At this moment, Katherine couldn’t think much. She only knew that if she were dismissed, it would be the end for her. No more status, no more wealth. Everything that had come to her had vanished in the blink of an eye like a shooting star.And Laramie seemed to have lost patience with her by now. He found her troublesome, and as soon as he discovered Katherine was married, he had already kept her only as a short-term amusement. Now that she had caused such a big issue, it affected his reputation as well. He had intended to keep her around a little longer, considering her as a mere plaything, pretending not to know anything and enjoying her company every day, joking about the future, and giving her some money, to which she obediently listened and poured sweet words into his ears. He found it all very amusing.But now, unexpectedly, he was turned into a joke.In everyone’s eyes, he did not differ from a fool. Once cunning like a fox, but now like a rabbit, being outwitted by a despicabl
For many years, Justin hadn’t traversed the path leading to Kimberly’s house, but he still remembered it well, as if it had been deeply etched into his memory. At this moment, he suddenly noticed Julie like she wanted to say something. The little girl looked up at Justin, then down again, her lips pursed, but no sound came out. This action repeated several times, yet Justin only silently observed without speaking immediately. It wasn’t until she lowered her head for the fifth time that he spoke up.“Is there something you want to tell Daddy?” Justin asked.“Yes...” Julie was startled when Justin suddenly spoke, surprised that her father could read her emotions. She lowered her head, fondling the teddy bear in her hands, before finally speaking, “Daddy... is Mommy really not coming with us?”Upon hearing this question, Justin subtly tensed. A few days ago, he had simply told Julie briefly that Katherine wouldn’t be joining them without further explanation. Because he himself was curren
Justin turned back to look at her, and at this moment Julie had also run up to him, grabbing his hand and then timidly looking at the woman in front of them.At this point, he still hadn’t recognized who the woman in front of him was, as time had worn away her appearance. But the woman, seeing him staring at her intently, approached and said, “Oh dear, don’t you remember me? I’m Aunt Laura. I used to take care of every meal and bedtime for you. How could you forget me? It’s truly heartbreaking.”The name “Laura” triggered a series of memories in Justin’s mind, memories filled with beatings, curses, slaps, and torment. Aunt Laura, Justin remembered now. She used to be the head of the housekeeping team, the first to enter Kimberly’s house, with extensive experience, skilled in flattery, and adept at winning the mistress’s favor, so her status was not ordinary.When Justin was young and living in Kimberly’s house, she, then thirty years old, wreaked havoc there. While the house was equip
Meeting the butler Patrick here, Justin absolutely couldn’t turn back, and Justin also thought if he came here and turned back, it wouldn’t look good.Justin stepped forward, placing his hand on the shoulder of butler Patrick.“Your face doesn’t seem like that of someone with a seriously ill master on the verge of death.”Justin’s remark was obvious, instantly causing butler Patrick’s face to pale, immediately realizing he had revealed a vulnerability.After that, Justin didn’t say much, but led Julie inside.The house remained the same over the years, even appearing more luxurious rather than showing signs of aging, showing that the owner of this house had been living well for years, both materially and spiritually.Including the present.Justin looked into the living room, family members bustling about, each with a task in hand, but he could tell they were preparing a feast.In the dining room at this moment, there was lively laughter.Justin felt the blood in his veins boil, accomp
Mr. Kimberly appeared and immediately questioned and criticized Justin. He mentioned nothing about using his own health and life to deceive Justin into coming back.“Oh, grandfather...” Justin spoke up.“But first, explain to me why the butler Patrick told me you were seriously ill, shouldn’t you? I believe adults shouldn’t lie, and lying for a purpose that disappoints someone is even worse.”Just one simple sentence from Justin was enough to make Laramie and Kimmy understand the whole situation. It turns out Justin didn’t come back naturally, nor did he deliberately return to compete for the inheritance; it was Mr. Kimberly who deceived him into coming back. Thinking of this, Laramie and Kimmy’s hearts suddenly chilled.Why would Mr. Kimberly do such a thing? Only children wouldn’t realize it? Could it be that he intends to leave the inheritance to Justin?This thought instantly filled Kimmy with resentment. By any means necessary, she couldn’t let this happen.“You old scoundrel,” K
“What medicine is that?” Justin asked, though he knew he wouldn’t get an accurate answer.“Oh, this is your grandfather’s heart medication. Specially planned by a doctor in America, it’s very effective. Your grandfather reacts well to it,” Kimmy said, pointing to the medicine bottle as she spoke, then set it aside.“Oh, Aunt Kimmy is truly concerned about Grandpa’s health,” Justin quipped, then didn’t mention it further and focused on eating.The meal proceeded strangely quiet, with a suffocating atmosphere that would make anyone believe this was not a normal family. Justin didn’t feel like talking. Laramie and Kimmy didn’t know what to say, and now it seemed even Grandpa Kimberly wasn’t in the mood to respond to them.The meal passed in a dull manner.After finishing eating, Justin didn’t immediately get up and instead lingered at the dining table. Seeing his father’s action, Julie didn’t ask, but silently sat beside him.Grandpa Kimberly looked at Justin, and Justin returned the loo
