how prepared we think we are, its arrival always feels sudden and overwhelming.¡±


    Katelyn let out a heavy sigh, his gaze somber as he reflected on his own words. ¡°We must treasure the time with our loved ones while we can. You never know what mighte first¡ªanother day or an unexpected end.¡±


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    It was a harsh reality. idents weremon worldwide, often iming the lives of even the young and fit without warning. Their only option was to savor each sunrise and cling to their cherished ones.


    As she spoke, Vincent looked at Katelyn with a mix of emotions in his eyes, hard to decipher. He seemed on the verge of saying something, yet chose to remain silent.


    ¡°It¡¯s gettingte,¡± Vincent finally said, ncing around at the group. ¡°We¡¯re all worn out. It¡¯s time to get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that sounds right,¡± Katelyn replied, though she didn¡¯t feel the weight of exhaustion that others did.


    Despite the tiring day, Katelyny wide awake in her bed, troubled. The final moments of Earl Poulos¡¯ life haunted her, leaving her with a sense that something crucial had been left unspoken, some issue unresolved. Then there was the mystery of the will, which continued to perplex her.


    After a restless few hours of sleep, Katelyn rose early the next morning, determined to find Addison. She made her way to his office, her face set, and handed him the will she had received. Her voice was firm as she spoke.


    ¡°I cannot ept the inheritance that Earl Poulos left for me. It should go to Austen. Please, return it to him.¡±


    Addison adjusted his sses, his expression grave as he replied, ¡°Are you sure about this? Earl Poulos¡¯ wealth is immense, and it could easily make you one of the richest women in the world. This fortune could change your life.¡±


    The inheritance was undeniably enormous, tempting enough for most to ept without hesitation. Yet, it was more than just money; it was a deliberate choice made by Earl Poulos to pass it on. With unwavering eyes, Katelyn reaffirmed her decision.


    ¡°I will not take what does not belong to me.¡±


    Addison, visibly conflicted, epted the will from her and nodded. ¡°Alright. I will let Austen know your decision.¡±


    Just as he was about to file the documents, the office door swung open, and another figure entered.


    It was Austen.


    Dressed in ck, his somber appearance was marked by two ck mourning bands around his sleeves ¡ª twice the usual number.


    Katelyn frowned slightly, puzzled.


    In their tradition, a single ck band was worn to denote mourning for a family member¡¯s passing. Why, then, was Austen wearing two? Could there have been another tragedy?


    Austen approached the desk, holding his own copy of the will. Though he appearedposed, his eyes held a deep sadness. He had overheard Katelyn speaking with Addison.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want the inheritance either,¡± Austen said softly, cing his will on Addison¡¯s desk. ¡°I came here today to have my share transferred to Katelyn.¡±


    Katelyn, taken aback, responded, ¡°But this is yours by right. Earl Poulos left it to you. He intended for you to use it to create the life you want.¡±


    Austen¡¯s tone was firm, but his eyes conveyed deep sorrow as he replied, ¡°The money doesn¡¯t matter to me. If I could bring him back, I¡¯d give up every cent.¡±


    His grief was less visible than the day before, but it was clear that the pain still lingered within him.<fn815b> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel</fn815b>


    Addison, caught between two people turning down an immense fortune, was left speechless in this unprecedented situation.


    Austen then turned to Katelyn, his voice taking on a more serious tone. ¡°There¡¯s something else you need to know.¡± The gravity in his voice sent a shiver down Katelyn¡¯s spine, and she felt an ominous sense of dread wash over her.


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 Chapter 497

    ?Chapter 497:


    Katelyn¡¯s voice wavered as she asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Austen tightened his fists, closing his eyes for a moment as if gathering the courage to speak. ¡°The butler¡­ he diedst night.¡±


    Katelyn felt the news strike her like a physical blow, stunning her for a moment. She turned to look at the second mourning band on Austen¡¯s arm.


    ¡°That can¡¯t be! The butler was always so healthy!¡± she blurted out, her expression one of disbelief. Though her encounters with the butler had been brief, his steadfast devotion to the Earl had left asting impression on her. A chilling thought suddenly gripped her, making her heart race. Before she could process the full implication, Austen voiced her darkest fear.


    ¡°He took his own life,¡± Austen said, his voice heavy. ¡°He believed his life was a gift from my father when he saved him and brought him home. And with my father gone, he thought it was his duty to follow him in death to continue his service.¡±


    A torrent of emotions overwhelmed Katelyn¡ªgrief, shock, and disbelief tangled painfully in her heart. For a moment, words failed her. She had only ever heard of such extreme loyalty in old stories, where servants followed their masters to death. Now, it was happening right in front of her in the real world.


    Looking at Austen, who was consumed by grief, she understood that no words could heal the pain they shared. In such times, words felt empty, inadequate to offerfort.


    Even Addison seemed deeply affected by the news. His voice was soft and respectful. ¡°Their connection was deeper than any simple familial bond. What they shared was genuine.¡±


    Austen didn¡¯t reply, closing his eyes again, as if to block out the sadness. He had always believed that, without his father, at least the butler would remain by his side. Now, with both gone, he felt utterly alone.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice was soft and soothing. ¡°They¡¯re both watching over you now, Austen. They¡¯d want you to live well, to find happiness.¡±


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    Austen gave a small nod but said nothing.


    Addison returned to his duties, organizing the documents they had both presented. Beyond the castle¡¯s deed, all other assets of the estate were to be divided equally between Katelyn and Austen. Addison exined, ¡°If neither of you epts the inheritance, the assets will be held in trust. Eventually, they would pass to the next in line for session¡ªHeather.¡±


    Yata¡¯s inheritancews had peculiar requirements, with a strict order of session. Initially, the inheritance would go to the spouse, followed by the children. If they declined, it moved to siblings, extending outward based on the closeness of kin. If Katelyn and Austen both rejected their inheritance, Heather would inherit everything¡ªa prospect neither of them wanted.


    Katelyn pondered briefly, then suggested, ¡°How about we give it all to charity?¡± Addison adjusted his sses, his expression turning serious. ¡°I appreciate your intentions, Miss Bailey. It¡¯s clear that the fortune doesn¡¯t interest you. However, I must warn you, donating the entire sum might not yield the impact you¡¯re expecting.¡±


    Katelyn turned to him, puzzled. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Addison exhaled slowly, taking a moment before he replied, ¡°Frankly, only a fraction of charitable donations actually benefits those it¡¯s meant to help. Much of it disappears within the system.¡± He paused, choosing his words carefully. ¡°Regrettably, the charity sector in Yata is gued by corruption. For example, if you were to donate ten thousand dors, after navigating through the bureaucraticyers, only a negligible amount¡ªsay ten dors¡ªmight actually reach those in need.¡±<fn198c> Get full chapters from find?novel</fn198c>


    This was a harsh truth about the charity industry. Some greedy businessmen had exploited this sector, leveraging the generosity of donors for their own gain. Addison¡¯s example was just the tip of the iceberg in this vast corruption. There were maniptions beyond what most could imagine. These individuals could also make substantial profits even from buying supplies meant for the needy.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°Are you implying that all charities operate this way?¡± Addison answered thoughtfully, ¡°Not all of them, but it¡¯s amon issue here in Yata. There are some reputable organizations, but they are few, and distinguishing the trustworthy ones is challenging. Plus, we mustn¡¯t overlook the castle issue.¡±


    Katelyn pursed her lips, deep in thought. The entire nation believed that the castle supposedly concealed a hidden treasure. Having it felt like sitting on a ticking time bomb; it was only a matter of time before it attracted unwanted attention.


    Katelyn was about to respond when her phone rang, its sharp, urgent tone cutting through the tense silence of the room.


    This version improves the flow by using ¡°cutting through the tense silence,¡± which maintains the sense of urgency while enhancing the overall rity. Let me know if you¡¯d like any further adjustments!


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 Chapter 498

    ?Chapter 498:


    The phone screen lit up with ¡°Selina¡± as the caller. Katelyn stepped into the hallway before answering. Selina¡¯s voice burst through the phone, filled with excitement.


    ¡°Did you finally get the castle grounds? I¡¯m sending my team over this afternoon to begin development!¡± Her enthusiasm was unmistakable.


    This was a dream she had been chasing for years, and now it seemed within reach. Katelyn¡¯s grip on the phone tightened as she responded, her voice sharp and cold. ¡°Who told you that?¡±


    Selina¡¯s voice carried a hint of smugness. ¡°I have my ways. Don¡¯t forget our deal. Let me handle the castle development, and everything I promised will be yours, no questions asked.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression darkened as conflicting emotions swirled inside her. What had started as a temporary arrangement¡ªusing the castle as leverage¡ªhad evolved into a strategy to ess the foreign market and uncover the rumored jade pendant hidden beneath the estate. But now, against all odds, Katelyn actually owned the castle.


    She had never cared for the castle itself, nor the fortune said to be buried beneath it. In a firm voice, Katelyn replied, ¡°Your information is wrong. The castle isn¡¯t mine.¡±


    Selina¡¯s voice shot up in disbelief. ¡°Huh? That¡¯s not possible! Katelyn, are you trying to back out of our deal? I¡¯m warning you¡ªI can make sure you never work in the jewelry industry again!¡±


    ¡°I already told you, it¡¯s not in my possession. You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Katelyn¡¯s patience snapped, and she ended the call.


    The phone rang again almost immediately. This time, Katelyn silenced it without a second thought.


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    She knew Selina was using her influence to apply pressure, but Katelyn wasn¡¯t going to give in. There was no way she would give up the castle or the treasure supposedly hidden beneath it.


    For now, the castle was hers. As long as she held on to it, Selina would keep trying to take it away.<fnb7d4> Get full chapters from f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnb7d4>


    If Katelyn chose to walk away from her partnership with Adams Group, Vincent wouldn¡¯t face any consequences.


    After gathering her thoughts, Katelyn headed back to Addison¡¯s office. Austen had already left. Addison handed her a ss of warm water and spoke calmly, though his words carried a warning.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, you might not realize howplex things are in Yata. The situation is much deeper than it seems. If you hand over the castle, I can promise you it will be destroyed, and the treasure beneath it will fall into the hands of those who have been waiting for years to take it.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s fist tightened, and her expression darkened. ¡°Is there no other way?¡±


    ¡°None that I can think of,¡± Addison replied with a sigh. ¡°If you want to protect the castle, your only option is to hold onto it. You own the rights. As long as you don¡¯t give permission, no one can touch it.¡±


    Katelyn gave a tired nod, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her. ¡°I understand.¡±


    She left thewyer¡¯s office and returned to her hotel, her heart weighed down by the growing tension. Her injuries no longer required hospital care; they just needed time to heal.


    At the same time, promotional videos and behind-the-scenes footage from Earl Poulos¡¯ funeral were rapidly circting online. Now, everyone knew that the priceless castle was under her ownership.


    A sudden knock at the door snapped her out of her thoughts, followed by a polite voice.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, are you in? I have a business proposition to discuss with you.¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t open the door immediately. She checked the peephole and saw an unfamiliar man standing outside.


    ¡°What do you want? Say it quickly.¡±


    The man, with a faint smile, introduced himself. ¡°My name is Kyle Miller. I work in real estate. I¡¯m here to discuss the castle. Name your price, and I¡¯ll buy it from you. Or, if you prefer, you can keep the treasure underneath. I¡¯m only interested in thend.¡±


    Annoyance shed in Katelyn¡¯s eyes. The news had just surfaced, and people were alreadying after her.


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested. Just leave!¡±


    Kyle¡¯s tone shifted to one of desperation. ¡°If you don¡¯t like my offer, we can talk more. Miss Bailey, this property is incredibly important to me.¡±


    Feeling fed up, Katelyn called hotel security to have him removed from the premises.


    The rest of the morning was an endless stream of businessmen knocking on her door, each more persistent than thest.


    By the time the doorbell rang again, her patience had worn thin. She threw open the door, frustration clear in her voice. ¡°I said no!¡±


    .


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    .

 Chapter 499

    ?Chapter 499:


    After Katelyn called out, a sudden jolt of recognition hit her. The figure standing before her wasn¡¯t just anothernd dealer eager to discuss a property deal¡ªit was Bartley. Her disdain for him ran as deep as her hatred for the greedy businessmen, and she barely had the energy to entertain his presence. He was someone who always hid behind a false facade.


    ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked, her words sharper than she intended.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I came to congratte you,¡± Bartley said, his voiceced with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve made it into the top hundred wealthiest people in the world. And soon, the fortune beneath the castle will make you the richest person alive.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s tone dripped with sincerity, and his gaze locked onto hers, as if he truly meant what he said. For a fleeting moment, it almost seemed believable.


    Katelyn¡¯s anger red up, but she forced herself to hold it back. It was difficult to be rude to someone who was being outwardly kind.


    ¡°What do you really want?¡± she asked, her voice more controlled, though still tinged with frustration.


    Bartley, unfazed, stepped closer, maintaining his calm demeanor. ¡°Miss Bailey, I¡¯vee to apologize for the past and to see if you¡¯d join me for dinner tonight.¡±


    Katelyn folded her arms across her chest, her posture rigid. She studied him carefully, narrowing her eyes. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve rejected that offer more than once.¡±


    What game was he ying? Did he seriously think whatever he wanted from her was more valuable than what he could gain from Elora?


    Bartley¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°Ah, but it¡¯s precisely because you¡¯ve turned me down so many times that you really shouldn¡¯t disappoint me again.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed, a small sign that she was starting to catch the subtle maniption in Bartley¡¯s tone. Perhaps dealing with Lise¡¯s tricks so often had made her extra sensitive to this kind of approach.


    Uncover your next story on g ? ln¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s,


    ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Katelyn said, her voice t as she moved to shut the door. But Bartley was quick, stepping in to block her before she could.


    His smile faded, reced by a more serious expression. His tone grew firm. ¡°Everyone in Yata knows the castle is yours now. And with something this valuable right in front of them, do you know how many people are after you now, Miss Bailey?¡±


    Katelyn stayed quiet, her curiosity holding her in ce. She wasn¡¯t ready to push him out¡ªjust yet.


    Seeing her silence, Bartley assumed she was starting to understand. His smile returned, just slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already figured it out. After all, you had people lining up this morning to talk business. No one would dare cross Earl Poulos because of his reputation. But you? You¡¯re an outsider. That makes you an easy target.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s sharp mind immediately caught his meaning. ¡°You¡¯re saying that if I want to hold on to the castle, I¡¯ll need a strong ally.¡±


    A flicker of respect shed in Bartley¡¯s eyes. Conversations with smart people always flowed smoother.


    As Katelyn pieced it together, she could see the satisfaction growing in Bartley¡¯s expression. His smile widened.


    ¡°Exactly. Your ally must not only be powerful but also have enough influence to keep others in Yata at bay.¡±


    Katelyn arched an eyebrow slightly, a small smile ying at her lips. ¡°And who, in your expert opinion, would be the right ally for me?¡±


    Bartley had been anticipating this question. With a quick adjustment of his cor, he straightened up, refining his already polished appearance.


    ¡°When you consider the whole country, Miss Bailey, I would be your best option. You might not be familiar with my family¡¯s business, but the Lawrence family is deeply invested in all the profitable new industries, with our reach extending across the nation.¡±


    As Bartley spoke, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but feel like he was marketing himself, much like a product showcasing its best features. He seemed determined to sell her on the idea.


    The amusement that had sparked in Katelyn¡¯s eyes began to fade, reced by a sharper, more sarcastic edge. ¡°So, are you really done with Elora?¡±


    Bartley¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°My rtionship with Elora has always been strictly business. She overestimated her ce. After everything that happened, the Lawrence family would never wee someone like her as one of us.¡±<fn7113> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN()vel</fn7113>


    His voice carried a faint trace of disdain. If the Williams family had stayed at the top, perhaps he could have tolerated having a wife like Elora. Her noble status would have been good for appearances, a perfect asset to expand the Lawrence family¡¯s business empire. But Elora¡¯s foolishness had ruined that option for him¡ªshe had be intolerable.


    ¡°I think you should seriously consider my offer. From every angle, I¡¯m only looking out for your best interests, Miss Bailey,¡± Bartley added, his tone sliding back into a practiced charm.


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes darkened with contempt. Before Bartley could say more, she raised her hands and gave a slow, mocking p, the sound echoing with disdain.


    .


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 Chapter 500

    Chapter 500:


    Bartley¡¯s eyes clouded with confusion. What was Katelyn trying to convey with that gesture? Was she pleased, or was he reading it wrong? Her gaze, distant and cold, certainly didn¡¯t suggest approval.


    Katelyn¡¯s lips curled slightly, her face calm, as if she were watching a scene unfold without any particr emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve met bold people before,¡± she said evenly. ¡°But you? You take the cake. I¡¯ve never seen anyone quite like you.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s grin faded. ¡°I¡¯m doing this for mutual gain. It¡¯s a good deal for both of us. You might think I¡¯m heartless, but in the adult world, love doesn¡¯t get you far. Interests are what matter.¡±


    He was sharp in business, always focused on profit, with emotions merely obstacles to be stepped over. Even if he had once cared for Elora, that feeling had faded the moment she stopped being useful. People like Bartley didn¡¯t hesitate to walk away when the benefit was gone. His heart was as cold as the deals he made.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let my marriage turn into a business transaction,¡± Katelyn said, her voice calm but firm. ¡°If you really care, you should patch things up with Elora. People who love you for who you are, without expecting anything in return, are rare. And the things they give? Money can¡¯t rece that.¡±


    Inside, Katelyn struggled to understand how someone as wealthy as Bartley could still be driven by a hunger for more, never satisfied with what he already had.


    Katelyn had no real interest in wealth. She never spent time dreaming about how much money she wanted or nning how to elevate her career. For her, having enough to livefortably was more than enough. Her rxed way of living felt simplerpared to Bartley¡¯s.


    Bartley¡¯s smile faltered, and his eyes shifted away, as if a troubling thought crossed his mind.


    ?????????? ???????? ???? ????????¦Í????????????


    ¡°Miss Bailey,¡± he said slowly, ¡°haven¡¯t you seen the local news? Elora¡¯s been cut off. Her family tossed her aside like she was nothing.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What? Are you serious?¡±


    Bartley nodded, a faint, knowing grin forming. ¡°You heard me. Elora lost her im to the family fortune. She¡¯s not the heiress anymore¡ªjust another regr person now.¡±<fn793f> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F¦ÉndNovel</fn793f>


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew serious.


    She remembered Breck mentioning something about this in the hospital hallway, but at the time, she had brushed it off, thinking it was just an empty threat to remind Elora to behave. She never expected it toe true.


    Elora¡¯s emotions were already fragile. She had barely been holding herself together, and if she found out she wasn¡¯t even the family heiress anymore, things would fall apart quickly.


    ¡°When did this happen?¡± Katelyn asked, taking a shaky breath as she tried to calm the storm in her mind.


