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Elder Wei nodded, "Maybe there's a link between this Ava lady and Gemstar that we don't know of. We have to be careful. If anything goes wrong and we offend her, and if she really has support from the company, it could spell doom for us."Malcolm nodded, "I understand, Dad. So what must we do now?"Elder Wei shook his head, "Nothing much. My grandson loves this Ava lady. For now, we just have to fulfill that and make sure he gets what he wants. If Ava has any relationship with Gemstar, it could be a benefit to our family. Keep investigating and let me know if that lady has ever been to the company.”Chen nodded, "Alright, Elder master, I'll do so."With that, he walked away upstairs.Elder Wei nodded, "Maybe there's a link between this Ava lady and Gemstar that we don't know of. We have to be careful. If anything goes wrong and we offend her, and if she really has support from the company, it could spell doom for us."Malcolm nodded, "I understand, Dad. So what must we do now?"Elder
"Get up. Sleep more for what? Will you keep sleeping when you have things to do?" she asked."Well," Ambrose sighed and then got up, rolling up his mat. He looked at Ava with a light smile and asked, "How was your night, wi..." He paused, changing the "wife" he wanted to say to "Ava."Ava didn't respond and turned around to walk out of the room."Wait, Ava, what do you want to eat today? Let me prepare something for you. Just let me do something great as a congratulations to you," he said with a light smile."Ask Grandma; she'll tell you what to prepare," Ava replied.Ambrose rushed and stood in front of her. "No, please, you rather say. I want to prepare what you want."Ava paused for a moment, then said, "Fine. Prepare congee with pork and century egg."Ambrose smiled. "Alright, consider it done. I'll make the best congee for you.”As Ava was about to walk away, Ambrose called out, "Last thing, Ava."Ava stopped and turned to face him, her expression showing mild irritation. "What i
Anna led them into a spacious conference room where a podium had been set up with the company's emblem prominently displayed. She gestured for the journalists to take their positions, ensuring everyone had a clear view of the podium.Once everyone was settled, Anna returned to Mr. Jun's office. "Sir, they're ready," she said with a respectful nod.Mr. Jun stood up, adjusted his suit, and took a deep breath. "Thank you, Anna. Let's get this over with."Together, they walked to the conference room, where the hum of quiet anticipation filled the air. Mr. Jun stepped up to the podium, and the room fell silent. Cameras focused, microphones extended, and every eye was on him."Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Jun began, his voice carrying the weight of his years of experience and authority. "Thank you for joining us today. We have a significant announcement that will shape the future of Gemstar Platinum Group of Companies.”Back at the Ainsley manor, they were watching the live feed video of Mr.
“He must be really capable. It’s not easy managing a little company like I do. Managing a top one means whoever he is, he might be capable,” Ava responded.“If you work hard, you’ll one day be at the top too, Ava,” Elizabeth said with a smile.Ava nodded with a smile.“God, why? Look at other families getting all these good things. Why isn’t it in my family?” Grandma Margaret asked.“Grandma, we just got a million-dollar contract, have you forgotten?” Ava asked.“What’s a million dollars compared to a billion? Imagine you being the girlfriend of whoever this grandson is. Wouldn’t that have made you the number one lead lady in this city or even the country?”Ambrose couldn’t help but chuckle. After all, Ava was his wife and he was the Chairman, so of course she was the lead.They heard his chuckle and everyone turned to look at him. “What are you standing there laughing for, you useless human? Come and watch the news. Your age mate just stepped in as the chairman of a billion-dollar co
Back at the Ainsley manor, Ambrose served the delicious meal he had prepared to everyone and, as usual, distanced himself to eat his portion. After they finished eating, Ava dressed up neatly and walked into the Hall prepared to leave for the office. Lucas and Lily were also in their clothes as they were ready stepp out with Ava to sit in her car for their class. Ambrose walked into the hall and admired Ava, who looked stunning with her hair cascading down."Ava, you got $50,000 last night. At least you should bring like $20,000 for the family upkeep. We have to fill the kitchen with items and more," Grandma Margaret said."This greedy woman is always trying to use calmness to take money. This money was a gift to Ava to use for herself, not to buy anything for family upkeep, Grandma," Ambrose said."Can you just shut up? How dare you?" Grandma Margaret yelled at himAmbrose looked at her, wanting to reply, but decided not to, avoiding disrespecting Ava's grandmother in her eyes."Av
"Invited you?" The ladies' expressions turned instantly angry. "Sir, look around. This is a big, respected company. Please don't come here to make jokes," one of them said sharply."I'm not joking," Ambrose insisted. "I got an invite from your COO. I'm here, kindly inform her or call her.""Wait, let me check if there's any arranged meeting. What's your name?" one of the ladies asked."I'm Ambrose Li," he replied.The lady quickly typed his name into her computer before shaking her head. "Kindly leave, there's no arrangement for you. Your name doesn't show here. Have you been to this company before?"Ambrose shook his head. "No, it's my first time.""Ahh! So how did you get an invite from Chief Anna?" another lady scoffed. "Do you know how many people come here claiming to know someone important? You're not the first.”"You must think we're gullible," the first lady added. "This isn't some corner store where you can waltz in and demand to see the COO. If you had an actual appointment,