Mr. Kimberly’s private office is on the second floor. When he was young, Justin used to come here often. Back then, his grandfather, his voice as cold as ice would summon him. Justin’s body would tremble uncontrollably. Because that was when he made mistakes, disappointed Mr. Kimberly, and got called up for punishment.Standing before his grandfather was truly terrifying. Mr. Kimberly would sit at his desk, his face stern. The muscles on his face seemed to be stretched to the fullest extent, making his expression icy and emotionless, or rather, devoid of any emotion.He would look at Justin like that, then adopt a stern tone to interrogate him. He wouldn’t listen to Justin’s explanations, disregarding whether Justin was right or wrong, only focusing on the result and its connection to Justin, subjecting him to punishment.Justin wouldn’t be allowed to speak. Whenever he tried to explain himself, Mr. Kimberly would immediately scold him, or worse, Mr. Kimberly would throw things at him
Mr. Kimberly’s words made Justin stop in his tracks, causing him to turn around and squint at what he had just placed on the table. To his surprise, it was a handkerchief.He couldn’t understand what Mr. Kimberly meant.While Justin was giving Mr. Kimberly a puzzled look, the latter suddenly unfolded the crumpled handkerchief. Under the yellow light, amidst the wrinkled fabric, a white pill stood out distinctly.Justin was astonished. And Mr. Kimberly, by now, had noticed Justin’s reaction. He smirked and said, “When it comes to what goes into your body, check it yourself to trust it. Otherwise, trust no one.”Right then, Justin understood. Mr. Kimberly was inherently skeptical and wary of everything. He wouldn’t easily trust anyone. Justin should have realized this earlier; perhaps, he was too naïve compared to him to grasp something like this.“Well then, that settles it. There’s nothing more to discuss; I’ll be on my way,” Justin said.Mr. Kimberly had detected something unusual in
The sudden incident left Jeannie terrified. Even after the bicycle was hit, she hadn’t recovered.Ricard comforted Jeannie and then angrily walked to the driver's seat of the BMW, shouting, "What kind of driving is this? Didn’t you see the red light?""What's the rush? What's the rush?" The car door opened, and the young man stepped out slowly, "I didn't hit anyone. Just compensate you, right? How much do you want? Three thousand yuan enough?"The young man pulled out three thousand yuan from his pocket and threw it on the car's hood. Before Ricard could respond, he added another three thousand: "If it's not enough, here’s six thousand, okay?"Ricard took a deep breath, "This is not about money. I need your attitude, apologize to us!""Apologize? You must be joking. I didn't hit you. You just want money, right? Fine, here's ten thousand yuan. Is that enough?" The young man threw another stack of money on the hood.He then glanced at Jeannie, trying to gauge her reaction, but she didn'
The staff's words made Jeannie unconsciously look at Ricard.Although they had registered their marriage more than a month ago and even took wedding photos, their relationship had always been lukewarm. Now, suddenly being called Ricard's girlfriend, Jeannie's heart skipped a beat, and even the tension of the impending bungee jump was pushed aside."Hey, man, come here. What are you hiding from? Your girlfriend dares to jump, and you're hiding behind her. Come and hold her tightly." The staff urged, waving at Ricard.Of course, Ricard didn't refuse the staff's suggestion to jump while holding Jeannie, cheerfully running over.Jeannie looked at Ricard in front of her, seeming a bit hesitant: "Didn't we buy two separate tickets? Can't we jump one at a time?""That's right, a couple's ticket. Come here and stand firm, put on the equipment, and don't mess around." The staff said while fitting the equipment on Jeannie and Ricard. The eighty-meter-high jump platform had a hot wind blowing in
“Sure.” Ricard didn't hesitate to hand the Coca-Cola to Jeannie.Jeannie looked at the dark carbonated drink in her hand. There were many things she always wanted to try: singing wildly, acting cute like other girls, playing with social media apps, buying her favorite snacks. But due to her family's strict upbringing, she never did anything too extreme. She never went to karaoke to sing loudly, never bought a pile of snacks, never bought a bunch of cold drinks in the summer. She always maintained a calm and mature demeanor, drinking a hot cup of tea at the company every day. Sometimes she would see others with a cold drink and feel a desire to take a sip, but she feared that doing so would shatter the dignified image she had built in front of her employees. Although she appeared to have many things, she had never experienced things that were easily within reach for ordinary people.Like Coca-Cola. When she was young, her family didn't let her touch these carbonated drinks. As she grew