    Bartley shrugged nonchntly, as if it were no big deal. ¡°Two days ago, I think. And, of course, I broke off our engagement the day before that.¡±


    Katelyn pieced it together. All of this had happened while Earl Poulos was on his deathbed. That exined why she hadn¡¯t heard about it sooner. Her thoughts spun in a whirlwind.


    Breck had always been protective of Elora, knowing she couldn¡¯t handle any more bad news. So why was he so eager to cut her off? Was he deliberately pushing her toward a breakdown? And Bartley¡ªhe had always been cold, never caring about the consequences for Elora in the end.


    Katelyn pulled herself from her thoughts and fixed Bartley with a steady gaze. ¡°You were with her for years. Did you really never feel anything for her?¡±


    A shadow flickered in Bartley¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°This is about you and me,¡± he said, his voice steady but edged with a quiet threat. ¡°Don¡¯t bring anyone else into it. If you turn down my proposal, I promise things will only get worse.¡±


    Katelyn blinked, momentarily stunned by his words.


    This was his idea of a proposal?


    To him, marriage seemed like just another business deal stripped of any real emotion or meaning. A man like him wouldn¡¯t stay loyal¡ªnot to a wife, not to a family. Even after vows, he¡¯d be looking for his next advantage. As soon as someone more useful came along, he¡¯d propose a divorce and walk away without a second thought.


    He was worse than Neil¡ªmuch worse.


    Meanwhile, Jaxen quietly eased the door open just enough to listen, pressing his ear against the crack.


    Had he heard correctly? Bartley was proposing to Katelyn?


    .


    .


    .<hr>


    Message from Noah: Have a great weekend dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. (? ?? ? ¨C ? ) ?


    .


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 501

    ?Chapter 501:


    Jaxen had only wanted to clear his mind with a quick walk downstairs. But as soon as he opened his door, something stopped him in his tracks¡ªKatelyn, locked in a deep conversation with another man. He wasn¡¯t close enough to hear everything, but one word hit him like a punch¡ª¡±Proposal.¡±


    Jaxen blinked, trying to process what he had just heard. How much attention was Katelyn getting? She had only been in Yata for a few days, and already someone was asking for her hand.


    This was a problem. He had to let Vincent know immediately. Maybe this would finally prompt him to make a move. If not, someone else could swoop in and snatch Katelyn right from under his nose, and Vincent would be left sulking, single again.


    Jaxen quickly shut the door and sent Vincent a message. ¡°Mayday! Mayday! Bad news!¡±


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t fooled by Bartley¡¯s tone. There was something more in his words¡ªa warning, maybe even a threat. Her expression hardened, a coldness settling in her eyes. ¡°So, after everything you¡¯ve said, what you really want is the castle,¡± she said, her voice sharp and frosty.


    Bartley¡¯s tone shifted, adopting a more conciliatory note. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so defensive. Think of me as a partner. Together, we can protect the treasure beneath the castle. Sounds like a good deal, right? Vincent might be powerful, but this is Yata, not Granville.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s mouth curved into a sarcastic smile. ¡°Let me guess. This is the part where you tell me that choosing you is the smartest move I could¡¯ve made, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Bartleyughed awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. ¡°Look, if marriage isn¡¯t what you¡¯re after, that¡¯s no problem. We can keep this strictly business. But when ites to the treasure under the castle¡­ I expect my cut. Half, at least.¡±


    There it was. His real purpose was finally clear. It had always been about the treasure¡ªthe legendary fortune hidden beneath Earl Poulos¡¯ castle.<fnf547> Chapters first released on find¡¤novel</fnf547>


    Chapter updates at g??ln ov els.????????


    Katelyn raised an eyebrow, a sly smile creeping across her face.


    ¡°Come closer,¡± she said, her voice low and teasing. ¡°I¡¯ve got a little secret for you.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s eyes lit up, the thrill of the moment flickering in them. He was certain that Katelyn was far too clever to turn down an offer like this. There was no way she¡¯d let such a big opportunity slip by. What Bartley didn¡¯t seeing, however, was how, as Katelyn¡¯s smile widened, her actions grew more determined.


    Just as he basked in his own satisfaction, Katelyn struck. She didn¡¯t hesitate. With a swift motion, she mmed her foot down onto his, a sharp stomp, and then followed with a quick punch straight into his gut, knocking the wind out of him.


    She¡¯d been waiting for this moment for a long time.


    Even though she didn¡¯t have much love for Elora, she couldn¡¯t stand seeing another woman tormented by someone like Bartley¡ªa man who treated women as trophies to show off.


    Bartley¡¯s face twisted in pain as he staggered back, clearly shocked by her strength. How was she that strong?


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes gleamed with triumph, and her voice dripped with sarcasm as she looked down at him. ¡°That punch was a lesson. Try messing with me again, and next time, I¡¯ll aim for your face.¡± With that, she mmed the door shut, not sparing him another nce.


    As for Bartley¡¯s so-called ¡°business deal,¡± Katelyn couldn¡¯t have cared less. Whatever he thought he was offering, she wasn¡¯t interested.


    Unbeknownst to her, Jaxen had been nearby, quietly watching. He had just snapped a picture of her and Bartley standing close together. The way the doorframe cut into the image made it appear more intimate than it actually was. From this angle, anyone would think they were about to kiss.


    Jaxen grinned as he admired his work. Without wasting any time, he quickly sent the picture to Vincent.


    ¡°Told ya! It was disastrous.¡±


    At that very moment, in a private hospital suite across town in Yata, the sound of breaking ss and crashing objects echoed through the halls.


    Elora, barefoot and wild-eyed, was in the middle of another fit. Her face burned with anger as she threw anything she could grab to the floor.


    ¡°How dare you treat me like this?!¡± she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. ¡°I¡¯m the princess here! Let me out!¡± Her screaming grew louder with every word. ¡°Bring me Katelyn! I¡¯ll tear her face apart! She¡¯s the reason I¡¯m stuck in this¡­¡±


    ¡°ce! She¡¯s ruined my life!¡± Elora screamed, her voice breaking as she paced the room like a caged animal, her fury consuming every step.


    Outside the door, several nurses stood silently, watching her through a small window. They had witnessed this scene countless times, and now, no one even reacted. Twice a day, every day, like clockwork.


    Usually, they would slip inside afterwards, quietly cleaning up the mess she had made, their movements careful and routine, as if they had long since grown used to it. But this time, one nurse couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She opened the door and stepped in, her voice calm but firm.


    ¡°Do you still think you¡¯re a princess?¡±


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 Chapter 502

    ?Chapter 502:


    The nurse rushed into the room, followed by her colleagues.


    Elora had earned a notorious reputation at the hospital, causing scenes daily¡ªwhether by throwing tantrums, breaking things, or hurling insults at anyone nearby. Any semnce of her former refined demeanor had vanished, reced by unrestrained and unpredictable behavior. Initially, the hospital staff had put up with her actions, mindful of the influence her distinguished family wielded. But now, with her family having essentially cut her off, their patience had run out. Elora was no longer seen as a rich heiress but merely another patient.


    She stood frozen, gripping amp, her eyes wide with shock. ¡°What did you say? How am I not a princess anymore?¡± she stammered, her voice trembling.


    The doctor looked at her with disdain and said firmly, ¡°Your father has stripped you of your title. You¡¯re no longer the family heiress. Consider this hospital your new residence. You won¡¯t be leaving this room.¡±


    This strict directive hade directly from Breck himself. Elora was not to be allowed outside.


    Initially, the staff had wondered why Breck would forsake his daughter, but after observing Elora¡¯s behavior over the past few weeks, everything clicked. Even her father had reached his breaking point.


    Shock spread across Elora¡¯s face, herplexion turning ghostly as she grappled with the harsh truth.


    Suddenly, her shock morphed into fury.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying! My father would never strip me of my title! He¡¯s always told me I was his one and only princess!¡± she yelled, her voice trembling with urgency.


    Her eyes now looked wild, her sanity hanging by a thread. Most would have retreated by now, wary of pushing her too far.


    Yet, the doctor, moved either by spite or exasperation, advanced, his toneced with scorn.


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    ¡°Can¡¯t you see the reality? You¡¯re just a disposable piece now. What reason does your father have to keep you? And just so you know, he¡¯s already named a new heiress¡ªone of your sisters, I believe.¡±


    Elora recoiled, her eyes wide with terror. Themp she was clutching hit the floor, shattering unnoticed. She continued muttering in disbelief, ¡°No, no, no¡­ This can¡¯t be true. He vowed at my mother¡¯s grave! He swore I¡¯d always be his princess!¡±


    In the corridor, several nurses and orderlies exchanged nces of sympathy. They were familiar with the whispers. In a luxury private hospital like theirs, the elite¡¯s dark secrets were hardly a mystery.


    Breck had long maintained the public image of a grieving widower, eternally loyal to the memory of his deceased wife. Yet behind the scenes, he kept a string of mistresses and fathered numerous children out of wedlock. Elora was the only child he had acknowledged publicly, but her recent actions had jeopardized even that distinction.


    Her disgrace had paved the way for others to step into the light.


    As Elora lost control, the doctor chuckled coldly at her distress. ¡°ept it. Your fairytale has ended. Without your noble status, you¡¯re inconsequential. Continue these outbursts, and I¡¯ll sedate you without hesitation.¡±


    Upon her initial admission, the medical team had conducted a thorough psychiatric evaluation on Elora. The findings were disturbing, showing signs of a gic mental illness, though it was unclear whether it had been inherited from her mother or Breck. What was certain was that recent overwhelming stress had led to a significant mental copse.


    Elora¡¯s eyes frantically scanned the room, her once haughty attitude dissolving. She no longer appeared as the defiant woman she had been just moments earlier. Instead, she copsed to the floor, hugged her knees, and began to rock back and forth, whispering to herself, ¡°No, no, no¡­ you¡¯re all lying. My father would never forsake me. I must see him. I need to see him.¡±


    Abruptly, she jumped up and bolted toward the door.


    The hospital staff, anticipating her move, swiftly intervened to block her escape, restraining her as she struggled to break free. The doctor seized her wrist firmly. ¡°Do you realize what your father instructed us when he left you here? As long as you¡¯re alive and not causing trouble, we¡¯re free to manage you as necessary.¡±


    Elora¡¯s expression twisted into one of horror as she resisted fiercely.<fnaeda> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN()vel</fnaeda>


    Driven by sheer desperation, Elora screamed, ¡°You¡¯re all liars! You¡¯re trying to deceive me! I¡¯ll kill you! All of you will suffer for defying a princess!¡±


    In a sudden surge of anger, she bit the doctor¡¯s arm. ¡°Ah!¡± he eximed in pain, pulling his arm away. His expression darkened with fury as he grabbed her hair and pped her forcefully across the face. Elora copsed to the floor, her cheek red and stinging from the blow. Holding his arm, the doctor loomed over her, his tone venomous. ¡°You wretched bitch! How dare you bite me? Bring the sedatives, immediately!¡±


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 Chapter 503

    ?Chapter 503:


    For weeks, the hospital staff had endured Elora¡¯s tantrums and demanding behavior. Now, their patience had worn thin.


    A nurse approached swiftly, syringe in hand, its needle gleaming under the harsh hospital lights. The syringe contained a tranquilizer, ready to subdue Elora forcibly if necessary.


    Fear widened Elora¡¯s eyes as the needle neared. Her resistance grew frantic. ¡°What are you doing?! I¡¯m a princess! You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± she screamed wildly. The doctor smirked. ¡°Keep dreaming. You can be a princess in your fantasies.¡±


    Elora fought back, but she was no match for the doctor¡¯s firm hold. The needle inched closer to her skin, poised to inject.


    Just as the needle was about to pierce her skin, the door burst open with a loud crash.


    The doctor was sent flying against the wall by a powerful kick, copsing in pain.


    Austen stormed into the room, his eyes aze with anger. He moved quickly to Elora, enveloping her in his arms protectively.


    ¡°My princess¡­ forgive me. I¡¯m sorry I waste.¡± But Elora, still in a state of hysteria, screamed and thrashed in his embrace. The doctor¡¯s earlier actions had pushed her beyond her limits. ¡°Let me go! Let me go! I¡¯ll kill you all!¡±


    Austen¡¯s face softened with sorrow as he tightened his hold, trying tofort her. ¡°Princess, don¡¯t you remember who I am? You said you wanted me always by your side.¡±


    He hoped his words would calm her, but the tighter he held her, the more she fought against him. ¡°Let me go¡­¡± she gasped, her strength fading. Eventually, her energy depleted, and she went limp in his arms, unconscious.


    A look of panic crossed Austen¡¯s face as he gently checked her breathing by touching her nose. Thankfully, she was still breathing. She had merely fainted from the overwhelming stress.


    ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????: g????????¦Í????????????


    With great care, as though she were incredibly delicate, Austen lifted Elora andid her gently on the bed. His movements were tender, as if handling something invaluable and exceedingly fragile, like a bubble that could pop at any moment.


    Observing her now, so fragile and exposed, a profound fear gripped Austen¡ªthe fear of losing her. Having already lost his father, the thought of losing Elora was unbearable.


    Meanwhile, the doctor, still reeling from the kick, struggled to his feet, clutching his chest in pain. His expression mixed agony with simmering anger.


    The nurses paused, uncertain whether to assist the doctor or keep their distance. Austen¡¯s formidable presence deterred them from getting closer.


    The doctor, clutching his chest, shot Austen a look full of venom. ¡°Who the hell are you? Do you think you can just storm in here? Get security now!¡± he snarled.


    A nurse quivered as she hurried off to summon the guards.


    Austen, maintaining a chilling demeanor, stooped to retrieve the syringe from the floor. He had witnessed it all¡ªthe doctor was about to administer something to Elora. Had he been a momentter¡­


    The thought of what could have happened was unbearable.


    Austen inspected the needle¡¯s sharp point before his gaze returned to the trembling doctor.


    The doctor gulped, sensing the impending threat. ¡°You¡­ what are you nning to do?¡± he stammered.


    Austen advanced towards him with measured, haunting steps. With each movement, the doctor felt as if doom was drawing closer.


    A menacing grin spread across Austen¡¯s face as he fiddled with the syringe. ¡°I¡¯m merely giving you a taste of what you nearly did to her,¡± Austen said coldly.


    Before the doctor could react, Austen swiftly thrust the needle into his neck. The doctor¡¯s eyes bulged in terror. ¡°You¡­¡±


    Austen¡¯s expression remained nk as he pressed the syringe, releasing the fluid into the doctor¡¯s system. ¡°Sweet dreams,¡± he whispered.


    A look of disbelief crossed the doctor¡¯s face for a brief moment before he slumped. He tried to resist, but it was futile. He slid down the wall and crumpled to the floor, unconscious.


    Austen discarded the syringe and his face softened as he turned back to Elora. He vowed never to let his princess endure such an ordeal again.


    Gently, Austen scooped her up in his arms once more and exited the room.


    As he strode down the corridor, a squad of security guards, wielding batons, hurried towards them. ¡°Drop the hostage!¡± one shouted. ¡°Or we¡¯ll take you down!¡±


    A flicker of mocking amusement passed through Austen¡¯s eyes. He tightened his grip on Elora and continued walking, ignoring theirmand.


    The guards hesitated briefly before rushing at him, batons raised. But they were no match for him.


    Even with Elora in his arms, Austen moved with swift precision. His kicks were powerful, toppling each guard before they could react. For Austen, handling two adversaries while cradling someone felt effortless¡ªlike swatting flies.


    After subduing the guards, Austen continued out of the hospital, Elora still in his arms. His thoughts raced as he considered where to take her. But where could he go?


    Then, suddenly, an idea struck him.


    .


    .


    .<fnbebc> Content originallyes from FindN()vel</fnbebc>

 Chapter 504

    ?Chapter 504:


    Katelyn remained deeply troubled by the urgent issues surrounding the castle. Throughout the day, she had faced every conceivable tactic¡ªenticing offers of wealth and even outright threats. It was clear that the allure of the castle and its hidden treasure was too great for most to resist.


    However, Katelyn soon realized that she needed to act swiftly; staying in Yata was no longer an option. Her best course of action seemed to be wrapping up her dealings here and returning home to Granville, where she doubted they would pursue her further.


    As she considered this, her phone suddenly vibrated on the side table, slicing through her thoughts with its unexpected ring. The number was unfamiliar, with no caller ID or notes attached.


    She hesitated before epting the call.


    The voice that greeted her was unmistakable. ¡°Miss Bailey, this is Austen. I¡¯m afraid I need to ask you a favor.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Katelyn replied, her tone guarded yet direct.


    ¡°I have a friend in a dangerous situation right now,¡± Austen exined, his voice even and serious. ¡°She needs a safe ce to stay, and I was hoping you could help.¡±


    Katelyn paused, her mind racing as she pieced together what Austen¡¯s request implied. Austen was well aware of Katelyn¡¯s strained past with Elora, yet he was reaching out, a sign of his desperation.


    With the news of the Earl¡¯s funeral now public, Austen had be a focal point in high society, closely watched by many. It was only a matter of time before Breck would hear of him taking Elora from the hospital and take action. Austen knew it would be too risky and too conspicuous to keep Elora close, despite his desire to protect her.


    A flicker of unease crossed Katelyn¡¯s face as her expression darkened. She understood immediately who Austen was referring to, without needing him to exin further.


    Check new story at g????????¦Í??????.??????


    ¡°Are you suggesting I take in Elora?¡± she asked.


    A bitterugh escaped Austen as he nced toward Elora, who was sleeping soundly beside him. ¡°Miss Bailey, your quick understanding never fails.¡±


    Katelyn responded swiftly and decisively, ¡°Absolutely not.¡±


    Her rejection was firm and icy. She had suspected that Elora might be dealing with mental health issues. Moreover, their longstanding grudge ran too deep. Elora med Katelyn for all her sufferings, seeing her as the root of every problem. Katelyn, already overwhelmed by a multitude of tedious obligations, refused to take on yet another burden.


    Austen sensed her hesitancy, and his tone grew more urgent. ¡°Miss Bailey, I understand your concerns. However, Elora is no longer the Williams family heiress she once was. She¡¯s lost her title, her inheritance rights, everything. Breck is actively hunting her down. I¡¯m afraid she would only be safe with you.¡±


    His words lingered as he clutched the phone tightly, waiting for her response.


    He had braced himself for her refusal, but the swiftness and coldness of her rejection still caught him off guard.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t assist you with this,¡± Katelyn replied, her voice as cold as the winter wind.


    Austen tried to continue, but Katelyn ended the call with a definitive click.<fn4dd6> Content originallyes from Find~Novel</fn4dd6>


    She leaned back against the sofa, massaging her temples, overwhelmed by a wave of exhaustion.