"Most of the time, yes," she replied. "Gemstar is involved in a lot of high-profile projects, so there's always something going on."The elevator ascended smoothly, and Ambrose marveled at the sleek design and the quiet hum of the machinery. As they reached the top floor, the doors opened to reveal a more serene and opulent environment. The floors were carpeted, and the walls were adorned with elegant artwork and framed accolades."Here we are," the receptionist said, leading Ambrose down a short corridor to a large door with "COO Anna" engraved on a polished brass nameplate. She knocked gently and opened the door, gesturing for Ambrose to enter."Again, we're very sorry for the misunderstanding," she said quietly before stepping back.Ambrose gave her a reassuring nod before walking into Anna's office.“Damn!”As Ambrose stepped into Anna's office, he was immediately struck by its luxurious and high-tech ambiance. The office was spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a
Ambrose leaned back in the chair, letting the cool air soothe him. He glanced around the room again, his eyes lingering on the panoramic view of the city. The weight of his new responsibilities began to settle on his shoulders, but with it came a sense of determination."I won't let Grandfather down," Ambrose said quietly. "I'll do my best to lead this company to even greater heights."Anna nodded approvingly. "I have no doubt you will, Master Li. And remember, you have a dedicated team behind you, ready to support and assist in any way.”Ambrose leaned forward slightly, his curiosity piqued by the scope of Gemstar Platinum's operations. "So, Gemstar is into mining too, right?"Anna nodded with a knowing smile. "Yes, indeed. Mining is one of our core activities. We acquire contracts and land from governments, purchase the necessary sites, and then undertake mining operations.""That's fascinating," Ambrose remarked, impressed by the strategic approach. "What are some of the gems and m
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Ambrose nodded and smiled, watching Ava with a mix of amusement and affection. Just as he was about to say something, Ava suddenly stood up, her movements unsteady for a moment, but then, to his surprise, she began to sway to the music.Without any hesitation, she stepped out into the open space near their table and started dancing. The soft rhythm of the music filled the room, and Ava’s body seemed to flow effortlessly with it. Her movements, though tipsy, were graceful and captivating. She twirled, her arms floating through the air, and soon enough, she was dancing with such confidence that it mesmerized everyone around her.Ambrose was stunned. He had never seen this side of her. He watched in awe, not quite sure whether to laugh or join her. He glanced around, noticing other people had turned their heads to watch her as well. A few of them even started clapping in rhythm with her steps, encouraging her.Palermo, seated a few tables away, was glaring at her, his eyes narrowing with
Meanwhile, at the restaurant, Ambrose and Ava were still enjoying their dinner, the atmosphere lively with soft music playing in the background. Ambrose looked at Ava, smiling warmly as he reached for his glass.“You seem to be really enjoying the food,” he said, playfully nudging her.Ava smiled, taking a sip of her drink. “Well, it’s not every day I get to enjoy something this fancy.”Ambrose chuckled. “You deserve this every day, you know.”Ava looked at him with a mix of curiosity and affection. “You’re really full of surprises tonight.”Ambrose took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I’m really proud of you, Ava.”As they continued talking and eating, Ambrose suddenly picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and held it out to Ava. She blinked, momentarily shocked by his gesture."Ambrose, what are you doing?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise and shyness."Feeding you," he said with a teasing grin. "Come on, don’t be shy."Ava’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced around th
After placing their expensive orders, both Ambrose and Ava set their phones down. Ambrose turned to her and asked, "So, how's it going?""How's what going?" Ava asked."Your work. The contract for the Wei family, I mean."Ava nodded. "It's going well. It felt like a huge weight at first, but Dera's been helping little by little, so everything's going smoothly now.”"Dera," Ambrose nodded thoughtfully. "Is she staying at the manor permanently now?"Ava shook her head. "She’s planning to rent her own place soon, once she finds something. But for now, since she's helping me out, it just makes sense for her to stay at the manor.""Alright," Ambrose nodded again. He then gently took Ava’s hand, looking into her eyes without speaking."What?" Ava asked, her voice carrying a hint of shyness.Ambrose smiled softly. "I want to apologize.”"Apologize for what?" Ava asked, slightly confused."For everything," he said. "We got married against your will. Your dreams of marrying someone wealthy or.