For Ricard, physical endurance wasn’t an issue. Cycling seventy kilometers, even carrying Jeannie, was no problem for him. Along the way, they chatted and laughed, making the time fly by.Two hours passed unnoticed. The midday sun blazed overhead, heating the road. Ricard cycled along the highway, enjoying occasional shade from roadside trees."President Demneri, are you thirsty? I’ll buy us some drinks." Ricard stopped at a roadside stall, buying two cold Coca-Colas."Why Coca-Cola?" Jeannie asked, puzzled.“For the refreshing taste.” Ricard took a gulp, letting out a satisfied “Ah.”“I’ll have water instead.” Jeannie placed the Coke on the counter, opting for a bottle of mineral water.Ricard gallantly opened the bottle for her, and Jeannie took small sips.Ricard could tell Jeannie was very thirsty, but she still drank slowly, a habit from childhood.“Alright, let’s go. Only twenty kilometers left. If I speed up, we can reach Haihu soon and enjoy the afternoon there.”Ricard resume
Ricard heard the cheers and smiled, looking at the woman standing at the microphone with pride. This was his wife, capable and talented! With a few short sentences, she had inspired everyone’s enthusiasm. The employees' attitude towards work could indeed shape the future development of the company.Irena, who had just been fired, had packed her belongings and quietly left through the side entrance of the company. Seeing Maria with a large rose pinned to her chest, standing at the front of the company and receiving praise, made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She had heard everything Jeannie said over the microphone. Five hundred thousand, even split between two, was still two hundred and fifty thousand each! Why should Maria get that money?Irena glared at the company's main entrance with resentment. If it weren’t for Maria and that damned new hire, today’s events wouldn't have involved her!Irena took a deep breath, trying to console herself. Even if Maria got two hundred and fifty
Jeannie chuckled lightly. "In the end, you're still trying to comfort me, but in your own unique way.""Am I? Ha ha." Ricard laughed heartily, ruffling his hair. "Sit down." Jeannie gestured to Ricard.Ricard did not stand on ceremony, sprawling comfortably on the sofa.Jeannie poured him a cup of tea, an unprecedented gesture from her. This act made Ricard feel both pampered and uneasy. "No, no!" Ricard quickly stopped her."What's the matter? Are you mocking me?" Jeannie shot Ricard a sharp look. "A man who can easily get the head of the largest corporation in France to come to Supperazza to sign a contract can’t accept a cup of tea from me?"Ricard gave a wry smile. Initially, he hadn't planned to let Jeannie know about Eugene, but with today's events, including Prince Charles’s presence, there was no way to keep it hidden.After pouring the tea, Jeannie sat down opposite Ricard, lightly rubbing her forehead. "As usual, explain.""Ah… I saved Eugene’s life once, and since then he’s
When Eugene heard that Jeannie was Ricard's wife, his expression immediately turned respectful. "Lovely lady, forgive me for saying, but you truly are the most beautiful angel I've ever met.""Uncle Eugene is the manager of the Zefiro Group, the largest financial group in France," Prince Charles reintroduced Eugene to Jeannie.Although Prince Charles didn't use flowery language or mention astronomical wealth, saying it was the largest in France was enough for Jeannie to understand the significance of the old man standing before her. A man like this could hardly be someone Ricard found to collude in defrauding the company.Outside the reception room, Naccy and her group waited for the outcome.Jeannie quickly exited the reception room, and they all looked at her, awaiting a response.Jeannie scanned the group and spoke, "Director Naccy, this has been a misunderstanding. Mr. Eugene is indeed the partner Ricard found.""How can that be?" Naccy's first reaction was disbelief. How could so
"Mr. Eugene, please wait. I'll go get Ricard.""No need," Eugene called Maria back. "Ricard entrusted this deal to me. If you don't sign it, I'll refuse to cooperate.""What?""Girl, how your company distributes the bonus between you and Ricard is none of my business. You can discuss it with your boss later. For now, go get the contract."The sudden success of the deal and the enormous bonus were overwhelming for Maria. It took her a while to process it.As Maria left the reception room to get the contract, her face still showed signs of disbelief.Everyone in the business department saw Maria's expression. When she left the reception room, they all started talking."What's wrong? Couldn't close the deal?""She looks like she failed.""She's a rookie trying to handle a deal herself. What did you expect?"Kristy and others showed disdain. "No," Maria waved her hands. "The deal is done. The client agreed to sign the contract.""Signed?" Kristy's eyes widened in disbelief. She knew the v
"Three... hundred thousand?" Maria's eyes glazed over at the number. Her family was ordinary, and her parents had worked hard their whole lives without saving that much money. Three hundred thousand was enough to buy a house in Supperazza, enough for someone unemployed to live comfortably for years, or to buy a BMW. For Maria, three hundred thousand was an unimaginable fortune.Hearing Eugene say that this deal alone could yield a bonus of three hundred thousand made Maria feel like she was dreaming. "Girl, so, will you sign the contract, or do I need to call Ricard?"Maria swallowed hard, stammering, "I... I..."Hearing Maria's response, Eugene felt a bit disappointed. He understood that three hundred thousand might not mean much to him, but it could change an ordinary person's life. With three hundred thousand, they could buy a big house, a luxury car."I... I need to call Ricard and ask him to treat me to a good meal. Three hundred thousand is a lot! Mr. Eugene, please wait a momen