    It was all bing too much. Austen had tried to take her life twice, and Elora had done nothing but scorn and belittle her at every turn. She had forgiven them for Earl Poulos¡¯ sake, but she hadn¡¯t forgotten¡ªfar from it.


    What was Austen thinking, even imagining for a moment that she would wee Elora? Needing to clear her mind, Katelyn decided to take a break. She picked up a towel, preparing for a much-needed shower, but her phone rang again before she could make it to the bathroom. This time, the caller was Neil, not Austen.


    When Katelyn answered the phone, his voice was venomous, dark¡ªas though a demon were speaking. ¡°Katelyn, do you realize the extent of what you¡¯ve done to me? I¡¯m now crippled, broken, utterly useless¡ªand it¡¯s all because of you!¡±


    Katelyn held the phone away from her ear, scowling as though she could feel the bitterness in his words. Her reply was sharp and unsympathetic. ¡°You have only yourself to me. This is karma.¡±


    Neil had doomed himself by choosing to confront her. Had it not been for the knife he had hurled at her, she would never have fired her gun.


    He had left her with no other option. His voice surged with fury. ¡°Katelyn, our conflict is far from over. This is just the beginning,¡± he hissed. ¡°No matter how long it takes, I will have my revenge. Prepare yourself for the consequences.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Katelyn replied calmly, unbothered by his threats. Without a second thought, she ended the call and blocked his number.


    Her decision not to kill him was, in itself, an act of mercy. But for Neil, a man who had always been revered, bing a cripple was a fate worse than death. His downfall only affirmed the adage, ¡°Those who seek disaster will find it.¡±


    After tossing her phone onto the sofa, Katelyn picked up her towel again. Just as she was about to head for a shower, a sudden knock at the door interrupted her.


    She frowned, peered through the peephole, and upon recognizing the visitor, opened the door without hesitation.


    .


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 Chapter 505

    ?Chapter 505:


    Vincent stood at the door, holding two takeout bags. Katelyn, surprised, greeted him. ¡°Mr. Adams, what brings you here?¡±


    Vincent replied, ¡°After a day full of online meetings, I was feeling hungry and thought I¡¯d bring some snacks to share. We also need to discuss the castle.¡± His unusually detailed exnation made Katelyn raise an eyebrow.


    Unaware of the change in his tone, she invited him inside. She knew that Vincent¡¯s work required him to handle matters even from abroad.


    As he calmly surveyed the room, Vincent¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere, preupied with the photo and message from Jaxen. He wondered if Katelyn was considering marrying Bartley, the hotel owner. When had their rtionship started? Why had he missed the signs? Despite his doubts about Jaxen¡¯s integrity, the photo seemed genuine, unedited.


    Katelyn, enticed by the aroma of the food, eximed, ¡°It smells amazing.¡±


    Vincent, leaning against the wall, replied, ¡°These are local specialties from Yata,¡± his gaze scanning Katelyn closely. He didn¡¯t believe Katelyn had any romantic feelings for Bartley. If she had agreed to marry him, it would mean Bartley had made an irresistible offer or they had struck some kind of deal.


    With the castle¡¯s inheritance, Katelyn had be Yata¡¯s most sought-after individual.


    Oblivious to Vincent¡¯s watchful eyes, Katelyn focused on the food. As she tasted the dishes, she couldn¡¯t help but dere, ¡°These local specialties are delicious! I¡¯ll have to take some home.¡±


    Meanwhile, Vincent watched her, his expression shadowed, silently observing.


    Katelyn immediately felt something was off. She turned to Vincent, puzzled. ¡°Mr. Adams, why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± she asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been reflecting on the issues surrounding the castle. It¡¯s a major topic among the locals now,¡± Vincent responded smoothly. ¡°You must have had many people discussing it with you.¡±


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    ¡°Potential coborations with you today, right?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was calm, but Katelyn noticed a subtle tension in it.


    Katelyn put down her spoon and sighed deeply. ¡°Yes, at least ten, and I expect more tomorrow.¡± The castle attracted numerous opportunists eager to secure it by any means.


    Vincent nodded knowingly. ¡°Many are after the castle, likely hoping to negotiate a deal with you.¡±


    His gaze lingered on her, his thoughts shifting momentarily to Katelyn¡¯s current biggest worry: her biological parents. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Bartley might try to leverage that.


    ¡°Proposing such trades ismon in business, but one must avoid certain temptations because of the hidden dangers,¡± he continued. ¡°You mustn¡¯t treat your marriage as a mere bargaining chip.¡±


    Katelyn sensed something was off today. Vincent, usually calm andposed, seemed more loquacious than usual, his stare unusually intense. His words seemed to carry a deeper implication.


    Tentatively, she asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, what¡¯s wrong? Is something bothering you at work?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression hardened, and his voice lowered with concern. ¡°I¡¯m worried that you might make a decision that jeopardizes your future.¡±


    Katelyn blinked in surprise, her concern growing. What did Vincent mean by ¡°jeopardizing her future¡±?


    His words triggered a sudden memory, a shing thought reminding her of something she¡¯d heard before.


    Noticing her confusion, Vincent pulled out his phone, opened a document, and ced it before her. ¡°You¡¯re your own person, but you must be especially careful with decisions about marriage.¡±


    Katelyn hesitated before reaching for the phone. Her eyes widened in rm as she looked at the document.


    .<fn017b> Read full story at find~novel</fn017b>


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 Chapter 506

    ?Chapter 506:


    Katelyn furrowed her brow as she read the document detailing Bartley and his family¡¯s numerous hical actions over the years. Their aggressive expansion had nearly obliterated all rival enterprises. They began by sabotagingpetitors, only to secretly acquire themter. Within just a few short years, they had devoured more than a hundredpanies using these reprehensible tactics. The hotel¡¯s current size was a direct result of such ruthlesspetition.


    Bartley¡¯s personal life was just as disreputable, bordering on vile. He surrounded himself with wealthy young heiresses, using his image to extract the resources he needed before heartlessly discarding them. Over the years, he had been engaged five times, each fianc¨¦e sharing qualities simr to Elora¡¯s.


    As Katelyn finished reading, she clenched her fists in disgust. ¡°This beast ys with people¡¯s emotions, using them to widen his business empire,¡± she muttered, horrified. She had never before encountered a man as contemptible and brazen. Her intense dislike for Bartley had been instant. Bartley was more than a mere rogue¡ªhe was utterly sub-human.


    Vincent took back his phone and looked up at Katelyn, his expression serious. ¡°What you¡¯ve seen is just the surface of the Lawrence family¡¯s wrongdoings. There are even worse deeds concealed from you.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes red with fury, but confusion quickly took over her expression as she turned to Vincent. ¡°Mr. Adams, why did you start investigating Bartley¡¯s background so suddenly?¡± she asked, puzzled by theck of any obvious connection between their current issues and Bartley.


    Vincent remained calm as he answered, ¡°I want you to understand that Bartley is nothing but a beast cloaked in human form, utterly unworthy of any negotiation.¡± Katelyn paused, processing his words. Her voice reflected surprise as she responded, ¡°Wait! Do you think I¡¯ve made a deal with Bartley?¡±


    The pieces began to fall into ce, revealing the cause of Vincent¡¯s odd behavior that evening. A radical thought struck Katelyn¡ªcould Vincent have mistakenly believed she was negotiating a marriage deal with Bartley?


    g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ??s, home to the best fiction<fn6c33> Fresh chapters posted on ?ovelFind</fn6c33>


    As Katelyn looked puzzled, Vincent softly cleared his throat and said, ¡°There are many ways to protect the castle. Don¡¯t resort to self-sacrifice.¡±


    His words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.


    Katelyn sighed. ¡°Mr. Adams, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Bartley dide to me and tried to make a deal, promising his family¡¯s support if I marry him, but I turned him down.¡± She looked at Vincent curiously as she spoke.


    If Vincent had truly uncovered the Lawrence family¡¯s nefarious activities and was trying to save her from a trap, she could appreciate his concern. Yet, his reaction suggested the situation was moreplicated. His evident worry that she might choose Bartley puzzled her. Was he simply afraid she would repeat her past mistakes? Or was there something more?


    When Katelyn¡¯s eyes met his, reflecting her understanding, Vincent quickly masked his concern. It turned out that the report from Jaxen had exaggerated the truth.


    Vincent¡¯s eyes briefly shadowed. He needed to speak with Jaxen urgently.


    Responding dryly, he said, ¡°Good to know,¡± before pausing and leaving the conversation hanging, leaving Katelyn in a state of confusion.


    Vincent was acting strangely today.


    ¡°Go ahead and enjoy the food. They won¡¯t taste good once they get cold,¡± he remarked nonchntly as he stood up. ¡°I still have work to handle.¡± With that, he left.


    Katelyn pointed to the untouched takeout bags. ¡°Mr. Adams, you haven¡¯t eaten yet.¡±


    Vincent, without turning, said, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite.¡± His main concern now was dealing with Jaxen¡¯s mistake. He had rushed over after receiving Jaxen¡¯s message, only to find himself in an awkward position.


    Vincent forcefully opened Jaxen¡¯s door, his voice frosty, and his eyes radiating a dangerous re. ¡°Jaxen!¡± he shouted.


    The menacing aura surrounding Vincent was enough to instill fear in anyone nearby.


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 Chapter 507

    ?Chapter 507:


    Jaxen¡¯s heart raced as Vincent¡¯s voice cut through the silence, sending a chill down his spine. His pulse quickened, and he felt a tremor in his fingers.


    Instinctively, he forced a shaky smile, trying to mask his growing fear. He grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa, clutching it like a fragile shield, struggling to steady his breath. Clearing his throat, he fought to keep his voice calm.


    ¡°Vincent, what¡¯s going on? We can sort this out. No need for violence,¡± Jaxen urged, his words spilling out in a rush. He couldn¡¯t shake the memory of Vincent pinning him down, fists flying. They had spent years in martial arts sses together, but Jaxen had always been the one left bruised and defeated. Those painful memories had left deep scars¡ªwounds he still carried.


    He knew how this would go. One hit from Vincent, and he¡¯d be crumpled on the floor, out for what felt like an eternity.


    Vincent¡¯s grin sent a jolt of fear through Jaxen¡ªcold and full of twisted satisfaction. ¡°You don¡¯t remember what you said to me?¡± he asked.


    Jaxen blinked, words escaping before he could think. ¡°I was just warning you. If Katelyn finds someone else, you¡¯ll be the one regretting everything.¡±


    Every word Jaxen spoke seemed to ignite the anger in Vincent¡¯s eyes. Vincent stepped closer, his teeth grinding, a cold smile creeping across his face. ¡°Say that again.¡±


    Jaxen¡¯s body shook, his nerves fraying as he struggled to understand what had gone wrong. He had thought he was being a good friend, but now it felt like he had crossed an invisible line.


    ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth! I heard Bartley talking to Katelyn, proposing marriage. They even hugged! Even if I was wrong before, how could the photo be fake?¡± Jaxen¡¯s voice grew stronger, fueled by a sense of urgency. He felt he was doing the right thing to help his friend and didn¡¯t deserve this hostility.


    When he mentioned the photo, Jaxen caught a flicker of doubt in Vincent¡¯s eyes. Despite his anger, Vincent hesitated to confront Katelyn about it. That photo loomed over him like a weight he couldn¡¯t lift.


    Read it now at g??l??¦Ï¦Í????s.??????


    He had no ce to interfere. Not now.


    But perhaps the situation wasn¡¯t what it seemed. Maybe that supposed embrace never really happened. Vincent¡¯s thoughts raced, yet he maintained a calm exterior, his expression nk.


    Jaxen noticed a shift¡ª the tension in Vincent¡¯s posture eased slightly. He lowered the cushion, curiosity crackling between them.


    ¡°Have you spoken to Katelyn about this?¡± Jaxen asked, his tone careful but firm. ¡°You know what I think? When you find someone you care about, don¡¯t wait. You have to make your move before someone else does. If you hesitate, she could be gone.¡±


    That was Jaxen¡¯s straightforward view on love. When he felt drawn to someone, he didn¡¯t hold back. He pursued her wholeheartedly until she was his. What followed depended on how well they navigated things together.


    Jaxen knew he meant well, but he wasn¡¯t one for taking things slow, and he epted that about himself. Beingbeled a yer stung more than he liked to admit; people often misunderstood him.


    Vincent¡¯s jaw clenched, anger simmering just beneath the surface. His voice was low and sharp. ¡°What are you saying? This isn¡¯t about getting her to marry me. I¡¯m just afraid Katelyn will make the same mistakes again.¡±


    He¡¯d spent so much time getting to know Katelyn, enough to understand her deeply. He should have seen it¡ªKatelyn would never put her marriage on the line for any offer, no matter how tempting.


    ¡°Totally oblivious to his own feelings for her. I don¡¯t know whether to feel sorry for him or justugh.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression soured at Jaxen¡¯s words. ¡°Katelyn and I are just friends. That¡¯s all there is.¡±


    Jaxen rolled his eyes, clearly not buying it. ¡°Come on, no one believes that. Haven¡¯t you learned anything from all this?¡± He stepped closer, poking Vincent yfully in the chest. ¡°The truth is, Katelyn has carved out a special spot in your heart. You¡¯re just too clueless to notice. If you still don¡¯t see it, we could always try something else to test it.¡±


    Vincent frowned, skepticism written all over his face. ¡°What kind of test?¡±<fn98cf> Official source is find?novel</fn98cf>


    But when he saw that photo, his nerves unraveled, clouding his thoughts and making him doubt everything he knew about her.


    Meanwhile, Jaxen waspletely at ease, a yful grin spreading across his face.


    ¡°So, that¡¯s what¡¯s bothering you. I get it, but do you?¡± Jaxen quickly sensed that, just like Vincent, he had misinterpreted the situation. Still, this misunderstanding was something he could easily tease Vincent about.


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened, and he fell silent for a moment. No one else could understand the surge of emotions that hit him when he first saw that photo.


    ¡°How can a guy be so head over heels and still not admit it?¡± Jaxen shook his head, a teasing grin on his face. ¡°He¡¯d make her breakfast and take a bullet for her, but he¡¯s¡­¡±


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 Chapter 508

    ?Chapter 508:


    A shadow passed over Vincent¡¯s eyes, revealing a glimpse of the darkness within. Jaxen reclined, his lips curving into a knowing smile. ¡°A test to help you face what¡¯s really happening in your mind.¡±


    Just as he was about to continue, a thought seemed to strike him. His expression changed, now tinged with suspicion. ¡°Is this about your fianc¨¦e? Are you avoiding your true feelings because of her?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s response was a tight-lipped silence, which confirmed Jaxen¡¯s suspicion without a word. That fianc¨¦e? Far from what Vincent desired.


    Jaxen quickly interpreted Vincent¡¯s silence as agreement. He reclinedfortably on the sofa, dismissing the matter with a wave of his hand. ¡°Rx, you¡¯re thinking too hard about it. That fianc¨¦e of yours doesn¡¯t really matter. She¡¯s just a piece in a business deal between your family and hers. Did anyone ever ask what you truly wanted?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face grew increasingly stern, a tempest brewing beneath his outward calm.


    This supposed fianc¨¦e had been thrust upon him by his mother. The entire arrangement was designed to extend the family¡¯s global influence. Her family held significant clout, and this alliance would greatly benefit the Adams family.


    It had all happened just as Vincent first took the helm of thepany, a time when he was already overwhelmed with responsibilities. He had neither the time nor the energy to oppose the engagement. So, he agreed to his mother¡¯s ns, too consumed by his duties to resist.


    Marriage had never been in his life ns. He viewed this engagement as a mere business deal¡ªcold, detached, and utterly meaningless.


    Suddenly, and unexpectedly, the image of Katelyn surfaced in his mind.


    Every chapter lives on g a lno vels ;m


    Noticing the change, Jaxen arched an eyebrow. He seemed on the verge of speaking but chose silence. Instead, he patted Vincent on the shoulder, his voice deeper and more reflective. ¡°There are things I can¡¯t make explicit, but I believe you grasp my meaning. Don¡¯t let the right person slip through your fingers.¡±


    For a moment, Jaxen¡¯s usually easygoing expression softened, a hint of mncholy in his gaze as he looked at the city¡¯s nightscape.


    After all, no one was inherently devoid of emotion.


    Jaxen himself was a man deeply scarred by past hurts. His advice was not just guidance but a caution born from his own harsh lessons¡ªa warning to Vincent to avoid simr regrets.


    ¡°The deepest sorrow,¡± Jaxen implied, es from chasing something unattainable for too long.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Vincent replied, his voice devoid of emotion.


    His gaze drifted out the window, admiring the night sky over Yata. Beneath the cloak of darkness, the city sparkled more vibrantly than in the daylight, its lights twinkling like stars on a terrestrial canvas.


    Meanwhile, Katelyn had enjoyed a peacefully restful night.


    Afterpleting her morning routine, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the room. In such a luxurious hotel, room service was always prompt and wless.


    Katelyn walked to the door and, upon opening it, paused in surprise. The breakfast before her was far more borate than any she had received before.


    ¡°Could this have been mixed up with someone else¡¯s order?¡± she asked, eyebrow raised.


    She had been staying at the hotel for nearly a month, and while the meals were always excellent, today¡¯s breakfast was unusuallyvish, even by their high standards.


    The server, with a polite smile, replied, ¡°Miss Bailey, this special arrangement was requested by our boss.¡±


    Bartley?<fnadb3> Find the newest release on find[?]ovel</fnadb3>


    A slight tension appeared on Katelyn¡¯s face as she remembered the business proposal Bartley had presented to her the other day. Irritation flickered in her eyes.


    A small note on thevish breakfast tray caught her attention. ¡°Wishing you a pleasant morning.¡± It was clear who had sent it.


    Katelyn paused, her expression unreadable. Then, silently, she picked up the note, casually tore it into pieces, and discarded them in the trash.


    Out of sight, out of mind. She knew it was time to find a new ce to stay. The persistent merchants seeking coborations weren¡¯t the only problem; Bartley alone was enough of a reason for her to move.


    Despite her minimal appetite, Katelyn forced herself to eat the breakfast. She had nned a solitary walk forter, but as she approached the elevator, she found Bartley waiting.


    Today, Bartley wore a crisply tailored, vintage-inspired suit that gave him an air of old-world elegance. His attractive features and meticulous style almost convinced one that he belonged to a bygone era. Almost.


    As soon as he saw her, he approached with a warm smile. ¡°Would you like to join me for a walk? Yata boasts some remarkable architecture andndmarks that you probably haven¡¯t seen yet.¡±


    Katelyn returned the smile, but it was purely out of courtesy. Internally, she was already growing frustrated. ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of you, but I¡¯ll explore on my own.¡±


    Undeterred by her polite refusal, Bartley pressed on. ¡°There are also exceptional local foods that are quite rare. It¡¯s really best to explore these with someone who knows their way around the hidden spots.¡±


    As he spoke, his smile widened, and he gestured expansively, clearly offering himself as that knowledgeable guide. For a moment, she questioned whether the information Vincent had provided about Bartley was urate.


