As the party continued, the grand hall buzzed with laughter and merriment. Guests reveled in the festivities, savoring delicious food, exquisite wine, and dancing the night away. Yet, as the evening drew to a close, guests gradually started to bid their farewells, departing from the opulent venue. Amidst this flurry of activity, Eleanor and Sebastian found themselves quietly collecting souvenirs and unopened bottles of wine from the banquet tables. They carefully stashed these items into bags, preparing to take them home. Their efforts, however, did not go unnoticed.One of the sharp-tongued cousins, who had previously taunted them, couldn't resist the urge to add another jab. With a sly smirk, she called them "leeches." Eleanor, determined to maintain her composure, offered a diplomatic explanation. She responded, "It's for my neighbor," all the while subtly swaying to the music playing in the background. The cousin's attempt to insult them slid off like water off a duck's back, as E

Sebastian's observation about Isabella's absence didn't go unnoticed by Eleanor. Concerned, she summoned Tes, who was still visibly upset from her earlier confrontation with Eleanor. "Where is my daughter?" Eleanor inquired impatiently. Tes responded quickly, "She's upstairs in her room, ma'am, and it's locked. She specifically told me not to disturb her or allow anyone to disturb her." Eleanor snatched her towel back from Tes and turned to Sebastian. "Sebastian, tell that girl to open her door right now. I need to speak with her."Sebastian nodded and called up to Isabella, "Isabella, Mum needs to talk to you. Open the door." Tes, undeterred by her earlier dressing-down, quickly began preparing Eleanor's bath, knowing that any delay could result in another round of harsh words from her employer. Sebastian's persistent knocking on Isabella's door, along with his calls, went unanswered. He returned to his mother and reported, "She's not answering, Mum. I tried."Eleanor, feeling a mixt

As the conversation continued, their supervisor, Mr. Chun, stormed into the weaving section. "Get to work, get to work, stop unnecessary chit chat!" he barked, his stern gaze scanning the workers. "Get to work!" Alex and Daniel exchanged a knowing look and quickly refocused on their machines. They were well aware that Mr. Chun didn't tolerate any distractions during working hours. The lunch break at the BnN clothing factory was always a welcome escape from the relentless noise of the machines. Alex and Daniel made their way to the factory's modest cafeteria. It was a no-frills place with fluorescent lights, plain white walls, and long, well-worn tables and chairs.They joined their regular group of coworkers – John, Zac, and Aaron. The guys were already engrossed in a spirited discussion about last night's game, a topic that offered some respite from the monotony of their work. Alex and Daniel each ordered a plate of the daily special, which was usually some variation of meat, rice,

As Isabella stepped into the spacious garage, her gaze landed on the familiar sight of the Toyota, her husband's car. The sight left her a bit surprised; she had half-expected Alex to have taken the car to work as he usually did. With a thoughtful furrow in her brow, she considered the possibility that he might still be upset with her, given the tension that had loomed over their relationship since the disastrous party. She couldn't help but wonder whether his decision to leave the car behind was a silent message of his own discontent.Shaking off her worries, Isabella approached her own car, a sleek and sophisticated BMW 7 Series. The car exuded luxury and refinement, with its polished exterior gleaming under the soft morning light. Its leather-clad interior was the epitome of comfort, and Isabella had always felt a sense of empowerment when behind the wheel. She slipped into the driver's seat, the soft leather welcoming her, and started the engine. The powerful purr of the BMW came

The room was abuzz with animated discussion as the team dove into the logistics of Isabella's proposed charitable component for the annual campaign. Ideas were exchanged, and the group explored how to seamlessly integrate the charity initiatives with the core business-focused activities.Isabella took charge of the conversation, providing guidance and encouraging innovative ideas. "Jasmine," she said, turning to her trusted assistant, "I want you to lead the team in finding the perfect location for our campaign. It should be accessible, well-suited for the lectures, and have the capacity to accommodate our charity efforts."Jasmine nodded, ready to take on the task. "Of course, ma'am. I'll start working on that right away." With a plan in place, Isabella wrapped up the meeting, her leadership and vision leaving a strong impression on the team. "Thank you all for your input," she said, "and for your commitment to making this campaign a success. We'll reconvene within the week to revie