Meanwhile, inside, Palermo was growing bolder by the second, leaning closer to Ava as he tried to charm her.Palermo reached out, attempting to lightly brush her arm. “Come on, why don’t we just enjoy the evening together, huh?”Before his hand could make contact, Ava snapped back, her voice strong and unyielding, “Touch me, and you’ll regret it.”Palermo paused, taken aback by her intensity but still trying to play it cool. “Whoa, calm down. I’m just being friendly.”“Friendly or not,” Ava shot back, her eyes narrowing, “I’m not interested, and I’m warning you—don’t try anything again.”At that moment, Ambrose re-entered the restaurant, his eyes immediately locking onto Palermo leaning too close to Ava. His face hardened as he quickened his pace. Without hesitation, Ambrose strode up to them and forcefully pushed Palermo back, making him stumble away from Ava.“Don’t touch my wife!” Ambrose’s voice was cold, his eyes burning with intensity as he squared up to Palermo, his frame tense
Immediately Ambrose reached the table and Ava saw him, she smiled warmly and said, "You're here."Ambrose nodded, his gaze briefly flicking to Palermo with a slight frown before turning back to Ava. He handed her a single rose he had been holding. "This is yours."Ava was pleasantly surprised as she took the flower, admiring how beautiful it was. "Thank you," she said, smiling.Ambrose nodded, his expression still a bit serious as he looked at Palermo and then back to Ava. "Who's he?" he asked.Ava glanced at Palermo and replied, "This man here is Palermo. He offered to pay for my drink, and I refused. But guess what? He doesn't believe I have a husband and thinks he can give me some sort of 'great treatment.'"Ambrose’s frown deepened at her words. He turned fully towards Palermo, his voice calm but firm. "Hello, she told you she has a husband, so why are you still trying to force things?"Palermo looked Ambrose up and down with a smirk. "Where's your ring? Did you just manage to get
The staff member hesitated slightly, then leaned closer to Ava. "Madam, I understand your wish to pay, but that man is a big deal around here. It would be wise to give him face. A gesture like this—"Ava cut him off, her tone calm but firm. "I said no thanks. It's $500, right? I'll pay it myself. It's simple." She handed the staff member her card and calmly gave him the password.The staff member gave her a cold look, clearly understanding that Ava wasn’t going to be swayed. He took the card and walked back to the man in the suit. "She refused your payment and offered to pay herself," he said quietly.The man smirked, his gaze trailing back toward Ava. "Alright, don't worry about it," he replied, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He glanced toward Ava one more time.Ava, feeling the weight of his gaze, briefly locked eyes with him before she deliberately looked away and focused on her phone. She checked the time—7:00 PM. Ambrose hadn’t arrived yet, which
Ambrose walked out to the cab which was parked outside and then sat inside. Sitting inside, the driver greeted him coolly. Ambrose responded then asked him to drive quickly. Ava had just finished changing back into the outfit she wore earlier that morning, a stylish yet practical look that blended well with her professional demeanor. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Satisfied with her appearance, she took a deep breath and started the car.The engine roared to life, and she quickly punched the location Ambrose had given her—Le Jardin Gourmet—into the GPS. As the directions appeared on the screen, she shifted into gear and pulled out of the lot.The drive wasn’t too long, but Ava found herself thinking about the upcoming dinner, her thoughts drifting to Ambrose. She wasn't used to such gestures from him, and the fact that he had planned the evening left her with mixed emotions. Half an hour later, Ava pulled up near