    Could Bartley, as sincere and charming as he seemed now, really be a professional at getting his way with women? Was he blind to the clear signs of disinterest she was giving?


    ¡°Thanks, but no thanks,¡± Katelyn replied politely, though her tone betrayed the impatience brewing inside her. As she reached for the elevator button, something unexpected happened.


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 Chapter 509

    ?Chapter 509:


    Bartley entered the elevator behind Katelyn. As the doors closed, trapping them in the confined space, Katelyn immediately regretted her decision to take the elevator. She should have taken the stairs.


    ¡°Miss Bailey,¡± Bartley began, his tone smooth yet persistent, ¡°I admit that my approach yesterday may have beencking. You seem to harbor doubts about our arrangement. Allow me to exin further. I believe you¡¯ll be pleasantly surprised.¡±


    ¡°Shut up,¡± Katelyn snapped, her bluntness uncharacteristic¡ªexcept when it came to someone like Bartley. He had been testing her patience since the moment they first met.


    Katelyn focused intently on the elevator¡¯s digital panel, silently willing the floors to pass more quickly. Honestly, sharing even the air with Bartley was more than she could bear, let alone the confined space between them. Her sharp retort briefly threw him off bnce, disrupting his usual polished demeanor. However, he quickly regained hisposure, smiling smoothly and continuing without missing a beat.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, believe me, everything I¡¯m doing serves our mutual interests. Your castle needs my protection, and I require ess to the vast fortune beneath it. Furthermore, partnering with me would allow you to seek permanent residency in Yata, putting all the resources of the Lawrence family at your disposal.¡± His confidence was palpable. He truly believed his offer was too good for her to resist.<fn52c3> Newest update provided by find~novel</fn52c3>


    He had been eager for another chance to speak with Katelyn since he had withheld these tempting details in their previous discussion. Surely, with such high stakes, she would reconsider.


    Katelyn clenched her fists, barely restraining the urge to strike him. ¡°And so?¡± she questioned, her voice thick with sarcasm.


    More to discover g¦Á?¦Ç¦Ò¦Íe?s?c?m


    Bartley arched an eyebrow. ¡°So, choosing me would be the wisest decision you¡¯ll ever make.¡±


    Katelyn was stunned. Was he serious? She had just met the epitome of arrogance. Initially, she had seen Bartley as nothing more than a profit-driven businessman with no real emotions, but now she saw something far worse¡ªan extreme overconfidence bordering on delusion.


    No, it wasn¡¯t just arrogance. It was sheer shamelessness.


    Katelyn forced a smile, barely masking her disdain.


    ¡°Mr. Lawrence, I don¡¯t think you should waste your time on me.¡±


    Bartley was taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation. ¡°Why not?¡± he asked, his confusion apparent.


    ¡°With the level of confidence and arrogance you disy, perhaps you should consider a presidential run. It might actually impress someone¡ªjust not me.¡±


    Reflecting on her initial judgment, Katelyn realized how profoundly mistaken she had been about Bartley. Truly understanding someone goes beyond first impressions¡ªit requires time and genuine interactions. At that moment, Katelyn wondered how any woman, especially Elora, could genuinely fall for someone as unabashedly shameless as Bartley. Was it possible that he had charmed them with some sort of spell?


    Her sharp words seemed to rattle Bartley, visibly shaking his usual self-assurance. For the first time, he appeared uncertain of himself. He nced at his reflection in the elevator¡¯s mirrored wall, as if seeking confirmation that his meticulously groomed appearance had somehow failed him.


    What was happening here? Usually, a mere raised eyebrow from him would have women fawning over him, yet this was the first time anyone had spoken to him in such a manner.


    Regaining hisposure, he straightened his tie and tried to reim his usual charm. ¡°Miss Bailey, it appears we¡¯ve misunderstood each other. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re confused about, feel free to ask. I¡¯m happy to clear up any misconceptions.¡±


    Katelyn, maintaining a polite expression, deliberately turned her head away, choosing not to engage with him further.


    Though Bartley was undeniably attractive, his overt disys of charm were simply too much for her and only served to irritate her. Unable to hold back any longer, she blurted out, ¡°Has none of your girlfriends ever mentioned how utterly ridiculous you are?¡±


    Every move Bartley made oozed an unexinable confidence. If he could share even a fraction of that confidence with the world, perhaps insecurity would no longer exist.


    Upon hearing her remark, his smile faltered for a moment. ¡°Miss Bailey, regardless of my appearance or my family background, no woman has ever been able to resist my charm.¡±


    Katelyn, unwavering, responded dryly.


    ¡°That¡¯s only because they see your wealth, not who you truly are. Perhaps you should spend more time looking at yourself in the mirror and less time being conceited¡ªmore humble.¡±


    Bartley experienced an unexpected jolt of difort. He wasn¡¯t used to being rejected or insulted.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, I¡¯m not ready to give up on this. Us being together would be mutually beneficial. It¡¯s really in your best interest as well.¡±


    Katelyn inhaled deeply and turned to face him once more, determined to squash the false enthusiasm he had. ¡°I¡¯ve been married before,¡± she stated bluntly.


    Bartley dismissed this with a wave of his hand. ¡°That¡¯s irrelevant to me.¡±


    Katelyn clenched her jaw. ¡°I have a son from my previous marriage.¡±


    Bartley responded quickly, undeterred, ¡°He can move to Yata with us. He might even take myst name, but of course, he¡¯ll need to learn to respect his stepfather.¡±


    Feeling utterly defeated, Katelyn wondered about her peculiar fate. Why did she always seem to attract such ludicrous men?


    Fortunately, the elevator was nearing the ground floor. But suddenly, just as she thought it might end, the cabin shook violently!


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 Chapter 510

    ?Chapter 510:


    Katelyn¡¯s pupils narrowed sharply. Disaster had struck. They were trapped in a malfunctioning elevator.


    Every year, countless people were injured in elevator idents, and now she and Bartley seemed destined to join that unfortunate statistic.


    The elevator shook violently, the floor indicator shed erratically, and the ceiling lights flickered, threatening to plunge them into darkness at any moment. The situation was rapidly deteriorating.


    Katelyn struggled to maintain her bnce amid the violent shaking, gripping the elevator¡¯s railing for support.


    In the opposite corner, Bartley did the same, both of them anchoring themselves against the walls to avoid being thrown around.


    She nced at Bartley in frustration. ¡°How can a high-end hotel like this have such a terrible elevator?¡±


    Bartley looked equally bewildered. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what¡¯s happening!¡±


    ¡°Just hit the emergency button¡ªhit all the buttons if you have to!¡± Katelynmanded sharply.


    This wasn¡¯t the time to argue with him. The elevator was out of control, and they needed to act fast to prevent a catastrophe.


    Their immediate goal was to take any precaution to safeguard themselves before conditions worsened.


    Despite the chaos, they had to try to minimize any potential injuries. Struggling to stay steady, Bartley moved to the control panel and frantically pressed every button, hoping for a response.


    ¡°We should get down in the corner and protect our heads. It¡¯s the safest position to prevent injuries if we crash,¡± Bartley said, his voice shaky.


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    Without hesitation, Katelyn crouched down.


    To her annoyance, Bartley crouched beside her in the same corner instead of keeping his distance.


    Katelyn shifted away from him, but Bartley seemed oblivious to her irritation.


    Even amid the imminent danger, Bartley continued to chatter. ¡°Miss Bailey, when you think about it, our meeting seems almost destined. First, you checked into my hotel, then we met again at the g, and now here we are, trapped in an elevator. If we don¡¯t make it out, it¡¯s almost like we¡¯re star-crossed lovers.¡±


    Katelyn felt her patience wearing thin. Why had she ever considered Bartley intelligent? At this moment, even the simplest viger from her hometown seemed wiser than him.


    She grimly reflected on the significance of first impressions. Their influence could distort one¡¯s perspective for far too long.


    She had once believed Bartley to be intelligent, but now it was clear he was simply foolish.


    Katelyn managed a strained smile, her patience steadily dwindling.


    ¡°Are you an only child in your family?¡± she asked.


    Bartley responded earnestly, ¡°Yes, my parents decided against having more children to avoid sibling rivalry. It was just me.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s smile grew, though it held a sharp edge. ¡°Your parents made a mistake. If they¡¯re still of age, they should consider having another child. Maybe the next one would be more capable.¡±


    Indeed, it was often throughpetition and challenges that people truly matured.


    Elora remained innocent and na?ve because Breck had kept her sheltered from the harsh realities of the world. Simrly, Bartley had been spoiled, born into wealth with every advantage provided effortlessly.


    His life had been too easy, and that was evident in his carefree attitude.


    It was likely these factors that had shaped Bartley into the person he was today.


    Bartley scowled, about to object, but the elevator jolted sharply before he could speak.


    Even in their crouched positions, they lost their bnce, crashing to the floor. As the elevator continued to shake, standing became increasingly difficult.


    Katelyn clenched her teeth and, oveing her fear, managed to regain her crouched position, striving to remainposed.


    ¡°How quickly does your hotel usually handle elevator emergencies like this?¡± she asked, her voice steady despite the tension.


    Every prestigious hotel had procedures for such crises.


    They had already pressed the emergency call button.


    If the staff waspetent, help should be arriving shortly. Bartley massaged his head, trying to remember. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take more than five minutes.¡±


    ¡°Then we wait,¡± Katelyn said helplessly.


    However, the reality of their predicament continued to irritate her, and she tightened her jaw. ¡°Once we¡¯re free from this, I¡¯m filing aint against your hotel.¡±


    Bartley prudently remained silent.


    At that moment, the elevator gave onest shudder and, thankfully, came to a halt. The doors creaked open, finally revealing the outside world again.


    .


    .<fn7faa> This content belongs to FindN()vel</fn7faa>


    .

 Chapter 511

    ?Chapter 511:


    Bartley rubbed his sore legs as he slowly pushed himself up from the floor.


    ¡°We¡¯ve finally been rescued,¡± he sighed, stepping toward the elevator doors. But just as he was about to step out, Katelyn seized his arm, her grip firm. She peered anxiously at the narrow gap between the doors. ¡°Hold on.¡±


    She turned back to the disy panel, her eyes locked on the flickering numbers. The chaos of the incident had left everything in disarray. The screen blinked erratically, the digits a confusing jumble. They had no idea where they were or what awaited them outside.


    Katelyn¡¯s voice turned serious. ¡°We should wait for the rescue team. If we step out now, we might fall into the shaft.¡±


    The thought of someone jumping out of a stuck elevator only to fall into darkness shed through her mind, sending a chill down her spine. Despite her fear, she felt some relief that their elevator had merely swayed and groaned, never plummeting.<fna4d3> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? ?ovelFind</fna4d3>


    Bartley paused, his foot hovering near the door, but then slowly drew it back. He looked at Katelyn, her caution resonating with him, and nodded.


    Time stretched on in heavy silence, each second dragging painfully. Finally, the distant sounds of the rescue team reached them.


    The hotel manager let out a sigh of relief when he saw Bartley was unharmed. His shoulders rxed, and he forced a shaky smile. ¡°I¡¯m so d you¡¯re okay,¡± he said, his voice still shaky from the tension.


    But Bartley¡¯s expression was grim, his jaw tight and his eyes filled with anger. Once it was safe, he stepped out of the elevator, moving with a purpose that made his frustration clear.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this elevator maintained regrly?¡± he demanded, his voice sharp. ¡°How could you let something like this happen? What if a guest had been trapped in there instead of me?¡±


    Find exclusive stories at g¦Á?¦Ç¦Òv????s


    Each word was heavy with his anger, filling the space with urgency. This was a hotel¡ªpeople should feel secure here.


    The manager nodded quickly, almost apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Lawrence. This is our responsibility. I¡¯ll arrange for a thorough inspection of all the elevators today.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He locked eyes with the manager, his gaze unwavering. ¡°It¡¯s not just the elevators,¡± he warned, his tone serious. ¡°You need to inspect the escape routes, the fire systems¡ªeverything. If this happens again, you don¡¯te back to work. Do you understand?¡±


    Katelyn stepped back, observing Bartley as he addressed his team. His tone was sharp, and he stood with amanding presence. There was an unmistakable air of privilege about him¡ªthe kind thates from always being in control.


    People like Bartley moved through life with an easy confidence. They didn¡¯t rush or fret; theirfort stemmed from having everything they wanted. This sense of security made them seem unshakeable, as if nothing could disrupt their calm.


    Whenever they entered a room, eyes naturally followed them. It wasn¡¯t just wealth¡ªit was the authority they projected. Over time, they had learned to navigate the world as if they belonged in the spotlight.


    Yet, as Katelyn watched him now, something felt off. There was a disconnect that puzzled her. This serious, no-nonsense side of Bartley matched her initial impression when they met. It was a stark contrast to the clumsy persona she had seen earlier.


    Was that just a cover? A way to keep others guessing?


    Before she could sort through her thoughts, Bartley spoke again. ¡°The one you really need to apologize to isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s the guest. If Miss Bailey had been hurt in that elevator, the consequences would be much worse than what you¡¯re dealing with now.¡±


    Mentioning Miss Bailey brought Katelyn back to reality. She nced at the elevator, her mind racing with questions she struggled to grasp. Could this really be just a mere coincidence?


    The manager¡¯s face turned pale as he fumbled through his apologies.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, this ispletely my fault. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re unhappy with, please let us know. We¡¯ll take your feedback seriously and ensure this never happens again.¡±


    Bartley¡¯s voice broke through the tension, calm yet authoritative. ¡°Last time, I gave you a VIP membership card. This time, we¡¯ll offer financialpensation.¡±


    Katelyn felt the weight of the situation. Even if she were just another guest, this kind of incident could lead to serious consequences. They might keep it quiet for now, but whispers would definitely spread in the right circles.


    Without answering, Katelyn kept her eyes fixed on the elevator, her mind racing with questions. ¡°How often do you do maintenance?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Every six months,¡± the manager replied. ¡°But this elevator was just inspected a week ago, and there were no issues.¡± His words lingered heavily, deepening Katelyn¡¯s doubts. Bartley¡¯s expression shifted too¡ªhe was starting to sense that something was definitely off.


    ¡°Take a look at all the surveince footage,¡± Bartley instructed, his voice calm but firm. ¡°We need to see if anyone tampered with the elevator before the incident.¡±


    Katelyn felt the heavy burden of owning the castle. idents happening to her could mean losing the ownership, along with her life¡ªa chilling thought she couldn¡¯t shake. Now that her ownership of the castle was made public, the dangers lurking had increased,plicating her efforts to uncover the truth.


    Lost in her thoughts, she didn¡¯t notice the woman on the lobby¡¯s sofa ring at her with clear hostility. Suddenly, the woman stood up, her high heels clicking sharply on the floor as she approached.


    ¡°Are you the one trying to steal Mr. Adams?¡± she spat, her voice dripping with contempt.


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 Chapter 512

    ?Chapter 512:


    Katelyn turned to see who had spoken.


    The voice came from an unfamiliar woman, dressed in a chic, elegant outfit, her face perfectly made up. Her thick, wavy hair cascaded down her back, secured with a pink clip that stood out in a fashionably careless way.


    Katelyn¡¯s brow furrowed as she sized up the woman. She even questioned if she¡¯d heard right. Was she being used of¡­ stealing Mr. Adams? Her? Trying to steal Vincent?


    Annie Cromwell, the woman in question, walked toward Katelyn in high heels, each step deliberate and calcted. She scrutinized Katelyn with sharp, hostile eyes.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll admit,¡± Annie sneered, her tone venomous, ¡°you do have a pretty face. No wonder you dared to make a move on Mr. Adams.¡± Her smile was mocking, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of jealousy. Before arriving, Annie had thoroughly researched Katelyn. She found Katelyn¡¯s features striking, especially her eyes, which seemed almost divinely sculpted¡ªsurpassing any artwork.


    Annie had half-expected to find Katelyn less impressive than her photos suggested, but in person, she was even more stunning than Annie had anticipated.


    Realizing the intent of her visitor, Katelyn responded coolly, ¡°Who are you?¡± Her voice was detached.


    Annie¡¯s smirk grew as she replied confidently, ¡°You can call me Countess Cromwell. I¡¯m here on behalf of my cousin to address a shameless home-wrecker.¡± Katelyn blinked. Cousin? Home-wrecker? What kind of ce was Yata, where everyone seemed to be either a lord, earl, or even countess?


    Nearby, Bartley leaned closer and whispered, ¡°She¡¯s royalty. Whatever¡¯s going on, she¡¯s clearly not here to be friendly.¡± His voice was hushed, wary.


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    In Yata, the royal family wielded significant power, orchestrating the nation¡¯s affairs from the shadows. Most could only dream of obtaining a noble title, granted either for distinguished service or inherited through birth. But royalty? That was a different level entirely. Their public appearances were so infrequent thatmoners often didn¡¯t even know what they looked like.


    Having once hosted royalty at his hotel, Bartley recognized Annie immediately.


    Katelyn¡¯s frown deepened. What did this have to do with her? She hadn¡¯t crossed any royals. Was Annie suggesting that Vincent was involved with her cousin and that Katelyn was getting in their way? Katelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed, focusing intently on Annie.


    ¡°rify this for me: who exactly are you calling the homewrecker?¡± she demanded.


    Annie smirked. ¡°Clearly, it¡¯s you!¡± She circled Katelyn, her eyes sharp and predatory. Her face was twisted with contempt and arrogance. ¡°I¡¯ve encountered your type before¡ªthose who¡¯ll do anything to climb the socialdder. But really, did you think you could outshine my cousin? You¡¯re living in a fantasy.¡±


    As Annie¡¯s words grew more venomous, her resentment deepened. Katelyn¡¯s calm demeanor seemed to inme her jealousy further, as if Annie wanted to physically scratch at Katelyn¡¯s pretty face. Impulsively, Annie raised her hand, adorned with long, jewel-encrusted nails, aiming for Katelyn.


    But before Annie¡¯s hand couldnd, Katelyn intercepted it with surprising speed and uracy. Her grip was unyielding, and suddenly, Annie found herself unable to move.


    Anger twisted Annie¡¯s perfectly made-up face as she gritted her teeth, her voice quivering with fury. ¡°Release me, you bitch!¡±


    Katelyn remainedposed, tightening her grip slightly, which elicited a sharp yelp of pain from Annie. Now, fear mixed with Annie¡¯s anger. She realized the strength in Katelyn¡¯s grip¡ªstrong enough to break her wrist if she wasn¡¯t careful.<fndb7e> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find_Novel(.</fndb7e>


    How could Katelyn be so strong?


    From the sidelines, Bartley felt unease settle in. He intervened, his voice urgent.


    ¡°Annie isn¡¯t just anyone. She¡¯s royalty. Don¡¯t make an enemy of her, Katelyn. If you cross her, you could provoke the entire royal family.¡±


    Despite their personal quarrels, the royal family stood united against outsiders. If Annie were injured here, not even Bartley could protect Katelyn from the consequences.


    Katelyn looked on with disdain, weary of this country and its absurd ss structure. Everywhere she turned, it was all about nobility and entitlement. Ordinary people were oppressed, their grievances silenced by the heavy hand of privilege, forced to endure simply because theycked the means to fight back.


    Despite everyone being human, these unjust norms dictated their fates from birth.


    The urge to return to Granville surged within her. ¡°She¡¯s the one who instigated this,¡± Katelyn whispered under her breath.


    Annie¡¯s voice grew shrill and desperate. ¡°Let go of me, you vile woman! I¡¯ll see you dead for this!¡± Her rant was abruptly cut short when she noticed someone approaching. ¡°Help me!¡± she cried.


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 Chapter 513

    ?Chapter 513:


    Annie¡¯s voice was sharp and loud, quickly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. Heads turned as curious onlookers tuned into the escting scene.<fn2ae8> For more chapters visit Find[?]ovel</fn2ae8>


    Katelyn followed Annie¡¯s gaze and was taken aback by what she saw. Was Annie¡¯s plea for help really directed at Vincent and Jaxen? Annie had been using Katelyn of having an affair with Vincent all along, so what was the true nature of their connection? Moreover, Bartley had earlier mentioned that Annie was of royal descent.


    Despite her confusion, Katelyn kept a firm grip on Annie¡¯s wrist. She was not the type to back down from intimidation.


    Jaxen¡¯s expression shifted as he noticed Annie. He leaned toward Vincent and whispered, ¡°She seems familiar. Isn¡¯t that your fianc¨¦e¡¯s cousin?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face hardened, his lips pressed into a tight line. He had witnessed the confrontation the moment he exited the elevator. Having encountered Annie before, her arrogance was something he wouldn¡¯t forget. It was clear to him that Annie had provoked Katelyn, and this would not end well.


    Vincent nodded slightly, then began walking toward the scene.


    Despite wincing in pain, Annie saw Vincent approaching and a smug look crossed her face. ¡°Just wait. Mr. Adams has seen the trouble you are. Do you really think you can ascend the socialdder and snatch my cousin¡¯s fianc¨¦e? Keep dreaming!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s face hardened, her eyebrows furrowing.


    Fianc¨¦e? Vincent was engaged? How had she not known this? Annie misread the bewilderment in Katelyn¡¯s eyes, thinking her words had struck a nerve. She smirked, growing bolder. ¡°Soon you¡¯ll see how Mr. Adams puts you in your ce. Just watch.¡±


    As she spoke, she exaggerated her difort, trying to make her pain seem worse than it was.


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    Annie screamed, ¡°My wrist! You¡¯re going to break it! Why this aggression, just because I revealed you¡¯re no match for my cousin?¡± By the time she finished speaking, Vincent and Jaxen had arrived at the scene.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze moved between Annie and Katelyn, his expression stern. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± he asked, his tone calm but authoritative.


    Seizing the opportunity, Annie quickly spoke up, ¡°Mr. Adams, please! Make her release me! I only spoke a few words, and she seized my wrist out of nowhere. I can hardly feel my hand now!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression remained unwavering, her eyes cold as ice. ¡°She started this confrontation,¡± she said tly.


    ¡°Liar!¡± Annie retorted sharply. ¡°I was merely stating facts. You¡¯re the one who can¡¯t handle the truth. Trying to seduce someone else¡¯s fianc¨¦¡ªwhat does that make you?¡±


    As soon as Annie finished her usation, Katelyn¡¯s grip on Annie¡¯s wrist tightened. Annie¡¯s hand twisted into an awkward angle, and it seemed her wrist might snap at any second.


    A sharp scream escaped Annie¡¯s lips, sweat forming on her forehead. ¡°You bitch! What are you doing? Release me!¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s gaze was icy. ¡°Apologize to me.¡±


    In agony, Annie turned pleading eyes toward Vincent and Jaxen. How could they stand by while she suffered this way? Jaxen, watching the drama with a hint of amusement, finally spoke, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°We¡¯ve known Katelyn for a long time, Annie. You should probably apologize if you don¡¯t want a broken wrist.¡±


    Jaxen was no stranger to women like Annie, whose maniptions were painfully obvious. He quickly saw the true dynamics of the situation.


    Annie clenched her teeth, her voice heavy with resentment. ¡°What I said was the truth. She went after Mr. Adams first. If she dares to do it, why shouldn¡¯t I mention it?¡±


    ¡°If you prefer a broken wrist, keep talking,¡± Vincent interjected, his toneced with contempt.


    Annie and her cousin believed they were the center of the universe because of their royal status, expecting deference at every turn. It was utterly revolting.


    Annie¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she looked at Vincent. ¡°You¡¯re not going to help me? I will definitely tell my cousin about this!¡±


    Her voice escted, nowced with a clear threat. She was astounded by the unfolding events. Why was Vincent taking this woman¡¯s side? Had Katelyn somehow cast a spell on him?


    It seemed that Katelyn hadpletely captured Vincent¡¯s affection. This was a troubling development, and Annie knew she needed to intervene.


    ¡°Don¡¯t forget,¡± Annie said, her voice tinged with desperation. ¡°Your international business ventures have flourished because of my cousin¡¯s influence. You wouldn¡¯t want to risk those, would you?¡±


    Katelyn had no interest in any business connections Vincent might have with Annie¡¯s family. Her patience was running thin. All she wanted was to end this ridiculous confrontation.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you one more time,¡± Katelyn said, her voice firm and resolute. ¡°Are you going to apologize, or¡­?¡±


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 Chapter 514

    ?Chapter 514:


    Katelyn had little regard for Annie, especially after her sudden appearance. Having already dealt with Elora, Katelyn had be painfully aware of the true nature of these so-called nobles.


    They elevated themselves, expecting respect as if it were owed to them, and any perceived slight would likely be met with swift retribution. However, Katelyn was resolute in not entertaining such notions.


    Annie, her voice dripping with bitterness, said, ¡°I will never apologize. If you dare toy a hand on me, you¡¯ll feel the fury of the¡ª¡±


    Before she could finish, a sharp scream tore from her lips, apanied by the sickening crunch of breaking bones. The sound sent shivers through everyone nearby.


    Jaxen couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue in disbelief.


    What was this? A ssic case of karma?


    Vincent remained stoic, his expression unchanged. Only Bartley appeared truly shocked, unable toprehend what was unfolding before him.


    Vincent was engaged to a member of the royal family? And Katelyn had dared to touch Annie¡ªwas she not concerned about the consequences?


    Bartley¡¯s thoughts raced. He would have felt confident helping Katelyn in dealing with ruthless businessmen, but offending the royal family was a different matter entirely.


    From that moment on, Bartley knew he had to distance himself from her, or the Lawrence family would also bear the consequences.


    To outsiders, it might not have been obvious, but Bartley understood that crossing a royal like Annie, with her backing from the royal family, was a grave mistake. Her power in Yata was immense.


    Yet, Katelyn remained unfazed by Annie¡¯s screams or the agony on her contorted face. She simply brushed Annie¡¯s hand aside with disdain, as though it were nothing more than an insignificant object.


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    ¡°Consider this a lesson,¡± Katelyn said coolly. ¡°Next time, it won¡¯t be as simple as a broken hand.¡±


    Annie was on the brink of unconsciousness, her teeth clenched tightly as sweat dripped down her forehead. ¡°You vile woman, just wait! I will make you pay dearly for this!¡±


    ¡°Bring it on,¡± Katelyn snapped with a sneer. ¡°I hope you learn your lesson. You can¡¯t push everyone around.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Annie nearly copsed in rage at Katelyn¡¯s words. She had never encountered anyone as bold and fearless as Katelyn, who dared to challenge a member of the royal family. To Annie, such defiance felt like ying with fire. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this. You won¡¯t get away with it,¡± she hissed, her eyes burning with malice, as if she wished to devour Katelyn on the spot.


    Filled with bitterness, Annie turned her gaze toward Vincent, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. ¡°Mr. Adams, are you just going to stand there and let her harass me? My cousin has been expecting you at home. Aren¡¯t you worried about breaking her heart?¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face remained impassive as he spoke the three words that made Annie seethe with anger. ¡°You deserve it.¡± It was clear to him that Annie¡¯s current predicament was entirely of her own making. As for the engagement, he had never taken it seriously.


    When Vincent had first taken charge of Adams Group, thepany was in turmoil. Internal conflicts were rampant, and numerouspetitors were ready to strike. During those difficult times, Vincent¡¯s mother had suggested the engagement to Annie¡¯s cousin, a royal princess, to help expand into international markets.<fn7eb2> The rightful source is findnovel</fn7eb2>


    But the engagement had failed to provide any substantial growth for his business.


    Moreover, with the decline of the nobility¡¯s influence, Vincent had considered pulling out of the international market and starting a new venture, which eventually led to his investments in jewelry and other sectors. He found Annie¡¯s maniptive tactics repulsive.


    Annie, her voice dripping with venom, hissed, ¡°Just wait. You¡¯ll feel the full force of my wrath.¡±


    With that, she stormed off, determined to get to a hospital to treat her injured hand.


    Katelyn watched Annie¡¯s swift departure with cold eyes, her thoughts turning inward. More troubling than Annie¡¯s threats was the fact that Vincent hadn¡¯t denied the engagement, confirming that he was indeed betrothed to Annie¡¯s cousin.


    Vincent had always had a fianc¨¦e, and Katelyn hadn¡¯t known until now. She felt a mixture of confusion and disillusionment.


    Katelyn had been oblivious to this. What did this mean for their previous interactions that had almost seemed intimate?


    Had Vincent been ying both sides, or had he only been interested in her for her business acumen, using her for his own goals?


    These thoughts painted a version of Vincent that sharply contrasted with the man she had thought she knew. Once she gathered her thoughts, Katelyn turned to him and asked directly, ¡°Have you really had a fianc¨¦e all this time?¡±


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 Chapter 515

    ?Chapter 515:


    Katelyn¡¯s question was simple and direct, her eyes filled with an unshakable resolve. There was a fire in her gaze that showed she wasn¡¯t about to back down.


    Vincent knew that if he nodded now, everything between them would copse. It would mark the end of their bond, erasing even the most precious memories they had shared.


    A flicker of hesitation passed through Vincent¡¯s eyes. He had always been the one in control¡ªcalm, collected, no matter the situation. But now, faced with such a blunt question, he found himself at a loss for words. He could feel the pressure to simply nod, to admit the truth. But admitting he had a fianc¨¦e? That was a step he wasn¡¯t ready to take.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t blink, her eyes searching for the answer she needed, determined to hear it straight from him.


    Vincent remained frozen. The silence between them grew heavy, thick with tension neither could break.


    Jaxen, sensing the difort, quickly intervened with an awkwardugh. ¡°Hey, this is all just a misunderstanding! Let¡¯s talk about itter, alright? There are too many people around. I¡¯ll exin the whole engagement thing when we have some privacy.¡±


    Katelyn didn¡¯t even nce at Jaxen. Her eyes were still locked on Vincent. ¡°So, by not answering, are you admitting it?¡±


    Vincent finally gave a small nod, his expression torn. ¡°This engagement was arranged a long time ago, for business reasons. I¡¯ve been trying to get out of it.¡±


    Katelyn felt a deep emptiness settle inside her, like she had been struck hard in the chest. It felt as if everything she had quietly hoped for had crumbled, heading in the exact opposite direction. But even now, Katelyn couldn¡¯t pinpoint what she had truly hoped for. A part of her wanted to ask why Vincent had never told her something so important. And judging by Jaxen¡¯s behavior, he had clearly known all along.


    Why had he pushed them together, knowing his friend was already taken?


    ?????????????? ????????: g???????¦Í?????????????


    A flood of questions surged in her mind, and Katelyn wanted to demand answers from Vincent right then and there.


    But just as quickly, she stopped herself, the reality sinking in. They were nothing more than boss and employee. She had no right to ask those kinds of questions. Why should she? Whether Vincent had a fianc¨¦e or not wasn¡¯t something Katelyn, as an employee, should be concerned with. Still, the thought gnawed at her.


    Vincent, ever observant, didn¡¯t miss the emotions flickering across her face¡ªthe frustration, the quiet hurt¡ªand he definitely caught the hint of disappointment in her eyes. Even he, usually calm and in control, felt a pinch of guilt.


    ¡°I¡¯m already looking for a way to call off the engagement. Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± he said softly.


    Katelyn fought to keep her emotions in check and forced a smile.


    ¡°Why would I be worried?¡± she said, her voice t. ¡°It¡¯s all good, right? You¡¯ve settled your engagement, and your fianc¨¦e is a royal princess. That¡¯s great news. Congrattions, Mr. Adams.¡±


    Her blunt words cut through the conversation, leaving Vincent speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say next.


    Jaxen, standing nearby, watched the exchange with a knowing look and shook his head slightly. He had warned Vincent that this engagement would only cause trouble. If Vincent had never allowed himself to care about anyone else, maybe he could¡¯ve gone through with it. But now, with Katelyn in his heart, how could he marry someone else?


    Still, Jaxen tried to help.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, don¡¯t get the wrong idea,¡± Jaxen said, his voice gentle. ¡°Vincent just needs a little more time. He¡¯s going to end the engagement. They haven¡¯t seen each other in years.¡±


    Katelyn found it ridiculous. Her tone was calm, but her words were sharp. ¡°I already told you, this engagement has nothing to do with me. There¡¯s no need for me to overthink it.¡±


    She gave a quick smile. ¡°I just remembered I¡¯ve got some things to handle. I¡¯ll head to my room.¡±<fnb832> The rightful source is f?ndnovel</fnb832>


    Without another word, she turned and made a swift exit toward the elevator, ignoring the tension she left behind.


    Once she was back in her room, with the door safely locked, all the feelings she had bottled up came rushing out, overwhelming her in a wave of confusion and pain. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Why hadn¡¯t Vincent ever mentioned this to her?


    Whether it was about business or something more personal, she had the right to know. At least then, she could figure out how to navigate her rtionship with him.


    Katelyn wasn¡¯t oblivious. She could sense Vincent¡¯s preference for her, the subtle ways his actions spoke louder than his words ever could.


    Her hand rested against her chest, trying to soothe the sudden ache that throbbed beneath her ribs. If it was all a lie, why did it hurt so much?


    Her phone buzzed with a text notification, pulling her from her thoughts. The message was short, direct: ¡°Leave Yata.¡±


    .


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 Chapter 516

    ?Chapter 516:


    An unknown number from Yata appeared on Katelyn¡¯s phone, with no apanying notes. She stared at the message, puzzled, unsure of the sender¡¯s intentions.


    Then, another message popped up.


    ¡°Leave Yata within three days, or your life will be in danger.¡±


    Was it a warning or a threat?


    Cautiously, she called the number back, only to discover it was a disposable SIM card. The sender had clearly hidden their identity, and despite her skills, she couldn¡¯t track them by this method.


    A shadow of doubt crossed Katelyn¡¯s face.


    Since her arrival in Yata, it seemed as though everything pointed to a hidden agenda, like she was being ensnared by an invisible.


    Downstairs, Jaxen sipped his coffee, a smirk ying on his lips as he observed the troubled expression on Vincent¡¯s face.


    ¡°Seeing how you are now, I guess we can skip that test I mentioned. Have you figured out your true feelings yet?¡±


    In the absence of love, marriage became just a transaction where both parties bartered for mutual gain.


    The Adams family had benefited from their alliance with the nobility, which the other side used to strengthen their own ventures significantly.


    Vincent shot Jaxen a cold, warning look. ¡°Silence is sometimes a virtue.¡±


    Laughing softly, Jaxen replied, ¡°I was merely telling the truth. Let¡¯s face it¡ªyou need to charm Katelyn first, or chasing her will only get tougher.¡±<fn1ff0> Original content can be found at find?novel</fn1ff0>


    Vincent nced down at his coffee, his favorite Americano, which suddenly seemed unappealing.


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    ¡°This engagement needs to end,¡± he dered.


    Jaxen nodded in agreement. ¡°You should also find the right moment to apologize to Katelyn. Honestly, I never thought you could hide this from her for so long. I suspect this will definitely affect your rtionship,¡± he added.


    Vincent¡¯s expression turned even colder.


    He remained silent, leaning back, lost in his own thoughts.


    Katelyn stayed in her room until the afternoon and then decided to take a walk. As she opened the door, she almost bumped into Vincent, who was about to knock.


    Their eyes met, and an awkward tension filled the air. Withposure, Katelyn calmly asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, do you need something?¡±


    Vincent paused, not immediately stating his purpose, and tentatively asked, ¡°May Ie in?¡±


    Katelyn, leaning against the door with a strained smile, replied, ¡°Mr. Adams, considering you¡¯re engaged, it¡¯s wise to avoid misunderstandings with other women. Anything you need to say can be said from here.¡±


    Katelyn had never wanted to get involved in other people¡¯s rtionships, yet somehow, she felt this usation was now unavoidably pinned on her.


    Disappointment flickered in Vincent¡¯s eyes.


    Their work-rted discussions had indeed led to significant personal interactions¡ªsomething Katelyn had been indifferent to in the past. However, her current demeanor clearlymunicated her stance.


    Vincent hesitated but then insisted, ¡°Please, let me exin. Just hear me out.¡±


    Katelyn kept her mocking smile, responding coolly, her eyes betraying a trace of sorrow. ¡°If this rtes to your engagement, further details are unnecessary. If it¡¯s unrted to work, Mr. Adams, I¡¯d prefer you leave. I need some rest.¡±


    As Katelyn moved to close the door, Vincent quickly stopped it, holding it open and looking intently at her. ¡°Please listen. I can settle everything within a week.¡± This was the quickest solution he could offer.


    Theplex ties between their families were intricate. Even severing the engagement required sorting out business affairs first.


    Katelyn responded without emotion, ¡°What does any of this have to do with me? I am merely an employee here.¡±


    Vincent silently clenched his fists, feeling a sense of impending loss as he watched her. ¡°You know I¡¯ve never viewed you solely as an employee,¡± he said. ¡°So, what am I to you then?¡±


    .


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 Chapter 517

    ?Chapter 517:<fn704f> Original content can be found at Find1Novel</fn704f>


    Katelyn looked bewildered, torn between confusion and disbelief as she tried to process the situation. If she wasn¡¯t just another employee to Vincent, then what exactly was she? Was he really about to admit he had feelings for her? That idea seemed impossible.


    Her quick, sarcastic remark shut down whatever Vincent was about to say next. His eyes softened, but there was something deeper¡ªsomething he wasn¡¯t fully saying. ¡°I told you it would only take a week to fix everything here, and then we can talk about us.¡± In that moment, Vincent knew he couldn¡¯t ignore what he felt any longer.


    If Katelyn had never entered his life, he would have married the princess, no doubt¡ªpurely out of convenience. But now, a voice inside told him clearly: life without Katelyn was unthinkable.


    She clenched her fists just enough to feel the tension, a sharp pain tugging at her heart. She gave a cold, tight-lipped smile. ¡°Like I¡¯ve said before, you don¡¯t need to involve me in this. I¡¯m just a regr employee, and I¡¯m not in any position to carry your problems.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s eyes lingered on Vincent, her expression steady but sharp. ¡°If that¡¯s hard to grasp, Mr. Adams, I can repeat it as many times as you need.¡±


    Vincent sighed, his tone quieter. ¡°This engagement¡ªit¡¯s always been about business. Still, that¡¯s on me for not making it clear from the start.¡±


    Katelyn stayed silent, arms crossed loosely as she waited. She wasn¡¯t sure what else he could possibly add, but she was curious enough to listen.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have feelings for the princess,¡± he admitted. ¡°Tomorrow morning, I¡¯m going to negotiate ending the engagement.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s irritation bubbled up, creeping into her voice. ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯ve already said it¡ªI¡¯m just an employee of yours. I don¡¯t have the right to ask about your personal life, and I shouldn¡¯t be involved in it.¡±


    g???????¦Í??????.??????, original website


    She drew in a long breath, letting her words sink in. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m heading back to my room. Also, I don¡¯t want to stay in Yata any longer. I¡¯ll go home first. Once I finish those designs for Selina, I¡¯ll email them to her.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, a flicker of concern crossing his face. ¡°Is my engagement the reason you¡¯re in such a hurry to leave?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Katelyn replied firmly, shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to leave Yata for a long time. It¡¯s not about you.¡± Her words were clear and straightforward, not seeking permission but simply stating the truth.


    Vincent opened his mouth to respond, but Katelyn cut him off, her tone unwavering. ¡°Mr. Adams, you need to go.¡± This was the second time she had told him off, her fists curling slightly, though her demeanor remained calm.


    Just then, Vincent¡¯s phone rang, the sharp, urgent sound cutting through the moment.


    It was Samuel.


    ¡°Mr. Adams,¡± Samuel said quickly, his voice tense. ¡°We¡¯ve located the traitor responsible for the losses at the branch. He¡¯s in Yata, near your location. I¡¯ve sent a team to capture him.¡±


    The Adams family had spent years building a prosperous business, expanding into multiple industries. A betrayal like this could cause significant damage.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way back now. Don¡¯t let him escape,¡± Vincent replied, his voice calm but tinged with urgency.


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Samuel responded, before hanging up. Momentster, Vincent¡¯s phone buzzed again¡ªthis time, with a map from Samuel showing the traitor¡¯s location just blocks away.


    ¡°There¡¯s something I need your help with,¡± Vincent said, turning toward Katelyn.


    ¡°Of course,¡± she answered, assuming it was something rted to her usual duties.


    But as the car sped through the city streets, it dawned on her what Vincent actually meant. This wasn¡¯t about work¡ªit was about the traitor.


    Feeling uneasy, Katelyn nced at him. ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m the right person for this. I don¡¯t really know how to handle something like this.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s grip tightened on the steering wheel, his hand firm as he steered smoothly through the thick traffic. His movements were calm but precise, as though he had done this a thousand times before.


    Without looking over at her, he spoke in a quiet, steady voice, ¡°Most of my people are out of town. The traitor¡¯s armed, and no one shoots like you.¡±


    He remembered her wless aim at the shooting range, how impressed he had been by her skill.


    If she hadn¡¯t chosen to be a designer, there was no doubt Katelyn would have been a top sniper.


    Katelyn looked like she had something to say, but she held it back, staying silent as they arrived at the location where the traitor was hiding.


    Just as they were about to get out of the car, the sharp sound of gunfire rang through the air, loud and clear from somewhere ahead.


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 Chapter 518

    ?Chapter 518:


    Katelyn immediately spun around, her eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to pinpoint where the shots wereing from.


    The traitor was holed up in a small house, the source of the gunfire. Samuel spotted Vincent and Katelyn approaching and hurried over to brief them.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, Ray haspletely snapped. He¡¯s threatening to take everyone down with him. He¡¯s armed, and he has a significant amount of explosives.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°I see.¡±


    Ray Fields had once been a trusted member of his team for years, which was why Vincent had handed over branch management to him. But Ray had betrayed him, colluding withpetitors and causing significant damage.<fndb1b> Th?s chapter is updated by Find¡ïNovel</fndb1b>


    Vincent had been so absorbed in other responsibilities that he failed to monitor the branch closely, allowing Ray¡¯s actions to escte until he was exposed.


    From within the house, Ray¡¯s desperate voice called out, ¡°Vincent, are you out there? Just let me walk away, and no one gets hurt. Sure, I made a mistake, but you don¡¯t need to corner me like this.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s reply was firm. ¡°One thing I can never tolerate is betrayal.¡±


    His tone was cold, void of anypassion.


    Behind him, Katelyn¡¯s face betrayed a mixture of emotions. Vincent had always despised deceit and betrayal more than anything.


    Ray clenched his teeth, his voice dripping with desperation. ¡°I¡¯ve been loyal to you for years, and I¡¯ve contributed so much. Even if I made a mistake, I deserve a chance to make it right.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s contempt grew even more apparent. Was Ray really trying to appeal to emotions now, after everything he¡¯d done?


    Meanwhile, Samuel had gathered several handguns and a heavy sniper rifle from their vehicle. Katelyn stepped forward, taking the weapons. She felt the weight of the gun in her hands as she peered towards the window.


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    Yata had once been a battlefield, and now the house Ray had barricaded himself in stood as a grim reminder of past conflicts, a stronghold hidden in a secluded spot.


    These buildings were built tost¡ªeasy to defend but difficult to breach. The hideout had only a small window and a door, making a break-in nearly impossible.


    Ray had chosen his hideout wisely, which was exactly why Vincent had brought Katelyn along. Among his team, only Katelyn possessed the sharpshooting skills needed for sniping.


    Vincent silently pointed toward a tall building nearby, clearly the ideal spot for a sniper. Katelyn quickly understood and dashed toward the building, carrying the bulky sniper rifle.


    Such heavy weapons required intense training, and professional snipers were ustomed to handling them. Katelyn, who had only practiced with this kind of sniper rifle on a range, wasn¡¯t sure if she could live up to Vincent¡¯s expectations and trust.


    She took a deep breath and made her way toward the rooftop. Luckily, the building was equipped with an elevator, allowing her to ascend quickly.


    Once at the top, she positioned the sniper rifle and fine-tuned the scope, aligning the barrel with the small window of the hideout. Sweat formed on her palms as she steadied her nerves. With the safety disengaged, she prepared herself to fire at a moment¡¯s notice.


    Vincent, observing through binocrs, saw Katelyn reach the best sniping position before redirecting his attention to the hideout. He had no intention of offering the traitor a second chance.


    Samuel, holding his submachine gun, asked, ¡°Mr. Adams, should we keep him alive to identify the mastermind?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Vincent responded instantly. Even if Ray were to die, Vincent had plenty of ways to identify the true mastermind. He wouldn¡¯t allow Ray to negotiate.


    The sound instion of the hideout was so effective that Ray remained unaware of the discussion between Vincent and Samuel.


    Ray¡¯s unease intensified as his demand went unheeded. ¡°Vincent, this is yourst chance. Release me now, and I¡¯ll give you whatever you want. I¡¯ve got enough explosives here to blow this ce sky-high. Are you ready to go down with me?¡±


    Vincent raised his gun, his hair whipped by a gust of wind as he responded coldly, ¡°The moment you betrayed me, you sealed your own fate.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll end this together!¡± Ray¡¯s voice escted into a frenzy. Without warning, he threw a smoking object out of the house!


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 Chapter 519

    ?Chapter 519:


    The small ck object seemed harmless, but the moment it activated, thick white smoke billowed out, quickly engulfing the area in a hazy cloud.


    Vincent and Samuel didn¡¯t hesitate. They hit the ground fast, scrambling for cover.


    Up on the rooftop, Katelyn observed through her scope, her hands clenched so tightly that they shook.


    Ray, the traitor they were after, seemed no different from the desperate fugitives by the river that day¡ªexcept he might have been even more fearless. Katelyn bit down on her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check.


    From her vantage point on the rooftop, there wasn¡¯t much she could do to help Vincent and Samuel below. She could only wait, stay sharp, and wait for Ray to show himself so she could take her shot.


    The smoke thickened, swirling like fog, but the explosion she had been bracing for never came.


    Then, Vincent¡¯s face shifted. ¡°It¡¯s poison!¡± he shouted, quickly pulling his sleeve over his mouth and nose. Samuel followed suit, but the damage had already been done.


    The canisternded with a dull thud, and within a minute, thick gas started filling the air. The concentration was so high that a single breath could kill hundreds instantly.


    It was a weapon too deadly for war, banned by every international treaty. Yet, Ray had somehow gotten his hands on it and wasn¡¯t backing down. He was ready to take Vincent and the others down with him.


    The gas worked quickly. Breathing it in cut off oxygen to the brain, causing dizziness and confusion. In five minutes, the victim would be shaking uncontrobly, suffering until they copsed and died from suffocation.


    Vincent¡¯s chest tightened, every breath like knives digging into his lungs. The pressure was unbearable, as if something was tearing him apart from the inside. Death by toxic gas was inhuman¡ªone of the most excruciating ways to die.<fn95f8> This update is avable on f?ndnovel</fn95f8>


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    Samuel¡¯s face flushed red as he grabbed at his throat, struggling to breathe. ¡°Mr. Adams, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to make it,¡± he whispered, his voice thin and shaky.


    Vincent clenched his jaw. ¡°Stay with me.¡± He quickly ripped off his jacket and pressed it over Samuel¡¯s mouth and nose, trying to shield him from the toxic air.


    Vincent felt the burning pain surge through him as the gas hit hard. His pupils constricted, his eyes bloodshot, and veins popped from his neck as he fought to stay focused.


    The canister continued to leak thick clouds of white smoke, engulfing the room and making it nearly impossible for Katelyn to see anything. She squinted into the fog, desperately searching for Ray, but the smoke was so dense it felt like she was staring through a wall of white.


    Suddenly, the hideout door mmed open with a powerful kick. Ray stepped through, wearing a gas mask and holding a gun. He moved confidently, as if he already knew victory was his.


    In the haze, he looked like something out of a nightmare, his outline barely visible through the swirling smoke.


    ¡°Vincent,¡± Ray called, his voice muffled by the mask. ¡°I gave you a chance, but you chose this. After all those years of loyalty, you throw me away over one mistake? I regret ever working for you.¡± His words dripped with anger, but there was also a twisted satisfaction in his tone.


    Ray looked down at Vincent, who was struggling and gasping for breath. The sight of Vincent in pain seemed to fuel Ray¡¯s sense of aplishment.


    ¡°What a pathetic excuse for a CEO,¡± Ray sneered. ¡°Now, you¡¯re going to die by my hand. Who cares if you¡¯re running one of the top three internationalpanies? Today, it¡¯s all over for you.¡±


    Vincent, despite the crippling pain, pushed himself to his feet. One hand clutched his throat as he swayed unsteadily, his face contorted in agony. The gas had taken its toll, leaving him weak and disoriented, barely able to stand as his legs trembled beneath him.


    Before they arrived, they had anticipated Ray might have explosives, but no one had expected gas canisters filled with toxic fumes. That one misstep had sealed their fate.


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but an ungrateful coward!¡± Vincent spat, his voice trembling with fury. ¡°I gave you the branch, trusted you¡ªand this is how you repay me?¡±


    Every breath Vincent took felt like fire. The poisonous gas burned his lungs, spreading pain through his chest with every inhale. It was as if every nerve in his body was aze, the agony intensifying with each passing second.


    He gripped his head, squeezing his temples in an attempt to fight through the pain, his veins bulging as he struggled to maintain control, pushing back against the suffocating fog clouding his mind.


    Beside him, Samuely motionless, too weak to even sit up. He could do nothing but watch as the tension between Vincent and Ray grew.


    Shaking, Samuel reached out a hand, but a violent cough racked his body, causing him to spit up white foam. ¡°Mr. Adams¡­¡± he murmured weakly.


    Ray¡¯s eyes glinted with disdain. ¡°So loyal, aren¡¯t you, Samuel? Well, if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll end both of you right here.¡± Without hesitation, Ray raised his gun, aiming it directly at them.


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 Chapter 520

    ?Chapter 520:


    Ray couldn¡¯t suppress his grin as he yelled, ¡°Vincent, go to hell and repent for your sins!¡±


    Vincent could barely muster the energy to move. What little strength he had left was just enough to keep him upright. He would rather die standing than live on his knees.


    Ray¡¯s smirk was full of scorn. ¡°You¡¯ve managed to survive in the gas this long. That¡¯s impressive. However, I just realized letting you die so easily would be a waste. Here¡¯s my offer: if you get on your knees and beg for my forgiveness, I might let you live. What do you think?¡±


    Ray¡¯s demeanor was that of a conceited tyrant.


    Vincent¡¯s fists tightened, his expression cold. ¡°You¡¯re just a pitiful man. Without my help, you would have died alone on that street.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s trust in Ray had been based on years of what seemed like loyalty, as well as the fact that he had once saved Ray¡¯s life. He had always prided himself on his ability to judge character, but he never expected this betrayal from someone he trusted.


    ¡°If I could turn back time, I would have left you to die in agony and despair!¡±


    Vincent¡¯s words hit a sore spot, dredging up Ray¡¯s most painful memories, twisting his expression into one of fury. ¡°Don¡¯t talk down to me. I hate your arrogant face. You just got lucky being born into the Adams family. I would have done just as well, if not better, in your shoes!¡±


    Despite Vincent¡¯s frailty and difficulty standing, his scornful gaze sent Ray into a frenzy. ¡°You¡¯re just a failure masquerading as a sess!¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Ray shouted, his rage boiling over.


    Consumed with thoughts of how to torment Vincent, Ray was unaware that the white mist around them was starting to fade.


    L¨»t?st ch¦Ápt?rs in g??l??ov?ls.????m


    Unbeknownst to him, Katelyn, the sniper, was positioned on the rooftop across the street.


    Ray¡¯s anger obliterated his sense of reason as he lunged forward, seizing Vincent by the arm. ¡°I¡¯m not going to make this quick. I want you to suffer¡ªdrown in humiliation and agony.¡±


    Vincent staggered, struggling to stay on his feet, yet he remained silent, refusing to beg.


    Ray was a mix of insecurity and arrogance at his core. He had endured a life of struggle and torment, using a facade of strength to cover his vulnerabilities, all while craving the respect born from others¡¯ fear to boost his fragile self-worth. Insecurity and arrogance could coexist, and Ray was the perfect example of this.


    Vincent understood this well. For Ray, evoking fear in others was his ultimate goal.


    Vincent realized that Ray might offer him a path to survival if he chose to. However, that was unlikely to happen. Ray had already ced the barrel of the gun against Vincent¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s see how a great CEO has turned into nothing.¡±


    Ray¡¯sugh was wicked and loud.


    Samuel tried frantically to stand, but he copsed repeatedly. With eyes red and strained, he shouted, ¡°If you¡¯re so brave,e at me! Leave Mr. Adams out of this!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your turn ising!¡± Ray mocked as he pulled the trigger.<fn9b4e> Latest content published on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn9b4e>


    The sound of the gunshot echoed, the bullet ripping through skin, with blood quickly spreading, clouding their sight.


    But it wasn¡¯t Vincent who was shot in the arm. It was Ray. From her position on the rooftop, Katelyn watched as smoke curled from her rifle, swiftly loading another round.


    She had waited for the perfect moment, and now, as the mist cleared, she could see clearly.


    Katelyn experienced a surge of relief at her urate shot, grateful the mist had cleared just in time. A slight dy and Ray¡¯s bullet might have hit Vincent¡¯s shoulder, potentially causing damage no doctor could fully repair.


    Ray howled in pain, violently breaking free from Vincent as he desperately looked around for where the shot hade from.


    Vincent staggered back, nearly losing his bnce.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there? Who took the shot? Show yourself! I swear I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


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 Chapter 521

    ?Chapter 521:


    Ray¡¯s face was twisted in madness.


    The bullet had struck his shoulder de, rendering his right arm useless. Pain shot through his body as blood poured from the injury, darkening the dirt below. For someone as reckless as Ray, the injury felt inconsequential at the moment. His only focus was on identifying the sniper.


    He quickly pinpointed Katelyn¡¯s position.


    Before he could yell out, Katelyn fired again.<fnf4b0> Official source is find?novel</fnf4b0>


    This time, the bullet hit Ray¡¯s knee. He fell hard to the ground, his screams filling the air.


    With those two shots, Ray waspletely incapacitated. His eyes zed with fury as he tried to drag himself back to his hideout, where explosives were stored. He was determined to destroy everything and take everyone down with him.


    Ray inched toward the shelter, swearing loudly, ¡°To hell with all of you! To hell with all of you!¡±


    As he writhed in pain, a pair of leather shoes suddenly appeared in his path.


    Ray¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he looked up to see Vincent¡¯s cold stare, which immediately silenced him.


    Disbelief flooded his face as he yelled, ¡°How can this be? You were exposed to the toxic gas. How are you still unaffected?¡±


    Ray had steeled himself to take Vincent down with him, even in death.


    Vincent looked down at Ray with scorn and ridicule, like one might regard an insignificant ant. It reminded Ray of the time he had nearly perished in the cold before Vincent had found him.


    Back then, Vincent seemed like a deity to Ray, who felt like mere trash at his feet.


    g ? ln ¦Ò ¦Í?? ?s hosts great fiction


    ¡°Saving you was the biggest mistake of my life,¡± Vincent said coldly.


    He was never one to interfere unnecessarily, and he had only rescued Ray because he saw something of his former hardships in the struggling man.


    The stories Vincent had told Katelyn of his past were quite embellished, hiding the true extent of the violence and humiliation he had suffered.


    Before he was strong enough to stand on his own, even a formidable figure like Vincent had wrestled with profound questions about the meaning of life.


    It was their simrities that sparked his empathy, ultimately nting the seeds of today¡¯s peril. Fate took its course, and the inevitable conclusion unfolded in that moment.


    Vincent knocked the gun from Ray¡¯s hand and quickly removed his gas mask. Though the mist had mostly cleared, the air still held traces of toxins. Ray¡¯splexion turned a vivid red, like a boiled lobster, as he thrashed on the ground, desperately grasping at his throat. His eyes seemed ready to burst, filled with disbelief.


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you affected? How can you be alright?¡± Ray demanded, his voice choked with panic.


    At that moment, Samuel, who had just been wracked with pain, rose to his feet, brushing himself off before walking over. Both he and Vincent stood eerily calm, seemingly unaffected by the toxic gas.


    As Ray frantically sought an exnation, Samuel graciously provided one.


    ¡°After all this time with Mr. Adams, you still haven¡¯t learned even a fraction of his strategies. Before we came after you, we had already captured the arms dealer who supplied your weapons. He spilled everything, including details about the gas canisters.¡±


    Vincent and Samuel had taken preemptive medication against the toxic gas, allowing them to remain unaffected even in Ray¡¯s presence.


    The events leading up to this moment had been a carefully crafted deception to draw Ray out of hiding. Vincent, typically reserved, had revealed so much just to give Katelyn the time she needed to align her shot.


    Vincent¡¯s expression remained cold as he regarded Ray, his gaze like that of someone looking at a lifeless body.


    Ray¡¯splexion shifted to a ghastly purple as realization dawned. His eyes widened in shock.


    ¡°You¡¯ve deceived me again!¡± he gasped.


    ¡°You must face the consequences of your actions,¡± Vincent said coldly. ¡°Not just you, but your family will also endure the repercussions of your recklessness.¡±


    Ray contorted his face in fury. ¡°I want you all to suffer with me!¡±


    As he spoke, he struggled to extract something from his pocket.


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 Chapter 522

    ?Chapter 522:


    Ray gripped a small remote control tightly, connected to all the explosives in the shelter. He had resolved himself to his course of action. If necessary, he would take Vincent down with him.


    However, Vincent would not allow that opportunity. Without hesitation, he aimed and shot Ray in the left wrist, causing him to scream in pain.


    The more Ray struggled, the more toxic gas he inhaled. His face contorted in agony, looking as if it had been shed by a knife.


    Sumbing to the toxic gas was an excruciatingly painful death, and soon, Ray could no longer endure the torment. His wrists and knees were shattered. He broke down, sobbing and pleading for mercy.


    ¡°Please, just give me a chance to live. I beg you. Or end it now¡ªshoot me and stop this agony.¡±


    Ray¡¯s appearance was horrific. Blood poured from every opening on his face, and his mouth foamed with a mixture of white and red. Vincent looked on, his expression cold and void of emotion.


    ¡°You won¡¯t get that chance,¡± he dered coldly. Vincent¡¯s empathy had been obliterated by Ray¡¯s betrayal. Some people simply did not deservepassion. Their fate was earned.


    Ray gazed up in terror, unable toprehend his fate as he died, his eyes left open, staring into the void. His face was more monstrous than any mythical demon.


    Katelyn rushed down from the opposite building. Before she could approach, Vincent swiftly covered her eyes with one hand and pressed a damp handkerchief to her mouth and nose with the other.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look; don¡¯t breathe.¡±


    Katelyn nodded vigorously, following close behind Vincent as he led her away.


    Ray¡¯s remains would be dealt with by the designated team.


    Although Vincent had quickly shielded her from the gruesome sight, Katelyn had already seen enough through her scope from the rooftop. It was, without a doubt, the most horrifying death she had ever witnessed.


    Yet, Vincent stood beside Ray the entire time, witnessing his excruciating end.


    Vincent was never known for hispassion. His rise to power had been defined by his upromising leadership. Violence and ruthlessness were woven into the very fabric of his being. However, he had always concealed this side of himself from Katelyn.


    Thinking of him as merely a gentleman had been a serious mistake. Everyone had many facets, and others only saw what a person was willing to show. Vincent always presented his best side to Katelyn. It wasn¡¯t until they were far away from the scene of violence that Vincent finally loosened his grip.


    Observing Katelyn¡¯s ashen face, he asked apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Did that frighten you?¡±<fn4b74> Latest content published on FindN()vel</fn4b74>


    Katelyn¡¯s pulse was beginning to slow, though the images of what she had witnessed still made her stomach churn. She met Vincent¡¯s gaze.


    ¡°So, this is who you really are, isn¡¯t it? Raw and real.¡±


    If Katelyn were topare Vincent to an animal now, she would think of a wolf. In such a twisted and harsh family power structure, only someone hardened could rise to the top.


    Understanding someone wasn¡¯t just about hearing what they said. It was more about watching what they did. Today¡¯s ordeal had taught Katelyn a hard lesson about who Vincent truly was.


    Suddenly, color drained from Vincent¡¯s face, and before he could speak, he copsed.


    ¡°Vincent!¡± Katelyn instinctively reached out to him, only to feel a warm, wetness on her hands. Blood was oozing from his shoulder.


    The dark fabric of Vincent¡¯s clothing almost hid the bloodstain.


    ¡°Vincent!¡± In a panic, Katelyn hurried him to the hospital.


    She spent a restless night in the hospital hallway, only finding relief when she heard that the surgery had been sessful. Back at the hotel, Katelyn managed a few moments of rest before making some nourishing soup for Vincent.


    However, when she opened the door to his hospital room, she was startled to find a strange woman sitting at Vincent¡¯s bedside.


    The woman looked up at the noise, her eyes locking with Katelyn¡¯s.


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 Chapter 523

    ?Chapter 523:


    In the brief moment their eyes locked, Katelyn recognized the woman sitting by Vincent¡¯s bedside. It was Annie, the same woman who had provoked her in the hotel lobby the other day.


    Annie¡¯s wrist was wrapped in a cast, yet her makeup was wless, as if she hadn¡¯t broken a sweat. Her eyes zed with hatred, sharp and dangerous, like a snake ready to strike.


    ¡°You shameless fool, how dare you show up here? I swear I¡¯ll rip that smug look off your face right here and now!¡± Annie spat, her voice dripping with fury, as if she wished she had a weapon in her hand.


    Katelyn stood still, holding her thermos, her eyes calm and steady as she watched Annie. In stark contrast, the wild anger on Annie¡¯s face made her look almost ridiculous, like a performer in a y who didn¡¯t know when to stop.


    ¡°That¡¯s my line, actually,¡± Katelyn replied coolly, her tone unbothered. ¡°Guess you didn¡¯t learn your lessonst time.¡±


    Annie¡¯s eyes narrowed, and her jaw clenched. ¡°Shut up!¡± The memory of their previous encounter had be a stain on her life, one she could never forget. She wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until Katelyn had suffered enough to match her own pain.


    Annie lunged toward her but froze when she saw the cold, unflinching look in Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


    With her head held high, Annie sneered. ¡°I¡¯m a countess, and ourst run-in was only the beginning. You¡¯ll regret crossing me.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression barely changed. Her patience was thin as she pointed toward the door. ¡°Get out.¡±


    ¡°You think you can talk to me like that?¡± Annie¡¯s temper red again, her face flushing with anger. ¡°You dirty mistress, going after someone else¡¯s fianc¨¦! If my cousin wasn¡¯t too sick to be here herself, she¡¯d make sure you paid for this!¡±


    g?ln¦Ò¦Í????s is your storytelling haven<fn410c> Newest update provided by ?ovelFind</fn410c>


    A brief flicker of something dark crossed Katelyn¡¯s eyes. This cousin, ording to Annie, was the one who had been promised to Vincent.


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s lips barely moved, but her voice cut through the room¡ªsoft yet firm. There was no arguing with hermand.


    Annie¡¯s face twisted in rage. Never in her life had she been treated with such disrespect.


    Still, when it came to power, she knew she couldn¡¯t stand up to Katelyn.


    ¡°Katelyn!¡± Annie spat, her voice growing colder. ¡°When you¡¯re on your knees begging for my mercy one day, remember this moment. In Yata, no one gets away with insulting the nobility.¡±


    Her words lingered in the air, cold and bitter.


    ¡°Guards! What are you waiting for? Arrest her now!¡±


    ¡°Guards?¡± Katelyn barely had time to process Annie¡¯s words before the door mmed open, and several men rushed in, each wearing an insignia that marked them as part of the noble family. Anyone who knew anything about Yata¡¯s royalty would recognize the symbol instantly.


    Four guards entered, their presence intimidating, filling the room with tension.


    Katelyn¡¯s fists tightened, but she kept herposure. She could tell this wasn¡¯t going to end without a confrontation. She nced at Vincent, still unconscious on the bed. If things got loud, it would surely wake him.


    After a brief pause, Katelyn looked back at Annie. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    Annie froze for a moment, surprised.


    Was Katelyn really giving in that easily? She thought it would take some work to bring her under control.


    A slow smile crept across Annie¡¯s face. ¡°Toote for apologies. The nobles have ways of dealing with people who don¡¯t know their ce.¡±


    Annie moved closer to Katelyn, her eyes locked on the face in front of her¡ªa face so perfect it seemed almost unreal. Jealousy red in Annie¡¯s gaze, hot and sharp.


    ¡°I¡¯ll strip your skin off, bit by bit!¡± she hissed.


    Katelyn didn¡¯t flinch. Her expression stayed cold and still. She said nothing as the guards grabbed her by the arms and started leading her out.


    As they moved, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but nce at Vincent. His shoulder, still bandaged from the gunshot wound, was healing, but it was clear the injury would leave a scar¡ªone that would be hard to forget.


    Katelyn followed the guards down the winding staircase into the dimly lit underground parking lot. Annie¡¯s car awaited there, the royal insignia gleaming on its hood, reflecting off the cold concrete walls.


    Annie, unaware of Katelyn¡¯s quiet nces, felt a wave of satisfaction. Her n wasing together perfectly.


    ¡°Do you really think you can challenge my cousin for Vincent?¡± Annie sneered, grabbing Katelyn¡¯s chin roughly and forcing her to look up.


    Katelyn¡¯s light, clear eyes remained calm, showing no sign of fear or worry, even as Annie¡¯s grip tightened.


    With a look of disgust, Annie let go of her.


    ¡°Such a pretty face,¡± she muttered, her voiceced with bitterness. ¡°And such a shame.¡± She turned to the guards, her tone harsh. ¡°As long as she¡¯s still breathing afterward, you can do whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Countess,¡± the guards replied in unison, their eyes gleaming with lewdness as they stepped closer to Katelyn.


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 Chapter 524

    ?Chapter 524:


    Annie stood off to one side, her lips twisted into a satisfied smirk. She was convinced that after Katelyn¡¯s reputation had been tarnished by numerous men, Vincent would surely reject her.


    With each step backward, Katelyn found herself increasingly cornered. Her hands were bound behind her, and her eyes flickered with suppressed panic as she tried to maintain herposure. She said, ¡°What do you want? Even nobles don¡¯t have the right to harassmoners without consequence.¡±


    Her disy of fear seemed to amuse the guards greatly. One of them stripped off his clothes while saying to Katelyn, ¡°In Yata, nobles are above all!¡±


    Trapped with no escape, Katelyn¡¯s hands balled into fists. Witnessing Annie¡¯s gleeful cackling ignited a fierce anger in Katelyn¡¯s gaze.


    Katelyn understood she had be Annie¡¯s sworn enemy, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated such a cruel plot. They were in a dimly lit underground parking lot, where Annie¡¯s sinister ns seemed especially obvious.


    Annie¡¯s face broke into a victorious grin.


    ¡°Katelyn, let¡¯s see you try to get away this time. Hurry, guards!¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the four guards responded, closing in on Katelyn. She seemed as vulnerable as amb trapped in an intricate maze, her visible distress adding to her allure. As one of them reached out eagerly to snatch Katelyn¡¯s outer garment, a resounding ng filled the air.


    In a swift motion, Katelyn broke free from her restraints and delivered a strong punch directly to the stomach of the man in front of her.


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    ¡°Ahhhhh!¡±


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    The force of her punch sent the man backward, mming him hard against the wall as his cries echoed through the room.


    With a stoic expression, Katelyn slipped off the handcuffs, holding onto them instead of casting them aside. At that moment, they were her most effective defense.


    Her expression cold, Katelyn nced down at the man writhing in agony, noticing the blood seeping from his mouth.


    Specifically, her punch had targeted his most vulnerable spot¡ªthe spleen. Despite the usual strength differences between genders, her punch was powerful enough topletely disable an adult male. His spleen was badly damaged, and without immediate medical attention, his life was in grave danger.


    Katelyn¡¯s years of training had not only honed her shy skills but also sharpened her ability to overpower her opponents swiftly and efficiently.


    Now, the tables had turned. What was once prey had transformed into predator.


    Everyone watching was taken aback by Katelyn¡¯s quick and decisive moves, including Annie, who recoiled in absolute fear. Underneath that fear, resentment brewed.


    Previously tormented by Katelyn, Annie had brought her guards this time,plete with handcuffs to avoid any mishaps. However, she hadn¡¯t foreseen Katelyn escaping so quickly.


    It had taken them less than five minutes to move from the hospital room to the underground parking lot.


    Katelyn¡¯s stare cut through the air, her eyes emanating a tant threat. Seeing this, Annie grew even paler.


    ¡°Katelyn, don¡¯t think you can attack me and escape unpunished!¡±


    With a smirk, Katelyn slowly closed the distance between them. Her footsteps were quiet, yet to Annie, they seemed to echo with a heart-crushing dread.


    Panic seized Annie, reminiscent of when Katelyn had painfully twisted her wrist. The memory was so vivid that she felt as though she were reliving the moment.


    Had she known Katelyn to be so powerful, she would have brought more backup.


    Overwhelmed, Annie stumbled backward and fell hard to the ground.


    With her arm in a cast, she looked even more pitiful, her appearance bordering on absurd.


    The longer Katelyn stayed silent, the deeper Annie¡¯s fear grew.


    Katelyn gazed down at her with disdain, making Annie seem as insignificant as an ant.


    ¡°I nned to let this go, but you seem bent on your own ruin.¡±


    Hearing those words, Annie sensed the ominous ring of a death knell.


    The guards behind Katelyn exchanged looks, clenched their teeth, and, with batons in hand, charged at her.


    They knew well that if anything happened to Annie, their fates would be sealed.


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 Chapter 525

    ?Chapter 525:<fnfd20> For more chapters visit </fnfd20>


    As the batons sliced through the air, they made a sharp whooshing sound.


    The guards aimed solely at Katelyn¡¯s head, knowing that a strike there could be especially harmful.


    In that crucial instant, Katelyn deftly stepped aside, narrowly avoiding the blow. Instead, the baton struck Annie¡¯s head.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhh!¡± Annie¡¯s scream pierced the air, blood pouring from her scalp, masking her face.


    A smirk flickered across Katelyn¡¯s lips as she swiftly kicked the nearest guard to the ground. ¡°You¡¯re next.¡±


    Her words caused the three guards to shudder like leaves in a storm, terror evident in their eyes.


    Katelyn watched them with a cold, unyielding stare.


    As they hesitated, possibly contemting flight, sheunched into action, delivering swift kicks that sent them crashing to the floor.


    Their earlier confidence, visible when they had first stepped out of the elevator, had now turned into utter despair as they groaned on the ground.


    Katelyn then turned to face Annie.


    ¡°I¡¯ve run out of patience with you. If you try toe after me again, be prepared to face the consequences of your own threats.¡±


    Annie was petrified, unable to tear her eyes away from Katelyn. She wished she could undo her past actions, having never intended to challenge Katelyn, who fearlessly defied any authority. Still, her resolve to defeat Katelyn someday remained strong.


    Katelyn took a disinfectant wipe from her bag and meticulously cleaned her hands before discarding it in the nearby trash.


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    She walked away with light, decisive steps, never looking back at Annie.


    Katelyn then returned to the hospital room, where Vincent was now awake, his gaze fixed on the thermos on the bedside table.


    She asked him, concerned, ¡°Are you feeling alright? Do you need me to call the doctor?¡±


    Vincent responded with a slow shake of his head, indicating that he was fine.


    Ray¡¯s bullet had struck his shoulder de, severely limiting the mobility of his right side even after the surgery. Watching him struggle, Katelyn quickly fetched a soft pillow and ced it behind him for added support.


    Vincent nced at the extensive white bandages wrapped around his shoulder, his brow furrowing slightly.


    ¡°Has the doctor mentioned if this bullet will impact my mobility long-term?¡±


    Katelyn paused, choosing her words carefully.


    ¡°With enough rest, it shouldn¡¯t impact you too severely. I¡¯ll go fetch the doctor for you.¡±


    Just as Katelyn was about to leave, Vincent noticed the red marks on her wrists.


    ¡°What happened to your wrists?¡±


    The bruises on Katelyn¡¯s wrists were pronounced, indicating they had been severely chafed.


    Katelyn instinctively withdrew her hands and pulled down her sleeves. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    The marks hade from the handcuffs she had escaped from earlier.


    Though Katelyn had freed herself quickly, she had to twist her wrists repeatedly in the process to unlock the cuffs. She preferred not to worry Vincent, especially so soon after his surgery.


    However, Vincent¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want any lies. Tell me what¡¯s really happening.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s face was serious as he took in her appearance. He had seen not only the bruises on her left wrist but also matching marks on her right, suggesting she had been restrained.


    What had urred while he was unconscious? Who would dare to harm Katelyn?


    Katelyn¡¯s face showed a mix of helplessness and resolve as she decided it was time to share the whole truth. She positioned herself beside his bed, maintaining a calm and collected expression.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to provoke her. She¡¯s the one who¡¯s been after me.¡±


    Vincent¡¯s dark eyes flickered with suppressed anger, his presence emanating a formidable intensity that felt almost chilling.


    The room grew colder, and Katelyn felt the chill spreading through the air.


    ¡°Does she really believe that her noble status grants her the freedom to act as she pleases? It¡¯s absolutely absurd.¡± Vincent had reached his limit with the so-called royal family.


    Without a second thought, he grabbed his phone to make a call.


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 Chapter 526

    ?Chapter 526:


    The phone quickly connected, and a stream of unfamiliar words flowed through¡ªmost likely the local Yata dialect. Taking the hint, Katelyn quietly left the room.


    She had no interest in snooping into Vincent¡¯s business. As she walked down the hallway, her thoughts wandered back to Annie.


    How shameless could this woman be? And then there was Annie¡¯s cousin, the royal princess. Vincent¡¯s fianc¨¦e¡ªwhat was she like? People said her health was poor, which made Annie¡¯s role as a stand-in make more sense.


    Still, Katelyn had no intention of getting involved. The smartest thing she could do was stay as far from Vincent as possible.


    Out of nowhere, a gurney came racing toward her, surrounded by a rush of medical staff moving fast and focused.


    One of them yelled, ¡°We need all doctors and nurses right now! If anything happens to the countess, we¡¯ll be in big trouble!¡±


    Katelyn stepped aside to give them space, sneaking a look at who was lying on the gurney¡ªit was Annie, unconscious.


    The hit hadn¡¯tnded on the back of her head, but it had been hard enough to send her to the hospital.


    Katelyn pressed her lips together, unease washing over her. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something even worse was on the horizon.


    She stood outside, waiting for Vincent to finish his call before she headed back into the ward.


    Vincent finally put his phone down, his dark eyes locking on hers. They were filled with emotions she couldn¡¯t fully read, but guilt was definitely there.


    After all, the mess Katelyn had been dragged into all traced back to his unresolved engagement.


    Vincent¡¯s gaze was conflicted, his voice genuine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Katelyn knew why he was apologizing and quickly brushed it off. Dwelling on it wouldn¡¯t change anything.


    ¡°Mr. Adams, I¡¯m nning to book a flight and leave tomorrow. If your being in the hospital makes that difficult, I can ask the hospital to find someone else to take care of you.¡±


    She had already made up her mind. How much longer could she put up with this situation if she continued to stay in Yata?


    Vincent¡¯s expression darkened, and he leaned back against the headboard, his voice rough. ¡°I¡¯m handling it. Just give me a few more days.¡±


    Katelyn shook her head slowly, determination in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been in Yata for too long. I miss my friends back home.¡±


    ¡°But what about the coboration with Selina?¡± Vincent started, grasping for a reason to keep her there. ¡°After I refused to hand over the castle, my partnership with Selina ended. If she still needs my designster, we can always talk online.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s interruption was quick and firm, something she didn¡¯t usually do.<fn52e4> Updates are released by f¦É?dn¦Ïvel</fn52e4>


    Staying in Yata meant always looking over her shoulder, constantly having to avoid someone like Annie, who pounced at any opportunity¡ªvicious and unpredictable. The constant negativity was draining her, leaving her worn out and tired of fighting it.


    Vincent¡¯s expression shifted, understanding dawning in his eyes. Thest time he¡¯d seen this unshakable determination on Katelyn¡¯s face was when she had walked away from a three-year rtionship, choosing her freedom over a life that didn¡¯t fit.


    He knew her well enough to realize that once she made up her mind, there was no changing it.


    Vincent swallowed hard, feeling a strange sense of confusion that didn¡¯t fit with the confident businessman he usually was. He was used to being fearless, but now, he found himself unsure, almost lost.


    It felt like something important, something he was supposed to hold onto for life, was slipping away, and he couldn¡¯t figure out how to stop it. That heavy feeling of losing something he couldn¡¯t afford to lose made his chest tighten with unease.


    ¡°What if I asked you to stay? To be with me until I get better? Then we could go back home together?¡± Vincent said, for the first time letting such feelings out.


    Katelyn was caught off guard, her eyebrows lifting in surprise.


    She nced down, her mind racing, but her answer was firm. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be much help here. I don¡¯t know how to take care of someone in the hospital.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s firm refusal left Vincent momentarily stunned, unable to find the right words. He looked at her, fatigue clear on his face, before finally nodding in agreement.


    While he respected her decision, he couldn¡¯t shake his own feelings and was determined to keep trying. His engagement had always felt like a hidden danger, but now, it was finally out in the open.


    Still, he knew he had to deal with things in Yata first. Just then, Katelyn¡¯s phone rang sharply, breaking the heavy silence that hung between them.


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 Chapter 527

    ?Chapter 527:


    Katelyn nced at her phone and noticed an iing call from Selina. This was their first contact since negotiations over the castle had stalled. Selina had been quite determined to acquire the castle.


    Katelyn paused briefly before deciding to answer the call. As soon as the call connected, Selina¡¯s voice, tinged with amusement, filled the line.


    ¡°Miss Bailey, it seems we have a new deal to discuss. Are you avable to chat?¡±


    Katelyn looked over at Vincent, then stepped into the corridor to continue the conversation.


    ¡°If this is about the castle, we might as well not discuss it at all.¡±


    ¡°I understand you wouldn¡¯t want to miss out on such a significant opportunity, so we¡¯ve revised the terms of our offer. You¡¯re still interested in the overseas market, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Selina¡¯s approach was tactful, teasing out the priorities that mattered most to Katelyn and Vincent. In business, the key to sess often lies in recognizing and leveraging what the other party values most. Vincent was keen on essing the overseas market, while Selina was interested in Earl Poulos¡¯ castle.


    Before Katelyn could reply, Selina added with a yful tone, ¡°One Day Cafe. Let¡¯s meet there.¡±


    With that, Selina ended the call, clearly confident that Katelyn would agree to the meeting.


    Katelyn stared at the now-dark screen, her reflection gazing back at her. Was Selina offering new terms because there was something else she wanted from Katelyn?


    After thinking it over for a moment, Katelyn decided to go and meet Selina. The overseas market was crucial to their strategy, after all. Currently, Selina was their only connection to that market. They had traveled to Yata specifically to expand internationally.


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    The cafe Selina mentioned was close to the hospital. Katelyn caught a taxi there, choosing not to tell Vincent, preferring to avoid the difort of being in the same room with him.


    Katelyn might not have been aware that she was subconsciously avoiding spending time alone with Vincent. Like a flower that withstood storms and endured a long period of growth, she had finally found the strength to open up again. Yet, as she began to bloom, it seemed as though her new beginnings were already faltering.


    Looking out the taxi window at the bustling streets of Yata, she felt her emotions harden once again. Katelyn sent a text to Vincent, informing him that she was meeting with Selina. However, she didn¡¯t wait to see his reply.


    When she arrived at the cafe, she saw Selina already there, dressed in her usual eye-catching style¡ªtowering heels and vibrant red lipstick, embodying her distinctive ir.


    As Katelyn entered, Selina¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile.


    ¡°I knew you¡¯de. The overseas market is too important,¡± Selina said.


    Katelyn sat across from Selina, cing her bag on the chair beside her.


    ¡°What deal are you proposing?¡±


    Selina slid her coffee cup aside before speaking in a casual tone. ¡°Just take it easy. What I¡¯m about to ask isn¡¯t too demanding.¡± Katelyn¡¯s guard went up.


    Selina was known for her unpredictable nature.


    ¡°Justy it out for me.¡±


    ¡°I need yourpany at a meeting,¡± Selina replied nonchntly.<fn65f5> Follow current nov?ls on find?novel</fn65f5>


    ¡°Once we¡¯ve had our meeting, I¡¯ll give you ess to the overseas resources we talked about earlier. As long as I hold my current position, those resources will be yours.¡±


    Selina¡¯s proposal was more attractive than their previous discussions, making it difficult for Katelyn to refuse. Originally, their talks had focused on sharing overseas resources, rather than providing exclusive ess. Now, Selina had raised the stakes, only asking Katelyn to apany her to a meeting.


    Katelyn was filled with doubt, her gaze sharply focused on Selina, searching for the underlying catch.


    ¡°Is it truly that simple? Who do you need me to meet?¡±


    Selina casually ran her fingers through her long, wavy hair and replied, ¡°Absolutely. I just need your presence there. I¡¯ll be the one taking the lead in this meeting.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s expression grew more concerned.


    What was Selina really nning?


    ¡°As for the identity of our meeting partner, I can only discreetly suggest that it¡¯s someone quite influential here in Yata¡ªa member of the royal family!¡±


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 Chapter 528

    ?Chapter 528:


    Selina¡¯s voice was filled with an irrepressible sense of victory. This was an opportunity she had diligently worked towards, and securing Katelyn¡¯s cooperation would open the door to vast resources. Inparison, relinquishing the castle seemed like a minor sacrifice.


    In high society, everyone understood that connections far outweighed the value of money. Money was merely static, but connections had the potential to create greater wealth.


    Katelyn reclined in her chair, eyeing Selina with deep suspicion. She had naturallye to distrust the aristocracy. Whether it was Elora or Annie, both had shown themselves to be self-indulg


    ent and impulsive.


    ¡°What do you really want?¡± Katelyn inquired.


    Selina offered a slight smile, her tone rxed as she responded, ¡°Since you¡¯re hesitant to relinquish the assets under the castle, I¡¯ve devised an alternate route for us.¡±


    She moved closer, her gaze intense as she looked into Katelyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Believe me, this deal won¡¯t put you at a disadvantage, and it¡¯s your only shot.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in dealing with those so-called nobles anymore,¡± Katelyn responded firmly.


    ¡°Also, stop emphasizing only what you can offer. Remember, you need the support of Adams Group just as much to stay where you are. This isn¡¯t just about what we gain.¡±


    Though their coboration should have been fair and straightforward, Selina¡¯s remarks always hinted at an underlying need. This feeling of constantly being manipted into concessions was grating on Katelyn.


    Looking at it another way, if Adams Group wasn¡¯t targeting the international market, their hugely sessful domestic campaign would have solidified their position in the jewelry industry. However, Vincent¡¯s ambition had always been to elevate his brand to a global standard.


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    Suddenly, Selina¡¯s expression grew cold, her disdain apparent as she lightly tapped her fingers on the table.


    ¡°I need to stress that this is your final opportunity. If you decline, the next time we negotiate, you¡¯ll be negotiating away the castle.¡±


    The threat in Selina¡¯s voice was clear and undeniable.


    Katelyn, however, remainedposed.


    ¡°I¡¯m just a designer.¡± She paused before continuing. ¡°Miss Hathaway, it would be better if you discussed this cooperation with Mr. Adams himself.¡±


    She stood up, offering Selina a steady look before walking away.


    Selina hadid out two conditions in exchange for ess to the overseas market. While surrendering the castle was one option, the alternative¡ªsimply introducing her to a royal in exchange for significant resources¡ªseemed far too favorable to be credible.


    Katelyn was skeptical of such seemingly fortuitous offers. She was wary of the enticing surface benefits, sensing deeper pitfalls beneath them.


    As Katelyn exited the cafe, her departure left Selina seething.


    Clutching her coffee cup, frustration contorted Selina¡¯s face.


    ¡°That idiot, passing up such an opportunity! Now how will I keep my promise?¡±


    Selina bit her lip, regretting her hasty agreement to the deal without considering Katelyn might decline. The royal had given her a two-day ultimatum, and she had to bring Katelyn along, no matter what.<fn5496> For more chapters visit ?ovelFind</fn5496>


    Katelyn caught a taxi back to the hospital. Instead of entering Vincent¡¯s ward, she peered through the slightly open door, watching Vincent lying peacefully with his eyes closed.


    Having experienced numerous life-and-death situations together, she felt the remnants of their once ambiguous connection.


    She had been ready to open up, but Vincent¡¯s unresolved engagement felt like an invisible chain choking her. Her only option was to maintain her distance.


    Lost in her thoughts about whaty ahead, Katelyn didn¡¯t notice a nurse approaching swiftly. A sharp, cold needle glinted briefly as it passed by. By the time Katelyn realized what was happening and tried to react, it was toote.


    The nurse had already administered arge dose of a chilling substance through the needle.


    ¡°Who are you¡­¡±


    Katelyn¡¯sst words trailed off as her body slumped to the ground, ovee by the sudden injection.


    The nurse skillfully caught her, swiftly moving Katelyn out of the hospital in silence, ensuring no one was disturbed.


    Upon regaining consciousness, Katelyn found herself enveloped inplete darkness.


    Then, abruptly, the sound of footsteps approached from outside, culminating in the sharp click of a light switch. Instantly, blinding lights filled the room, startling Katelyn¡¯s eyes.


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 Chapter 529

    ?Chapter 529:


    The lights red suddenly, bright and blinding. Katelyn shut her eyes tightly, giving herself a moment to adapt before gradually opening them again.


    Thest fleeting memory before she lost consciousness reyed in her mind. She had been drugged in the hospital corridor and forcibly taken here.


    As Katelyn looked around, she realized she was in a vi. The interior was borately decorated, primarily in shades of gray and white. From the color scheme, she deduced the owner was probably a man.


    Her hands were securely tied behind the chair, leaving her unable to move.


    ¡°Who are you, and what do you want with me?¡±


    The sound of footsteps that had activated the lights receded. In the echoing silence of the expansive house, even her own voice seemed to bounce back at her.


    Katelyn mentally reviewed her known adversaries, ruling them out one by one until only Annie remained the likely suspect, given her evident animosity.


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Katelyn called out again, her voice echoing through the emptiness. She reached into her pockets, hoping her phone might still be there to contact Vincent.


    But her search was in vain. Her phone was gone.


    Trapped and without a way to tell time, she felt isted. The slight sting from the injection site on her arm was a constant reminder of her predicament.


    Then, she heard the sound of wheels approaching from the hallway. Instinctively, Katelyn looked up, freezing in shock upon recognizing the figure in the wheelchair¡ªit was Neil!


    Neil appeared dramatically changed, having lost a considerable amount of weight in just half a month. His eyes were tired, filled with exhaustion and deep-seated malice.


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    His appearance was disheveled and neglected. Yet, what struck Katelyn most profoundly was the intense hatred that seemed to consume him.


    Katelyn stared at him intently. This was their first meeting since the incident at the hospital.


    Her gaze was drawn to the wheelchair.


    She had understood from the moment he was shot in the knee that even a sessful surgery would havesting impacts.


    She had never anticipated it would confine him to a wheelchair permanently.


    Neil twisted his mouth into a sneer.


    ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯ve been reduced to a useless cripple, bound to this wheelchair for life!¡±


    His voice was saturated with murderous intent. From being his family¡¯s pride to his current crippled state, this reality was more excruciating for the proud Neil than death itself.


    Katelyn gave a slight smirk. ¡°Those two bullets were rather lenient. At least you¡¯re still alive.¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes turned red, her words striking him sharply. ¡°All this misery is your fault, you wretched woman! My biggest regret is ever marrying you!¡±


    Neil¡¯s emotions boiled over, and as he hurled his usations, he seemed unhinged.


    A dark look crossed Katelyn¡¯s face.


    ¡°Did you bring me here just to show off how miserable you¡¯ve be?¡±


    She harbored no sympathy for someone merely experiencing the consequences of his own actions. Had it not been for her quick reflexes, the knife Neil had hurled at her would have ended her life. Comparatively, losing the use of his legs was far less significant than losing a life.


    ¡°That¡¯s not it. I n to make you suffer for my pain a thousand times over,¡± Neil said grimly.


    At that moment, a henchman stepped forward, handing him a gun.


    Neil said nonchntly, ¡°You know, we did have our moments of happiness, but you destroyed them all!¡±


    ¡°We did share good times until you betrayed me with Lise,¡± Katelyn retorted, finding Neil¡¯s reminiscence absurd. Those who engage in vile acts seldom acknowledge the repulsiveness of their behavior.


    ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that those moments were brief and utterly spoiled by your subsequent detestable actions.¡±


    Neil¡¯s eyes red with anger.<fn6809> Original content can be found at f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn6809>


    ¡°You were too dull and inflexible, which left mepletely disinterested. You¡¯re the root of all the problems!¡±


    With clenched teeth, he retorted, swiftly disengaging the safety of his gun and pointing it directly at Katelyn. ¡°We don¡¯t need to linger on the past. I¡¯m going to turn your life into a living hell now.¡±


    Neil¡¯s smile twisted into a deranged expression, as though he were indulging in a twisted game. ¡°Let¡¯s decide which of your legs I¡¯ll shoot first.¡±


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 Chapter 530

    Chapter 530:


    Neil spoke with a light tone, wearing a cheerful smile on his face. However, the words he uttered made Katelyn shiver with fear.


    At that moment, Katelyn could only think one thing: Neil had lost his mind!


    He could note to terms with being crippled and was venting his anger on her. The bullet in the gun, poised to fire at any moment, could easily tear through her.


    To im she was not frightened would be untrue. It was Katelyn who had caused Neil¡¯s crippling injury, and now she was at his mercy.


    Knowing his stubborn and vengeful personality, he must have thought of many ways to torment her.


    Katelyn observed the man before her closely, yet the Neil she had loved seemedpletely gone. Time had passed quickly, altering them both beyond recognition.


    Neil appeared to relish this cruel game, maintaining his smile as he faced Katelyn.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick? Which leg do you want me to shoot first? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t spare your arms either. But that¡¯s forter.¡±


    Katelyn¡¯s hands balled into fists, her eyes burning with anger. ¡°You¡¯ve really lost your mind,¡± she said.


    ¡°You turned me into this,¡± Neil responded, his voice tinged with hysteria.


    He maneuvered his wheelchair closer to her with one hand, showing the strain in his actions. When he reached her, he pressed the cold gun barrel against her chin, forcing her to look up.


    The gun¡¯s metal was icy against her skin, causing Katelyn to swallow involuntarily.


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    Katelyn had no way to contact Vincent. He probably didn¡¯t even know she had been kidnapped. Even if Neil tortured her severely, she had no one toe to her rescue.


    ¡°Katelyn, if I had known I would end up like this because of you, I would have killed you without a second thought back then,¡± Neil said.


    ¡°Likewise,¡± said Katelyn, forced to tilt her head back, yet her eyes showed no sign of yielding. She maintained her proud stance, and in that moment, as she looked at the wild-eyed Neil, she found itpletely absurd.


    ¡°I¡¯d love to end your life. We are clearly not meant to coexist.¡±


    What a cruel twist of fate that they, once lovers, had now be bitter enemies.


    Neil looked intently into Katelyn¡¯s eyes. Those eyes, which had once shone with love and softness, had changed drastically after their divorce, and he knew he could never win them back.


    Suddenly, he put his gun away, his face twisting into a malicious smile.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try to provoke me. I won¡¯t let you die quickly. I¡¯ll make you suffer slowly until you die,¡± Neil said deliberately.


    ¡°Lise had her uterus removed and will never have her own children. So, why don¡¯t you give me one?¡±


    Without giving her a chance to react, Neil suddenly tore at Katelyn¡¯s coat. This act shattered her view of humanity once again. It became clear that Neil had been nning this all along.


    ¡°Get away from me!¡± Katelyn yelled,pletely furious. She swiftly raised her leg and kicked Neil¡¯s wheelchair with all her might.


    Neil¡¯s subordinates had only bound her wrists, leaving her legs free to move. She kicked the wheelchair so forcefully that it wobbled backward out of control, smashing Neil violently against the wall. His face twisted in pain.


    The sudden chaos startled the henchman, who rushed over, shouting, ¡°Mr. Wheeler!¡±


    He then turned his attention to Katelyn, walking over and striking her across the face.


    The force of the p from an adult man was incredibly strong. Katelyn¡¯s head whipped to the side, her cheek burning with pain, and her ear filled with a loud ringing.


    Taking a deep breath to calm his murderous impulse, Neil gripped his wheelchair and moved toward Katelyn once more.


    ¡°This is your final opportunity to stay alive. I¡¯m offering this chance because of what we used to share. Katelyn, if you keep testing your luck, no one will be able to help you.¡±


    Katelyn raised her head and, with her saliva tinged with blood, spat directly in Neil¡¯s face.


    ¡°To think that I¡¯ve loved you for ten years¡­ I must have been blind not to see what a monster you truly are,¡± she said.


    A wave of regret washed over Katelyn. She realized she should not have provoked him.


    Neil wiped the spit from his face, on the verge of exploding with rage, when suddenly, a voice came from the doorway.


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